Audi a8 mercedes bmw beware

When you think of German automotive excellence, Mercedes and BMW are two brands that easily come to mind. Audi, too, has been making a name for itself and is poised to cause a lot of trouble for its Bavarian cousins with its current line of cars and planned models. The cream of the crop Audi is the A8, a true champion and a terrific alternative to BMW and Mercedes. Let’s take a closer look at Audi’s top-of-the-line sedan and what it has to offer to you, the European sedan enthusiast.

Back in 1994 Audi decided to take on Mercedes and BMW by introducing an all new car the full size Audi A8. As the first car built on an entirely aluminum platform [for weight savings optimization] the Audi A8 has been constantly redefining the German luxury car market ever since. Way back in 1997, the Audi A8 became the first car in the world to offer six air bags. Later, more powerful diesel and gasoline powered engines were introduced to further separate the brand from its competitors.

Since 1997 the A8 has been marketed in the USA, but it hasn’t swiped as many sales away from Mercedes and BMW as Audi had hoped. Still, the current model offers much flair and technological innovation to be truly a different model from BMW’s 7-Series or Mercedes’ S-Class.

One thing that Audi enthusiasts have appreciated about the Audi A8 is its diverse engine choices. Certainly, a powerful gasoline powered V8 is offered, but other engine choices including V10 and V12 engines have shown up as well. Turbo diesel aspirated V6 and V8 engines have made their way onto European versions of the car, but not in America where emissions standards are much more restrictive.

So, what exactly can you get with an Audi A8 besides a wide variety of engine choices? Much, as outlined here:

6 speed Tiptronic transmission

Quattro all wheel drive

Power sunroof

Bi-Xenon headlamps

Front and rear foglamps

Premium sound system

18 inch alloy wheels

Full leather interior

…much more!

For a retail price of just under $70,000 for the “base” model, the Audi A8 is priced competitively against similar sized BMW and Mercedes models. However, if it is speed that you want, then the W12 model will get you there in about five seconds. In this case, you’ll have to pony up at least $118,000 for the top-of-the-line Audi A8.

Of course, not everyone wants a car as big and as expensive as the Audi A8. If your tastes are a bit simpler, the automaker markets 13 other models in North America and its Volkswagen division also offers a wide selection of less pricey models.

Then again if it is an Audi A8 that you want, then price will not be an object. At least Audi hopes it is that way for many of its well heeled customers!

Car safety

In this day and age, who isn't concerned about car safety. Why, it seems that every day, you read about a new terrible and tragic car accident on the roadways, which is enough to practically make you want to become a hermit. No matter how much attention you put into car safety, it never seems like enough, as the safest drivers in the safest cars still sometimes get struck by a tragic fate. Although there is no perfect solution to this or any other problem, nonetheless, your car safety can be maximized and your chances for disaster minimized if you are willing to take some simple precautions.

One of the best things you can do to help increase your automotive safety is to learn defensive driving. A lot of defensive driving is really a matter of common sense and courtesy, nonetheless courses can be taken to improve your driving skills. Although a car with a good automotive safety rating is a great investment, it is a moot point if you can manage to avoid having a collision to begin with.

Unfortunately, no mater how safe your driving, we all know that sometimes, through someone else's carelessness, or through bad luck, accidents can still happen. That is why car safety means, above all, having a safe car. There are many excellent resources which will rank car safety in the most popular model. My favorite of these is consumer reports, which shows NHTSA crash ratings for all of the leading cars, and gives you an overall breakdown of car safety, value, and customer satisfaction.

Then again, it is important not to overlook the most important factors in car safety: wearing your seatbelt and making sure that your car is in good operating order. If you are in a crash, your chance of survival, according to some experts, more than doubles if you are wearing your seatbelt. And one of the leading preventable causes of tragic car accidents is a car that is inadequately maintained and fails because its equipment fails. Be conscious of car safety and don't drive on bald tires or a misaligned or failing suspension. Don't put off that oil change and risk having that engine seize up on you! Above all, your car safety is your safety, so don't put your life on the line just because you haven't gotten around to getting those necessary services for your car!

Current gas prices how can i get cheap gas

Will we ever see the days of cheap gas again? With everything happening in our world it is very doubtful that we will ever see the return of low fuel prices. What can we do to save on fuel and help our budgets out?

Here are some basic tips to improve gas mileage or save fuel in general. Some of these are obvious, but you may not have thought of some of the items on this list:

•Carpool

•Buy a more fuel efficient car or hybrid

•Plan trips depending on the errands you need to run and develop a route

•Consider buying a motorcycle

•Ride a bike or walk to the local store

•Make sure maintenance on your car is up to date

•Keep tires inflated at proper levels

•Use fuel saving products on your car

•Limit air conditioner use in the summer as it reduces MPG efficiency

The main idea here is to think of every little thing you can do to save on gas prices, and combine the ideas together. Collectively, you can possibly save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year of you develop a plan and stick to it.

The other plan of action, and this is a long term one, is to lessen your dependence on gas and fuel overall. Carpooling is probably the easiest and most effective way to reduce your fuel costs immediately. This may not be practical for some people but for spouses or co-workers that live and work in similar locations it is ideal. Let’s face it…we may not see cheap gas return for a long time, if ever.

Hot cars take time and effort

Auto show hobbyists find themselves meting new challenges as they begin the process of preparing their entries, whether they are working on an antique, a classic, or a new vehicle. Finding how to use the best automobile detailing supplies to achieve the wanted results is a matter of trial and error. Proper planning helps find the logical sequences for the best results. Also, the hobbyist must become an expert in many areas, knowing how to detail the tires and wheels of their cars as well as knowing how to clean automotive upholstery. (See the article, “Automotive Detailing: How to Clean Automotive Upholstery.”)

Preparing the wheels, wheel wells, tires, spokes, and hubcaps of a vehicle for a show demands consistent time and effort – and the proper auto detailing cleaning products. Detailing on a regular schedule (for instance, once a month) prevents a final detailing before a show from being an overwhelming task. Working on this area first also saves time and effort. Tires, wheels, etc., should be detailed before the rest of the car because the products that are most efficient for this job can be harmful to the finish of the car’s paint and can, at the least, spoil the polish job. You won’t be accidentally splashing the just waxed body of your car with the tire cleaner. Perfection in the tire area truly gives the look of “showroom” condition.

Be sure to work in the shade and not in the heat or full sun. This is not the kind of hot car you are aiming for. Full sun can cause streaks. Have your automobile detailing supplies laid out and ready. Remove your hubcaps or any other part of your wheel area that can be taken off. This way, you can really get at the tires, and also wash all sides of the removable parts. Some serious detailers will even remove the tires. Take the time to wash, rinse, and dry each tire before moving on to the next one. Completing each in turn will prevent any water spots from drying on the surface of the wheel.

Begin by carefully rinsing away any dirt or mud that might have coated the underbelly of the car or wheel wells. A second type of soil that is found on the tire area is brake dust. This material is gray in color and caused by the wear and tear on the brake pads. Do not use an excessively forceful water stream to rinse your tire area, since small rocks or sand could spin with the force of the water and scratch the surface of the car. You may use a soft brush to dislodge soil as you rinse. Try a soft bristled brush like Fuller Brush’s Vehicle Wash Brush. Mix a mild degreaser with water in a large bucket. Gently wash each tire and wheel with a soft wash mitt (or sponge. Each time you are ready to dip your mitt in the bucket of degreaser, remember to first rinse off your mitt so any particles of rock or sand will be removed. That way, you won’t be simply moving the soil around, and you won’t risk scratches to the wheel surfaces. (Also, to avoid scratches to the finish on the body of the car, use a different mitt for that area.) Finish with a detailing brush like Fuller’s Wheel and Spoke Detailing Brush. You will be able to thoroughly clean every bit of dirt from your tires without a scratch, and you will be ready for the next step, dressing and polishing the surfaces. Pay special attention to your manufacturer’s directions when you choose a treatment or polish for this part of your car. The wheel area and hubcaps can be painted or non-painted, and be made of a variety of different materials. Choose automobile detailing supplies that will be most effective for the materials in your car. Don’t worry about treating the tread of the tire. It will just rub off. Treating it may also affect your warrantee.

As soon as the tire area is completely detailed, you are ready to move on to work on the rest of the car. Before you know it, others will be noticing your “hot car.”

When your car exterior gets too dirty

When a person tells you to clean your car, what is the very first thing that comes into your mind?

For most people, cleaning cars mean getting a bucket, some soap, a hose, and a sponge. And this also means getting all wet. This is mainly because cleaning a car mostly means to a huge portion of people as cleaning only the exterior of a car. Just keep in mind just how many music videos, movies, and documentaries show people cleaning only their car’s exterior. Even if you do try to search images about cleaning a car, you would most likely be given a list of images that show people getting wet and soapy while cleaning the car’s exterior.

Now, to clean up your own car’s exterior, you should be very much ready to get wet. It could also get a little physical and would also mean you having to sweat out a little. After all, remember that your car’s exterior is the one that suffers and meets all the dirt, grime, dust, and other elements when driving. So dirt could really accumulate on it making cleaning quite a chore.

First, roll up all your windows. Make sure that they are closed tightly. Shut all your doors as well. When you have done so, start by cleaning and rinsing your car using a hose. Rule of the thumb is to start from the roof, making your way down to your car’s tires.

After this, take a bucket filled with warm water. You can try putting in car detergent or even mild dishwashing liquid. Some automobile experts even suggest that you use a car soap that has been made specially for vehicles so as to protect the paint. Take your pick. Then, wash your car using a sponge or a rag. Make sure you go through everything. Then, rise off all the soap using the hose.

To dry your car, you can use a chamois cloth or a towel but make sure that it is clean when you use it. Or else, you would only be marring the cleaning job that you just finished.