Entertainment Podium

A-Z of Cars

When you have owned your car for quite sometime the big question is - What is your car really worth? Did you ever feel that a wicked mechanic is cheating you on the cost of spares? Do you want to know exactly what to pay for repairs? Don’t you want to protect your investment? Don’t you want to find the best mechanic for your car who can pamper it and render what it deserves? Do you want to know of the best way to save on the money that you spend on your favorite automobile?

www.driverside.com then is your one stop site for answers to all these intriguing questions and many many more. A site is judged by the credibility of its founders. This site is owned by 3 international entrepreneurs who have delivered professional and quality services, previously in the brick and mortar industry and founded CompareNet, which was later sold to Microsoft. This site, launched on June 3, 2008, is designed to appeal to your aesthetic senses and also render best-in-class utility services in the automobile industry. Moreover, the site is also web 2.0 enabled.

Here you can buy, sell, maintain, service and accessorize your car! After a very simple registration process, you can give your reviews on anything that is related to cars. You can read the numerous reviews given by other users from which you can find out the real cost of a service or an accessory. You can share mutual knowledge about the car that you own(ed) and the result is mutual benefit. You can list your car for sale for free! You can also get automatically notified on every recall for your vehicle. The site gives you information about the best mechanics in town to cater to your needs. Whats more; you can also read first hand reviews about the cars of 2009!

Tags: accessories, accessorize car, automobile, automobile review, best mechanic, buy car, car review, Cars, mechanic, repair car, sell car, service car, web 2.0

The man behind Ferrari - Enzo Ferrari

This is the man behind today’s most respected and powerful auto racing major – Ferrari.
The alien and challenging circumstances that he steered through in his life are undoubtedly awe-inspiring. Enzo in his early days worked for auto companies like CMN and Fiat before eventually landing at the doors of Alfa Romeo. He was moderately successful as a driver in the race circuits and was able to comfortably earn his bread. However, beyond a certain point he realized that his tact lies in managing people and networking than actual racing. However he always had an undying passion for the profession of racing since childhood. Soon, he was managing the whole race car manufacturing unit of Alfa Romeo, heading a sizeable number of designers, engineers and drivers.
Enzo Ferrari then took a team of these eminent and notable persons who were loyal to him and split off from Alfa to start a racing clan named Scuderia Ferrari. He adopted the black horse in the yellow background as the logo for his intrepid venture. The task ahead was to beat Alfa in the 1951 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, given that his rival Alfa, had the experience and repute of the then world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, as against his rookie driver Frolian Gonzalez. But Enzo believed in his supposition and secret weapon that if his car was more fuel efficient and thereby requiring a single refuel lesser, his driver could beat the champion. This decisive race could have brought laurels for Enzo or doomed him into another devastating defeat. With the support of his virtuoso engineers and a firm conviction, the race went just as planned and the novice driver was first to see the flag waving, thanks to the fuel efficient Ferrari 375! Enzo made history and Alfa could never recover from the loss when later it had to succumb to the charisma of Enzo and his engineers. The legend of Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing had begun!!

Tags: 1951, 1951 Grand Prix, Alfa, Alfa Romeo, Auto legend, British Grand Prix, car, Cars, CMN, driving, Enzo, Enzo Ferrari, Fangio, Ferrari, Ferrari 375, Frolian Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Grand Prix, Juan Manuel Fangio, racing, Scuderia, Scuderia Ferrari

Best Hatchback Chevy Spark

Planning to buy a cute and compact hatchback? Your list is deficient if it does not have the Chevy Spark.
Use this as a guide to weight the pros and cons of this beetle-like hatchback and make a judicious choice.
Why buy it?
In comparison with other cars in this segment, barring Skoda Fabia, this car stands out in many respects. First of all its close to a 1000cc, but statistics show you that its faster than a Santro which is close to 1200cc. Spark also has a higher bhp rating, which means better pick-up. In terms of mileage, Spark gives you a cool 14 kmpl in city and about 17 on highways, which in outstanding, if not outrageous. Although no comparison to the Maruti Alto , the 800’s twim brother, in terms of economy, the driving experience and comfort levels in Spark are far superior. Almost as though you could make a style statement with a small car! Its elegant interiors and quality plastics belittle the Tata Indica. Although the Spark’s dimensions are same as a Maruti Alto’s it only goes to prove that blind statistics can be grossly misleading. One should sit inside this car to feel the extra leg room and luxury provided. With all these the car is absolutely noiseless. In my test drive, I had to start the car thrice and was about to prejudice a false impression, when I realised that I was restarting a running engine! How many of us have wondered why there is little attention to detail and to the finer aspects in small cars. Spark also addresses these minor issues that in the larger picture create a major impact. All this comes not at a premium, but the highest variant of the Spark costs just as much as an Indica or a Santro. There is also a 3 year warranty that comes with the car these days which covers 100 % of all costs that are effected due to wear and tear.
Why not to buy it?
Seizing the bragging and coming to the lesser realities, no car is perfect (unless duly paid for!). Owning a car from GM is not all that cheap, is it? So here is the catch. The spares of a the Spark cost about 15% more than that of a Maruti. This probably does not make it a great choice, more so with soaring inflation levels and as a result - dwindling finances. Secondly, when it comes to resale value this cutie is not very impressive, rather, a second hand buyer’s haven. If one could comfortably ignore these two pitfalls, the Chevy Spark is a viable contender. In all the Chevy Spark is attractive, stylish, cute, comfortable and affordable!!

Tags: car, Cars, Chevrolet, Chevy, chevy spark, Hatchback, small car, Spark, stylish car