Looking for a Top of the Line JEEP Replacement Softtop?

If you are a full year resident of anywhere in the Northern US or Canada, I'm sure you are used to driving around in the winter muck. And you're probably used to temperatures with a minus sign in front! Maybe, if your vehicle of choice is a JEEP - you might even be able to do some off-roading during the winter. Providing, of course, that you have a good top on it!

Most of the older "off-road-vehicles" just came with a soft top, which wasn't all that great at keeping you warm and toasty inside it. If you've had your vehicle and it's top for a number of years, the top is probably getting worn out by now. That doesn't help keep you any warmer either!

When your top starts showing signs of wear, tears, or leaks, it's time to start searching for a replacement top. There are some good web stores out there that carry these nowadays, and the choices are almost limitless! Good news for you! Also good news for you is that today's tops are made to fit your vehicle, make, model, and year. They can be had in factory colors or custom colors, with clear or tinted windows, and made from many different materials. Installation of today's replacement tops are a breeze. Life is definitely better!

Thanks to the increase in styles, colors, and vehicle choices, the prices are getting better as well! This is good news for you when it's time to find a replacement softtop for your JEEP! So, get busy and do some serious shopping through the aftermarket auto accessory web stores. I know you will find lots of options and lots of good deals out there. It all makes replacing these a no-brainer! And then get yourself and your JEEP back out there and enjoy what's left of this winter!

View the original article here

Top 10 Best Petrol Cars in India Below 4 Lakhs

Indian car industry has been making its mark in the automobile field as more and more car manufacturers have been distributing their latest models in this country.

If you are on a tight budget and you want a car, your best option is to look for cars under the 4 Lakh mark. You can get brand new cars and also used ones under this price range, the secret in finding these cars is thorough research.

Tata Nano

Tata Nano is the most awaited car in the Indian market; it is the cheapest car ever. Aside from being the cheapest, the Tata Nano is also the smallest car in India and its launching has created stir that also reached abroad.

Maruti 800

The Maruti 800 is one of the most trusted car models for middle-class Indian families. It was the best selling car in India until the launching of the Maruti Alto.

Hyundai Santro Xing

Hyundai Santro Xing was introduced in 2003 as the upgraded version of the hatchback car Santro which was launched in 1997. SAntro Xing was able to repeat the same success of its prototype.

Tata Indica V2 Xeta

Tata Indica V2 Xeta has an extremely advanced MPFI engine that has 32 bit microprocessor. It also features knock control sensor and it runs on Torque Advantage petrol engine that delivers 12.4 kgm torques.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K-10

Maruti Suzuki Alto K-10 has an improved suspension, a new cable-type transmission and a superb brake system. Maruti Suzuki cars in India is also more knee-room for easymovements in the rear seat.

Ford Figo Duratec Petrol LXI 1.2

Ford Figo Duratec delivers superior performance in any road conditions with its 1.2 Duratec petrol engine and it has light and accurately manageable steering wheel.

Chevrolet Beat PS 1.2

Chevrolet Beat PS 1.2 measures at 3640mm in length, 1595mm in width and it has a height of 1520mm. Its great features include; power steering. Tubeless tyres, air conditioning unit and cup holders.

Maruti Suzuki Eeco 7 STR

This car model was launched during the New Delhi Auto Expo 2010 along with the Maruti Eeco Charge; the electric version of the can.

Hyundai i10D-Lite iRDE2

The Hyundai i10 series has outsold the very popular Santro because of its optimized engine and fuel efficiency. Hyundai i10 D-Lite iRDE2 is powered by a 1086 cc Petrol Engine.

Fiat Palio stileFiat Palio Stile introduces to the world a unique blend of Italian Design and Revolutionary Engine Technology with its soft, simple and dynamic. Palio Stile is geared with Petrol 4 Cylinder Fire engine type, which provides you with power, performance and an easy drive.

Mike Nielsenn is a car expert having 10 years of experience in the automotive car industry and complete information provider by AutoInfoZ.Com for cars, SUV's in India where user can find out like latest Cars in India, New Car Prices in India.

View the original article here

Making Four Wheel Drive Recoveries Simple

There is no doubt that trying to recover a four wheel drive can be a stressful experience. In many cases, recoveries are rushed and things are done that are unsafe and likely to cause damage either to a vehicle or to those standing around watching. The most important factor involved with recoveries is time, and unless you seriously need to get the car out in a rush, take your time and come up with a quality plan. This will ensure that you get your vehicle out with minimal stress, damage and that everyone goes home happy at the end of the day!

A lot of people forget that the best way to take stress off your vehicle is simply to make it easier to drive out. Whether that means adjusting a few rocks so you can drive up them with greater ease, or digging for 5 minutes to remove some of the sand, mud or snow in the way of your four wheel drive. Combine this with the right tyre pressures, and its not unlikely that you will be able to drive out without any assistance. Tyre pressures are the most important factor when four wheel driving. If they are too high you risk punctures and getting bogged, but if they are too low you risk rolling a tyre off the bead.

However, in most four wheel drive recovery situations you can afford to drop the tyre pressures down even more. Unless your vehicle weighs more than 3 tonnes, you can comfortably go down to about 12 PSI and you will be amazed at how easy it is to get out. In most situations if you do a little bit of digging and you drop your tyre pressures down you will idle out without any further thought! If you can't do this though, have a think about what your next option is. Winches are great for controlled recoveries, but if you don't have access to one then a snatch strap works just as well.

My number one recommendation is Maxtrax. They are a unique recovery device made of engineering grade nylon, which you simply push under the wheels of your four wheel drive. You can even use them as a shovel. From there, you simply get in the car, and drive onto the Maxtrax (without spinning the wheels). They really are the best four wheel drive recovery accessory on the market, and you can buy them worldwide.

Recoveries need to be done in a manner that is safe, as the number one priority. If you are towing a vehicle out, everyone needs to be at least 20 metres away. Dampeners should be used, and above all - take your time with the recovery and think about it as much as you can. You will be amazed at the different ways there are to recover a four wheel drive, without much work at all.

For more information on Maxtrax, have a look at my Maxtrax Review. If you want to know what else to pack into your four wheel drive, have a look at the 4wd Recovery Kit.

View the original article here

Toyota Land Cruiser Buyer's Guide

Starting from the first model of Land Cruiser AK10 this article covers all models launched after AK10

AK10

The first Toyota 4x4 utility prototype, designed with simple, open bodywork atop a truck frame. The year in which AK10 was launched is 1950.

BJ

First production Toyota 4x4 utility, equipped with a B-series engine and a three-speed transmission. Uses a grille with nine vertical slots, typically has no doors, has headlights mounted behind metal guards on flat fenders. Similar in appearance to early Jeeps, but larger. Assigned Land Cruiser name in 1954. 1951 - 1955

Land Cruiser (20 Series)

Basic 20 Series vehicle is a utility 4x4 equipped with a soft or metal top. Land Cruiser BJ25s were equipped with B-series engines, FJ25s with F-series engines. Both feature a grille with four horizontal slots between the headlights and use square, upright styling that hints at what the classic FJ40 will look like. Available in many forms, including as a long wheelbase with a soft top (BJ28), fire engine (FJ24JA) and a hardtop with long wheelbase (FJ28V). 1955 - 1960

Land Cruiser (40 Series)

The classic Land Cruiser 40 Series in its FJ40 form, with its looks and harmonious proportions. Two doors with a hard or soft top, folding windshield, F-series engine and two-speed transfer case. The roofs of the hardtops are painted white, and all hardtops had wrap-around rear windows. in place of horizontal grille slots, the grille consists of a mesh element between the two headlights. Square turn signals were mounted atop each front fender. Available in many types, including a slightly longer wheelbase permanent top (FJ45V) and a pickup (FJ45).

Land Cruiser (55 Series)

A long-wheelbase four-door utility wagon with 40-Series running gear. Styling remains very square-edged, but down-sloping front fenders with vestigial flat tops somewhat integrated into the front clip. Square turn signals were mounted atop the front fenders. Carburetor air intake grilles are high above, and slightly aft of, the front wheel wells. Hood is much more a flat panel than was the 40 Series hood. Grille consists of horizontal slots between the headlights. The taillights are high-mounted and rectangular. The interior is more complete and integrated than previously, with a padded dash top. 1967 - 1979

Land Cruiser (60 Series)
Land Cruiser wagon, the logical extension of the 55 Series, remains square for excellent utilization of space but the edges are softer and more rounded. The grille consists of four horizontal bars and five horizontal slots. Fenders are completely integrated into front clip. The front turn signals are integrated into the front fascia, immediately outboard of each headlight. Rear turn signals are rectangular and vertical, inset into the body's sheet metal just above the rear bumper. The rear door can be a single lift gate, a single swing-out or a pair of swing-outs. Interior is now styled, with an automotive-type dash. 1980 -1989

Land Cruiser (70 Series)

Square-bodied Land Cruiser utility 4x4 two-door with steel doors and top, slanted windshield. The front-clip styling remains much like that of the 40 Series. The grille can be mesh or can consist of three horizontal bars. Both have three additional horizontal slots in a single line under the grille. Front turn signals are square with triangular white lens elements underneath, and are affixed to the vertical edge of the front clip above the fenders and just outboard of each headlight. The top can be hard or soft. The doors are hard, with roll-up windows. Taillights are long, vertical rectangles inset low into the rear bodywork. Rear doors are paired swing-outs. Windshields of some military versions will fold atop hood. Available in many forms, including a pickup (FJ75P) and a four-door, long wheelbase utility wagon (FJ77HV). 1984 -present

Land Cruiser (80 Series)

Land Cruiser wagon with upright, rounded styling. Hood has a broad power bulge, front fenders show character lines that hint at the 55 Series' front fenders and flow the length of the vehicle's body. Front fenders are fully integrated into the front clip and have sheetmetal flares. Turn signals are thin, horizontal units mounted just below headlights. Grille is egg-crate mesh between rectangular headlights. Rear doors can be either swing-out side-openers or a tailgate/liftgate combination. Taillights are vertical rectangles inset into the bodywork just above the rear bumper. The interior is now very modern, tending toward luxury, with an instrument panel inset under an arched brow in early (wide) and late (less wide) styles. Springs are now coils, rather than leafs, at each corner. 1990 - 1997

Land Cruiser (90 Series)

Known as the Prado and developed from the 70 Series,the first Land Cruiser to use independent front suspension. Was not sold in the U.S. in this iteration. 90 Series is somewhat smaller than 60 Series and 80 Series, and available with two or four doors. Grille is composed of 11 vertical bars between styled headlamps, with additional cooling slots below the grille, in the bumper. 1993 - 2001

Land Cruiser (100 Series)

Land Cruiser wagon with a tall greenhouse, independent front suspension and 4.7L V8. Some versions sold outside the U.S. get a solid front axle (101 Series). Power bulge on wide, flat hood less pronounced than previously; front fenders show distinct sheet-metal flare. Grille consists of three horizontal bars between integrated and styled headlamps. An additional narrow horizontal cooling intake is found below the grille, in the front bumper. A bump strip runs length of body below belt-line. Pronounced flare around rear wheel wells. Rear door is a lift-gate. Taillights are large ribbed units that are partially built into the lift gate and wrap around the rear corners of the vehicle to be visible from the side as well as from the rear. The dash is very modern with an instrument panel under its own brow and with HVAC and audio controls, as well as several AC vents, in a separate central panel. 100 Series is available only as a four-door. 1998 - 2007

Land Cruiser (120 Series)

In 2002 the Land Cruiser Prado was revised as 120 Series Prado, or in some markets, simply the Land Cruiser. Seen in the United States as the Lexus GX 470. Body has 60 percent more torsional rigidity and very sophisticated electronic traction controls for improved off- and on-road performance, lower noise and better quality. Center of gravity was reduced, ensuring better stability. Together with a Torsen limited-slip central differential, Active Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control provide outstanding mobility on almost any terrain. 2002 - Present

FJ Cruiser (120 Series)

Toyota's 2007 FJ Cruiser uses the 120 Series chassis design developed in 2002 and further optimized in 2005 for this application. Optimization includes increased fuel-tank clearance, 32-inch tires and more suspension articulation than on other iterations of the 120 Series. It features a wide, flat hood with rounded edges and a mesh grille between two round white headlights, per FJ40. Flat, vertical windshield,roof, wrap-around rear windows, short front/rear overhangs, angular wheel openings, off-center rear license plate, all per FJ40. 2006 as a 2007 model

Land Cruiser (200 Series)

A luxury 4x4 with refined, upright bodywork and styling for excellent space utilization. A wide, flat hood contains character lines, and flows into the beltline and into the horizontal, four-slatted grille - a theme that echoes the 60 Series Land Cruiser - and unitized horizontal headlights. Fender bulges and a three-dimensional rocker mark the vehicle's side aspect, and a rear liftgate that contains part of the 200 Series' taillights marks the rear. Integrated bumper covers are the same color as the bodywork. Power is delivered by 3UR-FE 5.7L DOHC engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The full time four-wheel drive system includes a sophisticated traction-control system and a two-speed transfer case with a Torsen center differential with locking feature. Interior contains three rows of seats with places for eight passengers. Instruments are contained under a dashboard brow and HVAC, audio and available navigation controls are located in a center binnacle. 200 Series available only as a four-door. 2007 to present.

View the original article here

Tata Aria Review and Specifications

Tata Aria is one of the good products from Tata motors. It was launched in October 2011 and running successfully. It is a SUV but looks like mixture of SUV and MUV. Tata motors? is the first company to introduce world's cheapest car (Nano). It has got enough popularity around the world. It is not only popular for small cars but also SUVs and MUVS.

The Company is famous for its existing SUV Tata Sumo which was a grand hit. Customers trust this company because of its credibility. So, the company hopes Tata Aria will get good sales rates in the upcoming days. The Aria is a very important model for Tata Motors, not just for the Indian market, but also in European market as well.

Engine- It has powerful 2179cc, 2.2L DICOR diesel engine which is capable to generate 140PS power and maximum torque of 320nm. It has got pulling power so that you can drive easily in hilly areas too. The technology like 32 bit ECU, 16V DOHC, Variable turbine with Dual Mass Flywheel Improves alteration and decreases NVH. It suits for family and commercial purpose as well.

Interior - It looks awesome and has got extraordinary interior features. The interior scheme-beige and dark beige with Fabric upholstery gives the pretty look for the interior. The wide dashing board has some small boxes where you can keep your valuables like wallet, mobile phone etc. The luggage box (backside) gives enormous space to carry your belongings.

The quality of seats and inbuilt audio system is good along with air conditions. Other inside features like, Turn indicators on OSRVMs, body colored door handles, electrical adjustable OSRVM, Power steering with tilt adjustment, Elegant mirror etc gives you joy and comfort while travelling. The seven-seater provides sufficient room for all passengers except legroom at third row is not enough. Overall the interior features are good and value for money.

Exterior- It looks cool from the outside; the face of the car looks very aggressive. The front turn indicators are also placed at automatically adjustable Outside Rear View Mirrors. The head and fog lamp add much beauty for the SUV and looks much sportier from the rear side.

The moment you see the car, you can notice some similar features of its kin Toyota Innova but the Aria looks larger than Innova with sporty and muscular wheels, The Tata Aria's designing is a never-before from Tata with its sharp and aggressive upper front grille and a bit Tata Indica Vista and Manza type looks.

Shades- Tata Aria comes with attractable colors like Castelle Grey, Arctic Silver and Walnut Gold, Sardinia Red, Quartz Black, Pearl White, Suef Blue, Night Shade Black.

Safety- Tata Area is comes with some common safety features like 2 Airbags, Parking sensors, Fog lamp, ABS with EDB, anti-braking system, automatic climate control, GPS navigations system all combined with latest safety features including 5 rear seat belts and lot more.

The price tag of this car is around 12- 15 lakhs and it can give overall mileage of 13Kmpl.

Know more about Tata Aria and get great deals in Used Cars

View the original article here

Nissan Murano Review and Specifications

Nissan Murano is a one of the upcoming cars of Nissan India. It looks like mid-size SUV and crossover. It is going to compete with the cars like Audi Q5, BMW X3 and BMW X1 in Indian market. So, obviously the price is hefty, it will come in the range of 35 to 37 lakhs. It was first unveiled in December 2002 and thereafter Nissan launched many upgraded versions of Murano. Recently the company has launched an upgraded version of it in US and Canadian market which is powered by a 3.5 liter, DOHC, V6 petrol engine. The company is planning to launch both petrol and diesel version of it in UK and Indian market by 2012.

Engine - It is a front wheel drive (FWD) vehicle which is also available with four wheel drive as an option. The car is equipped with powerful 3.5L, 24-valve, SOHC, V6, petrol engine. It has a capacity to produce 252 bhp at 6000 rpm and it is capable of churning 334 Nm at 4400 maximum of torque with CVT. You can reach 0-100 in just 8.5 seconds and can achieve maximum 210kmph speed. It comes with both petrol and diesel variants where diesel variant comes with 6 speed manual gearbox.

Exterior - It is a five door mid-size SUV which has an eye-catching attraction, the exterior of the car is superb with outstanding features. The head and fog lamps look very stylish which gives a sporty look for the car. It has got stylish front fascia and stunning rear design, The ORVMs are in body color with 3D Front fog lamps (like cluster). The car looks funky from rear side with LED tail lights and rear defogger. The 20 inch alloy wheels add much more beauty for the car. Totally the design of the car will attracts young generation, it looks like specially designed for youth in Indian market.

Interior - It will come with has extraordinary interior features. It looks cute with the two-tone beige with color coded wood. The quality of the leather used in interior is soft which creates a touchy feel in your heart. The BOSE Audio system with 11 speakers attracts music lovers where you can use USB, MMC and blue tooth to listen Music. It has spacious dashing board with several pockets where you can keep your valuables. You can easily handle AC controls. The boot space is good with four spike powered steering wheel. The driver seat of the car is 6 ways manual adjustable with lumber support while the passenger seat is 4 way adjustable; all the seats are heated.

Safety - It comes with hell lot of advanced safety features like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD, electronic stability control, airbags (which includes dual front, front side and side curtain), Bi-Xenon headlights, leather seats, dual-zone surround automatic climate control, Rear fog lamps, high stop lamp, reflectors, rear spoiler are other safety features.

Know more about Nissan Murano and get the best deals in Used Cars.

View the original article here

Volkswagen Enters Van Market With a Bang!

Volkswagen have always had a knack for making good vans. We all have a soft spot for their retro hippie camper vans and the reminiscing memories and endearing charm they give off. With such past success behind them in the van category, it is surprising that until now VW have steered clear of the commercial SUV class. It was only a matter of time before they ventured in and here is the result, the rather meaty looking VW Amarok. Going toe-to-toe with the Navara's and Hilux's, it already has its work cut out to put a stamp on the category. While it is by no means groundbreaking, it delivers the goods in a way that firmly establishes it as a competitor with the best in the category.

Aesthetically it holds back on the ostentatious and instead delivers a design that is functional and practical, much like its competitors. Rather than start from new, it appears to be a patch quilt of all sorts of designs seemingly knitted together; with the front and back both looking like they come from existing vehicles that are already commercially available. At the front there is the trademark VW grille and lights, which keeping faithful to the brand looks like they've come straight from the Golf series. The sides look muscular and very much reminiscent of one of the American pickups and the rear closely resembles that of a Nissan Navara, right down to the arrangement of the lights. It's all very much cut and paste, yet regardless of this knitting process there is no denying that all these pieces fit together pretty comfortably - this van is by no means ugly.

Interior is outstanding with a massive emphasis on quality - everything feels much more expensive than the price tag. High quality plastics and leather make up the majority of the inside, with the odd piece of stainless steel trim thrown in for good measure. The interior style is very much a minimalist affair, but by no means does it look sparse. The centre console is suitably well equipped and there's plenty of buttons to play around with. The various trim levels are divided into three categories: Startline being the entry level, Trendline being mid range and Highline topping them off. As standard on all levels you get what you would expect; air conditioning, 2 speaker CD radio system, electric front and rear windows and a 3 seat folding rear bench in the back.

Moving onto the engine, it's probably the main selling point of the van, as it has some class leading features that are sure to impress. With the choice of either a 2.0-litre BiTDI 163bhp engine or a 2.0-litre TDI 122bhp, both engines give the suitable grunt that pickups need. On a van torque is important and they thankfully carry a solid amount of torque for a vehicle of this size, with 295lb ft available from 1500rpm.The clincher is in the emission and fuel consumption figures, of which the Amarok manages to come out top of its class at 37.2mpg and 206g/km of Co2 for the BTDI and 35.8 and 199g/km of Co2 for the TDI. Volkswagen are claiming this is the first pickup to ever manage an emission output less than 200g/km, which is undoubtedly a mightily impressive point.

The new Volkswagen Amarok is going on sale in the UK on May 1st which means it will be available by the time you're reading this. It's a great little mover and manages to compete well with the best in the category. While it doesn't bring anything fresh, its small frame and fantastic fuel economy and emission ratings make this a great buy for anyone who doesn't fancy a typical gas guzzling SUV.

View the original article here