Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Corvette -- 1984-96 C4 is One of Today's Best Performance-Car Values

Chevrolet's brawny plastic-bodied two-seater has long been a dream machine for countless enthusiasts. Today, that dream is more in reach than ever. The fourth generation or "C4" version of these cars are absolute steals on used-car lots.

These potent performers made their debut for 1984, replacing the soft, boulevardier 1968-82 "Shark" design. With vastly improved aerodynamics and extensive use of aluminum in its construction, the C4 was enormously more capable than its predecessor.

Throughout the C4's long production run, practically every model year brought significant improvements, including revised suspension, higher-quality interiors, and new electronic performance aids. Horsepower for 1984 was a somewhat tame 205, but it went up by 25 hp the next year and continued to steadily climb. A convertible was introduced for 1986, and the following year horsepower reached 240.

For 1990, the C4 got a redesigned dashboard, followed a year later with an exterior facelift that included more rounded front- and rear-fascia styling. For 1992, horsepower jumped to 300. From 1990 to 1995, Chevrolet offered the limited-production ZR-1, which was powered by a 375-405hp Lotus-designed V8. Output of the regular small-block-V8 C4 peaked in 1996, at an optional 330hp.

With strong V8 power and exceptional handling, any C4 is a tremendously potent machine, even against some of today's pricier new performance cars. Best of all, you can find loads of good C4s practically anywhere in the U.S. for less than $10,000.

When shopping for a C4, it's best to look for as late a model as you can, to take advantage of the many refinements the design received over the years. The most desirable cars are the 1992 and later ones. Besides having considerably more power, their softer styling is less 1980s "high-tech" and thus doesn't look as dated at this point.

Early C4 coupes (1984-91) show up by the truckload for less than eight grand, with a fair number of them listing for under $5000. But realistically, you should expect to pay $6000 or more for a decent one. Scrounge up at least another thousand or two on top of that if you have your heart set on a good 1992-96. As for ZR-1s, forget about 'em -- they currently sell for about $25-$40k.

Convertibles command about a 30-percent premium over equivalent coupes, which basically puts the 1992-96 ragtops out of our $10k Budget-Speed cap. Earlier convertibles, however, are still within range.

So while the performance-car world is drooling over new C6s or shopping for used C5s, these cars' fine predecessor is going for clearance-sale prices. And that's great for you -- a good used C4 can offer more thrills per dollar than most performance cars, making them well worth a look.

Custom Car Covers For That Perfect Fit!

Bob Crowley and his wife, Teresa, were proud of their silver Honda Accord. Despite living in the city and parking their car right on the street, their '98 Accord was nearly free of dings. The finish looked just as good as when they purchased the car. How could this be possible? With kids playing stick ball, tight parallel parking, air pollution, and pigeons that frequently splattered cars up and down the street, no car was immune from the regular insults of urban living. For the Crowley's it was no mystery: a custom fitted car cover was placed over their Accord whenever it was parked to give it maximum protection. For an investment costing less than two hundred dollars you can protect your car too. Please read on to discover all the advantages of utilizing a high quality car cover.

Without exception, a custom fitted car cover offers the
best protection for any vehicle. With side mirror pockets, a high quality car cover will fit your vehicle snuggly much in the way a well fitted dress graces a woman's body or as a glove fits a hand. The benefit is a car cover that stays in place without flapping in the wind or sliding off.

Moreover, a custom fitted car cover will protect your car from the following:

Moisture - With four layers of protection a custom fitted car cover will resist moisture and protect your car's finish from acid rain, road salt, hail, sleet, and snow.

Pollution - Air pollution, dirt, and flying debris can all wreak havoc on your car's finish in no time. A high quality car cover will prevent your finish from looking old before its time.

Nature - In the city you have a burgeoning pigeon population to contend with, while in the suburbs you have squirrels, birds, and a host of other little critters who see your car as an invitation to leave their mark upon. Even if nature's critters like your car cover, they won't be able to do harm to your car.

Sunny Days -- You protect your skin with sunscreen, right? Don't think for a moment that your car's finish isn't immune from harmful solar rays. Even the best finishes come under attack and need protection. Regular washes and waxing does help, but in between times your finish is under constant assault.

Small Impacts -- No, a car cover won't protect your vehicle from another car slamming into it, but it can protect your car from someone who opens their door and bangs into your car as well as kids on skates who get a kick out using your hood as a seat for rest.

Intruders -- Why is it that strangers think nothing of peering into your unoccupied car when you are not around? Don't think for a moment they are admiring the design of your interior! Likely, someone is casing your car for anything of value left out in full view or they are admiring your Bose sound system. Regardless, a car cover keeps the snooping folks away. What they can't see they aren't likely to go after.

High quality car covers such as those made by Covercraft can offer the best protection for your car. Each custom fitted car cover is developed for the specific make and model of your car no matter whether it is a Honda, BMW, Dodge, Kia, or any other vehicle. The more layers it consists of means better protection for your vehicle too. Select one with side pocket mirrors and your vehicle will receive maximum protection. Truly, for what amounts to a small investment a custom fitted car cover offers an excellent return on the money.

Cooling System: How It Affects Your Mazda Car’s Performance

Just like human beings, the car needs to dissipate heat in order to avoid overheating and exhaustion. During combustion, the engine produces large amount of heat—about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is too much for the engine to bear so a cooling system is needed to keep it at a normal temperature. Cars usually overheat due to a damaged part in the cooling system, especially the radiator, the heart of the cooling system. It is therefore necessary that all its auto parts must be in proper working condition to ensure that the whole system works efficiently.

Aside from the radiator, the cooling system is composed water pump, freeze plugs, head gasket, thermostat, hoses, heater core, fan clutch and radiator fan. All these auto parts have special roles to perform thus the absence of one could significantly affect the whole cooling process and of course, the engine’s performance. Take for example the hose, this may seem to be just an ordinary part but once broken, the coolant can escape and so it’s no longer possible for the system to cool the engine. Even just the cap of the radiator is important. It holds the pressure in the cooing system; thereby, affects its stability.

How does the cooling system of your Mazda work? The coolant, which is a mixture of anti-freeze and water, is the one that absorbs the heat from the engine. It is drawn by the water pump from the radiator and is pumped through engine block and the cylinder head to absorb the heat from the engine and its parts. It goes back to the receiving tank of the radiator through the radiator hose. The radiator has tubes that contain large amount of water and has fin area to allow outside air to pass through. As the coolant spreads over the top of the radiator tubes, it transfers heat to the air.

The performance of your Mazda car is greatly dependent on your cooling system. No matter how gutsy its engine is, it can’t work normally without a cooling system. The engine can even be inutile in an instant if it overheats and all other auto parts under the hood can also be damaged. They could melt as the engine burns the fuel inside the combustion chamber and the pistons in the cylinder could expand extremely that they can no longer move to complete the whole process in the engine.

Your Mazda car can possibly overheat as well. Engine overheating is one of the most common problems auto users encounter. You can avoid this by adding water to your radiator. So if you notice a problem on a particular part in your cooling system, consult the best auto mechanic in town. But if you think the problem is worst, you may as well replace it right away.

Mazda Parts are everywhere to be found. Auto parts stores like Auto Parts Inner offers you Mazda parts like Mazda radiators, Mazda radiator support, Mazda Bumpers, Mazda radiator fan and Mazda coolant tank. This incredible auto parts site also offers other replacement Mazda parts such asMazda Tail Lights, Mazda rear view mirror, Mazda euro headlight, Mazda headlight molding, Mazda Wheels, and many other auto parts. You can find here auto parts for Mazda 323, Mazda 626, Mazda Miata, Mazda MX6, Mazda Protégé and Mazda RX7.

Auto Parts Inner is also one of the recognized auto information resources on the net. As an expert in this field, they offer simply the best auto parts with very efficient service.

Coolest Technology for Your Car: A Geek Guide

Car manufacturers are incorporating an inordinate amount of technology into their vehicles nowadays. Despite their best efforts, however, there are a number of things you can do to geek your ride. From one little gadget to a full-fledged car mod, there's always something else that makes your car one step closer to the batmobile.

GPS, OnStar and navigation Systems

Hate being lost? GPS is the answer. The latest in-car navigation systems feature voice recognition and touchscreen technology. GM's OnStar provides peace-of-mind in the case of an accident, but some say that the system enables Big Brother to track your every move. More advanced navigation systems can direct you to the nearest gas station or pizza joint instead of requiring a specific address. Some can even provide you with other data like stock quotes, news and sports scores.

War driving

If you haven't heard of war driving, it is the practice of driving around, locating wireless networks, and "sharing" other people's bandwidth. Black-hat hackers sometimes use war driving simply to find vulnerable networks or as a method of anonymity. This practice obviously requires a portable computer which leads to our next tip...

Put a computer (or two) inside

How cool would it be to have a computer at your disposal in the car? Many police departments now outfit their cars with a laptop computer mounted at an angle over the passenger seat. Hardcore geeks will do the same. Once you put one computer in your car, why not add a file server for music and storage? You can fit it under the seat or in the trunk and connect it to other devices in the car via a wireless network.

What do you do with a computer in your car? Bring your collection of music and movies along. Connect it to OBD (see below). Get online from anywhere. I can hear you now: "Anywhere?" well, anywhere with a cell phone signal. Verizon has a service that enables you to get online as much as you want for $60 a month (on top of your regular cell phone bill).

Hold still

Here's a simple one. Get a grip pad to set on the dash or the center console. This gives you a place to set your cell phone within easy reach. You can also set your iPod or sunglasses down. The great thing is, you can usually take a corner fairly fast and your stuff won't move an inch.

Radar and laser detectors; jammers

If you have a lead foot, it's worth investing in a radar detector. There are many models available from $40 to $400. Make sure to get a model that can detect K, Ka, and laser. If your chosen detector picks up on X band, so much the better, but make sure you can disable it. X band is a common source of false alarms (especially near traffic lights).

OBD II

OBD stands for On-Board Diagnostics. This system is built in to nearly all vehicles sold after 1996. If you have a laptop in your car, you can usually purchase a special cable that will allow you to view a real-time stream of data from nearly every sensor in the car. Want to know the left front wheel speed in real-time? You got it. OBD II provides many different data streams. You can view the horsepower and torque at any RPM, see how fast you can do 0-60mph, or find the actual gas mileage at any given speed and save some money at the pump.

OBD technology also helps to diagnose problems with your vehicle. When the "check engine" light comes on, you'll be able to tell whether it's a real problem or just a faulty circuit, and you can even reset it yourself without having to take the car in (make sure you know what you're doing).

Get things going

A feature typically sought after in colder climates.Wouldn't it be nice if your vehicle sat idling, heated and defrosted, in the morning? You can install a remote starter that enables you to start the car from indoors and let it warm up. This is a feature typically sought after in colder climates, but it can also be used to start the A/C and cool things down.

Creature comforts

Assuming you've got the basics covered like power locks and A/C, there are many features that you should consider when buying a new car. Heated seats, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, sunroof... A geek's ride may not have all the creature comforts, but if you're buying a new car, it only adds to the tech factor. Other cool features to look for in a new car include:

> Automatic tire pressure monitoring

> Adaptive cruise control

> Headlights that point in the direction of a turn

> Backup camera

> Adjustable suspension

> Push-button start (No actual key required)

> Bluetooth to integrate with your phone

> Side/curtain airbags

> Traction control

> Halogen/Xenon lights

If your car has all these features, well, you're probably a little too much of a geek. But I'd sure like to check out your car sometime.

Consider Fuel Efficiency When Buying a Car

When you need to buy your next automobile make sure that fuel economy doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Buying a compact car with good gas mileage is both friendly to the environment and your pocket book. You will enjoy the savings throughout the life of the vehicle.

There is a lot to consider when buying a car. If you are buying a used car the condition of the clutch, brakes, engine and transmission will play a huge role in how much that car will cost to operate. Even minor problems can result in $300 repairs.

With new cars you need to find the make and model that has a proven track record and fits your needs. Make sure that fuel efficiency plays a role in your decision making. If you emerge from the car buying process with a fuel efficient car you will burn up less cash in your tank and have more money to spend on things that matter.

Take advantage of what is known.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, the one thing you can easily and accurately predict is how much gas you are going to use. Gas prices may fluctuate but most people can spend a week or two logging their gas consumption and get a good idea of how many gallons they use. If you don't already, track your gas consumption so you can use this information when purchasing a car.

Make it the #1 priority.

One way to make sure that fuel efficiency is considered is to start by looking at cars that get good gas mileage. Make it the #1 priority and see where that leads you. The problem with today's car market is car manufacturers know that gas mileage is not a major consideration when purchasing a new vehicle for many U.S. customers.

Crunching the numbers.

When you are evaluating a car's fuel efficiency, ask yourself how long you think you will be driving the car and determine how much gas will cost.

Let's say you want to get a used car for $5,000 and hope to drive it for 5 years. Below are some 5 year gas cost estimates based on driving 15,000 miles per year and buying gas for $1.40 per gallon. If gasoline is more expensive than $1.40, the costs will be even higher.

A Sampling of Used Cars:


1994 Ford Explorer SUV (2WD)


5 year gas estimate = $5525

1994 Honda Accord Sedan


5 year gas estimate = $3885

1994 Honda Civic DX Sedan


5 year gas estimate = $2385


A Sampling of New Cars:


2004 Ford Explorer 2WD


5 year gas estimate = $6175

2004 Honda Accord


5 year gas estimate = $3750

2004 Honda Civic Hybrid


5 year gas estimate = $2235

2004 Toyota Prius Hybrid


5 year gas estimate = $1910


This is a small sampling of cars but you get the picture. Unless you really need an SUV or large truck, you can save a lot of money by buying a fuel efficient compact car. You will sacrifice size and sometimes luxury when choosing fuel economy first. Part of this is because bigger cars and trucks are heavier and will naturally get worse gas mileage. But it is also a function of consumers not worrying about gas mileage when they make a decision on purchasing a new or used car.

A great site for comparing cars fuel economy is www.fueleconomy.org. Atwww.fueleconomy.org you can compare numerous makes and models of both new and used cars and set the default gas costs to reflect the current prices. The numbers above are based on a $1.40 regular gas price which is really hard to find right now. In the case of the 1994 Ford Explorer you likely pay as much in gas over a 5 year span as you payed for the vehicle in the first place.

Put fuel economy first and you will find yourself with more money in your pocket.


Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to The ThriftyFun.com News. ThriftyFun publishes information about thrifty living. Send an email to thriftyfunnews-on@thriftyfun.com to subscribe to The ThriftyFun.com News.

http://www.thriftyfun.com

fisher@thriftyfun.com

Written by: Fisher Swanson

Common myths about car insurance debunked!

There are many myths about car insurance that have been floating around for years, and some of them may affect your buying decision. Educate yourself--or un-educate yourself, in this case--and you can make the smartest decision about your car insurance.

Myth: The day you turn 25 (or 18, or 35,) your car insurance rates go down.

It is true that most insurance companies lower rates as drivers get more experience, often at age 25. But it won't do any good to call your car insurance company on your twenty-fifth birthday, because you won't be re-rated that day. An insurance company generally is commiting itself to a rate when it sends you your renewal bill, and unless you make a change in the middle of your policy period, you won't be rated again until your next insurance renewal.

The good news about this is that accidents and tickets work the same way. If you get a ticket after you have already received your renewal, you normally won't be charged any points on your car insurance until it renews again or until you make a change to your policy.

Myth: Red cars cost more to insure.

This is a common misconception, probably started somewhere as a car insurance urban legend. Your full coverage insurance cost is decided by the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your car, and there is no indicator in the VIN as to what color your car is. Incidentally, though, red auto paint does cost more to repair facilities, so a car insurance company could have to pay out more in the case of an accident.

Myth: One claim can get you canceled.

It is certainly possible to have your car insurance canceled after only what claim. But car insurance companies have an underwriting process that takes a lot of factors into consideration. They will look at the number--and the dollar amount--of claims you have had over a period of time. The amount of time you have been with that insurance company is also a factor. Frivolous claims entered repeatedly by customers could be a reason for cancellation or nonrenewal, but there is no reason to avoid turning in claims on your car insurance policy if you stand to suffer significant financial loss.

Myth: As my car gets older, my insurance should go down every year.

It is true that the newest of cars cost the most to insure, but often the fact that your car is a year older doesn't mean your car insurance rate will go down. If the vehicle is old enough so that you don't feel like you need to carry full coverage on it anymore, that will lower your rate significantly. But as long as you carry full coverage on a car--even an older one--you probably won't see your rate decrease.

This is because the majority of accidents are not "total losses"--when the vehicle is damaged beyond repair and the insurance company pays out the value of the car to replace it. Most claims involve the repair of a vehicle, and the cost of car parts does not decrease significantly just because the car is older. In addition, labor costs for repair do not change at all, no matter how old the car is. The insurance company risks losing as much money on repairing an older car as they do a newer one.

When you are shopping online to buy your new insurance policy, it is important that you educate yourself as much as possible. Don't fall victim to myths that could affect your buying decision!

Coming to a Car Dealer Near You!

The 2006 cars are fresh in dealer showrooms and already talk is raging about several upcoming cars set for release in model year 2007 or later. The styles are great, the engineering is advanced, and you simply haven't seen anything yet. Let's take a peak at what is coming down the pike. One of these future cars just may be what you end up driving!

Hyundai Equus - Can you say, V8 Hyundai? That's right, the Equus which is already sold in Korea, may make its debut here in North America as a 2008 model. Reports have it that the car, which is larger than the Sonata, will be a rear wheel drive four door sedan outfitted with wood, leather, and all the latest electronic gadgetry.

Saturn Outlook - Things are certainly changing for Saturn, now that GM has killed off the Oldsmobile division. Still trying to find its footing amongst Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac, the division will get its first big crossover vehicle when the 8 passenger Outlook debuts as a 2007 model. Look for V6 power standard with the first Saturn equipped V8 as an option.

Ford Edge - If a Ford model starts with an "E" it likely is an SUV. The Edge is an SUV and it isn't an SUV. More of a crossover vehicle, the 2007 Edge will be based on the Ford Fusion which borrows its platform from the Mazda 6. Positioned between the Escape and the Explorer, the Edge is meant to be Ford's answer to other car based people movers including the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander.

Volvo C30 - Can you say, subcompact Volvo? Yes, it is true: Volvo will be introducing the C30, a three door hatchback coupe. Some eight inches shorter than the compact S40, the car will run on a small inline four and it may be the first Volvo to have an optional hybrid engine. The C30 is to debut as a 2007 model.

Chevrolet Sport Wagon - GM's purchase of Daewoo is having some positive side effects in the development of the 2008 Sport Wagon. A joint Daewoo-Chevrolet venture, this five seat model will be a crossover vehicle and share some components with Chevy's larger Equinox. Planned as a world car, the Sport Wagon is likely to wear Daewoo, Chevrolet, Suzuki, and Opel nameplates.

Are you excited yet? If not, there are hundreds of additional models on the drawing boards and concept cars on display at an auto show near you. Hang on, change is in the air and you haven't seen anything yet!

Choosing the right car

We all dream about the car we’d like, Maybe we see one in the street and think “that’s the one for me” then, being fickle, will see another a little further along the street and say “No, that’s the car I want!”.

Don’t worry, this is quite normal, very few people know exactly what they want.

Here, we give you some considerations on choosing the right car for you so you don’t end up saddled with a car that, frankly, disappoints you! Remember that you are likely to spend a lot of your time sitting in it and the model you choose will say a lot about you to other people.

What will be your new car’s main purpose?
Your lifestyle and what your new car will be used for is the very first thing you need to think about. Basically, your dream car may be TT Roadster (a two-seater) bit if the car is to be used to drop the kids off to school, then it really won’t be suitable!

Consider this ….
• Is the car going to be used for family trips?
• commuting to work in? (then choose a diesel to get the most from your fuel)
• will it be a sporty second car for week-ends?
• Does it need to used for off-roading?
• Will it be needed for business?
• Are you married or single? Do you have children? etc etc

This will then help you build a picture in mind of the car that is realistically right for you

The costs
Another important consideration is running costs:

• What insurance group is the car? The higher the group, the more your insurance premium will be
• If your car is going to do a lot of mileage (over 12,000 miles a year), then think about choosing a car with a diesel engine – these are better on fuel consumption
• More expensive cars will have higher servicing and maintenance bills

Comfort
Depending on what purpose your car is used for, comfort is a consideration.

For commuting or high mileage vehicles, the car should be of the optimum comfort and, ideally, have air conditioning.

If it is a fun car, say a sporty number for weekends, then be prepared that the ride will be slightly harder (but a lot of fun!)

Featured Merchant
By now you should have a good idea of the type of car you want and what it needs to be like to suit your circumstances!

Now, think about how much you can comfortably afford and start doing your research!

The internet is a good place to start looking, you can research prices, specifications and, if you are after a new car, for a bit of fun, you can even visit a manufacturers site and build a car to your own specifications!

Also, scour the motor section of your local newspaper to see what finance deals and offers are on at local dealerships. You could pick up a good deal!

Happy Motoring!

Choosing A Safe And Reliable Car Transport Service

It doesn't matter if your car is a sports car, an antique car, or even just a plain family car, if you want it safely delivered to you, you will have to find a reliable and affordable transport company that has a car transport package that suits your needs and your budget.

But, when choosing a car transport service you have to be aware of some issues regarding the transport and delivery of such. Transporting something as precious as your car would be suicide if you don't take the proper precautions.

Here are some things to look out for when considering a car transport service.

Insurance Your car is a big investment. If you allow your car to be transported carelessly, you could end up with a badly banged-up car. To avoid this, you can have your transport service insure your car. While doing research on what transport service to hire, always look at the total price plus insurance. It may seem like a waste of money to some, but for those who have experienced having their cars shipped to them with dents, scratches, and - gasp - other major damages; insurance will seem like a welcome advice.

Know What Type of Transport You are Dealing With There are quite a few options on how to have your car delivered. You can have door-to-door, enclosed, open, terminal-to-terminal, and rail service among others. Some of these options may have features that you do not need, or features that are more than what you need. Make sure you understand the details of each option and choose one according to your needs.

Schedule You have to be clear on the schedules of pick up and delivery.

Pick up time is the amount of time it takes from receipt of the order to transport until your automobile is loaded unto the trailer. This time is usually 2 and 10 days. Transport services appreciate a three day allowance to find a trailer and assign your car to that trailer.

Transit time will take about 8-10 days. This depends on the destination and route taken. These trailers will usually carry about ten automobiles at the same time. And as they make the necessary stops to deliver each automobile, it could use up a lot of time. So, it would do well to be patient during these times.

When you and your car transport service come to terms on the dates, reinforce the fact that you will be expecting punctuality in the delivery and pickup. You might also want to consider whether the company allows you to cancel the transaction if they are late for pick up, or to refund a certain amount if they deliver you car late, or with damage.

If they are to be delayed, your car transport service should inform you ahead of time so you will not have to waste any time fussing over what happened to your car.

Report, Report, Report It pays to have everything documented and in paper. Have the transport service inspect your car before and after transport so you can assess whether there was any damage sustained during the process. They should check the condition of the car and note this all down in paper. This is a standard operating procedure for many of the car transport services around.

Conclusion Finding the appropriate car transport trailer to fit your specific needs and budget should be an easy task providing that you know you budget limitations, special travel requirements for your car, and the length of trip. In today's market there are literally hundreds of car transport trailer options out there, and you can count on finding the right one for you in no time at all.

The size of the car transport company is not the deciding factor. What really decides whether you can trust your transport service is the skill and track record of the service. Always investigate the past transactions of the transport outfit to see if there are any potential problems regarding their service.

Now you are all armed and a bit more knowledgeable in these matters. Car transport will now lose most of 'scary-ness' you had attached to it, thanks to added knowledge! Use this knowledge wisely and enjoy a worry-free car transport!

Choosing a Car Stereo

Choosing a car stereo can be a complicated and difficult task, especially for individuals with little knowledge on the subject. This process requires extensive research in order to determine you are receiving the best deal possible. Before going to a car stereo dealer, you may want to review and understand all the components of a car stereo. This way, you can personally choose which components you would like for your car. The following is a list of the basic components of a car stereo:


  1. Decks - Car stereos cannot function without a deck. A deck constitutes any piece of equipment ranging from cassette decks and CD players to MP3s and mini discs. The deck is considered the glue that holds the car stereo together. The deck controls the overall output of the sound and allows you to control the music being played. All car stereo decks have a minimum 4-channel output for your speakers. If you want more power than what your speakers alone can hold, you may want to consider purchasing an amplifier.

  2. Amplifiers – Amplifiers provide the power needed to blast the music in your car. The more powerful your amplifier is, the louder the sound system is going to be. An amplifier can have anywhere from 1 to 7 channels. The number of channels in your amplifier is the number of speakers you can hookup in a series circuit.

  3. Speakers – Speakers are where the sound from the stereo is emitted. Different types of speakers are designed to produce different frequencies. Higher frequencies provide the capacity for more sound and produce a higher level sound as well. The efficiency of the speakers is what will determine how far the sound will travel. If you want the sound to travel far, you will need speakers with a higher frequency.

  4. Subwoofers – Every high-tech car stereo system should have a subwoofer. Subwoofers complete the sound by providing high efficiency of low frequencies, through the bass. In other words, the subwoofer is the piece of equipment which makes the car vibrate. A subwoofer needs to be enclosed in either a box or possibly the trunk of your vehicle. Keep this is mind when budgeting the cost of your stereo system.