This morning I decided to see how many MPG’s can be squeeze out of my 07 VW GTI. So all the way to work people on the freeway were high beaming along with the annoyed look I got as they passed me. But I was able to squeeze 30.8 mpg almost 31 moving at 65-70 mph the whole way to work.

So as I am nearing work parking garage entrance a police car pulls behind me and sirens started going off with the strobe lights. I politely pull over and stop. All my co-workers are walking by with a puzzled look on their face and some with a sheepish grin.

At this point officer asks for my drivers license and registration. I explain the registration is stuck on inside of the windshield and I just purchased the car. He explains that my plates registration is expired but he couldn’t see the sticker through my rear window. So all was fine and he let me go. Infact I recognize him from the coffee shop near my work I go to as he remembered me as well.

I couldn’t help my self and snapped the pic through my rear view mirror of the lights behind my GTI.

It was Friday night after work I decided to stop by my local VW dealer to view the 2010 VW Golf TDI model.
When I arrived it was late and dark being already 8:00pm.

Of cause as soon as I stepped out of my 08 Subaru Impreza a sales person approached me. I decided that this time not to brush the dealer off and just have him give me the walk through on the car. Well ofcause there were no 2010 TDI’s on the lot being in high demand and all. THey did have MK VI GTI’s. I was shocked at the sticker price. No more standard xeons or options that the MKV (05-09) models had. With xeon most models had DSG as standard. Most prices were scraping the bottom of 28-30k mark. OUCH!

Well I noticed an 07 GTI with 30k miles. Clean in and out, Magic Black paint and 6 speed manual.
Dealer offered to go for the test drive, and I thought why the heck not!

As soon as the car started moving I realized I was in deep trouble here because Subaru Impreza base could not compare.

Make the long story short. After 3 weeks of negotiation I got the car and had it certified for extra warranty.
We all know, German turbo cars need lots of love from our local mechanic and electronics issues come with the territory.

Nice OEM red painted brake calipers .

Sweet looking xeon lights with Auto Level

and a great looking boot

Sourced from autoblog.com
Toyota has just officially revealed its new 2+2 concept here at the Tokyo Motor Show.
…production in late 2011. Rumor has it that a Subaru 2.0-liter flat-four…

Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/toyota-ft-86-concept-tokyo-2009/

ft86

Diesel Power
This is going to be an exciting year for diesels in United States of America. We already had VW introduce Jetta TDI in previous years and we did have the previous Mark IV generation of Golfs with diesel. But this year we get a nicely packaged 2010 Golf TDI Mark VI with all components of interior and exterior of a GTI but with a lbs/ft of a v6 in a diesel package.

2,0l, 4 cylinder, in-line, turbocharged direct injection, common rail
140hp @ 4.000 (125kW @4.000)
236lb/ft @ 1.750-2.500 rp320 Nm @ 1.750-2.500 rpm
0-60 mph 8.6 seconds
(see upgrades for an easy solution for more power.)

MPG
For the amount of fun you would get with this car, I think MPG is very impressive. Considering that Diesel is now cheaper in US compared to Unleaded Fuel.

City mpg (man/auto) 30/30
Highway mpg (man/auto) 41/42
I would take this over Hybrid vehicle any day!

Upgrades
After spending a little time going through forums like vwvortex.com I realized that there is a potential for upgrades. Some are as simple as upgrading the OEM ECU software with Revo software.
Revo already has a product out that takes TDI to 180 hp and 302 lbs/ft. Amazing gains with no MPG sacrifice.

Handling
It seems that TDI will get the same sports suspension as the GTI
So thats a bit more harsh of a ride, when compared to the basic Golf.

Ordering
It seems that people that ordered their TDI’s last summer are still waiting for their TDI. So there is some wait time. Especially East coast dealers, that are limited on their inventory.
(Lucky for me I am on West Coast .)

Pricing
I personally gone to VW.com website and built a TDI to my specifications.
2010 Golf TDI 6 speed manual, white 4 door.
Added Xenon Headlights, Moonroof and Cold Weather package (front heated seats).
Upgraded stereo speakers and amplifire for the Touchscreen radio.
Ended up $26,320. Not bad at all. I probably will only get the Sunroof option. No need for the Xenon or other junk.

Here are list prices I pulled from VW.com
Golf 2-door TDI 2.0L 140 hp Six-speed manual $ 22,189
Golf 2-door TDI 2.0L 140 hp Six-speed automatic DSG® with Tiptronic® $ 23,289
Golf 4-door TDI 2.0L 140 hp Six-speed manual $ 22,789
Golf 4-door TDI 2.0L 140 hp Six-speed automatic DSG® with Tiptronic® $ 23,889

Source: http://blog.caranddriver.com

… Mitsubishi’s bad-boy Evo X will see a host of equipment upgrades. All models wear larger side skirts, blacked-out taillight surrounds, and minor interior tweaks. The instrument cluster now features a color LCD screen…
… powered sunroof, power and heated leather seats… The Evo’s massive rear wing is replaced by a more subtle trunk lip spoiler.

Prices climb slightly for 2010…
… lightweight front fascia plastics that drop weight by 3.3 lbs, and lose the five-speed manual transmission on GSR models…
Read Full Article Here: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-gets-revised-interior-new-touring-package/

Now as a previous owner of an 1993 Toyota MR2 (Mark II.)
See on VW.com
I can say that there was always an itch for a more european infulence on the interior and exterior of the car.
Similar to a Porsche Boxster and Cayman. But how would we achieve that without breaking the bank?
This was anwsered with an Opel Speedster Turbo. But Americans never got a chance to drive the amazing roadster Opel released the in Europe only. We did get the wonderful Opel variation of the roadster under Saturn brand. The Saturn Sky Redline. But the engine was upfront. So it was not the same. I want to hear the engine behind our seats.
I want to feel the exhaust rumble through my lower back.

You can see a few articles on it as well.
AutoBlog.com
WorldCarFans.com

NOW! VW has what seems to be best of all worlds in Automotive roadster segment!
VW BlueSport
Diesel TDI (Turbo) / Eco Mode Start and Stop Energy Regeneration System.
6 speed DSG (Dual Clutch transmission)
0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds (not bad!)
The looks alone are amazing as is!

VW Bluesport TDI Diesel Turbo

VW Bluesport TDI Diesel Turbo

VW Bluesport TDI Diesel Turbo

Found on http://www.leftlanenews.com
Audi A6 midsize sedan and a choice of V6 or V8 power.

The car recieved a signifcant ‘facelift’ for the 2009 model year onward, with a mildly revised front end and a heavily restyled rear. The rear is characterized by new taillights, complete with LED clusters that provide better reliability, visability, and asthetics.
The taillights have been augmented with R8-inspired lenses that effectively cut through the haze of blowing snow.

The facelift also consist of a slightly redesigned front bumper, new rectangular fog lamps and larger air-intakes left and right of the grille.

The most basic models can be had with front-wheel-drive, but most come equipped with the company’s Quattro all-wheel-drive. The A6 also features Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI), which provides access to a number of functions via a computer screen, rather than buttons and dials.

Engine choices in the United States range from a 3.2-liter V6 to a 4.2-liter V8. The V6 model delivers 255 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 243 pound-feet of torque at 3250 rpm. The more powerful V8 model cranks out 350 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3500 rpm.

The A6 can be ordered with a seven-speed multitronic CVT transmission or a regular six-speed automatic. (All-wheel-drive is not available on the CVT model.)

High-tech features include active bi-xenon headlights that point in the direction of a corner, and the new Multi Media Interface (MMI) that provides access to settings for in-car entertainment, satellite navigation, climate control, suspension configuration, and so on.

‘08 2.5i AccessPORT

POWER. FLEXIBILITY. CONTROL. The AccessPORT is the industry leading OEM ECU flashing, managing and monitoring assistant. Unlock power hidden within the ECU by replacing conservative factory settings with more aggressive calibrations. The result is impressive gains in torque and horsepower while maintaining a high degree of safety. The AccessPORT comes with pre-installed maps that are optimized for common performance modifications.

Tuning flexibility ranges from simply loading one of the included performance maps designed for common modifications, all the way to complete custom map authoring using our powerful AccessTUNER software. Extract maximum power from virtually any modification while retaining the driveability and sophistication inherent in the OEM ECU.

Please contact

for performance and purchase information.

Unlike other tuning options, the AccessPORT is truly unique in its capabilities that go far beyond typical “chipping” or “reflashing” solutions. This is where the AccessPORT clearly stands out from the competition:

Simple Installation - Just about anyone with even the most basic of automotive knowledge can quickly and easily install an AccessPORT. No computers, wire cutting/splicing or tools of any kind are required.

Base Maps - COBB Tuning provides several preloaded maps for common power modifications. Each base map is dyno developed and rigorously tested in multiple COBB Tuning facilities across the country These tests cover the spectrum of altitude, temperature, humidity, octane and fuel quality variables to ensure proper calibration and performance wherever the car is driven.

Change Maps - Since all base maps and custom tune maps are stored in the AccessPORT, you can change maps any time you want. Switch to a race gas map for that extra performance at the track. Go to the Fuel Economy map for those long boring drives. Load the Valet map to keep revs below 3,200 when you drop your car off with the parking attendant. The Anti-Theft map does not allow the car to start, keeping it safe in suspect areas or during extended parking.

Performance - Turn on your own portable performance evaluation suite! Measure 0-60mph time, 60 foot and 1/4 mile ET’s and Trap Speed.

Live Data - Monitor OEM sensor data on-the-fly. Use the AccessPORT as an additional gauge to monitor a huge number of signals, like: RPM, Coolant Temp., Battery Voltage, Intake Air Temp., Ignition Timing, Mass Air Flow and many more!

Datalogging - Onboard datalogging allows multiple channels of data to be recorded simultaneously for later review. This allows for analysis of current engine performance. Datalogs can be sent to professional tuners to provide additional power gains remotely through email!

ECU Settings - Quickly adjust ECU settings to give you more control of your car’s capabilities. Enable Launch Control and set your desired launch RPM for the perfect hole shot. Turn on Flat-Foot shifting to keep boost up during gear changes. Adjust idle speed and ignition timing in real time.

Trouble Codes - The AccessPORT allows you to read engine codes to troubleshoot issues and potentially save you from an expensive trip to the dealership. Once the issue is resolved, clear the codes and turn off the check engine light.

Uninstall - In the event the car must be returned to the stock configuration, the AccessPORT can be completely removed and the ECU restored to its factory condition. Perfect for trips to the dealership.

TMI AutoTech, Inc. (www.arielatom.com), exclusive North American Ariel Atom licensee and producer, is pleased to announce its official support, sponsorship & participation in AtomFest 2009.

TMI is located within the Raceplex motorsports business park at Virginia International Raceway, “America’s Motorsports Resort”, where it custom hand-builds Ariel Atom 3s to order for its direct customers and authorized dealers within the US, Canadian & Mexican markets. TMI also provides parts supply and in-house vehicle maintenance, repair, track set-up & re-building services for Ariel Atom owners.

AtomFest events (www.atomfest.org), independently owned and operated by AtomFest Promotions, LLC, are North America’s largest organized gatherings of Ariel Atom owners and enthusiasts. AtomFest 2009 will be held at Hallett Motor Circuit in Jennings, OK., near Tulsa, from Sept. 15-17th.

Here is the most basic way to paint your brake calipers.
I did this back in 2003 on my Toyota MR2.
Paint held up well and color stayed bright and shiny for years.

Things needed:
1) Masking tape.
2) Metal brushes. To clean your calipers

3) Sanding paper.
4) Good fine oil brush.
5) Brake degreaser.
6) Engine enamel. 500f resistance, or a brake caliper paint.
More expensive but has a 900f resistance.

7) Well ventilated area. (the paint is very flamible!!!)

Project total came out $14.11
Components purchased at a local PepBoys.

Take off your wheel. I did it one at a time.
First get your metal brush and the degreaser and clean your calipers.
The cleaner they are the better it will look.
Now that you have cleaned the caliper.
Use a low grade sanding paper and work your caliper a little bit.
You can see in my pictures how clean mine was.

Use the masking tape and hide anything that you dont want to panit.
I sprayed some engine enamel into a plastic cap and used
an oil brush to do this job. (I strongly suggest that method.)
Do not try to spray paint your calipers.

I did 1 layer very thin and let it dry for 30 minutes.

First Layer
The second layer I repeated the task and let it dry for 30 more minutes.
Then applied the last layer and let it dry for 8 hours.

Now put your wheel back on and youre done!!!