Sunday, September 30, 2012

Why Are Diesel Cars More Expensive Than Gasoline Ones?

Modern diesel engines rely on some advanced technologies, many of which are more expensive than standard components for gasoline engines.

The most basic characteristic of diesels that allow them to be more efficient than gasoline engines is the compression ratio. While most gasoline engines have compression ratios in the range of 9:1 to 11:1, diesel engines can have 16:1 or even 20:1. The higher the compression ratio, the higher the efficiency, according to the laws of thermodynamics. Unfortunately, higher compression ratios also mean higher stress for the engine internals to cope with. Therefore all the parts of a diesel engine have to be made stronger to withstand those stresses over the lifetime of the engine. This of course means that a diesel engine will cost more in comparison to a gasoline engine.

The vast of majority of diesel engines for passenger cars are turbocharged, in order to produce competitive amounts of power. While a turbocharger gives diesel engines a great flat torque curve and strong power, it increases costs. The cost for the turbo itself is not the end of the story though. Since compressing the air using a turbocharger heats it up, it has to be cooled down again before being fed into the engine. This means the car needs an intercooler and the associated plumbing as well, again more costs.

Another key component of modern diesel engines is a high pressure injection system. These systems, more commonly known as "common rail" systems, pump the fuel up to very high pressures between 1000 and 2000 bars or even more. Because of this, a diesel car has to have a secondary fuel pump to achieve those high pressures, again more costs. Once the pressurized fuel is pumped into the common-rail, it is injected into the cylinders usually by using what is known as a piezo-injector. This is an injector that delivers very precise amounts of diesel using a piezo-crystal. The advantage of these injectors is the very flexible and precise delivery of fuel, which allows very good control over the combustion, allowing good economy and low emissions. The disadvantage is of course that they are expensive.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Opting for Sports Car Storage

Your sports car might be your prized possession, especially if you keep vehicles for a hobby or pastime. Vintage cars, classic cars and sports cars are hugely popular and if you are lucky enough to purchase your dream car you will definitely want to keep it in pristine condition. Some people like to own cars to take to specialist car shows and other events. This is why keeping the vehicle finely tuned and in excellent shape is vital.

Sports car owners might think that their own garage space or even their driveway is a suitable environment for storing the vehicle. Other factors are to be taken into consideration when thinking about storage methods as keeping the car safe and secure is not as simple as it might seem. There are many other elements that may affect the overall condition of the vehicle and protecting the car from these potential damages is essential.

Opting for professional sports car storage might be the way forward and is certainly a great option if you value your vehicle and want to keep it in prime condition. Storing your car with professional experts means the vehicle is kept within high specification, temperature controlled surroundings which means moisture cannot affect the car like it would if it was simply sat in your garage at home. These highly secure storage facilities really do cover all angles when it comes to the upkeep of your vehicle from providing tailored car covers to from rolling the vehicles wheels and altering tyre pressure.

Sports car storage means that your vehicle will be kept in controlled facility that is constantly de-humidified and monitored by expert staff. This stable environment prevents elements such as mildew, damp and mould from building up, avoiding costly damage to the vehicle over time. The temperature is perfectly controlled meaning these storage environments are not too dry either. This avoids any damage to natural materials within the vehicle.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Finding Reputable Car Dealers

If you are out in the market to buy a new car, it is absolutely essential to find some reputable car dealers which you can visit.

Before actually going off to a car dealership, it is important to first establish your budget. Are you going to pay cash for the new car or are you going to ask for a payment plan? Once you have established your budget, it is time to start searching for reputable car dealers.

A great way to find out about reputable dealerships in your area is to talk to family and friends, especially those members that have purchased a new car recently. These people can tell you about the dealership they used, how the service was, if they offered insurance or warranties, the customer service level etc.

Family and friends can also tell you which dealerships should be avoided. They can tell you which dealership has bad customer service or is known to scam people out of money. Since you know your family and friends personally, you can be assured that you will get an honest opinion about the car dealerships you inquire about.

Another way to find out if a car dealership is reputable or not, you can check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). The BBB allows people to check their records to find out if there have been any complaints launched against a business (car dealership included). If so, they will let you know if it has been resolved or is still in dispute.

All the complaints recorded by the BBB are used to rate the business members. The ratings can provide you with a good idea of how others rate the business and how well the business is willing to co-operate with customers.