A lot of people think that caring for convertible tops is an easy task, but they really aren’t. You have the tops themselves to be concerned with as well as whether your convertible has glass or plastic window.

There are two main types of cloth used in convertible tops today, Haartz cloth and Cambria. Both of these use two layers of cloth with rubber sandwiched between them which actually gives the waterproofing effect. The main issue is to keep the tops clean and out of the weather as much as possible.

The following tips are good guidelines to follow when caring for your convertible: (more…)

Sports cars are widely loved, but a quick survey of one’s morning commute will show they are not the most popular vehicle type on the road. Four door sedans, SUV’s, practical pickup trucks, and small economy cars dominate the automotive landscape. Sports cars seem to be an increasingly rare commodity. This is because other types of automobiles are increasingly able to take the best aspects of the sports car experience while avoiding some pitfalls inherent to the smaller speedsters.

For a long time, high performance was ruled by sports cars. Manufacturers used their sports car line to showcase new developments and design elements. Today, however, it appears many of these great qualities can be easily adapted to other car types. (more…)

Many car enthusiasts today make their vehicle look unique by installing custom tires and wheels. These days it is not rare to see these combinations costing over $1,500 per WHEEL! Multiply that by four and you have made a sizeable investment that warrants protecting.

If you are detailing the entire vehicle, then the tires and wheels should already be clean. You will probably find that you will have to wash your tires and wheels more often than the rest of the vehicle since they suffer from far more abuse on a day to day basis from road grime, brake dust and road tar. (more…)

Waterproof car covers are generally priced less than water repellant covers. The difference in price is not a fluke, nor is it an indicator of greater value from a waterproof cover purchase for your sports car. Water repellant covers are priced slightly higher simply because they can do a better job of protecting your sports car.

Even those with enclosed storage locations can benefit from the use of a car cover when the auto is not being used. A covered car in a garage is much less likely to be subjected to an inadvertent scratch, a child’s greasy handprint or any of the other assorted minor hazards that might be present. Dust accumulation is also reduced, which is both good for the sports car itself, and also assists in making cleanup easier before the car is returned to the road. (more…)

Many sports car owners do not drive their special vehicle on a daily basis and some who do drive their sports car regularly lack an indoor garage. With protecting the beauty and investment value of a sports car being a natural priority, it is essential for sports car enthusiasts to understand car covers.

A car cover is akin to a tarp designed to fit your sports car snugly. A cover is designed to protect the vehicle from common sources of damage. Many a sports car’s paint job has been ruined by tree sap when parked carelessly beneath a tree, and many drivers have undoubtedly noticed significant fading when paint has been exposed to the sun and elements for an extended period of time. An investment in a car cover can prevent these maladies, as well as many other common sources of vehicle damage. (more…)

Technical data

• Frame: Aluminum Spaceframe
• Body: Carbon fiber reinforced composite material
• Dimensions: (L x B x H) 3950 x 1880 x 1180 mm (about 13 x 6 x 4 ft)
• Unloaded weight: approx. 1100 kg
• Engine: 3.6 L V6

Based on my research, this is an urban legend. Although one study showed that red cars comprise 14% of all cars and get 16% of all tickets, the difference is insignificant, based on the small sampling size.

By the way, one statistic I saw was that speeding tickets in the U.S. add up to over $6 Billion a year in fines. Add in the lawyers and insurance companies and the value of this “industry” is at least $30 Billion.

By: Craig Rad

The 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible offers the thrill of driving a classy sports car, even though it sacrifices some of its handling potential to providing an enhanced open-air driving experience.

There are two models available for the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, The GS and the GT. A stainless steel exhaust tip, automatic climate control, a more powerful engine and a superior drive train are only a few benefits of the GT over the GS. (more…)

By: Lee Dobbins

Nothing beats the exhilaration brought about by speed. Anyone who has ever driven an automobile has at least dreamt of taking the role of Steve McQueen in “Bullitt”, getting into a high-speed car chase. If not Bullitt, each driver has dreamt playing Michael Caine’s Charlie Cosker in “The Italian Job”, driving that gorgeous convertible into the very heart of the gold heist.. Anyone who has ever taken control of the wheel has at least once dreamt of driving not just to get from point A to point B but to go from point A to B in flair. And driving a fantastic sports car fulfills this dream.

In making an automobile or any land vehicle for that matter, a lot of factors are being considered: cost of material, safety, efficiency, and performance are only some of these at play on the drawing board of a car maker. A sports car however, in definition gives priority to performance above all other factors. By performance, speed is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Speed relies heavily on the power of the car’s engine. (more…)

By: Alex Rider

The Exige range of cars from Lotus have been said by many to look less than friendly, appearing proficient at demoralizing and obliterating other competitors with ease. Impressive adrenalin inducing power combined with expert traction have provided this car with a winning track-beating formula.

The subsidiary of Lotus Cars for North America, Lotus Cars USA displayed for the first time in public the brand spanking new MY2007 Lotus Sport Exige Cup. Staged at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, this 252 hp, intercooled and supercharged sports beast has had all of its components targeted at maximizing performance for some of the finest race circuits in North America. Based on the road-going Exige S, the Lotus Sport Exige Cup has increased standout appeal with its visually striking standout appeal. (more…)