Posts Tagged ‘Top-Down’
The Mercedes SLK R170: Hits and Misses
The sporty acronym comes from Sporty, Light, and Short (or Kurz in German). The SLK R170 was a smaller and lighter version of Mercedes SL sports car. The SLK R170 was first produced in 1996, and its fans were immediate. The initial sales started with a very respectable 50,000 units. However, time and competition aged this car. The car was going up directly against the Audi TT, unfavorably. Furthermore, its technology was becoming dated.
The SLK’s hard top is noticeably its best piece of engineering, while the engine is clunky. The steering was borrowed from the C-class, the recirculating ball, which wasn’t the best choice.
Going head-to-head against other cars in its segment, the TT Roadster, the BMW Z3, and the Alfa Romero Spider, the SLK R170 still visually is the winner. While the engine could be weak, drivers in North America value relaxed driving over power.
Riders got their piece of the sun in this Mercedes SLK 170 with its retractable hardtop. Although going with the top-down, you should still be equipped with a windscreen. This automated, retractible hard top follows the likeness of the Mitsubishi 3000 GT Spyder, Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC, Mercedes SL Class, and the Chrysler Sebring.
The 2/3 liter Kompressor came out in 2000 to address these initial nits. This newer SLK took on some extra power under the hood, refined body styling, and lost some of its body weight. The engine fixed some of its initial roughness. Mercedes did make upgrades with the transmission, making shifting smooth as silk. There was new six-speed transmission, pieced together from the E-class. The five speed transmission came out in the automatic. Putting the top down makes you drown in wind, unless you have a need a windscreen. Next, a smoother and safer ride became possible with chassis improvement.
None of these changes are big or grand, being small changes over time. The Mercedes SLK R170 is a classic car that holds up well with time.
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When the author isn’t driving her SLK around, she’s a fan of the Mercedes Benz SLK windscreen windblocker wind deflector, the psychic readings, and theSeattle HCG Diet.
Could General Motors Keep the Pontiac Solstice?
Upon its government loans, General Motors is being forced to ruthlessly shed its dead weight, which means eliminating its low selling brands of Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and Pontiac. The car chase scenes forever etched into movie lore have either the Pontiac Trans Am or GTO zipping around. Who can ever forget the movies Smokey and the BanditorTwo Lane Blacktop with a raging GTO? The Pontiac Solstice is now on the block to be cut. Even though the Solstice is a clear winner, it can’t carry the dead weight of the Pontiac line by itself. The elimination of this car would effect now only the entire assembly line upon it and its parts suppliers, but those business which also sell after market parts (such as the Pontiac Solstice windscreen / windblocker / wind deflector).
Convertible owners love their car. The Pontiac Solstice started life to strong editorial reviews and passionate owners. As quick as the announcmenet of the end of Pontiac came, the online community responded to save the Solstice (see SaveTheKappa). This website was quickly started by passionate owners to persuade General Motors that the Solstice is worth preserving. Although brand new, fans are already flocking to this website, and activity will certainly pick up as the Solstice’s demise becomes near.
Unfortunately, it’s simply too early to tell what might happen. There are still a lot of gyrations left to play out in this interwoven business saga. The eventual fate of the Pontiac Solstice itself is still to be written. Even though General Motors is pulling the plug on Pontiac, perhaps profitable lines could continue their lives. Keeping the Solstice going would be a great relief for the fans, the workers, and the businesses dedicated to this convertible. The Solstice’s eventual life is still up in the air, yet this car will always have a vast group of followers dedicated to it.
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When the author is tootling around in her own Solstice, she’s a fan of thePontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector, the psychic reviews, and the Seattle HCG Diet & Weight Loss.
Chrysler Crossfire Still Wows
The Crossfire is available as either a two-set coupe or a roadster (in which case, you’ll need a Crossfire windscreen (windblocker wind deflector). The Crossfire is constructed on top the Mercedes Benz SLK chassis, which was getting old even in its day. The Crossfire was heavy on its feet, the steering much to loose, the it was as aerodynamic as a rock. People were balanced in their compliments: they like the outside of the car, but hated its inside. Most other cars in the same class or price points had a much more attractive cockpit. Finally, the Crossfire’s performance in uninspiring. It’s not a fast or quick car, it’s not responsive, and the gas millage isn’t all that great.
The Crossfire was introduced to the world in the summer of 2003, as a coupe only. Then, the two seater roadster came in 2005. Enthusiasts were calling for more power; Chrysler answered with the SRT6, with a supercharge 3/2 liter V6 engine. The Crossfire delivers an impressive 330 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. One minor bummer was the SRT6 came only with an awkward five speed automatic transmission. Finally, additional suspension components were added, which improved handling but hurt ride smoothness. Finally, performance tires can significantly improve the handling characteristics of the Crossfire, adding a lot more wow-factor and glees of exhilaration .
Hearing the chants of the mob about high prices, Chrysler constructed a simpler Crossfire in 2005 with a smaller price tag. Not to become stale, the Crossfire added new new colors, trim levels, and aluminum wheels. With all of these options, the roadster still remained the most popular version, as long as a is employed.
Sales have continually dropped to unimpressive levels, so 2009 may be the Crossfire’s last year of life. The roadster will most likely remain the most popular version of the Crossfire. There isn’t a strong prosepct for this car in the collector marketplace. This car will certainly be missed by its fans and the auto industry alike.
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When the author isn’t driving her own Crossfire, she’s a fan of the ChryslerCrossfire windscreen windblocker wind deflector, psychic readings, and the Seattle HCG Diet.
Could General Motors Keep the Pontiac Solstice?
Upon its government loans, General Motors is being forced to ruthlessly shed its dead weight, which means eliminating its low selling brands of Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and Pontiac. The car chase scenes forever etched into movie lore have either the Pontiac Trans Am or GTO zipping around. Who can ever forget the movies Smokey and the Bandit orTwo Lane Blacktop with a raging GTO? The Pontiac Solstice is now on the block to be cut. Even though the Solstice is a clear winner, it can’t carry the dead weight of the Pontiac line by itself. The elimination of this car would effect now only the entire assembly line upon it and its parts suppliers, but those business which also sell after market parts (such as the Pontiac Solstice windscreen / windblocker / wind deflector).
Convertible owners love their car. The Pontiac Solstice started life to strong editorial reviews and passionate owners. As quick as the announcmenet of the end of Pontiac came, the online community responded to save the Solstice (see SaveTheKappa). This website was quickly started by passionate owners to persuade General Motors that the Solstice is worth preserving. Although brand new, fans are already flocking to this website, and activity will certainly pick up as the Solstice’s demise becomes near.
Unfortunately, it’s simply too early to tell what might happen. There are still a lot of gyrations left to play out in this interwoven business saga. The eventual fate of the Pontiac Solstice itself is still to be written. Even though General Motors is pulling the plug on Pontiac, perhaps profitable lines could continue their lives. Keeping the Solstice going would be a great relief for the fans, the workers, and the businesses dedicated to this convertible. The Solstice’s eventual life is still up in the air, yet this car will always have a vast group of followers dedicated to it.
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When the author is tootling around in her own Solstice, she’s a fan of the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector, the psychic reviews, and the Seattle HCG Diet & Weight Loss.
Pontiac Solstice Amps Up the Wow! Factor
It’s easy to blast off in the Solstice right from the show room floor. The Pontiac Solstice stirs up into a pot and melds together awesome power, stirring options, and out-of-this world styling. One needs to go back into the time machine until the 1959 Bonneville to refer back to any other worthy Pontiac split-screen. This car is a worthy challenger to the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, with only half of the price tag.
Option-wise, the Solstice comes in two trims, the base package and the GXP. The basic package comes with a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that pleasantly conserves the gas. The power-packed GXP package places a whopping 260 hour power turbocharged engine into a 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine. Both power engines are attaches onto a five speeder manual or auto transmission. The basic model includes electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, four anti-lock disc brakes, impressive 18 inch alloy wheels, and satellite radio. If the base package isn’t enough, the GXP then adds dual exhaust tips, a faster responding transmission, leather to the steering wheel and shift knob, and plush carpeted floor mats.
While there’s much to enjoy for the Solstice, it’s not without some draw backs. The steering is not crisp. The Solstice tips the scale at over 3000 pounds, so being quick-and-lite is not upon the abilities of this car. Also, when zipping out from corners, the Solstice is prone to hang on. Starting from zero, the take-off is certainly not overwhelming. This car wouldn’t make a passing grade in ergonomics, with components illogically positioned and plastic components littering the interior. Trunk space storage is only adequate.
One can quibble over these minor problems, while the exterior style more than makes up for these deficiencies. Pontiac certainly isn’t known as a style leader, which the Solstice corrects. The Solstice’s styling evokes exotic images that will appear in your nightly dreams. Strangers will come up and strike up conversations about your Solstice. The good personality of the car certainly exceeds the minor nits. Enthusiasts contemplating a sports car should jump into this car and not look back.
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When the author isn’t driving her Pontiac Solstice, she’s a fan of best psychics, the Seattle HCG Diet, and the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
Could General Motors Keep the Pontiac Solstice?
Upon its government loans, General Motors is being forced to ruthlessly shed its dead weight, which means eliminating its low selling brands of Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and Pontiac. The car chase scenes forever etched into movie lore have either the Pontiac Trans Am or GTO zipping around. Who can ever forget the movies Smokey and the BanditorTwo Lane Blacktop with a raging GTO? The Pontiac Solstice is now on the block to be cut. Even though the Solstice is a clear winner, it can’t carry the dead weight of the Pontiac line by itself. The elimination of this car would effect now only the entire assembly line upon it and its parts suppliers, but those business which also sell after market parts (such as the Pontiac Solstice windscreen / windblocker / wind deflector).
Convertible owners love their car. The Pontiac Solstice started life to strong editorial reviews and passionate owners. As quick as the announcmenet of the end of Pontiac came, the online community responded to save the Solstice (see SaveTheKappa). This website was quickly started by passionate owners to persuade General Motors that the Solstice is worth preserving. Although brand new, fans are already flocking to this website, and activity will certainly pick up as the Solstice’s demise becomes near.
Unfortunately, it’s simply too early to tell what might happen. There are still a lot of gyrations left to play out in this interwoven business saga. The eventual fate of the Pontiac Solstice itself is still to be written. Even though General Motors is pulling the plug on Pontiac, perhaps profitable lines could continue their lives. Keeping the Solstice going would be a great relief for the fans, the workers, and the businesses dedicated to this convertible. The Solstice’s eventual life is still up in the air, yet this car will always have a vast group of followers dedicated to it.
——————————
When the author is tootling around in her own Solstice, she’s a fan of thePontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector, the psychic reviews, and the Seattle HCG Diet & Weight Loss.
Pontiac Solstice Amps Up the Wow! Factor
It’s easy to blast off in the Solstice right from the show room floor. The Pontiac Solstice stirs up into a pot and melds together awesome power, stirring options, and out-of-this world styling. One needs to go back into the time machine until the 1959 Bonneville to refer back to any other worthy Pontiac split-screen. This car is a worthy challenger to the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, with only half of the price tag.
Option-wise, the Solstice comes in two trims, the base package and the GXP. The basic package comes with a 173 horse power, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that pleasantly conserves the gas. The power-packed GXP package places a whopping 260 hour power turbocharged engine into a 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine. Both power engines are attaches onto a five speeder manual or auto transmission. The basic model includes electronic traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, four anti-lock disc brakes, impressive 18 inch alloy wheels, and satellite radio. If the base package isn’t enough, the GXP then adds dual exhaust tips, a faster responding transmission, leather to the steering wheel and shift knob, and plush carpeted floor mats.
While there’s much to enjoy for the Solstice, it’s not without some draw backs. The steering is not crisp. The Solstice tips the scale at over 3000 pounds, so being quick-and-lite is not upon the abilities of this car. Also, when zipping out from corners, the Solstice is prone to hang on. Starting from zero, the take-off is certainly not overwhelming. This car wouldn’t make a passing grade in ergonomics, with components illogically positioned and plastic components littering the interior. Trunk space storage is only adequate.
One can quibble over these minor problems, while the exterior style more than makes up for these deficiencies. Pontiac certainly isn’t known as a style leader, which the Solstice corrects. The Solstice’s styling evokes exotic images that wi ll appear in your nightly dreams. Strangers will come up and strike up conversations about your Solstice. The good personality of the car certainly exceeds the minor nits. Enthusiasts contemplating a sports car should jump into this car and not look back.
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When the author isn’t driving her Pontiac Solstice, she’s a fan of best psychics, the Seattle HCG Diet, and the Pontiac Solstice windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
Cadillac XLR is Way Cool
Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it’s serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. The XLR is a flashy car, what Cadillac wants to build up. Dija know that both the XLR and Corvette are built on top of the same platform, even though the Corvette does a better job with it. This caddy has more in common with the luxury boat cruisers than sporty little roadsters. The Caddy’s responses are softer and comfortably refined. The XLR also uses a tamer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 engine.
The use of lightweight components like aluminum suspension pieces and composite body panels keeps the Cadillac XLR from being a bloated luxury two-seater. Also, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system thinks for you, adjusting ride smoothness automatically. All of this makes for smooth and responsive maneuvers. The mash-up of the cutting exterior and bold interior with catching accents do make for a compelling presence. The retractable hard top is a great piece of engineering, a great switch between hard top and the soft top. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a Cadillac windscreen.
As impressive as it is, the Cadillac XLR roadster is not quite the “standard of the world” — far from it. . If you’re looking at the XLR, then you might as well be looking at the Corvette, which costs $20K less and provides 116 more horse power.
The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it’s just not sports car fast. The acceleration is notable, but still underneath what one hopes for in this sort of rod. The XLR’s softer suspension tuning results in noticeable body roll during hard cornering and plenty of nosedive under heavy braking. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. The XLR is best on the open highway, when it can really stretch its legs and unwind. If going with the top down, then your wife will thank you for getting a Cadillac windscreen.
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When the author isn’t driving her XLR around town, she’s a fan of psychic reviews, the Seattle HCG Diet Center, and the Cadillac XLR windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
Cadillac XLR is Way Cool
Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it’s serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. The XLR is a flashy car, what Cadillac wants to build up. Dija know that both the XLR and Corvette are built on top of the same platform, even though the Corvette does a better job with it. This caddy has more in common with the luxury boat cruisers than sporty little roadsters. The Caddy’s responses are softer and comfortably refined. The XLR also uses a tamer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 engine.
The use of lightweight components like aluminum suspension pieces and composite body panels keeps the Cadillac XLR from being a bloated luxury two-seater. Also, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system thinks for you, adjusting ride smoothness automatically. All of this makes for smooth and responsive maneuvers. The mash-up of the cutting exterior and bold interior with catching accents do make for a compelling presence. The retractable hard top is a great piece of engineering, a great switch between hard top and the soft top. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a Cadillac windscreen.
As impressive as it is, the Cadillac XLR roadster is not quite the “standard of the world” — far from it. . If you’re looking at the XLR, then you might as well be looking at the Corvette, which costs $20K less and provides 116 more horse power.
The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it’s just not sports car fast. The acceleration is notable, but still underneath what one hopes for in this sort of rod. The XLR’s softer suspension tuning results in noticeable body roll during hard cornering and plenty of nosedive under heavy braking. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. The XLR is best on the open highway, when it can really stretch its legs and unwind. If going with the top down, then your wife will thank you for getting a Cadillac windscreen.
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When the author isn’t driving her XLR around town, she’s a fan of psychic reviews, the Seattle HCG Diet Center, and the Cadillac XLR windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
Cadillac XLR is Way Cool
Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it’s serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. The XLR is a flashy car, what Cadillac wants to build up. Dija know that both the XLR and Corvette are built on top of the same platform, even though the Corvette does a better job with it. This caddy has more in common with the luxury boat cruisers than sporty little roadsters. The Caddy’s responses are softer and comfortably refined. The XLR also uses a tamer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 engine.
The use of lightweight components like aluminum suspension pieces and composite body panels keeps the Cadillac XLR from being a bloated luxury two-seater. Also, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system thinks for you, adjusting ride smoothness automatically. All of this makes for smooth and responsive maneuvers. The mash-up of the cutting exterior and bold interior with catching accents do make for a compelling presence. The retractable hard top is a great piece of engineering, a great switch between hard top and the soft top. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a windscreen.
As impressive as it is, the Cadillac XLR roadster is not quite the “standard of the world” — far from it. . If you’re looking at the XLR, then you might as well be looking at the Corvette, which costs $20K less and provides 116 more horse power.
The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it’s just not sports car fast. The acceleration is notable, but still underneath what one hopes for in this sort of rod. The XLR’s softer suspension tuning results in noticeable body roll during hard cornering and plenty of nosedive under heavy braking. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. The XLR is best on the open highway, when it can really stretch its legs and unwind. If going with the top down, then your wife will thank you for getting a windscreen.
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The author is a fan of the Cadillac XLR windscreen windblocker wind deflector,psychic reviews, and the Seattle HCG Diet & Weight Loss.