The Battle Rages On Between Porsche And Ferrari

By:Gregg Hall


The two European automakers, Porsche of Germany and Ferrari of Italy, have a lot of similarities even though the two compete with each other head to head for a niche market of the automotive industry. Both companies have a patriarchal founder, companies honed their skills in racing, are over five decades old, and both have a commitment to the integrity of their styling. If you question whether the two are the dominant force in performance autos just take a street survey and you will find that even a novice who knows nothing about cars knows these names.

For the purposes of this comparison we have chosen to feature the iconoclastic 911 Carrera from Porsche and the gorgeous Ferrari F430 because the two are representative of their respective company’s long standing tradition of marrying style and performance while offering some practicality but in the end are true sports cars though and through.

Both of these cars have the basic requirements of the modern sports car which are the ability to be started easily, handles well in town, takes winding country roads well and has race car performance coupled with safety.

When comparing standing start times the Ferrari is a slight bit faster edging out the Porsche by .8 seconds with a four second time in the zero to 100km/h test which is needless to say lightning fast. With speeds like these it is also imperative that the two speedsters be able to stop equally efficiently and the two do so offering optional cutting edge ceramic braking systems.

Porsche definitely wins in the fuel economy comparison getting nearly twice the mileage that the F430 gets. Both cars transfer the power of their engines through state of the art six speed transmissions.

The interiors of both vehicles offer a great deal of comfort that belies the small space and doesn’t leave the driver feeling cramped or closed in. The overall appearance in style goes to the Porsche hands down though as masters of high quality finish work.

When having to decide between the two, assuming you have the money to do so, the biggest difference is appearance with the Ferrari having the head turning looks but overall we have to give the fight to Porsche as the more well rounded of the two and the one that is less costly to maintain. It was fun to compare them however and maybe you should make a comparison of your own.

The two European automakers, Porsche of Germany and Ferrari of Italy, have a lot of similarities even though the two compete with each other head to head for a niche market of the automotive industry. Both companies have a patriarchal founder, companies honed their skills in racing, are over five decades old, and both have a commitment to the integrity of their styling. If you question whether the two are the dominant force in performance autos just take a street survey and you will find that even a novice who knows nothing about cars knows these names.

For the purposes of this comparison we have chosen to feature the iconoclastic 911 Carrera from Porsche and the gorgeous Ferrari F430 because the two are representative of their respective company’s long standing tradition of marrying style and performance while offering some practicality but in the end are true sports cars though and through.

Both of these cars have the basic requirements of the modern sports car which are the ability to be started easily, handles well in town, takes winding country roads well and has race car performance coupled with safety.

When comparing standing start times the Ferrari is a slight bit faster edging out the Porsche by .8 seconds with a four second time in the zero to 100km/h test which is needless to say lightning fast. With speeds like these it is also imperative that the two speedsters be able to stop equally efficiently and the two do so offering optional cutting edge ceramic braking systems.

Porsche definitely wins in the fuel economy comparison getting nearly twice the mileage that the F430 gets. Both cars transfer the power of their engines through state of the art six speed transmissions.

The interiors of both vehicles offer a great deal of comfort that belies the small space and doesn’t leave the driver feeling cramped or closed in. The overall appearance in style goes to the Porsche hands down though as masters of high quality finish work.

When having to decide between the two, assuming you have the money to do so, the biggest difference is appearance with the Ferrari having the head turning looks but overall we have to give the fight to Porsche as the more well rounded of the two and the one that is less costly to maintain. It was fun to compare them however and maybe you should make a comparison of your own.

Article Source: http://www.redsofts.com/articles/

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Get information on car care products for your car at http://www.waxyourauto.com

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Posted by mbuhlah, Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:06 AM | 0 comments |

Jeep Dealership Houston, Texas - The Best of its Kind

One of the main sources of information if you are looking for jeep dealership Houston, Texas is the Internet. If you key into the search engine you would find a number of options available. Some sites accumulate all the data (across all over the United States) and store it into a large database for user convenience.

This process is highly beneficial for both the buyer and the seller. It is not possible for the buyer to know each and every seller in the locality. Internet search makes the whole process of localized searching as easy as a pie with just a mouse click. One can simply put in the area, type the name of the jeep manufacturing company, select the model and input the zip code of Houston, Texas. Within few seconds the result will list all the names of jeep dealers Houston will be reflected on your screen. You will also view the options to find out about 'Used Auto Dealerships' in Houston Texas if you are looking for a second hand car. Search engines access the right database to facilitate the user experience.

Buyers are provided with ample information about the sources that are accessible to them. In addition, they can view the details of the car and its price. The buyer can even check the price list of various dealers and decide on his selected vehicle. Conversely, sellers too get similar facilities. Due to high competitive nature of the jeep dealership Houston, Texas market the prices are kept at a minimal.

Online the buyer can get hassle free discounted quotes on his selected jeeps. And if you are worried about hidden costs you can make full inquiries about the jeep before purchase. Moreover, visiting any site and inquiring does not put you under any obligation to buy.

If you are inquiring about Jeep, then you can get an unlimited number of quotes from a Houston Dealer. For quick information buyers can also get 'Quick Quotes' and 'Nada Guides'.

Help on finance is also available if you are looking for car loans. Information on Gap Insurance, how to pre-qualify for the car loan, car loan payment rate calculator and privacy statement - all can be obtained through the jeep dealership Houston, Texas websites.

Not only new and used Jeeps, spare parts for the old jeep can also be acquired by filling out a simple form. The form has some easy to comprehend data fields. Under the 'vehicle information' - year, miles, make, VIN and model number should be provided. Under 'parts information' - 'part number' and 'part description' are to be supplied. Under the 'additional information' - 'part needed by', 'customer account number', 'payment method' and 'business name' are to be provided.

Norman Hendricks, the author has been a Jeep dealer for the past 15 years. For more information on Jeep Dealership Houston Texas and Used Auto Dealerships in Houston Texas, the author recommends you to visit http://www.archersouthwest.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norman_Hendricks

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Posted by mbuhlah, Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:09 AM | 2 comments |

The Actual Federal Regulations Governing Dealership F&I Operations

Sometimes I get requests for the ACTUAL Federal Regulation title and part numbers so that Dealers can look them up for themselves. (like they don't believe me or something.) Like a lot of legalese, this reading can be somewhat "less than riveting" but here they are. Do not read while driving, enjoy.

Bookmark these resources if you choose:

The Federal Reserve Board announces regulatory revisions, proposed changes, and other rulemaking activities in press releases.

The FRB also provides links to the full text of the regulations, but the boards postings are only updated annually, on Jan 1. For the more up-to-date regulation text, visit the "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations" which is updated DAILY.

Now for what you've been EAGERLY waiting for: To search for a regulation, you need to know it's title and part number in the course text, the title and part are identified in the subhead of the regulation. For example, Federal Regulation Z is Title 16, Part 226 - referenced as "16 CFR 226."On the e-cfr index page, you'll select the title number in a pull-down menu and then follow the links until you reach the desired regulation.

Most of the Regulations that directly impact Automotive F&I fall under Title 12, Banks and Banking, and Title 16, Commercial Practices.

Keep the following list of regulations and their title and part designations handy for quick reference:

Title 12 Banks and Banking

Regulation B - 12 CFR 202 Equal Credit Opportunity Act

Regulation M - 12 CFR 213 Consumer Leasing Act

Regulation Z - 12 CFR 226 Truith in Lending Act

Title 16 Commercial Practices

Privacy Rule - (Privacy of Consumer Financial Information) 16 CFR 313 (G-L-B Act)

Safeguards Rule - (Safeguarding Customer Information) 16 CFR 314 (G-L-B Act)

Holder-in-Due-Course Rule - 16 CFR 433

Credit Practices Rule - 16 CFR 601-629

Try to memorize these if possible. Practical application will help bullet proof your Dealership.

by: Robert Linkonis

The Automotive Laws and Regulations site can be found at: http://www.AutoFinanceInsider.blogspot.com

The automotive F&I manager information website is http://www.AutoFinanceInsider.com

Auto Industry News - With a twist: http://www.AutoIndustryNews.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Linkonis

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Posted by mbuhlah, 4:05 AM | 0 comments |

Need of Vehicle Shipping Services

Moving vehicles successfully from one place to another requires reliable auto transport companies. More number of shipping companies is available in the international market to offer the service fruitfully and successfully. When the vehicles moved from one destination to another destination, it involves lots of procedures which should be necessarily compiled by the shipper who transit the autos. Today, every single person becomes busier and they required the service one way or the other.

People can obtain the service in required styles to meet their requirements. Open or Enclosed vehicle shipping is provided to the customers around the world for reasonable prices which are affordable by them. Movers carry the vehicles more safely and precautionary, so that complains from the public regarding damages or losses can be avoided. Generally, every auto transport company will come up with insurance coverage to indemnify the losses or damages caused at the time of moving the goods from one place to another. All types of transit services are provided to the customers internationally, so people of all ranges can be getting satisfied.

An open moving is similar to enclosed moving, but the small difference is that in open moving the cars will be carried in open way. While in enclosed method, the motors will be totally enclosed. The prices differ accordingly as per open and enclosed carrying. Most of the carrying companies will comes up with huge benefits to the customers, so that people will give first priority to their services. Some of the kinds of benefits offered are door-to-door delivery with pickup and drop, avoiding delay in delivery, superb mode of payment and flexible price schedules and more over excellent customer services. This type of carriers will be more securable for the cars and they protect your car against exposure during the time of transit.

Some of the cars like exotic, classic, race, sports and other types are considered to be more valuable which requires full protection and security. Well trained, experienced and people possessing more knowledge in the field are available, so that best possible service can be offered to the customers. Selecting the appropriate shipper who meets the requirements of the clients internationally and offering the service without any default is said to be the best car transporter. People can choose the best from the list of auto transport company and make their transaction more successful.

Shijina is an expert SEO copywriter for Auto transport. She written many articles like Car transport, auto shipping, car transport For more information visit our site Auto shipping. Contact me at shijinaseo@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shiji_Shijina

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Posted by mbuhlah, 4:03 AM | 0 comments |

Increase Dealership Profitability - How 11 Repair Orders Equals One Car Sale

What if I told you that the gross profit generated by 11 repair orders equals the same amount of gross you make on the average car sale? Dealers tell us that they average about $1,600 in gross per car sold - not counting F&I income which varies all over the board. They also tell us that on customer pay repairs they average about two hours per repair order (RO) at $75 effective labor rate and 75 percent gross profit. They also average about 70 percent parts to labor ratio and maintain about 45 percent gross for parts sold on ROs.

With those numbers in mind, think about this: Each repair order will deliver about $112 in labor gross and $47 in parts gross - for a total of $159 in gross profit per RO. Just 11 repair orders generate more gross profit than the average car sale. Wow! I bet you never thought of it like that.

Wait, there's more. Most advisors write up about 20 repair orders each day. We're told that most vehicle sales people get see about three shoppers per day. Do the math - advisors visit with 5-7 times more customers each day than your vehicle salespeople do.

Now, most dealers have vehicle sales meetings at least weekly, some have them daily. They focus on phone skills and closing techniques. They role play, have walk-arounds and post each unit sold by each salesperson on a huge tracking board. They reward top vehicle salespeople with trips, bonuses and incentives, and all that stuff works. My question is, why don't dealers do the same for their service "salespeople?"

When was the last time you had a 'service sales meeting?' When was the last time you trained advisors on how to answer the phone to get more customers in or how to sell tires? When was the last time you actually practiced or role-played selling a 30,000-mile tune-up or worked with them on negotiating or overcoming objections? Never is too long ago.

Get out there is my message. Get excited about your service business and your service sales team. Start by hiring the right people - people that like to sell. Train them, motivate them, pay them and treat them like salespeople. Make sure they understand how important it is to be honest and that they have to sell, but retain customers for life. Give them the tools they need. Empower them with the ability to work deals, give loaners and get in the tire business in a big way. Make sure they know what you expect and that each car gets a multi-point inspection report, and each customer on the phone needs to be invited in. They need to do whatever it takes to put deals together. They need a never-say-no attitude. Reward top performers and hold them accountable. Treat your service associates more like salespeople and they will perform more like salespeople.

Randy R. Johnson
Randy is the founder and President of Car People Marketing, Inc., which provides customer loyalty and direct mail marketing solutions to increase the revenue and profitability of dealership service departments. He is a former owner of an independent repair shop, and was a fixed-ops director of 17 stores in Florida.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_R._Johnson

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Posted by mbuhlah, 3:58 AM | 0 comments |

Which Ferrari Is Right For You?


If you are considering a Ferrari car as an investment, you have made a choice of valuing a Ferrari so that they will not only increase your net worth, but you'll have fun enjoying these stunning vehicles in the process. There are several different models of new and pre-owned Ferrari sports cars from which you can choose your favorite to build your portfolio and increase your friend's envy.

Italian Enzo Ferrari started out by building race cars, but included road cars in 1947. Many of the body styles came from Pininfarina, an Italian car design company. The street cars come in V6, V8, and V12 models. Body styles are referred to by letters. M refers to models that are modified from the original version, while GTB is the reference for coupes. GTS stands for older-model convertibles or targa top models. Modern convertibles use the designation of Spider. Some Ferraris are called Daytona or GTO, but these are not officially sanctioned names. The Dino models got their name from Enzo Ferrari's son, Dino.

The Ferrari road cars come in several different types. Sports cars are designed for their excellent handling, speed and good looks. GT cars are called grand tourer vehicles, and are usually of the coupe body style, and are a bit bigger than a sports car. The 2+2 style indicates that there are two seats in the front of the vehicle and two seats for passengers in the rear. The America-type Ferraris are grand touring cars that feature the big V12 engines. FR designed vehicles stands for front-engine, rear wheel drive. You might also hear of the RMR type of Ferrari, which is the rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The name Supercar refers to their top of the line sports car.

A two-seat GT that Ferrari built was the 250 GT Coupe Pininfarina. The Ferrari Pininfarina was named the 250 GT Boano, which was a coupe. The Ferrari 250 GT California is a beautiful car that was featured in the hit movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is informally called the Ferrari Daytona, in reference to the 24 Hours of Daytona car race, which the Ferrari team won in 1967. For lovers of speedy cars, the Daytona could reach zero to sixty miles per hour in a minuscule 5.4 seconds. A 365 GTB/4 was driven from New York to Los Angeles in just under 36 hours in a race in 1971.

The Ferrari 250 GTO is considered to be one of the finest sports cars ever built. Their value has skyrocketed, and if one happens to become available its cost would be in the millions. Ferraris such as these make an excellent investment.

Jonathon Blocker is a Ferrari aficionado. Jonathon has driven a variety of Ferraris, and has developed an expertise on the collectible Ferrari.

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Posted by mbuhlah, Saturday, March 15, 2008 7:36 AM | 0 comments |

Ferrari Driving Schools


If you are a Ferrari car owner, you know the pleasure that is yours when you slip behind the wheel of this fabulous driving machine. Did you know that you could enhance your enjoyment of these vehicles even more by participating in a Ferrari driving school? This is a fun way to get to understand how your Ferrari works, and what it is capable of on a racetrack.

The Ferrari North America School is located in Mont-Tremblant, northwest of Montreal. The driving takes place on a race track a little over two and a half miles long. Instructors make clear that this is not a school to train racers. This Ferrari Driving Experience school will give you the skills you need to get more out of driving your Ferrari.

The instructors have put in many championship wins on race tracks around the world. They are experienced in sharing their skills in a step-by-step manner; with early instruction providing vital tools upon which more advanced techniques will be built.

The Ferrari Driving Experience lasts for two and a half days, and begins with a champagne reception and dinner the evening before classes begin. Time is spent in both the classroom and on the track, although most of the time is spent behind the wheel. Classes cover such topics as vehicle dynamics and driving line. Track time includes introducing skills like how to handle the car in wet and dry conditions, including controlled skids, braking, and acceleration, and building on lapping techniques, beginning with sectional, and moving up to short track and eventually full track circuits.

Students may not drive their own Ferraris, for insurance reasons, but instead are provided with twelve new Ferrari F430 ‘s for their use during the Experience. The fee for sumptuous room, board and instruction is $8,200 in US dollars. There is a waiting list for these special instructional events, so register early if possible.

If you would like to receive all of the superior instruction of the Experience but be able to participate in your own Ferrari, then you might enjoy Ferrari Driving Clinics. Priced at $1350 US, these clinics are held on Ferrari Challenge race weekends, and you get to drive your car on the track, under the helpful eye of your instructor. There are two skill groups, the Sport group for intermediate to advanced drivers and the Touring group for beginner to intermediate enthusiasts. You will also get to participate in infield driving drills to help you hone your ability in several areas, including braking and autocross. You will learn driving techniques to make your Ferrari car driving experience more satisfying. For everyone's safety, Ferrari requires each participating vehicle to receive a technical inspection from an authorized Ferrari dealer.

Jonthon Blocker is a Ferrari afficianado. Jonathon has driven a variety of Ferraris, and has developed an expertise on the marque.

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Posted by mbuhlah, 7:34 AM | 0 comments |

Ferrari Models Reviewed


Ferrari was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari and first produced cars in 1947. Today, the parent company for Ferrari is Fiat. The Ferraris engines are famous for their engine displacement technology. The V6 and the V8 are built in total displacement, while the V12 used a displacement of one cylinder. Some of the latest Ferrari models include the Ferrari 550, the 575 M Maranello, 599 GTB Fiorano, the 612 Scaglietti, the F355, the Ferrari 360, the F430, the Enzo Ferrari and the Ferrari FXX.

The 599 GTB Fiorano was started to be produced in 2007, and it is a Gran Turismo two seat berlinetta with a FR layout. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a follower of the Ferrari 456 and it is a 2+2 coupe Gran Turismo. It was first launched in 2004 and is still being manufactured. Another car also launched in 2004 is the Ferrari F430. It is a sports car and it is available as a two seat Berlinetta and as a two seat Spider. The F430 has a MR layout and can be purchased with a 6 manual or semi automatic speed.

The Enzo Ferrari is a super car/ ultra car manufactured between 2002 and 2004 and was launched in the memory of the founder of the Ferrari company. The Enzo was manufactured in only 400 copies so it was a highly expensive item. It had a Berlinetta body style and a MR layout. The follower model of the Enzo Ferrari was the FXX, which is also a super car. The FXX was released in 2005, and is said to be an improved Enzo Ferrari with the same MR layout and Berlinetta body style. The FXX keeps many of the Enzo’s features but has also new cool features that are singular to the FXX. The car is highly expensive and it may be driven on special tracks only. The last FXX, the 30th was given to Michael Schumacher. A similar super car is the Maserati MC12 Corsa.

Ferrari si also responsilble for some concept models, which include among others the Ferrari P5, the Ferrari Pininfarina 512S Berlinetta Speciale, the Pininfarina Modulo, the Ferrari Mythos, the Ferrari GG50, the Ferrari P4/5 and the Ferrari Zagato 575 GTZ.

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Posted by mbuhlah, 7:32 AM | 0 comments |

The History of Ferrari



When Enzo Ferrari created his company Scuderia Ferrari in Italy in 1929 his intentions was to sponsor amateur race car drivers and invent racing cars, and it would take more than 15 years before Ferrari began to create their own road cars in 1946. Ferrari is still devoted to the creation of racing cars and high performance sports cars and do not create other types of cars. Scuderia Ferrari is still the widespread name for Gestione Sportiva, the part of the Ferrari company that works with racing. Scuderia is an Italian word and means “stable”, but Scuderia Ferrari is sometime also translated as Team Ferrari.

During the early years, Scuderia Ferrari sponsored race car drivers that were driving Alfa Romeo cars. Scuderia Ferrari would prepare Alfa Romeo cars before the race, and in 1938 Enzo Ferrari became officially employed by Alfa Romeo's racing department. Two years later Enzo Ferrari found out that Alfa Romeo was planning to absorb Scuderia Ferrari, a plan which Enzo Ferrari strongly opposed. He instantly left his job at Alfa Romeo, but his contract restricted him from being involved with racing for several years. He changed Scuderia Ferrari into “Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari” and officially manufactured aircraft accessories for a few years. Enzo Ferrari did however create a race car during this restricted period. The Tipo 815 debuted at the Mille Miglia race in 1940, but the race was hampered due to World War II and Tipo 815 encountered no real competition. In 1943 Enzo Ferrari moved his factory to Maranello in Italy and one year later the factory was bombed. After the end of World War II, Enzo Ferrari rebuilt his factory and now the Ferrari factory was capable of construction road cars as well.

Ferrari constructed its first road car in 1947. The 1947 125 S Ferrari had a 1.5 L V12 engine and the whole car was considered very beautiful and well designed. Enzo Ferrari was still more interested in race cars and the Ferrari road cars was merely a way for him to fund his work with the Scuderia Ferrari. His distaste for the road car customers became famous and he even accused them of buying Ferrari cars only as status symbols. It is true that the Ferrari road cars grow to fame not only due to excellent performance but also thanks to their stylish elegance. Pininfarina, Bertone, Ghia, Scagliette, Touring and Vignale are all examples of design houses that have worked with Ferrari.

In November 1961 a dispute between Enzo Ferrari and his sales manager, Girolamo Gardini, turned into a crisis. Girolamo Gardini threatened to leave the company. Enzo Ferrari responded to the threat by throwing out Girolamo Gardini, and several employees who agreed with Girolamo Gardini were also ousted. Among them were Romolo Tavoni, manager for Scuderia Ferrari, Giotto Bizzarrini, the chief of the experimental sports car development, and Carlo Chiti, the chief engineer. This was naturally a huge loss for the Ferrari company and the crisis deepened when those who had been thrown out formed their own company – Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). ATS even managed to take over Scuderia Serenissima, a very successful racing team, from Ferrari.

A younger engineer, Mauro Forghieri, and an experienced racing bodyman, Sergio Scaglietti, assumed responsibility and tried to finish the projects that the leaving employees had left behind. One of the most important tasks was to finish the development of 250 GTO; a new 250-based model that could compete with the Jaguar E-type. The 250 GTO was finished in time to participate in the Sebring race and place itself first in class, driven by Phil Hill. Throughout 1962, the 250 GTO continued to win the races and it is still one of the most well known race cars in history. The crisis turned out to be something good for Ferrari and the 1960s became a very good decade for the company.

Until the 1980s when Ferrari began to use fuel injection in the road cars, the Ferraris were known as rather temperamental cars. They could be very unreliable, but would still attract a large group of dedicated fans that viewed this unpredictability as “character” rather than a problem. Today, FIAT controls 56 percent of the Ferrari stocks. The rest of stocks owned by Enzo's con Piero Ferrari and by Commerzbank, Mediobanca and the Lehman Brothers. Maranello is still the home town for Ferrari.

Another dream car for many is the Hummer. The History of the Hummer is much shorter than the history of Ferrari and GM is just releasing their third Hummer model, the Hummer 3. A new more family friendly Hummer that will be very customizable just like the other hummer models with the help of a Hummer accessory or two.

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Posted by mbuhlah, 7:30 AM | 0 comments |