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Keeping Car "Chippers" Plugged In
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Want to instantly add 50 horsepower to your turbocharged Mitsubishi, Audi or other car? Today's cars are computers on wheels, with microprocessors controlling nearly every major subsystem, from tire pressure to braking to airbag deployment to, of course, engine performance. The auto industry started adding chips to cars in the 1970s, in order to slash fuel consumption and control pollution. In the process, they opened a new frontier for high-performance buffs looking for a few more miles per hour.
There's a global subculture of "car chippers" that consists of drivers who reprogram their vehicles and the companies that keep them supplied with high-performance software and silicon chips.
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| April 2004 -- Boston Globe, Hiawatha Bray | More about reprogramming engines...
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A Fool And His Money Where classic car buyers go wrong...
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Jeff Webster is a professional appraiser and consultant in the classic car industry. He has witnessed far too many financial, physical and social injuries directly resulting from simple misconceptions, ignorance and sometimes greed between buyers and sellers. This article discusses some of the more common challenges to not only the classic car collecting side but also in using the Internet to transact such business. Read this article to get an inside edge and to avoid needless damage.
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| April 25, 2004 -- BuyClassicCars.com, Jeff Webster | Get the inside edge...
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The Most Overhyped Cars
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Dan Lienert, automotive author for Forbes.com, gives us a distinct look at some recent cars and some cars from the past that simply did not "make the grade" as far as consumer response is concerned. The article provides not only a list but also some thoughts and insights into the "whys?" of the listed vehicles non-fandom.
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| April 2004 -- Forbes.com, Dan Lineart | See the list...
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Driving The New Ferrari Scaglietti
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Ferrari's new flagship car is the 612 Scaglietti. The new ferrari is not only much more comfortable, powerful and expensive than the average 2+2, but it also comes with a $250,000 price tag. The author of this article was invited to test it at Ferrari's headquarters. Not everyone gets this chance but the author says it's one of the best test drives ever - and that driving it in public is just as fun.
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| March 2004 -- Forbes.com, Dan Lienert | Read about the test drive...
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The Valet You Don't Have To Tip
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Imagine. You pull into your parking garage and stop in front of a door that opens automatically as you near it. Then you receive instructions to pull forward or move back a bit from laser-guided instruments. You turn the car off and get out. Then the car quickly and smoothly disappears. A robotic device picks up your car and moves it to the next available spot. When you want to leave you swipe your key card and the same automated attendant retrieves your car and brings it right to you. You don't have to imagine this - it's for real.
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| April 2004 -- MSN Tech, Josh Levin | More about robot garages...
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Hyundai Quality Now Ranks With Toyota And Honda
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Hyundai has joined Toyota and Honda at the top of a reliability list according to a survey that measured problems in the first 90 days of ownership. Hyundai's Sonata rated particularly well in the survey by J.D. Powers and Associates. This article provides not only details from the survey but also provides a top-ten ranking for automobilie reliability.
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| April 28, 2004 -- MSNBC.com, Martin Wolk | See the results...
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Last Oldsmobile Rolls Off Line
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The last Oldsmobile rolled off the line Thursday morning at the Lansing Car Assembly plant, which has produced the United States' oldest automobile brand name for nearly a century. Ransom E. Olds started the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing in 1897 and
the company became part of GM in 1908. The brand ran strong until the 1980's and, after several marketing twists by the year 2000, GM decided to end production by 2004. This article provides more information and also a few extra links for automotive enthusiasts.
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| April 30, 2004 -- MSNBC.com | The rest of the story...
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