Porsche 911- Why it should have failed

We've all seen at least one and 9/10 people look at them and immediately thought that they would love to have one. Its that iconic German car that catches your eye from a mile away. What I’m talking about is the Porsche 911 and what makes it so worthy of our appreciation is that it should have failed miserably.

There were numerous things wrong with the Porsche 911 when it first came into production and there was for many years after. In fact, most of the creases have only been ironed out very recently. We’re just going to take a quick look at the main problem which plagued the German design team for years was that the pokey little sports car had it’s engine hanging out over the back! This made going in a straight line and accelerating a breeze because you got a load of traction but it proposed a major problem with cornering.

It’s basic physics, when you have a heavy lump hanging off the back of something its going to slide about like a fat kid on ice skates.

The second major reason why it should have failed was that it wasn’t all that original. I mean, the interior, curves, lights, and mirrors had all been seen on other Porsche and German cars. They even took their crappy rear mounted engine idea from Hitler’s brainchild; the VW Beatle.

All in all though, you have to love it because for true perfection you must have imperfection.

They Lost…but gained more

Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Suzuki… You name any Japanese car manufacturer and I can guarantee you that they are successful. This thought occurred to me and it made me think; "why are they so successful?"

I did a couple of hour's research and slowly the reason became clear. They lost the Second World War. Yup! that’s it. Because they lost they are now one of the leading countries in technology and engineering. The reason for this is actually quite simple when you think about it.

When they surrendered, their armaments factories were shut down, their top military brains were suddenly out of work. So they quickly decided to put all they know-how into making cars and other tech related products.

It was the exact same thing when with the Germans. Look at them now. During WW2 their Auto Union factories were used to make armoured cars and tanks, when they lost all the thinking turned to making products for the home market and for export to try and rekindle their economy.

It makes perfect sense when you think about it but has a bit of a sting to it when you think that British car production pretty much went down the tubes after the war because money was being pumped into the military to stand up to the Warsaw pact forces instead of filling the fast production lines which were left dormant.

Cruises Getting Bigger and Bigger

Over the last couple of years the number of modified car cruises taking place around the country has increased hugely. A cruise is a group of normally over 100 car owners ranging from Japanese imports to modified German luxury cars. At the beginning a small number will meet up in a shopping centre car park or industrial estate. This is organised by one or two people through the internet and text messages. Anyways, over the next couple of hours literally hundred will join up and follow the lead cars.

One welsh organiser who is wanted by the police told Fast Car Magazine that it’s the greatest thrill possible to see hundreds of cars following you on a motorway with only you knowing the destination.

Car magazines will normally also be present on these cruises to take pictures and profile the cars to use in their magazines.

Although there is a certain amount of deniability available for those on the srusie and safety in numbers, the police are unfortunately trying to crack down on these cruises because they often prevoke racing and dangerous driving.

However with the number growing every weekend it looks very unlikely that the police will ever be able to become more than a nuisance to the organisers

OLD BMWs

The recent auto show in Paris got me thinking about the direction in which the design of cars is heading. We seem to be entering an era of ever increasing flowing lines, obscured rear lights and flat front-ends.

This is especially true when it comes to the newer BMWs. In my opinion the design team at the German car manufacturer are starting to loose their knack for fresh ideas and are simple exaggerating the lines and curves of previous models. The recent five series kind-of looks like a badly made hamburger if you squint your eyes (just a little).

This also brought me to the final conclusion that the older BMWs, like the ‘93 and ‘94 versions are much better. Nit only do they have the venerability of an old car who has seen a fair amount of treatment but by buying one you also open your choice for modifications due to the bigger after-market scene for older cars.

Hands Free? Couldn’t Be!

A recent study in America has 100% confirmed that hands free kits are just as distracting and dangerous as talking while on a regular mobile.

The study showed that people could not answer simple questions and puzzles while still being able to drive safely and react in time to prevent collision.

This then seems odd the police are wiling to slap a fine and penalty points onto you for talking on your mobile but the hands-free kits are fully legal.

Although his question has been raised numerous times with the officials it seems as though this farce will continue for the near future.

The only difference between talking on your mobile and a hands free kit is that you have both hands on the wheel. So if you use that head tilt manoeuvre does that mean you won’t get a fine?

Bond Wrecks 14 Astons

I was just looking around on the net, checking out the new bond films when I came across a piece about the cars used in Quantum Of Solace. Naturally I clicked on it to check it out and by the time I was done reading the 150 words of so my jaw had nearly hit the floor.

According to this guy, the creators of the bond film had used Aston Martins while making the flick. That’s really no big deal to anyone who has ever seen a 007 film before…but this is. The production of the film ended up totaling 14 of the things worth over 170,000 grand each!

Apparently they were wrecked during stunts and chaces that got a little bit out of control. But fair enough the film had a budget bigger than Buckingham Palace’s security budget (joking) what was most shocking was that a 007 fan bought one of the undrivable heaps for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Paris Concept Cars

Concept Cars are used by companies to showcase their upcoming cars without unveiling their secrets too much. They are often exaggerated versions of what is to come and the Paris auto show was no exception this year.

The cars which were revealed look like thing which would be better suited in Star Trek rather than the M1. However its easy to see just how they can be used to inspire a production car. For example, the Austin Martin 77 looks like it would be better suited to Batman, but its sleek lines and great front-end really showcase the company’s image to its best.

The same goes for the Peugeot Prologue, the Mégane 3 and Nisan Nuvu which by the way is well worth a look.

Motorshow Gallery

Auctions Going Online??

Since the Internet has taken the world by storm in the early 90s, internet shopping has increased by leaps and bounds. So it seems likely that car registration plates being bought online will take over from the normal auction procedure.

At the moment, the majority of cherished plates are bought online and over the phone, however it’s the big auctions like the ones featured in our news section which are held at prestigious events, often achieving premium prices of over 300,000 pounds.

To me, it seem that the possibility of these large auctions entering the online world is quite large. At each auction there are potential buyers who couldn’t be there or get in touch, however if these auctions were put on the internet the number of prospective buyers would increase from hundreds into thousands.

At present however, there is a large number of great cherished number plates available right here.

Classic Comeback!

Classics have always been popular to one extent or another. They have certain attractiveness to them that a lot of people find irresistible. However it seems as though we drifted into a ‘new age’ of CPUs, carbon-fibre and bucket seats. But as always, the classics are back.

The amount of adverts in Autotrader and other such private sales pages suggest that there are a lot of people buying Mk1 cars from the 70s and 80s.

Some of the cars which have become popular are the Mk1 Golf, VW Jetta, Ford Cortina and surprisingly old Rollers. Most of which are being bought b enthusiasts in their mid 20s to 30s to modify them with mechanical improvements and cosmetic touches of perfection.

I was flicking through the pages of a performance car magazine the other day when I came across the most stunning VW golf.

It was from the early 90s, had been lowered, given a new blue paint-job, great wheels, spruced-up engine, leather interior and a few other bits and bob. And I’ll tell you something; it was done so tastefully I’d rather that than the new ‘08 version.

Driving Songs

Some people listen to Rock Anthems, some R&B, some just listen to whatever is on the radio, however recent studies have conferment that you speed and driving style changes dramatically depending on what kind of music you listen to.

For example, listening to Power Metal can cause the driver to unwittingly increase his/her speed and take more daring chances while behind the wheel. Your awareness has also been shown to drop when listening to certain genres of music.

Many boy racers also use music with high base while driving because of its stereotypical image; however they may also unwittingly be increasing their chances of a fatal crash.

Another factor which also contributes to this danger factor is how loud you play your music. If you music is played too loud, you may well find yourself losing awareness of the traffic around you because you can’t hear their engine noise. This reaction is subconscious and could be very dangerous if you suddenly decide to change lanes on the spur of the moments.

So your choice of songs could well land you in a spot of bother with the Boys In Blue.

Hamilton’s Hard Time

It seems that out of all the F1 drivers, we seem to give Lewis Hamilton the hardest time of all. Many have stated that he hasn’t worked his way through the ranks.

But whatever you think of Hamilton, his race in Japan proved his success so far is no fluke. Surely after his success over the last couple of seasons should have earned him his stripes so to speak? Apparently not yet. It seems that every sports person who performs in front of the British have to go just that little bit longer until they can be welcomed as warmly as other successful stars.

We saw this with David Beckham. It seemed his fans went from hate to love with a matter of days from his World Cup blunders to his Treble glory.

Anyhow, I think that by the end of this season Hamilton should be within reach of the hearts of the Great British people.

Kit Cars

Ever wanted to own a classic roadster or sports car such as the AC Cobra or Ferrari Dino? Just about everyone has had the thought run through their head. However for the average person, buying one of these would mean selling the house and living in your news purchase. But you can get the next best thing if you’re willing to get your hands dirty.

Kit Cars have been around since popular cars came into the celebrity scene in the early 1900s and have only grown in popularity since then. Dozens of companies sell these kits to transform a ‘donor car’ into your desired machine.

They can be picked up for as little as £1500 pounds depending on your model of choice. Some companies can even assemble the entire car for you at an extra cost to save you the trouble, however often the assembly is the best part and can be shared among friends or father and son.

Credit Crunch Cars

The credit crunch is really biting now all around the world and it’s one of those times when almost every country is united by their falling shares, devoted finance ministers and a nervous public. Jobs are getting scarce and each day on the news all you can hear is big bank names being sailed down the river and government officials promising unity between countries, however what dose this mean for the auto industry?

Already dealers are reporting falling sales, manufacturers are feeling the crunch and for those who like to ad a little bit of sparkle to their ride…well it’s about to become a little bit more difficult.

Prices aren’t falling when it comes to buying auto spares however there are some tricks you can use: Don’t be afraid to get on the phone when ordering things instead of surfing online, you will be surprised about how much you can get off by talking to a real live person. Companies have competitors, and they are competitive! If you dig around for long enough you can often fine the same project for up to 25% less. Finally, buy second hand. All over the country and indeed the world, unfinished projects lie in garages, workshops and back gardens and are eventually broken up and put on eBay for sale.

So there you go, you can beat the credit crunch when your modding your car, just keep an eye on the fuel prices!

It’s All About the Horsepower

There was a time when your engine was that oily lump under the hood that you had serviced ever couple of years and wouldn’t dare go near it for fear of massiv explosion that would wake the neighbours!

But now, it’s all about chrome, nitreous and CPUs. Pick up any car magazine and you’ll see fully chromed engines with insulated manifolds and performance air filters. The engine has become one of the selling points of a new car with it often on display at auto shows and in car dealerships alike.

In fact, many modders have even begun moving other components such as the battery, electronics and bulky items such as the windscreen wiper’s liquid tank. This is to make the engine the center of attention, and with god reason with many owners spending thousands to transform a regular straight six into a hardcore racing workhorse.

Its not unusual to fine people bringing their engines to garages to have them fitted with performance fuel injectors, having the cylinders bored to get more cc power or even having a pretty respectable engineering workshop out in the garden shed.

So it’s pretty undoubtable, the days of the 90s when yellow cars with illuminous stripes are gone and it’s almost all about what you have under the bonnet.

Track Days

Ever wanted to be a racing driver? Oh come on now…every one has at one point in their childhood. Zooming in and out of corners as the crown go wild at the sight of your death defying manoeuvres. Well now you can.

All you need is any old car, a couple of hundred quid and you there. Tack Days operate up and down the country and you don’t need a racing licence to compete, all you need is you normal driving licence and a crash helmet. The hobby has taken off recently, giving a community the chance to grow in popularity with most news spreading by word of mouth. The tracks give you full use of the pit-lane and other racing facilities. You have to it through safety lecture with the other drivers before going on the track but these only take around half and hour and actually give you some good tips for proper cornering.

You will be on the track with dozens of other cars, however in the interest of good fun; nobody gets competitive or gets carried away because the safety officials don’t take much crap. I recommend it to anyone who loves speed in a safe environment without the prospect of the boys in blue showing up.

Here are some up and coming track days: 14 OCT-Donington Park 01327 361361 17 OCT - Rockingham 0870 744 1635 25 OCT - Mondello Park 0870 787 2116 29 OCT - Mallory Park 01455 842931 31 OCT - Snetterton 01953 887303

Hiding Your Number Plates

We’ve all seen the James Bond films where a revolving licence plate goes hand in hand with smoke bombs, oil slicks and heat seeking missiles, however unless you a secret agent working for the government and thus immune to speed camera, chances are you car didn’t come standard with the above features.

However a recent phenomenon has been to cover up your plate using a spray-on film which blocks and intruding eyes such as ANPR.

These spray cans are highly illegal for use on British roads and are right up there with offences such as covering your number plate, altering it or not having one at all!

There are dozens of sites shipping to Britain for less than the cost of a single speeding ticket! This may seem tempting but if a patrol car is unable to recognise your plate they will pull you over and start asking questions like; “out of millions of plates sir, why is yours the only one our system can’t read?”

You’ll get nicked and regret ever having had the stupid idea, you could face a court appearance, replacing the plates or even worse. So you better of keeping sticking to the law. Oh and if you plate is so embarrassing that you wont even let a computer see it, why not get a personalised number plate right here ?

E-Flow Teething Problems

It seems that now more than ever, cities worldwide are adopting licence plate recognition systems to increase security and for congestion charges. However in Ireland, the teething problems are evident with people getting bills after they have paid the charges.

This has been driving motorists mad and has been in the news since the system launched back in the summer months. My question is as to why the people in charge of these new systems cannot come up with a fool-proof system for when they are starting off, thus avoiding these teething problems.

Perhaps an arrangement of checks to catch these rouge bills from reaching their destinations and keep the motorists happy!!!

How To Kill a ... Speed Camera?

They are the hatred of thousands of commuters, and although they are there for our safety to keep other drivers in check, speed cameras have become the recent target of angry motorists recently with record numbers of them being attacked.

I am in no way condoning these actions as they are highly illegal and could put you in jail, what dose interest me however is how these hot heads do it.

I have come across stories of people using brute force such as sledgehammers, fireworks and their vehicles themselves. These incidents can be put down to your average person of average intelligence, however some more intellectual (and I use this word loosely) have taken more... thoughtful approaches.

Using spray-paint to cover the cameras lenses, spraying adhesive over the over plate to blur the image, one man in America reportedly placed an industrial strength magnet on the side of the speed camera in a bid to scramble its electronics, and my personal favourite, wrapping the cameras in two inches (a tad of overkill) worth of cling film to sufficiently block and notable number plate images.

So the commuters worst enemy besides from the 8.30am traffic jam is certainly the subject of many beatings and 'blurrings'.

Cool US Plates

Lets face it, pretty much all European and UK private number plates are boring. Besides cherished plates, there not much to look at. What I mean by boring is that there not much to look at are they? Just the same old plane colour and as flat as a pancake. But US plates on the other hand… each state has its own graphics to resemble a symbol of the state, its own shape and style. Some of them are so cool a 1960s cherished plate wouldn’t be out of place on a bedroom door, wall or even in the kitchen depending on the subject matter.

If your interested you should really get onto eBay right away because there are hundreds of plates from the states that are really cool and worth paying £30 for.

A couple I’ve seen include B00Z3R, B3D R0OM and loads of names. Now obviously these plates aren’t genuine and couldn’t be put on a vehicle. If they could they would be worth literally thousands and wouldn’t be on eBay in the first place. None the less, there well worth a look.