Imagine the power vibrating from the accelerator pedal and feel the luxury sitting in the cockpit of a Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, as you rev the engine at the traffic light right beside that tiny Corvette next to you. Then, the light turns green and off you roar, leaving the other drivers in the dust.

There is plenty of horse power in the 12 cylinder engine - up to 640 PS at 8,000 RPM. With displacement of nearly 6,500 cubic centimeters, that means plenty of pick up, passing and cruising power at your fingertips. The acceleration tops out at 100 km/hour in only 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 340 km/hour (226 miles per hour.) Independent front and rear wishbone suspension makes your ride comfortable as the car handles curves and turns at high speeds.

A murcielago lamborghini is a dream car for many men and women who want to make an impression with a sports car. Priced right - not too high, under $400,000 US Dollars and not too low, this fine vehicle makes an excellent companion for the road. The The power and performance of this car are something to behold for every serious sports car driver. Of course, with the right buying strategies, you can own one of these high performance sports cars and park it in your very own driveway at a lower cost.

I love Speed Racer merchandise, and while looking for places to buy Speed Racer tees I found a lot of great info about the Mach V, too!

If you’re watching the new Speed Racer cartoon on Nickelodeon you have probably realized that the Mach 5 (the original Speed Racer ride) is no more, having been destroyed in the second episode and replaced with the Mach 6. The Mach 5 of the new generation featured several “special powers” not seen on Speed Racer’s rides before, such as the holographic dashboard display and the ejector seat. So, what is the history of the Mach 5 anyway?

The Mach 5 first appeared in the Japanese manga in the 1960’s and looked a lot like the Mach 5 in the new live-action movie looks. It’s a white car that looks a lot like a Chaparral 2C- which is an actual racecar designed by Jim Hall- with tail fins and a large red “M” on the hood. The car is named the Mach 5 (in the American versions of the show), but that’s not really accurate, as the Mach 5 isn’t really capable of supersonic speeds. In Japan, the word “go” means “5”- so it’s a pun, and in Japan, the car is simply known as the Mach. On the show, Speed Racer races in a class of cars designed for maximum speed and minimum weight.

In all of its different reworked designs, the Mach 5 features a lettered set of buttons on the steering wheel (and one on the center console). Each button corresponds to a different secret feature of the car. Speed deploys these features as needed, as the races he’s in aren’t exactly contested under normal rules, nor are the other racers above blatant cheating through the use of such devices. Translated from the original Japanese comic book, they include:

1. Auto Jack- A series of 4 jacks that can be rapidly deployed. Ostensibly, these jacks are so that the car can be repaired quickly but in practical use, Speed usually ends up using them to jump over obstacles in his way.
2. Belt Tires- A special tire grip is activated, allowing Speed to keep control on icy or uneven terrain. When this power is activated, 5,000 extra horsepower are also evenly distributed amongst the 4 tires; the power is drawn from secret auxiliary engines.
3. Cutter- Two huge rotary saw blades pop out of the front of the Mach 5, enabling obstacles such as trees to be cleared out of the way with ease.
4. Defensor- Seals the driver in a waterproof, bulletproof cockpit. The driver inside is basically invulnerable once the Defensor is deployed.
5. Evening Eye (or Illuminating Eye) a special illumination system allowing the Mach 5’s driver to see much further down the road than normal. This system can also interface with the goggles on Speed Racer’s helmet to give infrared vision assistance.
6. Frogger Mode- essentially submarine mode, this allows the Mach 5 to serve as a submarine, complete with periscope, for 30 minutes- that’s when the air runs out.
7. Gizmo Rocket- activates a small homing rocket, controlled by a joystick on the center console. This rocket can be used to carry messages, take aerial video, or for self defense.
8. Button H is located on the center console and activates the Gizmo Rocket’s homing device, sending it to a pre-programmed location automatically.
There was a short-lived remake of Speed Racer on Nickelodeon in 2002 called Speed Racer X. In that series, the names and functionality of several of the secret powers were changed- for example, the jacks were replaced with compressed air and rockets, the tires were replaced with special tires that allowed the Mach 5 to float, the cutter blades were replaced with lasers, and the night vision feature was replaced with a grappling hook that allowed Speed to get out of tough situations. The car also made a full transformation into a submarine during Frogger mode, and the Gizmo Rocket was redesigned to look more like a peacock than its original dove configuration.

In the live action movie, several other changes were also made. Frogger mode was abandoned altogether along with Evening Eye mode. Jump Jacks and the bulletproof cockpit were retained as features and also figure prominently in the plot. The car also has had tire shields added, and Speed has the ability to control them via a remote in the center console. Other added features included instant-inflate spare tires, in case an original tire gets shredded, and crampons that emerge from the tire treads when things get too icy or slick.

While the Mach 5 in the movie IS an actual physical car, sadly, no one drove it. It was suspended from a crane and moved using hydraulics to get the necessary shots for the movie, then inserted into the digital footage using green screen technology. In the year 2000, a special prototype Mach 5 was build- it featured functional concealed cutter blades! As you can imagine, this car was not street legal, so in 2002, 100 street-legal versions of the Mach 5 were produced, built on a heavily modified Corvette chassis. If you want to drive one of these 345 horsepower beasts, first you’ve got to find one. Then, you’ve got to shell out from $75,000 to $125,000 to afford it!

That's all for now. If you're looking for Speedracer hats, stop by the store and pick some up!

People have very different attitudes toward the many different forms of vehicle finance available.

Here are some reasons why you should consider van leasing compared to buying outright or hire purchase for your business or personal needs.

By choosing van leasing compared to buying – You Release Cash-Flow to grow your business, and you will not own a depreciating asset.

You will always have a new vehicle, under warranty subject tou your lease length, projecting your high professional business status with your clients, and with Your green credential in mind You will be kinder to the environment by using new and more 'eco friendly' vehicles that have lower CO2 levels, and no MOT worries! This statement applied to vehicles on a maximum term of 3 years.

The rentals can have maintenance included if required, and normally will include the road fund licence for the full term of the agreement, which means that you can run your vehicles on a fixed cost motoring package, only needing to consider fuel and insurance, therefore simplifying your fleet costs considerably. I would strongly suggest that you only consider a fully maintained lease if you do more than 20,000 miles per annum.

Rentals are based on the ex vat price of the vehicle, and up to 50% of the Vat on the rentals is reclaimable on cars and 100% on all van leasing, other tax benefits are also available, speak to your accountant about the tax efficiency of Contract hire for your business.

Speaking to an independent leasing company will give you access to a "one stop shop", where they will deal with finding you the vehicle you want and also give the most attractive finance rates. Only speak to companies who have advisors specially trained in commercial vehicles.

To help make your decision easier the following is a list of those differences:
- At the end of the car loan term you will own a car if you opted to buy. At the end of the car lease term you return the car to the dealer and are left with nothing.

- A car loan term is usually four to six years. van leasing term is typically two to four years.

- Monthly car loan payments are generally higher than car leasing payments. This is because you are only really only paying for the car’s depreciation during the car lease term plus interest, taxes and service fees.

- Most car leases limit the amount of mileage you can put on the vehicle. If you plan on traveling a great deal you will have to consider negotiating a higher mileage limit. This will mean slightly higher monthly payments. If you exceed the limit you will be required to pay a charge of between 2p to 12p per mile. If you choose to buy the vehicle this is not an issue.

- When leasing a car there are limits to the amount of wear you can cause to the vehicle. Excessive wear will result in extra charges. If you buy you can do what ever you want to your car.

- If you terminate a car lease before the term is over there usually is a charge. In the case of car buying if you buy out the remainder before the car loan term is up you are usually charged a fee as well.

When buying sports cars, the buyer must not only assess his needs and preferences, but more importantly, he must put everything in the context of his budget. Sports cars are generally priced not less than $15,000. However, there are some options available for buying cheaper but valuable sports cars.

Auction
An enthusiastic buyer may want to check out the local auctions that are held in his area. Some good sports cars can be bought cheaply in these auctions. However, the auction arena is not made for the faint-hearted buyer. Just like any other kind of auction, it is a stressful and fast environment. One must attend a couple or more auctions before actually trying to purchase a car from this kind of activity.

Another downside of auctions is that there is no opportunity to test the car. In auctions, people buy cars “as they are.”

Car Exchange
Auto Exchange Centers may offer you the best cars at very reasonable prices. Buyers might want to do a little Internet research since car exchange centers do advertise their merchandise on the Internet. Remember that the market for cheap sports cars is a buyers’ market, which means that you hold the aces when negotiating prices.

Private Seller
Buyers may also look for private sellers of sports cars. Some people need quick cash in cases of emergency so they are forced to sell their precious cars at very attractive prices. Be aware and watch out for such quality deals.

The problem with dealing with private sellers is that once the purchase is made, the buyer is left on his own. He cannot run back to the seller to complain.

Good Models that no one wants
There are good sports car models out there that are being taken for granted by the market. Because of trends in sports car demand, some of the good ones are being left out. This is a good thing for buyers who are looking for value for their money. Some Jaguar, Austin-Healey and Morgan car models are out there, up for grabs at great prices. More on How to Get a Cheap Sports Car and DaleSpaces.

More people are using auto transport now than ever before. The reason that so many people are turning towards automobile transportation is partly due to the rising cost of gas prices, but also because of the fact that people really don't want to have to buy another vehicle if they can help it. For instance, the United States is currently facing a slight economic crisis with the threat of an impending recession. This economic crisis is causing all sorts of domino effects. For one, people do not want to have to spend extra money if they don't have to, and the money that they do end up spending, they want to make sure goes towards things that will last. This is part of the reason that people are turning towards alternative forms of transportation such as carpooling, economically suited vehicles that run on batteries, solar power or electricity, etc. Each week, it costs millions of Americans well over $50 to fill up their gas tanks. If you add up that amount over the course of a month and then a year, it can be pretty devastating. Also on people's minds is the recession and cut backs in jobs. There's a saying that states that the average person is only one or two paychecks away from being homeless. This is why it is even more important to save the falling dollar. People are having a more difficult time selling houses, and they are also experiencing problems when it comes to getting a home loan or even an auto loan. When it comes to auto transport, people are definitely starting to pick up on it. After all, in the past, it might have been just fine and dandy to hop in your car and drive clear across the country with your U-haul and family in tow. However, nowadays, people are beginning to think more conservatively for the aforementioned reasons. They are looking to cut costs wherever they can, and one of those places is with automobile transportation. When most people hear the words auto transport, the first thing that they think of is some car dealership hiring a trucker to haul a bunch of their vehicles across the country to their dealership so that they can sell them. However, car carrier companies aren't just for the corporations and big businesses anymore. If you don't feel like driving your vehicle from New York to Florida, simply hire an auto transport company to do the dirty work. You can still book your flight and relax, knowing that your vehicle will get to its destination safely. Some auto transport companies will even come to your door, and pick your vehicle up so that you don't even have to worry about doing anything with it! Now, how's that for curbside service?!

Did you just buy the classic car of your dreams? An ancient Chevy Bel Air or a sexy Mercedes? While you have the same basic needs as a typical auto insurance shopper your specific needs are quite different. You need provide coverage and protection for your baby without breaking the bank.

While many car insurance companies (such as Safe Auto and State Farm) will provide you with basic coverage for many classic cars their policies are either limited (providing only fire and theft coverage) or simply too restrictive for a muscle car owner. You may get auto insurance to allow you to legally drive your car, in the case of an accident you may find you have insufficient coverage to cover the cost of the damages to your car. There is an option: Specialty car insurance from a variety of vendors specifically looking to offer customized car insurance quotes for your vehicle.

Specialty car insurance companies understand the needs of the average car collector. They know that the drivers of these cars are typically older, professionals, and are much safer drivers than the average Joe. Because of the lower risk offered by these drivers the insurance companies offer more options than may be available for a teenager or a single man in his twenties (I've been there!).

When looking for muscle car insurance you want to find coverage that offers a stated value policy. Unlike standard auto insurance where the cost of the policy is based on the market salvage value of the car (based on the industry agreed value) a stated value policy allows the car owner to determine the actual value of the car. This allows you to receive coverage for your collector car based on the true market value, which may vary greatly from the standard industry formula. For example you can cover your Shelby Mustang for a stated value of $200,0000 (which is its potential true value at auction) compared to State Farm's cap of $50,000 on a vehicle older than 20 years.

Companies like Heacock Insurance specialize in providing coverage for collector cars. You can insure many vehicles online through their web site by simply providing some photographs, some basic information, and paying the initial premium. You can then download a version of the policy and print your own insurance card [spin]locally|from home|at home|on your printer[spin]. This works great for car purchases at an auction or at a remote site. Other classic car insurance companies such as Grundy Worldwide offer a variety of options to custom-tailor your policy to your needs.

Classic Car Insurance Reviews - http://www.classiccarinsurances.com - offers reviews of the major specialty car insurance companies that can help you find a company that best fits your needs. By reviewing the different offerings for each company you can get a feel for the expense and level of coverage each policy will ultimately will provide.

Every generation since the 50s has memories associated with the T-Bird. Although never a muscle car or as popular as the Corvette, it has made an indelible mark on the American car buyer.

The T-Bird has always represented luxury, freedom, and a sense of adventure. From its early days as a small sports car it was meant to be a show car for the Ford brand. Chevrolet was having massive success with its small two-seater called the Corvette. As most car makers of the day Ford thought it must stay competitive by offering a similar model. The Thunderbird or "T-Bird" was made.

The first generation of Thunderbirds (1955 - 1957) was small and sporty. Its styling was flared and dramatic, like the other cars of the time. While the sales figures were never as high as the Corvette for this first generation it was definitely a hit with the right crowd. The Thunderbird love affair had begun.

Over the next several generations the T-Bird would change appearance and audiences. It would go from this svelte two-seater to a large four-passenger behemoth in the mid-seventies. These "Big Birds" as they were known (each of the 11 generations of Thunderbirds had its own nickname) had little in common with the original car. Still the American car buying market had changed its tastes, and the Thunderbird had to adapt and prospered over the years.

Over time the T-Bird went from being a show car for the Ford Motor Company to just another model in the lineup. The "Aero Birds" and "Super Birds" of the 80s and 1990s were reduced to being the "sporty" 2-door sedan of the Ford catalog. While they retained some of their luxury upbringing most of that flair went to sibling Lincoln (as the luxury marque of Ford). There was little need for a true luxury model in the Ford stable.

After 1997 the T-Bird was discontinued as Ford sought to strengthen its line up against the now powerful Japanese car firms. But soon Ford realized one of their strengths was the ability to pull from their long and proud heritage. The new "Retro Bird" Thunderbird of 2002 was the first vehicle of this generation of Fords, followed by in 2005 the new Mustang. This T-Bird was a brand new car, but it drew heavily on the look, feel, and personality of the original 1955 version. It was a two-door two-seater sports car with little in the way of the boring practicality of the 70s T-birds.

While the Retro Birds are no longer in production, the spirit of the Thunderbird marque has been revived. With a renewed interest in the cars of the golden era I’m sure we’ve not seen the last of the iconic Ford Thunderbird.

For more articles and classifieds on the Thunderbird visit the site dedicated to all generations of the T-Bird.

From the time that Ford showed the way with the first "muscle car" in 1964 in the form of the Mustang, America has been in love.

Just about everyone has a favorite classic muscle car. Yours might be the 1965 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge 426 Hemi, 1966 Plymouth intermediate with 426 Hemi, 1968 Plymouth Road Runner, 1970 AMC Rebel, 1969 Dodge Coronet or the Australian 1973 LJ Torana GTR XU-1.

With the on demand performance that these cars offered, the Ford Mustang became the top selling car for many of the years during its "performance era." Times have changed, though, and there are many factors that would seem to reduce the muscle car's popularity. Government regulation and high fuel prices would seem to cause a thumbs down on all that horsepower. But these horses can't be corralled and the muscle car remains a steady seller, especially to the new generation. And for them, there is a new generation of muscle cars hitting the dealer lots.

Cadillac CTS-V

This high performance Cadillac makes an impressive introduction to the muscle car ring. While the Cadillac name may not exactly be synonymous with performance, the CTS-V delivers with power, a roomy interior and great handling. Sporting surprising 400 horses of power with a 6.0 liter V8, this ride sits you in a stylish car with a lower price tag and great performance.

Pontiac GTO

GM after too long a wait brought back the "Goat", much to the delight of muscle car enthusiasts. One of the original muscle cars, the GTO was introduced in 1964 and ran through the 1974 production year. Gm was hoping to keep the awesome performance and power of the GTO without making you sell your house. With a 6.0 liter LS2 V8 rumbling under the hood offering 400 horses, the new breed of GTO ran from 2004 to 2006. But, this is one car that can't be held down and we can only hope that it will emerge again in the future.

Infiniti G35

Typical of the new breed muscle cars, the Infinity G35 offers sleek styling, great performance and top notch handling. Sporting a powerful 3.5 liter V6, 306 horses strong, the Infiniti G35 give you the old school muscle car style combined with the newer, technological plusses of the 21st century. With this car, performance is its strong suit. It offers great handling and a superior, "the power and the glory" look and feel.

Lexus IS 350

Another sprightly muscle car with high performance, the Lexus IS 350 offers a powerful V6 with 306 horsepower. Its inventive safety designs give it an edge over some of the other muscle cars out there. While you correctly equate the Lexus name with luxury, the IS 350 shines with top performance as well.

Ford Mustang

You can't say muscle car without thinking about the Ford Mustang. The original muscle car, this pony with horsepower has seen some significant changes over the past several decades. The latest Mustang, though, still packs a powerful punch with a wicked performance V8 version with 300 horses galloping under the hood in the GT version. The retro chassis will take the old timers back and inspire new enthusiasts just discovering this classic to a new love.

There are many other muscle cars that could fit on this list and stack up just fine against their high performance cousins. Take some time to see what is available in the next wave of muscle cars and find the performance package that makes your pulse pound. Performance, styling and handling make a muscle car, but you have to drive one to really appreciate it.

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We firstly heard about Norwegian car manufacturer Think Global, in 2003 when it was bought by Ford. Company already had an electric car prototype, and Ford invested over 100 million dollars to complete design and started pilot production… Think is small two-seater electric car with a lot of character. But in 2003 it lacked success in marketing and sales, and after California's CARB was lifted, Ford lost interest. Ford backed out of Think, selling it to Swiss based company. Few years later Think went into bankruptcy… During liquidation number of Norwegian investors bought the company…

Well, it was not the first bankruptcy for Norwegian company… So, as Think is reemerging these days, it is only natural to expect so. Appropriately for northerners, Think - Affordable Electric Car is still ecological vehicle. Newly announced car - Think City is a pure electric car with reach of 110 miles - twice that of 2003 model. Think City is manufactured northwest of Oslo, Norway. In next months first shipments to Norway, Denmark and Swiss will commence, and by the end of 2008 this electric car will be sold in markets allover Europe and USA. Management of Think is optimistic, as this time they are pretty sure, that they have caught the right timing, and they also emphasize gained new, more appropriate part
ners, suppliers and most importantly - car parts…

New publicly fronted partners include Porsche Consulting, Tesla Motors and Zebra batteries… Tesla motors is supplier of advanced lithium batteries, while Porsche Consulting will help with optimization of manufacturing efficiency (Porsche factories are number 1 worldwide in terms of factory efficiency and profitability ). Think is also preparing for first crash tests (NCAP / EuroNCAP). Production line started in November 2007 and by end of 2008 yearly production capacity will reach 10.000 cars.

Think is special, because it is bringing some radical new revolutionary ideas to the automotive industry. From what we heard, Think will be great - if they can deliver, of course… But imagine buying car online - as you do a Dell notebook… Select color, functionality, all accessories… And have a custom built car delivered to your door just days later… Want to take it for a test drive first? Forget about dealerships and dealing/convincing sales people, all for a quick short drive… With Think you just send an short text message (SMS) to car-sharing franchise, and they will contact you when its appropriate time to bring you the car to test…

Technical specifications of Think City are impressive… Advantages of Electric Car are mostly economical and environmental! Range of 112 miles/180 kilometers on new battery (battery pack in Think consists of around 3000 single batteries - in contrast to Tesla roadster, which has over 7000; alternative battery pack from Zebra batteries has lower reach, but other advantages as charge density and durability), and complete compliancy to every safety standard in the world, just to begin with. Top speed of the car is 60 mph/100 km/h , but acceleration makes it fun to drive and hard to keep up… Car's battery can be filled up during the night as a standard plug in - at the fraction of the cost of petrol or diesel. Think City is battery powered and does not need oil changes or regular maintenance. More over 90% of the energy you put in the Think City goes directly to moving the vehicle (a traditional combustion engine loses almost 70% of the fuel energy to heat and friction). Even thought Think does not use direct drive motor, its efficiency is still high due to light weight. Lifetime of a battery pack under optimal conditions is around 100.000 miles / 160.000 km. Every car has Internet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication facilities. These communication capabilities will be used so that car can communicate with owner, and with other Think cars/owners. For example - if you just parked your ThinkCity in garage and threw yourself on sofa, then remembered that you are unsure about level of batteries - no need to stand up again… Just send an SMS to the car, and it will reply with status. Car will also remind you via e-mail if it needs to be serviced. You read correctly - email and texting services are supported…

Think also has a plan to deal with single most pressing problem in electric cars - batteries. When you will buy a car, you cannot buy a battery. Instead battery will be leased to owner in form of mobility fee for a $199/€150 per month (and this will include also subscription to mobile/internet service etc)… Average price of operating a car is around $5/3€ per 100 miles/150km. As battery life is decreasing through time, owner will pay less and less for it, or have it replaced for new one. "It's simple as that - we want you to buy mobility ", says CEO and owner of Think, Jan-Olaf Willums. Big decision whether owning an Electric Car is viable for you, still depends on final price - as the car is still not officially released, it is unknown, but speculated to be south of $35.000 / 25.000€…

There is a plenty of demand today for a pre owned luxury car; first and foremost because the price if more affordable when compared to the new cars but also because certain models stay in demand. There are lots of people who look for a secondhand luxury car because they cannot afford a new one. And there is an equal number of people looking for a special model which is more readily available or within reach as a secondhand luxury car than new. This might be a great solution, especially if the car maintenance scedule has been followed.

After all, if the vehicle doesn't live up to its expectations as far as speed, performance, driving ability and general reliability is concerned, you must ask the question; how easy is it to return a secondhand luxury car? The answer is one that many people would prefer to ignore, because it can cost us our dreams of owning a luxury car. The truth is if the used luxury car does not hold up to your expectations, you'll probably have a tough time returning the vehicle to the dealership for a refund.

What You Should Do Before You Purchase

Before buying the pre owned luxury car of you dreams, you will want to make sure it is in top condition with regard to all aspects of what a luxury car should be. With the sort of money you'll be putting down to invest in this car, it's a good idea to have it checked over by a mechanic that you really trust. If you don't have a friend or family member that can do the checking job for you, find an independent mechanic that is not affiliated with the dealership you plan on buying your secondhand luxury car from, because doing so will enable you to receive unbiased results.

If you use a mechanic that works at the dealership to look it over, chances are you will not receive all of the information you need concerning the reliability of the car. Hence, using a vehicle expert not associated with the dealership will offer more honest results, making it easier for you to make a correct decision on the investment.

In the end, don't settle for a pre owned luxury car just because you like its looks. A nice looking car with a poor performance is nothing to even considerate. If you do, you good looking luxury car will probably end up doing nothing but sitting in your drive way. But as soon as you've found the secondhand luxury car that shines in your eyes, and it the mechanic's conclusion is that your dream car is a reliable source of transportation, you can rest assured you have found a winner. If you need help with financing your secondhand lusury car, the internet is maybe the best place to find good deals on used car loans. It's all about doing a bit of legwork before you buy.