The science behind the dimpling on golf balls holds that the dimples produce more turbulence in the air flow over the ball and that the turbulent flow sticks to the surface better than a laminar flow of air over a smooth surface. The turbulent flow of air sticking to the surface creates a smaller area of vacuum drag behind the ball, and the ball travels farther and faster due to less drag behind it. Smooth balls have “looser” air traveling over them and the area of vacuum drag behind a smooth ball will be about the same size as the ball itself. In this latest experiment, the MythBusters wanted to see if the travel-enhancing effect of dimpled golf balls would work on much larger objects, like cars.

The result? It works.

The MythBusters crew realized over 10% improvement in fuel economy in a heavily pock-marked Ford Taurus sedan. The Ford was first covered in a coat of smooth modeling clay and the fuel economy was determined to be 26 miles per gallon at a constant 65 miles per hour. After removing about 1,000 ice-cream scoop-size clay dimples from the surface of the car, all of the dimples removed were put back inside the car to keep the weight constant. Tests with the dimpled car showed that gas mileage (at a constant 65mph) had improved from 26 mpg to 29mpg. That equals an astounding 11.5% improvement!

Exactly what this might mean for the future of automobiling is a bit uncertain. In an era when manufacturers zealously guard technologies that yield 1 or 2 mile per gallon improvements, 11% percent is huge, and unlikely to be ignored. While it might be a reach to conclude all new cars will begin to look like golf balls, it could be a safe bet to imagine some sort of surface dimpling will be at least partially employed on various car surfaces in the future. Automotive racing might be affected too, as a 10% increase in fuel mileage would be a tremendous advantage in any form of competition that involves refueling during an event. All other factors being equal, a dimpled car would outrun a smooth car every time.

The Dimple Effect will probably require more time and more testing before you will be able to purchase the technology at your local dealership. It might also be a while before Body Shops start charging to put dents into cars instead of taking them out. In the meantime, all you need to start your own testing is a hammer.

A dimpled surface creates less vacuum drag “wake” behind an object in motion.

The odd golf-ball-style dimpled surface on this Ford Taurus improved fuel economy at highway (constant 65mph) speeds by over 11%.

According to a recent Rasmussen Report, GM and Ford still remain as favorite choices, but Toyota has the edge as the brand most buyers would consider purchasing. The Rasmussen numbers also show that as confidence in domestic cars is waning, foreign car brands have gained significant ground with US buyers. It appears the government bailout money is going to cost some automakers more than just principal and interest.

Ford is still viewed as the domestic company most likely to remain solvent and profitable, but taking the stimulus money seems to have negatively impacted both GM and Chrysler in the minds of American car shoppers. Research shows that while 58% of buyers surveyed felt Ford will survive, only 19% felt that way about General Motors and only a measly 4% thought Chrysler has a chance of long-term profitability. When it comes to quality, it seems the bailout was a bitter pill and equals shoddy products in the minds of consumers, as over 41% of Americans think the quality of GM cars will decrease now that the government controls the company.

The new landscape of the domestic auto sales marketplace now shows Ford to be in second place with 35% of buyers considering a Ford automobile purchase. Toyota is the leader with 43% of potential purchasers considering that Japanese brand, and Honda is not far behind with a 36% consideration factor. Eroded buyer confidence really starts to show up with Chrysler being the only manufacturer with a single-digit “definite buy” number with just 4% of respondents saying they definitely will purchase that brand of vehicle. The figure is especially low when compared to the other Big Two with 35% of those surveyed saying they will purchase a Ford and 29% planning to buy a GM product.

Even though it has been less than a year since the big bailout, it appears to have created significant ripples in the allegiances and attitudes of the American buying public. In the case of the former Big Three US automakers, it seems to be a case of damned by the customers if you do take the loan, and damned by a lack of capital if you don’t.

The plan offering incentives up to $4,500 to auto owners who trade in their old vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models began on July 24th was expected to last until November 1st. Congress originally appropriated $1 billion for the program in July and added another $2 billion two weeks later. Due to overwhelming buyer response to the program, almost all of the money was spent in the first three weeks and it is unclear whether or not there are enough funds to make it through the final weekend.

Obama administration officials said calculations show there is enough money left to get through the weekend but that buyers and dealers should get their paperwork done and submitted before 5 p.m. on August 24th. President Obama said on the 20th. that the program “been successful beyond anybody’s imagination. And we’re now slightly victims of success because the thing happened so quick, there was so much more demand than anybody expected that dealers were overwhelmed with applications.”

Administration officials claim the program met its dual goals of stimulating the economy and removing low-mileage clunkers from the roads. Despite a Labor Department report showing increased manufacturing in July because demand triggered increased production runs at General Motors, Ford and Toyota, there is no additional funding for the program on the horizon. The official position now seems to be to close down the program and sort out the paperwork. Some dealers have complained they haven’t been reimbursed quickly enough, but administration officials promise that payments will be completed as soon as they finish processing the nearly half a million transactions already turned in.

Because there are no plans to seek additional funding for the Clunkers program, and an absolute deadline looming on Monday, dealers across the country are preparing for a tidal wave of customers over the final weekend the program will be in effect.

The government’s Clunker program might not be the last auto-industry stimulus we see this year however. Some U.S. auto retailers are already scrambling to create their own new, separate and privately funded stimulus plans to help customers who didn’t or couldn’t take advantage of the original government plan. Dealer-created programs, like the 2009 New Dealer Auto Stimulus Plan (autostimulusplan.com) have looser requirements than the Clunker deals with fewer restrictions on the price, year, or mileage of trade-in vehicles.

Even though the Clunkers program ends on Monday, the immediate successes of the government plan along with the introduction of new private plans, are good indications that we have not seen the last such stimulus yet. Who knows? Perhaps next year, instead of targeting low fuel-mileage clunkers, the government will aim a stimulus plan at removing the most unsafe vehicles from the road and offer consumers a “Dollars for Deathtraps” program. Time will tell.

Program participants must prove they have owned, registered and insured a car continuously for one year that was rated at 18 miles per gallon or less in combined city/highway driving. The U.S. plan is modeled after similar programs in Europe which have enjoyed some success, although critics in the U.S. claim the program only temporarily speeds up purchases that would have eventually been made anyway.

The first $1 billion allotted for the program was devoured in one week by hordes of car-buying consumers. Congress responded with an additional two billion dollars and is now considering whether or not they will dump more funds into the program later. While not everyone in Washington is completely behind the program, most democrats say they would like to keep it going, and many republicans say they agree. New automobile dealers say their customers are showing huge interest in the program with far more show room visits and greatly increased Internet traffic. Even if the program does not continue, the current flood of new auto sales is helping dealers get rid of their old inventories and encouraging manufacturers to build more new cars.

Ford, GM and Chrysler have seen big boosts in recent sales figures due to the CARS program, and the import manufacturers have also done quite well. The Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry have been the top five biggest sellers since the program began on July 25th.

Observers say the Clunkers program has proven to be a successful short-term stimulus strategy by increasing consumer spending in the third quarter, but there remains a real question as to whether or not the increased in business will continue on into next year. Analysis of dealer’s web sites shows that the increased activity peaked the second day after the program was launched and has fallen by over 15% since then. If interest in the program continues to wane, it’s predicted new auto sales could return to pre-program levels by the end of August.

Not everyone is a fan of the Clunkers program. Some critics have said the air-pollution benefits were not as great as they could have been because the fuel mileage requirements for the new cars to be purchased were not set high enough. Others have complained that the program rewards those who have ignored environmental concerns and purchased gas-guzzling cars and trucks in the past.

The jury is still out on whether or not this form of government subsidy will have a lasting beneficial economic effect beyond perpetuating the cycle of borrowing and spending. That it has successfully stimulated an industry that was in the doldrums is quite clear, as dealer inventories are shrinking nationwide. Supporters of the program are holding on to hopes that the increase in the car business might translate into an increase in all business for the U.S. economy.

For now, the Cash for Clunkers program is alive and well until the money runs out. For people with program-eligible clunkers sitting in their driveways, today could be the best time ever to buy a new car.

Cash for Clunkers Program Rules:

• All vehicles purchased must be new 2008, 2009 or 2010 models.
• All vehicles purchased must not cost more than $45,000.
• All vehicles must be purchased before November 1, 2009.
• Motorcycles are not included in the program.
• All clunkers must be in drivable condition.
• All clunkers must have a clear title without liens.
• The owner/seller of all clunkers must be same person purchasing new car.
• Fuel mileage of all clunkers must be calculated according to EPA mpg ratings at fueleconomy.gov.

Tata Motors is a multinational corporation with its headquarters in Mumbai, India and factories in India as well as Argentina, South Africa and Thailand. The ambitious Indian manufacturer is the second largest automaker of commercial vehicles in the world. Tata is not a newcomer to vehicle production though, the company built its first commercial vehicle in 1954 and today is the world’s fourth largest truck manufacturer. Tata was also the company that purchased Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008. However, the company’s latest automotive offering will likely share very little with the luxury car lines they now own.

Tata has introduced the Nano in an attempt to address a growing market for an ultra-low-priced car in India as well as Asia and Africa. As the standard of living improves in emerging nations around the world, the demand for simple and affordable personal cars could be huge. Tata got the jump on competitors Suzuki, Renault, Toyota and Hyundai, who all have plans to introduce comparable small cars next year. The Nano will debut this summer in India where some 200,000 orders have already been submitted, the largest advance order for a car in India ever. The first 100,000 Nanos will begin to roll out of the factory in July of 2009, with the rest of the production run to come very slowly as the manufacturer ramps up production lines over the next several years. Buyers can cancel their orders at any time, or they can earn interest on their deposits as they wait for delivery of their cars.

Although the initial price of the Nano was to be right at $2,000, the figure creeps up to around $2,500 as options and safety features are added. The price will also increase if the car is sold in markets like Europe and North America that require additional safety and pollution standards be met. But the Nano is still likely to be the cheapest car in any market for a while to come.

What do you get for $2,000 and change? The Nano is an Indian-designed, four-door, four-seat, sedan with a tiny 35-horsepower engine located just behind the rear (driven) wheels in a set-up much like the early Volkswagen Bugs. The gas tank and spare tire are up front just like the VW design as well. At 123-inches long, the Nano is about a foot longer than a Smart Car and over a foot shorter than a Mini Cooper.

The little 635cc, two-cylinder engine propels the lightweight (1,322lbs.) vehicle from zero to 100 km per hour in 23 seconds. Even though the Nano obviously lacks blazing speed and power, the steel-bodied car gets over 47-miles-per-gallon and produces the same amount of air-pollution as an average motorcycle. The Nano is not a “green car” in emissions ratings, but it does represent lower emissions than four people on motorcycles would generate, and thus reduces overall pollution in comparison.

Tata plans to sell the Nano in both Europe and North America in a few years, but only after it meets regional safety and pollution standards, which will probably push the price up a bit. What is certain is that the Tata Nano is the first player to take advantage of a developing ultra-low-price market segment that will surely become more crowed in time.

Today it is easy to locate the good cars online thanks to the many new websites that focus on car sales. There are sites for specific brands and types as well as sites that carry hundreds of different vehicles. You can check out online auctions, browse sites that host private party seller’s ads or view the selection of certified used cars at dealerships, all from the comfort and privacy of your own home. The car sales industry has changed dramatically in order to serve a new breed of educated car buyers who know exactly what they want and how much they will pay for it.

Other than obvious cosmetic appearance issues, most people use mileage as the best evidence of a car’s mechanical condition and value. More information is better when shopping for cars online and at the very least you should research the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to make sure a car does not have a hidden history of problems and repairs. The more detailed information you can learn about prior use and maintenance leads to better decision making. A low mileage car with a few cosmetic issues can be a better buy than a perfect looking car with high mileage or an unknown maintenance history.

Another method of determining the value of used cars online is the Kelly Blue Book of used car values. The pricing guidelines in the Blue Book consider mileage and cosmetic condition, but the real value must account for recent selling prices of comparable vehicles in your area. One essential part of purchasing cheap cars online that cannot be accomplished at your computer is taking prospective purchases to a trusted mechanic for a complete mechanical evaluation. A competent third-party inspection will provide you with valuable information before negotiating prices.

Start shopping right now by performing a web search for the models you seek, plus your geographic location and you will find the best cheap cars online.

In order to make the most of the test drive you need to keep in mind several questions:

· Is the vehicle easy to start?

· Is the transmission easy to shift?

· Is the clutch engaged without any abnormal sounds?

· If there is an automatic transmission, is the gear to gear transmission smooth?

· Are the brakes effective and fast responding?

· While on a freeway, does the car behave well with a good acceleration?

· Does all equipment function properly?

· Is the car maneuverable?

· Are there any blind spots?

· How does the car behave in traffic?

· Is parking easy in a number of types of parking spots?

If you have done your homework and know what a reasonable price for a particular used car is, go for it. Be pleasant and calm, negotiate with a smile and do not feel intimidated. Feel free to walk away from any deal that doesn’t serve your needs and requirements. Nobody wants to do business with someone who is combative and offensive, no matter how cheap the car is or what the bargain is. Shopping for a cheap car or a used car can take quite a bit of your time and your energy as well. But if you stay focused you are likely to walk away with a really nice cheap car that will serve you well for a long time.

]]> http://cheapcars.com/tips-buying-cheap-cars/feed/ 0 http://cheapcars.com/cheap-car-incentives/ http://cheapcars.com/cheap-car-incentives/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:47:22 +0000 admin http://cheapcars.com/?p=195 Today might just be the best day ever to buy a good cheap car. A cheap new car, that is. It’s no secret that these are tough economic times, money is tight, unemployment is up and sales are down in most retail markets. The marketplace for new automobiles has been one of the hardest hit areas of the economy as consumers postpone plans to purchase new vehicles in the climate of uncertainty.

The dealership lots are overflowing with unsold cars and trucks in every region of the country and it might be a bad time to be selling, but it could be a great time to be buying. Nearly every automobile manufacturer seems to be dropping their prices to bare minimums and throwing added incentives at buyers to sweeten the deals. New car sales are down over 40% overall this year and the result is a buyer’s market with low interest rates and a lot of great deals on new cars, trucks and SUVs. If you have been considering a new vehicle purchase, now is the time to get out there and shop around.

Manufacturer incentives are most commonly available to consumers in the form of rebates and/or low-interest financing. The manufacturers also offer marketing support incentive programs direct to their dealers who can pass additional savings on to buyers if they so choose. In most cases consumers are offered a cash rebate or low-interest financing, or both, depending on the manufacturer. The cash rebates can be used as part of the down payment or simply pocketed. Low-interest financing rates will vary according to the manufacturer and your credit rating.

The latest round of incentives to be offered by a few creative manufacturers have appeared as job-loss protection programs. These programs offer a bit of security to buyers who may be worried about losing their jobs and getting stuck with a new car they can’t make the payments on. In January, Hyundai was the first brand to offer a program that covered car or lease payments for a specified amount of time should a purchaser lose their income through job loss or other financial hardship. Hyundai’s creative offer covered up to three months of payment assistance and allowed purchasers to get out of a deal altogether and return the car at no extra cost.

Ford and General Motors quickly followed suit and jumped on the bandwagon with job-loss protection programs of their own. The details of each manufacturer’s program vary, but basically all three are similar in that they offer a specified length of coverage for buyers’ who have lost their jobs and are eligible for unemployment benefits in their state of residence. Ford offers to cover payments up to $700 for as long as 12 months. The GM plan covers payments up to $500 for six months. More manufacturers are expected to adopt similar programs in the near future. Any way you slice it, there are plenty of attractive incentives available on new vehicles out there right now.

Buying a cheap car, can be a challenge. Unlike brand new cars, used cars don’t have any warranty, guaranty or service contract with the seller. If a problem arises later on like oil leaks, steering problems, alignment, bearing noises, transmission problems, etc., you will have to bear those unexpected expenses without help. There is no return policy on private party sales and even the Lemon Law doesn’t apply to used cars.

A cheap car is a relative term. For some people a car below $4,000 is a cheap car, while for others a cheap car is one which is available at 50% of its original price. However, most people look for cars that are low in price and that best fit their needs and requirements. Make sure you look for hidden problems because most used cars are sold “as-is” and there is no return policy.

You may encounter the BHPH type of independent dealer which offers Buy Here Pay Here deals. These, are usually local dealers with signs and banners on their showroom windows that state: “no credit check” or “we finance anyone.” But the interest rates they charge are fairly high and they have strict payment terms they will request from you. These types of dealers usually cater to people with poor credit. The advantage is they usually have a large selection of cars on their lots in the lower price ranges.

There are a number of online websites of companies and dealers selling cheap cars. Buying online is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to buy or sell a car. If you want to buy a car online always choose a seller who is within driving distance so you can check out the car personally and test drive it.

]]> http://cheapcars.com/buying-a-cheap-car-things-to-consider/feed/ 0 http://cheapcars.com/buy-cheap-cars/ http://cheapcars.com/buy-cheap-cars/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:38:39 +0000 admin http://cheapcars.com/?p=184 When you are ready to buy a cheap car there is more to the task than just locating the specific car you want at a price that is fair to both you and the seller. Both art and science are required to buy good cheap cars successfully. The science part is research. The art is in the negotiation.

Start your research with some comparison shopping. There are no standard prices set in stone for most cars. Both new and used car prices can differ greatly depending on the seller and location. Online comparisons are the best way to determine fair pricing and you can research the same model in many different locations very quickly using the Internet.

Of course, your research will also involve running a background check on the vehicle identification number (VIN) before you make an offer to buy a car. It is critical to know the DMV history of a vehicle before you can determine its actual value. There are plenty of cars out there that have had major accidents, floods, fires and other hidden damage. Vehicles with Salvaged Titles could be built entirely from junkyard parts. An independent third-party mechanical inspection is a research tool that could save you thousands of dollars in repair bills later on.

Do your research carefully because it is your job to uncover the history and condition of every car you are considering. If you plan to buy a used car that has had several different owners it is a good bet the maintenance documentation will be incomplete. Sellers can easily conceal major repairs through omission of documents, so it becomes imperative to get your own mechanical inspection before you buy a car. Avoid the car altogether if the seller has a problem with an inspection.

The strongest bargaining tool you have may be the art of knowing when to walk away from a deal. If you can’t agree on a price, don’t waste time with emotional haggling, just walk away. There are millions of other choices when you want to buy a car. There are so many choices it will get overwhelming if you don’t refine your search to just a few models that will fit your budget.

Right now could be the perfect time to buy good cheap cars. The entire automotive industry was hit by a year that saw both new and used car sales fall to record-setting lows, and the industry entered 2009 on very shaky ground. Dealers have responded with big incentives and deep discounts, going to extreme lengths to move cars off the lots. When sellers are desperate is the best time to buy a car. After you have researched your target vehicle thoroughly all that remains to be done is a bit of artful negotiation in order to close the deal.