Cars That Are Making A BIG Change In 2011

I know I recently wrote a blog that explained how it is smarter to buy used cars over new cars but... here are two cars that are worth paying the premium price for to get new because they make the older 2010 models obsolete. I am likely going to add more cars to the list so stay tuned and if you have any suggestions please leave a comment and I will address it.


Lets start with my favorite the BMW M5. The new version has, like always, followed in the footsteps of the M3. The new design is completely different from the old style. The lines are sleek and smooth and it looks lighter and sportier than the previous model. The most significant change however would be the new 4.4 liter V8 that is replacing the old 5 liter V10 which only produced 507 bph. This is the First M5 to be turbo charged and the Smaller, lighter engine produces a staggering 578 bhp. It also has a new top speed of 188mph but of coarse BMW has limited it to only 155mph. With the new look and the impressive new specs you might as well pay the extra cash to roll one of these off the showroom floor. God knows I'd love to.

Another Model that has drastically improved its looks and performance is the new Dodge Charger. This is an affordable car for all car buyers with the base model starting at only about $25,000. The new design is meant to take drivers back to the golden age of muscle cars. The retro look is complimented with the technology of the modern age. The rear facia has received a complete make over. The tail lights now extend from one side of the car to the other similar to the challenger. Under the hood Dodge has left no stone unturned. You will no longer find the old 2.7 liter V6 which only produced 178hp the new base model charger comes with the new 3.6 liter v6 engine which produces an impressive 292hp. Dodge has made a statement with this car and has given car enthusiasts exactly what they have been waiting for... a real Charger.

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GAINING WEIGHT IN AMERICA

McDonalds Mini Cooper

It is a known fact that every immigrant who comes to America gains a couple pounds. I mean how wouldn’t you when there are such great places to eat like McDonalds and Burger King (slight sarcasm). Americans seem to know how to get through the day with the least amount of exercise possible. In most other foreign countries people walk places. They walk to work, the store, friends houses. Here in America we like to drive because its easier and that may be the reason our cars are also big.

Morris Mini

The mini has always been thought of a small car. The original Morris mini was produced from 1959-2000 but was only marketed in Europe. When BMW took the company over in 2000 they created a new look for the mini while maintaining its well-known shape. The other thing BMW did was market them in America.

When the Mini hit the streets of America it was fascinating and new. People loved its small size, great gas mileage, and incredible handling. But over time, not unlike everything else, it began to become “Americanized.” The mini managed to keep its size down until 2008. The Mini must have been tired of always being smaller than all of its other car friends so Mini Cooper Clubman came to be. The Mini Clubman is 223 pounds more than the original Mini it is 9 inches wider. In all reality is not too much bigger, its still a relatively small car right?

Mini Cooper Countryman
next to Original Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Clubman

In 2010 Mini decided it still was not large enough and it came out with the Countryman.  The New Countryman dwarfs the original version and has a closer resemblance to an American SUV. It is four inches taller and more than 430 lbs heavier. With the new larger size it was fitted with two extra doors to better fit the larger Americans. When will the Mini stop becoming larger? What will be big enough?  It is just another reason to support that theory that everyone and everything gains weight in America. 

DEAD BODIES IN THE PANAMERA?

The Mafia is a group that is most commonly recognized driving cars such as high end Mercedes or Cadillacs. But would they ever be seen driving a Porsche Panamera Turbo? Well, there are three major criteria when evaluating cars. The performance is important, of coarse, as well as the looks and practicality. The Porsche Panamera hit the scene in 2009 as Porsche’s first four-door hatchback. It made a huge splash in the auto world with all of its interesting features.

First of all the performance is incredible for a grand touring car. The size of the vehicle is in its own category because it is longer than say a BMW 5 Series but shorter than the larger 7 Series. The size, however, is not a problem the Panamera can still go from not to 60 in under 4 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 188 mph, which makes for a good get away. So the problem is not the performance.

Secondly, the Panamera has good functionality. The Interior is very luxurious and would make any mafia hit man feel right at home. The cabin is very spacious with plenty of space for the driver as well as the rear-seat passengers. The trunk has plenty of room as well for storing things such as your luggage or bodies. Also the Turbo has been equipped with a Bose audio system so that their Beethoven ‘s fifth sounds almost as impressive as the roaring 500 hp V8 twin-turbo engine.

So, it sounds like a great alternative to the classic Mafia cars we see in the movies until you get to the looks. The exterior is God-awful! Who ever was in charged of the design made a trip to the local pub to get hammered before staggering into the office. It has to be the most unattractive grand touring vehicles ever made. It looks confused like it can’t decide whether its going to the racetrack or dropping the kids off at school. It seems like its a picture taken with a fish eyed lens. The good news for the normal people is that you do not have to look at it while you are driving. You can keep the lights off in your garage and learn to make your way inside the car with your eyes closed. This way you will never have to see the outside. The problem though is that the Mafia likes to be classy. So, NO you would not find any dead bodies in the Panamera, unless a blind mans wife got tired of looking at the car and sank him and the porsche to the bottom of the lagoon.

Price for the turbo- $135,300

Why a 2010 model is better than its 2011 Counterpart

If you are a normal person than you have a budget. Everyone is on the same path of trying to get the most for their money and when it comes to cars people should take extra caution before writing a check that will keep them in debt for years.
Even though they are extremely exciting cars are arguably the worst investment one can make. The biggest enemy of the automobile is depreciation. The day after you roll your shiny new car off the dealer lot it is no longer new. YOur car is now a used vehicle. Now just because the title has changed from new to used it loses about 20 percent of its value. 20 percent is a lot of money when you have only put a couple more miles on the odometer.
For the first year you own your car the car will rapidly decrease in value. Good news, though, is that over the next four years the decline in value will start to slow but not before a good amount of the purchase price has disappeared.
There is a solution to this problem. Let someone else take the hit. The used lot is full of lightly used models. Instead of going for that new 2011 model settle for the 2010. Most 2010 models do not differ from the 2011 model and you will not have to pay the ridiculous premium for the new title. This will save you a lot of money and one year old in my book is still pretty new.

2011 Mustang New
$22,145

2010 Mustang 5K miles
$16,000

The Most Ridiculous Car Ever

Knight XV nest to the
Hummer

Inside The Knight XV

This has to be The most over the top vehicle ever, The Knight XV. This is the most extreme sci-fi vehicle that skipped the big screen and headed right for the roads of Beverly Hills. Weighing in at almost one and a half elephants and standing just short of a story, this mega machine makes a hummer look like a nagging baby brother. The extreme weight is due to the bullet proof panelling and windows to protect what ever super-star inhabits it. This truck has attracted stars such as Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic (happens to be my favorite player). The most astonishing part is not the size of the vehicle but the price. The base price for this bomb shelter on wheels is $489,000. Im not sure about you but I would rather buy a house and settle for the hummer for that money.

Saturn/ Opel

Opel is a respected automaker with a rich history which began in 1862 as a german company that manufactured sewing machines. Honestly, how cool is that?! The American Population is mostly unaware of this European company but would recognize their cars as the Saturn Sky, Vue and Aura. Europe on the other hand knows these vehicles as the GT, Antara, Vectra Flagship and Astra. The cars are basically exactly the same. They are built as affordable sports cars that are practical for everyday use. The only difference is that the Opels are beautifully styled by the Germans and the Americans did a half ass job with their designs for Saturn. With that now said I can move on to the point of this blog. 

Saturn Sky

Opel GT

For those of you that are unaware Opel and Saturn were both owned by GM in a time not too long ago. Late in 2009 GM decided to sell a majority stake in Opel to a Canadian based company Magna. This is fine for the Europeans who will still be able to buy opels. The problem for the American market is that Opel is permanently denied the ability to sell cars in the US and Saturn is now on the chopping block. Saturn sales are falling leading to GM's decision to discontinue the company in 2011. This means no more "Opels" in America if there is not a buyer for the company.

Saturn Astra 

Opel Astra

If I were Magna, I would see this as a great opportunity to break into the American market. It seems to be an easy undertaking now that they have acquired the resources from their new company Opel. So to Wrap it up... Magna PLEASE, buy Saturn and continue to sell the quality sports cars that the company offers. 

But try to make them look more like this...

Opel insignia 

And less like this....

Saturn Aura 

Beastly Bugatti

2005 Bugatti Veyron

In 2005 Bugatti released a car that carved its spot into automotive history. The word car does not even come close to defining this incredible machine. The original version of the Veyron was published in the history books for reaching the amazing speed of 253.81 mph as verified by german officials. The high speed named the Veyron as the fastest production car. The veyron beat out the McLaren F1 which had held the record since 1998 with a top speed of 240 mph. 

McLaren F1

The Veyron held its spot as the fastest production car for two years before being outrun by the American-built SSC ultimate Aero in October of 2007.  The Aero achieved the speed of 256.18 mph. If I were Bugatti I would be pissed to say the least. The Aero was only 3 mph faster and took the Veyron's place at the top after only two years. So, the scappy Germans at Bugatti went back to the drawing board. 

SSC Ultimate Aero

Bugatti Worked in the shadows as they pieced together a road ravaging beast. Bugatti's final product and Answer to the American Automaker was a new version of their veyron. To prove this was no sheep in wolf clothing. The new Bugatti Veyron Super Sport obliterated the Aeros record by 12 mph. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!

2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Super Sport

 The 2010 Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is a new animal that would toy with the old Bugatti before swallowing it whole. The new engine produces a power house of 1200hp from its 16 cylinders, which is a whopping 200hp more than the previous version. This staggering amount of horsepower seems like something out of a video game that would only be found on a virtual track. But this brute also has a softer side. To compliment the beastly power of its engine it has received a new aerodynamic kit and stronger stabilizers. Like a ballerina the Veyron is nimble on its toes and balanced in all situation. This is important especially if you prefer your body all in one piece as opposed to painted across miles of pavement like a gourmet cheese spread.

The beast has also been treated with a manicure. The scales of this monster have been smoothed over with ultra slippery material. The new slippery skin helps it to cut through the wall of air which becomes comparable to the consistency of hardened caramel. The intakes are specially designed to help the wind flow through it helping to cut down resistance. This barbarian sucks up more air in a couple minutes than we will breath in a life time.

Veyron SS Engine Bay

Now for the bad news... The only thing scarier than the speed of this car is its outrageous price tag. If you think that the $1.4 million that the original version costs is crazy then try to fathom a price tag of 2.4 million dollars. I guess Bugatti figures if you are able to spend $1.4 million on a car (something that does not fly or cure cancer) than what is an extra $1 million, right?

Bugatti is sending a firm message out to all other automotive manufactures that they will not allow anyone else to take their spot at the top of the record books. If you decide to compete with Bugatti they will make a new version of there prized Veyron and it will EAT YOU!