Archive for September 9th, 2008
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Truck Campers have grown up. If your impression of pickup campers dates to the 1970s and involves memories of cramped, spartan living conditions, you need to take a fresh look at today’s models. These units can be classified as true recreational vehicles because they offer so many of the amenities found in motorhomes and travel trailers. Plus, they’re a very cost-effective way for families to hit the road on camping excursions.
Let’s start with the basics. A pickup truck camper is a self-contained RV that slides into the bed of a standard truck. Truck campers are manufactured to fit virtually all models of pickups, from short- and long-beds to some ‘mini-trucks.. Because the camper attaches to the pickup truck, you can tow a separate trailer containing all of your toys: bikes, motorcycles, jetskis, ATVs, and so on. Since most states do not allow towing two separate units (such as a travel trailer and toy trailer hitched together), the pickup truck camper is an ideal choice for those who like to take all their toys with them.
Once at the campsite, the truck camper can be used while mounted on the pickup, or it can be taken off and set up on its jacks. Today’s pickup campers put technology to use, providing electronic jacks for ease of setup and stabilization. You no longer have to spend a long time on tedious hand-leveling before you can enjoy your vacation.
Pickup campers range in length from about 8 to 12 feet, but manufacturers have devised new ways to expand the interior living space so that some models can accommodate up to seven people in three separate sleeping areas. In order to do this, manufacturers now offer truck campers with side entry doors, which allows for the addition of a pop-out sleeping tent at the rear. They also offer ’slideouts,. in which a portion of the wall pushes outward as much as three feet, increasing floor space.
A major improvement in truck campers is the wide variety of options now available. Gone are the days when pickup campers were paneled in dark wood and equipped with rustic furnishings. Today, you can choose from interior dér palettes with names such as ‘waterfall. and ‘mineral wash.. You also can add amenities such as a solar panel, backup camera, entertainment system, satellite dish, awning, air conditioner and portable barbecue grill. At the same time, you can count on retaining standard features, such as a queen bed in the cabover section, full bathroom with shower, galley with stove and refrigerator, and dinette that converts to an additional bed.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
All those who have set their eyes on the ultra cheap cars like Nano and saying that car market is booming also need to look a little higher. Luxury car market is booming. It is no longer the Maharajah’s who are buying Rolls Royce and Mercedes. It is also the young hardworking top executive of MNC’s and who has a thriving business. Luxury car manufacturer are running to banks with big smiles like never before in Inadia.
Recently a popular US online magazine for cars commented that India has a market for only 4,000 luxury cars and wondered how they will survive with such a thin margin. But now analysts estimate that the luxury car market will grow to 10,000–12,000 units in two years.
Luxury cars are coming in not only from established names but also from Indian car designer Dilip Chabbria. DC has re-interpreted the aristocratic Ambassador and came up with the super luxury Ambierod. It was the most expensive car displayed at the 9th Auto Expo in 2008. It cost Rs 4 crore! All those super rich people who like to own a part of Ambassador will surely like to buy one of them. It could be India’s answer for super luxury cars.
It consists of sleek instrument panel integrated with a satellite navigation system, 3 LCD televisions, internet video-conferencing facility and a flat bed to sleep during long journey. It also has multi-colored mood lighting.
Among European car manufacturer it has traditionally been Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maybach, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi and Cadillac.
Bentley has brought in Azure and Continental GTC. They are manufactures in UK and shipped to India. They come with a fancy price tag of 3.8 crore and 2.1 crore. Bentley officials say that they entered India knowing that they were car connoisseurs for exclusive vehicles. The Azure is the ultimate statement on glamour, sophistication and accommodation for the rich. The Continental GTC convertible offers performance, style and classic Bentley motoring technology. One can immediately feel they are driving through race circuits instead of crowded Indian lanes. It comes with the latest technology in GPS, LCD, Audio, cabin ambience, seating and shifters.
People do not want to drive convertible to prove a point anymore. It is technology that is driving the new generation and Bentley cars offers just that with exclusivity.
The traditional luxury car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are trying to beat each other in sales performance. BMW has increased its luxury car sales target to 2000 units this year. Those are the famed BMW M cars, BMW Individual cars and BMW 7-series.
Mercedes Benz needs no introduction in India. It has launched the super luxury CL and S class vehicles in India this year. The manufacturer of Mercedes vehicles-Daimler Chrysler plans to sell 3000 units in 2008 only. Following it are the Lamborghini cars- Gallardo Coupe, Spyder, Gallardo Superleggera and Murcielago LP640. These models are priced anywhere between Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. We can already see several of these cars on Indian streets. Whoever said that luxury cars are not affordable in India? It could just be the style statement that one was looking for in the country, starved of glamorous cars.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Founder Clyde Cessna built his first airplane in 1911, and taught himself to fly it! He went on to build a number of innovative airplanes, including several race and award winning designs. In 1934, Clyde’s nephew, Dwane Wallace, fresh out of college, took over as head of the company. During the depression years Dwane acted as everything from floor sweeper to CEO, even personally flying company planes in air races (several of which he won!) Under Wallace’s leadership, the Company making Cessna Aircraft eventually became the most successful general aviation company of all time.Cessna first began production of two seat light planes in 1946 with the model 120 which had an all aluminum fuselage and fabric covered wings. This was followed by a nearly identical model 140, with aluminum clad wings. More than 7,000 model 120-140’s were sold. Cessna stopped production of the 140 in 1951 in order to focus on four seat aircraft.
In 1966 Cessna restyled the airplane, adding a jaunty slant to the tail. The new style was enormously popular with pilots. Cessna made 3,000 model 150’s that year, the most of any year in the airplane’s history. That year Cessna also began assembly of 150’s at Reims Aviation in France. A total of 2,452 planes were built by Reims, including 47 assembled in Argentina.
The Cessna 150 standard engine is a four cylinder, 100 horsepower, Continental model 0-200. During it’s 18 year production history there were many changes to the 150 airframe and configuration.In 1970 Cessna introduced the model 150 “Aerobat” which became very popular in the Aerobatic training market, and remains a popular sport airplane.
In 1978 Cessna introduced a revised model, the 152, with a 110 horsepower Lycoming 0-235 engine. The Lycoming was chosen to make the 152 more tolerant of the extra lead in the new 100LL fuel, as well as provide a long overdue increase in horsepower. The cabin was also widened slightly to make room for the increased girth of late 20th century pilots. Unlike the Model 150, there were few changes in 152’s from one year to the next.
By the end of production in 1985, 31,533 Cessna 150-152’s had been manufactured worldwide. More pilots have flown Cessna 150-152’s than any other single model of airplane. Like most light plane companies in the US, Cessna stopped building light aircraft all together in the mid 1980’s because of excessive product liability lawsuits. The last Model 152 rolled off the production line in 1985.
Today Cessna is once again in the light aircraft business, building 172’s, 182’s and 206’s. Unfortunately, the high cost of production and insurance premiums make it unlikely that Cessna will reintroduce an affordable two seat aircraft. In the meantime, used 150-152’s are selling for three to five times their original price. Still, by comparison, the low quantities and astronomical prices of most other airplanes make the Cessna 150-152 one of the few genuine bargains in private aviation. Remarkably, 48 years after production began and 19 years since it ended, more than two thirds of all Cessna 150-152’s built are still flying.
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