Review of MillionCars website

I recently found out about a new Malaysian online car marketplace called MillionCars. It is is not the typical car site and targets all income ranges of consumers in Malaysia. The website has not been even officially launched even though it's already online. Right now it only offers limited features to the users and the first phase development of this website is just to give a chance for the dealers and buyers to get used to the website.

At this moment, individuals or dealers can register. The individual account is open to anyone in Malaysia who wants to sell a car. Individuals would receive 25 credits at registration and they can use the credits to post, renew, add and pro long their ads. If they want to post more than 4 ads, they need to upgrade their account to a dealer.

The second type of account is strictly for car dealers. They will receive 250 credits at the time of registration and they will also get their own online showroom that can be seen from the "Dealer" Page. The free registration promotion for dealers will end mid November (Nov 15, 2010). The google map feature has been integrated to make it easier for the customers to get to their selected dealer's showroom.

As for payment options, the website is integrated with the iPay88, a Malaysian company that offers safe bank online payments. It works just like Paypal. The iPay88 payment system allows different payment systems.

According to Muhammad Nasri, they plan to offer extra features in the next few months for both the buyers and sellers. They are in the process of tweaking the site to make it more user-friendly.

The user could browse used or new cars easily from the front page. Also, keep in mind that this website is not targeted for middle range type of consumers but rather, targeting for all types of consumers in Malaysia.

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OEM plus wheel customizing and upgrading

One trend that has gained significant popularity in the euro tuner scene over the years is the art of installing OEM wheels on to a vehicle that originated from a different automobile manufacturer. This trend is largely misunderstood by people outside of the euro scene which usually results in them scratching their heads or ridiculing those that do it. The idea here is to achieve exclusivity and get away from conformity, but above all, it is about looking good. This is achieved by installing wheels from a vehicle of a different brand which is usually more expensive or of a higher class than the one it is going on to.

Let us start with the easier and more socially acceptable swaps that are being done. Due to the fact that Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini all reside under the same VAG umbrella, the wheel bolt patterns are, for the most part, the same. Nobody is going to put Lamborghini wheels on a Bentley and vice versa but the same is not so for Volkswagen and Audi. Audi wheels have been installed on Volkswagens for years now and the frequency of these swaps have increased more recently as Volkswagen has changed their bolt patterns to a more traditional Audi bolt pattern. Swapping Bentley wheels on to Audis and Volkswagen is widely popular right now and is always a sure bet for nice fresh look. Swapping Lamborghini wheels on Audis and Volkswagens tends to be a little more difficult due to Lamborghini wheel availability and width sizes but the trend is definitely picking up steam. These four vehicle brand predominantly use the bolt pattern 5x112 (5 refers to the number of wheel bolts mounting the wheel to the hub and 112 refers to the spacing of the bolt holes in millimeters.). When the bolt patterns are the same on the vehicle as they are on the wheel, the swap is made that much easier because wheel adapters are not needed.

Porsche wheels have getting installed on to Volkswagens and Audis over the years with the help of hub adapters. These swaps generally look very nice and are widely accepted due to the history that Volkswagen and Audi share together.

Mercedes wheel swaps have gained popularity in recent years due largely to the bolt patterns being the same on most Volkswagens and Audis. This wheel swap is one that is usually frowned upon by people outside of the Euro scene. They usually can’t understand why these two brands would be associated and mismatched in this way but here are some reasons that will help identify why this is performed. For starters Mercedes wheels always have a very clean OEM look to them. They are also German which keeps them relevant in this context. No wheel adapters are needed as the bolt patterns are the same although hub centering rings are required in most cases. For the most part Mercedes wheels just look really good on Volkswagens and Audis. If the owner of the vehicle is bold enough to attempt it, they probably know what they are doing thus the final product usually looks outstanding.

When it comes to the Euro car scene, being the first to do something different is what tuners strive for. There are however other swaps out there that are far more extreme but then again that is usually what the owner trying to achieve. BMW, Land Rover, Jeep, Corvette and many other wheels that were never meant to be on certain vehicles do get called into action from time to time. (as can be seen in the attached gallery). As the years go by the euro tuner scene modifications and styles will keep progressing and changing. Only time will tell what new wheel trends await in the future.
More Pics to come, Stay tuned !

 

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Top 5 American muscle cars

Americans have always had an obsession with cars – their speed, loud engines and raw power. We’ve dug out the top 5 classic American Muscle cars that embodied these qualities and have become legends among the automotive industry around the world.

Number 5: 1967 Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO was considered the start of the classic muscle car, and in 1967 it had a engine makeover to see it take on a 400 cubic inch enlargement. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on the 81,722 built in ’67, consider yourself lucky to have a classic that pumps 360 hp @ 5100 rpm. For its overall style and “bad ass” appeal we’ve ranked it at number 5.

Random Fact: This car was used in the hit movie XXX starring Vin Diesel (2002)

Image credits: http://static.cargurus.com/

Number 4: 1969 Plymouth roadrunner

This classic was described as “muscle without the bells and whistles”. Stripped of over complicated options, Plymouth decided to make muscle as cheap as possible without sacrificing power. It ended up over taking sales of the GTO by 10,000 units which puts this 390 hp @ 5000 rpm in 4th place.

Random Fact: Plymouth paid Warner Brothers studios $50,000 to use the Roadrunner cartoon character to promote sales

Image credits: http://awesomecarauctions.com/

Number 3: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T

After a spell of dismal sales, Dodge decided to change the styling of the Charger to “coke bottle styling”. In addition to the new style, a performance package was now offered as R/T (Road/Track) which turned an average muscle car into a 425 hp @ 5000 rpm monster. For its sheer power and ingenious redesign it gets the number 3 spot.

Random Fact: When the car was released Dodge wrote, “This is no dream car. It’s a real ‘take-me-home-and-let’s stir-things-up-a-bit’ automobile.”

Image Credits: http://www.2dayblog.com/

Number 2: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427

Everyone has heard of the Corvette, and it still remains an icon of the pure American muscle car era. 1967 was a special year for the Corvette, not only did it pump out a whopping 435 hp @ 5800 rpm, but included leather seating, air conditioning and many other perks. If you owned this car you were at sexy symbol status, and just short of notoriety it falls to number 2.

 Image Credits: http://image.corvettefever.com

Number 1: 1967 Shelby GT500

Why has Eleanor made it to number 1? The Ford Mustang is the icon of muscle cars and with the magic touch of Carroll Shelby, the Mustang took an overhaul to produce a mean road racing champion. In terms of pure styling, Shelby has the winning look hands down. Being famous does has its advantages, especially in this post – the GT500 ranks number 1 on our list for its style, celebrity status and 355 hp. If you forgot why its become famous, see the video below where the GT500 “Eleanor” outruns the police in “Gone in 60 Seconds “

 Image Credits: http://www.online-ford.ru/



Have a favourite American Muscle car that’s not on the list? We value your comments and looking forward to adding your choices to the list of the top American Muscle cars.

NOTE:
This is a guest post by David who writes on the Make and Model Blog, a car blog discussing all things with four wheels. Make and Model are an online classifieds website advertising a range of used cars including Audis, Fords and Alfa Romeos.

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Best safety innovations

Euro NCAP presented the first Euro NCAP Advanced rewards at a press conference held on October 1st 2010 at the Paris Motor Show. The technologies developed by car manufacturers were rewarded for offering scientifically proven safety benefits:

1. Audi Side Assist
2. BMW Assist Advanced eCall
3. Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
4. Mercedes-Benz PRE-SAFE® and PRE-SAFE® Brake
5. Opel Eye
6. Peugeot Connect SOS and
7. Citroën Localized Emergency Call
8. Volkswagen Lane Assist
9. Volvo City Safety

According to the press release,other technologies will be assessed in the coming months and will be announced in 2011.

For more details, go to the NCAP’s website.

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Jaguar's C-X75 concept

Jaguar’s has just unveiled their new concept car, the C-X75, at the Paris Motor Show. It's a car that seeks to embrace the influences of classic cars like the 1950s C-Type and D-Type racers and unique 1966 XJ13 Le Mans prototype and project them onto the future.

The C-X75 is a two-seater electric supercar. According to Jaguar, it has a potential top speed of 205mph (330kph) and able to go from 0 to 62mph (0-100kph) in just 3.4 seconds.

The car has four 145kW (195bhp) traction electric engines, with one engine powering each wheel.

The C-X75 will also be at the LA Motor Show from 19th to 28th November.

BTW, Jaguar recently celebrated their 75th Anniversary and I was there at the Coventry Motor Museum admiring the  lovely classic cars. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera and all I have are some pics I posted on Twitter via my mobile.

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