2008 Dodge Grand Caravan vs. 2007 Honda Odyssey

For full article: www.edmunds.com You’ve done your part in propagating the species and propping up the mortgage industry and your reward is…you get to drive a minivan. If so, you might as well drive the best minivan. And in our comparison test last year, we determined that the best in the class was the Honda Odyssey. But now there’s an all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan overstuffed with features to challenge for the coveted crown.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee commercial from DCH Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Temecula

Take a look at the first ad spot for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It focuses on on pride in American manufacturing and engineering, telling the world that American manufacturing is getting back on track, and that Chrysler is working hard to build the best new products for the market. This is the first ad spot for the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, designed and built in America. The creative campaign was developed by Portland, Ore.-based Wieden+Kennedy and delivers a new tagline for the Jeep brand — “The things we make, make us.” For your Jeep Grand Cherokee contact DCH Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Temecula at (888) 848-6860 or visit our website at www.DCHCJDofTemecula.com SALES: (888) 848-6860 SERVICE: (888) 486-0202 PARTS: (888) 305-1199

Nyce1s.com – HI-Boost Grand Opening BBQ June 6th, 2010!!!!

HI-Boost is opening a new shop and parts store. Come out to the grand opening barbeque on Sunday June 6th, 2010!! Address: 738 Tonnele Ave Jersey City, NJ 07307 P:201-656-8000? Checkout www.nyce1s.com for more videos!!!

Buick Grand National vs.Dodge Viper

Two V6 GN’s showing a V10 what it’s all about……

Grand Theft Auto IV – 2007 Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro

Disclaimer: I do not own Grand Theft Auto IV, it is copyright and property of Rockstar North And Take2Games. This video is for entertainment purposes only! this car is great very detailed no bugs very nice indicators and shiney look reason why my pc lagged alot for 1 sec in the nightscenes is couse currently my pc is connected loose no case just the motherboard laying on the anti static bag so 10 and 27 fps will be shown but only for 1 sec so its not something to care about also notice the funny license plate i may be a bad driver but you know how hard it is to drive in cinimatic view? i taken advices from others to show damage so each min of each my videos shows complete destruction this time using a more effective and faster way sound is still out of sync couse i don’t know how to use fraps and encode and upload to youtube couse i have fraps full version hope you all enjoy Enjoy!

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports – The Immortal

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By Casey Williams
MyCarData


A car like the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport can make even amateurs immortal. Maneuvers that take great skill in lesser automobiles are executed with such ease and precision as to seem unchallenging. And what beauty! You can really get a complex with everybody popping flash bulbs in your eyes ? friends, family, co-workers, delivery guy, neighbor standing alone in my driveway. To really cause drama, choose a GS Convertible in bright yellow with white hash marks on the front fenders. Lady Ga Ga riding horseback upside down through Central Park would not draw so many pa-pa—-razzi.

Grand Sports were originally built for a race series that included the 24 Hours of LeMans and 12 Hours of Sebring in 1963. Engineers removed 1,000 lbs. from standard Sting Rays, installed aluminum engines, Plexiglas windows, fender flares, and bathed them in a blue and white paint scheme. Chevrolet planned 125 units, but built only three coupes and two roadsters. Another GS was offered as a farewell for the C4 generation in 1996, painted blue with white stripes and red fender hashes.

Holy Heaven, it is easy to be seduced by the Vette’s beauty and power. Hit the Zeus pedal and you’ll defy gravity like your favorite Greek deity while cackling in five registers. Nothing is more heavenly than letting a mom in her porked-out SUV ride your bumper at 70 mph, then tap down and tap her out as a blur of numbers rips across the heads-up display. The ethereal sound that comes out of the GS’s pipes when the second mode opens shakes the rafters like Celine Dion on testosterone.
It is hard to believe this is the BASE Corvette’s 6.2-litre V8 engine, producing 436 HP – far less powerful than the Z06′s 505-HP or the ZR-1′s 638-HP. Further keeping this in perspective, the Grand Sport produces 61-HP more than the vaunted ’90 ZR-1. The Grand Sport can do the naught to 60 strut in 3.98s and top out at 190 mph. It will also pull 1.0g on the skidpad and achieve 15/25-MPG city/hwy. Vented and cross-drilled brake rotors, four-wheel ABS, traction control, electronic stability control, and mama’s largest rubber sneakers keep this toboggan gliding mostly straight.
You expect unrivaled performance, however Corvettes are also some of the easiest cars to drive. Wind, semi wake, and long days just don’t affect you in a Corvette cockpit as they would in other vehicles; it is wide, planted like a steamroller, and if the trip is getting a little long, a slight twitch of your big toe can move things along. Skip the Magneride adjustable suspension ? the base chassis is near perfect.

On a short drive around town with her hair blowing about, my four-year-old niece whispers to me, “My daddy said to talk you into getting ice cream.” I figure nothing goes better with a convertible and a niece better than ice cream. Besides, how was I going to resist that cute face? I also had to usher each of my two nephews through the same drive-up window. The little gremlins were wearing as much twist cone on their clothes as was smushed on their lips, nose, cheeks, and leather bucket seats. The fact that my sister requested milkshakes with straws is beside the point ? not the first time I did something controversial.

Kids love Corvettes, and this big kid went absolutely drooly over the Grand Sport Convertible. Check the exterior. Exposed projector beam headlamps look good in the car’s long, sloping hood with bulging fenders. A low cowl lets drivers have a great view of the road or track. The bulge that starts in the doors and flows back into the rear fenders is taken from the 1963-67 C3 generation Vettes. Four round taillamps couldn’t come from anything except for GM’s technology leader.

The power top goes from 0-sunshine in 18 seconds to reveal an available stitched leather dash, heads-up display, shift paddles, navigation, Bose audio with CD, XM Satellite Radio, and heated leather seats with power-adjustable lumbar. Corvettes should immediately receive a USB port for full iPod compatibility, higher-grade trim leather (like Porsche or the Escalade Platinum), and removal of the generic steering wheel (I recommend installation of the Camaro’s deep-dish wheel). Nobody should complain about the roadster’s basketball star legroom or generous luggage locker.

Unlike many over-hyped, under-satisfying products, Corvettes surpass your wildest imagination, causing you to praise your savior each and every time you hit the throttle. Whatever you dreamed as a little boy, the real thing is better as a man (or woman).
After your time in a Vette, there is an eerie silence around you as your celebrity wanes. All of the photos have been taken, obscene amounts of gas were burned, and I am mortal again. Even more than an American icon, directly tracing its pedigree to the exuberant 1950s, the Corvette defies the grim reaper’s swath to plant its flag around the world. GS Convertibles start at $58,580; ours came to $75,740.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

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by Russ Heaps
MyCarData


If all goes according to plan, 2010 is the last year for this generation of the Grand Cherokee. Jeep will release the next generation for 2011. Arguably the most iconic of SUVs, the current Grand Cherokee deserves one last look. A vehicle more about where it can go than how much it can carry, it lacks the abundance of interior space that draws many consumers to SUVs in the first place. It is, however, an image vehicle appealing to an owner who likes the idea of going off road, even if he never will.

Jeep was building wagons with off-road capability long before anyone thought to call such things SUVs. Springing up around Jeep, the SUV craze generated an enthusiasm and a relentlessly expanding owner base that only $4-per-gallon gasoline and a tanking economy managed to stall. Jeep sold 213,600 Grand Cherokees in 2005. Only 50,300 rolled out of dealerships last year. This is with light truck sales in general falling about 50 percent during the same four-year period.

The crossover is the new darling of the utility-minded buyer. A more car-like ride, better fuel economy and near the cargo-carrying space of larger SUVs, the crossover is to the full-size SUV what the minivan was to the station wagon in the 1980s — its replacement.

Stuttering sales notwithstanding, Grand Cherokee’s niche in the SUV arena is that it can do what no crossover and few SUVs can do: go just about anywhere. That most Grand Cherokee owners will never veer off the pavement is not the point. The point is that when equipped with the Quadra-Drive II system that is a $795 option on the $40,200 Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 , like my test Jeep, the Grand Cherokee can take on moon-like terrain without breaking a sweat.

A different 4WD system is paired with each of Grand Cherokee’s engines. Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I is a transparent AWD system that works with the V6. It can also be upgraded with the Quadra-Drive II system. Providing low gears for serious off-roading, Quadra-Trac II is the standard 4WD system for V8-equipped models. Quadra-Drive II features an electronic limited-slip differential. It also includes Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Control and skid plates to protect selected under-carriage components.

The least pricy Grand Cherokee is the $31,490 2WD Laredo. The most expensive is the $44,105 SRT8 with its 420-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and special performance 4WD package.

Even in its Laredo guise, Grand Cherokee comes with eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, full power accessories, six airbags, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, cruise control, air conditioning and a six-speaker audio system with CD player, satellite radio capability and an auxiliary audio input jack.

Stepping up to the Limited trim adds a rearview camera, sunroof, power-adjustable pedals, four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation system, iPod interface, 30GB music-storage hard drive, upgraded audio system with Boston Acoustics speakers, and leather seating.

Both Laredo and Limited ride on 17-inch alloy wheels and rubber. The SRT8 gets 18-inch ones. Four-wheel disc brakes with antilock bring Grand Cherokees to a stop. Stability control, traction control, emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution are standard on all Grand Cherokees.

Typically SUV owners don’t put great stock in fuel economy. However those concerned with squeezing the most miles from a gallon of gas can opt for the 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 that is standard in the Laredo and Limited. The EPA estimates its fuel economy at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway when powering 2WD models. Going with a system that turns all the wheels will knock roughly 1 mpg from each measure.

With very little in the way of a fuel efficiency penalty, a 357-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 can replace the V6 in Limited versions for a $2,400 premium. The EPA rates its mpg at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. All three engines rely on a five-speed automatic transmission to shuttle output to the wheels.

Offering a bit more jounce on rougher surfaces, Grand Cherokee has a double-wishbone independent setup in front and a solid axle in the rear. The ride quality isn’t as good as that of some competitors, but being more truck than car is a key element in Grand Cherokee’s off-road savvy and the reason the V8-equipped Limited can tow up to 7,400 pounds.

Front-seat occupants find generous accommodations. The seats are comfortable and offer plenty of hip, shoulder and legroom. At 6.5 inches, the touch screen display for the navigation unit is smallish, but operates easily enough. All controls are sensibly located and simple to operate. Adults will find rear-seat room cramped. Legroom is a stingy 35.5 inches (The PT Cruiser has 41 inches.). With the rear seat folded down, maximum cargo capacity is just over 67 cubic feet.

Jeep owns the reputation for go-anywhere capability, and this trumps interior space for its owners. It has earned its off-road creds. Even when parked, it looks ready to attack the next boulder-strewn hill. If such ruggedness is the image you want to project, the Grand Cherokee more than gets the job done.

HT5 HONDA TECH MEET TORONTO – 5th ANNUAL – ONTARIO CANADA – JDMRIDES TEKNOTIK GRAND PRIX KARTWAYS

Teknotik.com and jdmrides.ca were pleased to present to you the HT Meet 2008 – Canada’s largest Honda and Acura gathering on August 24 2008, at Grand Prix Kartways, Downsview Park Toronto Ontario. This year was an amazing turnout with over 550 cars who eagerly anticipated this event once again. We had crews heading in from all over Canada to attend and once again show Honda-Tech some of Canada’s finest! If you missed it this year, next year is only going to be bigger and better so be sure to make plans to be there! We are fortunate enough to have the continued support of Grand Prix Kartways for use of their amazing facility for this event. They have unlimited space (backing onto the runways) and one of the nicest karting facilities in Canada. Those who came enjoyed a BBQ, took some pics, meet other Honda/Acura enthusiasts and tried thier heavy foot on the state of the art Karts (discounted karting rates for all cars registered at the meet). Any questions about this event or those looking to make arrangements for large groups or out of town guests for 2009 feel free to contact me directly at eric@teknotik.com. Stay in the loop with details for next years event on www.jdmrides.ca Again, thanks to everyone for their support in making this canada’s largest Honda and Acura gathering! SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS: PASSWORD JDM PIC – PERFORMANCE IN CONTROL BULLY CLUTCH MY RACING IMPORTFEST SWEETIE GIRL RACING TRACKWERKS JDMTUNED KSAUN PHOTOGRAPHY NEXTMOD SHINZOWERKS …

Grand Theft Auto IV – Ultimate Vehicle Pack 60 New Vehicles Realistic Handling Download

i started working on this vehicle pack in august i hand picked every single vehicle renamed them all to fit the original ones edited vehicles.ide lines and carcols lines so the vehicles spawn with correct color and have the correct engine sound every single vehicle features amazing handling made by killatomate85 maker of realistic handling n flying there are a total of 60 high quality vehicles Credits and information for vehicle models and sound: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Final Author:boow Replaces:manana 1964 Ford Thunderbird Author:Andy Show 1965 Pontiac GTO Author:Stiopa Replaces:Peyote 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback Author:can2zzz Replaces:Sabre 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee v2 Author:Reetkorst Replaces:Dukes 1986 Chevrolet Suburban Author:MIERZAVEC Replaces:Landstalker 1991 Acura NSX Author:Myster92 Replaces:Fortune 1995 Nissan 200SX Author:Tom2 Replaces:Chavos 1995 Toyota Supra MKIV 1995 TRD Author:Neos7 Replaces:sultanrs 1995 Toyota Supra MKIV Author:Neos7 Replaces:Sultan 1998 Mercedes Benz SEL600 W140 Author:Krazymond Replaces:Shaefter THIS VEHICLE IS RECOMMENDED! 2003 Ford Crown Victoria v1.1 Author:Chasez Replaces:Admiral 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom Author:PASHA Replaces:Cognoscenti 2005 Ferrari F430 v1.1 Author:sheryo Replaces:Turismo 2006 Opel Astra OPC Author:Serzh Replaces:Stratum AH-6 littlebird Helicopter Author:h1vltg3 & Smokey8808 Replaces:Annihilator Aston Martin DB9 Author:Berto Replaces:supergt Audi 80 B2 v2 Author:Wichur Replaces:Faction Audi S3 Author:CHI47 …

Dodge Grand Caravan – going with the Flo

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
MyCarData


The Chrysler Corp. has been nailed to the wall in recent times, lambasted for inferior products, very few truly fuel-efficient cars, and very little new and cutting-edge vehicles in the pipeline. Much of the criticism is, frankly, well deserved.

But this does not mean that Chrysler is currently devoid of worthwhile vehicles.

Example number one is the relatively new full-sized Dodge Ram pickup. It’s a job darn well done. And to put a big exclamation point on the Ram, the Ram heavy duty was picked as Motor Trend’s “2010 Truck of the Year.”

Likewise, a portion of the iconic Jeep lineup continues to appeal to serious off-roaders, as it should. The Jeep Wrangler is still one of the most efficient go-anywhere vehicles in the world. And still in the forefront of the competition are the Chrysler and Dodge minivans as well.

Chrysler invented the minivan more than a quarter century ago, and it remains an efficient, well-thought-out people mover. The problem with the Chrysler minivans – as with all others – is the shrinking minivan segment, which in 2010 is just a fraction of what it was in the heydays of the late ’80s and early-to-mid ’90s before sport utilities and crossovers gained a foothold.

But even through the worst automotive recession in decades and even with Chrysler market share falling off a cliff, the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan siblings sold more than 175,000 units in 2009.

Very impressive when you consider that the Honda Odyssey – the gold standard if you believe such highly regarded sources as Consumer Reports – sold just under 100,000 units and the aging Toyota Sienna – completely redone for 2011 – sold about 82,000 copies.

Future problems may be looming for the Chrysler minivan twins, however, problems that have nothing to do with the evaporating segment. Customer impressions gathered by automotive web giant Edmunds.com reveal that some owners of current-generation Chrysler minivans are not happy with sloppy fit and finish, squeaks and rattles, and overall lack of quality. A few report hardware problems with things like the sliding doors and tailgate.

But other reviews we read showed many customers generally satisfied.

It’s up to the customer to do the research, but from our point of view after a week behind the wheel of a base 2010 SE and another week spent driving the upscale SXT Grand Caravan, we still believe the Chrysler minivans do what they were designed to do – carry as many as eight people and cargo in an efficient manner in comfortable surroundings and with a long list of available innovative features and amenities. Needless to say the SXT does it better and the SE does it for a more economical price.

And very important for families with children – the biggest customer – is the Grand Caravan’s top five-star front and side government crash test ratings.

The Caravan (note: we use the term Caravan and Grand Caravan interchangeably ? all Caravans are Grand Caravans) – and its not quite identical twin, the Chrysler Town and Country – is in its third year of the fifth generation. Chrysler has held the lid on prices and allows cash-strapped families to enjoy the advantages of a minivan at a relatively affordable price.

For instance, our base SE test Caravan came with no options and a bottom line of $23,995 including destination charge. Figuring there are discounts and rebates available at your local Dodge stores, a family can pile into a minivan without exploding the budget. For comparison, the base Honda Odyssey is $27,515 and the base 2010 Toyota Sienna is $25,340.

There is actually a bottom trim level called C/V, but it’s a stripper intended for commercial use only. The top trim is the SXT and it does have a couple of big advantages we will discuss later, but it also carries a $27,550 base price.

What you get in the SE is a spacious hauler with 82.6 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and a maximum cargo capacity of 144 cubic feet. When in passenger mode, the Caravan has two captain’s chairs in the second row – at least in our test vehicle – and three-passenger seating in the rear.

Standard features on all Caravans include three-zone climate control, full power accessories, stow-in-the-floor second-row and third row seats, cruise control, a four-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player, and tilt steering wheel.

In addition to the noteworthy crash test ratings, all Caravans come with four-wheel antilock brakes, stability control, and side-curtain airbags.

There are numerous appealing goodies available for the SE that might break a struggling family’s budget but would be enticing to us including upgraded media center (as Dodge calls it), which includes navigation, a backup camera, upgraded audio, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a 30 gig hard drive for $2,200; a “popular equipment group” package that includes power sliding doors, a power liftgate, remote start, and adjustable pedals for $1,495; and rear entertainment – what family with young kids can pass this one up – for $2,120. Just those add-ons run up the price another $5,815.

The glaring downside to the SE is the engine/transmission setup. It comes with Chrysler’s ancient 3.3-liter V-6 making 175 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque mated to a four-speed automatic. We found the engine adequate in stop-and-go driving and with light loads on the open road in merging and passing. But with a curb weight of 4,321 pounds and a moderate to heavy load of passengers and/or cargo, the engine struggles. On top of that, it is rated at a rather thirsty 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Move up to the SXT and a 3.8-liter V-6 making 197 horsepower and 230 lb.-ft. torque mated to a six-speed automatic is an improvement. But to get modern-day minivan power, you will have to opt for Quick Order Package 28K for the optional 4.0-liter 251-horsepower V-6 and a six-speed transmission at a cost of $630. That said, our test SXT had an engine discount of $630 on the sticker, so effectively there was no additional cost for the much better 4-liter. In addition to rewarding performance it also offers rewarding gas mileage of 17/25.

Our SXT test vehicle was loaded, and we mean loaded. Aside from the standard power equipment including power sliding doors on both sides there was $2,760 for a “preferred package” that included leather trim power driver and passenger seats and heated seats in the front and second rows along with a sport suspension and that all important power liftgate. For $495 you get Swivel and Go, a third row table and a 9-inch swivel screen. Another $600 get you the trail tow package which we like for the heavy duty engine cooling and radiator system and the heavy duty transmission oil cooler. The Security Group with blind spot warning, rear park assist and automatic headlamps adds another $1,030. The $1,995 Premium Group has entertainment related stuff, a three-zone air conditioning system and the power folding 3rd row seat.

But wait there’s more: that $2,200 super entertainment package described above was on our SXT as well, plus another $2,755 for other stuff and additionally a $495 charge for the Sirius backseat TV service that get you the Disney Channel and two other kid stations to keep the youngsters happy and quite. Total for our SXT was a whopping $39,855 which included the engine discount and a credit delete for something another and destination charges. Wow!
And yet there is still more ? our SXT also had a Mopar provided, dealer installed FloTV. A full 20 channels of your favorite small screen shows (with more coming) ready to keep everyone entertained, offering: college and professional sports, breaking news, children’s shows, primetime sitcoms, reality TV and daytime dramas.
Of course you need the navigation screen and entertainment system to get FloTV and $629 plus installation charges that also covers the programming for the first year. Fees for succeeding years are currently $119 per. Chrysler is the first automaker in the United States to offer live, mobile TV to consumers.
We had no complaints with the driving dynamics of the Caravan. It gave us the kind of handling and control expected of a people mover. The suspension is relatively soft in the SE and the sport suspension in the SXT a firm but compliant feel allowing for a comfortable ride. And the interior is reasonably quiet; except for the grandkids screaming and laughing at the TV, each with their own selection of entertainment. Better than screaming at each other!