http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/rss.xml A blog about performanceautopartsplus.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=36726 <p>Date: December 4, 2006</p><p>The company, Franchise Services of North America has announced that it has completed the business combination of the Wrent-A-Wreck and U-Save Auto.&nbsp; </p><p>This transaction will result in the former shareholders of U-Save holding 94.25 % of the outstanding shares of FSNA.&nbsp; The transaction was approved at a special meeting of holders of common shares of the company.</p><p>The transaction has yet to be approved by the TSX Venture Exchange.</p><p>For more news on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">Auto Parts</a> visit <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</a></p> 2006-12-05T17:58-05:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=36662 <p>Date: November 30, 2006</p><p><br />Unlike other hybrids, the Ford Escape Hybrid continues to be a full hybrid.&nbsp; Unlike the mild hybrid vehicles, the Escape Hybrid can run on 100% electric power up to 30 mph.</p><p>Power is delivered by a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor, producing 70 kw @ 5000 rpm and 330V maximum voltage.&nbsp; If additional power is needed, the Escape's 2.3 liter DOHC 16-valve Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine engages with 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.ft of torque at 4250 rpm.&nbsp; Net result being 155 horsepower with 0-60 times comparable to a 200 horsepower V-6 engine and has an in city-driving fuel economy of nearly 75 percent.&nbsp; The hybrids are equipped with an electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission.</p><p>Escape Hybrid engineers have made revisions to software for the control system to improve the transparency or the transition between gasoline and electric operation.&nbsp; Transition from all electric to gasoline power to a combo of the two is virtually imperceptible to the driver.</p><p>For more news on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">Performance Auto Parts</a> visit <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</a></p> 2006-11-30T11:10-05:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35253 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Sports car lovers generally think they best maximize the enjoyment of their ownership experience when squeezing a steering wheel or getting dirt under their fingernails. Driving is, of course, at the very heart of owning a sports car. Maintaining, repairing and customizing cars can be a wonderful ancillary to the ownership experience.<br /><br />There is, however, another venue in which one can find a great deal of enjoyment in sports car ownership. Surprisingly, it's not at a racetrack or car show, but instead is at a keyboard. The internet can open a variety of awesome opportunities to maximize one's enjoyment of their sports car.<br /><br />The internet offers a great opportunity to learn more about your sports car and to interact with other aficionados from around the world. In the past, one was limited in finding new ideas and information about their sports car. Sure, they could join an auto club or seek out interesting newsstands titles, but there was a comparative paucity of information compared to what is now available to anyone with an internet connection. <br /><br />One may find the cause of that riddle of a noise in the exhaust system from a fellow owner in England. One may find the exact means by which to implement a long-desired upgrade in an online chat with a fellow driver from Brazil. The global reach of the internet provides a spectacular opportunity for sports car enthusiasts to share their news, hints and stories with one another.<br /><br />In addition to opportunities to find out what others are doing and to communicate with them, the internet also provides a comprehensive reference guide that shames any owner's manual or Chilton's guide. Curious as to exactly how many of your particular car were produced in its model year? A quick search can provide the answer. Do you need to know the exact part number of the brake caliper you need to replace? Again, you can find it online in a matter of minutes.<br /><br />The resources available online provide every sports car owner with a legitimate chance of becoming a true expert. Study of your car, its history, strengths and weaknesses can elevate your understanding of the machinery to levels previously reserved only for those who worked on the vehicle's actual design. The end-user becomes the expert, thanks to the information readily available online.<br /><br />There are chat rooms, forums, message boards and a host of other web sites devoted to sports cars. Some are general in nature, focusing on the driving experience or providing a broadly stroked overview of the sports car community. Others are precise in their interests and are limited to exacting discussions regarding particular makes and models of cars. Most all are welcoming of newcomers with stories to share, questions to ask, and advice to dispense.<br /><br />The information-sharing network that exists insures any sports car driver can learn more about their vehicle than they may have believed possible.<br /><br />Although learning and research may not get the blood pumping quite like an afternoon country drive or provide the sense of satisfaction inherent in a do-it-yourself repair job, they can serve to significantly improve the quality of your sports car ownership experience. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge, as well as information gleaned with a specific intent can make owning and maintaining a high-performance sports car even more enjoyable.<br /><br />When not behind the wheel or under the hood, a true sports car fan can find a great deal of information and entertainment from behind a keyboard.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get performance parts for your sports car at <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</a></p> 2006-07-29T23:36-04:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35101 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>The Porsche Boxter was first released in 1996 and has been overwhelmingly popular since. By 1998 the demand was so great that production in Zuffenhusen was not keeping up so Porsche signed a contract with a Finnish factory called Valmet. The contract was to only be for two years since it was thought that by that time the plant in Zuffenhausen would be able to handle the workload, that hasn&rsquo;t happened and as a matter of fact the majority of Boxters headed to North America are built in the Finnish plant.<br /><br />It is now not even possible to guarantee that you get a Stuttgart built car because even the vehicles designated for Tourist Delivery are sometimes coming from Valmet.<br /><br />The popularity of the Boxter shows no signs of waning and if anything the introduction of the new second generation model of 2005 will only increase popularity even more. The Boxter and the Boxter S are super fast and powerful and are by the estimation of many, the best handling mass production sports cars in the world. <br /><br />They have hardly changed in nearly 10 years aside from minor tweaks to increase horsepower and adding to interior options. This strategy keeps the Porsche tradition of maintaining the look of a successful model for long periods of time which is totally opposed to American car manufacturers&rsquo; philosophy where they change vehicle designs as often as every three years.<br /><br />Like its precedent first offered in 1996, the second generation Boxster is a mid-engine, six-cylinder two-seater that resembles the Porsche Spyder and yet the majority of Boxster&lsquo;s construction and electronics are taken from the 911 Carrera. The 2005 Boxter has increased horsepower by 15 and its performance in acceleration and top speed is just about identical to the expensive 911 Carrera. <br /><br />The base transmission offered is a 5 speed manual but a six speed is optional as is the availability of the 5-speed Porsche designed Tiptronic automatic transmission.<br /><br />The overall look of the exterior of the Boxter is not overly decorative or ornate but sexy and the interior has been improved a good deal due to the earlier versions being considered too Spartan or cheap looking. The seats in the second generation are supportive and body conforming which not only makes them look good but increases comfort as well.<br /><br />One of The Boxster&lsquo;s features that I like best, being in Florida, is the powered convertible top, which is very fast and easy to retract or put up. In the 2005 Boxster, the top can even operate while driving up to 30 mph, which is an added plus if you are caught in a sudden shower. The triple-layer padded cloth tops with a heated-glass rear window is as weather-tight and offers as much quiet as most fully enclosed metal roofs.<br /><br />Porsche continues to prolong their tradition of building quality sports cars with the second generation Porsche Boxter.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. For more on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">performance auto parts</a> for your car go to http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</p> 2006-07-18T00:48-04:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35100 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>The German motorcar company, Porsche has done it again with the 2006 911 Turbo which premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in February of 2006. This 6th generation 911 is now available in German dealerships and just now beginning to appear in the United States at a cost of over 120k.<br /><br />There have been some modifications to the engine of the 911 Turbo resulting in 480 horsepower at 6000 rpm with a 3.6 liter engine. That&rsquo;s a lot of power for such a small engine! The car does zero to sixty in 3.9 seconds with the six speed manual transmission.<br />If you feel the need to go even faster you can get the optional Tiptronic S automatic version that does the 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. I guess it will let you wrap yourself around a tree quicker! You can also add on the Sport Chrono Package Turbo which is available for the first time.<br /><br />The drive train of the 2006 Porsche 911 Turbo showcases a newly reworked all-wheel drive including a multi-disc clutch that is controlled electronically which results in a smoother transfer of power from the engine to the wheels and tires. The Porsche Traction Management System or PTM controls the distribution of power to the axles. This cutting edge traction system improves traction in rain or snow and helps the vehicle to maintain high agility on narrow winding roads and provides exceptional safety even at extreme speeds.<br /><br />With a car that goes this fast you have to have an equally superior braking system and the superior performance of the 911 Turbo is matched by the monobloc fixed caliper disc brakes that include six pistons at the front axles and four to the rear. The 911 also features the newly introduced ceramic brake system called the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake System which is much lighter than the standard system.<br /><br />As far as the exterior is concerned the front end of the 911 Turbo had been modified to include distinctive cooling air inlets which together with the standard oval bi-xenon headlamps gives the car a powerful new look. The rear has been redesigned as well and is wider than before with an all new spoiler added. Go out and test drive one today, if you can find one!</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. For more on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">performance auto parts</a> for your car go to http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</p> 2006-07-17T11:32-04:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35099 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Even though the Porsche 64 is considered by many to be the first car produced by the company it was really only a test car and was never built as a production automobile, in fact only three were built. The 364 was built by Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche after design by Erwin Komenda, while getting its engine modeled after the VW Beetle.<br /><br />The 356 was offered in the beginning as a coupe, a cabriolet, and a roadster and before being taken off the market in 1965 it underwent several modifications. The models that were the most wanted were the Super 90, the Speedster, and the 356 Carrera which often fetches over $150,000 now. The original selling price for a Porsche in the latter 1950&rsquo;s was only $4,000.<br /><br />Max Hoffman was the only Porsche importer in the United States back then and wanted a lower priced, speedy version to market to Americans. So in 1954 the company manufactured the 356 Speedster with a removable windshield, bucket seats, and a very basic folding top. The Speedster production peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957 and was replaced in 1959 by the Convertible model D which featured a taller and more practical windshield as well as more comfortable seating. <br /><br />The original 356 was featured in many Hollywood films and now brings over $100,000 at auto specialty auctions and through private dealers, if you are lucky enough to find one.<br /><br />Even though minor modifications were made to it, the basic shape of the Porsche 356 stayed unchanged and its signature look was easily distinguished from others. The coupe and cabriolet editions were made each year until 1965 but the last 356 Roadster was made two years earlier. <br /><br />In 1964 when Porsche introduced the popular 911, 356 vehicle production was at 14,151 and the company offered the 356 through 1965 as a lower cost alternative to the more pricey 911 which was twice that of the 356. Due to the complaining of customers that the price of the 911 was too high the company came out with the 912 which featured the cheaper engine of the 356 and it was sold until 1969.<br /><br />Currently the Porsche 356 is a desirable and respected collector classic and was named on the top 10 list of the best sports cars of the 1960&rsquo;s by Sports Car International. Today thousands of Porsche 356 owners carry on the tradition with well preserved vehicles that are driven on a regular basis.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. For more on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">performance auto parts</a> for your car go to http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</p> 2006-07-17T11:29-04:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35098 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Most auto connoisseurs consider the Porsche 64 which is also sometimes known as the VW Aerocoupe, Type 64 and Type 64K10 as being the first automobile made by Porsche. It was manufactured mainly from parts from the Model 64 VW Beetle and that is where the model number comes from. The Porsche 64&rsquo;s flat-four engine produced fifty b.h.p. and gave the vehicle a top speed of 160 km/h.<br />The body was designed by Porsche Burro after wind tunnel tests made for the Type 114, a V10 racer that never saw the light of day as a production car. Dr. Porsche planned to enter the roadster in the 1939 Berlin to Rome race event. The bodywork specialist company Reutter made three cars from shaped aluminum. Out of the three, one was totaled in the early years of World War II by a VW bureaucrat. The two cars that remained were used by the exclusively by the Porsche family. Towards the end of World War Two, they put one of the vehicles in storage and used the other one. American troops discovered the one put in storage in May 1945, cut the top of it off and took it joyriding for a few weeks until the engine went and it was junked. Farina restored the only remaining Porsche 64 in 1947, as it was owned and driven by Ferry Porsche. In 1949, the Austrian racer Otto Matte bought the car and raced it, winning the Alpine Rally in 1950 in it.<br />Now nearly a hundred years after its founder started designing automobiles, Porsche is still popular, the result of offering a cure for a mid-life crisis similar to owning a Harley &ndash; Davidson motorcycle. Porsche&rsquo;s lineup now features four model lines: the incredibly sexy and popular Boxster, the enduring 911 models, the relatively new Cayenne SUV, and the stunningly opulent Carrera GT, and if you can&rsquo;t afford their cars, Porsche also offers watches, luggage, and tennis rackets bearing its name. <br />The company is still controlled by descendants of the founding family and it has enlarged its area by offering consulting services to other industries not only on the automotive industry but in furniture, construction, and engineering as well.<br />Form its early years of operating in the red, Porsche has evolved into a winner as one of the most profitable car makers on the planet while many other automakers are having to lay off workers, offer cash incentives, and strategize how to deal with the upcoming Chinese market. Porsche consistently releases startling new products and has quadrupled annual vehicle sales in less than ten years in spite of costs and the risks involved.<br />The most recent additions of the Boxster and Cayenne are doing very well and continue to be examples of the popularity of Porsche as the company continues to move forward.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. For more on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">performance auto parts</a> for your car go to http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</p> 2006-07-17T11:25-04:00 http://articles.performanceautopartsplus.com/?a=35094 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Virtually every car nut, okay enthusiast, that I know would love to own a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. It is a street racer with an incredibly powerful V10 engine and a body made of carbon fiber which makes it so lightweight.<br /><br />In 2004 Porsche brought out the Carrera GT and it was so perfect that only minor adjustments are present in the 2005 version. To make the car a bit more comfortable to drive the seat height is now adjustable and also includes thigh bolsters to help make the legs more secure. The look of the Carrera GT is unmistakable. The low profile, ultra-light racer is a sight to behold and the interior is just as flawless as the outside.<br /><br />Okay, onto the cool stuff. Most of you are probably like me and just want to know the answer to the question, &ldquo;What makes it go so fast?&rdquo; For starters, the roadster comes with a 5.7 liter, 605 horsepower V10 that can do 205 miles per hour! Every effort has been made to make the car as light as possible while maintaining safety, even the transmission mounts are made of carbon-reinforced plastic.<br /><br />The level of sophistication in the car&rsquo;s suspension is so incredible that even the shape of the components increase the aerodynamics. Light materials like magnesium are employed for the huge wheels and the frames of the unique sports seats which results in not only a faster car but a safer one as well. <br /><br />So what kind of impact did using all these lightweight materials have on the performance of the vehicle? How about a zero to 60 time of only 3.9 seconds? That&rsquo;s plenty quick isn&rsquo;t it? It also reaches 100 miles per hour in under seven seconds and 125 in less than ten.<br /><br />The engine that makes all of this possible is the 5.5 liter V-10 which was created in Porsche&rsquo;s development center in Weissach, Germany and has been bored to 5.7. With a super low center of gravity, sixty eight degree V angle, and using the technology of multiple valves with four per cylinder it is no surprise that this engine delivers such outstanding performance and with the engine block, crank, and cam shafts all constructed of light weight alloys it only weighs in at a little over 470 pounds!<br /><br />Okay, we know it goes fast so how do I stop it? The Carrera GT is equipped with a high tech braking system featuring ceramic brakes which are the first ever used in an on road car. When a car goes this fast it&rsquo;s good to know it has a state of the art brake system to stop it!<br /><br />Everyone loves the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT with its signature look that and performance that leaves you breathless the only question left is, &ldquo;How much?&rdquo;<br />$440,000, Can you afford it?</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. For more on <a href="http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com/">performance auto parts</a> for your car go to http://www.performanceautopartsplus.com</p> 2006-07-16T21:18-04:00