Toys For The Big Boys

Toys For The Big Boys

Luxury cars are the playthings of the rich and famous. It comes as a status symbol to drive and ride in a classy and expensive vehicle. There is a market for this affluence; otherwise no cars of this calibre are manufactured to serve the discriminating preferences of this niche. Surprising enough, demand escalates for the more expensive types and the limited production of these fine cars makes them even pricier. Most luxury cars are hand crafted and designed with fine and comfortable trimmings. Rolls-Royce or Mercedes-Benz, even Daimler and BMW have set up a luxury car segment where manufactured coupes are fine-tuned to fit owner preferences at a price that exceeds the range of normal sedans, sports coupes and SUVs. It is extreme pricing more than technological features that set luxury cars from the regular 4-wheeled machines. These cars usually sell at a six-digit figure floor price. 654,000 dollars; a tag price that compensates for its identity as the fastest car in its class. Before the end of year 2006, Rolls-Royce presented an extended version of the Phantom that is outfitted with bullet-proofed features and a roomy passenger cabin to provide lavish comfort and a pleasant driving experience. The premium pricing of luxury cars is compensated by the built-in, power-packed performance features. A distinguishing feature is its power train. The Jaguar car series for example, carries on its hood a throbbing V-8 engine that delivers top-notch speed when moments call for it; an all wheel drive system that comes fully loaded and with superb handling capabilities. The Daimler Chrysler is popular for its top of the line engineering and car safety features while the Cadillac SRX has perfected the magnetic ride control, the XM satellite radio and back-seat DVD entertainment on top of superb luxury touches.

To conduct power from the front lights to the rear SCX uses bus strips which travel the length of the body. These contact similar strips in the chassis which transfer power from the guide to the motor pod. I wouldn鈥檛 normally expect to find a sprung floating motor pod and spherical bushings on a car at this price point. The motor pod has a very clever floating arrangement which is dampened by the power connecting strips. Two limiting pins at the front and another pair at the back of the pod prevent it from rocking too far. These pins in turn keep the tires from contacting the fenders and allows for excellent float in the driveline - something racers of non-magnet cars will appreciate. Since I count myself among the non-magnet crowd, I loosened the two screws holding the traction magnet to the chassis and removed it. Without the magnet in place and the body reattached this car weighs in at 94g. I put the car back on the track without its traction magnet and started cranking out the laps.

The SEAT is a blast to drive without a traction magnet. It stays in the slot and drifts nicely through the corners. The floating motor pod allows the car to lean in the corners giving it a great aggressive stance. The car lifts the front inside wheel when driven hard. The drivetrain on my review example featured straight axles and true wheels. The tires gripped well enough on the slippery surface of my Sport test track. In magnet trim I鈥檇 say the 131 is a great car for kids: it sticks to the track, and has bright lights which is an appealing feature for the younger set. If you don鈥檛 believe me, just ask them! Pull out the traction magnet and you鈥檝e got a car that non-magnet racers will love. In testing this car I noticed that the motor seemed to loosen up and rev more freely with each passing lap. With a smooth drivetrain, rocking motor pod, and lots of room for adding weight there鈥檚 plenty of tuning potential here. Kudos to SCX for bringing out such a great looking model that doubles as an excellent non-magnet racer. I rate this car at four power sliding sports sedans out of five. The out of round tires are the only thing holding an otherwise excellent car back.

When many vehicle owners need car, truck, van, RV, or jeep parts, they usually turn to their local junkyard. Many of these junk yards have a pick and pull policy. Meaning, you can buy the part for cheap, but you must find that part yourself and remove it from the vehicle in question. Although it sounds like a lot of work, it is a great way to find cheap auto parts. In fact, which is the best approach? Unfortunately, not all junkyards in the United States sell used car parts. This is unfortunate, as these pick and pull yards have shown us that even the oldest cars and those in the worst shape still have salvageable parts. To get started, select your state and then the nearest city. Browse or search the website to find car, truck, van, RV, or jeep parts. One of the many benefits to using Craigslist to find cheap car accessories is the search function. You don't have to spend hours sifting through a junkyard to find what you need. Instead, you sit at home on your computer and perform a search. To find the best deals and what you need, search with targeted phrases. Search with the make, model, or part you need. For example, Honda Civic fenders, Mercedes hubcaps, Geo Tracker door, Dodge Ram tailgate, and so forth. At most pick and pull auto yards, you are charged a set price for each part. This is good if you only need one or two items. However, many buyers want to have an entire junk car on hand for parts in the future. At an established auto yard, this can cost you thousands of dollars or more. These cars don't run and the seller doesn't want to bother with needed repairs, so they sell the vehicle as a junk car and sell it for next to nothing. The only downside is you may need to rent or borrow a car trailer to tow it home.