Why People Like Sports Cars
Posted by admin in Sports Cars on January 10, 2012
Individuals often ask themselves why people like sports cars. Some say that it is the macho image, some say that it is a striving to revisit the owner’s youth, some see them as sex symbols and pulling magnets and perhaps all those are valid, but one thing is for certain, sports cars stand out in an age when you have to be an expert on cars to be able to tell the difference between the different models without looking at the badge.
Contemporary family cars all look the same; all SUV’s look the same, all pick ups look the same, because they are all designed by computer and computers can only come to one ‘best’ conclusion. Enquire of a computer which is the most aerodynamic shape and it is not going to give you fifty alternatives, is it? As a result, all family cars look the same.
But sports cars are all different. Manufacturers of sports cars want their cars to stand out for their beauty and style among other items. That is not to say that sports car manufacturers do not use computers, but they can allow themselves more leeway in the design aspect because the engine is going to be stronger and the materials are going to be dearer (that means lighter) and fuel economy is not the name of the game – beauty and style are.
If you doubt what I am saying, look at real racing cars like those in Formula One – they all look the same as well, because a computer was asked: what is the most aerodynamic and fuel economic shape? Beauty and style are beside the point in Formula One.
Another reason why Individuals like sports cars is because they are faster than regular cars, although most countries have restrictions on how fast you can drive on their roads. However, the fast acceleration that a performance car like a sports car has, is still useful for overtaking and getting out of difficulty. If used properly, acceleration is a helpful safety feature. Read the rest of this entry »
Is That Hot Car Over There a Classic, Antique or Vintage?
We often hear the terms “vintage car, antique car and classic car” used interchangeably by car lovers, but I believe most people really don’t know what those classifications mean and use them incorrectly when they try and describe a vehicle. I’d like to make clear what each type of automobile is, so when you speak about the rides that strike your fancy, you will sound informed and knowledgeable!
A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built after World War I, between the years of 1919 and 1930. World War I is a nice hard date to start a timeline by. It’s a bit arbitrary, as no notice was sent to auto makers to start building cars that would be “vintage”, but the date helps define the nature of this period in auto history. It’s when the car became part of our culture. The car in 1919 was still something of a novelty. By 1930 it was well on the way to being down right common! In fact, American automobile production numbers (by 1930-ish) were not matched again until the 1950s. The British definition is strict on 1930 being the cut-off – those Brits are like that, don’t ya know. American sources are looser about the matter and prefer 1925-ish because it is the pre-classic car period as defined by the Classic Car Club of America. Some experts even consider the start of World War II as the end date of the vintage period.
So this fact brings us to the definition of the classic car period. Some authorities see the classic period as overlapping the vintage period while others don’t. In part, the reason stems from the vintage designation covering all vehicles of the period, while the official classic definition does not. Strictly defined, classics only include high-end vehicles of that period. The Classic Car Club of America defines a CCCA Classic car as a fine or distinctive automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a CCCA Classic is expensive and limited in production. Other factors, including engine size, custom coachwork, sophisticated technology (for the time) and luxury accessories, also help determine whether a car is considered to be worthy of the title of “classic”. Read the rest of this entry »
Exotic Cars And How To Insure Them
Posted by admin in Exotic Cars on January 4, 2012
Possibly the most expensive type of car to insure is one that falls into the category of “exotic car.” Insurance for these cars can be as expensive as the cars themselves, and is often very difficult to get.
For a car to be considered “exotic” it usually has to be a sports car, and has to have an extra-ordinarily high market value. This can be due to mechanical capabilities such as high speed and rate of acceleration, or to relative rarity, which most drivers feel brings them a certain type of flair. Most car insurance companies feel that the higher the value of the car, the higher the risk they take, and consequently, the higher they have to make their premiums. So you can imagine how extremely high insurance costs for exotic cars can be. Yet, like any other vehicle you own, insurance is mandatory. So how are you supposed to find good coverage, or even any coverage, when there are so few companies willing to take on the risk of insuring such a valuable possession?
Finding a willing insurance company is just the first hurdle; even harder is getting a good deal on an insurance policy. The companies that are willing to ensure exotic cars are counting on you feeling like your options are limited, and can use that to their advantage; playing hard ball with you to ensure higher premiums than necessary. You should always obtain all of the information that you can before looking for exotic car insurance, such as what rates any competitor may charge, and what going insurance for vehicles similar to yours is. Read the rest of this entry »