Category: BMW

BMW car reviews, test drive, road test, pricing, and all kind of critics about things that are not so good.

  • 18 Cheap Cars to Build Fast (Part 2)

    This is part 2 of 18 Cheap Cars to Build Fast, click here to read part 1: 18 Cheap Cars to Build Fast.

    6. Mazda MX-5 Miata

    Mazda MX-5 Miata
    The latest Mazda MX-5 Miata costs nearly $25,000 but you can get 5-year-old MX-5 Miata for less than $10,000 or a 10 year-old MX-5 Miata for less than $5,000. Many Mazda fans purchase a used Miata and rebuild them to a real fast car. The original engine under the hood of a 2011 Mazda Miata has at least 167 hp and 140 pound-feet or torque. It has a lot of potential thus many people tune the engine up to 200 hp.

    7. Mazda RX-8 (2003-2012)

    Mazda RX 8
    The heart of the Mazda RX-8 is a 1.3-liter rotary engine rating 212 to 232 hp. The cheapest price you can get in the market is approximately $4,000 to $5,000. Thanks to its perfectly balanced weight distribution, the Mazda RX-8 is one of the best handling cars ever made. There won’t be any regret if you are looking for cheap cars to build fast because the original RX-8 is already fast enough.

    8. BMW M3 (E46)

    BMW M3
    The new BMW M3 requires deep pocket to own one. However, you can get an earlier model below $15,000 such as the E46 (2000 – 2006), E36 (1992-1999) or E30 (1985-1992). The E46 uses BMW’s 3.2 L S54 M-tuned engine pumping 338 hp @ 7900 rpm. You can still modify for more powers if you think it is not fast enough. With limited budget, you can get a good M3 E36 at $6000-$7000.

    9. Subaru Impreza WRX

    Subaru Impreza WRX
    The Subaru Impreza will impress you with its power. The WRX debuted in 1992 with a 240 hp engine. A 240-horsepower car in early 90s is considered powerful and fun enough even in 2016. The 1997 model added with forged pistons and the power was increased to 280 PS. Second generation of Subaru Impreza (2000-2007) has a few powertrain variants, rating from 261 hp to 280 hp. There are various type of Subaru engines available for the Impreza WRX therefore it is one of the great cars to build fast at low price. The engine sound of the Subaru Impreza WRX will impress you for sure.

    10. Mitsubishi 3000GT / Mitsubishi GTO / Dodge Stealth (1991-1999)

    Mitsubishi 3000GT
    The Mitsubishi GTO is the legend of Japan. It was one of the best cars ever built by Mitsubishi. This 2-door coupe sports car look fast and it is really fast. It is cheap to buy and you will have a lot of fun to own one. Under the hood, the top model features a DOHC 24-valve twin-turbo engine producing 396 horsepower at 6000 rpm. This is an impressive amount for a sports car built in the 90s.

    11. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

    Mitsubishi Evolution
    A 10 year-old Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution costs less than 10 grand. You will have a lot of fun to rebuild or modify this car because the original 2.0-liter 4G63T engine in an Evolution VII is pumping 276 horsepower. Get an Evolution III (1995-1996), Evolution IV (1996-1998), Evolution V (1998-1999) or Evolution VI (1999-2001). Any of these generations are very cheap to buy and build into a real fast car.

    Continue to read 18 Cheap Cars to Build Fast (Part 3)

  • Top 10 Strangest New Car Features

    One of the most exciting things about new car launching is when the anchorperson announces all the new features a new car has. Often, we will hear some interesting yet practical new car features, which attract you to buy the car. However, we will also hear some weird car features that are way ahead of our time. In other words, these car features are not really practical to be used. Read through the top 10 strangest new car features here and you may notice that your car is actually having one of these weird features.

    Top 10 Weirdest New Car Features

    These are some of the strangest features offered by car makers to tempt their customers. You can say these features are cool, weird, strange, or bizarre.

    1. Openometer in a Mini Cooper Convertible

    Openometer Mini Cooper convertible
    The newest Mini Cooper convertible has something that other convertibles don’t have, the “Openometer”. Openometer is a gauge that records the time spent driving with the top down. This features has been around since the 2010 models. Openometer, we leave the rest for you to comment.

    2. Bear-Proof Sunroof in a Nissan Qashqai

    Nissan Qashqai Bear-Proof Sunroof
    The newest Nissan Qashqai features a bear-proof sunroof. The brochure reads: Sun roof can withstand the weight of a bear without breaking. What if the area you are living has no bear?

    3. Refrigerator in a Hyundai Equus Ultimate

    Hyundai Equus Refrigerator
    When you buy a 2013 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, you get a standard refrigerator fitted to the center console of the rear seat. You can put beer or can drinks into the fridge before you begin your journey. A mini-fridge? Yes.

    4. Dog Friendly Package in a Honda Element

    Honda Element dog friendly package
    In 2010, Honda offers every Honda Element buyer the Dog Friendly package. Obviously, this feature is to target Honda fans who love dogs. Dog friendly package costs $995 and the package comes with a custom-fitted, soft-sided crate with a built-in, spill-resistant water bowl. It also has an electric cooling fan mounted in the cargo bay and a portable lamp to give your pets access to the crate.

    5. Active Perfuming System in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Active Perfuming system Mercedes-benz
    The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers their consumers a “Active Perfuming System”. This feature costs $350 as an option. You can turn it on or off or control the intensity (low, medium, or high). There are four types of fragrances to give your car a brand new smell: Freeside Mood (light citrus), Nightlife Mood, Downtown Mood, and Sports Mood. The question is, would you want to spend $350 to buy cologne for your car?

    6. Picnic Table in a Honda CR-V

    Honda CRV picnic table
    For those who used to purchased a brand new Honda CR-V in 2001, you should be able to remember that a picnic table is part of the car. This is a Honda picnic table, it is designed to be attached to the floor in the cargo of the car. See also: Honda CRV problems.

    7. Gentlemen Functions in a BMW 750i

    Gentlemen functions
    Gentlement functions is a feature that allow BMW 750i driver to increase the leg room for rear passengers. When you select the function from the screen, the front seat will move forward to allow more leg room for the passenger behind. The feature is not weird, but hey, Gentlement Functions?

    8. 400 mph Top Speed Key in a Bugatti Veyron

    top speed key
    You will never know there is a “Top Speed Key” if you don’t own a Bugatti Veyron. It is the fastest super exotic sports cars that is capable to reach a top speed of 400mph. However, you need the “Top Speed Key” to unlock the car to its fullest power otherwise the top speed will be remained at 250 mph. This key will lowers the suspension of the car as well as open the rear spoiler for better aerodynamic.

    9. Glowing Speakers Lights in a Kia Soul

    Kia Soul LED speakers weird features
    Start your Kia Soul and play some songs. You will see the lights surrounding the speakers pulse and glow according to the beat of the music. Without doubt, it is fun for certain people but it is weird for some too. Do you really need that flashy lights? OMG!

    10. Adjustable Dashboard Lighting in a Ford Mustang

    Ford mustang dashboard lights
    Ford Mustang is one of the coolest muscle cars of all time. However, it becomes not cool if the gauge cluster can be tuned to different colors. Do you really need a red light gauge to make your car go faster? Last but not least, don’t forget to check out the weirdest old car features.

  • Super Exotic Sports Cars

    Let’s talk about super exotic sports cars. What kind of cars are qualified to be called super exotic sports cars? A 1986 Toyota AE86? Definitely not. Exotic cars are the top performance car model manufactured by car maker to show the world their capabilities. These cars are usually come with exotic appearance and high performance engine under the hood. Exotic appearance means they will catch people’s eye no matter where you park the car. Still need a dictionary? Check out the top 10 exotic sports cars of all time then.

    Top 10 Super Exotic Sports Cars

    The list here consists of a few 2016 and 2015 exotic cars as well as earlier models.

    Ferrari LaFerrari

    Ferrari LaFerrari
    The production for the Ferrarri LaFerrari is only limited to 499 units. This car features the most powerful naturally aspirated (N/A) engine from Ferrari, a 6.2-liter V12 paired with an electric motor that produces a total of 949 horsepower. So far, LaFerrari is the ultimate Ferrari.

    Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

    Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
    The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is carrying “World’s Fastest Production Cars” title with a top speed of 257 miles per hour (413 kilometers per hour). With a 8.0-liter W16 engine under the hood, it is capable to pump 1,001 hp and 922 pound-feet of torque, making it the “World’s Most Powerful Production Car” too.

    Lamborghini LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster

    Lamborghini LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster
    The Lamborghini LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster was launched in 2015 with a starting price of $530,000. LP stands for Longitudinal Posteriore. Under the hood, it features an enormous 6.5-liter V12 engine produces 750 CV and 690 Nm of torque. The top speed of this super exotic sports car is 217 mph (350 km/h) and it takes only 2.9 seconds from 0-62 mph. See also exotic car wallpaper.

    Koenigsegg Agera R

    Koenigsegg Agera R
    With the price tag of $1,500,000, you can buy the Koenigsegg Agera R. Under the hood, it features a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that pumps 1140 hp and 885 ft-lbs of torque. From 0 to 62 mph, it takes only 2.8 seconds. For the top speed, it is capable to accelerate all the way up to 273 mph.

    McLaren 650S Coupe

    McLaren 650S Coupe
    The McLaren 650S Coupe is not a supercar that you can often see on the road due to the number of production and the base price tag of $265,000. However, this car can be seen as a bedroom poster because of its distinct shape. It has a 207-mph top speed and it accelerates from 0-60mph in just 2.8 seconds.

    Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition

    Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition
    The production of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG last from 2010 to 2015. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz released the SLS AMG GT Final Edition. They are limited to only 350 units with exposed carbon fiber hood. One of the most unique things you can find on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is the iconic Gullwing doors.

    BMW i8

    BMW i8
    The design of 2015 BMW i8 is definitely way ahead of its time. However, the futuristic look doesn’t disappointing BMW fans with its miserly fuel economy. Although it is a plug-in hybrid, the BMW i8 has 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque under the car hood.

    Audi R8 V10

    Audi R8 V10
    The 2015 Audi R8 V10 is one of the best looking super exotic sports cars. It is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 mounted behind the passenger compartment that sends 525 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. Unlike many other cars, the Audi R8 always look good even many years past the original debut in 2008.

    Lamborghini Veneno

    Lamborghini Veneno
    The Lamborghini Veneno is a 6.5-liter V12-powered, 750-horsepower super exotic sports car. The look is extraordinary and you will earn a big “WOW” whenever you drive this car out. The price to pay for this supercar is $4,000,000 dollars.

    Pagani Huayra

    Pagani Huayra
    It costs $1,314,000 to own a 720-horsepower, 1,000 Nm of torque, 6.0-liter V12-powered Pagani Huayra. The shape of this car is special, the look of the car is unique, and the performance of this car is without doubt super fast. The Pagani Huayra takes only 3.2 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph. It also has a top speed of 230 mph (370 km/h).

    Each year, people are excited about every upcoming exotic car launch. This is because the launching of super exotic sports cars are like no others. Exotic car fans would like to know how much horsepower the latest Lamborghini will be carrying under the car hood. They also want to know how the newest Ferrari looks like. Will it be futuristic? Will it look better than the previous model? It is really exciting before any exotic car was debut. Flash lights, cameras, reporters, and of course, car show girls. Please leave a comment if you don’t see your favorite exotic cars are not in the list.

  • Best Used Cars under $10,000

    Looking to buy an inexpensive yet reliable used car? Check out the top 10 best used cars under $10,000 dollars here. These cars are chosen among hundreds of different types of cars available in the U.S, UK and Australia. They are cheap to drive in terms of low running costs such as cheap spare parts, low yearly insurance costs and road tax. Of course, most of these cars come with good gas mileage (miles per gallon) and good safety rating too. Before you begin, you might want to go through our Car Buying Guide.

    Toyota Camry (6 Years Old or Older)Toyota Camry used cars

    A brand new Toyota Camry costs MSRP from $22,970. However, you can get a 6-7 year old Toyota Camry under $10,000 in the market. The name “Camry” is as popular a household car name as you will find. Six or seven years old Camry, it is highly recommended if you are looking for a five-passenger sedan with budget under $10,000. It is good for short or long distance drive.

    Honda Civic (5 Years Old or Older)

    Honda Civic used cars
    Thanks to its superb fuel economy (44/47 mpg) and appealing performance, the Honda Civic has been one of the most popular compact cars sold in the America since 1973. Price wise, a new Civic is under $20,000 but a 5-year old Honda Civic is exactly below 10 grand. Inside, the dashboard is made with high quality material and it definitely looks new even it is a used car. See also: 2012 Honda Civic.

    Nissan Versa (2 Years Old or Older)

    Nissan Versa used cars
    The Nissan Versa is one of the best choices for those who want a close-to-new car. A brand new Nissan Versa Sedan costs around $12,000, thus, you can get a 2-year old Nissan Versa for under $10,000. The Versa is available in sedan and hatchback and both body styles come with first-rate fuel economy, comfortable interior, high resale value, affordable, low running costs, cheap car insurance and more. With all these good ratings, the Nissan Versa is one of the best used cars under $10,000 dollars for anyone.

    BMW 3 Series (8 Years Old and Older)

    BMW 3 Series used cars
    The BMW 3 Series offers a large amount of interior space and great fuel efficiency. It is broken down into 320i, 328i, 328d, 335i and ActiveHybrid 3 models. A brand new BMW 3 Series Sedan costs more than $30,000 but you can get a 8-year old BMW 3 Series just under $10,000. Well, the only drawback with the BMW 3 Series is the short-lived outlook.

    Ford F-150 (6 Years Old or Older)

    used Ford F150
    Regardless of Ford F-150 Regular Cab, SuperCab or SuperCrew, a 6-7 year old Ford F-150 costs under $10,000. Thanks to its reliability and powerful engine, millions of F-150s have been sold in the United States and worldwide. Without doubt, it is one of the best used cars under $10,000 for those who are hunting for a superb all-around truck or pickup truck. See also: Ford F150 Repair Manual.

    Ford Mustang (6 Years Old or Older)

    Ford Mustang used cars
    With a 3.7-liter V6 engine under the hood, the Ford Mustang is probably the fastest cars under $10,000 dollars budget. This is a great option for those who want a fast car with limited budget. The only draw back is the gas mileage is not as good as the other cars in this list because that’s the price to pay for a 300 horsepower car with 270 pound-feet of torque.

    Chevrolet Colorado (5 Years Old or Older)

    Chevrolet Colorado
    With the same budget, you can also consider a 5-year old Chevrolet Colorado. You can consider Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab, Regular Cab or the Crew Cab. This American-made compact truck comes with a reasonable amount of hauling capability. It could be a value buy for those who need a truck for basic work. Three words – cheap, big, and good.

    MINI Cooper (5 Years Old and Older)

    Mini Cooper
    The Mini has a long story to tell but you only need to know the changes within the past 5 years because that’s between the buying budgets. With $10,000 or less, you can get the second generation Mini which is R56. The Mini Cooper R56 is available as a two-door hatchback car but it seat four people. With 29/40 mpg, the Mini Hardtop is ranked no 8 in the best gas mileage car list. What you buy is not just comfort and amazing fuel economy but also a superb handling that couldn’t find it in other cars.

    Toyota Corolla (5 Years Old or Older)

    Toyota Corolla best used cars
    We have seen the Toyota Corolla in the U.S. since 1968. With almost half a century in the business, the Toyota Corolla is one of the most wanted cars regardless or new or used cars. Consumers on a budget definitely love the Corolla because it is inexpensive, reliable and fuel efficient. A five-year old Toyota Corolla Sedan is just right below ten thousand dollars. Also, the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in automotive history and therefore it is chosen as one of the best used cars under $10,000 dollars.

    Mazda 3 (4 Years Old or Older)

    Mazda 3 used cars
    For $10,000 you can get a close-to-new Mazda 3 compared to other cars in this list. A 4-year old or older Mazda 3 Sedan or Hatchback can be purchased under $10,000. No doubt the Mazda 3 is a small car but you will love the sharp handling. It is an affordable and practical car for teens or for those who just need a car for short distance use.

    You might be able to find your next car in the top 10 best used cars under $10,000 list above. Read these tips if you are buying a used car because there are too many things to learn especially if this is your first time buying a car. Also, read the best cars for teenager if you want something else. Instead, if you have a question about buying your next car, share your comment here.

  • Top 10 Best Selling Cars in China 2014-2015

    This is the list of top 10 best selling cars in China from 2014 to 2015. The ranking is based on search index provided by China’s leading search engine, Baidu. Therefore, the list of best selling cars in China is 99.99% accurate as Baidu is used by millions of Chinese car buyers almost every day. Among the top 10 highest searched car brands, we don’t see any Chinese car brands although there are about 48 Chinese car makers in today’s China. Also, we don’t see any British car manufacturers in the list too. So, what’s in the list? Are there any car brands Americans love? Yes, there are some and let’s take a look at the list here.

    Best Selling Cars in China

    best selling cars in China

    1. Volkswagen

    If you happen to travel to China, especially big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, you can see Volkswagen almost everywhere. Volkswagen is known as ??, pronounce as Da 4 Zhong 4 in Chinese, which literally means “Public”. No surprise! It is really used by public.

    2. Kia

    Kia is ranked number 2 for 2015 with 722,902 searches. It is the earliest known Korean car brand founded in 2000. Thanks to the fuel saving technology on all Kia cars, this brand is growing very fast over the years.

    3. Toyota

    It is Toyota, still need further explanation?

    4. Audi

    With 538,359 searches, the Audi comes in number four. For sedan, the Audi A4L, A6L, A3, and A8 are most popular. For SUV, the Audi Q5, Q3 and Q7 are popular in China. As for Audi sports cars, the Audi R8, Audi TT and TTS top the list.

    5. Ford

    One of the longest American car brands Ford comes in number 5 with 528,338 searches. Ford Motor Company is one of the biggest car makers in the world and it is not surprise to see the people in China love Ford.

    6. BMW

    The German car maker BMW has 507,004 searches in first and second quarter in 2015. BMW fans in China mostly buy BMW 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series for sedan cars. BMW X1, X5, X3 and X6 are made for SUV lovers. As for sports cars lovers, the BMW i8, BMW Z4 and BMW 1 Series are quite popular in China.

    7. Peugeot

    Peugeot is the only French automaker appears in the list of top 10 best selling cars in China. Peugeot logo is a standing lion and it was founded in 1858 as a bicycle manufacturer. Peugeot 408, 508, 308S, 2008, 3008, 4008 and the RCZ are a few most wanted Peugeot cars in China. See also: List of car brands.

    8. Honda

    Honda is one of the longest car brands in Japan and it is not surprise to see many of them on the road in China. Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda XR-V, Honda HR-V and Honda Civic Type R are those common Honda cars you can see in China. The Honda Civic Type R is loved by younger generation who would bring the car to racing track.

    9. Hyundai

    Other than Kia, Hyundai is another Korean car maker that enters the China market. The Hyundai ix25 and ix35 are two very popular SUV in China.

    10. Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes-Benz, the pioneer in automobile history has 417,338 searches in Baidu. There are A to Z of Mercedes-Benz models available in China and people definitely love it due to the safety features. Mecedes-Benz A class, Mecedes-Benz C class, E class, GLA class, GL class, M class, R class and the special Mercedes-Benz SLS, you name it.

    1. Chevrolet
    2. Buick
    3. Changan
    4. ChangCheng (Great Wall Motors)
    5. Nissan
    6. Mazda
    7. BYD
    8. Porsche
    9. Chery
    10. Land Rover

    Buying a car? No experience? Don’t know what car to buy? Check out our Complete Car Buying Guide for free.