Interested in, but confused about how start / stop systems work? Green Car Reports can help. Read all about start stop systems over there.

Probably the most important thing to know? A start / stop system does not make a car a hybrid.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Start / Stop systems is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Summer is just around the corner, which likely means that your car is due for its seasonal check-up. Because hot Houston summer temperatures can be hard on a vehicle, car owners should be sure to take a few precautionary measures prior to driving in hot weather.

Whether they choose to do it themselves or take their vehicle into their local auto repair shop, car owners should be sure to do the following to prevent summer wear and tear:

Check All Fluids

The top reason for car break downs during the summer months is to due overheating. Prior to driving in high summer heat, have your car’s antifreeze and transmission fluids checked at your Houston auto repair shop. Also make sure to keep these fluids at proper levels throughout summer to ensure that your engine is remaining cool during hot weather.

Tint Your Windows

Having the hot summer sun pour into your windows is not only uncomfortable, but it is also costly. The sun rays can quickly heat up your car which only causes your air conditioner to work harder, and burn up more gas. Consider having your windows slightly tinted to prevent additional strain on your AC unit as it will keep your car’s interior cooler and will help you use less gas.

Properly Air Your Tires

Hot weather will affect the air pressure within your car’s tires so it is important to make sure that they are properly aired. Having them properly aired will not only ensure that you get the best gas mileage, but it will also prevent you from experiencing any flats, and the last thing you will want to have to do is change a tire in high heat and humidity. If your tires haven’t been rotated in awhile, it is also a good idea to have this done as well as it will also help with gas mileage and help elongate the life of your tires.

Check the Battery

High temperatures cause your car’s battery to work harder. If it becomes too hot outside, which it isn’t uncommon for temperatures around Houston to reach the high 90s, your car may have difficultly starting or may not start at all. Before summer temperatures get here, have your battery checked. If the battery is weak, have it replaced to avoid being stranded in extreme heat.

Pack an Emergency Bag

Although Houston doesn’t generally have to worry about harsh winter weather, many other states do. In these states, during the cold winter months drivers usually create emergency bags containing blankets and additional car parts such as batteries in the case that they get stranded. Houston residents should also create emergency bags, but instead of packing winter items they should pack for summer and consider including items such as coolant, oil, water, and an additional battery.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. How to Prepare Your Car for Summer is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Almost two months since the Tsunami hit the eastern seaboard of the mainland, much of Japan is still attempting to recover. The Japanese automotive industry is no exception to this situation. There’ve been massive power outages and lack of forward momentum on recovery given the fact that the long-term affects of the tsunami go far beyond the wholesale devastation. Japan has been struggling desperately to get the reactor at the Fukushima Nuclear power plant under control. This has resulted in a lack of power and energy to much of the area and Japan seems to be at a tipping point.

This isn’t welcome news for Japanese automakers struggling to combat the overwhelming circumstances they’re now faced with. Well over a month since the incident occurred, most of the factories are still halted. As the shut down continues, it’s crippling many of the largest companies’ ability to do business, not just in Japan, but also in other markets such as America. This leaves many to question as to why this is affecting the way other satellite companies are operating but the fact is that Japan is the main source of most of the parts and support for their own industry. A lot of car resellers in America, and other countries, are having trouble keeping up with demand and simply don’t have an adequate supply or parts and vehicles. Many simply don’t have the money to get a new car or afford the parts. Some have even had to use auto title loans to fix their vehicle.

Most production in the South of Japan has remained relatively unscathed for the current situation. They escaped much of the devastation but many of the senior importers have said that the overall damage to the vast Japanese infrastructure is likely to be more lasting and have more than just a regional impact. This seems to be a domino effect where so many missing gaps simply cannot support the weight of the whole.

Before the earthquake hit, Japan was, on average, producing thirty-seven thousand cars and trucks each day and more than half of that figure was exported to other markets. An estimated 14 percent of the core market produced worldwide was made right in Japan. All of the sudden that figure has shrunk to nearly zero. This gives the overall market some idea of how bad it is. Though this calamity has given a boost to other American car companies struggling to compete with Japan’s auto innovations, business shut down is bad for the overall world market. With the second largest car exporter in the world, right behind Germany, out of the game, Japan is just hoping that the chaos can get under control to alleviate an already overburdened country.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. No Breaks for Japanese Car Industry is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Aptera has generated a good bit of hype in the green car community, with their upcoming car, dubbed the Aptera 2e. Yesterday, however, they announced a delay in production, and we won’t be seeing a 2e on the roads until 2010. That won’t come as good news to the 4,000 people who have already placed deposits for the futuristicly shaped car. The deposits are fully refundable, however – though I doubt many will ask for a refund. After all, what other obscenely efficient, boldly styled vehicle would they buy instead?

On a more disturbing note, both of Aptera’s co-founders will be stepping aside. Chris Anthony will be focusing on his two other companies, while Steve Fambro is reportedly just taking a leave of absence for a few months. Losing, even temporarily, the two minds behind the Aptera 2e concept, is not something to ignore for Aptera fans.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Aptera 2e to debut in 2010 is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the name Super GT or JGTC? If you haven’t that’s ok. I’ll tell you a little about it.

The Super GT is a racing league in Japan, it started in 1994 as the JGTC aka Japan Grand Touring Championship. Then in 2005 it evolved into the Super GT, in this league is divided into two classes base on power, the GT300 class which are 300hp race cars from car manufacturers like Porsche, Lamborghini, Mazda, Lexus and several other JDM car manufacturers. And Japan’s Big Three, Honda ,Toyota, and Nissan are classed in the GT500 ,whipping out 500hp from the motor. One British manufacturer Aston Martin has also appeared in the GT500 class this year. The Super GT season consists of nine rounds in a nine month season. Racing on Japan’s greatest tracks, like the Twin Ring Motegi, Okayama International Circuit, Fuji Speedway, Sportsland Sugo, Sepang Circuit, Autopolis, and Suzuka Circuit, which is raced twice in one season.

Since both classes share the same track they follow racing conduct from the FIA to help prevent drivers from crashing or running over each other. Here’s one example of racing conduct, if a driver of a GT500 car approaches GT300 car down a straightway. The GT500 has the right of way and GT300 car must let the higher powered car pass. Usually the driver of the GT500 car will flash his light to indicate to the other driver to move over. It’s kinda like that saying “Slower traffic keep right.” Because there is a power difference between the two classes, they do not compete for the same points. In this league there are two winners, one from each class.

The Super GT has adopted rules and regulations setup by the FIA along with the 2009 JAF National Technical Regulations. This covers Eligible Cars, Tires, Fuel type, number of Drivers/Team Leaders, Qualifying Practice Sessions, Starting Grid, Pit Work, Series Points, Penalties etc. These rules and regulations are meant to level the playing field for all cars and teams in the GT300 and GT500.

In my opinion, the Super GT is more interesting than a Nascar race, why? Because they have Lambos, Porsches, and JDM cars. And another thing, the most important of them all…… They can turn right! Amazing isn’t it? If you like Racing at all, especially if you like Imports, check out the Super GT site.

Sited Source

http://supergt.net/en/

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Super GT is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

RSS is a way for you to keep up to date with all of Houston Car’s posts. You can subscribe to our RSS feed by clicking on the big orange icon to your right. That way, you won’t miss any of the latest and greatest news.  You can get an RSS reader here.

Don’t use RSS? No worries.  Get our updates delivered straight to your inbox – free of charge, and free of spam.  Enter your email to the right, and you’ll start getting daily updates.  If we take a day off without posting anything new, you won’t get an email!  Simple as that.  And don’t worry, we don’t spam / sell/ rent / or do anything else terrible with your email address.  All you will get from us is site updates.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. What is RSS? is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Help! This guy’s trying to rob me!  I know this commercial is really, really.. but I just stumbled across it on YouTube.  I couldn’t help putting it up here.  If you’re having a bad day, this will make you laugh for sure.  Take a minute out of your busy day to watch.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Oh, you’re one of those is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

What do you think of when you hear “contruction woman”?  Probably a butch woman who frames houses for a living.  Smoker for 20 years, real buff, probably has a mustache.  Fortunately I’m not going to torture you with that sort of thing today.  Instead what we have is an Italian woman being undressed using only contruction equipment.  Not something you see every day.

For what it’s worth, the video is relatively safe fore work.  The thumbnail above is about as graphic as it gets.  But what does it have to do with cars, you ask?  Well, there’s an engine powering the equipment – does that count?

Via Winding Road.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Construction Woman Undressed is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

If you’re like, well, everyone else on the planet, then the insane cost of gasoline is hurting your wallet.  Unless you’re a multi-millionaire ( or billionaire ), then you’re feeling the pain.  Gas scaring $4 per gallon is not fun for anyone.

Whether you’re driving a Prius or a Suburban, gas costs a lot more than it did a year ago.  To get your $1000 gas card, simply click on the image below, and then enter your zip code. 

No matter what you drive, a cool grand can go a long way towards making it less painful.  And hey – if it only takes a few minutes of your time, what do you have to lose?  Click that picture and get moving.

 

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. Gas too high? Get a $1000 Gas Card Free is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.

Autoblog got their hands on a shiny new 2009 Bentley Brooklands and took it for a spin. Here’s their impression: “The first thing you need to know about the Bentley Brooklands is that it’s not what you expect for nearly $400,000. There is no keyless entry or remote start, no redundant controls for the stereo on the steering wheel, and the car will not park itself. Whiz-bang electronic gadgets are conspicuously absent in the Brooklands.”

2009 Bentley Brooklands Specs

• 550 HP 6.75 liter twin-turbo V8
• 774 lb-ft of tire-melting torque
• 5800 lb curb weight
• Base price: $340,990

The Brooklands is an interesting car, for sure. The name doesn’t roll of your tongue at all – that S at the end simply doesn’t belong. Names aside, it’s one good looking coupe. Almost $400 large and no mystical gadgets? I’m out. This car is absurdly expensive for the sole purpose of being absurdly expensive. Don’t get me wrong – that engine is INSANE. But engine alone, no matter how badass, doesn’t make $400k a good deal.

Hi there – could you help spread the word about Houston Cars? I could really use your help in getting my work out to new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would appreciate it. 2009 Bentley Brooklands Review – Autoblog is a post from: Houston Cars, home of the best darn car reviews around.