Will The Partnership Between Pontiac And BMW Prosper?

Writen by Joe Ratzkin

Pontiac, which has been introduced as the ‘companion’ marque to GM’s Oakland Motor Car line by General Motors in the year 1926, has been the subject of recent speculation in the automotive industry. The speculation involves the issue of probable partnership between Pontiac and BMW. The hype was intensified by General Motors czar, Bob Lutz when he said that he wants to make Pontiac the “American BMW”.

Pontiac is a mid-level brand in the GM lineup. It features sporty and youthful vehicles with high-performance Pontiac performance parts that are sold at reasonable prices. The pioneer General Motors Pontiac was the six cylinder model which was not designed to compete with four cylinder models.

BMW, on the other hand, is a renowned automaker. It has more than 10 years experience in manufacturing Z3 and Z4. Its name has already gained not only fame but reputation in vehicle manufacturing. Some critics are having qualms about the partnership issue because they are thinking that BMW will not allow such thing.

With the announcement of Lutz of his desire to combine Pontiac and BMW capabilities, the automobile fanatics expressed mixed reaction. Some consider the idea laughable in the light of the company’s recent lineup. On the other side of it, some are looking forward for the accomplishment of said endeavor.

Auto Bild, a German car magazine has also publicized its speculation about a down-market Z-car to slot just below the Z4, where the original 4-cylinder Z3 was just a tad larger than the MX-5 Miata, the next-generation Z4 moved up significantly in size and price.

The partnership of the two automakers may be impossible to some but there is still a great possibility for it. Mazda MX-5 Miata. Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice are intriguing vehicles. Their sales percentage is constantly growing. Nonetheless, if the partnership of the two automakers prospers, the query that must be contemplated is whether people would actually shop.

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Practical Realities of Custom Bike Building

Writen by Ma. Carla Ballatan

For some motorcycle enthusiasts, their ultimate dream is to build their very own custom motorcycle. But most have the dread of having to use up their life savings and feel overwhelmed by all the details of putting such project together. Let’s say you’re in the process of getting ready to start your bike building project. Know that a complete and determined understanding of the great undertaking you’re going to face is what you need to become undaunted by the practical, if not harsh, realities of custom bike building.

First of all, you need to consider your financial status before you begin the whole project. Aside from the financial point-of-view, you also need to have a full inkling of all the nitty-gritty details to be considered. Be very aware that the use of mismatched, inferior motorcycle parts and improper assembly techniques can send the cost of your project sky-high!

Many online resources are offering book manuals and videos to guide you into making your masterpiece with less trouble, all in earnest. Just take care to find the most reliable source that would guarantee you results with a minimal investment. But here are several pointers in building your very own killer custom motorcycle.

Be alert in selecting the proper motorcycle parts in order that everything works and fits together as one complete unit. Wise up on used motorcycle parts and choosing between OEM and aftermarket parts. Get to know and study the tools you’ll be needing for assembly

Don’t be discouraged easily by the “real life” assembly roadblocks you’ll encounter. Even the professionals have to deal with these things at one point of their bike building careers.

There’s a correct procedure for each phase of your project - like “mocking up” your rolling chassis and properly fitting and prepping all of your sheet metal parts. This phase may cost you thousands of dollars if done incorrectly.

Research some tricks for installing front fork components that prevents damage to your show chrome finishes!

There’s a correct way to prepare all the parts that are being sent out for paint.

Installing brake systems are important and it would help if you have an idea on what do and what not to do. There’s also a proper way to install all of your brake and oil lines.

Know about setting up the proper engine and transmission alignment. And, how to be careful not to drive it too hard when installing and setting up a rear swing arm and shocks!

Installing a correct wiring system is a significant thing that should not be overlooked.

You must be aware that there is a correct series of tests that must be performed before running your new bike down the road. -30-

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Spare Wheels Are So Inconveniently Stored In Modern Cars!

Writen by John Cohen

Having been a keen British classic car enthusiast for many years (particularly fond of the Jensen classic cars of the early sixties) I only recently purchased a very advanced luxurious modern car. My new car is packed with what amounts to amazing technology. But even with such expensive modern cars I have found one poor design aspect.

I am referring to the housing of the spare tyre and wheel. In the Jensen CV8 and before that, the Jensen 541S (as was the case with many cars of the early sixties) the spare wheel and tyre were stored under the boot and could be lowered from a point just inside the boot.

The most obvious advantage of this was, that even if the car was full of people and luggage, in the event of having to replace a wheel, one did not have to take the entire luggage out to get at the spare.

If a wheel needed to be changed these days, more often than not, if it is going to happen, it will be in pouring rain! Then the entire luggage would have to be out in the rain, for all the time, it takes to change the wheel and to get the dirty, wet, damaged one back in the boot!

Worst still, many of the new spare tyres now are of a special collapsed type (taking up less space) and the normal tyre will not fit in the space provided. So now the entire luggage and the dirty, wet, tyre will not be possible to fit back in to the boot!

I expect the car manufacturers would claim, if challenged, that such a situation is unlikely to happen as it is true that there seem to be less punctures these days than before. However, I travel a lot in Spain and have found that there is a real risk of having a tyre deliberately punctured (with a knife) as a method employed by thieves intending to steal from you. Once your tyre has been attacked (often at traffic lights) they then follow you and point out your problem, offering to help, whilst another is busy robbing you. This has happened to me twice now, luckily without them succeeding in stealing anything. But on the one occasion my car was really packed full and I realised just how impossible it was to get at my spare.

With my Jensen 541S it was an easy matter to jack the car up whilst keeping dry inside the car. Just in front of the two front seats the carpet was simply pulled away and a sealed cover opened. The Jack was then dropped down this hole and connected to the jacking up fitting, so that as one turned the handle the car could be lifted up.

I do not understand why these aspects are no longer incorporated in our modern designs.

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