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  • Car Battery Tester – Test Your Car Battery

    Car Battery Tester
    In the market today, there are many types of car battery tester available from the cheapest $10 up to few hundred dollars. The reason some battery testers with higher price tag is they have extra capabilities including higher measurement range, bad cell detection, high/low voltage to test both the battery and starter. Some advance tester provide high amp charging function and engine start assistance too. However, as a normal user, we normally just need a battery tester that shows the available voltage power.

    Here we have go a cheap car battery tester (you can called it voltmeter or volt gauge) purchased from Autobacs. It cost $22 dollars and we got it for $7 during a sales promotion. This gauge comes with a digital reading, a protective cover, and a universal car cigarette lighter power plug and lead wire. We recommend using this voltmeter to test your car battery because you don’t have to care about the DC or AC reading and you don’t even need to open up your car hood. It is 100% safe for people who know nothing about cars. Moreover, the digital reading is more accurate and easy-to-read. (more…)

  • Honda Insight vs. Toyota Prius

    Honda Insight vs Toyota Prius
    Ladies and Gentlemen, the battle of Honda Insight vs. Toyota Prius is now begins! On the top, both of these cars have a lot look-a-like but under the hood, they have plenty of differences. The Toyota Prius has dominated to the hybrid car market since 1997. It was first launched in Japan in 1997 and went on sales worldwide since 2001. On the other hand, the Honda Insight is a new comer to hybrid market since 2010. Both of them are currently the most interesting and hottest mid-size hybrid cars available in the market and it will be fun to compare them from head to toe.

    Round 1: The Design

    Cargo room: Compare the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight side by side, the Prius has more room for the front seats, back seats, and boot. One of our drivers is 170cm (5’6’) and he is complaining the head room isn’t enough for him when he sits on the driver seat. As for the back seat, Prius tends to have more legroom compared to Insight. When we checked out the back seat of the Insight, we found the low roof line makes the access a little bit tricky. Passengers need to stoop a little bit in order to get into the car to avoid hitting the roof.

    Trunk: At 21.6 cubic feet, the Prius’ trunk is slightly bigger compared to the Insight which has a much smaller backside of 15.9 cubic feet.

    Round 2: Fuel Economy, Performance, and Safety

    Fuel Economy: While the Insight is smaller, it is suppose to be more fuel efficient. It did get 41 city/44 highway mpg but the Prius perform better at 51 city/48 highway mpg.

    Engine: The heart of the Insight consists of a 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. The combination produces a maximum output of 98 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. While we take the car up hill with four passengers inside the Insight, the car suffers a little bit at sloppy hill. The Prius is powered by a bigger engine – a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine married to a pair of electric motors. The combine power sends a total output of 134 hp.

    Curb Weight: Honda Insight is 1,237 kg (2,730 lb) and Toyota Prius is 1,380 kg (3,042 lb)

    0-60 mph: The Honda Insight accelerates from 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds while the Prius did the same in 10.1 seconds. A few tenths slower than the Toyota Prius.

    Round 3: Safety

    Honda Insight: Front airbags, Side airbags, Head airbags, 4-wheel Antilock Brakes System, Electronic Brake Enhancements, Traction Control (Not available on LX model), Stability Control (Not available on LX model), Tire-pressure monitoring system.

    Toyota Prius: Front airbags, Side airbags, Head airbags, Knee airbags for driver, 4-wheel Antilock Brakes, Traction Control (Standard), Stability Control (Standard), Tire-pressure monitoring system.

    Round 4: Interior

    Honda Insight vs Toyota Prius Interior
    The interior of the Prius features a multifunction display which the graphics look like the video games from the ‘80s. When the driver use the steering wheel control, there will be a display appear in the dashboard. Overall, the driving experience is very good and the car is very quite but not until the driver step hard on the gas pedal.

    The interior of the Insight is quite simple and straight-forward compared to the Prius. It features a standard automatic climate control, visual aids, and a speedometer with changeable background color.

    Round 5: Price

    • Honda Insight: MSRP from $18,500 to $21,965
    • Toyota Prius: MSRP from $24,000 to $29,805

    Round 6: Fun Or Not?

    The turning circle diameter is one of the factors to determine whether a car is fun to drive or not. Honda Insight is featured with an electric power steering with a turning cicle of 34 ft. On the other hand, the Toyota Prius has 34.2 ft turning circle diameter for Prius Two, Prius Three, Prius Four, and 36.0 ft turning circle diameter for the Prius Five. The Insight is slightly tighter than the Prius but both of the cars are fun to drive and it kills every corner on the road.

    Round 7: What else except Honda Insight and Toyota Prius?

    Other than Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, there are some other hybrid cars in the market that constantly received good reviews from automobile enthusiasts. These cars are Ford Fusion hybrid, Honda Civic hybrid, Lexus CT200h, Toyota Camry hybrid, Toyota Prius C, Honda Jazz hybrid and some other vehicles in the Hybrid car list.

    Conclusion

    The Toyota Prius is without doubt a recognized good hybrid car in the market with over millions of units sold. However, consider the economy we are in today, buyers who feel the price of a Prius is high may consider the Insight as an alternative which is nearly as good as the Prius. As for the look, one man’s meat is another man’s poison, we will leave this to the buyers.

  • Toyota Sienna Recalls

    Toyota Sienna
    Here you can find the list of Toyota Sienna recalls from 2009 to present. The list here includes the recall reasons, defects, problems, and potential units affected. Millions of Toyota Sienna have been recalled back to the dealer due to several problems over the years. It is good to know when are the recalls, what are they, and how they are treated especially for those who are looking for used Sienna.

    2012 Toyota Sienna Recalls

    Recall Date: March 23, 2012
    Model Year Affected: 2012
    Defect: About 363 units of Toyota Sienna are suspected to have electrical problems. A malfunction on the remote engine starter could cause the ABS and stability control lost. This will increase the risk of accidents. However, drivers should be noticed by the warning lights on the dashboard whenever a malfunction happens.
    Solution: Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars. Dealers will replace the remote engine starter for free. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-444-1074.

    2011 Toyota Sienna Recalls

    Recall Date: Nov 30, 2011
    Model Year Affected: 2011 – 2012
    Defect: About 210,000 units of Toyota Sienna are recalled for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 110. The reason for the recall is these cars display the wrong placard and may lead to overloading and increase the risk of accidents.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars and mail the correct playcard to every owner whose car is affected. Owners can bring their car to the dealer for a free replacement. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-331-4331.

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    Recall Date: Nov 22, 2011
    Model Year Affected: 2011
    Defect: About 518 units of Toyota Sienna are recalled for damaged A-pillar trim panel retention clip. It may cause the trim panel to come loose and increase the risk of injure to occupants in the event of a crash.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars. Dealers will examine the A-pillar trim panel retention clip and have it replaced for free if it is damaged. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-301-6859.

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    Recall Date: Jun 01, 2011
    Model Year Affected: 2011
    Defect: About 50 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between March 7 and March 10, 2011 are suspected to have problems with the drive shaft. The front, right, drive shaft may break due to insufficient heat treatment. If the drive shaft is break during driving, driver may loss the motive power to control the car. It will increase the risk of accidents.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars and have the drive shaft inspected by technician. It will be replaced FOC if the drive shaft is not correctly manufactured. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-331-4331.

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    Recall Date: Dec 13, 2010
    Model Year Affected: 2011
    Defect: About 94,126 units of 2011 Toyota Sienna are potentially affected. A bracket which mounts the brake stop lamp could be damaged and this could result in brake drag, brake noise, vibration, or a possible illumination of the brake warning light. It is important to have it fixed to reduce the risk of a crash.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars and have the bracket replaced for free. Owners will get notification once the parts are available. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-331-4331.

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    Recall Date: Feb 03, 2010
    Model Year Affected: 2011
    Defect: About 153,418 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 are suspected to have wrong label for the loading weight. Any cars are dangerous to drive if they are overload.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars and mail them the corrected label. Owners can also drive in to dealers to replace the label for free. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-301-6859.

    2010 Toyota Sienna Recalls

    Recall Date: Apr 20, 2010
    Model Year Affected: 2010
    Defect: This recall affected about 600,000 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between August 7, 1997 and Jan 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Affected cars are suspected to have bad spare tire carrier assembly cable. A crash may occur if the cable is break and the spare tire may separate from the car.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-331-4331.

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    Recall Date: Feb 03, 2010
    Model Year Affected: 2010
    Defect: About 271,417 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between 2005 and 2010 are affected. The recall is due to these cars are sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. Overloading may increase the risk of a crash.
    Solution:Toyota will mail their consumers the corrected label and also correct the owner’s manual. Owners can also drive in to nearestToyota dealers to replace the label for free. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact Gulf States TOYOTA at 713-580-3300.

    2009 Toyota Sienna Recalls

    Recall Date: Jun 15, 2009
    Model Year Affected: 2009
    Defect: About 27,080 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between 2005 and 2010 are recalled. The reason of the recall is these cars were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels. Overloadding could increase the risk of a crash.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars and mail them the corrected label free of charge. Owners can also drive in to dealers to replace the label for free. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA Motor North America at 1-888-270-9371.

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    Recall Date: Apr 20, 2010
    Model Year Affected: 2009
    Defect: This recall affected about 600,000 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between August 7, 1997 and Jan 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Affected cars are suspected to have bad spare tire carrier assembly cable. A crash may occur if the cable is break and the spare tire may separate from the car.
    Solution:Toyota will notify owners of the affected cars. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-800-331-4331.

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    Recall Date: Jun 25, 2009
    Model Year Affected: 2009
    Defect: About 2,204 units of Toyota Sienna manufactured between 2006 and 2009 are recalled due to the incorrect GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) label. Overloading a vehicle could result a risk of a crash.
    Solution:Toyota will notify their customers. Owners of the Toyota Sienna or Lexus can return their vehicle to the nearest dealer and have the label replaced. A correction to the owner’s manual will be provided too if it is necessary. Owners who suspect their car is affected may contact TOYOTA at 1-888-270-9371.

    Conclusion

    There are known recalls for Toyota Sienna model year 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 ever since the model launched in 1998. Some are serious defect while some are not. Although some recalls aren’t serious issue but it seems ridiculous especially the load carrying capacity label which has several recalls over the years. For more information, please click here for Toyota Sienna recalls from 1998 – 2008.

  • Fastest car in the world (2013) – Part Two

    6. McLaren MP4-12C
    McLaren MP4-12C
    Top Speed: 205 mph (330 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 3.3 seconds
    Price: $239,400

    The McLaren MP4-12C can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. However, the acceleration times can be further improved to 3.1 seconds if the MP4-12C is fitted with Corsa tires. The 2013 McLaren MP4-12C also able to accelerate from a standstill position to 124 mph in 8.9 seconds which scares drivers with heart attack problem. As for top speed, the official record is 205 mph. Safety wise, the car can brake from 124 mph and comes to a complete stop in under 5 seconds. The overall performance is almost similar to the 2013 SRT Viper but the price tag is two times more than it. That’s one reason why it ranked at number 6 in the world’s fastest car list.

    7. Bentley Continental GT Speed
    Bentley Continental GT Speed
    Top Speed: 205 mph (330 km/h) – Tied with McLaren MP4-12C
    0–60 mph: 4.3 seconds
    Price: $234,000

    The Bentley has gone crazy! In 2013, there will be a 2-door Bentley that flies – The Bentley Continental GT Speed. It flies a top speed of 205 mph with a 6.0-liter twin-turbo DOHC 40-vavle V12 engine under the car hood. It produces 600hp and 553 lb-ft of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The wheelbase is 108 inch and the curb weight is 5180 lb but it accelerates from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds which is quite satisfied. And yes, the Bentley Continental GT Speed is currently the fastest Bentley ever and also the fastest car driven on ice with the record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h).

    8. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
    Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
    Top Speed: 205 mph (330 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 3.4 seconds
    Price: $111,600

    The Corvette has 60 years of history in automobile industry. The 2013 Corvette ZR1 is powered by a 6.2-liter LS9 aluminum block V8 supercharged engine delivering an SAE-certified 638 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 604 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm. Thanks to the lightweight titanium engine, it goes from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and achieved a top speed of 205 mph which is tied with McLaren MP4-12C and Bentley Continental GT Speed. Fuel economy is recorded at 21 mpg on highway.

    9. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
    Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
    Top Speed: 202 mph (325 km/h)
    0–62 mph: 3.4 seconds
    Price: $237,600

    The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 is another Italian bull that comes into the top ten world’s fastest car list of 2013. The raging bull is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine delivering an incredible 570 hp and 3983 ft lbs of torque at 6,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 to 124 mph in 10.2 seconds. Yet another fierce bull.

    10. Ferrari 458 Italia
    Ferrari 458 Italia
    Top Speed: 201 mph (323 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 3.0 seconds
    Price: $229,825

    Last but not list, it is the Ferrari 458 Italia that makes into the top ten list of fastest car in the world. The top speed of 201 mph may not as fast as other cars in the top 9 but the Ferrari 458 Italia has a very impressive accelerate power. All it takes is just 3 seconds from 0-60 mph and continue relentlessly to 124 mph in 9.2 seconds and 180 mph in 23.3 seconds up till its maximum of 201 mph. Under the hood, it is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 engine that produces 562 hp and 400 lb-ft or torque. $229,825 is definitely worth for all the technology packed into this super exotic sports car.

    Click here to see Fastest car in the world (2013) part one

  • Fastest car in the world (2013)

    The list of top 10 fastest cars in the world of 2013 has some changes compared to the 2012 list. This time, there won’t be Hennessey Venom GT (260 mph top speed), Koenigsegg Agera R (260 mph top speed), SSC Ultimate Aero (257 mph top speed), Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo (248 mph top speed), Koenigsegg CCX (245 mph top speed), or Ferrari Enzo (217 mph top speed) in the list because we tends to include something fresh into it. Ready, Set, Go!

    1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
    Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
    Top Speed: 268 mph (431 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 2.4 seconds
    Price: $2.4 million

    Well, it is still the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport a.k.a “King of Speed” top the list as the fastest car in the world of 2013. It achieves a heart-beating top speed of 268 mph or to be more accurate the record is 267.856 mph (431.072 km/h), that’s 50 mph faster than the car ranked number two in the list. The 1,200 HP 8.0L W 16 engine is said to be able to heat up the entire village during winter time. See something similar on top? There are two 2.4, one being the 2.4 seconds from 0-60 mph and another being the $2.4 million price tag. The price tag is definitely worth for it compared to some other super cars available in the market right now. Can you take off your shirt in 2.4 seconds?

    2. Lamborghini Aventador LP700
    Lamborghini Aventador LP700
    Top Speed: 217 mph (350 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 2.9 seconds
    Price: $376,000

    The Lamborghini Aventador has relentless force, fearless look, and timeless powerhouse. These combinations generate a scary top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h). The Italian bull is powered by a 6.5L V12 engine pumping 700hp and 690 Nm of maximum torque @ 5,500rpm. From zero to 60 mph, all it takes is just 2.9 seconds. Every Aventador is handcrafted inItaly. The car frame is built with carbon fiber monocoque with aluminium front and rear frames to reduce its total weight. Such a car, such a speed, and such a performance, it deserves double thumbs up!

    3. Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
    Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
    Top Speed: 211 mph (340 km/h)
    0–62 mph: 3.1 seconds
    Price: $343,385

    The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is currently the fastest Ferrari production car ever with the most powerful engine from Ferrari – a 6.3L V12 engine generating 730hp. The car was launched few months ago and we can surely see tons of it running on the road in 2013. From 0-100km/h it takes 3.1 seconds and it has something better than others – the durability. From 0-200km/h all it takes is 8.5seconds. That’s a record that many cars couldn’t achieve.

    4. Ferrari FF
    Ferrari FF
    Top Speed: 208 mph (334 km/h)
    0–62 mph: 3.7 seconds
    Price: $295,000

    The Ferrari FF may not have a sleekly design and it looks like a normal hatch back with its four-seater design. However, it is still a Ferrari. Under the hood, it was fitted with a four-wheel drive 6.3L V12 engine producing 651hp. That makes it not a normal hatch back but one of the fastest cars in the world with a top speed of 208mph. Another great record the FF achieved is the 11 seconds record from 0-124mph.

    5. SRT Viper
    2013 SRT Viper
    Top Speed: 206 mph (331 km/h)
    0–60 mph: 3.3 seconds (estimated)
    Price: $100,000

    The Dodge Viper will be back in 2013 without the Dodge badge. This time, it is powered by an 8.4-liter V-10 engine with a stiffer block casting, lighter valvetrain, and forged pistons that produces a mere 640hp @ 6150rpm and 600 lb-ft of torque @ 4950rpm. Paired with a six-speed transmission, the 2013 SRT Viper has a predicted top speed of 206 mph. Thanks to the forged aluminum wheels and composite intake, the curb weight of the Viper is estimated at only 3300 lb. 640hp on a 3300 lb weight is what make the SRT Viper slipped into the list of fastest car in the world.

    Click here to see Fastest car in the world (2013) part two