Guide to The Fundamentals Of A Manual Transmission

By Bj Jamison

Most of us drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. They're more convenient for daily commuting and they're more prevalent; automakers equip the majority of their fleets with them. Having said that, cars with manual transmissions are generally more fun to drive, especially on highways and roads uncongested with traffic. The magic is in the control given to the driver. In effect, the motorist chooses which gears to hit and when to hit them, allowing him or her to maximize engine performance.

Even though manual trannies are becoming rarer each year, they continue to be the main ingredient in performance vehicles. In this article, we'll take a quick tour through manual transmissions. I'll describe the basics regarding how they work, including how moving the shift knob through the gears translates into drive power to the wheels.

Keeping Below The Redline

Your vehicle's engine has limits; it's generally referred to as the "redline." When you put pressure on the gas pedal, you'll hear the engine grow louder as the RPMs climb. The redline is the point past which your engine becomes in danger of failing - or blowing apart under the stress.

Most engines enjoy their peak performance at approximately 5,500 RPMs. The trick is to come as close as possible to that level without crossing it. That's what a manual transmission does. It lets the driver set the gear ratios that allow the engine to operate within its optimal RPM range without exceeding the redline.

Clutch And Gears

In a manual 5-speed or 6-speed, the driver controls the gear ratios through the clutch, a component that connects the engine with the transmission. When the clutch pedal is pushed down, the connection is severed. When the clutch pedal is released, the connection is reestablished. When connected, engine powers the revolutions of the output shaft which in turn powers the layshaft. The teeth of the gears interlock so that the spinning of the gears coincide with the spinning of the engine.

How The Shift Knob Contributes To Gear Selection

From a top-down perspective, the positions of the shift knob look similar to an "H" formation. When you move the knob into a particular position, it powers a gear selector fork. That fork powers a collar within the tranny. The collar is outfitted with dog teeth that fit into the grooves of the 1st through 5th (or 6th) gears. Depending upon the position into which you move the shift knob, the corresponding gear will be engaged.

A car's manual transmission follows a beautifully graceful design. That is not to suggest its design is simplistic. On the contrary, like a Swiss watch, the gears, dog teeth, and other components adhere to a well-honed precision. For car aficionados, that level of precision translates into irreplaceable engine performance. - 21396

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American Racing Wolverine Custom Wheels and Rims - Add Pizzazz To Your Vehicle

By Ben Pate

Turning heads and projecting a visual representation of urban style, American Racing Wolverine Rims are the perfect rims for a person looking to be an icon. Providing the ultimate combination of personality and power, these Rims can transform your truck into the hottest sight burning up the streets and put eyes on you.

Expressed as not only intimidating and showy, but to be a lasting symbol of sophistication and quality, Custom Wheels symbolize their owner. The smooth, exquisite sophistication and prominent confident look of quality Custom Wheels characterizes a promised level of both sophistication and power among drivers.

Making an impression on the streets is the hope of a lot of car owners and the one way to accomplish that goal is to establish your car above the pack. A beautiful set of Custom Wheels and Rims brandished on a sleek car is the undisputed mark of decadence and style. Getting yourself some instant fame and street cred these Custom Wheels and Rims will help establish the appearance any driver is looking for.

Built to satisfy and entertain, American Racing Wolverine custom rims understand that there is more to your ride than just looking cool after a polish. Every set of Custom Wheels is manufactured to endure all the destructive powers of modern driving and operations. Built from the bottom up to satisfy as intimidating as they look, these Custom Wheels are made ready for anything the road has to send at them.

When you are purchasing a set of Wheels the decision shouldn't weigh on you. Putting your trust in a quality distributor like American Racing Wolverine Wheels is a guaranteed way to make sure you receive Wheels with a life span that'll last you for years. Making a quality Custom Wheel and Rim that can hold the best of performance and functionality long after the purchase is the kind of reliable accent you desire.

Offering an abundance of compatible Custom Wheels and Rims and models to suit the expectations and specifications of any truck model is just one of the many unique abilities that American Racing Wolverine Custom Wheels can offer a prospective buyer. With a unique and stylish look that integrates easily into any truck model or make, American Racing Wolverine wheels and rims are the absolute accent for any stylish car.

Elevating yourself apart from the masses is paramount in defining yourself. Rims offer a wide selection for customizing and unique tweaks and variations to help give your automobile that dynamic and original look you're after to ensure that no other automobile on the road is the same as yours. - 21396

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American Racing Wolverine wheels and rims have set the standard within the industry of wheels and on the roads. These American Racing Wheels And Rims Custom Wheels Rims are raising the bar to a much higher level of luxury and accomplishment.

Repossessed Vehicles for Sale - Great Finds and Great Value for Money

By Davion Wong

Those who are on the lookout for the best deals in cars will most likely benefit from checking out repossessed vehicles for sale. These cars are probably the best choice when it comes to second hand vehicles. In general, repossessed cars are in top shape. They are also considerably cheaper compared to other pre-owned vehicles which are being sold in the market. Moreover, chances are these cars had never been subjected to any major accidents.

Clearly, repossessed cars are decent vehicles that are being offered at a rate one can easily afford. People who are in dire need of a car but are living on a tight budget can actually find a good deal from repossessed cars placed on auction. The odds of finding a car that is good enough to be mistaken as new are not too far behind.

There are various reasons why repossessed vehicles that are on sale are being offered to the public at a very low price. Still, the important thing is that they are legal and of good quality. Some of these cars can even be mistaken as brand new.

Repossessed cars were pulled out by the credit companies, lending groups or bank from its previous owner. The most common reason is failure to comply with the payment terms or issuance of bouncing checks. Another reason may be because the buyer cannot afford to pay for the car anymore. The end result is that the bank or credit company repossess the car. There are also some cars that had been impounded by the police because they were used for illegal purposes.

Many repossessed vehicles that are being put on sale are flashy enough to be mistaken as brand new. You would be surprised at how far your money can go with these cars.

Car fanatics can feast their eyes on great selection of automobiles. There are usually various brands and models to choose from. You might even find your dream car in a repossessed vehicles auction at a price you can easily afford.

Repossessed vehicles on sale are not just practical; they are also a convenient choice. Aside from being able to purchase a decent car, you can save a lot of money in the process also. You can also be assured that they are in good running condition since they had been repossessed from previous owners. Just to be sure though, do not forget to check the engine parts and other features for your own safety and peace of mind.

For more information on repossessed vehicles for sale and other related topics, please visit my blog site and learn more about this subject. - 21396

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Car Insurance Ladies - Why Women Have the Advantage

By Enrico Medina

Ladies benefit more from car insurance companies as they are considered as much less risky drivers. Though we have to be clear on one thing, statistics show that lady drivers do get into as much accidents as men do. However, the amount of damage done to the car is much less therefore cheaper to repair.

This wasn't true before though as ladies were always considered a higher risk than men and would most likely be offered a much poorer compensation package. Until recent statistics popped up and disproved this common theory.

Minor scratches here and there, little bumps, and some dont even involve another car but rather immobile objects like posts and walls. Men however, being more risky drivers often induce their car to more damage.

Car insurance for ladies can be found from general car insurance companies or companies which focus on womens policies. Just like any other product though, its always good to compare prices between companies and policies.

A number of sites in the internet contain information about different car insurance companies which is useful for us buyers.

Women as statistics show, drive fewer miles than men and thus the chance of getting into an accident is less likely. This kind of advantage is worth mentioning when looking and haggling for premiums, giving a woman an advantage in most cases. Also with them driving fewer miles, in most cases, their car is in better condition as opposed to those driven by drag racers and reckless drivers.

Ladies also are more organized and clean as compared to men. This also helps with their cars as this results into less repairs and cheaper bills overall.

Ladies car insurance is only for the ladies by the way. They can get cheaper insurance for their cars thanks to the general outlook on women. Overall, women are less risky for insurance companies.

They are less likely to have an accident, which means they are also less likely to file large monetary claims from the insurance company. If the insurance company can save money, that means you can as well with cheap ladies car insurance. - 21396

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Choosing a Low Interest Rate Credit Card

By Bob Jones

If a credit card is used properly, it can be one of the most powerful financial tools. But not everybody can afford the expensive rates that most credit card issuers offer. This is where low interest rate credit cards can help people who plan to maintain a balance on their account and not to repay the full amount monthly. however, what does interest or APR stands for when talking about low interest rate credit cards?

Basically, APR is the charge for credit as an annual interest rate. APR stands for "Annual Percentage Rate" and may be used to compare different credit and loan offers. The APR on credit cards is usually calculated monthly based on the current balance on the credit card.

The monthly interest is worked out as if the current card amount would remain the same over a year; the interest on the amount over a year (APR) is calculated and divided by 12 to get the monthly interest. It is a requirement that all lenders tell the client what their APR is before signing any contract.

Although the arrangements and terms do vary from one lender to another, it is better for people to get low interest rate credit cards because the lower the APR, the better the deal for them to spend more money shopping.

Why ought you choose low interest rate credit cards? Low APR credit cards are a great choice for those people who prefer tighter financial budgeting. The APR affects the balance over a period of time, it being the most important attribute of a credit card.

With regard to low interest rate credit cards, the amount of interest one has to pay on his or her credit card amount depends on its APR. Therefore, the lower the APR is, the better it is him or her because it means they have to pay less interest. APR's on low interest rate credit cards can either be 'fixed' or 'variable'.

If you are planning to have low interest rate credit cards, there are many cards that offer low APRs to be found online. These low interest rate credit cards are chosen using a factoring scheme that ordered these cards by computing a number of their attributes to put the best deals at the top.

One of the questions one has to pose when looking for low interest rate credit cards concerns the charges: whether they vary or are fixed. If these charges are variable, they might affect the repayments and if these rate are fixed, the repayments remain the same. Looking for low interest rate credit cards should also include questions on the likelihood of any charges that are not included in the APR like optional payment protection insurance or an annual fee.

If there are any, make sure that you know what they are and when you have to pay them. Finally, when looking for low interest rate credit cards, you should include questions on the terms and conditions of the credit and how these conditions affect you.

If you are seeking for low interest rate credit cards, you may begin looking for a scheme that could save you hundreds in interest with a low interest credit card and low cost processing. Most low interest rate credit cards offer 0% APR for the first few months on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.

Low interest rate credit cards can offer rebates on certain items purchased. They also offer $0 liability on unauthorized purchases, and no annual fees. Some low interest rate credit cards have very good introductory rates for purchases. They also offer good deals if one carries high balances on other cards and want to transfer the balance.

Indeed, having low interest rate credit cards can be useful and convenient, and can even assist build a strong credit history that will help you with future activities like home-buying, paying for higher education, and even getting a job. But, before you apply for low interest rate credit cards, consider the advantages and disadvantages especially with regard to the current financial situation you are in. - 21396

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If you are thinking about swapping or applying for low interest credit cards, check out the free advice on our web site about using Using Credit Cards wisely.