Archive for the ‘Technical’ Category
See What Ford Is Right For You.
Friday, November 5th, 2010
The 2011 Ford Fiesta of Chantilly Ford Dealers, ranks 1 out of 30 affordable small cars. This ranking is based on the analysis of 25 published reviews and test drives of the Ford Fiesta. and the analysis of reliability and safety data. Reviewers are nearly unanimous in saying that the 2011 Ford Fiesta sets new benchmarks for affordable small car class. Ask any car lover and they’ll tell you some of the world’s best small cars never make it stateside. With the 2011 Ford Fiesta, that changed. On sale in Europe since 2009, the most recent iteration of the Fiesta has finally arrived at dealerships in the US. The Fiesta gets high reviews from almost every review who has driven it because it offers things many other small cars don’t, Such as the Toyota Matrix of Bellevue Toyota a fun driving experience, and a comfortable, upscale interior. With the Fiesta, many features you rarely see are shown in it. It has available heated seats, Ford’s Sync System, and an airbag for the drivers knees. But the best part of the new Fiesta is its hybrid like fuel economy. It gets about 30 miles per gallon city and 40 miles per gallon highway. This number is close to those of the Hybrid cars. The difference is the Fiesta cost way less.
For all the buyers out there more interested in technology of a car, the 2011 Ford Fusion at Albany Ford Dealers is the way to go. The 2011 Ford Fusion adds HD radio to its 
impressive list of technology features that include MyKey programmable vehicle key and available rear view camera system. The appearance and feature packages add a new level of style and sophistication to Fusion’s highly acclaimed interior design. It comes with rain sensing wipers and HD radio. Integrated Blind Spot mirrors have been added to cars with out the optional Blind Spot. Information system (BLIS) and the award winning Ford Sync communication and infotainment system can now be integrated with the available touch screen voice activated system.Most car reviewers agree that the 2011 Ford Fusion is ideal for small families. It is practical for city drivers, looks good, prioritizes safety, doesn’t waste fuel and won’t break the bank. If price isn’t an issue, but eco friendliness and fuel economy are priorities, the Ford Fusion Hybrid is a great choice. Ranked at the top of the class, it has fuel economy ratings of 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. In addition to great fuel economy, buyers receive the same sprightly performance and high-quality interior finishing and amenities the 2011 Ford Fusion gasoline models offer.
Ford Truck Technology Solutions!
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
The truck and vans at Ford East Petersburg are truly multi-functional. Not only are they comfortable and safe for family satisfaction, they also have the option of business task capabilities. If you were to stereotype all the auto brands out on the market right now, the motto Built Ford Tough would likely come to mind when you hear someone say Ford Motor Company. The first thing you probably imagine about Toyota Minneapolis is fuel efficient and long-lasting vehicles. Ford has gone above and beyond with the features available on the F-150, Super Duty trucks, Transit Connect, and E-Series vans.
Most people who own those four types of vehicles use them for work purposes. Ford has been paying attention and now offers an In-Dash Computer, Tool Link, Crew Chief, and Cable Lock to their consumers. You won’t find these great features on a model from Used Cars Kansas City. Cable Lock is only available on the F-150 and Super Duty and features a 10 foot long braided steel cable. You no longer have to worry about how secure your gear is, because you can loop the cable through the handles of your tools, bicycles, ATVs, or whatever else you need to remain safe.
The In-Dash Computer is a feature that many people in addition to the construction world can utilize. Drivers access a 4 GB Microsoft computer via a 6.5” screen and wireless keyboard. There are slots for your SD card and USB drives. Plus, you can access office computers remotely from your vehicle and print on Bluetooth printers!
Tool Link is a DeWalt feature where workers will tag all of their gear with radio frequency tags. Then, there are antennas that will scan to make sure all of your gear made it back to the rig and you don’t leave materials on the job site. Crew Chief helps people manage fleets of vehicles. You can stay on top of maintenance and even locate all your vehicles via GPS.
A History of Yoshisuke Aikawa – Founder of Nissan
Monday, August 30th, 2010
Yoshisuke Aikawa was the founder and first president of Nissan zaibatsu. He was born in 1880 in what is now part of Yamaguchi city. Aikawa graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in engineering and went to work for Shibaura Saisakusho the forerunner of Toshiba. He made a trip to the United States where he researched malleable cast iron. When he returned to Japan he established the Tobata Foundry in 1909 which is known now as the Hitachi Metals company.
In 1928 Yoshisuke Aikawa became the president of Kuhara Mining Company, now the Nippon Mining & Metals Company. He created a holding company called Nihon Sangyo or Nissan for short. In the stock market boom following 1931, Aikawa bought majority shareholdings in over a hundred subsidiary companies of Nissan to create the Nissan Konzerne. This group included some of the most technologically advanced companies in Japan at that time.
In 1937 he moved to Manchukuo and eventually moved the headquarters of Nissan to Manchukuo where it became part of the Manchurian Industrial Development Company. As president and chairman, he guided all industrial efforts in Manchukuo and received bank loans from American steel industrialists to support the Manchukuo economy.
Yoshisuke Aikawa was not in agreement with the political views of the Imperial Japanese Army and predicted that Nazi Germany would be defeated if a general war broke out. He also supported the Fugu Plan to settle Jewish refugees in Manchukuo. Forced by the Kwantung Army, Aikawa resigned as chairman in 1942 and moved back to Japan. After the surrender of Japan, Yoshisuke Aikawa was arrested by the American occupation authorities and imprisoned in the Sugamao Prison for twenty months as a Class A war crimes suspect. He was freed but during this time the Nissan zaibatsu had been dissolved.
After he was released, Yoshisuke Aikawa played a key role in the post war economic reconstruction of Japan and purchased a commercial bank to organize loans to small companies. The zaibatsu was reformed into Nichiyo-kai, Nissan Group which gave rise to many Nissan dealerships around the world.
Nissan Motors was a small side business for Nissan Group compared to the core real estate business. During the real estate crash of the 1990s the Nissan Group shed the majority of its real estate gave Nissan Motors more independence especially after Renault SA bought a 39% stake. The turnaround of Nissan can be attributed to the CEO Carlos Ghosn who was installed in 1999. He detached Nissan Motors from the Nissan keiretsu connections and debt.
Yoshisuke Aikawa died in 1967 of gall bladder inflammation and is buried in Tama Cemetery outside Tokyo.
Microsoft: UVO vs Sync
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Car shoppers should visit KSMO used car loans if they are wanting to get a 2011 Edge or Sportage; the new technology is likely to increase their prices! Despite all the Peoria VW Deals going on right now, it is unlikely you will find these brand new models on the showroom floor. Ford teamed up with Microsoft when they created their Sync technology. The latest development that Ford drivers will find is in the 2011 Ford Edge and it is called MyFord Touch. Drivers have touch screen access to control many of the convenience features of the vehicle, such as climate control, audio entertainment, and navigation. Plus, critical information about the vehicle’s performance will be displayed with touch access rather than the in-dash area near the speedometer. Engineers hope that the system will be wireless enabled so that drivers can access popular applications, such as Pandora. If that all sounds too high-tech for you, go to Toyota Los Angeles and look at their reliable vehicle line-up.
Kia teamed up with Microsoft to create the UVO technology that will roll out with the 2011 Sportage line. This system is not as capable as Sync, but picky consumers should remember that this is the first attempt Kia has made at a multimedia platform. Its initial model is equipped to play and rip CDs, receive satellite radio and HD radio, hands-free phone answering, and voice operated control. The UVO system has been in the works since March of 2006 but the first version that will be released to consumers offers a rather small LCD screen, smaller than most cars in-dash navigation screens. Plus, drivers have to choose between navigation or infotainment UVO system; both platforms are not available together…yet! It is reported that the voice recognition that is available with Kia is far superior compared to its predecessor Sync. The two differ with voice control in that Sync drivers have to navigate through a system of controls to reach the desired action. With UVO, you can just say a name after activating the system from the steering wheel control button. However, Sync offers the ability to recognize a wide array of words while UVO can only recognize a predetermined list of words and phrases.
Other infotainment media systems include the Fiat Blue&Me and GM OnStar. Remember also that cell phone and media technology changes more rapidly than automotive mechanic technology.
Know Your Vehicle’s History
Monday, May 24th, 2010If you are about to purchase a vehicle, it may be a wise decision for you to check out the vehicle’s history. Vehicles could have hidden problems such as floods, accidents, or odometer problems that are associated with used cars. Every vehicle has a unique VIN number that is associated with it and when incidents occur, they are usually reported and ran through the VIN number. Any Bradenton Chevy dealer will tell you that the vehicle history report will even list the sale of your vehicle and all registration renewals.
Requesting a free vehicle history report can be as simple as visiting a vehicle history report website such as carfax. Sites like this will often give you some information on the vehicle that you are interested in purchasing but will usually charge a small fee if you are interested in getting detailed information. This small fee is often well worth it if you find a hidden problem with your vehicle that cause you problems in the future.
Requesting a vehicle history report is simple. All you need is the VIN number of the vehicle that you are interested in, you can get it from the private dealer or the New Hampshire Ford dealer you’re buying from. Simply enter the Vehicle Identification Number and a report will be generated for you.
The vehicle history report is an excellent tool to use when shopping for a uses vehicle. When purchasing your next used vehicle from a Fort Wayne Used Car dealer, ask for a used car report. They should gladly give you one.
The SYNC vs. OnStar
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
The fight between General Motors’ OnStar, which has helped sell a lot of New Jersey Chevrolet dealer cars and Ford’s Sync is getting serious. Before now OnStar and Sync had little in common. Sync was basically a voice activated radio and phone assistant whereas OnStar offered a smorgasbord of services, from operator assisted turn-by-turn directions to stolen car retrieval, that mostly depended on talking to human operators at a call center.
Now Ford is attempting to offer similar services but for a fraction of the cost and without those expensive human operators which in turn is great for sales at various Cincinnati Ford dealer lots .
Both systems operate by connecting you to a remote service, then downloading the directions to your car. You hear spoken turn-by-turn directions and, assuming your car doesn’t have a real computer screen, see written directions with simple icons on the radio display or in the center of the instrument cluster.
Now for prices, OnStar’s Turn-by Turn Directions are only $10 for the first year, except in Cadillacs and Buicks which can be found at a New Jersey Chevrolet dealer which in that case it is free, then $28.90 a month as part of OnStar’s “Directions and Connections” package. The Ford’s Sync Traffic Directions and Information are free for three years, then $60 a year after that. So its obvious that Sync is way better in price and if this has you sold go to a New Hampshire Ford dealer and buy a Ford.
But to be fair, OnStar offers many features beyond just navigation but, then, so does Sync. They’re just not the same features. For GM’s OnStar, a cell phone is hardwired into the car and drivers communicate with real human operators at call center. Meanwhile, Ford’s Sync uses your cell phone and connects it to the car via Bluetooth. Ford drivers communicate with a computerized voice-activated service.
The weakness of Ford’s Sync system has to do with the technology. There are the limitations of your own pocket-sized cell phone compared to GM’s more robust built-in phone. Then there are the limitations to talking to a computer instead of a real person. Real people may not be perfect, but at least they can work with you so if you aren’t really tech oriented then OnStar might have you sold and in that case head to a Lawrenceburg Chevy dealer to pick out your new Chevrolet vehicle.
Manual vs. Automatic
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Which is better an automatic transmission or a manual transmission? Should you buy a manual Ford Mustang or an automatic Chevy Cobalt? Here are some things you should consider:
Cost: Manual transmissions cost less than automatics. When you go to a car dealer you will probably notice that the stick-shift version of the same model is about a thousand bucks cheaper.
Maintenance: Any good mechanic can tell you that working on a manual transmission is much easier than working on an automatic. So obviously repair costs are going to cost significantly higher.
Driving: Manuals are harder to drive or at least they are after driving automatics for years. With manuals you have to learn how to push in the clutch and release it correctly or else you will stall. Automatics, all you have to do is put it in gear and go.
So if you want something easy then go with an automatic, but if you want something that has more power and is cheaper go with a manual.
What Exactly is Horsepower?
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
How do you define horsepower? Ask a car enthusiast and most of the time you’ll get a blank look, a shrug of the shoulders and maybe a guess along the lines of “What a horse can do!”.
That answer begs the question: What horse? A thoroughbred race horse that can carry the small weight of a jockey with a lot of speed, or a working horse that can pull heavy loads albeit slowly? Obviously there is a more precise answer. Horsepower is defined as work done over time. The exact definition of one horsepower is 33,000 lb.ft./minute. Put another way, if you were to lift 33,000 pounds one foot over a period of one minute, you would have been working at the rate of one horsepower. In this case, you’d have expended one horsepower-minute of energy.
So next time you go to your local Ford or Chevy dealer and they say “Oh, this vehicle has 150 Horsepower.” They aren’t talking about the strength of exactly 150 horses, they are talking about the POWER 150 horses can exert in a minute.