Thursday, 26 January 2012

The Best Sports Car in the World?

With the return of the legendary 'GTO' badge to a Ferrari for 2010, the question being asked by most people familiar with sports cars and Ferrari in particular is, 'is this the best sports car in the world?'
The model lucky enough to get the GTO treatment and wear the badge is Ferrari's two seat flagship the 599 GTB Fiorano. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was introduced in 2006 to replace the 575 Maranello. In it's first year the 599 won the Evo car of the year, Evo being the premiere Magazine in Britain focusing on driver oriented cars and a global authority on performance cars.
So the 599 GTB was already a great supercar when it first appeared in 2006, featuring a 5999cc V12 positioned at the front of the car longitudinally. It develops 611bhp and 448lb ft of torque and all of that power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 6 speed manual transmission or Ferrari's 6 speed 'F1 Superfast' automated manual transmission with paddle shifters.
The 599 GTB also features magnetorheological dampers which are dampers filled with magnetorheological fluid and controlled by a magnetic field. So by varying the strength of the electromagnet emitting the magnetic field you can adapt individual dampers to continuously altering conditions. This semi active suspension is critical on the 599 GTB in compensating for the basic physics of having the engine out in front of you feeding the driving wheels behind you.
The 599 GTB Fiorano is capable of reaching 60mph from rest in 3.5 seconds and can go on to reach 100mph 2.9 secs later, so from 0 to 100mph in 7.4 secs. It also has a top speed of 205mph.
The only 2 other cars to wear the GTO badge were the race bred 250 GTO in 1962 band the 288 GTO in 1984, both of which are rare and extremely sought after these days. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologata and derives from the 2 previous models which were built as homologation specials to allow Ferrari to race them.
The 599 GTO gets the detuned version of the race car spec 599XX 722bhp engine but still produces 670bhp with 457 lb ft of torque. The transmission is a 6 speed paddle shift auto manual with an uprated 60 millisecond gear change time. This will allow the car to hit 60mph in 3.35 secs and will probably be able to hit 100mph from standstill in 6.5 secs and will go on to hit 208mph.
The 599 GTO has a bespoke 6 into 1 exhaust manifold and no doubt will sound fantastic. The underside of the car has also seen some changes to allow the maximum amount of down force to be generated with the minimum amount of drag, so there are no overt or obvious racetrack addenda such as a high rear wing but still the car can generate 144kg of down force at 120mph.

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Tips on Getting the Best Car Rental Services For Less

Renting a car offers a lot of advantages. When traveling for a trip on business or pleasure, it affords you a number of options, flexibility and freedom. You do not have to travel with your own car, which may not always be feasible, reasonable or cost effective. For these and many other reasons, a lot of people require the best car rental services that there is. This demand has led to a growing list of major and small time companies offering car rental services.
In the midst of all the available choices, one may find it bit difficult to identify the company offering the best rental car services to suit personalized needs. Today, a number of factors have made renting a car trickier. The economic recession plus increased taxes have forced many rental companies to hike their prices. Many automakers have stopped giving out discount rates to large fleet buyers, causing rental companies to charge higher. Some rental companies now even charge for services that used to be free. Here are some tips to help you secure the best car rental services at less cost.
Do Not Limit Your Search
Companies and websites offer various prices that change regularly. No car category or website will offer the best car rental rates all the time. What may seem as the cheapest rate may be bested by a new and better offer just made available on another website. To get the best car rental rates, you need to search web. Some good web links to begin your search include Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline and Hotwire. You can also check the direct sites of some major rental companies for the best rental car deals available. You may need to check periodically to get updated on the best car rental deals.
Start Early
If you have a scheduled trip or occasion that warrants your renting a car, it pays to start the search early. When you book in advance, you can fix in on the present best car rental rate, which hedges you against future price increases. If the rates do drop, or if you find better rates elsewhere, you can simply cancel the booking and opt for the cheaper deal.
Small is Not Always Cheaper
When looking for the best car rental deal available, some people make the mistake of assuming that a small car may mean cheaper prices. A number of rentals have slashed down their rates on larger cars such as SUVs when they noticed people where avoiding it due to the higher fuel consumption rate. So if you require large car space, and won't really be doing much driving then bigger cars may just be your best rental deal.
Check Price Over Services Offered
Opting for the least quote may not always be the best deal. For example, some local car rentals offer limited or no form of insurance. If you should unfortunately be engaged in an accident you may end up paying more. Some rental agency also save you money, as they speed you through the check out services and can offer more value added services and better cars.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

World of Sports Waiting to Be Explored With Car Hire at Coolangatta

Coolangatta might not be the first place that comes to your mind if you are a sporting enthusiast. However, this place can prove to be quite exciting, no matter which sport you are into. Consider car hire at Coolangatta as your first option and then it will be smooth sailing for you thereafter.
If you are a golf enthusiast, there are plenty of options for you, including the Coplick's Tallebudgera Public Golf Course. This is one of the few courses where you will have not to pre-book your session. The place is located just a few minutes from Palm Beach and Surfers Paradise. The course also has a licensed bar, where you can grab a quick bite to eat. The onsite ATM is really helpful to locals as well as tourists. Some of the other golf courses you can visit are Meadow Park Golf Course, Tally Valley Golf Course, and Burleigh Palms Golf Course. All these properties can be accessed easily via car hire at Coolangatta airport.
If you are not confident enough a swimmer to go take on the ocean waves, you could simply go to the Palm Beach Olympic Pool. This Olympic sized pool is ideal for amateur as well as professional level swimmers. The personnel at the pool ensure that the water is kept clean and hygienic at all times. There are also lifeguards and trainers, who will make sure that you are safe at all times and enjoy your swimming experience. If you opt for car rental at Coolangatta airport, you can carry your swimwear, towels, and other equipment with ease.
The Palm Beach Squash Centre is a great place for you, your family, and friends to catch a quick game of squash. The center is well equipped for amateur and professional level squash players. There are multiple courts, which mean that your wait time will be less. You can also get the required equipment, such as rackets and balls, here itself.
Martial arts require a lot of patience, concentration and dedication; but if you are in the mood to learn these ancient techniques, then Tan's Taekwondo is the place for you. This place is run by experts in the field of taekwondo, who will be able to guide you with the intricacies of the art. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this is a fantastic place to hone your skills and learn new techniques.
You could also consider paying a visit to the Twin Towns Recreation Complex and Sport & Recreation Centre, where there is a variety of sports on offer.