Top cars to consider: Audi 07, A3 and A8

If you are thinking about getting a new car, there is one company that is stepping up its game in 2009, and that is Audi. In fact, there are four new Audi's that have actually earned a spot on the Consumer Guide Automotive List. This is a list that informs shoppers which cars they should consider getting.

Three of these cars earned a “recommended” status for the second straight year. These three cars are the Audi 07, A3, and A8. However, this year the “best buy” among sports performance cars was the Audi A5 coupe. All of these cars have proven not only to be affordable, but well worth your hard earned money. Having a car listed on this consumer buying guide is a great thing, but having four cars on it is just flat out amazing.

So what were these cars graded on? For the most part, these four cars where graded on just about everything you can think of, from what cars had the best prices to what kinds of features the cars had. Of course, the price ranges are based on what kinds of options the cars offer, and let's just say that the Audi has a lot to offer you! These cars are also graded on performance testing and, of course, safety.

There are a ton of great luxury vehicles out there, but it's hard to beat out good old fashion German engineering. Audi is a company that has recorded over 12 years of consecutive profit growth. This is something that can only be done when you offer award winning cars like the Audi A5, among others!

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Volkswagen - third automaker in the world

Volkswagen's focus on compact, smart cars have paid off. Recent statistics reveal that Volkswagen is now the third largest automaker in the world. This is based on the number of cars manufactured per company. Volkswagen is constantly trailing Ford over the years in terms of volume, but recent increase on the number of cars manufactured last year has placed them a notch higher compared to Ford. The first two largest automakers are still Toyota and General Motors in particular order.

Volkswagen has manufactured 3.31 cars in the first half this year. This figure is 7.2 percent higher compared last year. Ford on the other hand has manufactured 3.22 million cars in the same time frame.

The company was able to overcome financial troubles compared to their American competitor. Volkswagen's innovative designs coupled with reasonable pricing and fuel efficiency were pointed as the reason of their improved sales. Although sales figure is not an indicator, the volume of cars produced is an indicator that sales is actually there. Companies would never have to manufacture cars if they know they will never improve in the industry. Ford on the other hand have been slowed down by recession. It has even come to a point that Ford, along with the big three have asked the US government for financial help. This might be a factor which will continuously slow down production of Ford cars. Along with the other US based manufacturers, they have to take drastic measures or else they will never survive.

The 5th to 10th largest automakers in the world are as follows: Honda, Peugeot, Nissan, Fiat, Renault and Hyundai.

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Gift ideas: 2008 Dodge Viper

If you’re going out shopping for a new sports car this year and you have $85,000 in your pocket, get the 2008 Dodge Viper. At first glance it looks like a small toy car but under the hood and when you step the gas pedal, the experience will always be exhilarating.

The power of Dodge Viper is based on the fact it has 600 horsepower engine. Even the NASCAR restricted cars don’t even come close to the Dodge Viper’s power (only 470 horsepower). Under the hood features 8.4 liter V-10 engine which means this could be a fuel guzzler without any effort. But then again, it’s not really geared towards those who wanted to be fuel efficient. Unfortunately, a single digit mileage will automatically prohibit you from using it in California (at least on public road).

For the price you pay, the 2008 Dodge Viper will not only give you power but sleek corner control. You can easily manage those u-turns without any challenges at all since it uses one of the world’s most grip efficient tires – the Michelin Pilot Sport 2. The positioning of the tires is also geared towards speed but with grip that will still ensure your safety.

If there’s one thing that will make you hesitate to spend your $85,000, it’s the dashboard. The speedometer is too small to be seen from the driver’s perspective. Checking your speed when you’re flying 100mph is very dangerous as you might need binoculars to know your speed. It will also be a problem to control your speed as this beast will urge you to press the gas even more. But if you can afford the car, you can afford the speeding tickets every now and then

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Automakers sumo: Japan vs. USA

While the big three automakers of US (GM, Ford and Chrysler) are actively seeking out government assistance through billion dollar bail-outs, other automakers notably, the Japanese automakers have relatively less problems and would even cruise through the recession without any major damage. The sales performance of Japanese automakers have assured them of a steady future in this industry. Although they may not increase when the full swing of recession strikes, they will not go down either.

The big three on the other hand, are crossing their fingers for a bail-out or else they may not survive. GM executives even claim that they need $4 billion now or else they might completely shut down.

For observers, the reason why Japanese manufacturers were able to succeed where the big three didn't was because Japanese automakers were looking more into the future. Toyota, Honda and Nissan has spent considerable amount of money in R&D to come up with smart cars and hybrid cars that promotes efficiency while providing better gas mileage.The big three on the other hand, was apparently stuck in their muscle cars.

The American automakers don't really believe that's the source of the problem. They pointed out the "legacy payments" which are the retirement benefits and other support services these companies have to give to their retired workers.

But it all boils down to this: no sales means no earnings. The American automakers weren't able to sell as much cars as they expect compared their competitors and because of that, they are in a lot of trouble today.

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2010 Ford Mustang defies harsh economy

This year is crucial for Ford as a company. They are aiming for a bail-out that has continuously received mixed reactions from US government and the people. Without the bail-out, Ford might not be able to function well or even survive the harsh economy.

But even with such news, Ford did not hesitate to roll out their latest Mustang. The 2010 Ford Mustang was revealed and it’s a beauty.

The exterior of the new Ford Mustang is almost the same to the 2005 but with additional curves in the front and the sides. Aside from additional curves in the back, the size was increased a little bit. The result is a more retro look rather than going for a more progressive trend set by the 2005 model.

The interiors on the other hand have been changed significantly. No longer will new owners have to deal with the cheap plastic feel of the 2005. The new Mustang now has sleeker interiors and better space for the driver especially additional space for the lever and the right knee.

Although the engine has changed a bit (4.6L V8), the torque was significantly improved which could slightly increase its speed since the weight of the 2010 Mustang is still the same. The 2010 Ford Mustang promises to be both a beast and a beauty as it has retained its beauty while pushed for more performance.

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The legend is real: Nissan GT-R

There has been a lot of talking regarding the launch control feature of Nissan GT-R. This feature in the GT-R will help the drivers reach 60mph in 3.9 seconds which is a good option for drivers who wanted to control or even slow down a bit. But speed hog, the launch control is a bitter sweet additional feature. Using the launch control in Nissan GT-R will potentially void your warranty in case something happens in your car. Specifically, the transmission could easily break down if the launch control is constantly used. This is a little bit unfortunate for those who wanted to be really fast. It’s like a constant bait to destroy your transmission – use it and risk voiding your warranty.

But if you’re problem is just the speed, then don’t worry. Nissan GT-R could still reach the coveted 60mph in just 3.9 without the launch control. That means you just have to floor your Nissan GT-R and you can reach 60mph in 3.9 seconds. That also means you can just discard the launch control although this feature could ease the driver’s need to control while increasing speed considerably.

There are those, however, that opted to continue with their launch control feature while being able to enjoy the warranty. If you have been working with the launch control for sometime, you are now able to properly use this feature. With the right timing, you should be able to use the launch control without any problem. But remember, you can achieve the same result if you just floor the gas pedal.

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