Can You Modify A Car Without Destroying Resale Value?
Car modification is big business. Thanks to billion dollar spectator motor sports such as Formula 1, Indy Car Racing, Touring Cars and the World Rally Championship, as well as films such as Fast and Furious, everyone wants a car with at least a little hint of attitude…like maybe some cool lights, a body kit, an upgraded exhaust system, etc.
This heavily modified classic is probably a great dragster, but it would be worth a lot more money if it was all original. A LOT more...
The problem is, many after-market accessories and vehicle modifications can hurt resale value. Adding a big wing and a lowering kit, for example, will only cause your car to lose value. It’s ironic that adding thousands of dollars worth of after-market extras can hurt resale value, but it’s true.
So, what can you do to ensure your car loses less value if/when you add an after-market accessory or modification? Read more
4 Keys to Purchasing Window Tint: A Consumer’s Guide
If you’ve recently purchased a new vehicle, there’s a good chance that you’ve considered having window tint professionally installed on your vehicle…especially if you live in a warmer climate. As with any after-market vehicle accessory, it’s crucial to understand exactly what to look for when making your purchase decision.
Let’s go over a few things that will broaden your knowledge as a consumer, and arm you with the ability to make the wisest purchase.
Four Big Window Tint Questions
1. What is the heat blockage rate of the film? This is an especially important question if you live in a warmer climate Read more
10 Most Expensive Car Insurance Claims
Car insurance claims go through all the time, and most of the time the amounts that the claimants receive are in the low thousands. But, what about when someone wrecks an expensive sports car? How high is the the insurance payout when some trust fund kid makes a bad decision?
Here are the top ten car insurance claims we could find:
The Ferrari Enzo. Image copyright by Ed Callow (click for more info)
10. The Ferrari Enzo, with a price tag of £450,000, is one of the hottest sports cars on the market. It fills the pages of super car magazines, and it is on the cover of Internet magazines around the world. When one was wrecked by its owner in Italy, parts had to be flown all the way back to Italy, and the price tag was £170,000.
9. A Lamborghini owner lent the car to his son Read more
The Top 10 Formula 1 Racing Drivers of All Time
Formula One is a tough and competitive sport, with the world’s finest racing drivers battling it out for the victory. It has become a global brand, and the racers have become respected celebrities and sports personalities.
Who are the 10 best drivers to ever grace the Formula One circuit? Image copyright James Bird
Over the many years of Formula One, there have been some incredibly talented drivers – many more than the 10 we list here. Still, many polls have been conducted to decide the best drivers of all time, and here are the most popular choices:
Preparing Your Car For Winter – It’s That Time Again
Winter can be harsh on your car. Issues that are often ignored during more temperate months can become critical during the extreme conditions of winter. Preparing your car for plummeting temperatures and inclement weather will ensure that your car keeps running and that you avoid having to pay for costly repairs.
Don't get caught in a snowstorm unprepared - follow these tips
Here’s what you need to do: Read more
Formula 1 Racing Technology – KERS and Exhaust Systems
Formula One is considered the ultimate stage for open wheel racing around the world. What most people don’t realize, is that Formula One is also the source of many automotive technology innovations.
In the 70’s and 80’s, Formula One was a hotbed of technological development. Many of the features that are standard on most cars today were proven effective in Formula One racing. Traction control system, fuel injection and carbon brakes are common technologies that all came from the rigorous world of Formula One.
Of course, it was not a smooth road for any of these innovations. When these technologies were adopted in F1, they were new and presented numerous performance issues. Many teams struggled to make the technology work and often introduced new designs and specifications at every race.
This glowing orange hot exhaust manifold shows just how hot exhaust temps can get in Formula 1
Exhaust Manifold Design
The exhaust manifold on the typical 2.4L Formula 1 V8 is subjected to tremendous stress. Consider the following:
- Peak RPM on a 2009 F1 race engine was upwards of 19,000RPM. That means that each cylinder is exhausting spent fuel and air 158 times per second…that’s a lot of exhaust gas. Read more
Driving Basics for Wannabe Rally Racers
Amateur rally racing is an increasingly affordable sport to try out and test your driving skills “to the max” without resorting to pulling donuts in the local K-Mart parking lot. Rally driving experience days are popular events for people of all ages and ability levels. From ambitious young drivers dreaming of motor racing stardom, to those looking for 60th birthday ideas for the gear-head in their life, investing in a genuine one-day rally racing class is good fun.
To help you make the most of your day on the rally racing course, here’s a little bit of advanced knowledge to help you get comfortable, not to mention that you can show off to your friends by sounding like you know what you’re talking about.
NOTE: Needless to say, don’t try these techniques on the open road and listen to the advice of your instructors on the day of your rally driving experience.
Handbrake Turns
Handbrake turns are a crucial skill for quickly negotiating those hairpin bends, kicking the car around the tight corners. They also look pretty cool as well.
You will be advised which corners are appropriate for this on the day, but Read more
Car Personalization Tips and Tricks – Bodykits, Rims, and More
While most of us have our ‘dream car’ in mind, few of us are fortunate enough to ever own it. Instead we’re resigned to owning an “identikit” vehicle seen roaming the roads in its thousands. [In this case, "identikit" means a car that has the same exact custom parts as a lot of other cars...it's a "kit" that a lot of customized cars have, so it's sort of identical.] Yet it doesn’t have to be that way. A few personal touches can transform your car from a carbon-copy to a distinct driving machine that you’re proud to sit behind the wheel of – regardless of its original cost.
Bodykits and Other Add-on Custom Body Parts
Bodykits, like this one for a Subaru WRX, can be a great way to customize your car
Whether a spoiler or head-to-toe transformation; bodykits can revamp the appearance of your car, making it look faster, sportier and more valuable than it actually is.
However, beware that bodykits can: Read more
Three Reasons To Get Your BMW Performance Tuned
Each and every year thousands of people all over the world purchase BMW performance cars. The vast majority of those people purchase such cars simply to enjoy day to day motoring in a comfortable yet powerful vehicle. However, a proportion of people that purchase such cars do so in order to take part in track days or even races. Whatever the reason for purchasing a BMW performance car the owner may consider tuning the vehicle. But why would the owner of a vehicle use the services of a BMW tuning specialist?
Three reasons to invest in a performance tune for your BMW
First and foremost, tuning a BMW performance car will enhance the performance of the vehicle. Depending upon the tuning, the top end power output, low-end acceleration, or even handling of the vehicle may be improved. Read more
Ford Warns 2011 Mustang Owners Not To Modify Their Cars
Ford recently announced a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) for customers who have purchased the 2011 Ford Mustang, warning against modifying any powertrain components or calibration. Both of these modifications are meant to improve performance, but Ford warns that both could mean problems for the car. The reasoning for this TSB is that these modifications may exceed the limits of existing components and cause vehicle problems and/or safety concerns.
2011 Ford Mustang owners are warned not to modify their car
As can be imagined, Mustang enthusiasts have not reacted well to this news at all. To Mustang owners, their muscle car is practically built for modification. Any warning against modification is a slap in the face to Mustang lovers everywhere.
In addition to a generic warning from the Ford TSB, the company added that modifying the Mustang may result in: Read more
