Automotive Online Review

The automobile market was actually monopolized in the 1980s by full size sport utility vehicles. However, come the spring of 1989, in the midst of all those full size SUVs came a compact SUV. It was a sporty mini SUV. It was the Isuzu Amigo.

It came both in a two wheel drive and a four wheel drive. There also were two choices for the engine. The two wheel drive is matched to the 2.3 liter engine with four cylinders and can produce some 96 units of horsepower. As per the four wheel drive, it got matched with the 2.6 liter engine with four cylinders and could produce some 120 horsepower. Both of these engines held a five speed manual transmission system.

Despite the fact that it was a new addition to the market where sport utility vehicles were taking most of the share, the Isuzu Amigo was able to shine through. It even took up a fair share of the SUV and the automobile market. It took the interest of the generation X who were craving for a sporty and flashy sport utility vehicle that held a very reasonable price. Not only does the Isuzu Amigo look good but it also drives good. It has a small engine that means it uses up a lesser amount of gas compared to the full size ones out in the market.

Just like any other vehicle on the market, the Isuzu Amigo has undergone and received various changes. In 1999, a year after it was introduced, it came as a new hardtop wagon with a pop up sunroof over the rear seat. There also was a heated rear window that joined the original semi-convertible. The cruise control system was deleted from the list of features. In 2000, the Isuzu Amigo came with a restyled nose and tail as well. The Isuzu Amigo came then with a standard cruise control as well as adjustable shock absorbers to add to the features that it would boast of. There also was an Intelligent Suspension Control made optional. A year after in 2001, it came with an added rear cargo tray.

Share This

It’s amazing how many things you can do online these days. Paying your bills, meeting people, stock trading, postal services and of course the shopping. Even car buying. Gone are the days when you have to personally scout for your dream car, hopping from one dealership to another and comparing prices. Now buyers can go online and do all these and more. There are hundreds if not thousands of websites that cater to the prospective car buyers. There are even websites that specialize in used cars, classic cars or trailers.

If you do decide to shop online for your next car, you will find that most websites offer similar information and services. The best thing to do would be looking at 3-4 different sites and compare your findings. Another consideration when buying your car online is the delivery. Some websites offer instant deliver and deliver the car of your choice to home or office. If you’re not comfortable buying a car you have not seen or examined, you can arrange to have the car picked up instead. Car buying is a big deal and with the internet you can do personal, hassle-free research without being pushed into something you don’t want. So why not take advantage of these websites and enjoy shopping!

If you are looking to buy a car, I advise you to do your homework. Don’t forget to check out our
Tips & Auto Value Quotes Review section. We have the best car buying tips.

Share This

On which side of the road do you drive? Depends if you’re a Brit or an American.

If we go back far enough, some two thousand years ago, to the time when the Romans occupied Britain, we’ll find a clue about driving habits back then. Archaeologists have unearthed a well-preserved track leading to a Roman quarry near Swindon, England. The ruts in the road on one side are much deeper than those on the other side, as would be the case if their carts were going IN empty and coming OUT with heavy materials such as stones. The ruts suggest that, at least in Swindon, the Romans drove on the left.

In fact, some believe that ancient travelers on horseback rode, for the most part, on the left side. Why? Because since most people are right-handed, horsemen would be able to hold their reins with their left hand and keep their right hand free - to offer in friendly greeting to a passing rider or to defend themselves with a sword if that need arose.

A Change to the Right

In the late 1700’s, a shift from left to right occurred in the United States, when teamsters started using large cargo wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. Since these wagons had no driver’s seat, the driver sat on the left rear horse holding his whip with his right hand. Seated on the left, the driver naturally preferred that other wagons pass him on the left so that he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of any oncoming traffic. That was accomplished by driving on the right side.

The English, however, kept to the standard of left side driving. They had smaller wagons and the driver sat on the wagon, not on the horses as in the States, usually on the right side of the front seat. From there he could easily use his long whip in his right hand without entangling it in any cargo packed behind him. In that position, on the right side of the wagon, the driver could judge the safety margin of passing traffic by keeping to the left side.

Countries that became part of the British Empire adopted the keep-left rule too, although there were some exceptions such as Canada which eventually changed from left to right to accommodate easier facilitation of border crossings to and from the United States.

Political events in France had a large effect on citizens’ driving habits. Before the Revolution of 1789, the aristocracy drove their carriages along the left side of the roads, forcing the peasants to move to the opposite side. But once the Revolution started, these nobles desperately tried to hide their identity by walking (or occasionally riding) on the right side like other peasants.

By 1794 the French government had introduced a keep-right rule in Paris, which later spread to other regions Napoleon I conquered throughout much of continental Europe. It’s no wonder Napoleon favored keep-right driving, as he was left-handed and his armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any who dared approach him aggressively.

In Europe, countries that resisted Napoleon kept to the left and eventually Russia and Portugal made the switch from left to the right early in the 20th century. Austria and Czechoslovakia changed also when occupied by Nazi Germany at the end of the 1930’s, and Hungary followed suit. Today just four European countries still drive on the left side including Britain, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Japan also drives on the left, though never considered a British colony.

Share This

Carburetor servicing or tuning makes sure that all the parts are in working condition. There are several reasons why a carburetor may stop functioning or may not function to its full capacity, including gasoline resins or dust particles clogging the carburetor jets, gumming up of the throttles and stickiness of the choke valves. Carburetor parts are controlled by springs that may become worn out over time, which will affect the functioning of the carburetor. Tuning the carburetor from time to time will prevent its complete breakdown.

Tuning may involve replacing some of the parts that are available as carburetor kits. Tuning a carburetor ensures that the engine is in good working condition. Carburetors are affected by several conditions like unfavorable climate, different types of fuel, the terrain, and the type of riding. There is not time limit for carburetor tuning; it should be done whenever the ride was dusty or when the roads are muddy.

Carburetor tuning starts with pressure washing the bike, especially at the bottom where roost and oil is likely to accumulate. The sub-frame can be removed for better access. A look at the vent hoses would reveal any melting or clogging that might cause the engine to bog. Check the cable for any frays or kinks. Sometimes the rubber dust cover may be torn and may need replacement. Check the float bowl, jet baffle, float, airscrew, and the fuel inlet needle. Ensure that all these are in working condition, free of dust. Next, check the bell mouth of the carburetor to see that there is no clogging at the two holes at the bottom.

Flush the passage after dismantling the carburetor. This can be done by a can of brake or carburetor cleaner that is available in any automobile parts store. While spraying the cleaner, ensure that it flows out the pilot and the air passage in the bell mouth. Next, spray it through the tiny passage between the venture and the intake spigot. This will open any clogging along the passages, thus ensuring free flow of gasoline and air. Lastly, flush the slides bore and slide.

Jetting is the process of adjusting or changing the air or fuel jets. Before jetting, look for crankcase air leaks, crankcase oil leaks, coolant-system leaks, carbon-seized exhaust valves, blown silences, broken reed-valve petals, weak spark, clogged carburetor vent hoses, too low or too high carburetor float level, and worn carburetor fuel-inlet needle. There are certain things to be taken into consideration before jetting, including the air temperature, humidity, altitude, track conditions, fuel, and load. There are three types of carburetor tuning gauges including Relative-air-density (RAD) gauges, Air-fuel (AF) ratio meters and Exhaust-gas-temperature (EGT) gauges.

Share This

Tags: car, car check, wwwwhat carcar, car check, wwwwhat car

Share This