Trucking Has A Problem

Illustration for article titled Trucking Has A Problem

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Car sales have certainly fallen off a cliff amid the coronavirus pandemic, but trailer sales are even worse, in an abyss so deep that you only need three digits to count how many were sold in April.

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That number would be 300, according to Commercial Carrier Journal, which is a 98 percent year-over-year drop, the lowest level ever recorded. Trailer orders have averaged 13,500 per month for the preceding 12 months. Per the Journal:

[Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles] said buying activity appears to be on hold until fleets can see a clear path forward, but he expects larger fleets will resume replacing old trailers “as soon as they see the economic restrictions lifted and freight growing again.”

The dry van segment was hit particularly hard last month and refrigerated van orders suffered some as well. Vocational orders remained tepid after falling significantly in March, FTR noted. Some specialty segments are holding up better under the stress.

“The key element to the trailer market recovery is for fleet confidence to improve. Carriers saw freight softening at the beginning of the year and then it cratered due to the recession caused by COVID-19,” Ake said.

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There is a similar dynamic in car rental companies, which are rushing to not buy new cars and, in the case of Hertz, are in more dire straits. And while some truckers are still on the road, the industry as a whole has been hit as hard as everyone else, as shipments dry up and the economy remains closed in a lot of places, wiping out the need for freight shipping.

From Reuters:

According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) in Geneva, which represents operators in 80 countries, new freight contracts have declined by 60% to 90% since COVID-19 struck while empty runs have climbed by up to 40%.

For truckers shipping products such as car parts, clothes, flowers and construction materials, operations have ground to an almost complete halt, the IRU said.

The routes that are left also aren’t paying as much, while the industry is more decentralized than others, with smaller players left to fight for scraps, as Reuters reports:

If the pain is prolonged, smaller U.S. carriers which cannot spread their costs across a large fleet could shut their doors, pushing skilled drivers out of the business and accelerating a longer-term shortage of truckers, industry groups say.

Some 97% of trucking companies in the United States operate fewer than 20 trucks, and 91% have six or fewer, according to the American Trucking Associations. Those workers rely more often on one-off jobs than long-term contracts.

Some routes are paying just 75 cents to 80 cents a mile, less than half of what’s needed to pay for fuel, insurance and other operating costs, according to five truckers. Pay is mostly determined by distances driven and they have also dropped.

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Given this context, it’s almost surprising that 300 trailers sold at all, if everyone’s just trying to hang on. It feels like for most people that’s the only option currently: just hanging on.

This Early Formula Drift Porsche 993 Is Shredding Tires In My Dreams

I didn’t expect when I went to sleep last night to wake up with a nostalgia for 2008, but somehow—thanks to this incredible Porsche drift car—that’s exactly what happened. Back then I was still in college and was consuming possibly even more automotive media than I do now, and I was absolutely enamored with Formula Drift and Tyler McQuarrie’s JIC-Magic Hankook Porsche 993 GT2 drift car. Last night it was doing delicate pirouettes in my dreams.

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This all started a few days ago when pro-drifter-turned-2019-IMSA-GS-Champion Tyler McQuarrie posted about his old Porsche on Instagram. He was prompted to do so because an account called Porsche Club Russia ripped a Speedhunters video off of YouTube and posted it to IG. It’s weird how the world works, we’re all intertwined. The actions of a Russian content aggregator clickfarm trickled down to affect my dreams last night and inspired this here post.

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McQuarrie never won a round of the Formula D in this car, but he knew from the outset that it could have been a real contender. Unfortunately the turbocharged 3.8-liter flat six slung out back kept eating valve springs through the season. If it didn’t eat its engine, the Porsche was fast and easily dialed, taking a podium at the revered Englishtown round that year. Because it had a ton of weight slung out back the team installed a massive fuel cell which they could fill or empty depending on how McQuarrie wanted the car to handle. That’s genius, if I’m quite honest.

In the Instagram thread Tyler mentions that this video was the first time he’d ever driven the car, and knew it had potential. Allegedly the car was built from a real Porsche 993 GT2. In 2008 that was just a used race car from two generations of 911 ago, and could be had for relatively little money. These days a 993 GT2 can bring close to a million dollars.

Sadly the JIC-Magic car was lost to time and was probably restored back to whatever it was before it began drifting. It’s likely sitting in some private Porsche collection somewhere in a climate controlled bubble, dreaming, just like me, of its former 315mm section width Hankook-melting glory.

It’s a shame that it’s gone, but it will always be remembered.

2015 Subaru WRX STI First Drive

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2015 Subaru WRX STI First Drive Details:

Route through Carmel Valley canyons and so on Laguna Seca Raceway in California

More precise and improved feedback thanks to some extent to new steering rack

Under-steer common to previous models nonexistent around the new WRX STI

More agile and predictable at high speeds on both corners and straights

Overall a better handling machine than previous generations

The task perk to getting to drive the latest and greatest machines is one that comes with the territory, and one we try to never ignore. And in truth, driving new cars is only half the joy of getting invited on press trips; one other half is becoming to travel, sometimes to some pretty exotic or legendary places. It was the secondworldwideinto the newest flagship, it took all but a few seconds to realize this car has more to offer you than just a fancy exterior design. Holy crap, I thought to myself, because the limited edition STI quickly reached triple-digit speeds entering the very firstregarding the new WRX STI is the fact handling is much more precise while offering improved feedback than previous model STIs, thanks to some extent to several new car features including an improved steering rack design and quicker ratio steering (13: 1). The STI’s six-speed manual transmission (also offered in Sport Lineartronic CVT, with fully automatic electronic control) was crisp with every shift as was aSport and Mode, Sport Sharp mode) tell the ECU to manipulate the vehicles DBW (drive-by-wire) throttle body to enable for a quicker or more measured throttle response. This was immediately evident switching from the less expensive I-Mode to the Sport Sharp mode when we throttled even though the twisty canyon roads. Subarus have a good reputation forThe new WRX STI felt in your own home in the canyons and on the circuit, too, handling beautifully every challenge we threw at it, including a barrage of high-speed runs on the infamous Laguna Corkscrew. The characteristic push we have beforesurface of corkscrew laguna seca

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This isn’t your typical refresh version of the Impreza with a simple fascia upgrade; the factory rated 305-horsepower turbocharged engine worked in perfect harmony with a new, more rigid, high-performance chassis and an aerodynamically enhanced wide-body sedan design. Handling was enhanced with the stiffer chassis (only two pound heavier than 2014 models) using more tensile steel in key areas, firmer spring rates on all four corners, pillow ball rear control arms, and more durable bushings. The final production can be a car that’s more predictable and agile at high speeds on both straights and cornerssaid it best. After driving across the revered road course, he stated, The vehicle drives and handles years beyond the previous models. I wouldn’t do anythingneed to be a professional driver to enjoy the handling capabilities of the new 2015 STI. The car is smarter and fully capable of aiding all types of drivers regardless of skill set, whether you’re on the track or simply encountering a crisisAmongst the 2015 models, Active Torque Vectoring is among many features that has been shown to improve handling. ATV is one of those features you won’t really go to appreciate unless you’re inside a sketchy driving situation, when we did whenever we overcooked the very first corner of Laguna Seca and required to perform some evasive driving to stay on the track. Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control, and a Brembo Performance Brake System with Super Sport ABS areas I thought Subaru was wanting to pull a rapid one from under our feet having a car that offered old technology with simply a fresh look. Boy, was I wrong. After a weekend filled with informative conversations with Japan’s STI technical engineers and driving the snot out of the demo cars, I will honestly say it might be time and energy to consider upgrading to a 2015.

Santa Paula Chevrolet

2015 Subaru WRX – First Drive

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Subarus have never been known for their stunning good looks and boxer engine motivated AWD. The proportions are right with aggressive front and rear bumpers that give the automobile quite an athletic look. However, it’s not likely likely to turn heads, not stock at least. Let’s save that for a little later on, though lowered with many proper offset wheels can be another story. Although to become fair the 2015 Subaru WRX isn’t an ugly car.

Precisely what the new WRX does best is deliver in the performance department. Its new 2.0L turbocharged boxer engine delivers 268 hp and 258 ft-lb of torque, which is a bump of 3 hp and 14 ft-lb of torque over the outgoing 2.5L boxer engine. Regardless of the half-liter deficit, the new FA20 boxer engine delivers crisper throttle response with less noticeable lag. Overall, it’s very apparent the new motor is better in every manner in comparison to the old one, delivering improved fuel economy while boasting better performance. An interesting thing to note is the fact that turbo is mounted within the boxer engine rather than away and off to the rear passenger side like previous generations. This is done for both better emissions and satisfaction improvements. But how it can affect turbo upgrades is yet to get determined.

Another significant improvement over the outgoing WRX is the addition of a fresh 6-speed manual transmission. It’s six speeds of driving enjoyment, say goodbye to the existing 5-speed because from here on out. Feel and shift quality-wise, the brand newControls

The big news is that for people tired of having three pedals (I know there are a few of you around), an optional CVT automatic transmission is available for the 2015 Subaru WRX. Consider there are more sports cars on North American roads with automatics than manuals, before you decide to assemble the lynch mob. Subaru is meeting demand where demand is due.

Stereotypes be gone as the one in the WRX feels nothing like what a common CVT is similar to, though the term CVT is often the kiss of death for automobiles looking to excite. That one is actually quite responsive and sharp-with the Si-Drive modes Sport and Intelligent, and Sport Sharp), it behaves like a legit sports-oriented automatic transmission with six and eight speeds (virtual gears since CVTs don’t have actual gears). In Sport Sharp, eight gears seem a little redundant, but maybe about the track they’ll be more beneficial-not that we’ll see loads of slushbox WRXs at lapping days.

Unlike in years past, Subaru decided to devote all its efforts and resources into one chassis, so the hatchback WRX is dead, where there are no intentions of bringing a person to market. But on the bright side, the newest WRX sedan chassis is vastly improved over the old one and offers torsional rigidity that’s 40 % better than its predecessor, at the same time being safer than ever, it’s sad as the utility of your hatchback is undeniable.On the suspension side of things, larger brakes offer 40 % more fade resistance while an increased brake booster and improved master cylinder provide solid pedal feel. Larger sway bars, stiffer springs, and an overall tighter suspension enhance lateral g’s and minimize body roll over the outgoing model. Include a superb electricity steering system (think BRZ for feel and weight), and you’ve got a WRX that feels a lot more connected to the road and, most importantly, turns together with much better agility. It’s which they all exhibited generous amounts of understeer near to the limit if there were ever a complaint I had about previous generations. With the 2015 Subaru WRX, it appears to be all but gone. Despite its curb weight of three,267 pounds (3,450 for a fully loaded auto), the WRX feels lighter with considerably more precise handling.

Inside, the new model will be all grown up with a much more premium-feeling (and looking) interior. All of the right traits are still there to keep you engaged, however. The 14.5-inch D-shaped, thick-rimmed controls is absolutely perfect, enhancing the driving experience significantly. The seats offer adequate bolstering for spirited driving, while the color multifunction display provides plenty of information including AWD info, mpg, into a real-time boost gauge (which we pegged at 20 psi many times). There’s even a 940W Harman Kardon sound system and smartphone integration available. The WRX is all evolved!

The takeaway here is the 2015 Subaru WRX actually lives up to as being a significant improvement over its older siblings. The engineers at Subaru have done a fantastic job fixing all the minor concerns that plagued generations past while improving quality and, furthermore, driving performance. Make no mistake, the brand new WRX is an absolute blast to drive. Hell, it’s even fun to operate at a normal pace-and that’s why it’s going to be a true winner for quite some time to come. There’s just one aching problem in my opinion: That’s what the aftermarket is for, even though those damn 17-inch stock wheels look way too small.

Tips For First Time Pickup Truck Drivers

Driving a pickup truck is very different from driving a normal family car, it’s also different from driving your average SUV – in fact driving a pickup truck is pretty much a unique driving experience.

Okay, so if you are experienced in driving a large SUV or van then you might not need to worry about sitting behind the wheel of a pickup truck for the first time, but if your driving experience is limited to a small family hatchback then you definitely need to read on.
You may have noticed the fabulous selection of trucks and vans for sale on www.ocramtruckcenter.com and be tempted to call around and book a test drive – here are a few things you need to remember.
The Weight
Remember that a pickup truck is likely to be considerably heavier and larger than your normal car which means that you need to brake differently. It is important that you leave plenty of time to stop after pressing the brake pedal, much more time than you probably need to in your general family car. If you don’t leave enough time you could easily find yourself parked in the center of the intersection while the lights are at red.
You must also allow extra space to the vehicle in front when you are driving along the road or you could be in danger of rear-ending them. Remember that when you drive a truck you can cause considerable damage to other smaller, lighter vehicles if there is an accident, unless of course the other vehicle is also some sort of truck. Know the weight of your vehicle and practice stopping in a safe area just to get the feel of it.

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Practice Makes Perfect
If you do buy a pickup truck from http://www.ocramtruckcenter.com or somewhere similar it’s always a good idea to head straight to an empty or quiet parking lot or along slow, quiet road until you get the hang of it. This will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with how the vehicle drives, the stopping distances needed, practice with parking etc. Smaller vehicles can fit into smaller spaces so it is important that you become fully aware of the size of your pickup truck and the space it needs. You may also find that the turning circle and lock of your truck is not as efficient as that of a smaller car.

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Be Aware of Blind Spots
The majority of vehicles have some blind spots so it is important that you adjust all of the mirrors to the best position before you start to drive. Larger, longer vehicles will have larger, longer blind spots so you must always be aware of this when you are driving and be sure to look round and give plenty of warning signals before switching lanes or making any other potentially dangerous maneuver.
Reversing
This is something else which you must practice in a large, empty space. When you are reversing in a pickup truck it is very easy to miss obstacles which are behind you so remember to move slowly and leave plenty of space.

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Turning
This will also require much more space than a smaller family car. You cannot hug the curb in a pickup truck then make a turn like you could in say a smaller hatchback. Remember to go as wide as it is safe to do so.
The bottom line is to just be aware and remember that a pickup truck is much larger and heavier than a normal car and must be driven with care.

AE86 Toyota Corolla – The Remix

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There is certainly just something so unexplainably cool in regards to the ’80s-era AE86 platform. It has long been regarded as one of the most iconic vehicles in Japan to modify and while they weren’t highly regarded in the past by Americans, it is certainly a sought after chassis today. The AE86 features a very distinct look about this that screams the enthusiasts and ’80s adore the chassis for its incredible balance. Not merely from a mechanical standpoint; the Hachi-Roku also expresses balance in you could literally do just about anything you need to them. You’ve seen the platform in numerous iterations: drag, show, drift and junker television star and so on. You’ve undoubtedly seen the AE86 utilized in every aspect of our tuning community, the auto is very versatile and because of this.are the ones with wacky engine swaps. Because these cars are so dated and often not left in the best of conditions, you’ll likely find one sans engine. Instead of enthusiasts looking to find another dated 4A-GE motor that is past its proverbial prime, individuals will look elsewhere for newer motors and maybe even whatever motor they have laying around at the time. If it doesn’t fit, you only find a way to succeed. Over the years, there has been anything from Toyota 7M-GTE Supra engine swaps, to newer 4A-GZE supercharged motors, approximately Toyota V8s. If you aren’t partial to the Toyota namesake, you can even go with a Mazda rotary set-up, F20C from a Honda S2000 or the motor you see in this 1987 Toyota Corolla AE86 coupe: an SR20DET swap from a 1996 Nissan S14. If I really wanted to build an AE86 at first or even attempt a swap, owner, Brian Novoa explains, I wasn’t even sure. I didn’t really like the look ofA key factor to consider is the fact, while these swaps are getting to be more commonplace, they are not even close to easy. The SR20DET engine itself physically fits inside the engine bay of an AE86, but mounts and brackets would have to be fabricated so that you can form a civil union between the two. The challenge that followed was attempting to connect the Nissan manual transmission for the factory Toyota rear end. When you get in a swap like this, stuff just isn’t gonna match-up, considering the fact that the engine and body are different makes. I needed issues with obtaining the car working after dropping the motor in. Fortunately, I surely could get in contact with a fabrication shop called Wicked Lab and they knocked out the custom rear backing plate together with aHad Wicked Lab create all the necessary plumbing for the intercooler and exhaust, even though brian opted to retain the factory SR20DET manifold and turbocharger for his 1987 Toyota Corolla. Worth mentioning about his Nissan-swap is that he took the path-less-built and traveled his motor rather than turning within the boost or switching into a larger turbine. The head and valvetrain has been upgraded with Brian Crower products, and the block has been fortified with CP 87mm sleeves, Manley and pistons rods. The strength isn’t anything unmanageable for everyday use, even though brian bumps within the boost using a manual controller from BLOX. He can cruise around comfortably knowing that his Silvia heart can handle the worriesthe other nearly three-decade-old 1987 Toyota Corolla. The engine was definitely unique, but the effort wouldn’t be worthwhile in case the exterior didn’t match. Over a three-year period, Brian slowly collected sought after rare Japanese goods for his project. Patience was actually a virtue using this build, while he explains. I learned to never give-on looking for parts because there will always be something floating around-you just have to keep searching. Every time I went and bought something, I ended-up having to modify something else. It just snowballed following that but I’m proud to state that a lot of the products you’ll find in my AE86 are pretty hard to getis definitely an authentic J*Blood piece, while his side skirts, rear bumper and rear flares are from an iconic aero parts manufacturer in Japan known simply as Run Free. One of the most modern aesthetic addition for this particular ’80s icon would be the staggered 15-inch Volk Racing TE37Vs. While the chassis and wheels are decades apart, making them anything but period-correct, the V in TE37V stands for Vintage and they are catered to Japanese classics. Peeking out behind the spokes of his front Volk wheels are Wilwood Superlite 6-piston brakes. Within the humble confines of his dated interior are definitely more contemporary enhancements. Buddy Club racing seats replace the tattered stock units along with a Nardi controls provides more comfort on the worn factory wheel. Since his original instrument cluster was rendered useless because of his SR20DET conversion, Brian added some more he explains, I needed a lot of motivation to build this car because there were so many individuals that doubted me at the beginning. The haters would call my car junk and scoff at the thought of modding it. Thanks to them, Normally i had that extra push to make me work harder into it. I’d spend every free minute I had on the car, whether it’d be working into it during work or after. I’m very proud of what I created and thankful for the friends that helped along the way.

2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S – First Drive

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Highlights

AM28 V12 motor

, 3.7sec565hp and 205mphappears to be in hyper-drive. It’s as though every other month we’re reviewing a new model, with the Vanquish, DB9 and Rapide appearing recently. And now the V12 Vantage S is setting up a great case for sports vehicle ownership.

Regarded by many since the prettiest Aston of all, the Vantage began life having a V8, evolved to a V12, and now posseses an uprated 12-cylinder to justify its new V12 S designation.

This model replaces the last V12 power and Vantage has risen from 510hp to 565hp. And while this is a similar output as the new Vanquish engine, it’s not exactly the samein the Vanquish engine – same heads, block, stroke and bore – nevertheless it has new Bosch management and dual variable camshaft timing among its upgrades, providing smooth throttle response and near-instantaneous grunt.

The V12 S also gets the seven-speed Sportshift III transaxle, rather than the Touchtronic II within the Vanquish. And to be honest, this is when the new car received almost all of its criticism.

While the Touchtronic is a fully automatic transmission with manual paddle shift control, the Sportshift is undoubtedly an automated manual. To all extents and purposes, both are operated in the same way: either select D on the dash-mounted gear buttons or tap one of the paddle shifters for manual operation. The differences are internal, with the Sportshift having a greater track focus, perhaps explaining why it wasn’t popular on the road. Our test driver reported a ponderous shift at anything but high speeds, causing jerky progress in the $185k sports car – far from ideal.

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And, needless to say, the traditional manual transmission is not available; an issue that might have resolved all the issues. The carmaker reports very little interest from the customers in having a third pedal, so the market has spoken (whether or not the market was wrong…)

Amid the slight controversy, Aston Martin wished to prove there was method to the madness, and made the V12 Vantage S available to us in the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida.

Although rather short and flat, the track did give you ain a previous First Drive (EC 2/14), we’re concentrating here on its sporting character. And the first highlight was the Sport button that altered throttle response, shift speed and exhaust note when pressed. The V12 already sounded good but with this button activated, it was spectacular, and surely one of the main reasons people will purchase the car.

In reality, the car includes a new exhaust based on the One-77 supercar from several years ago, bringing less weight, an and bulk improved aural performance.

With Sport mode selected, the V12 Vantage S came alive but you also need to activate the adaptive damping. The three-stage system allows Normal (providing surprising comfortTrack, ) and Sport modes. We opted for Sport since it allowed the curbs to be ridden more easily. Its 15, though it also accessed the Sport setting for the ZF Servotronic power steering, creating more weight and substance: 1 ratio was already an improvementSo with everything set, we built up speed and again the V12 S was on our side. Before the 180, following the back straight you need to scrub off about 100mph? The stock carbon-ceramic brake discs and six-piston front calipers made a mockery of the braking markers, though right turn. Within a number of laps we’d halved our braking distance and could probably have gone deeper still, and also for the concrete wall on its perimeter.

Using the paddles, the acceleration was swift, hitting 60mph in under 4sec and reaching about 150mph on the short straight. The car was wonderfully balanced, allowing delicate turn-in and early power application away from the apex. It certainly wasn’t nose heavy, thanks to the V12’s rearward mounting position, as well as the transaxle helping it rotate. Admittedly, we kept the traction control on because I don’t want to illustrate to my boss why we’d have to repair aluminum body panels and composite bumpers. However, it allowed a degree of slide and wheelspin before interjecting. And it has never been impolite in thefrom the rev limiter or diving on the brake pedal, the gear shift quality was never an issue. It had been as fast and precise while we wished, allowing plenty of engine braking rich in-RPM downshifts. We were never driving slow enough to have the low-speed hesitation and jerkiness reported by our colleagues, however.

So Aston has positioned the V12 S at the hardcore end of the Vantage spectrum, providing the V8, V8 S and Roadster as softer options if preferred. They even can went to the difficulty of underlining its intentions with a carbon fiber grille, hood vents, front spoiler and rear diffuser. It additionally gets forged ten-spoke wheels as well as a black-painted roof and grille surround.

So even though the V12 Vantage S didn’t win outright plaudits at its initial launch, we’d like to revise our stance now we’ve sampled it in the correct environment. Aston Martin obviously feels there’s enough depth in their model customer and range base to provide a more track-focused sports car that brings a similar craftsmanship and beauty as its other sports cars, yet is able to mix it with the best for fast road or track use. Still it has all of the drama you need from an Aston Martin Vantage but with a little more attitude.

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Shop Around

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Shopping around is one of the smartest decisions you can make before buying a new car. Decades ago there might have only been one car dealership in town, but now there are dealerships for every imaginable manufacturer in almost every city, even multiple dealerships for the same company in some places. So take the time to really look around before you buy. You can start online, by visiting dealership websites like metronissanredlands.com, to see what they have available at any time. Peruse the selection and see what you like and don’t like before even visiting a dealership. It’s a great way to save your time. When you do start to find cars that really interest you, though, do be sure to visit the dealerships. You never know how you really feel about a car before you sit in it and take it for a test drive.

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When you visit any dealership, be sure to ask for a tour. Make sure you see more than just the car lot. Visit your salesperson’s office and the waiting area. One of the most important areas to visit is the service center. When you buy a new car from a dealer, it almost always comes with (or can come with) some type of pre-purchased care package that requires you to get all of the service done at the dealership for the first several years you own the car. Failure to do so can void the car’s warranty. Make sure you like the service center and the people who work there. It’s important that you feel comfortable because you’ll be there often for routine things like oil changes. In short, start by shopping around at websites like http://metronissanredlands.com.

Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R – El Toro

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Alexander Keresztesi doesn’t normally ask for much. Except for time he commissioned an R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R to be the quickest car in all of Austria.

Attempting to outdo a full country’s population at anything is never easy. Doing so by using a car that isn’t native to the region and whose tuning masses are every bit as brand new to it as you imagine they are doesn’t help. Still, settling upon the Nissan R32 chassis was the obvious choice for Keresztesi: The R32 is the most famous Skyline, he assures. It won all 29 races in the Japanese Group A Championship. The equipmentat the disposal of the 25-year-old Austrian would go on to nail the dyno needle at exactly 1,250hp. , although coming to such an irrational amount of combustion didn’t happen without expense or grief Early on, mechanical failures presented themselves with the drag strip, which ultimately led to what can prove to be a fortuitous relationship between Keresztesi, his Skyline, and the people at Pro Import Motorsports. It’s genuine that only six Nissan Skyline call the land of Austria home-only a couple of which are R32-but no other Western European tuning house knows the iconic platform superior to them. The complete weekend we spent together sharing ideas on the car, Keresztesi says of this first meeting. I realized these were the guys to bring my R32 to.

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Keresztesi’s initial plan was every bit as elementary as it was naive: to be the country’s quickest car on weekends and, during the week, do stuff like pick up Aunt Beatrice from your dermatologist. It didn’t take very long for Keresztesi to see the absurdity in all of that, and he soon appointed the Skyline-which he’d later name El Toro-as his dedicated track car. In the words: All restrictions were gone. The vehicle [was going] to be mental.

It just so happens that Holland’s Pro Import Motorsports specializes in mental and soon put Keresztesi about the path toward horsepower above what any level-headed person needs. It all starts not with the R32’s standard-issue RB25DET but with the greater-displacement and older RB30E engine block. Even more cubic inches were wrung out of the 3.0L engine with the help of a Nitto 3.2L stroker assembly. Boost is made possible with a single, albeit large, Garrett GTX42 turbo that can help generate a lot more than 1,050 lb-ft of torque without nitrous oxide. A 150hp-shot of nitrous remains on tap in the event that 1,400hp is ever needed, although none of that means that Keresztesi has any reservations against chemical horsepower. It all looks like a small explosion waiting to happen, but Keresztesi assures the engine is sound approximately 1,800hp. The drivetrain, however, features its ownworks and duties in tandem using the column-mounted Racepak cluster.

Right about now could be when we’d normally tell you about the engine that Keresztesi blew to smithereens or even the body shop that swindled him from a deposit, but in his case, there is absolutely no such story. Assembling this 1,250hp Nissan GT-R was approximately as uneventful and full of as many surprises as the time you rotated the tires on your mother’s LeSabre, because it turns out. Keresztesi credits Pro Import Motorsports for that. Everything went smoothly, he says. The only change of plan was if the 1,100hp barrier was broken around theTalking about tuners, Keresztesi’s relationship with Pro Import Motorsports will be the stuff automotive fairly tales are made of. Through the JUN head package for the FIA-approved rollcage to the customized Plasma Products ignition system, the Hollander tuning house handled everything. All was taken care of from the tuner, nonetheless they were in very close [contact] with me, Keresztesi says.

I have my dream car now, Keresztesi admits. I always wanted to have this kind of high-performance car. It had to be Godzilla, and now I have got it. All that’s left now is making good on that whole quickest-car-in-Austria bit.

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Tuning Menu

R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R

Owner Alexander Keresztesi

Hometown Austria

Engine RB30E engine block; Nitto Performance Engineering 3.2L stroker crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, oil pump and gaskets; Pro Import Motorsports modified RB26DETT cylinder head, oil sump and lifter fuel pump; Supertech valves, valve guides and valve stem seals; JUN Auto camshafts, valve springs and titanium retainers; HKS adjustable camshaft gear and oil cooler; ARP head studs; custom camshaft baffle plates; Ross Performance crankshaft pulley; Nismo water pump; Hypertune throttle body, intake manifold and fuel rail; custom intercooler front and pipingdampers and springsA sizable-frame, Garrett GTX42 turbocharger delivers 1,250hp worth of positive pressure in theless and initial-than-gratifying trip to the drag strip, El Toro was quickly dissected and committed to full time track duty. After arriving at Pro Import Motorsports, the engine and drivetrain were removed, the chassis was stripped, along with the custom, FIA-approved rollcage was cut, bent, and fitted into place. Shortly thereafter, the R32 was prepared for paint and the one-off orange hue was applied. Meanwhile, the RB30E engine was being rebuilt to deal with whatever the large-frame Garrett turbo could potentially yield. Forged pistons and rods as well as all necessary machining constitute the bottom end. Up top, a combination of Supertech and JUN valvetrain operate in tandem with JUN camshafts and a cylinder head that’s been thoroughly reworked at the hands of Pro Import Motorsports. A Haltech engine management system is responsible for appropriate fuel and ignition control, the latter of which is delivered by 2,000 cc/min. Injector Dynamics fuel injectors along with a high-flow Weldon fuel pump. Before placing the engine in the chassis, a six-speed sequential gearbox was bolted up together with a unique, OS Giken four-disc clutch. Ancillary details followed, like fitting the parachute into place together with interior bits and any instrumentation before exploring the dyno in which the engine was broken in and finally tuned to the note of 1,250hp. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

500hp VW Golf R – New German Perfection

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As soon as a seed is planted in your thoughts, you can’t manage to shift it, regardless of what you need to do. It might be the Rick Astley timeless or, when it comes to Spero Courtis, it was actually the VW Golfing R and also the modifications he organized for this.

Having owned and operated a 2008 Volkswagen R32, Spero was able to build a automobile that had been OEM however could damage in the tarmac as he pushed the noisy pedal.

2012 VW golfing r osir carbon dioxide fiber content entrance spoiler 02 PictureThe game of golf R – New German Excellence

To do this, he built a badass crew that comprised NGP Rushing and APR – two of the largest VW adjusting icons. Therefore Group Very Smurf came into this world using the only purpose of obtaining the Playing golf R into shape.

Even though subtly upgraded, VW fanatics will immediately recognize this vehicle is something particular. That’s mainly due to the Osir carbon fibers lip kit that includes a a few-part front spoiler along with some well-defined-hunting cutting blades in the manufacturer part skirts. In the back, you’ll locate each a carbon hatch spoiler and diffuser that picture frames the APR tailpipes.

2012 VW playing golf r APR turbo back exhaust 07 Pictureagain exhaust terminates in black tips promising through Osir carbon dioxide diffuser

The tuner enjoyed a big palm in producing the powerplant just for this VW, which designed the auto enjoyed a 6-month visit to Opelika, AL while APR created the latest elements.

They commenced by cracking open the block to exchange the internals with especially protected 9.9: 1 reduced compression pistons, arm pins, rods and bearings. A ported head would also aid gasflow on the GTX2867R turbo that might in addition require enhancements towards the energy a, intercooler and system turbo-back again exhaust.

With all the turbo establishing 30psi, the VW motor was graded at 500hp and 500 lb-feet, so inevitably some drivetrain enhancements were required. They comprised a period 3 DXD Race clutch to the six-speed manual gearbox, together with a Quaife limited-slip and Haldex Race control to find the power to all the Michelin car tires better.

2012 VW the game of golf r new to the south functionality vent mounted improve evaluate 04 ImageGolf R – New German Perfection

Big braking systems were additionally a need, with NGP Race fitting a collection of VWR 6-piston top calipers and 352mm grooved rotors, included in 19″””” HRE P40S wheels.

NGP Rushing have also been responsible for the revocation upgrades, with a set of VWR coilovers using great pride of spot. The coping with was then good-tuned with both VWR camber dishes and sway bars to discover the right balance.

2012 VW the game of golf r ET47 HRE P40S wheel 03 PhotographPlaying golf R – New German Brilliance

Their alcantara center panels meant the stock rear seats had to be re-trimmed to match, though with its increased accelerative and cornering force, a pair of European-spec Golf R seats was considered a valuable addition.

Other interior details integrated an NSP enhance evaluate inside the driver’s vent, along with the Haldex controller as well as a Passport radar detector.

Regarding his sight total, Spero specialized his Golf R to his godson Will-I-am, who is suffering from autism, with his fantastic daughter, Jojo. Both of them are essential people in his life, as are the good friends he discovered although building this very special Volkswagen.

2012 VW playing golf r western spec the game of golf r front side car seats 05 PhotographThe game of golf R – New German Brilliance

Technology Spec

2012 VW Playing golf R

Generator

2.-liter a number of-cylinder TFSI 16v turbo with APR covered rods and pistons, healthy spinning set up, harmony shaft remove, ported go, GTX2867R turbo, increase faucet, intercooler, software program, high-strain gasoline pump, lower-pressure energy system, turbo-rear RSC exhaust system, VWR generator mounts

Drivetrain

six-pace manual transmitting with stage 3 DXD Race clutch, Quaife LSD, Haldex Race controller, VWR brackets and short shifter

2012 VW the game of golf r APR built engine 06 Photocreated engine employs GTX2876R large-turbo, intercooler, energy upgrades, software and exhaust to develop 500hp and 500 lb-feet

Braking systems

VWR six-piston front side calipers, 13.85″””” two-item grooved rotors

Revocation

VWR Streetsport coilovers, camber plates and sway bars

Rims And Car tires

19×8.5″””” ET47 HRE P40S rims, 235/35 R19 Michelin Pilot Very Sport car tires

2012 VW the game of golf r VWR brake caliper 08 Phototires, Michelin PSS wheels, VWR major brakes and coilovers

Outside

Osir co2 dietary fiber front spoiler, aspect cutting blades, back spoiler and diffuser

Interior

Western-spec Playing golf R entrance car seats, coordinating alcantara inserts on stock rear car seats, New Southern Overall performance vent-mounted boost measure, Haldex control

Thank you

Will-I-am, Jojo Spero, APR, NGP Auto racing, Robert Scholz at BKS Tuning, Corrado Mallia at Corrado Murals, Speedfreak Describing, Proshield Protecting Movies, CAS Layout

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