2008 Acura RL

Well, this would be my choice. Sometimes I like to approach this from a classic cars angle, but today I will go with a more up to date version. I chose this car because it looks smooth. It also looks like a car that a businessman would own. If I were a successful businessman, who had to make a lot of important calls while on the road then I could definitely see myself doing so in the Acura RL. What color would I choose, you might ask. Well, thanks for asking. I’d probably just go with a gold color. I would go with a gold color because as a successful businessman I would want to show everybody that I am number one! This car also looks like it would be a smooth ride that is enjoyable for my spouse and my children. Hey, this is not only about me and my needs. Other people will depend on me as well. I think that this is a solid choice for my first Acura automobile.

The Features

Alright, so what does this car feature? First of all, I enjoy sound and listening to the radio. This car has all the qualities in listening you could want because it has a Bose sound system and the ability to have XM radio. Inside you also have the ability for climate control, and heated interior. Voice recognition, keyless entry, personalized settings, and steering controls make this one of the most convenient and easy cars out there on the market. You also have a rearview camera, brake and stability assist, and a child support system that will make sure your entire family is safe while you are at the wheel. This Acura has the performance you would come to expect with a V-TEC engine, and the handling really shows this. Overall this car has all the features that make it worthy of ownership. You will be at the forefront of technology thanks to the ownership you have of an Acura RL. I think this is a worthy choice of Acura.

Additional Resources:

• Home Page of Acura Vehicles
• Acura

2008 Jeep Commander

This is the car that I would own. Jeep still makes a Cherokee, but you know what, the Commander reminds me more of the car that my family used to own. This is the main reason why I chose it. I wanted something that would bring back the good old days. Hopefully this will have the same pleasurable driving experience that my old family car once had. If you are wondering what color I would get then you need to re-read my introduction paragraph. I would get red, obviously! It is a little darker then the red the old car use to have, but that is alright. Maybe someday I will get this car and my kid will love it as much as I did. Hopefully I would not disappointed them by selling it either. It was nice to see that Jeep had not changed their models much from what I remember. It is a good way to respect what they use to be while still bringing their newer cars up to standard.

The Great Features

Now, let’s take a look at some of the features of the 2008 Jeep Commander. The commander does not have a third row seat. This is nicer for a smaller family because you do not have to worry about removing the seat for more space. You have a good storage space in the back for all that you need. One thing that caught my eye is that the Jeep has a rear parking assist mechanism. This sound really need, and we know how much trouble some people have parking. As far as safety features go, you can rest comfortably because this car has the airbags, the anti lock brakes, and the car has its own theft protection to make sure no one can take your car. This car boasts a 21.1 gallon fuel tank but it can get great gas mileage. Also, you still have an option for satellite radio if you so choose. Overall you can expect that you will be riding in comfort with all the safety and up to date features that you can handle. The Jeep Commander does not skimp on the details and is a great car to choose.

Additional Resources:

• 2008 Jeep Models
• Jeep

How Škoda Began

It was the late 1800’s in Czechoslovakia when the company started of as bicycle manufactures. Since bicycles were a popular form of transportation at the time it proved to be lucrative to the original innovators. By the time of the First World War automobiles became the main form of transportations Škoda produced trucks that proved useful to the war efforts. Being able to craft vehicles was very profitable since it was providing a quality vehicle for a much needed use. Since economies tend to struggle during times of war, Škoda was able to survive by producing military trucks. Most families were unable to purchase vehicles from Škoda at the beginning, but as time passed and income grew Škoda became a popular choice for vehicles. With new designs being produced it was seen as cutting edge and an attractive choice.

Changes Škoda Faced

It was at the time of the velvet revolution that Škoda was forced move from a public sector to a private sector. It was at this time that Škoda was partnered up with Volkswagen, a German vehicle production company. This was said to be controversial for teaming up with a German company post war, but it was through the VW funding that they were able to grow and thrive. After this partnership Škoda grew into a household name producing quality cars at a low affordable rate. Even though it took some time to grow the Škoda name it has grown to be popular choice vehicle in Western Europe.

Škoda Today

Still working harder then ever to create a name that is sunonomus with quality cars, new models are being produces and designs are growing popular. With several manufacturing plants Škoda doesn’t show any signs of slowing production. With the popularity growing for their vehicles decisions are being made to produce more vehicles to be sold in countries all around the world. Being able to create some of the sharpest looking quality cars at lost costs is what makes Škoda appealing and will continue to contribute to the ever growing success.

Additional Resources:

• Škoda Auto Homepage
• Škoda Information

Jaguar XJ8

I do not remember what model of Jaguar my buddy’s mother had, so I looked through the newest version of each to see if it brought back any memories. The Jaguar XJ8 brought back the most memories for me. Like I stated earlier, the look of a good Jaguar is amazing. It really looks slick and appears like it is the finest car out there. Maybe that is just my humble opinion though. I am not a huge European car guy, but I understand that they are nice. The Jaguar has a little bit of European design to it but also has a nice mix of American in it. I guess you could say that it appears to be the best of both worlds. A nice silver or gold color would also enhance this great automobile and make you the talk of the town. I had not really looked at Jaguar cars for a while but they were every bit as I remembered them. Another great part of the Jaguar is that they have features that come standard, which most manufacturers would make optional. This should that Jaguar really cares. Those features like as follows.

The Features

Safety is done well with Jaguar and they look out for that by giving them the classic anti lock brakes and airbags. It is so important to me that the manufacturer looks to make sure that everyone who drives their cars are safe. If you are someone who is worried about the suspension, then your fears can be calmed with self-leveling air suspension. Stability control and a V8 engine are also something that you will find. The XJ8 really has power and control and that is what many people have come to expect from Jaguar. I was thrilled to take a look at the current Jaguar models, because I really forgot how great these cars looked. I hope that I am in a position to own one of these great machines at some point in my life. That would be quite an amazing thing, and I think everyone has thought about owning one of these at some point in their life. The Jaguar XJ8 would be my Jaguar of choice.

Additional Resources:

• Official Home Page of Jaguar
• Jaguar

Smart’s Origin

The Smart car project was the brainchild of Swatch, a watch-making company, which aimed to be both affordable to younger consumers and utilize novel features, such as hybrid engine technology. Smart is an acronym derived from the lengthier Swatch Mercedes ART. Swatch sought partnership with a reputable automaker to initiate the project. Originally they asked General Motors, but GM declined. Volkswagen agreed to the venture; but, because of economic strains, the Smart car plans were never fully realized. Daimler-Benz ended up partnering with Swatch and they built a factory, “Smartville,” in France for testing and production in the mid ’90s.

The original Smart car was introduced in Frankfurt, Germany in 1997, and Smart cars were soon in nine different European nations. The final design, however, didn’t quite meet Mercedes’ eco-technological expectations, causing the fiscal losses and disagreement that led Swatch to pull out of the project. Sales were less than stellar, and in 2006 Mercedes-Benz absorbed the Smart GmbH after its liquidation. Despite its rough start, you can see Smart cars all over cities like Rome, Barcelona, London, and Paris. They are now available in more than 30 countries across the globe and have sold over 900,000 units.

Availability of Smart Cars

Smart cars are widely used in Japan where the older models, those with engines smaller than 660cc that fit into the Kei car category and are eligible for reduced taxes, are more prevalent. They are also Smart car dealerships in Taipei, Taiwan. Smart cars were quite popular in Canada after they became available, but sales have decreased over time. They were only available in the United States through “grey market” import, but in 2006 it was announced that they would be officially launched in 2008. An electric version is planned for release in the US as well. Smart cars are sold in Mexico and numerous other countries too. Their popularity is rapidly expanding beyond its original European market and across the globe.

Additional Resources

• Smart USA
• Smart History and Facts

Dacia Logan MCV

The Logan MCV is the car of theirs that I would own. Since the Dacia is a European car brand then you would expect that their cars would have more of a European look. Well, this is exactly what you are getting. I really am not a huge fan of the European car look, but this one is really not that bad. It has a different look, and one could consider it a little more family style then normal. I do not believe that that description is a bad thing however. The car I saw on the website was actually colored grey. You know what, that is the color I would go with. I’m a fan of the grey coloring, because it is not that flashy. With the Logan MCV I do not believe that it would be right for you to be that flashy because it is not a European sports car. I would definitely be interested to know how popular this car is in Europe. Knowing my luck I probably just picked the dorkiest one out there and a lot of the European people would laugh at me. Right now, however, this is the Dacia car that I would choose. Hopefully I have made a choice that would turn out good.

The Features of the Car

Dacia wants their Logan MCV to be a car that emphasizes space. This is definitely something you are getting because this car is a 7 seater. The rear design and the wheel base are set up differently so that even those people who are in the very back and sit in comfort. Dacia did not want people to be cramped up any longer. If you do not need the very back seats then you can just fold them down and use that space as storage. They did not want it to go to waste. This Dacia also has a 16V engine because it wants to offer “unmatched dynamic performance.” Are you in the mood for anti lock bags and four airbags? Well, the Logan MCV has that for you! This car has received the best crash test rating and even has a new method set up in order to lock in a child’s seat. The European cars have the best features available. They definitely have their own way of design and like to match that up with the best quality. This is definitely a positive for the Dacia Logan MCV.

Additional Resources:

• Dacia Automobile
• Great Dacia Cars

Z4 Roadster

This car just looks like it can go 1000MPH if it wanted to. It does not get any sportier then this. When I see this car all I can think about is me and the girlfriend driving to the coast with the top down and the wind firing through our hair. Yeah, it does not really get any better then that. If I were to get one of these cars then I would get it in the color gray. When I was driving around it would look like a bullet zipping through the streets. Some punk kid would want to drag race me at the stop light, but they would not know what they are getting themselves into. Heck, I may even let them win, because I’m already content with my Z4. Whoa, sorry, I got in too deep there. Can you blame me though? Driving this car would be such a great thing and I’m sure many of you feel the same way. Maybe the dream of owning a BMW is something I could pass down to the other kids on my block, just like me. A BMW is only great when you can share it with all your family and friends.

What it Features

This car is not only a car that millionaires buy, but regular joe’s can afford it to. It is a car you can find for under $40,000. It has 215 horsepower, which is a ton of horses for such a compact car. It has the solid rear wheel drive that commands so much power. It even gets almost 30 miles to the gallon, so you can ride around and not have any real worries about your gasoline intake. You might be wondering if this car lacks safety because it is so small. It actually is up to date with the best child and adult restraint systems, seatbelts that are top notch and more airbags then you actually need. Do not have any worried when you step behind the wheel of this machine. There is no sacrifice on safety here. If you get this car then you know that you are not only driving around in style and comfort, but you are also driving a machine that is so up to date that it makes other automobiles shed a tear. The BMW Z4 Roadster is the envy of all the other cars because of the safety and performance. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all own one of these? I sure think that it would be.

Additional Resources:

• Official Website
• BMW Motorcycles

The Start

Believe it or not, but Dacia does not have as long of a history as other motor vehicles might. They were actually just founded in 1966, and were in cooperation with Renault. The main factory was built in Mioveni, Romania. The first car they ever took on was a spin on the Renault 12, called the Dacia 1100. This car was made in 1968 and for three years it sold over 35,000 units. In 1969 the Dacia 1300 was produced and hit the market. This would be Dacia’s main car and changes would be made to it throughout the years. In 1979 they even produced 1310 variant models.

1980s-1990s

In 1983 the Dacia hit commercial success with the 1304 Pick-up and the 1305 Drop-side vehicles. These cars were so popular that they remain in production for 13 straight years and had great success. The most expensive Dacia model appeared in 1988, and that was the Dacia 1320. This was a very short lived car though. These cars were very popular for use as taxis.

The 1990s are when Dacia really tried to make a name for themselves. They came into the decade trying to make great changes that would last for a long period of time. Their goal was to stay strong on models they had already created and apply new changes, while also focusing their attention on going above and beyond for new, greater models. By the end of the 1990s the Dacia has produced the most numerous cars on the Romanian roads in the 1300/1310 model.

Renault Revisited

In 1999, the Dacia company was once again in cooperation with Renault. A Renault group bought the Dacia company and wanted to make it more known throughout all of central and eastern Europe. Over 50,000 vehicles were sold in years after this merger and they worked on making their cars top of the line. Renault has had such a large presence in this company once again and the newer models are showing that.

Additional Resources:

• Affordable Dacia Cars to Be Launched
• Automobile Dacia SA

Ford Focus

Maybe you thought every car that was environmentally friendly was going to be an expensive hybrid, but this isn’t true. The Ford Focus is an old fashion gas-powered car that is efficient and produces low emissions. The Focus has some of the highest air pollution and greenhouse gas scores of any gas powered vehicle-that’s a good thing. It also gets 27 city miles to the gallon. If you aren’t in the mood to deal with fancy pants hybrid technology, then maybe the Ford Focus is for you. Its base price is only $13,995.

Al Gore’s Rating: Makes Polar Bears Happy

Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV

Your eyes do not deceive you, there is a fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly SUV on the market! The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV is perfect for those that want to protect the environment and still bus their family around. Its base price is only $26,430 and it gets 32 city miles to the gallon.

Al Gore’s Rating: Saves the Rainforest

Tesla Roadster

Who says you can’t drive an electric car and still look darn good? The Tesla Roadster is one of the world’s sleekest looking electric sports cars. The car can go from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, has a top speed of 135 mph, and can travel up to 220 miles on a single battery charge. It gets 4.7 miles to the kilowatt hour, which is equivalent to a car that gets 135 miles per gallon. If you want to look good and save the environment, then this ones for you!

Al Gore’s Rating: Does Not Melt Ice Caps

Toyota Prius

Perhaps the world’s most famous and popular environmentally friendly hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius just sold its one millionth unit this past month. The Prius switches between a gas engine and an electric motor engine at varying speeds, making it ideal for saving you money at the pump and saving the environment. The car gets an amazing 48 city miles per gallon. It is currently retailing at a base price of $22,325. This is one hybrid that is not inconvenient to drive.

Al Gore’s Rating: Patches Up the Ozone Layer

Smart Car

If you want to get a fuel efficient car in the most radical way, then the Smart Car just may be your cup of tea. Not only does the Smart Car conserve gas, it gets 40 city miles to the gallon, but also its small compact style makes life easier for you. You can park anywhere! It also retails at an incredibly low $11,000. If you want to make a major statement on the world’s environmental situation, as Al Gore himself did with An Inconvenient Truth, then purchase your Smart Car today.

Al Gore’s Rating: Gore-Tastic!

Gallardo Spyder

Right off the bat I figured that this car was probably the fastest car ever created. If you look at it then you might think the same. It is so sleek, and every inch of it looks perfect. It is not awkwardly boxy like some new cars are these days. You know in the movies when people drive though the mountains on the twisty, long roads looking out at the ocean? Well, this looks like the car that you would be driving. Yeah, I’m kind of dorky like that. The picture I am currently looking at is of a Spyder that is colored yellow. This is a very solid color but I think I would go a little different. I would probably choose a royal to dark blue. I am a fan of blue, and what better way to instill my favorite color then on a Gallardo Spyder. There is a reason these cars are so highly respected. If you were to look at a picture of one then you would know.

The Features

This Lamborghini complies with all EPA standard of fueling and can get 17 miles to the gallon. Complying with the EPA is a very good thing to make sure that your car does. Do you want to go fast? Well the top speed of this car is 195 miles per hour. Obviously you should not do that, because it is illegal. Just the thought of going that fast is enough for some people though. This car has permanent four wheel drive and a top notch traction system. It also has a 6 speed manual gearbox. This car is also safe with an anti-roll bar, as well as a power vacuum braking system. Don’t worry, this car also has power steering for you. Overall this car has all the great features that you would expect from a Lamborghini. You do not have to worry about begin left behind in the technological game. Lamborghini wants you to be protected and have a high quality automobile if you pick them. That is why I was so pumped that I had an opportunity to “own” one. Now I’ll I need is the chance to really get one.

Additional Resources:

• Lamborghini Enthusiasts
• Official home Page of Lamborghini