Talking About The Hyundai Accent
When looking at the Hyundai Accent a few things come to mind, most obvious is the look. The 15mm longer front-end includes changed bonnet, headlights and bumpers, which take a cue from the Tiburon coupe. The front grille has been simplified, along with the bumper's lower air intake. Interior changes to the facelifted Accent include dash finish & seat trim. Air-conditioning is included as standard.Accent comes equipped with air conditioning as standard, an immobiliser, CD/MP3 stereo and 60/40 split fold back seats. It also offers power windows and mirrors, and remote central locks with alarm. The driver’s seat can be adjusted for tilt and height, and power steering is included. Ride is assisted by four-wheel independent suspension. The spare wheel is normal sized.Accent includes dual airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters, and incorporates anti-submarining front seat steel pans and rear seat ramps
Under the bonnet resides Hyundai's old faithful 1.5-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder block, enlarged to 1.6 litres. Power is up 2kW to 78kW; torque is up 10Nm to 143Nm. Gear ratios are shorter in the four-speed automatic thanks to a lower final drive ratio, while the five-speed manual gets a shorter fourth and fifth gear.
Extra power doesn't come for nothing, and the Accent's fuel economy has suffered accordingly. Hyundai claims that the fuel economy for the bigger 1.6lt engine is 7.8lt/100km in the city and 5.2lt/100km on the highway. The automatic version is 8.0 and 5.4 respectively. By comparison, the old 1.5lt motor achieved 7.4 and 5.0.
Other mechanical changes include beefed-up rear suspension, mods to the engine management, the standard fitment of 14in wheels and tyres all round, and modifications to the power steering which gives greater assistance at parking speeds and less assistance at highway speeds.
Accent’s market rivals are in Toyota’s Echo and Honda’s Jazz. Kia’s five-door 16-valve Rio hatch may also pose competition, and even though it has a smaller engine it’s cheaper and also includes air conditioning as standard. Search Find Used Ford Cars For Sale Wexford to find the car you want.
The Honda Jazz An Average Rating
Honda's funky little five door Jazz re-writes the small car rulebook for space, practicality and versatility, though poor driving dynamics take the good out of an otherwise excellent package.
Let's start from the top. The Jazz is Honda's entrant in the highly contested market. Its five door hatchback and there's three model variants, namely GLi, VTi and VTi-S.
The entry level GLi is powered by a 1.3-litre, four cylinder engine,
The 1.3-litre engine is available with a choice of transmissions, the conventional 5-speed manual gearbox.
Next step up is the VTi which gets the bigger 1.5-litre four cylinder engine. This engine is again offered with two transmissions, either the aforementioned 5-speed manual, or a rather addictive 7-speed version of the CVT transmission.
The interior comfortably seats four adults thanks to its upright seating positions which make the most of the Jazz's high roof and low floor - the fuel tank no longer hides behind the rear seats, it's under the floor, meaning occupants get complete use of the car's floor to ceiling height.
Equipment and safety levels are typically Honda thorough; all models get dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, power steering, CD player, central locking, power windows and mirrors.
On our first meeting with the car, our opinion swayed immediately to the positive, until we drove it. The vehicle's overly firm suspension is a real handful on bumpy roads, and can get real uncomfortable for back seat passengers. The steering is dead, and the base model's 14in tyres are downright brutal. That in mind the engine was very responsive.
So, putting this all into perspective, the Honda Jazz remains a nice prospect. Even so, the Jazz gives a lot more than any other competitor in its price range, and that alone is enough reason to buy it.
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A Car Buyers Guide For The Mitsubishi Magna & Verada
Wind roar can be intrusive if rubber window seals on body are torn or distorted or door shut lines are disturbed in a crash.Flush-fitting bumpers on Magna provide token protection compared to full-size Verada items, so look for poor boot lid repairs.Front overhang and easily disturbed plastic splash shields lead to broken front underbody shields dragging along the road -- a common sight on this model. V joints last well providing boots are not split. Check for power steering leaks. Front strut inserts can become noisy with age.Alloy heads and water pump must have fresh coolant. Oil and filter must be changed after every 10,000 km, otherwise expect rattly hydraulic lifters and worn valve stem seals. Oil consumption will increase without warning in most Mitsubishi V6 engines from around 110,000km as valve stem seals harden, but they are among the few that can be replaced cheaply without removing the heads. Engine can go beyond 300,000km providing owners fix valve stem seals before running out of oil.Big service requires cam belt change and replacement of expensive long-life spark plugs in the back cylinder bank. Check that both have been done if the car has travelled over 100,000 km.V6 manual is best choice for trouble-free long life with its double-synchro first, second and third gears, although clutch may be worn. Early autos had a seal that failed but most will be fixed by now. Early auto also had aggressive adaptive shift with computer that could get tangled for harsh changes. Simple fix is to disconnect battery to reset it.Although engine hardware stayed much the same, improved computer power transformed both V6 engines over this series. The original 8-bit ECU (engine control unit) went to 16-bit in 1999 and is even higher today. The autos had a reprogrammable computer from January 1998; the manual from December 1998, allowing software upgrades to improve performance and economy.Check front brakes for undersize rotors and vibration. Used Opel Astra
Shes A BeautyThe Chevrolet Kalos
The Chevrolet Kalos, which apparently means "beauty" in ancient Greek, is available as a sedan and five-door hatch. You are unlikely to confuse the car with its predecessor as, having been penned by Italdesign, it adopts the now familiar tall-body Euro style that so many entry-level hatchbacks are taking on.Up front has a decent amount of space but step through the small rear doors and an average-sized adult will find the back seat tight on head and legroom. Get behind the back seat and the boot is tiny -- just 195 litres -- although it can be expanded via the 60/40 split fold rear, and the whole seat base folds forward to provide a bigger, but not flat, floor space.What does impress about the interior, however, is the styling and quality of the fit and finish, which is light years ahead of the Lanos. A mix of textures, colours and materials in the dash and door trims helps break up the usual grey-o-rama found in many cars .It also comes with a decent list of standard equipment that includes air-conditioning, radio/CD player, driver and passenger airbags and power windows for the front and rear.On the road, the Kalos provides a comfortable ride over all surfaces with plenty of compliance in the softish suspension. The trade-off for this however, is in the handling with the car exhibiting quite a bit of body roll through corners at anything other than sedate speeds, and being reasonably fast to understeer, especially in the wet. The power-assisted steering is light, with little feel, and the front disc and rear drum brakes do a good job of pulling the car up.While handling is obviously not one of the car's strong points, it is not the sort of car that drivers would want to push so for easy urban traveling or even highway cruising, the bias on ride comfort is appreciated. Search Second Hand Nissan Qashqai For Sale
Test Drive A Car Handy Hints
When looking for a new car it is very important that you test-drive the car first. If you have never owned that type or class of vehicle in the past, it is a good idea to test-drive several different models of that type or class. This offers you the chance to compare models from different manufacturers and get to know how driving this type of car feels.
To choose the cars you want to test drive start by looking at vehicles that will fit on your drive or in your garage. In addition, consider whether the car is economical enough for you. To do this you need to look at the costs of, insurance, servicing, tyres, road tax and congestion charges, as well as fuel economy. Car Dealers have this information at their fingertips or you can find this information on-line.
Make a checklist and fill it in for each car after you finish a test drive. For example answer questions like, Is the car accessible? E.g., Am I able to get in and out easily? Will my passengers get in and out easily?. Is the car comfortable for my passengers and me? Can the seats, steering and mirrors be adjusted sufficiently for all users?
Take the 1 or 2 cars you really like on more detailed test drives. If you are planning to use the car for your family be sure to take them with you on the test drive. At this stage, you will be able to see if all their belongings will fit in the car and if the boot is big enough to accommodate your family hobbies or work.
Make sure that you test drive the car in town, on country roads and on dual carriageways doing so will allow you to assess if you like the way the car drives and make sure that engine noise is not an issue. Search Citroen Car Sales for the car of your dreams.
Opel Zafira Tried And Tested
Every now and again along comes a car that surprises you, and sometimes that's a really nice thing!
This is the case with the Opel Zafira. From the outside it looks a lot like a whole swag of other family style people carriers, same sort of general shape, size and on paper specs. Yet here is a car that's larger than the sum of its parts.
What's it drive like? Now here's the good stuff. Despite the lack of stand out styling, the car drives like a winner. First off there is the engine, which is also found in the Vectra. The power delivery is lively and invigorating. Even fully laden there's plenty of grunt and the revs zip up the range with an urgency that completely belies the size of the vehicle and the design parameters.
The Zafira's driving position is as expected; multi adjustable and allows that high and commanding view point which suits the vehicle and will appeal to a lot. Seats are comfy and supportive and the general view of the equipment from the driver's seat is pretty satisfying with everything being where you'd expect it to be. It would have been nice to see the column mounted stereo controls found on other cars in the range fitted here also.
Giving the Zafira an engine without matching it to decent handling would be a tragic waste, and I'm happyto report that things are well looked after in that section~Giving the Zafira an engine without matching it to good handling would be a tragic shame, and I'm pleased to report that things are well looked after in that department~Giving the Zafira an engine without matching it to decent handling would be a tragic waste, and I'm happyto report that things are well looked after in that section}. As mentioned the chassis is based on the Astra, and as a result seems like the motor sits quite low to the ground.
Whoever Opel gave the job of weighting the steering to, had a good handle on the relationship between what you want, and what you need. Light and accurate without divorcing the driver from the sensation of turning the wheels, which some power steering systems do, the Zaf' is as happy do the parking lot pirouette or the bung it in and bang it on. In fact you can be forgiven for driving the thing in a manner that makes a mockery of the design purpose.
In terms of outside visibility, the Zafira wins bonus points, and it's clear that the big H has put a lot of thought into keeping things like the 'A' pillar as narrow as possible, in so doing maximizing observation opportunities.
There's a fair bit of storage space elsewhere, and some useful little compartments including one strategically placed to catch the change that falls out of your pocket and ends up under the seat supplementing the kids pocket money.
As for fuel usage, well all that down changing and performance has a cost, and even though the car slips into neutral when stationary to save fuel, as well as preventing strain on the drive line, the best I could get was 8.1 km/l (12.3l/100km).
Did we like this car? The answer to that is a yes. It's a well-rounded and practical package that puts some of the driving experience back into a class that could be as dull as coal. Try it and see if I'm right.
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The Ford Kuga 2 Years On
Its Ireland, August 2008 and the all-new Kuga is Ford’s first entry into the highly competitive SUV crossover market and promises a blend of rewarding on-road driving quality and surprising off-road capability.
Kuga is the newest model from Ford’s acclaimed C-car platform– well proven in both the Ford Focus and the Ford C-MAX. With Kuga, the designers and engineers have successfully integrated all the key driver and passenger requirements for a crossover model into the distinctive new design. Well-balanced and beautifully proportioned, the dynamic Kuga provides spacious accommodation for driver and passengers despite being based on a compact footprint. A top of the range interior has been designed to complement the outside to offer a highly practical and contemporary vehicle. These styling elements combined with the new drive systems and proven power train are a clear invitation to customers to 'Feel the difference'. Kuga comes with full-time, intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (AWD). A Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD) model is also available, and is perfect for drivers attracted by the style and presence of Kuga but that prefer not to have ALL WHEEL DRIVE capability. Both versions will be available in June when the new Kuga arrives in Ireland. “The crossover / compact SUV segment in Ireland has seen significant growth over the last couple of years and we are delighted to have such a great offering as the new Kuga to compete in this vibrant segment,” said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. “We believe the Kuga’s good looking and sporty outside coupled with Ford’s proven driving quality will be a winning combination for the new model in Ireland. We expect the Kuga to attract many style-conscious drivers who will be new to Ford.” The Compact SUV market in Ireland has grown to almost 7,000 units in the first quarter of 2008 – that is a 20% increase over the 2007 figures for the same period. The new Kuga is ideally suited for the upcoming new car tax regime in Ireland. With its best-in-class CO2 emissions performance of 169 g/km, the vehicle will be placed in the 28% Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) band. Under the pre-July VRT regime, the car will attract a VRT rate of 30%. As with Ford’s most recent new vehicles, Kuga comes with the all important life-saving ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) as standard. Ford now offers six passenger models with ESP as standard in Ireland making Ford the leader in the provision of this safety technology, which will be compulsory on all passenger cars in Europe by 2012. In addition to ESP, Kuga comes with combined Anti Rollover Mitigation (ARM), and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), both significant driver assistance technologies. Plus all Kuga models are equipped with a 'Ford Power' start button.
Now 2 years on the Ford Kuga has failed to deliver on the enthusiasm and expectations of the people involved in its launch.Its has trailed behind its rival in the market The Nissan Qashqai and has not made a top ten seller as expected.
But it does not alter the fact that this is a good all round car with good emission levels and practicality for every day use and will continue to be part of Fords line for the foreseeable future.