How Could a Car Insurance Comparison Save you Money?

The thought of buying car insurance can sometimes send shivers down your spine. This is even truer if you are a young driver who has not been driving for very long, or are someone who has had car accidents in the past. These are the people who find that any type of vehicle insurance can cost them more than their car is worth.
Instead of giving up your dreams to drive your car, you need to take a look at car insurance comparison websites to save yourself money. By checking out car insurance comparisons you could find that you end up paying a lot less than you have previously been quoted. However it is not just difficult-to-insure people who can benefit from car insurance comparison quotes, anyone who has to renew their car insurance could also save themselves a tidy sum of money each year.
If you are in Australia you will be looking for Australian car insurance comparison websites as these will give you the quotes that you need. These sites will compare quotes for Australian citizens and give you the best prices around. In addition to this, they will only search Australian insurance companies so you will not have to search through quotes that are not relevant to you.
When you are looking for a car insurance comparison site, make sure that you get one that will compare quotes from as many different insurers as possible. This way you will know that you are going to be getting the lowest quotes available to you at the time you perform your comparison search.
As soon as you have found a car insurance comparison site like this you need to determine the level of insurance that you are looking for. For instance do you want third party, comprehensive or third party fire and theft insurance? All of these types of insurance will cover you for different things, so check out the small print before you get your car insurance comparison quotes.
By using a car insurance comparison site you are letting someone else do the leg work for you. There is no phoning around endlessly giving out your details, and the comparison site will often obtain auto insurance quotes from companies you would not think to use. By doing this you could find that you knock hundreds of dollars off the cost of your insurance, even if you are classed as a 'high risk' to insure.

So to save yourself a whole lot of time and money use a car insurance comparison website and you will be glad you did. After spending an hour or less online you could have hundreds of quotes to choose from and soon be insured. Then you can just sit back and relax as you drive away in your car knowing that you have the right type of insurance at the right price.

Read more »

Top 10 Car Insurance Tips for Young Drivers

The top 10 car insurance tips for young drivers can take the mystery out of the whole process of purchasing car insurance for the first time. You will find so many businesses and variable that may affect the outcome.

All the good tips you get for a cheap car insurance premium is applicable only for aged car drivers most of the time! So what would you advice for a young driver if he were to save big on his car insurance premium

1. Ask your buddies and neighbors, those who appear wise, what insurance companies they go with and why. Insurance businesses rate every location differently, so it helps to talk to individuals right inside your area.

2. Get as many quotes as you can – the algorithms the insurance companies use to set prices differ from company to company for all drivers, but are most variable for young drivers.

3. See if they offer driver discounts for good grades or drivers' education, or other similar course completion. Also inquire about savings from bundling your car insurance with your parents' vehicle and homeowners' insurance policies.

4. Don't just accept the first quote that a company offers you.

5. Call three or four different agencies and get comparison quotes based on the same coverage. Be sure that each policy has the same deductibles and that they are ones that you are comfortable with. The lower the deductible the higher the premium will be.

6. Check the reputation of both the agent and the company they represent. The policy is no good if they don't cover you when you need them.

7. Be aware that your credit rating and previous accident history will influence the amount of your insurance premium.

8. Make sure you have the coverage you are required by law to have in your state.

9. Get the "full tort" option. Even though it costs more, if you are ever in an accident, it allows you do get much more money in benefits.

10. Ask about payment terms, as some insurance plans will save you a little money if you pay quarterly or every six months or year instead of once a month. Most will also offer a small savings by setting up an automatic payment directly from your checking account.

This advice basically boils down to: Be an Informed Consumer.  Shop around, ask questions and don't be intimidated by the process. Once you have settled on an insurance provider don't fall into the trap of acting like you are married to that provider.

Insurance companies have a tendency to start out with low rates, but each policy renewal thereafter results in a subtle raise in your premium. Look for it and don't settle.  Check with at least 2 other companies to see if they will beat your current premium. Just make sure when you do this that the benefits are identical.

(Source:www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

Can A Car Insurance Comparison Site Save You Money

In order to use these comparison sites more effectively it is a good idea to first understand what these sites can do – and what they cannot do.  By understanding both the promises and the limitations of car insurance comparison websites, you will be able to compare policies properly and get the car insurance you need for a price you can afford.

 What Online Car Insurance Comparison Sites Do Best

In order to get the most out of the car insurance comparison websites you visit, it is important to understand what these sites do best.  By understanding how these sites operate and the value they bring to the car insurance marketplace you will be able to use them to their greatest effect.

Car insurance comparison sites work by teaming up with many different insurance companies.  In order to give you the rates you want on the car insurance you need, these sites ask you to enter the relevant information, including the make, model and model year of your car, your driver license number, your name and your address.  Once you enter that information it is provided to all of the partner sites, and each of those car insurance partners then provides you with a quote on the car insurance you need.

One of the most important things to keep in mind about these car insurance comparison websites is that it is likely that not every car insurance company in your market will be included.  When you enter your information into the comparison website it is important to keep track of the responses you receive. After you have gotten all of the responses from the comparison website, it is important to compare the list of responses against the list of companies doing business in your area.

 What To Do Next

After you have identified additional car insurance companies in your area, the next step is to contact each of those car insurers directly.  Be sure to get quotes from each of those companies, then carefully compare the rates they offer against the rates you were able to get through the car insurance comparison website.

It is also a good idea to seek out more than one car insurance comparison website.  There are a number of such sites available, and each one of those sites partners with different insurers.  By getting quotes from several different comparison websites you will increase your chances of covering every possible car insurance company.

Of course quality is an important consideration as well, and it is important not to lose sight of the fact that you will be relying on this company to pay your claims when you need them.  If you choose a financially shaky company you may have trouble getting the payments you deserve when you need them the most.  Always be sure that you check out the ratings of the car insurance companies you are considering before signing on the bottom line.

It is also a good idea to conduct an annual car insurance review.  This will give you the opportunity to review your coverage and make sure the coverage you have still provides the best value for the money.

Read more »

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Review

A warning: If you are reading this and you own a Ferrari, you probably enjoy driving it very much. Unless you also have $250,000 ready to spend, don’t go drive the new 458 Italia. Because if you do, you won’t like your car anymore.

FAST FACTS

1. Powered by a 4.5-liter V8, the 458 Italia makes 563-hp at 9000 rpm and 398 ft-lbs of torque at 6000 rpm, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds. 2. The 458 moves away from Ferrari’s fast but jerky F1 transmission, for a new dual-clutch unit. 3. Pricing for the 458 starts at $225,000.

For years, Ferrari ownership has been about compromise. A Ferrari is purposeful, racing-bred technology made to work well on the street, but it comes at a price, both literally and figuratively. Ferraris are expensive to own and maintain, and for that reason, many people only use them selectively to carve canyons on weekends and at racetracks.
Even worse, many owners simply drive them to the mall and back, stopping at Starbucks to show off real excess to people who think $4 coffee is a luxury. Besides the obvious expense of owning and operating such a machine, there are a few other drawbacks.

PAST FERRARIS SEEM CRUDE BY COMPARISON

Yes, the paddle-shifted F1 Gearbox can shift in 100 milliseconds, but we’ve seen smoother clutch operation from drunk 16 year-olds who’ve stolen their fathers Corvette. The radio, sourced from Blaupunkt, is completely indecipherable and sounds like it was assembled at Best Buy. The so-called Navigation system, optional with the 430 Scuderia, is completely useless. The air conditioning doesn’t blow cold when it’s hot outside, but works great in the dead of winter. As for Spider models, the top is slow to operate, prone to breaking, and expensive to fix. And often, so many Ferraris simply won’t start when asked.
Young kids, dreaming of owning such a beautiful and powerful machine, will tell you that they don’t care about all those nuisances, and would happily drive a Ferrari year round, no matter the drawbacks. But those who can actually afford them nearly universally say they make terrible daily drivers, which is why they always commute to work in a car with the letters AMG, M, or S, and a series of numbers on the trunklid.
The 458 Italia is the exception.
It surprises exactly no one that the 458 is significantly faster than the F430 it replaces. With 563 horsepower (up 53 from 510) screaming from the 4.5-liter mid-mounted V8, it rips off the sprint to sixty in 3.3 seconds using its advanced launch control, on its way to a 202 mph top speed. It’s 200 pounds lighter than the Scuderia. It laps Ferrari’s test track at Fiorano only 0.1 seconds slower than the Enzo. It’s even more fuel efficient, with a 12/18-mpg (city/highway) EPA rating.
What is surprising is everything else.
The 7-speed Dual-Clutch transmission, hated by purists who would rather row their own, is best in class, so much so that this writer, for the first time, would choose it over a stick, given the option. It changes cogs, literally, in the blink of an eye, which is great when wringing the V8 to its lofty 9000 rpm redline, eager to extract every tenth on the track.
But more importantly, when left in automatic mode for around-town cruising, it feels like a real automatic. No more jerky launches, no more awkwardly-timed shifts. If gently accelerating around-town, the transmission will imperceptibly kick its way up to 7th by the time you hit 45 mph. Mash the gas from that pace and it will skip gears 6,5,4 and 3, and go straight to 2, sending the engine screaming towards redline and the CST (that’s traction control) working double-time to keep the rears gripping.

COCKPIT DESIGN BRINGS EVERYTHING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL

The interior, though, is truly the revelation. Straddling the large, centered tachometer are two LCD screens with multiple functions each. On the right there’s the analog (looking) speedometer, radio functions, and navigation. On the left is all the car’s telemetry, from tire, oil, and hydraulic pressure to lateral G’s at the track. Once the proper menu has been selected, buttons on the steering wheel toggle radio stations and options. Even better? They actually work. The radio sounds good, the air conditioning blows cold even in the heat of Las Vegas traffic, and once properly explained, the navigation system is as easy to deal with as in “normal” cars.
Stalks have been eliminated completely from the steering column, and nearly all their functions have been moved to the steering wheel itself, most notably, the blinkers. It takes some getting used to, especially the “click on, click off” nature, but it adds a unique flavor to the 458 and saves weight. With Ferrari, every ounce counts. Except in the 612.
Also covering the face of the steering wheel are the high-beam controls, horn buttons, manettino switch to control traction/launch modes, and the “bumpy road” button, which softens the magnetically controlled suspension instantly for short bursts of bumpy roads – and works flawlessly.
Driver’s will also note there is no traditional parking brake in the 458. When the ignition key is shut off with the transmission in Neutral, the car automatically goes into “Park” mode, and stays there until a gear is selected on restart. To park with the engine running, simply press the “P” on the center tunnel and the car will hold until a new gear is selected. So, no E-brake turns, but less clutter in the cabin? We’ll take it.
Despite the fact that the 458 is both smaller and lighter than the 430 it replaces, interior space is noticeably on the rise. As a both tall and large driver (6’2” and 245 lbs), the 458 is among the most comfortable exotics I’ve driven, on par with the benchmark Audi R8 and light years ahead of anything by Lamborghini. The optional carbon-backed seats are both comfortable and supportive, with just the right amount of bolstering. As one would expect for a quarter-million dollar car, fit and finish is perfect. And the trunk is nearly twice the size of the outgoing F430. In fact, it’s big enough to fit a person in there, literally. He said it was hot.

A TRULY EXOTIC DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The actual experience of driving the 458 is sublime. The car pivots around corners like there’s a stake driven through the dead center of the car on a track. Steering feel is both light and full of feedback. Throttle and brake response are both as fast as you can think. Shifts have happened already.
The 458’s variable-geometry exhaust baffles make just the right sound for the right occasion. Unlike the F430’s exhaust, which sounds almost manufactured, the 458 remains very quiet when cruising at light throttle, making conversations with a passenger or over Bluetooth very easy. Dip into the fun pedal, and baffles open in succession, exorcising 563 demonic horses through the triple, F40-throwback pipes as if they were attached to cables, pulling your cheeks tighter as the smile grows and becomes locked in place on your face.

THE VERDICT

The 458 Italia is incredible. In one generation, it’s managed to improve on all the things we’ve come to expect from Ferrari, and fix all of the drawbacks as well. It’s the first Ferrari we’ve ever driven that we’d truly consider using as a daily driver, depreciation and all. It’s rendered every single mid-engined Ferrari that came before it, completely obsolete.
No one will know that better than the proud owner of a 360 Modena or F430 when they take a 458 for a ride, “just to see what it’s like.”
You’ve been warned.

Read more »

Car Insurance Comparison Colorado

If you're looking for the best car insurance comparison colorado deal possible on your auto insurance then this is the right place. You are not even remotely satisfied with your insurance company because you refuse to settle for less than the best car insurance comparison colorado rates.

Your morgage and other bills have been slowly racking up over the past several months and you  need a way to save money.And one of the first places you can start to save money at is with your auto insurance company. But you know that this is not going to be easy at all.

Your previous and more  than likely tarnished driving history is now keeping you from getting the best car insurance comparison colorado rates on your car insurance. You spent hours upon hours  online trying to find decent car insurance comparison colorado rates on your auto insurance.

Accidents occur  in life that you might have never had a chance to avoid, but now your auto insurance company is not showing any remourse just because.Do not ever be content with the treatment you are currently getting.

You should just take a step back from this vicious cycle of unfair treatment and take action to find the lowest car insurance comparison colorado rates. As a loyal customer to your insurance company you have to right to get the lowest car insurance comparison colorado rates possible and getting those lowest car insurance comparison colorado rates begins by shopping online for quotes.

I am sure you would rather spend your hard earned dollars elsewhere instead of over paying on your car insurance. In order to make this a reality for you need to start searching for  the lowest car insurance comparison colorado rates at the right places. It does not take long to start saving money and to find the best car insurance comparison colorado insurance rates.

(Source:www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

Online Car Insurance – The Secret for Getting Best Direct Car Insurance quotes Online

Internet has become so useful these days that there is nothing upon which you can collect information online & make your right decision. And that includes your car insurance too. That's correct – you can get the most effective option of online car insurance, if you require. Nevertheless, make sure that you know what you're discovering prior to you purchase.

However if you're previously insured person, you'll require to observe what the different companies offer. Costs may change over time, so you can for your circumstances. If you do your driving record is top for you at present over 25, or if you're a great honour you certainly deductions. Have a look at many companies, so you can find direct car insurance quotes online.
Whenever you go the online pages, you must enroll information in a form so you will be able to get your offer. After you embark the information and submit it, you'll gather your offer.
If you've many offers from other companies, you will be more effortlessly able to get the cheap auto insurance quotes. Choose not only on price but also through the company's report. You require a company that will have to pay if you are in an accident and that won't string you along.
A Few Simple measures for incurring Top Online Car Insurance quotes:
1. Parking the car in the garage or driveway and establishing protection devices like a security warning signal reduces the hazards of theft.
2. Type of car you purchase as the insurance firm will give you a car insurance quotes depending on the model of the car and engine. The costlier the car, the more the premium.
The another insurance firm compete with each other is by providing lower premiums. Make the best of this while finding a  online Affordable car insurance quotes. Taking time out to look for a appropriate company online is a good deal more comfortable than going in person from one company to another in look for  the best deal, which is lot easier in today's intrusive agenda.

(Source:www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

Teenage Car Insurance ? Why It Is Important To Buy Teen Auto Insurance

The policies for adding teenage car insurance can put a hole in your wallet. However, it is very important nowadays. It protects your teen and your car, just in case he or she has an accident.

If you are a family person, the safety of your children is always a priority. At least, with teenage car insurance, the cost of paying for an accident after it has happened will not be as costly as having no teen car insurance at all. The secret to it is to get the affordable coverage that you can. You can do this by comparing quotes and getting the deal that best works for you, your budget, and your lifestyle.

We advise you to save money on teenage car insurance. A number of car insurance companies regard drivers who are under the age of 25 as drivers who are more likely to encounter vehicle-related accidents. There is a high percentage of death and accidents involving vehicular situations with teenagers.

This often leads to a higher teenager auto insurance cost. But think of how much you would save. Let´s say your teenager has an accident and you didn´t have teens car insurance. You would have to pay for the hospital fees and the damage fees from your own pocket, without any assistance from the insurance company.

But don´t let this be the reason for you to get those car keys from your teenager. You can actually save money and get the teenage car insurance for him or her. And when you do, you have to remind your teenager the following guidelines.

1. Maintain a clean driving record. He or she should remember that one DWI conviction is enough to increase the insurance. What is normally a couple of hundreds of dollars could amount to thousands of dollars for three years.

2. Insurance companies provide discounts on teenage auto insurance to those who go to school full time and have a 3.0 grade point average. Insurance agents provide discounts to those who are accredited to take driver safety courses and other programs that have been qualified by the state.

3. Be an active member in the community. By joining a particular community or civic organization like Girl Scouts or Eagle Scouts, your teenage can already get discounts. Least risky teens are those who help better the community.

4. Get a safe car. Teenager auto insurance may cost you 50 percent less if your teenager is driving a safer car like a Volvo or a Honda Civic. Newer model cars that come with airbags are also less expensive because there are the safest for any teenager to drive. Expensive cars, SUVs, high performance cars, and sports cars put teenagers at a greater risk so these are more expensive.

5. Add safety features like automatic seat belts, traction control, side impact air bags and anti-lock brakes in order to reduce the accident rate of your teenager.

Above all, remind your teenager that driving is a privilege and it requires responsibilities. Lay down the ground rules for him or her. You can train your teenager in having a mature attitude whenever he or she is behind the wheel.

(Source:www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

Why It’s Important to Get Car Insurance Comparisons

Car insurance comparisons can be a big help if you need to make sure your car is taken care of. After all, the prices and quotes you get from the various insurers can be all over the board. That's why it's such a good idea to collect several quotes and make good car insurance comparisons before you sign up for anything.

Insurance agents don't like it, but when you're looking for a new policy on your car, shopping around is perhaps the smartest thing you can do. It lets you look at what options there are to choose from, what the prices are, and lets you pick the one that's right for you you.

But there's more than just price to look at. Some quotes you get may not have the same liability limits or offer the same coverage, so be careful when looking at your car insurance comparisons. Make certain to read the policy closely and make sure your potential insurer hasn't offered you a plan with less coverage than you initially requested.

Some plans look like a good deal at first glance, but careful car insurance comparisons may show that they're not what you want to buy. Double check and make sure what you've been given the quote for is something you actually want to pay for.

Check your deductibles, the special rules, and the requirements of your state. The majority of quotes offered are fine, and will turn out to be what you asked for. But you want to keep an eye out for those that don't. Ideally, you should have at least five quotes for your car insurance comparisons. Any fewer, and your chances of being able to make a smart decision are harder.

The more quotes you get, the better your options are of getting a good deal. Of course, too many could leave you with more choices than you're comfortable with. Don't overwhelm yourself. Keep it reasonable, but give yourself plenty of options. Online services make this process much easier than it used to be – you don't even have to leave your chair in most cases.

Keep in mind your credit rating, too. It might not seem fair, but your insurer is doing a few car insurance comparisons of his own. They're taking a good look at your driving record and your financial history, and figuring out if it's worth it to offer you a good price, or any price at all. A history of accidents or late payments will have a large impact on your ability to get a good deal on your insurance.

Don't be tempted to lie to get a better quote, though. The insurance company is going to do a thorough check before they send you the contract for your insurance. If you leave out some unpleasant details, they'll just come back to haunt you in the form of higher rates. Put in all the information you have, and keep it as accurate as you can. That'll help you make more effective car insurance comparisons and choose the best rate possible.

(Source:www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

Car Insurance Comparison – 3 Steps to Multiple Quotes

Are you part of the 75% of consumers who don't shop for an annual car insurance comparison? If so, don't feel guilty — shopping for car insurance takes time and multiple quotes can get mighty confusing. At least, that was true of the old-fashioned way where you had to pick up the phone and power dial half-a-dozen different agents to get quotes.

But the times they are a changin' and now it's possible to complete a car insurance comparison in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee. How, you ask? Online, of course! Your car insurance comparison can all be accomplished quickly and painlessly if you fire up your computer and follow the three steps outlined below.

Step 1. Gather some basic personal information before you start. You will want to have: a copy of your current car insurance policy (so you can refer to current coverage amounts); the make and models of all cars being insured; a history of accidents or other car insurance claims over the past five years (for each driver being insured). It's also helpful to know the approximate length of time you've been insured with your current company — you'll get a better quote if you haven't been switching around between companies.

Step 2. Now it's time sit down at your computer and choose an online insurance quote provider. These are companies who have relationships with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of major car insurance companies. By using an online quote provider, you aren't limited to getting quotes from just one company. And we all know that competition results in lower prices, so it's in your best interest to get quotes from as many different companies as is feasible. But limit the number of quotes you get to seven, or you'll burn a few brain cells trying to compare them.

Most online quote provides will match you with at least five different insurance companies. These companies can range from small independent agents who are located near you, to the very largest insurance companies who do business in all fifty states. Depending on the state where you live, you may also receive a quote from one of the strictly online companies like Esurance (but these companies are not licensed to provide insurance in all fifty states). If you aren't sure which online quote provider to use, there is one recommended at the end of this article.

Step 3. Now it's time to actually complete the online application. The good news — you only have to fill out one application in order to receive multiple quotes. Complete the application as completely and honestly as possible. The insurance companies will use the information you submit to provide their initial quotes, but they will verify all of your personal information before agreeing to a final policy. It's important to remember that an online insurance quote will save you time, and probably money, but it's not an opportunity to defraud the insurer.

Once your application has been submitted, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the quotes to start coming in. You'll probably have the first one in your email box within the hour. After you receive at least five quotes, you should have a pretty good idea of your best car insurance rate. If it's been a few years since your last car insurance comparison, chances are, you're looking at savings of about 15% on your car insurance. Now wasn't that worth an hour of your time?

Ready to start your car insurance comparison? Click here to use one of the premier quote providers … they provide five quotes from local and national insurance companies and the service is free.

(Source:http://www.bestcarinsurancetips.net)

Read more »

AMS Builds a World Challenge Nissan GT-R

AMS from Chicago, took one brand new Nissan GT-R and turned it into a World Challenge race car.  In 2010 Brass Monkey racing competed in World Challenge with two R35 GT-R's. They had some teething issues, and only made the first three races.  World Challenge runs three classes in their series, TC, GTS, and GT.  GT is the upper end of the World Challenge spectrum, with Corvettes, Volvo S60's, Vipers, and Porsche 911's all competing at race tracks, and street courses around the US.

AMS has not released the owners name, or their plans for 2011, other than saying they will release them when they are ready.   Check out some of the pictures of this awesome race car.

Source: NAGTROC

Read more »

Bentley – On Speed in Scotland

It was the proverbial offer too good to refuse: Travel to Scotland for a scenic tour of Speyside, the historic region made famous by the many whisky distilleries situated nearby. During said visit, our small group would stay in a cottage situated at the Macallan Estate, the hallowed grounds where one of the world’s most prestigious single malts is produced. But this was just the start.
The icing on what promised to be a very tasty cake: The entire tour would be powered by three high-performance Bentley models, the Continental GT Speed, GTC Speed and Flying Spur Speed. More resolute men than I, those with a stronger will or those with something better to do perhaps—could there be anything better to do?—might have been able to turn this offer down. Me, I was counting the minutes until I arrived in the land of plaid and haggis.

The ride from Aberdeen airport set the stage beautifully: Still reeling from jet lag, I slid into the back seat of the Continental Flying Spur Speed and transitioned in and out of consciousness as the lush landscape of the Scottish Highlands rocketed past. Do I mean to imply that this particular Bentley is a dream ride? Well, let’s consider the facts.

The Flying Spur Speed is the most powerful sedan ever produced by the legendary British carmaker and the fastest production sedan in the world. Armed with a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-litre, 12-cylinder engine that generates 600 horsepower, this Bentley can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a scant 4.8 seconds. While that’s very impressive for a large 4-door, even more noteworthy is the car’s top speed: a jaw-dropping 322 km/h.

As one would expect from Bentley, all this performance is accomplished with complete ease and comfort. The Flying Spur Speed is equipped with all-wheel drive and 20-inch Pirelli PZero tires that combine to give the car supreme grip. And although this model is lowered and tuned for a sportier ride than the standard Flying Spur, passengers are still isolated from the road courtesy of sound-proof glass, thick carpeting and cushy leather seats with exclusive diamond-quilted pattern.
Of course, this trip was about more than just taking a passive approach to enjoying the latest offerings from Bentley; there was some serious driving involved as well. From the Macallan Estate in Craigellachie, we journeyed towards the Cairngorm Mountains, collectively the loftiest range in Britain and home to five of the six highest peaks in the nation.

For the opening stretch, a collection of tiny country roads that wound along the banks of the River Spey, I took the reins of the Bentley Continental GT Speed, my personal favourite of the three models. I wouldn’t classify the GT Speed as an outright super-sports car in the tradition of Ferrari or Lamborghini, but it’s not far off the pace either.

The same W12 engine found in the Flying Spur Speed is nestled under the coupe’s muscular hood and, in this application, both power (600 hp) and torque (553 lb-ft) are identical as well. But given that the GT Speed is smaller and lighter than the sedan, performance is even more eye-opening: 100 km/h arrives three-tenths of a second faster and terminal velocity is a truly astounding 326 km/h—the most ever for a production Bentley.

The GT Speed not only benefits from impressive off-the-line performance, it also handles incredibly well for a big grand touring coupe and offers dynamite braking performance to boot. As compared to the base Continental GT, there are many key differences: the self-levelling suspension ensures that ride height automatically lowers at speed (10mm in the front, 15 mm in the back), the suspension system itself is tuned for more dynamic handling and optional carbon-silicon carbide brakes have been fitted.
Sitting at the controls of the Bentley is a very reassuring place to be. The 2+2 layout gives the driver plenty of room to stretch out (although there’s little space for anyone in the back), the seats are infinitely adjustable and the Speed-exclusive three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters places everything important within relatively easy reach.

This final aspect of the GT Speed was very much appreciated as I roared along the narrow Scottish roads, encountering more than one extra-wide opponent (tractor, delivery van, service vehicle, you name it) taking up more than his fair share of the tarmac, an especially tricky situation when also navigating a blind turn. Steering: good. Brakes: better. Bentley: intact.
For the final stretch of the day, I moved into the Bentley GTC Speed, the convertible version of the GT Speed. This stunning drop-top shares the same components as the coupe, but gives away a bit in performance. The W12 engine has the same output here and acceleration is the same, but due to aerodynamics, top speed for the GTC is slightly lower—322 km/h with the top up, 312 km/h with the top down.

Nevertheless, what I learned from my drive of the GTC Speed is that the road is equally as important as the car. While the stretch from the Cairngorms to Nairn also consisted of largely narrow rural roads, traffic was much less of a factor. One section, the B9007 from Carrbridge to Furness, was like a lunar landscape: We were driving atop a rocky plateau with an expansive vista—and we were practically alone out there.
This is where the performance of the GTC Speed came into sharp focus. Top down despite a mild drizzle, the car roared out of slow corners at a rate of knots that belied its size, sport exhaust rumbling. The steering was precise, the all-wheel drive system showed no signs of giving up traction despite the damp surface, and the 6-speed automatic transmission kept pace the whole time. Meanwhile, the cabin remained a serene environment; the wind was buffeting all around us, but ensconced in the front seat, my navigator and I were completely unperturbed.

Although I failed to come close to the top speed on any of the three Bentleys on any of the roads, this quick trip to the Scottish Highlands proved endlessly entertaining nonetheless. The scenery was breathtaking, the experiences were unforgettable and the cars were dynamic: What more could one ask?

Read more »

Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Review

Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo with AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission: $392,900

On the Fujita Scale, which measures the force of tornadoes, an F5 means ‘total destruction’ with wind speeds up to 400 km/h; beyond that, is an F6, which is dubbed ‘The Finger of God’ where cars become missiles. That’s what happens when you open up the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG on a clean stretch of open road; the car is blisteringly quick and the full roar of the 5.5-litre V8 biturbo at 5500rpm is channeled directly into the cabin for your aural pleasure.
As a bonafide luxury car, its performance criteria is astounding. It weighs 2120 kilograms, yet will accelerate from 0-100km/h in a blistering 4.5 seconds; and yes, it feels every bit that quick when you dial up all 400kW and 800Nm of torque. The S 63 AMG is one seriously fast limo.

Think about it for a second: in this car you can have a luxury express that’s capable of blasting down the main straight at Phillip Island at 250 km/h plus (it’s speed limited), yet the S 63 AMG is equally at home crawling along Collins Street at 10km/h in Melbourne’s peak hour quagmire. But that’s what AMG is all about, having your cake and eating it too.

For the uninitiated, AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach) has been successfully tuning Mercedes-Benz cars since 1967 when Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher formed a tuning company after pressure from well-to-do customers who had an insatiable appetite for more powerful Mercedes-Benz cars than the factory could deliver.
AMG is now a fully owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, and apart from a different location and another 700 employees, nothing has changed. They are still building extra fast Mercedes-Benz cars, only things are a lot more sophisticated these days.

Take the hand-made 5.5-litre biturbo V8 engine under the bonnet of the S63 AMG. Its displacement is significantly less than the naturally aspirated AMG 6.3-litre V8 that is replaces, and yet despite a massive increase in torque output, as well as an additional 14kW of power, fuel consumption and emissions have been categorically slashed. Remarkably, this 2000 plus kilogram Benz consumes just 10.6-litres per 100 kilometres. That’s a figure I can barely get my head around, especially when you factor in the full subset of numbers: 400kW, 800Nm, 4.5 seconds and 2100kg.

To achieve such mind-blowing efficiency AMG engineers have employed a cocktail of latest technology when it comes to ICE (internal combustion engines) including for the first time, spray-guided direct petrol injection with biturbocharging (lifting maximum charge pressure from 1.0 to 1.3 bar) and stop/start.
Add to that the fast shifting AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission, and you end up with what is a quantum leap in engine performance and efficiency.

Have I mentioned emissions? That number’s also been slashed to a paltry 247 grams of CO2 per kilometre, which is only slightly more than your average six-cylinder Holden Commodore.
It comes down to the ‘one man, one engine” philosophy, where each individual AMG engine is effectively a bespoke technological masterpiece by a single craftsman, who signs off his work on the exclusive AMG engine plate.
I’m sure the stop/start technology works as it should, but for that system to activate, you need to select the least aggressive drive mode. But with less than an hour behind the wheel of this ludicrously quick AMG S-Class that was never going to happen. Knowing you have your own private reactor under the bonnet is surely mandate enough for you to give the S 63 AMG a proper boot full from the very the moment you happen upon a stretch of clear open road in the rural back lots.

It’s not just the orchestral boom of the twin-turbo V8 spinning manically towards those magic 400 kilowatts that brings out the petrol-head in you, it’s as much about the seemingly unstoppable acceleration of this car as it approaches the more serious side of 800 Newton-metres that amazes; it just doesn’t let up, and then, you run out of road.
The throttle response is astonishing – turbo lag, even in the minutest measure, is non-existent on the S 63 AMG. Gone is the usual blow-off valve, which has meant that the compressor housing is ultra compact, while all air ducts in the intake track are as short as possible for instant throttle reaction.

The brain that controls all the engine functions is the Bosch MED 17.3.3 control unit. It’s a state-of-the-art engine computer that controls everything from the direct petrol injection to the variable oil supply. The microprocessor alone can perform up to 260 million operations per second and plays a major role in this car’s astonishingly low fuel consumption.
The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports gearbox is reason alone to choose the S 63 over its competitors. “Seven gears, three drive modes and a double de-clutch function” is what the blurb says; it’s a pure work of art that can transform this car into an oversize hotrod from the moment you tap the paddle shifters a couple of times, and be treated to that aural-gasmic double de-clutch action in full surround sound. One more time, please.

It doesn’t matter what gear ratio you’re in, stomp on the throttle and kick-downs from seventh to third, are spontaneous in the ‘S’ (Sport) mode. Engage the ‘M’ for manual mode, and you control the precise time you want to shift, but there is no automatic shift, even when you redline, and really, that’s the way it should be. For stop/start traffic conditions, you’re better off choosing the ‘Controlled Efficiency Mode’ (‘C’) as that will automatically switch the engine off at the traffic lights for improved fuel consumption, although the stop/start function can be manually deactivated if it drives you mad.

At the same time, pulling away from a standing start in ‘C’ mode will engage second gear, and cruising at 60km/h will most likely mean you’re sixth. It’s all about quieter noise levels inside the cabin, and the pursuit of fuel conservation goals, at least when battling big city gridlock.

At least sitting in the salubrious S 63 AMG, slow moving traffic isn’t really much of a problem while you’re cosseted in some of the world’s finest sports pews and experience an acute case of sensory overload, as your favourite track is piped through fifteen of Bang & Olufsen’s finest loudspeakers.
Luxury and flat out speed aside, there’s another thing that this car does with exceptional ability, despite its grand proportions. At just over five metres long, an S-Class Merc is not the kind of car you would normally select as your weapon of choice to attack your favourite mountain road; too big, too heavy and too much hard work. But AMG doesn’t subscribe to that way of thinking. It does driving dynamics differently, and the S 63 AMG is proof of that.
Light up the ‘Sport’ button next to the AMG instrument cluster, and there’s no need to slow the pace through the bends. In fact, you’ll want give it some more throttle, as the big Benz threads together multiple corners as easily a high-end GT car.

Not only is the S63 equipped with Active Body Control, but also AMG adds its own sports suspension to the package and you can forget about body roll – there just isn’t any. The system uses various acceleration sensors to work out the driving characteristics at any one time, and then compares those with pressure sensors in the dampers and the level sensors on the control arms. Messages are then sent to the servo-hydraulic valves at the front and rear axle, which metre precise flows of oil for a constant horizontal attitude no matter what the cornering loads are.

It’s a remarkably effective system that allows the S 63 AMG to carry ludicrously high speeds through corners with the agility and response of a much smaller car.
All other S-Class models use the air-suspension, but AMG employs shock absorbers and springs on the S 63 for more precise firmness and even less roll angle. Dreaded understeer when pushing hard is kept in check too courtesy of Torque Vectoring Brake, which effectively brakes the inside rear wheel and all but eliminates that tendency under high load.

You’ll love the perfectly weighted and precise steering that’s an inherent feature of the mechanical Direct Steer System on board this car. It’s a key reason that the S 63 feels so composed at speed. AMG has clearly developed one of the best steering set-ups in the business, even better than the Jaguar XJ Supersport, which is still too light at high speed.

The brakes on board this car deserve special mention given their huge stopping power. One look through the spokes of the front 20-inch alloys and there can be no misunderstanding. The discs alone are only 17 millimetres shy of those on the Bugatti Veyron, and the double floating brake calliper covers at least a third of that disc, for utterly fade free braking.

I could go on-and-on about the extensive inventory of luxury kit in the S 63 AMG, but all that takes second fiddle to the sheer excitement you get behind the wheel of an AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz in this class. This is truly a magnificent vehicle with a huge breadth of capability.

Read more »