What is the best way to buy a luxury car?

luxury cars dealers image

nfl fan

What advice you have on purchasing a new luxury car (2014 e350 sedan vs 2014 bmw 535i)? I've always heard wait until the end of the month and do research on the invoices of the car you want. Is there anything else on how to get the best price?

Answer
If you want a 2014, you are looking at completely the wrong time of year. Wait until about October of next year. Why? Because the 2015's will be coming in and they will be heavily discounting any remaining 2014's just to get them off their lot. Case in point: a $46,000 F150 I looked at a couple weeks ago I could have gotten for less than $35,000 because it was a 2013 ($4500 in mfgr rebates plus about $7000 in dealer discounts). All manufacturers do this. End of the month does help, however, as they are more likely to deal to get one last sale in.

What luxury cars get great gas mileage?

Ara

Looking for 2010, 2011 or 2012 luxury car for around 30,000 with close to 40 mpg. My wife and I don't want to settle for a Prius or Civic, but we do want good MPG because we drive so much. Is this possible without spending too much more?

Answer
If you take a closer look at the Prius, you'll see that you aren't "settling". It has many of features only found in luxury cars. It's a mid-sized car, not a compact like the Civic, so room is not a problem.

Note that decent luxury cars start at about $45,000.

My 2004 Prius has cost 12 cents per mile for dealer maintenance, tires, and fuel combined over the 120,000 trouble-free miles I've driven it so far.

My 2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):
2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles
2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles
2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16174 miles
2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18384 miles
2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21755 miles
2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16177 miles
2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12134 miles


http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110125/bc_olsen_prius_reliability_110125/20110125?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

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What would some good suggestions for owning your first sports car?

sports cars by ford image

Vidal

I'm thinking about buying my first sports car since I want to drive something a bit more flashy and more personal than my SUV that I've had for a pretty long time now. Are there any suggestions on what would be a good first sports car? As obviously stated before, I've own a vehicle. I just had my SUV since I lived in Massachusetts and now that I live in South Carolina, I want something a bit more edgey to drive in the summer when I head to other states and beaches. Thank for the suggestions and serious inquiries only!

Answer
There is a large range of sports cars available to you. I'll mostly deal with new cars because used car markets vary from place to place and its quite difficult to tell what is good and what isn't.
on the entry level range you have cars in the 27-35k price range which include Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ, Hyundai Genesis 2.0T, Chevrolet Camaro V6, Ford Mustang V6, Mazda MX-5 Miata.

The Japanese cars (scion/subaru, mazda) don't have much horsepower but have a very low weight and balance that provides great handling.
The American cars have great horsepower but their heavier weights and somewhat aged suspension technology on the mustang mean that they wont be as good on a racetrack but they can be great fun on the road and empty parking lots.
The Hyundai I've found to be a nice split in between the 2 classes with a bit of lean towards the Japanese style preferring low weight and balance rather than brute power.

In the middle of the range you have cars like an upgraded engine Mustang, Camaro, Genesis, Nissan 370Z, Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche Cayman, Porsche Boxter, Audi TT, BMW Z4.

On the high end you have Porsche 911s, Nissan GT-R, Audi R8 4.2L V8, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Corvette ZR1, Dodge Viper, Jaguar XKR-S, BMW M3, Mercedes C63 AMG, Audi RS5, Lotus Evora.

on the supercar range (though I doubt you are interested) there is the Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 458 Italia, Mclaren MP4-12C, Mercedes SLS AMG, Aston Martin Vanquish, Lotus Exige S

Above entry level and mid ranges, cars focus more on balance than specs like power or weight as a priority. for example, look at Lotus Exige which uses its low weight to make the most of it's non impressive small and not very powerful engine to accelerate as fast as a much larger engined Audi R8.

Each car in any range has it's unique features and you should examine your lifestyle and what you want from your car to make a choice. If you like to show off or be flashy think about a convertible option.
If you like to just have fun like drag racing or doing donuts in an empty parking lot look for a car that values horsepower over weight. Avoid cars with all wheel drive as they require dangerous speeds to slide around and have fun in.
If you like sporty handling look for a car with a low weight and even weight distribution between the front and rear of the car with a sport tuned suspension. cars with all wheel drive have very good drive balances with little understeer and oversteer for a very good racetrack experience.
Remember that the higher level of sportiness the more uncomfortable the car will be as those cars have extra stiff suspensions to keep the car flat while cornering.
It's always a good idea to test drive every car in the price range you are looking at. Be sure to explore all aspects of a car before making your choice, it would be a shame if you have to get rid of your car because of something you didn't think about when buying.

What are some good car rental places that let you rent sport cars?

tian

I want to rent a sports car for my birthday but I don't know where to look.

Answer
Many of the major car rental agencies have sport cars but it depends on your location. In the bigger cities they tend to have a better selection. It also depends on what you consider a sports car, are you looking for a Ford Mustang or Porsche? You may also need to book fairly far in advance as there are not a great deal of these vehicles available.

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How do you feel about bmw m3 changes?

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Danny

So apparently the new 2014 BMW M3 will first be realeased as 4 door automatic only!! Then once the 2 door is released it will be titled the M4! What is the cause of this odd disappointing change.

Answer
If that is true, I would hate it.

I like it when car companies and models stick to their roots.

Here are unfortunate things happening:

The Corvette was a high tech high quality car when it came out in the 50's. Now it is a cheap plastic car with few luxury features.
Mazda is the brand all about driving and sportiness, yet the only sports car they make now is the MX-5 and Mazdaspeed models. Bring back the RX-7 and MX-6 MAZDA!.
Porsche is switching to electrical steering, larger cars, and they are making SUV's and sedans. That is everything against what the company's original goals were.
Honda had the guts to introduce a CRX successor and make it a slow HYBRID. CRZ. Even the new 2014-2015 NSX will be a hybrid.

I don't know what companies are thinking.

How Much is GAS in China and India?

Blackstrok

Why do they say there is great demand in China and India? Here we are paying $3.69 a gallon. In china and india the daily wage is $3.69!!! How can they afford it, when even WE can't afford it!!! And we are making way more than that!! If it's cheaper in china and india, why would the arabs sell it there instead of here and make more money?

Answer
Your logic would be right if the Western media can be trusted. But I am afraid they are not as trustworthy as you may hope.

There are a lot of poor people in China. But there are also a lot of very wealthy people over there. The number of wealthy people is small percentage-wise, but HUGE in absolute terms.

Just to give you some statistics:

There are currently an estimated 160 million consumers for luxury items in China.

According to estimates by Ernst and Young, China will surpass both Japan and the US to become the world's largest consumer of luxury goods by 2015. That is only 7 years away! By that time (2015), China alone is expected to account for 29% of the entire world's total sales of luxury items. That is the reason why all the car companies and luxury goods retailers of the world are flocking to China as we speak.

According to the Britain-based Economist Intelligence Unit, by then, China will have, on an annual basis, 100 million people going abroad for sightseeing, which according to some estimates, will collectively consume around US$60-70 billion worth of goods every year while traveling abroad.

All these numbers are perhaps still small percentage-wise, but are seriously HUGE in absolute terms. It is these absolute numbers that are pushing up prices.

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Does anyone know where to get a exotic car driving package?

luxury cars at enterprise image

endlesslyd

i want to know where i can rent an exotic or luxury car for an hour or more reasonable test drive it around a track does anyone know where i can purchase a package or come in contact with people who know can help me out with that?

Answer
they have lots of places to rent them.

driving schools, do a search for "exotic rentals"

Hawaii & California have many or them.

you will need to be at least 25 yrs old and may need to purchase additional insurance depending on your coverage.

BMW does a lot of driving schools and benefit drives all around the country

some Enterprise rent a car locations have Mustang convertibles with the small V8 engines.

contact the track closest to you for upcoming events

How much does it cost to rent a car from enterprise?

lol

Its only for one day and it's a compact car I want full coverage insurance on it how much would that be

Answer
Hi,
It depends on which types of car you want, and whom you rent it from. Smaller cars can be rented for about Between $50.00 and $200.00 depending on what car you want. Larger or luxury cars will be more expensive. Also, it depends on the distance you are traveling by car from one place to other.

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Why are cars built to be able to go over 80mph?

sports cars quarter mile times image

thliop

If the speed limits (at least in the US) go to most 70mph (and 80mph in some parts of Texas), why are cars built to go up to 140mph+?

This is just something I've wondered for some time.

Answer
Well, there's more to that question than you think. Cars need power to accelerate quickly enough. It would be pretty hard to merge onto a busy interstate from a standstill if you were in a 5000 pound SUV with a tiny 150 hp motor. Now, that SUV might, after a while, get up to the speed limit, but you'd probably get rear ended in the process of merging.

As for transmissions and gearing, I know that the gearing on my Infiniti G35 can go up to around 185 mph. The car can't go that fast, but the gearing is that high for fuel economy reasons. The higher the gearing, the lower the rpms of the engine, meaning less fuel is burned. If not for this, cars would be downing gas faster than Kobayashi downs hot dogs.

So, engines need the power for necessary acceleration, and gearing for fuel economy (acceleration is affected by gearing too). However, it is possible to put speed limiters on cars, which several manufacturers do. I believe a teacher of mine told me that some Ford vehicles can may eventually with special keys that limit top speed to around 80 mph, as that would be the fastest anyone would need to go.

One more thing to remember is the thrill factor. Why do people buy sports cars? Not because they have the most headroom, smoothest ride, or most storage for groceries, but because you want to step on the gas and feel your eyes get pushed into the back of your head (just a little). Also, motorsports are popular. I personally have taken my car down to drag strips on Friday nights, where in a quarter mile, I would be traveling close to 100 mph.

Fact is, it's the USA, home of American Muscle, big block V8s, and drag racing. Go big or go home.

Im thinking about getting a motorcycle how to the rates of accidents compare to auto accidents?

luke k

i really want a bike but im worried about the dangers but then i think about how many car accidents there are all the time does anyone know the percents involved in the difference of the two?

Answer
Statistically, on a per mile driven basis, a motorcycle is three and a quarter times more likely to be involved in an accident than an automobile. Oh Horrors!!!

There are three types of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.

Those statistics do not take into account:

The average annual mileage for a motorcycle is under 2,000 miles a year. To average that when many of us ride 10,000 miles and more a year means the vast majority of bikers only ride a few hundred miles a years. You are *NOT* going to maintain proficiency riding just a few hundred miles a year. The vast majority of bikes are ridden for pleasure -- racing through the twisties, bar hopping, etc..

The statistics for cars averages all sorts of people. Those who chose to ride motorcycles tend to be risk takers and thrill seekers. When comparing motorcycles to cars you should limit the cars to those chosen by risk takers and thrill seekers -- high performance sports cars.

If you don't drink and ride, don't speed excessively, ride enough to maintain proficiency, you are, IMHO, less likely to have a collision on a bike than when driving a car. I wouldn't ride otherwise.

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Why are there no cheap sports cars?

sports cars design image

vincent_va

I've always wondered. The actual appearance of a sports car comes from the chassis, but that's just plastic and metal, and not particularly expensive. It's the engine and the performance that costs money and makes sports cars so expensive.
But since people seem to like sports cars, why don't car manufacturers just slap a sports car chassis onto a regular car? It would look like a ferrari or lamborghini or whatever you want, but it's really just a Volvo C30.

It's not like it actually matters whether or not the car can go 300 Km/h or not, since no one ever drives that fast anyway.

Answer
>Why are there no cheap sports cars?

Define cheap ? You can find "sports cars" that start around or even under the $20k mark new (and go way up from there).

>...but that's just plastic and metal, and not particularly expensive...

So, by that logic, wouldn't the engine (and everything else) be cheap too? I mean, it's all pretty much just metal? The chassis IS the car. Developing a chassis that is capable of high performance and then manufacturing it is the majority of the cost of a car. The engine and everything else is often the cheap bits (relatively). The cost of the raw materials has little to do with the cost of the final work (the engineering, custom fabrication, etc. is the cost). You could put a Ferrari engine, brakes, etc in that Volvo C30, and it wouldn't come close to the performance of the Ferrari around a track. Those parts are important, but not as important as the chassis itself (it's balance, rigidity, layout, etc); and in a high end sports car, it's designed to work in concert with the other components.

> just slap a sports car chassis onto a regular car?

Manufacturers have, since the earliest days of car production, copied styling elements from race and sports cars on to other cars (do you really think those Honda Civics need those spoilers? Or those brake ducts that don't actually feed air to the brakes on some cars?). That's not the chassis though... just body panels and styling. But since the form of a car often follows it's function, designing a car that is usable for daily commutes and seats four, is available for a low cost (and therefore using off the shelf, not custom made parts) will compromise what is possible.

What are some sports cars similar to the design of this one?

Anon

Here is a pic of a concept car:

http://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/car-photos/saleen-s5s-raptor-concept-1-big.jpg

What are some cars the have a similar design? Or some sports cars that look really cool and you like? No muscle cars please. Thank you.
= )

Answer
Well the front end looks kinda like that of a Lotus Elise or Lotus Exige, with the front air dam from a Lamborghini Murcielago. The profile is very similar to that of an Audi R8 and/or its kissing cousin, the Lamborghini Gallardo, while those curvaceous fenders call to mind everything from a 1971-1974 AMC Javelin to a 2003-2008 Mazda RX8. The side and rear-quarter windows remind me of the Infinity G35 coupe.

In summation, I'm sorry to say this car looks to me like an unoriginal mish-mash of styling elements copied from other, more distinctive automobiles.

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what are some pros and cons for owning a sports car and or a truck?

sports cars good on gas image

natedog

By sports car I mean a challenger srt8 and a truck an F250. I love to hunt and fish. I like living out in the country back in the woods. I enjoy looking at big trucks and watching them do a pull competition to see who can pull the most weight i also like mud riding and off road trail riding. I enjoy looking at sports cars and tuning them up to make them faster and listening to the roaring of the engines. Which would suit me better and what are some pros and cons?

Answer
I had a Nissan 350Z and a Ford F250 4x4 at the same time. Z car was fun to drive, fast, fuel efficient but noisy on the highway. No good for back roads, pot holes, mudding, or hunting. Ground clearance was zero. F250 is diesel, not fuel efficient, will go about anywhere you want. Quieter on the highway than the Z car but not as much fun to drive. I sold the Z car and bought a Jaguar XJR. Now that's a sports car, quiet, fuel efficient, will outrun the Z car hands down (supercharged v8) , and oh so comfortable to drive. Mine is a 2005. List price was $82 k but i bought it for less than you will spend on the challenger new by a long shot. No comparison in quality of car and with a Jag, you will be one of a few instead of one of many. As far as a truck, I would consider the new Ford F series CNG/LNG coming out soon. You can fuel it (natural gas) for about half the price of diesel or gasoline. It will burn n gas or gasoline. Just remember, a sports car will take you someplaces but a truck will take you just about anywhere you want to go. If you can't have both like me, go for the truck!

Is a Scion tc considered a sports car by insurance companies?

_

I'm getting a new car. I have a Land Rover Discovery and its a piece of crap and drinks a lot of gas. I was going to get a Mazda RX8, I love them. My family has 3 of them, but my dad said no because the insurance would be high because its a sports car. Is a 2008 Scion tc considered a sports car by insurance companies? I am a 19 year old female by the way, if that matters. Thanks for any answers!

Answer
Yes.

The Scion tC is a sport compact manufactured by Toyota and sold under their Scion division in North America, introduced in the United States in June 2004 and 2010 for Canada. The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates, the xA, xB and xD, because the xC name designation is used by Volvo Cars for their lineup of sport utility vehicles. According to Scion, tC stands for touring coupe

Of course, coupe = two door, and to insurance in most cases, unless it's a pickup truck, 2 doors = sports car.

So, 2 door, and the manufacturer says it is a sports car.

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What are some basic information i should know before buying a used car?

sports cars 4 sale image

Q. I'm interested in buying my first car. Unfortunately I know little to nothing about cars. I do know that when buying a used car that it should have good milage. That's all i know. If you could tell me what type of cars would be good for a new owner or some helpful hints in what to look for so I don't show how obvious it is that I know nothing to the seller I would really apperciate it.

Answer
I may ramble so stay with me.

The best way to know if someone is a rube is if they don't know or incorrectly use the "lingo".
This is as true of cars as almost anything.

The second best indicator is they seem uncertain what they want.
The choices they make are wildly different. Sports car,the SUV,then family sedan, you get the idea.

Finally the "deer in the headlights" glazed look that's says "take my money,just don't hurt me".

Fortunately, the solution to all three is the same, it's free,anybody can do it and it can be loads of fun.

Still with me ? Good.
Im going to give you some tips and you are going to go out on a nice day have lunch out and go car shopping.

Not buying, shopping.

Get educated.
What kind of car do you need ? What will you be using it for most of the time ? How many people will it have to serve ? How many different needs ?

2.The lingo.
Car types
A Sedan has 4 doors and a trunk.
A Coupe has 2 doors and a trunk.
A Hatchback has 2 doors and the whole back opens.
A SUV is a truck with an enclosed body,unlike a pick up which has an open box in the back.

Engines and transmissions.
Most engines are either 4,6 or 8 cylinder. 4 is the most economical, 8 the most powerful, 6 is a good compromise for must sedans and coupes.
Transmissions are either automatic or manual. Automatic is simpler to operate and very common but costly to repair.

What to look for.
The mileage you describe is how far the car has traveled. 12K miles a year is average.
Typically a car will last well past 100k miles before expensive repairs will be needed.
Everything should work. Every switch and lever should function.
Under the hood, have someone "check the fluids". Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, typically they should appear opaque and not have a burnt smell and be full to the limit.
The car should track straight,not pull to either side on a flat road either under braking or
just going foward.
The tires should match for brand and size (brand should be at least 3 of 4).
Measure tread with a penny. If the tread covers the top of Lincolns head it's OK.
It should recover quickly when it hits a bump.
Fluid stains under a car could indicate a leak or at a dealership that cars are moved to hide leaks.
A musty smell in the trunk or carpet indicates water damage.
A small magnet from your fridge and help you find rot and body repairs to metal parts as it wont stick to body filler or fiberglass. The place to check is around the wheel arches on the sides or anywhere the paint doesnt match.A lot of cars have plastic or fiberglas body panels these days so keep that in mind,

Try this out at a delaership where you know you won't buy a car.
Makes it easier to resist sales pressure. Be prepared to tell a dealer NO and mean it.

Last thing, check out Edmunds.com, Kelly Blue Book.com and E Bay motors to see what you like and about what it costs.
Good luck, now wasn't that a lot ? Hope it helps.

Where can I find a good web page with car seat ratings?

Expecting

We are looking to buy a convertible car seat for our 8 month old. Who's growing out of his infant car seat. If you know a web page that shows ratings and all that good information please post it on here.
Thank you.

Answer
Well, you won't find a website with safety ratings on car seats. In the United States, car seats don't receive 'ratings'. When they are crash tested they only receive a pass/fail grade. If its on sale brand new in the US, it passed. That's all the information we are given. In that light, all car seats are safe. Some things do affect how safe they are in reality, though.

When shopping Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money!
2)children need to stay rear facing as long as possible.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
A)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
B)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
C)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
D)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs.

So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And that's another misleading thing the box says - 5-100lbs. What the box fails to mention (you don't find out until reading the manual!) is that the harness only goes to 40lbs, NOT 100lbs! After 40lbs it must be used as a booster.And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy...Had to edit this part now, b/c Dorel has revamped the 3-in-1s, and if make sure you get an ALpha Omega Elite or 3-in-1 that specifically says up to 50lbs, its not a bad seat. The Triumph Advance and Britax Marathon install a heck of a lot easier, but the AOE is an ok option as long as its the new one.

The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different features. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.

The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. Top slots 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. Wide open belt path, easy to install. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. It can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode.

The Compass True Fit, same as First Years True Fit, is great too. 16.5 inch top harness slots, half inch shorter than the Britax Marathon and Evenflo Triumph Advance. Rear faces to 35lbs, forward faces to 65lbs, has built-in lockoffs, and you never have to rethread the harness to change harness height. The headrest is removable to fit better in smaller cars.

WHY REAR FACING:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/633.pdf
In the foreground is a forward facing seat, in the background a rear facing seat. You can see how much trauma the forward facing dummy has to endure. The rear facing child simply rides it out.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg

Here's another video. You can see how there is NO trauma to the baby, it simply sits there waiting for it to end.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view&current=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv

The story of a child who suffered severe injuries from being forward facing when he could've been rear facing:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59783

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

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Verifying a real 1971 camaro ss?

sports cars norwood image

Brandonc01

i was looking at a 71 camaro ss and i was wondering how i can verify that its a real ss. like can i tell from the VIN # or metal badge under hood.

Answer
First, a basic overview of what a VIN is, and what youâre looking at. A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a group of letters and numbers that create a specific VIN for each car. This is used to determine everything from what Make, Model, Body type, and even more.

Below is a great picture to show you what you are looking at with a VIN:

An example of a VIN from a 2001 Camaro: 2G1FP22G912108833
Looking at the numbers from the bolded VIN above, you can gather this information:
1st â Country 2 Canada
2nd â Manufacturer G General Motors
3rd â Make 1 Chevrolet
4th â Carline Code F F-Body
5th â Series P Camaro (All Models)
6th â Body Type 2 2-Door Hatchback Coupe
7th â Restraint Syst. 2 Manual seatbelts (Driver & Passenger Inflatable)
8th â Engine G LS1 5.7-Liter V8 346-cid Engine
9th â Check Digit 9 Your VINâs Check Digit: 9 Computed Check Digit: 9
10th â Year 1 2001
11th â Factory 2 Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada
12th â 17th Seq. Prod # 108833 108833

Below are what different Numbers and Letters mean in various years

_________________________________
1967 to 1971:
1st Digit: Manufacturer:

* 1 = Chevrolet

2nd Digit: Series:

* 2 = Camaro

3rd Digit: Engine:

* 3 = 6 cylinder
* 4 = V8
* 5 = 6 cylinder
* 6 = V8

4th and 5th Digits: Body Type:

* 37 = Sport Coupe
* 67 = Convertible
* 87 = Sport Coupe

6th Digit: Model Year:

* 7 = 1967
* 8 = 1968
* 9 = 1969
* 0 = 1970
* 1 = 1971

7th Digit: Assembly Plant:

* L = Van Nuys, California
* N = Norwood, Ohio

8th through 12th Digits: Sequential Production Number:

* starting-100001

_________________________________
1972 to 1980:
1st digit: GM line number

* Chevrolet = 1.

2nd digit: Series number:

* Q = Sport Coupe
* S = Type LT (1973 â 78)
* S = Berlinetta (1979 â 80)

3rd and 4th digits: Body type:

* 87 = Sport Coupe.

5th digit: Engine Code:

* See specific year (Camaro info) for breakdown.

6th digit: Last digit of model year:

* 3 = 1973
* 4 = 1974 and so on

7th digit: Letter indicating assembly plant

* L = Van Nuys, California
* N = Norwood, Ohio

8th through 13th digits:

* Sequential production number starting with 100001.

_________________________________

1981 to 1984:
1st digit: Country of origin

* 1 = USA
* 2 = Canada.

2nd digit:

* G = General Motors

3rd digit: Division:

* 1 = Chevrolet.

4th digit: Restraint system:

* A = Non-passive
* B = Automatic belts
* C = Inflatable restraint

5th digit: Series:

* P = Camaro Sport Coupe
* S = Camaro Berlinetta

6th & 7th digit: Body Style:

* 87 = Sport Coupe

8th digit: Engine:

* See specific year (camaro info) for breakdown.

9th digit: Check digit:

* used to verify that the VIN was recorded correctly.

10th digit: Year:

* B = 1981

11th digit: Letter indicating assembly plant:

* L = Van Nuys, California
* N = Norwood, Ohio

12th through 17th digits:

* Sequential production number starting with 100001

_________________________________

Other VIN Information
The following contains information which gives an example of what the various positions in a 1979 VIN stand for.

VIN EXAMPLE (1979/others similar): 1N19G9J100001

1 = Division Identification, Chevrolet Motor Division
N = Vehicle Series (Caprice)
19 = Model (4 door sedan)
G = Engine (305 CID V8 w/2 barrel carb)
9 = Year (1979)
J = Assembly plant (Janesville)

Position 1: Division Identification
Always 1 for Chevrolet
(2 = Pontiac, 3 = Oldsmobile, 4 = Buick, 5 = GM Overseas, 6 = Cadillac, 7 = GM of Canada
9 = GM Overseas, C = Chevy Truck, T = GMC Truck)

Position 2: Vehicle Series
L = Impala N = Caprice Classic Q = Camaro
S = Camaro Berlinetta X = Nova Y = Nova Custom
Z = Monte Carlo T = Malibu W = Malibu Classic & El Camino


Positions 3 & 4: Model
17 2 Dr. Hatchback Coupe, 6-passenger
19 4 Dr. Sedan, 6-passenger
27 2 Dr. Coupe or Notchback Coupe, 4 or 6-passenger
35 4 Dr. Station Wagon
37 2 Dr. Sport Coupe, 6-passenger
47 2 Dr. Coupe, 6-passenger
69 4 Dr. Sedan, 6-passenger
80 El Camino
87 2 Dr. Sport Coupe, 4-passenger Camaro

Position 7: Assembly Plant
In 1972, plant codes changed to reflect the VIN code. For example, âNORâ = Norwood before 1972. In 1972 and on, it was simply âNâ.

A = Lakewood L = Van Nuys W = Willow Run 4 = Scarborough
B = Baltimore M = Lansing X = Fairfax 5 = Bowling Green
C = Lansing (B) N = Norwood Y=Wilmington 5 = London
D = Doraville P = Pontiac (Pontiac) Z = Fremont 6 = Oklahoma City
E = Linden Q = Detriot 1 = Wentzville 7 = Lordstown
F = Flint (Chevy) R = Arlington 1 = Oshawa #2 8 = Shreveport
G = Framingham S = St. Louis 2 = Moraine (T&B) 8 = Fujisawa (Japan) Luv
H = Flint (Buick) S = Ramos Arizpe 2 = St. Therese 9 = Detroit (Cadillac)
J = Janes

Looking to buy a '71 Camaro RS.....?

thecheeses

But how can I be sure it's a real split-bumper car, & not a clone?
Please don't bring up the round parking lights & the longer, smaller grille opening. I know all that.

Answer
Ready?
First off, the VIN won't help you.
Next, look for the Fisher Body tag under the hood. It should be on the firewall beside the master cylinder.
There are 3 rows of codes on it, 4 per row.
Row 1- 1st box: build year. 1971.
2nd box: body. 12387 is a 6 cyl. Camaro, 12487 is an 8.
3rd box: Plant. L or B is Van Nuys, N is Norwood
4th box: Sequence. This should match the last 6 of your VIN.

Row 2- 1st box: Interior codes/colors. Ex: 775 is Black custom vinyl.
Box 2 & 3 should be empty
Box 4: Body/Stripe/Vinyl top color. First 2 digits are main color, 2nd 2 are stripe color, letter is top color. Ex: 24.11A
24 is Ascot Blue, 11 is White, A is white. So a Bright metallic blue car with white stripes & vinyl top.

Row 3, 1st box: Build date, Month & week. Ex: 02C would be the 3rd week of February, 1971.
2nd box: Empty
3rd box: Trim codes. The one you've been waiting for.

Empty means a Sport Coupe. Z-22 is an RS. Z-27 is an SS. Z-28 is self-explanatory.

All Rally Sports were split-bumper cars, but NOT all Z28's were. Super Sports were NOT, neither were Sport Coupes.

4th box: Special Equipment. Either empty, "L48 or "LS3". LS3 was the 396SS package, L48 the 350HP 350.
If the car you're looking at is an RS, it's real. If it's a Sport coupe or an SS, it's cloned. If it's a Z, take it as real.

If you can get away with it, pull out the backseat backrest.. The build ticket is in the springs. If it's the original seat, all of this car's build data will be there.

Hope I was helpful.

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Should I buy a 2007 V6 Mustang for an entry level driver?

sports cars for under 20k image

rocker

I have up to $23k to spent on a car for family member (entry level driver). He wants a sports car so is this a good choice? Any experiences? Any other good sporty cars for under $20k?
Whats the difference between FWD and RWD to a beginner? Also I will probably get him the automantic tranny. What's your opinion on that? Thanks guys

Answer
sounds good to me :)

My son-in-law just got his V6 and is real happy with it

you know it's a cammer right? the 4.0 ohc 210 hp, the same engine that powers my 2 ton Explorer for the last 165k miles

Why are there no cheap sports cars?

vincent_va

I've always wondered. The actual appearance of a sports car comes from the chassis, but that's just plastic and metal, and not particularly expensive. It's the engine and the performance that costs money and makes sports cars so expensive.
But since people seem to like sports cars, why don't car manufacturers just slap a sports car chassis onto a regular car? It would look like a ferrari or lamborghini or whatever you want, but it's really just a Volvo C30.

It's not like it actually matters whether or not the car can go 300 Km/h or not, since no one ever drives that fast anyway.

Answer
>Why are there no cheap sports cars?

Define cheap ? You can find "sports cars" that start around or even under the $20k mark new (and go way up from there).

>...but that's just plastic and metal, and not particularly expensive...

So, by that logic, wouldn't the engine (and everything else) be cheap too? I mean, it's all pretty much just metal? The chassis IS the car. Developing a chassis that is capable of high performance and then manufacturing it is the majority of the cost of a car. The engine and everything else is often the cheap bits (relatively). The cost of the raw materials has little to do with the cost of the final work (the engineering, custom fabrication, etc. is the cost). You could put a Ferrari engine, brakes, etc in that Volvo C30, and it wouldn't come close to the performance of the Ferrari around a track. Those parts are important, but not as important as the chassis itself (it's balance, rigidity, layout, etc); and in a high end sports car, it's designed to work in concert with the other components.

> just slap a sports car chassis onto a regular car?

Manufacturers have, since the earliest days of car production, copied styling elements from race and sports cars on to other cars (do you really think those Honda Civics need those spoilers? Or those brake ducts that don't actually feed air to the brakes on some cars?). That's not the chassis though... just body panels and styling. But since the form of a car often follows it's function, designing a car that is usable for daily commutes and seats four, is available for a low cost (and therefore using off the shelf, not custom made parts) will compromise what is possible.

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What is the best AND worst parts of living in Colorado?

sports cars denver image

GLAMOURPUS

I recently visited and drove from Fort Collins south to Denver. I really like the areas of Louisville, Westminster, Broomfield.

Please consider: never LIVED in snow, never lived in high altitude, HATE bugs with exoskeletons, and afraid of tornadoes. Appreciate your help, serious replies only please.

Answer
Best: The weather.
1) Yes you're gonna get snow and cold, but CO knows how to get the roads cleared in a very timely fashion. I used to live in Tulsa, OK, they had a VERY small fleet of plows, and even then snow wasn't cleared for a week. In Denver and surrounding areas, you can expect to see plows in a day or so.
2) Summers are hot, but not considerably. It doesn't get muggy and humid here, it's a dry heat, so it makes it feel more bearable. Springs are quite nice, in the high 50s to mid 70s.
The people:
1) The people are quite nice here. Yes, there are going to be some real idiots, but that's a no brainer with every city. We help push cars out of the rain and snow, we help shovel the sidewalks, we're just overall nice people, I think ;)
Things to do:
Everything is pretty conveniently located. You have skiing and snowboarding about an hour away in Eldora, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper, etc. In Boulder, you've got CU, the Pearl Street mall, Rocky Mountain National Park. In Fort Collins, you've got CSU. In Denver, you've got the 16th street mall, Sports Authority Field (Invesco Field, really, but they changed the name) for football and soccer, you've got Coors Field for baseball, the Pepsi Center and First Bank Center for concerts. And Elitch Gardens! There's a WHOLE LOT to do here! :D
Schools:
Cherry Creek, Douglas County, and Littleton Public Schools are all very good. They rank very highly on CSAPs and SATs and all those tests :)

What are people who live in Denver's main means of transportation?

NAF SREWSN

Do they usually walk, drive, is there a metro that take you around the city?


I'm considering moving there so any additional information you feel is appropriate would be appreciated. I currently live in Annapolis, Maryland am 22 years old and still in college. I'm just beginning my research on where the best city for me to live in would be.

Are the people who live in Denver friendly? I'm used to people in DC who aren't too friendly. I'd like to live somewhere a little, ugh happier...

Answer
Best means of transportation would be a car or car to park and ride to lightrail. Look at where the lightrail goes because its very limited. Mostly travels along I-25 and into downtown.
Denver has more sunshine than Miami and everyone is very young, progressive, fun, friendly, and very health concious. A lot of skiing, winter sports, mountain biking, ways to enjoy the mountains, hiking, Denver is the number one city with the most green space and parks, amazing restaurants and shopping.. picking the right neighborhood to live in is the key. There is evertyhing from busy downtown life to a wonderful family friendly suburbs down the road.

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What can i do on the internet tubes?, i'm really bored!?

sports cars videos image

cephaliclu

I'm really into making stuff, heavy metal, electronics, extreme sports, nature, cars, video games, and i'm out of cool sites. i already have a myspace, youtube is getting dull, & i'm not interested in blogging or chatting, just need stuff to do and don't say porn cuz i could care less. just bored, hook me up, thanx! :)

Answer
there is this fun game called futuregame. its free and you get money for guessing correctly.
http://www.futuregame.com/index.php?r=downcastnut.

Whatj kind of sports car can my friend buy for her business?

Ishmael

My friend owns several software companies and was recently bought out

She now wants to buy a sports car but doesn't know what kind to get

She went to test drive a Porsche and really loves it because it's small and fast

She wants to put logos of her current company on the car

Is this legal?

Answer
It is legal ***** B U T ***** she will not be able to write off the car except for the part of it's value that is advertising and NOT personal use.

If she parks it somewhere and never uses it as transportation, she could probably claim the entire value of the car. She will have to be ready to supply a full breakdown of the costs of the car and every use made of it to the IRS whenever they want to audit her taxes. They also may have rules specifically limiting the percentage of the cost or a flat amount that can be considered advertising use.

The IRS considers business use deductions of an item that is usually for personal use to be a big red flag to include the person in an audit.
A CPA warned me about that when I was out of town for 7 months to work on automated equipment that I designed. I considered writing off a thousand dollar video camera since I sometimes used one for analyzing issues with machines but she warned me that I would be inviting an audit and would have to be able to show logs to prove the percentage of video that I took for the work and that which I took for personal use. The use ended up being 100% for personal anyway.

This is similar to claiming a room in your house as an office. They cracked down on the people who tried to write off that percentage of their house as a business expense and wrote rules that made it clearer that you have to use it as your primary and necessary work site plus you can only write off only a part of it unless you use it exclusively as an office (fold out couch for guests for sleeping means it is not exclusively an office).
I have a friend that does daycare for children in her house. She is allowed to write off PART of the value of the house and expenses needed to maintain it as business expenses but must meet the guidelines that the IRS (US Internal Revenue Service) sets for how to calculate it.
Groceries are also an item that is needed for the operation of her business but in that case, the IRS rules state a specific amount per child per type of meal. She tends to feed them organic foods and looses money since the deduction is for typical foods. Since she cooks them from scratch, she probably gains a little since the IRS numbers would be based on some prepackaged foods. It would just be too difficult to determine a percentage of food expenses, so the IRS has a flat rate.
This is similar for using a car for business travel (where the travel is specifically required, not driving around town claiming advertising). The IRS says you may claim XX cents per mile, regardless if you are driving a Lamborghini or a clapped out Chevette.

Either Joe's answer is pure BS (as in he made it up or his friend made it up to feel superior) or his friend got really lucky not to be audited. His "friend" would have to prove the percentage of use that was required and exclusively for his business.

I had a friend that created a tour company - his sole occupation - and did write off trips to various places like the Great Wall of China as a business expense. I don't know the details of how much he could deduct for him and suspect that the expenses of his girlfriend traveling with him was not deductible. He also could prove the need for the trips since he then created tours to most of the places that he visited that were advertised to the public and actually took place.

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Im planning on geting a mitsubishi eclipse,what would be the best years to get and why? and are they reliable?

sports cars under 8000 image

Isaac

My budget isn't very big. I have arouund 3g to spend....I have a v8 right now...and just killing me with gas prices... I lik the sport look ,if you think there are better choices than the eclipse what do u recommend?

Answer
The Mitsubishi Eclipse varies from generation to generation. Since you are on a budget, I assume you are not looking well into performance value, and therefore I'll put the turbocharged first and second generations as well as the V6 versions of the third and fourth generation out of mind.

So let's analyze each generation for your budget range:

First generation (1990-1995): The base model has a 1.6L engine, whereas the RS and GS have a 2.0L. These are good on gas, but I would steer away from these years due to the fact that, by now, the high mileage and wear have taken their toll on reliability. Hell, it's actually rather hard to find any of these by this point, the only thing they're really good for is scrap.

Second generation (1996-1999): This is where you'll find most of the Eclipses under the $3000 range. The RS and GS have the same 2.0L engine in the first generation, and it is a decently strong motor that will last you some time if you take care of it and perform regular maintenance. As long as the mileage isn't ridiculous, these are pretty good-looking Eclipses that are reliable and fuel-efficient.

Third generation (2000-2005): This is what I would most recommend if you can afford it. There are a few third generation Eclipses under $3000, as most of them are in the $4000-$7000 range about now, but you may be able to find one with decent mileage for slightly above $3000, if not right at that mark. The GS and RS versions are, again, what you want to look at. They have a 2.4L engine that gets slightly less gas mileage than previous versions, but it is a very reliable car (I have the most experience with these, have owned two personally, and have NEVER had a single thing broken on them), and in terms of appearance it can't be beat. I highly suggest looking for one.

Fourth generation (2006-2012): These are going to be too expensive, sorry. You won't find one for less than $8000, even the lowest 2006 models.

So there you have it, those are my opinions. You'll find many 1995-1999 models, but I suggest the 2000-2005 models, personally.

Good luck!

what kind of car should i get?

Fixthe Fer

im an 18 year old male. senior in high school

i have about 7500 - 8000 dollars too spend

i was thinking something like a jaguar or mustang or some sport car

but i also really like jeeps and i really want something 4 wheel drive
i was thinking a jeep liberty. i like wranglers but its hard to find good ones for under 8000


what do you think?

Answer
You should first set reasonable expectations that include the likelihood that any vehicle in that price range, no matter how reliable or well cared-for it may be, is likely to require a reasonable amount of maintenance and repair sooner rather than later. Setting aside $2,000 to keep a $6,000 vehicle running will leave you with a lot more car for your money than the first time your $8,000 vehicle breaks down.

You should also realize that used vehicles have never been in greater demand, shorter supply, or delivering less for the money. Keeping in mind the important principle above, any Jaguar you may find that's still running for $8,000 is likely to bankrupt you the first time a significant component requires repair. And despite your affinity for Jeep's, they are notoriously unreliable and repair-prone, not to mention you have very little control over how much off-road abuse they may have seen during their lives. You are better staying away from them in droves.

You may be able to find a 2005-2007 Mustang within your price range, and it's likely to be the best car for your money. With a plentiful supply of spare and salvage parts to keep it running and relatively basic engine and drive train components that are relatively inexpensive vehicle to service and repair, it will probably the best combination of value and reliability of the models you've listed. The only downside to a Mustang is that it is rear-wheel drive and relatively poor on rain, snow, and ice.

If you really don't care about about style and don't drive in much snow or ice, an even-better choice would be a Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis. These cars share the venerable "Panther" platform and are known for lasting hundreds of thousands of miles with reasonable care. There's a reason why 99% of taxicab companies and law enforcement agencies have Panther fleets; and if you ask any Ford service department, they'll tell you that they only see them when it's time for an oil change, period. Even better, if you can find a Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor with its reinforced suspension and beefier drive train, you can find a car that costs very little and, with reasonable care, can last you darn-near forever.

Best of luck. I hope this helps.

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Which Sports Car is a better choice?

sports cars under 80k image

Adam

I have a budget of $18000 and am looking at 2004 Audi S4 or a 2002-04 BMW M3 under 80k miles? which one is the better choice?

Answer
BMW

what car should i buy for under 80k?

Django3

i want a car that will be worth more then what i paid for in 15 or 20 year it has to be a fast sports car. and has to be a brand new car

Answer
Get the new nissan GTR, that would be nice. As for a car that will actualy appreciate in value due to its collectibility and rareness and still has to be modern, I have no idea.

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How do you park in a parking spot straight?

sports cars just cause 2 image

linux_p200

I know this may sound silly, but I have difficulty parking in parking spaces straight. Whenever I park my car, it's slanted one way or another, unless I have other cars next to me to line my car up with. If I try to cut the wheel another way to straighten it out, I seem to just make it worse. I think I may have a problem judging when my car is lined up straight. I've tried using my mirrors also to use the lines of the space as a guide, but it doesn't seem to help me either.

So how do I make sure that my car is straight (how much should I cut the wheel when pulling into the space, etc.) when I'm trying to park my car in a space? In case it matters, I have a fairly small sports car but no power steering.

By the way, I have no problem actually parallel parking road-test style, or even parking in my really tight 1 1/2 car garage. I only have a problem with plain regular parking when there's no cars or objects to use as a guide.

Answer
I was trying to figure out the answer to this when it jumped out at me in the last part of the second paragraph. The lack of power steering is what is causing you to have some difficulty. I suggest that you swing a little wider in the opposite direction of the space, turn hard towards the space and straighten out as you slightly accelerate into the straight line and stop in the parking space. If you were to draw it as a picture, it would look like a button hook as you turn into the spot. Hope this helps and good luck

How much difference do the winter tires make on the snow if I get a rear wheel drive car?

_andrei

I live in Minnesota where winter lasts for about 6 months. I love driving and I cannot really find a good and not super expencive sports FWD or AWD car. There just so many good sport cars which are only RWD! has anyone had an experiece driving FWD with all season tires VS driving RWD with winter tires on the snow? Which types of winter tires have you used? Thanks!

Answer
get a srt-4, it's fwd, but no seriously!

RWD is RWD, it doesn't get traction into corners half the time on dry pavement, and tires at this point really can't make a diffrence.

I spent 2 and half years learning to drift in my pos mazda, so i wouldn't have to worry about traction problems, and when i got my fwd i had to reteach myself everything, cause you actually go were you steer!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Good-year offers like 3 diffrent kinds of ICE-Traction tires, and they are probably your best bet, without spendin like 200 per tire.

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Does anyone know where I can buy a 12 volt electric blanket in Dallas?

sports cars dallas image

Priscilla

This blanket can be plugged in to a car lighter. Please don't say Cabela's, it's in Fort Worth. I don't want to drive to Fort Worth.

Answer
Try like Sports Authority... Pep Boys Auto place.... AutoZone... or even WalMart might have one.. either that.. check the internet

Where is the best place to have a birthday party for adults in the Dallas Ft. Worth area?

peanut

I want to throw a birthday party for my husband. He will be 35 years old. We want something indoors and fun. He loves sports. Last year we rented a skating rink and rented sumo wrestling and had cake and alcohol. I was looking for an indoor go kart or bumper car place but cant find any in Dallas. Any ideas on good places in DFW thats kid and mostly adult friendly??? Thanks for the suggestions!

Answer
Try Dave & Busters.

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Do they still make built in phones for cars?

luxury 80s cars image

MJ

I remember back in the day that the luxury cars used to have built in phones back in 80s and early 90s, do they still make themm? It would be quite odd to see if they still make them, despite that there is cell phones now.

Answer
Only in Acura's. Maybe Bently's and RollsRoyce have them too.

What luxury car best epitomizes the 80s?

shane

Easy answers would be Ferrari Testarossa, DeLorean, but I am looking for some unique thoughts. Some more interesting answers would be like 560SEC...SEL...
Excuse the vagueness - I consider the term "luxury" to be a crossover term that could include GT, sports, or luxury cars that had a robust assortment of amenities and were above a certain cost threshold that limited their availability to the masses. Also, the Porsche in Risky Business, as far as I can recall, was a 928.

Answer
well you did say luxury, not sports car , so i would have to say cadillac and lincoln the best american luxury cars ever made, now as far as forigen luxry i would have to say rolls royce.

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