by: Matthew C. Keegan

Japanese built and designed cars have flooded the North American market for over forty years now. Over time, many nameplates have come and gone, but Japanese cars continue to gain market share and acceptance with a growing number of motorists attracted to their high quality and durability. There are nine Japanese automobile manufacturing companies in existence. Can you name them? Let’s take a look at the list:

Toyota – The second largest automaker in the world is Toyota, maker of the Camry, the Corolla, and a host of SUVs, trucks, passenger cars, and a van. Toyota’s Lexus division produces luxury cars, while its Scion division manufactures youth oriented vehicles.

Honda – The Accord and the Civic are Honda’s two most well known models, followed by the Odyssey minivan, the Ridgeline truck, the Element, and several other passenger vehicles. Acura is the name given to Honda’s luxury car division.

Nissan – Drive a Datsun and then decide. Up until the early 1980s, Nissan’s North American nameplate was Datsun, but was switched to Nissan to give it a more global name. The Sentra, Maxima, and Pathfinder are amongst the division’s best selling vehicles. Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury car division. Renault Motors of France owns a controlling interest in Nissan.

Mitsubishi – Originally imported exclusively by Chrysler, Mitsubishi began to sell cars under its own name in the 1980s. Top selling models include the Lancer, the Eclipse, and the Montero. DaimlerChrysler owns a chunk of the company.

Mazda – The Tribute, Miata, and the “6” are some of the most well known Mazda models. The Mazda 6’s platform also powers several Ford Motor Company cars including the Mercury Milan. Ford owns an important stake in the company.

Subaru – Think all wheel drive and you may just think Subaru. The Forester, Outback, and Legacy are all top selling Subaru models. Fuji Heavy Industries [FHI] owns Subaru; General Motors has a 20 percent stake in FHI.

Suzuki – 20% owned by General Motors, Suzuki is as noted for producing cars as it is for manufacturing motorcycles. The Grand Vitara is one of its most noted models.

Isuzu – Did someone say General Motors? Again, GM owns a stake in Isuzu. At one time Isuzu imported cars to the US, but those days are over. Currently, Isuzu has a miniscule presence and the two vehicles they do sell – the Ascender SUV and I Series pick ups – are simply rebadged GMC vehicles.

Daihatsu – The Charade and Rocky were two models introduced by Daihatsu when the car company started selling vehicles in North America in 1988; four years later its North American operations were closed. In 1999, Toyota assumed controlling interest over the company.

So, there you have it: there are nine Japanese automakers, two of which are still independent. Much like the American market further consolidation is likely with nameplates disappearing entirely just like the Packard, Hudson, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and a host of other North American nameplates have driven off into the history books.

About The Author


Matthew C. Keegan

Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Auto Parts Warehouse where we sell discount Acura parts: [http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/acura~rep.html ]; Mazda parts: [http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/mazda~rep.html ]; and Toyota parts: [http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/toyota~rep.html ].



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Labels: auto care, car performance, cheap car, used car

by: Perry Gibson


Not every person who drives a luxury car is wealthy. The guy next door who drives a BMW or Mercedes may have received the car as a gift, inherited it, or won it in a bet or a raffle.

If you don't have any rich relatives likely to give or leave you a Jaguar, or if you don't fancy your luck in games of chance, there's one more option for you. Get a government-seized car on auction, and you'll be able to drive the car of your dreams without paying an arm and a leg for it.

What is a government-seized automobile?

When criminals are caught, the government seizes their property, including their automobiles. The government then auctions these automobiles off.

As you might imagine, a lot of criminals drive expensive or highly customized vehicles, and these are the kinds of vehicles that end up in government-seized automobile auctions.

How do I find a government-seized auto auction?

These auctions are held at frequent intervals in different parts of the country. There is likely to be one near you, but if you're willing to travel, that expands your range of options considerably.

You can look for auction listings in newspapers or online. If you decide to look online, you can either do your own search or use an online auction directory service (for a one-time fee). If you hire a directory service, make sure you get a money-back guarantee.

How can I participate in a government-seized auto auction?

When you've found an auction you want to participate in, get in touch with the auction administrators and ask about registration requirements. In most cases, registration is free, and a photo ID is all that's required.

How do I pay for my purchases at these auctions?

Most auctions accept cash, cashier's check, and credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Payment terms differ from auction to auction. Some auctions will require a deposit on the day of the auction and the balance the following day.

Other auctions require immediate full payment for all purchases. Auctions that allow deposits on the day of the auction might require immediate full payment for purchases worth less than a certain amount, say, $5,000. Before you go to the auction site, find out what modes of payment the auction allows.

Are these auctions for real?

It's possible to get good deals at these auctions, but you will have to do your homework. Don't go in there before you've armed yourself with information about the kind of car you want and the kind of prices such a car would fetch on the market.

The best deals at government-seized auto auctions are usually on older, well-maintained vehicles.

There are several downsides to acquiring vehicles at government-seized auto auctions. First, the selection changes all the time. You can't specify the kind of vehicle you want. You have to settle for what's available. And because of the constant changes in selection, you can't expect detailed information on descriptions and prices.

What information you do get is not necessarily reliable. It would be best to check out the vehicle yourself. If the auction is far from your place of residence, you will have to travel to the auction site at least a few days before the day of the auction to inspect the goods.

Second, you won't be able to test-drive the vehicles. You'll be able to look the vehicle over and ask questions, though. Vehicles aren't available for inspection on the day of the auction, but there are auction previews, usually a day or two in advance. This is another reason to travel to the auction site at least a few days beforehand.

Third, these auctions don't offer warranties. So be sure to get as much information as you can about the car you want. Ask the auction administrators for the car's Vehicle Information Number (VIN) and use it to get a CarFax report on the car.

The CarFax report will give you valuable information, including odometer readings and history of flood damage or accidents.

Finally, bidding can get extremely competitive, especially if the car you have your eye on is new, popular, or well-maintained. You may find yourself bidding against used-car dealers, many of whom search these auctions for bargains that they can resell in turn.

Furious bidding can push auction prices up, sometimes close to or even exceeding the actual value of the automobile. When this happens, there's little point in acquiring the automobile at an auction. You might as well buy it somewhere else.


About The Author
Perry Gibson is a long time auto auction attendee and also, co owner of http://usautoreview.com/ Here he helps shed some light on auto auctions


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Labels: car performance, cheap car, used car

by: Terry Bolton

It is a fact that in America most families own at least one car, and more often two. Deciding to buy cars online or offline is not something that can be done on impulse. It is instead something that needs to be looked into and researched. Even if you are just looking for part replacements or special offers on insurance, it can still pay to look around and examine the options. Due to the rise of the internet, it is now possible to find everything you need for your car, or cars, online. This includes advanced car care.

Many of the services that you used to only be able to buy from your local garage are now available online, and you can get specialists offering advanced auto services. If your car needs advanced auto repairs, or tinting, or you are looking for an advanced auto part, then the online community is the best place to look. There are many services being specifically advertised as 'advanced auto' services, and you will probably be able to find one within easy each. Trying to sort out all of your needs online can be convenient, especially if you do not have a lot of time to research your auto stores properly. If you have a technologically advanced auto, or one with improved bodywork, then the internet may be able to find you someone who deals with your car's specific requirements.

Sorting out the needs of your cars online and your advanced auto care can be the ideal way to find cheaper deals, or experts. You will be able to discuss your car needs before you arrive at the store, and so the provider should be able to have ordered all of the necessary parts and accessories, meaning less of a wait until your car is back on the road. Any good search engine will be able to provide you with the means to sourcing a good auto store online.

About The Author
Terry Bolton is an internet publisher. He runs the website http://www.cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com. Ian gives advice and helps people with automotive issues.

Labels: auto care

by: Terry Brown

Made available in three trim levels that ranges from the GL 2.0 Sedan to the GLS 1.9 TDI, the Volkswagen Golf is yet another vehicle that would provide its customers and patrons the chance to go over a list of choices that would suit not only their needs but their wants as well. This vehicle is actually a family sedan that holds four doors and has the capacity to take in a maximum of five passengers in its spacious cabin and interior.

Upon introduction, the GL 2.0 Sedan trim level comes with a standard 2.0 liter I4 engine that has the capacity to produce some 115 units of horsepower. This engine can actually achieve some 24 mpg for city driving and some 31 mpg if it is driving on the highway. Made standard for this trim level is a speed manual transmission system with overdrive. As per the GLS 1.9 TDI trim level, this comes equipped with the standard 1.9 liter I4 engine. It can make some 100 units of horsepower. And it is a turbo and diesel engine. This power source provides the trim level a chance to achieve some 37 mpg for city driving and 44 mpg for highway travails. Made standard for this vehicle is a five speed manual transmission system with overdrive, while a five speed automatic transmission system with overdrive has been given as an option.

Be not surprised if other people call this vehicle Volkswagen Rabbit, Volkswagen Caribe, Volkswagen Cabrio, or Volkswagen Cabriolet because these names still refer to the same vehicle. The Volkswagen Golf is actually related to the Volkswagen Jetta, Vento, and Bora as well as to the Audi A3 and the Audi TT. It also has been considered to be a competitor to the Mazda Mazda 3, the Ford Focus, the Hyundai Elantra, the Peugeot 307, the Kia Spectra5, the Toyota Matrix, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the Toyota Prius. Also, the Volkswagen Golf has been created to have a couple of color choices for its exterior. The colors included in the list includes Mojave Beige, Indigo Blue, Reflex Silver, Black, Candy White, and Blue Anthracite.

If you want to maintain the superior performance of the Volkswagen Golf or any Volkswagen vehicle for that matter, then Auto Parts Information is the store for that kind of need. http://www.innerauto.com is the leading supplier of Volkswagen discount priced Volkswagen parts and accessories that are made from the finest quality materials. For performance and aesthetic demands, Auto Parts Information offers a wide range of Volkswagen parts and accessories that includes a/c condensers, alternators, billet grilles, bumpers, carpets, corner lights, fenders, fuel tanks, wheels, and wheel covers among many others.


About The Author
Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.
Auto Parts Information http://www.innerauto.com/Volkswagen_Parts/
terry@innerauto.com