Archive for June, 2010

The wear and tear of seemingly ordinary, day to day driving can take its toll on even the most cautious of drivers. Nicks, scratches, dents, chips, and the like, can etch the surface of your car like an acid, marring the pristine finish it had when you drove it off the lot. These unwanted (and yet inevitable) scars are the proud automobile owners nightmare, but can be easily remedied by way of the talents of a professional auto detailer.

Those long bouts of highway driving we are all subjected to from time to time, can be as frustrating for the drone of the open road as much as they are for the caked layer of insects which inevitably grace the hood, bumpers, windshields, and grills of a once clean car. Its an annoyance most easily absolved through a thorough automobile detailing. A good auto detailer can polish, buff, and wax your car back into the condition you remember it, and the condition you deserve it to be in. Of course, you might say, professional automotive detailing is not a necessity, I can scrub and polish my own car, thank you very much. But this can be a dangerous misconception. Using the wrong equipment, or using improper techniques, or unqualified persons to work on your car can actually do more harm than good.

Cheap shampoos, soaps, scrub brushes and such, can wear down the quality of your automobiles paint job, leaving it more spotted, tarnished, and lusterless. Even hasty, careless work with something as seemingly inconsequential as a bristly old rag can leave nearly unnoticeable scuffs, slowly wearing down the shine of a once beautiful marriage of paint and wax. This is where the talents and experience of a professional auto detailer can save the day. In the hands of a good detailer, your car can gain back the brilliance it once had, and had subsequently lost through the trials and tribulations of everyday use.

And thats nothing to say of the interior. We all of us know how easy it is to stain, scuff, and generally wear down the carpet and upholstery of your car of trucks interior, leaving it a paltry version of its former self. And then theres the non-visible horrors of an unclean car: the smell. The tiniest of coffee spills or other such filth and dirt that can so easily be trudged into your car, can burrow their foul odor deep in the fibers of carpets and seat covers. And anyone who has ever taken their dog for a ride to the park knows that unmistakable canine musk lingers on well after the dog blanket and tennis ball have been removed. Such unpleasant odors area fact of your cars life, but are in no way a death sentence. A thorough auto detailing can exorcise even the most offensive aromas from that enclosed space where, behind the wheel, we spend so much of our time.

Theres no need to go on driving a car that is slowly deteriorating away from its former glory. We can all recall that new car smell, that fresh-off-the-lot fragrance that has burned its way into all car drivers memories; its one of the saddest truths about regular car use that this smell represents cleanliness, and whose only hope of recovery can be through cleanliness. automotive detailing is your best bet to improving the look and feel of your car is by utilizing the efforts of a good detailer. A full auto detailing will appease that nagging guilt you feel whenever the sun comes out and all the blemishes of a once fine automobile are exposed for every prying eye to see. His expertise can do what the rest of us folk have neither the time nor the equipment to accomplish and he might just have you, if not enjoying, at the very least, dreading that unavoidable rush-hour just a little bit less.

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The brand new Citroen C5 model is the result of hard work, determination and innovation shown by the designers of Citroen. The C5 model is quite bigger in size. Citroen claims that the C5 can accelerate 0-62 mph under 10seconds, and turns out to be a lot quicker than the previous models released by the company. The curb weight of C5 is 1,729 kg. However, maintaining its weight, it still remains smooth on the road, which is one of its special qualities.

It comes in a muscular design with a six-speed gear box. It is also known for its fuel economy, as the C5 can move up to 500 miles at a stretch without refueling, once its 71 liter tank is fully filled. Because of this reason, most car owners even enjoy the driving for about one weak and they don’t need to refuel. The hallmark of Citroen is its innovative suspension, which is also maintained in the C5 model by using “Hydractive 3+” with an adjustable spring, ride height, and damping.

This suspension helps the car to move smoothly even in town or busy areas. With such fine facilities, this car has also a surprising market price of even lesser than the Ford’s Mondeo. The actual market price of the car is 21,715 on the UK roads and under $36,000 mark on the US roads. All in all, this model is indeed much more impressive than its predecessors, and more than capable of catching the eyes of its potential customers.

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Upholstery refers to the work done so as to provide seats of your vehicle with padding, springs, webbing, fabric covers, or leather covers. It actually comes from the Middle English words of up and holden. When put together, these words mean to hold up.

When you purchased your vehicle, you surely have noticed that it already came with upholstery. There was nothing you can do with it but to drive around in it and relax. However, time really does bear its mark. Your cars upholstery would have either started to crumble or you would have had to feel each bump and pothole your car runs over for the comfort and relaxing feel of your car seats have gone and said goodbye. When this happens, it simply means that it is the right time to do some reupholstering. And automobile experts say that reupholstering your cars interior is one of the ways to make your machine look like you just bought it from the car dealer.

To have your vehicle reupholstered, start by finding the right shop to do that kind of service. You can ask your car dealer to recommend good upholstery shops. You can also ask car audio specialty shops. Or, you can ask around and ask car owners. Sometimes, the best way to find a good upholstery shop is to go to those that have been recommended by car owners.

When you have a list of upholstery shops in hand, call them and find out about what kind of upholstery they offer. That way, you can check out if they have the right kind of service that you would like your vehicle to receive. Also, ask around for prices and see if it fits your budget.

Once you have chosen your shop, visit it and see what materials they have in stock. That way, you would know your options and your choices. You would be also able to check which materials could work best for your cars interior. With one of the upholstery shops personnel, discuss your budget. Ask his or her help regarding the amount you are willing to pay and the kind of work that your car could receive in exchange. The cost of materials for upholstery could actually range from 6 a yard to a whopping 75.

These shops also have some photographs of the work they have already done. You can request the shops personnel for them. That way, you can see what kind you would like your vehicle to have. You should also ask the personnel to explain to you the process of reupholstering your car.

While at it, you can also choose to spruce up your vehicle. Carpets, grilles, and fenders are available at Auto Parts Go at low prices. They specialize in Nissan parts and they also do offer auto parts for various vehicle models and makes as well.

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2011 Citroen C4 Review – Leading the French Automotive Revolution

Isn’t interesting how things come full circle? Take for example the latest Citroen C4, the dramatic and stylish replacement for the uninspired mid-range Xsara and ZX models. After almost a decade and a half of Peugeot ownership, and the efforts to increase market share by making conventionally-styled cars, Citroen finally realised that the brand really needed to return to the defiant, innovative spirit that characterised models such as a DS, GS and CX from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

There used to be a joke in the 80s and 90s that each new Citroen model had to have a larger double chevron badge than the earlier models because it was increasingly difficult to tell Citroens apart from Peugeots and Renaults. Well, with the C4, this is definitely not the case, even if the double chevron has become larger and incorporated on the grille; this will be the new identity for all future Citroen models. Grille apart, the C4 has bold arching lines, making it look like a stretched and more dynamic C3. From the up turned headlamps in front, to the sloping rear, the C4 looks distinctive and unique, but also well proportioned and stylish. Even while standing still, its mild cab forward stance gives it a thrusting, forward motion. There is no mistaking this new Citroen for another brand of car.

On the inside as well, the C4 recalls the futuristic dashboards of Citroens’ passed. The futuristic digital instrument binnacle is a floating pod located in the middle of a symmetrical dashboard. The speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges, as well as the distance-to-empty reading for fuel, are all displayed in this singular LCD panel, and it is impressively easy to read. More than just a conventional digital display, the panel is actually translucent, and it changes colour according to the amount of light falling on it.

The tachometer, gear selection and warning lights are mounted in a separate pod directly in front of the driver, and the entire assembly moves up and down when the steering is adjusted. Instead of having a red-line, the tachometer display itself changes to red when the engine is over-revved.

Perhaps of the most radical aspect of the C4’s dashboard is the steering boss. Instead of turning with the wheel, it remains in place. This means the switches mounted on it (cruise control on the left and in-car hi-fi on the right) don’t move, and are actually easier to use this way. Having a fixed steering boss also allowed for the mounting of a larger two stage airbag for the driver. Like all innovative designs, one must ask why nobody thought of it any earlier? It is refreshing that Citroen is designing interesting dashboards again through intelligent re-thinking and questioning of the status quo, and not just for the sake of being different.

But unique looks aside, the C4 is also a great drive – the throttle is lively and responsive, and the steering feels positive and tactile, on top of being a wonderfully innovative design. Citroens have always been involving and good to drive, but with the C4, they once again have the distinctive looks to match. Sure, Alfa Romeos sound better, Hondas are more free-revving and the Mini has a sharper steering, but the C4 drives as though its suspension, engine and chassis are perfectly choreographed, each component playing its part so that the whole ensemble gives an outstanding and well-rounded performance.

But probably the most significant, but rational aspect of the C4 is that it is utterly conventional. There is no hydra-active pneumatic suspension, and it doesn’t have a mind-boggling fluid based clutch or powered steering. In fact, mechanically speaking, the C4 is almost entirely identical to the Peugeot 307. Yet, the two cars could not be more different. While the 307 is tall and spacious, the C4 is curvy and feels snug inside. While the Peugeot has a conventional cabin, the C4 is completely digital and avant-garde. In the 307, one rides tall, like in an MPV, while in the C4, the set up is sportier and one feels like piloting a futuristic spacecraft. A true Citroen fan might bemoan the fact that the C4 is mechanically conventional, but does it matter when it is likely to be more reliable because it is made this way?

So yes, the C4 is distinct and dramatic the way Citroen’s used to be. It looks and feels different, and drives better than any of its peers. From the nice details, such as the integrated car-fragrance perfume container, to the striking silk-like textured surfacing over the dashboard, Citroen has shown in the C4 it is still tops for out-of-the-box thinking and design. We wholeheartedly welcome the new breed of Citroen that satisfies both the left- and right-side of the brain.

Kenji Alexis has been writing car reviews for close to 10 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.motorstop.asia to check out the in depth Honda cars reviews and all the latest automotive news.

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