Friday, April 22, 2016

Top 8 Front Wheel Drive Cars on Sale

Front wheel drive cars aren't always good for performance, but some front wheel drive cars are just amazing. Here are the top 10 front wheel drive cars that you could buy from your showroom.

1. Mini Cooper John Cooper Works


Mini Cooper John Cooper Works
By Car and Driver
The Mini Cooper John Cooper Works is a hot hatch that is expensive but very fun to drive. The Mini Cooper John Cooper Works isn't exactly on steroids but  it makes 238 horsepower, which isn't bad, especially since it only weighs about 3,000 pounds. The front wheel drive handling isn't bad since Mini and BMW know their stuff when it comes to handling. After all, Mini is known for their Go-Kart handling, which is why it is a blast to drive. The place where you will be driving this hatchback has many touches from its parent company, BMW. For example, there is the iDrive knob thingy used to control the optional Mini Connect. Speaking of Mini Connect, it has a similar interface as the regular iDrive interface found in every BMW on sale right now.

2. Volkswagen Golf GTI


'14 Volkswagen GTI 5-Door (MIAS '14).jpg
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the first hatchbacks that is still around today. This car is not only fun but it is practical. The Golf GTI has a 2.0 liter turbo charged engine that makes 210 horsepower. A performance pack is optional. The Golf GTi isn't all grunt because it has a special differential that eliminates understeer, something that car guys absolutely hate when it comes to front wheel drive cars cornering. One cool thing about the GTI is that it has a decent amount of space in the back and the trunk making it a great family car. It is also avaliable in 5 door or 3 door versions.

3. Honda Civic Type R


2015 Honda Civic Type R (19440073144).jpg
Honda Civic Type R
By Edvvc
 The Honda Civic Type R is Honda's entry into the ridiculous hot hatch game. In order to be a ridiculous hot hatch, you have to look ridiculous and the Honda Civic Type R accomplishes that with the stupid wing and hatchback shape. It has a 2.0 L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that makes 300 horsepower. The Honda Civic Type R is front wheel drive unlike the other crazy hot hatches, which are mostly all wheel drive. The Honda Civic Type R is insane. The acceleration is nuts. However, cornering takes a lot of effort to push it because of the front wheel drive, the power, and the weight.

4. Ford Fiesta ST


File:'14 Ford Fiesta ST (MIAS '14).JPG
Ford Fiesta ST

The Ford Fiesta ST is a hot hatch that may not have a lot of power, but it is still a energetic car. The Ford Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine that makes 197 horsepower. The engine makes this hatchback feel energetic and happy. Though the Ford Fiesta ST seems like an average car, it isn't. There are really cool optional Recaro seats that are available in two tone with orange. Not only that, but the Fiesta ST is very cheap. It starts at around 20,000 dollars, which isn't bad for such a great hot hatch,

5. Toyota Camry


File:2015 Toyota Camry (ASV50R) Atara S sedan (2016-03-19).jpg
Toyota Camry
By EurovisionNim
The Toyota Camry is a great commuter and family car. On the family car side, it is safe. It received the IIHS Top Safety Pick + and 5 stars overall on the NHTSA safety tests. Not only that but there is plenty of rear seat and trunk space. In terms of being a commuter car, it is reliable. It is on Consumer Report's Top 10 Cars Most Likely to Make it to 200,000 Miles and Beyond. If you drive this car, the ride to work is peaceful because of the smooth and quiet ride.

6.  Lexus ES


'13 Lexus ES 350 (MIAS '13).jpg
Lexus ES
No Updated Picture at the Time
The Lexus ES isn't supposed to be a performance car. However, it is one of the best luxury cars for people who aren't fans of performance. The Lexus is one of the most modest looking luxury cars out on the market. The Lexus ES isn't quick, nor is it the most hardcore handler, but it is one of the most comfortable cars. There is a lot of rear leg room and the ride is nice and soft for the person who likes smooth rides. The Lexus ES is a very nice car to be in. There are soft touch materials everywhere, and the synthetic corn material on the seats are really soft. The Lexus ES is a true luxury car for the people who don't care about performance or style.

7. Audi A3 e-tron


Audi A3 e-tron
The Audi A3 e-tron is Audi's plug in hybrid. It isn't your average  Toyota Prius Plug-in. The Audi A3 e-tron hybrid has a 1.4 liter turbo charged engine and an electric motor that combines to make a total of 204 horsepower. Though the Audi A3 e-tron makes a good amount of power for a hybrid of its size, it also has 31 miles of range, which is alos pretty good for the amount of power that it has. The Audi A3 e-tron is your sportier hybrid as it could do 0-60 in around 7 seconds, which is pretty good for a plug in hybrid. It also gets all the plug in hybrid benefits including incentives and carpool lane.

8. Fiat 500 Abarth


File:2012 Fiat 500 Abarth -- 2012 DC.JPG
Fiat 500 Abarth
The Fiat 500 Abarth is like the Ford Fiesta ST. It is light, doesn't have a lot of power, and very fun to drive. Though the engine makes a meager 160 horsepower, this car sounds like witchcraft. The Fiat 500 Abarth is a different hot hatch. The Fiat 500 Abarth is odd. There is an available cabrio that isn't necessary, and the driving position is weird. Fiat designed it so you could look other drivers in the eye. People used to sports cars probably wouldn't like. However, this tall position has its benefits as heel toe position for downshifting and seeing what's going on on the road is much easier.

Thank you so much for reading. Remember to scroll down for more car articles like this.

Friday, April 8, 2016

How to Improve the Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser is Toyota's offroading SUV. It has fancy gadgets that are activated with fancy switches and dials. These fancy high tech gadgets help one climb rocks. Among them are CRAWL Control, Multi Terrain Select, and Multi-terrain Monitor. This SUV feels plush on the inside but is actually quite tough. However, sales suck. Toyota is lucky if they could sell 3,000 Land Cruisers a year. Why do sales for this car stink?


Toyota LAND CRUISER ZX (CBA-URJ202W-GNTVK) front.JPG
Toyota Land Cruiser
By Tokumeigakarinoaoshima
One of the biggest reasons is the high price. It starts at 83,000 dollars. Its Lexus variant, the LX starts at around 88,000 dollars. You could also buy a Land Rover Range Rover for around 84,000 dollars. Why would you buy a Toyota when you can spend 1,000 dollars more and a Range Rover, which is a high class luxury car? Further more, if you are thinking of a reliable offroader, why din't you just get the Lexus LX, which has the Lexus badge that gives you the status in society. The Lexus LX is luxury and if you could afford a car that is 83,000 dollars, then you could probably afford the Lexus LX, which is around 88,000 dollars.

*Disclaimer. All these price numbers represent the base price of the vehicle.*

Why is the Land Cruiser so expensive? One of the main reasons is because it has all this fancy offroad technology and expensive things. However, this is a Toyota, not some fancy Land Rover. Why would someone want to buy an eighty grand Toyota, even if it has all this fancy dancy stuff. Toyota's aren't supposed to be expensive. They are supposed to be cheap and reliable. How can the Land Cruiser be cheaper so more people would buy it?


Toyota LAND CRUISER ZX (CBA-URJ202W-GNTVK) rear.JPG
Toyota Land Cruiser
By Tokumeigakarinoaoshima
First of all, they need to downsize it. The Land Rover used to be this little reliable SUV that you could beat up and it would still survive. Downsizing it will not only lower production costs but it will help lower the wheel base. In offroading, the lower the wheel base, the better.


Toyota Land Cruiser
The second thing that they could do is that they could cut down on the expensive tech. Old school stuff works just as well as fancy air suspensions. Just look at the Jeep Wrangler. It is one of the most capable offroaders ever. Old school is more reliable. Take the high tech and fancy Land Rover Range Rover as an example. If you watch Doug Dumuro's Carfax warranty report for his Range Rover, it is unbelievable. Here's a link to the video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzQCj-dbgN0 


Mondial de l'Automobile 2012, Paris - France (8676479996).jpg
Toyota Land Cruiser
By Mic V.
The third this that they could do is try to have classic Land Cruiser styling. Why would they need to do this? Because they need to try to come in terms with the Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep Wrangler pretty much is unique for its size and price point. Toyota needs to get a bite of that class by making something similar to the Jeep, but more reliable. This way, Jeep owners could have the style and capability of a Wrangler but the reliability of a Toyota. After all, Jeep sold about 202,000 Wranglers last year. Toyota could benefit by taking a chunk of that. This could take away something from Jeep.

Thank you so much for reading. Remember to scroll down to read more articles related to cars.