Assignment 4: How to Properly Wash and Detail Your Vehicle

Keeping cars clean is a very hard thing for many peeps, just like my friends who begs me to help wash their cars every month.  With that said, I got the influence from my friend Gary who recommended me to post up a blog on how to properly wash and wax a car.  Ever wondered why your car doesn’t look shiny anymore after a few months?  That is because the car has not been properly looked after and protected from treatment.  Gas station car wash makes the paint take a hard beating because the soap is very acidic and the non touch less ones would scratch the hell out of your paint with the dirty bristles.

Washing the Rims

-Rims are usually caked on with brake dust, depending on the type of brake pads the car has.  It is very important to wash the rims once in a while because the dust can eat onto the clearcoat of the rims, causing the rim to look dull and dirty.  A very good and efficient type of rim cleaner I recommend is Sonax Wheel Cleaner.  It is a type of wheel cleaner that is PH balanced, meaning it is safe for all types of rims.

When you spray the cleaner on to the rim, it first appears to be green.  As the colour changes red, it means the cleaner has done its job and has loosened up the brake dust.  At this moment, it is time to spray a strong stream of water.

-Before

-After

Washing the rims with a brush like this can help make the job a lot less tiring.

-Final Result of the Rim

Washing the Body

-Washing a car may not be as easy as it seems.  Lets take this Acura TSX for example. The car has been washed a few months ago and bug, tar and dirt has gotten all over the car.

-To clean up the bug and tar dirt, I recommend using an all purpose cleaner like P21s Total Wash.  This detergent helps loosen up the dirt.  We don’t want to push that hard onto the paint because that would cause swirl marks and marring which can make the paint look dull and flat after a few washes.

To show what I mean by swirl marks and marring, here is a picture.  Under the light, you can see a lot of light scratches which is caused by improper wiping and hard pressing against the paint.

-Once the P21s Total Auto Wash has been soaked on the bumper, it is time to use your car wash soap in a bucket to clean the entire car. With regards to the soap, I recommend a mixing of 10mL of soap and 7 Litres of water.  I prefer to have more water because it allows the dirt and grime to sink underneath the bucket.  Spray with a strong stream of water against the whole car.

It is time to start wiping down the panels with the bucket of soap and a sheepskin mitt.  Do not go in circular motions but rather left to right because it is easier to scratch the car like that.  After one panel on the car has been cleaned, it is recommended to put that mitt into another bucket with water for rising. An alternate mitt is now used with the soap.  This is known as the two bucket method.

Remember, it is better to wash from the roof downwards to the side skirts because the car is most dirty down below, meaning less dirt or grime going against the paint.  After going through the whole car and every panel has been wiped, rinse the entire car with water.

Drying

-After the rinse, it is time to wipe down the car with a waffle cloth that does best absorbing water. Once the towel is not absorbing water, squeeze the water out until the whole car is dried.  Using a microfiber cloth to tackle remaining water can also be a choice.

Polishing

-Polishing is a hardcore step in car detailing which not everybody would like to tackle.  This step is only needed when there is a lot of swirl marks on the car. Recently Menzerna came out with a new product that is user friendly for car enthusiasts, that would like to get rid of swirl marks themselves.  All you need is a Porter Cable and a Yellow Cutting Pad by Lake Country.  Use the Porter Cable at 5000rpms and the yellow cutting pad paired with Fast Gloss 400.  After a minute or two buffing in a 4″x4″ area this should be the final result.

-50/50 Action (Left side without Polishing versus Right side with Fast Gloss 400)

Wax

-Finish off with a coat of preferred wax.  I recommend Collinite 845 which is very easy to apply and very last longing.  Use a wax pad, spread a drop of Collinite on it and wipe the entire car gently.  Apply the wax very thin because this wax goes a very long way.  If you wipe too much, it would be very hard to wipe off after.
-After you wipe the entire car with the wax pad, use a microfiber cloth and buff away the wax in either a circular or left to right motion.

FINAL RESULT~ DRUM ROLLING Your car should look brand spanking new! Remember, wash your car more frequently to prevent the polishing step! Take cleaning your car as a hobby and not a chore! What do you think about my writeup on car detailing? Give me your comments down the box below! Thanks!

Assignment 6: Trackday

Ever wished you could use all the power your car got? Ever wondered where you could pedal to the metal without cops busting your balls? Ever thought why you forked the money out for a performance car and yet drive like the rest of the norm (hint* beige Corollas with an Asian lady)?  Ever wondered if your car modifications are well worth it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you must read on and find out where to unleash your beast.

WHY THE STANCE? BECAUSE RACECAR!

Cars nowadays are made faster and contain more potential than ever before.  Technology enabled us drivers to drive faster but safer due to modern suspensions, tires, engines and all the other gadgets cars come with today. The sad side with all these perks is…sigh*. Speed limits and laws have not changed to comply with this advance, rather, the law has become tighter on motorists so the government can be rich.  What can car enthusiasts and people who love driving fast do?

 TRACKDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Track days are made for people who love driving fast.  Days like these provide speed demons the environment to take their car to the limit without hurting anyone.  Most important of all, cops can’t do shit.  Suck on that Pigs!!  So… lets find out who track days are for…

People who…

– wants to accelerate as quickly as possible

– wants to feel some G-Forces

– wants to take a hard right corner at 90kmph rather than 30kmph

– wants to see the capability of their cars and what their cars could do

– DON’T want to get tickets and fuck up their insurance rates

– wants to find a place and drive like idiots

– wants a place to enjoy their cars

– wants to test out their mods

– wants to polish up their driving skills

Most important of all, what’s the point on buying a car that is able to do 0-100km/h under 5 seconds and not being able to use it? I am sure some dads would like to have some fun with the “girlfriend” when they are off the wife’s radar.

I’m sure you don’t want to be this guy next time you are on the roads.

WHERE TO GO?

There are three track courses near the GTA but they do take some time going from Toronto Region.

-Cayuga- Toronto Motorsports Park-

This track is located in Cayuga, South of Hamilton.  From downtown Toronto, it takes around two hours to get there.  This track is suitable for both novice and advanced drivers who can take advantage of two long runways where you could test the car’s acceleration and as well as a number of fast and slow corners.  Many group organizers like Kplayground and Touge both offer track days during spring, summer and fall.  The price to enter this track would range around $90 to $120 dollars, depending on whether it is a half day or full day event.  I personally love this track a lot due to the balance of corners and straights.  The beating that the car takes on this track is considerably less due to the corners are not as tight as some other tracks.  The brakes also don’t need to be used much except the two long straights, so the risk on boiling the brakes and wear on them would be less.  Do remember to keep this track as a top choice!

-Canadian Tire Motorsports Park-

This motorsport park consists of two tracks located in Bowmanville, just east of the GTA.  This track is somewhat closer than Cayuga and Shannonville.  The two tracks in this park are called Mosport GP and Mosport DDT.  Mosport GP is for highly experienced drivers who I recommend should have previous tracking experiences. Due to the high speeds and side barriers, I have seen cars ending up badly.  This track is one of the national raceways in Canada and many worldwide events are held here each year.  On the long straightaway, cars, depending on the balls of the driver, can achieve speeds of 180+km/h.  With Mosport GP being a big track, the corners are like sweepers, meaning the average speed in the longer corner would be around 120km/h.  If that is scary for you then Mosport DDT could be the alternate choice for you and beginners.  This is a smaller track next to MosportGP.   DDT is a smaller track paved with mainly tight corners, perfect place to test out the suspension setup, handling and tire capability.  After all, some drivers do want to test whether or not it was worth it to pay extra for their summer tires.  But do note, since this track is mainly cornering, the tires and brakes will take a hard exercise since the corners are very close to each other, meaning you will have to accelerate and brake very soon.  What is good about this track is many higher horsepower cars would not be benefited but a lighter, better handling car is.  The cost of this track is the most expensive, ranging from $350-$500CAD for a whole day event, from 11am-6pm.

-Shannonville Motorsports Park-

This track again is located in Shannonville, another hour away further from Bowmanville.  Like Cayuga, this track is very suitable for beginners to novice drivers.   There are two long straightaways where speeds of 170+km/h could be achieved.  Many sharp and wide turns are there for motorists to tackle, with a lot of run off space incase fly-outs occur.  I personally like this track a lot too, due to the mix of straightaways and corners, where I could test out the capability of my car.  The only downside is the distance from the GTA to this park takes around a 3 hour drive.  Finally the cost of this track is the cheapest, ranging from $75-$110.

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR?

You don’t need a super car or a car you’ve dropped 10 grand on to go on the track.  All you need to have is a healthy car in good condition with all the maintenance up to date and you are set to go.  Just make sure you have enough brake pads and tires for the day so you don’t end up hurt like this one…

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, take it slow during the beginning.  You need to learn the corners of the track and remember, you are not in a race.  You want to find the perfect balance between speed and safety.  You do not win anything and nobody is setting a lap timer.  Also, more expensive cars do not mean they will be quick, yes they may be quick on the straightaway but I have seen Civics running circles around sports cars like AMGS, Ms, and so forth.

Remember, there is no pressure on you or anything.  If you see a car fast approaching you, signal to the right and let the car pass, get off your high horse and enjoy your day!

Don’t End Your Day Like This Poor Guy Scratching His Head!

Assignment 5: Modifying E90-E93 BMW 335i With N54 Engine

Dear 335i drivers,

So, you see an M3 stopped beside you at a red light. Ahead of you is the perfect quarter mile. Next set of light shines green, traffic is clear. Your instincts tell you the M3 beside is ready to race and give you a run. What do you tell yourself? “Should I do it, or should I not?” Are you going to humiliate yourself from the extra 120hp under the M3’s hood? That’s the question.

After reading this post, your instincts will tell you M3s ain’t got shit on you. If you follow my recommendation, your 335i would be power on tap, yielding 400+ horsepower.  Think Corvettes or Lambos are fast? Well, think again after reading this blog.  

Don’t believe me? How about I give you a taste of it?

LECTURE 101: HOW TO MOD THE 335i TO RUN AGAINST SUPERCARS

Full Bolt Ons

First things first, you will need all the necessary parts to help the car breath and dump exhaust faster and smoother.

• Intake

Your car obviously comes with an intake, but stock intakes are usually very restrictive in terms of airflow and will decrease the potential power that your 335i can unleash.  The two reputable brands AFE and INJEN both make an intake for your engine.  Both designs consist of dual cone inserts, meaning they will have two filters, rather than one which comes stock.  This design yields 98% more airflow compared to the OEM one as claimed by AFE.  Pricing of both these intakes very similar and is up to personal preference and brand loyalty.  As a loyal fan of AFE, I choose the AFE intake due to its design in blue, setting off a contrast with the black engine bay.

• Downpipe
  

The downpipe follows after the turbo component. Exhaust gas is dumped out from the turbo into this pipe.  As the downpipe gets more free flowing and wider, exhaust gases leave the system quicker, enabling the turbo to spin faster.  What do you get from a turbo that spins faster? POOWWAHHH!!  The the infamous turbo lag can be eliminated with a wider downpipe installation. On the market, there are many brands that make downpipes.  Again, brand loyalty and cost comes into play.  Reputable brands like Active Autowerks (which specializes in BMWs), Riss Racing, CP-E and AR Design all produce downpipes.  Out of these brands, Active and AR design have the most users through my observation on e90post.  If money is nothing to you, then Active would be my pick, mainly for it’s branding.  But if it weren’t the case, AR design sells a good quality stainless steel downpipe in both catted and catless form.  The difference between the two is catted would be more restrictive than Catless. But going catless might affect passing the SMOG test.  The choice is upon yourself, POOWWAAHH or SMOG test.

-Keep in mind the SMOG test is only required after 7 years old of the car in Ontario. (hint hint)

• Exhaust

How can we forget an exhaust system?  Exhaust systems are mainly for sound aesthetics. Some cars gain quite a few more horsepower with a more free flowing exhaust but the exhaust that comes stock on the 335i has a good flow already.  The only downside to the stock exhaust is being too mute for my taste.  Again, cost, brand loyalty, fitment all comes to play with modding cars and in this situation, there is no exception.  Some people like to stick to the BMW Performance Exhaust made by BMW which retains factory warranty.  This exhaust provides a civilized tone that I like as a daily vehicle but can also growl when you step on it.  But please keep in mind; if you are going to go full bolt on, you should keep your worries for the warranty last because most of these mods would void your warranty.

Here are a couple of exhausts which like and won’t attract too much attention from cops.

-BMW PERFORMANCE EXHAUST

-AE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST

-BORLA 335i

• Computer/ ECU Tuning

This is where the car gets interesting.  With all the prior mods above, the car will not change drastically until you modify the ECU.  A broad description of the ECU is that it functions like the human brain.  This ECU controls almost every part of the car.  An example would be the ECU telling how much air the engine will need to breath and how much fuel should be mixed with the air.  With turbo cars in this case, the ECU will also control how fast the turbo should spin at each rev range.

I will not get too in depth with this matter because it is a very complicated, just like the human brain.  What I will explain is how the computer will make your car faster. After all, this IS the whole purpose.  After you install this computer chip, the electronics will alter the air fuel ratio to allow the turbo to spin faster and create more boost.  This boost is what gets the car running fast.  Lets quickly get to the facts; there are three main competitors in this segment.

These tuning companies all have the pros and cons and it is up to you to decide.

COBB TUNING

-Cheaper than Procede

-No wiring needed in the engine bay.

-Directly plugs into the port under the steering wheel for changing of the maps

-Different maps for different turbo boost pressure

-Small unit just like an Ipod to switch maps and clear engine fault codes

VISHNU PROCEDE TUNING   

-Most expensive out of these three

-Need to do some wiring in the engine bay

-Auto Tune feature that the computer is smart enough to adapt to your car’s mods for maximum horsepower/torque

-Valet mode, allows the car to shut off the turbos so you can not only save gas but prevent valet parkers from destroying your racecar

-Launch Control

-Different maps for different turbo boost pressure

-Require a computer plugged into the car to clear codes

BURGER TUNING JUICEBOX 4

-Different maps for different turbo boost pressure

-Require a computer plugged into the car to clear codes

-Some complain about power surge in higher rpms

-Higher horsepower gains than COBB

-Need to do some wiring in the engine bay

So these are a few pros and cons of these computer flash which you can find more detailed information at:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=58

Well, after all these mods, you should be in the 400+horsepower territory and is enough to take onto the M3.  Not only will you be hanging onto them side by side, you should be able to pull on them.

(Notice this is a 335xi meaning all wheel drive which will be slower due to weight differences)

FINAL STEP TO RUN CORVETTES OR LAMBOS

After Full Bolt Ons~

TURBO UPGRADE

335is’ have been on the market for quite some time.  Performance companies are pushing out turbo upgrades for some that need new turbos due to wear. Turbo upgrade would yield the highest amount of horsepower which is sufficient to give supercars a run for their money.

• ROB BECK TURBOs

This company resided in the United States specializes in using the best materials to build bigger, stronger turbos for enthusiasts that want higher boost.  Although this turbo upgrade might cost a pretty penny, some say it is money well spent. This is mainly because many have already gotten used to the speed from the full bolt ons and in search for something quicker.

Here is an example of 335i vs Lamborghini Gallardo

AFTER ALL WHY ALL THIS FUSS?

“Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning’s winning” 

Think so? What do you think of these mods? Give me a reply right below!

Assignment 3: Journey to a New Car

Many people are in the market for a new vehicle but don’t know how to buy one with the least amount of money. Are you in the market for a new car? If so, this blog will enable you to become a smart purchaser!  If not, well, you can read and help your friends or family to buy a car later.

Many people say they want a car but have no idea what type of car they want. For example, some want sedans and some want hatchbacks to fit their dogs.  Some guys want pick ups to transport their goods and also help them feel they own the roads.  Some drivers prefer SUVs because they are better in the snow and have a higher ground clearance for better visibility. Some might want sports cars or convertibles to enjoy the sun and impress the ladies.  With that said, it is very important to know what type of vehicle you are looking for in the beginning.

Know Your Budget

After knowing the type of car you want, calculate how much money you are willing to spend towards a depreciating asset.  Cars depreciate once they are on the road, unless they are rare cars.  So make sure how much money you are willing to sacrifice towards your monthly lease, finance payment or lump sum.  A Porsche SUV and a Hyundai SUV are both SUVs but the cost are extremely far apart. We can be talking about a car worth $57,000, versus a car with $19,999.

-Lease, sort of like renting a car at with a monthly payment.  The car still does not belong to you at the end of the contract/lease.  You have the option to purchase out the car with a lump sum or the option to return the car to the dealer without any charges, unless there are damages to the car.  Some people prefer to lease cars because they like to change cars every so often and not be worried about fixing their cars when they are driven up to higher mileages.

-Finance.  This is the option of purchasing when you pay out the whole car’s worth of value in a period of time. This option may be more suitable for people who wishes to keep there cars for a longer time or until their cars die to the ground.  For people who drives very seldom and does not need a new car all the time, this might be the better option because the car will have a low mileage, meaning less maintenance to do. Last of all, the car belongs to you.

–Cash.  This option is when purchase the car with a one time payment in the beginning and which the car is yours.

Both Lease and Finance have their own benefits and each is suitable depending on the individual.  Some like to lease for tax reasons and some like to finance than pay cash to keep cash flow for other investments.  Therefore it is important to know your current financial situation and use the better suiting method of purchasing.

Purchasing second hand or certified pre-owned vehicles from dealers may also be wise because certified pre-owned cars are cars that have been checked by the official dealer and usually have an extended warranty.  This way, you can save some money as well.

Do Some Research

This is where the world wide web fascinates.  There are many online information regarding to the car you want.  Many automotive journalists write reviews and blogs about the cars they test.  Safety information regarding crash safety rating can be found on www.euroncap.com.  Car forums can also be helpful because members give the utmost down to earth information since they are usually driving one.  Consumers’ view about driving pleasure, mechanical failures, what to watch out for can also be usually be found at the forums.  But take notice, forums are usually biased with opinion related questions because forum members take pride in what they buy.  For example, Audi fans would say their A4 is better than a BMW 3 series because of such and such but BMW fans would say their car is better than the A4 because of such and such.  So keep this in mind!

After doing research for the particular model of car you have in mind, find out the invoice pricing of the car.  The invoice is the price dealers get the cars from the factory.  The MSRP price and the invoice pricing is the gap for price negotiation.  Keep in mind some factories give rebates the to the dealer because they might want to sell a particular model for the new model coming up.  In this case, your negotiation room is the cost of the rebate plus the difference in MSRP and invoice.  To find out the invoice pricing, www.carcostcanada.com is a helpful site to use at a cost.

Visit the Dealers

Test-drive the cars you like.  Understand you will be driving it for a somewhat period of time.   Take as long as you like to know the car’s handling, looks and comfort.  Is the headroom high enough? Is the storage space good for you? How comfortable are the seats and how’s the visibility like around the car?  Is the power sufficient for your needs? Does the car stop well?  These are very key things to notice when you test-drive cars.

Find out the options that you would like to have in your car.  Cars nowadays have a lot of options for you to choose because of the sophisticated technology.  For example, would you like a navigation system? A sunroof? Parking sensors? Rear view camera? Blind spot detection system? Power rear trunk? Optional Airbags?

Don’t let the salesmen pressure you to make decision.  Figure out if the car is suitable for yourself, financially and mechanically.  Get the cost of the monthly payment and find out if you would like to put a bigger down payment to lower the monthly payments.

Put an Offer

After your salesmen gives you a break down of all the costs, put in an offer. Keep in mind of the invoice pricing and rebates.  The usual practice in the GTA is 3-4% above the invoice price.  But this can change with demand and supply.  Next, find out how long it would take for the car to be taken delivery.  If it is too long and you cannot wait, move along to another dealer or look for another car.  On the other hand, if the dealer does not accept your offer, go to another dealer.  Some people in fact just send emails out to the dealers with their offers because it can help save time.

Once the offer has been accepted, Congratulations you have a new car.  Find out when you can pick up the car.  At this point, you should be filling out all the purchasing agreements and documents.  Try to use your credit card to put the offer because most credit cards give a rebate meaning you can save a little bit of money here and there.

At The Pickup

Check if its the car you wanted with the bells and whistles.  See if the colour choice is the one you wanted, yes some people have their cars delivered in another colour because the dealer wanted to make a quick sale. Check if the car is damaged free.  Most important, check how many kilometers there is on the car.  A brand new car should have less than 100km.  Ask the salesmen why there are so many clicks if the numbers don’t add up.  Ask for reduction in cost if needed to be.

Check the papers and cost to make sure there no difference than the one you signed when handing in the offer.  Audit the terms and interest rates to see if there is a change.  Usually the interest rate is the one on the day you take delivery from the dealer.  If everything is good, CONGRATS! You have a new car!

What are your experiences with buying cars? How smooth or terrible did it go? Let me know down below in the comment box! Remember, don’t forget to thank me when you buy a new car with my tips!

Assignment 2: Are Hybrid Cars Our Future?

Hybrid cars have gotten really common the past few years. Many car manufacturers have put resources on developing hybrids of their own.  Many think it is the solution to global warming but I don’t think so.  How often do you see hybrid car owners flooring their cars traffic light to traffic light? Almost every day! Hybrid Car Owners! I am calling you out! YOUR CAR DOES NOT SAVE GAS WHEN YOU DRIVE LIKE LIKE THAT.

• HYBRIDS AND IT’S CONS

Many hybrid cars are on the road and what makes me disapprove the idea of hybrid is many times our roadways are around 70-100km/h, though the average speed on the 401 is 120km/h in the fast lane. From my understanding, hybrid vehicles uses gas after 60km/h and when the engine is under load.  Think about it, on the 401, the speeds on there have an average of 120km/h, sometimes even faster.  At these speeds the car’s electric motor is not enough to keep the car in constant speed, so the gasoline engine is used.  With the small 1.8L 4 cylinder engine used in most hybrids, the engine would be working harder to keep the car at highway speeds, as compared to a V6 engine. This means on the highway, there is a chance a V6 engine would be using less gas than a hybrid.

In the city, we are often accelerating because of the traffic.  Acceleration from traffic light to traffic light cannot be evaded.  Even though hybrid car owners can keep the gas pedal light, cars behind usually do not have the patience for you. What you end up is having to accelerate harder and use the gasoline motor or you risk getting honked.   I really think the idea of hybrid, in North America. is not a clever way to help pollution, but rather pollute the environment even more, because of the nickel battery used in these cars which I will criticize later, stay tuned.

• TRUE STORY~

My friend recently purchased a hybrid, and it is a Lexus Hybrid, the CT200H.  The first day he picked it up, he loved it. The next week I see him, he regrets buying the car.  He complains how he gets worse mileage than his Lexus GS350, since he’s on the highway most of the time.  Next, he hates how there is a sudden jolt when the gasoline engine kicks in.  I have heard of this problem 5 years ago and I can’t believe it is still evident now.

As a matter of fact, only 35% of hybrid owners say they will purchase another one.   Can you believe it? Keep in mind out of this 35%, 40% of them are Toyota Prius owners (ugly ass piece of crap), who are die hard fans of these cars. (The ones I see racecar-ing in the traffic all the time)

• HYBRID SUVS? WHY?

Next I want to touch upon is…Hybrid SUVs. What the fuck? Why would you want to buy a Hybrid SUV when the purpose of a hybrid is to save gas? Persuade me into thinking Hybrid SUVs are the shit, other than their high price tag for bragging rights.  Almost every time I see a SUV, they are usually doing 20km/h more than the speed limit.  These SUVs drivers drive aggressively and hybrids to them are meaningless when they drive like that.  Another true story… we all know how SUV drivers in North America are, they are no better than pick-up drivers who feel like they own the roads, swerving in and out of traffic. From my point of view, Hybrid SUVS are terrible.

• THE BATTERIES

The nickel battery in the engine is something I also want to talk about. The cost of these batteries are not cheap. It will cost you an arm and a leg or a side of your kidney to replace.  To change the battery, you are looking at $3000 for just the battery and extra for labour.  Hybrid owners, I feel sad for you, with the gas you might have saved, your paying to play again. Remember how you paid more for your hybrid car? Now your paying for battery replacement.  Can I laugh in your face now? Are you feeling stupid to buy the hybrid gimmick?  Being back on topic, where are all these nickel batteries being dumped?  How hard is it to recycle them environmentally friendly?  Until this day, there isn’t a clear concise answer.

• HYBRIDS FOR…

I feel that the hybrid idea is not working until something evolutionary changes the game. The hybrid might work in highly populated areas were bumper to bumper traffic exists most of the time.  An example I could think of is Hong Kong.  The reason behind my view is because the roads in Hong Kong are always congested. You do not need to use the gas pedal much.  The benefits of having a hybrid there is that, the car can still provide Air Conditioning, yet runs on battery (Hong Kong is HOT and HUMID).  This way, there is less pollution emitted and still provide comfort for passengers. WIN-WIN!

• TURBO DIESEL CARS

As of today, I am standing towards Turbo Diesel cars which is very popular in Europe.  These cars have great gas mileage yet provide sufficient amount of power.  Volkswagen’s TDI line of cars are currently very popular and most them are sold out for this year.  A full tank of gas 55 liters on a VW Golf TDI can go beyond 1100km on the highway.  This fact is very astonishing and better of all, the cost for diesel fuel is currently lower than gasoline. What do you think of my critics and do you buy my theory? Let me know at the comment box below!

Assignment 1: Do Car Engines Now need to be FORCED FED?

When was the last time that you were fascinated by the car going beside you? Do you remember when you were a kid and your jaw dropped when the mustang was reving it? I remembered when I was a kid I would be amazed at those loud super cars. When I found out most of these cars brands had a strong historical background in them (not including the fart can exhausts off a ricer civic), I started to follow how cars work and why they work certain ways.

One fact that caught my attention was how many of these higher end reputable brands like to put big engines in their car, especially their sports cars.  Well nowadays this tradition has changed and many car companies are going with smaller engines to comply with tougher emissions.  With the trend on making smaller engines, the use of force induction technology is the solution to make power.

To be honest, I am really disappointed…as a car enthusiast, force induction does not replace actual displacement.  That V8, V10, V12 machinery growl is no fucking joke.  Just by listening to that is music to my ears, heck I even use that as my phone’s ringtone.  Imaging yourself drive that weapon down Bloor street during peak hours.  How many head tuners would you attract to see what’s up?  I promise you; even the ladies who don’t pay attention to cars will look.

Recently I took a look at the new BMW F30 M3 off youtube and God that sounds terrible compared to the E9x M3 with the 4.4 litre V8.  That V8 grunt in the E9x M3 sounds so amazing that I felt like an ear orgasm  the first time I heard it.  As a matter of fact the new M3 is just a “tuned” N54 335i, with an extra turbo, very disappointing.  Not only BMW is going this direction but Mercedes Benz is too.  The previous 6.2 litre AMG engine in the CLS63 has now gone turbo charged too with a smaller 5.5 litre V8.  I guess the European emissions has gone really tough on car makers. Even the more entry level car like the BMW 328i has gone to a 4 cylinder turbo banger, unlike the previous generation, with the legendary inline 6.

I know forced induction cars respond very well to mods like tunes and downpipes (which I find it as a perk cause you can save money and tune it). But the sound has really gone downhill after this move by the car makers.  The sound of machinery is what makes me adore it’s fine engineering.  The industry now is a really huge disappointment, especially in the German league where I always bowed down to.  From now I will start paying more attention to American muscle. The problem with American Muscle is that their cars seems to be missing a soul.  All it does is run quarter miles and produce noise but lack the fine tuned handling which I value a lot as a track junkie.

Many say an aftermarket exhaust would fix this noise complaint but seriously…it doesn’t.  I usually hear this solution come from the owners’ mouth, just so they feel better about their purchase.  Go check out the M5 Eisenmann race exhaust on an E60 compared to the F10 on youtube posted blow.  Like come on, you are lying to yourself if your saying it sounds the same.  The sound is muffled by a million times on the F10 if you asked me.  The V10 engine growl is sex on the E60.  Like come on. DO YOU HEAR THAT BMW?

E60 M5 Eisenmann Race

F10 M5 Eisenmann Race

Here is another example on a F30 328i versus the E90 328i both with Performance Exhaust

4 Cylinder BMW 328i

6 Cylinder BMW 328i

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