The 2007 Volkswagen Jetta

After graduating college I was looking for a new car to replace my worn out Honda that had little to no life left. The price I was hoping to pay was around $20,000 giving me plenty of options to choose from. After test driving several different models, I decided on the Jetta. My experience has been mostly positive, but the car is not without faults.

Acceleration: My car has the 5cylinder engine with 150hp. It moves the car around sufficiently enough, but the car is not fast by any means. Luckily the transmission is a 6 speed to ensure you are always in the optimal gear. If you buy a brand new Jetta, the car should feel a bit more peppy because it has an extra 20 horsepower. Overall I'd give the car a 7/10 for acceleration.

Transmission: The transmission is a 6 speed automatic which is unheard of in this price range. It is very smooth. I'd rate the transmission a 9/10.

Handling/Steering: The car steers accurately and provides just the right amount of feedback. Handling is pretty impressive and the car always feels in control. Overall I rate it an 8/10 for handling.

Ride: The car rides firm, but is comfortable and controlled. I prefer a firmer ride to the soft mushy feeling you get in a car like the Toyota Camry. Overall 8/10.

Seating: There is plenty of room front and back. for passengers and the seating is firm, but comfortable. There are plenty of adjustments for the front seats including lumbar adjustment. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes making it easy for anyone to find a good driving position. Overall 9/10

Trunk: The trunk is huge, and is bigger than most. In addition, the car has hooks for you grocery bags so they stay in an upright position. It's touches like these that make this car special. 10/10

Exterior Styling: The car looks classy with its chrome grille treatment, but the car is a bit too tall for my tastes. Some of the exterior views look a bit too Japanese for my taste, including the rear which has tail lights like the Toyota Corolla. Overall 7/10

Interior Styling: The interior looks more expensive the anything in the class. The materials are rich and surfaces feel high quality. 10/10

Safety: This car has airbags galore including two front, two side, and head airbags as well. 10/10

Reliability: I haven't had any major problems with the car, but it only has 33,000 miles on it. The transmission kicks down sharply sometimes and some of the interior elements have come loose. Also, the passenger door has been sticky ever since I bought it. People have to pull the door handle twice to open it. Overall I'd rate reliability a 7/10.

Price/Value: Considering its features, quality, and space the Jetta offers good value for the money. 8/10

Overall: Overall I have been pretty happy with the car and would rate it an 8/10. If Volkswagen adds a bit more power (which it has recently done), give the car more German styling, and fix some of the reliability problems, I just may purchase another Volkswagen Jetta in the future.

http://toursalesdirect.com http://sightseeingworld.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Foust

Survey of active vehicle dynamics systems

Prodrive is a company known for supplying advanced technology to a number of "special" vehicles such as the Ford Focus RS and the Subaru Impreza P1.
But the reason I mention them on this blog is that they have written a nice SAE paper surveying different electronic vehicle dynamics systems available when designing a vehicle, and therefore the electrical architecture in a premium vehicle may need to address.
It is possible to download a free copy of the paper at the Prodrive website.

References in paper about the Architecture Business Cycle

I submitted a paper called "A Case Study of the Architecture Business Cycle for an In-Vehicle Software Architecture". I cannot publish the paper in this blog (at least not until it has been accepted), but I can give the reference list. Many of the papers can be found on-line through Google Scholar if access is not available through the commercial portals.

AUTOSAR, 2009. AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR). Available at: http://www.autosar.org.

Bachmann, F. & Bass, L., 2001. Managing variability in software architectures. SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, 26(3), 126-132.

Bass, L., Clements, P. & Kazman, R., 2003. Software Architecture in Practice 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley.

Berg, B.L., 2006. Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences 6th ed., Allyn & Bacon.

Broy, M., 2006. Challenges in automotive software engineering. In Proceedings of the 28th international conference on Software engineering. Shanghai, China: ACM, pp. 33-42. Available at: http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1134285.1134292 [Accessed December 18, 2008].

Conway, M.E., 1968. How Do Committees Invent? Datamation. Available at: http://www.melconway.com/research/committees.html.

IEEE, 2000. Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-Intensive Systems. Available at: http://standards.ieee.org/reading/ieee/std_public/description/se/1471-2000_desc.html.

ISO - International Organization for Standardization, 2003. ISO standard 11898: Controller Area Network (CAN). Available at: http://www.iso.org/ [Accessed December 28, 2008].

Kazman, R. & Bass, L., 2005. Categorizing Business Goals for Software Architectures, Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute. Available at: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/pub/documents/05.reports/pdf/05tr021.pdf.

Kazman, R. et al., 2005. The Architecture Business Cycle Revisited: A Business Goals Taxonomy to Support Architecture Design and Analysis. news@SEI. Available at: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/news-at-sei/columns/the_architect/2005/2/architect-2005-2.htm [Accessed December 18, 2008].

LIN Consortium, 2008. Local Interconnect Network (LIN). Available at: http://www.lin-subbus.org/ [Accessed December 28, 2008].

McDermid, J.A., 2000. Complexity: Concept, Causes and Control. In Proceedings. Sixth IEEE International Conference on Engineering of Complex Computer Systems, ICECCS. p. 2–9. Available at: ftp://ftp.cs.york.ac.uk/pub/hise/Complexity-Concept,Causes & Control.pdf.

Melin, K., 1998. Volvo S80: Electrical system of the future. Volvo Technology Report, 1, 3-7.

MOST Cooperation, 2008. Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST). Available at: http://www.mostcooperation.com/ [Accessed December 28, 2008].

Noergaard, T., 2005. Embedded Systems Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide for Engineers and Programmers, Newnes.

Pretschner, A. et al., 2007. Software Engineering for Automotive Systems: A Roadmap. In 2007 Future of Software Engineering. IEEE Computer Society, pp. 55-71. Available at: http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1253532.1254710 [Accessed December 28, 2008].

Reichart, G. & Haneberg, M., 2004. Key Drivers for a Future System Architecture in Vehicles. In Proc. Convergence 2004. Detroit, MI, USA: SAE. Available at: http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2004-21-0025 [Accessed March 9, 2009].

Smallbone Tizard, D., Wallmark, J. & Warrby, T., 2007. Architecture and Change: A Case Study Using the Architecture Business Cycle for Assessing an Organisation Facing a Major Architectural Change, Göteborg, Sweden: IT University of Göteborg.

Walsham, G., 1995. Interpretive case studies in IS research: nature and method. European Journal of Information Systems , 4, 74-81.

Yin, R.K., 2003. Case Study Research: Design and Methods 3rd ed., Sage Publications.

Unconscious Competence

I have in the last year or so found it difficult to immediately explain why I perceive a certain system design is flawed (at least from an architectural viewpoint), while my gut feeling strongly tells me it is. It seems I'm most sensible to conceptual integrity, or rather lack thereof.
Usually I can do a some logical reasoning to support my initial conclusion, but it seems backwards that I reach the conclusion first and find the arguments to support it afterwards.
I stumbled upon the concept of code smell, and from there upon unconscious competence, which pretty much sums my experience. I had never heard of unconscious competence before, but I'm relieved that others have recognised it as a "level of competence".

Now it could just be that I am totally delusional about architecture, and is actually unconsciously incompetent instead. It seems nobody outside programmers recognise that you could be unconsciously competent in such a highly cognitive area...

Note: I wasn't finding the definitions in wikipedia, but here, but I thought the wikipedia definitions were more understandable. A google search found these pages on the subject as well (I filtered all pages by personnel development companies and about athletic coaching):

• Conscious competence learning model from businessballs.com
• Small Biz Thoughts by Karl Palachuk: Unconscious Competence 4: Unconscious Competence
• 10,000 HOURS

2010 Ford Taurus

Ford is always looking to improve their car designs; any good car manufacturer does this. Each car in the Ford stable has a different look and appeal. The 2010 Taurus is the large sedan from Ford offering a more chiseled shape than its predecessor and has that European look. The front is more dynamic too, with its sleek headlamps, pronounced front fenders, three-bar grille, broad upper chrome bar, and sportier stance.

In addition to having a flashy exterior, what lies under the hood of the 2010 Taurus is also quite impressive. It has a new EcoBoost V-6 Duratec 3.5L engine with 263hp and 249 lb.-ft. of torque. It is front wheel drive but has an all wheel drive option and is said to be one of the more powerful sedans in its class without sacrificing fuel mileage. As for safety features, standards for the Taurus include: anti lock brakes, traction and stability control, automatic high beams, rain sensing wipers, collision warning system, adaptive cruise control, Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert systems, six airbags, rear and side aiming radar alert, and 911 assist enhancement.

Among other improved features in the 2010 Taurus, the interior has been enhanced and sophisticated. Inside, appealing finishes, high-tech frosting along with surrounding lighting, and outsized room for tall drivers. The Taurus is a large sedan that seems even larger after you open the doors, and it has great space in the back for six-foot passengers, as well as their knees. Another copious quality is the Taurus' large trunk due to the high profile of the rear fenders and the tall deck. Although the 2010 Taurus has many improvements to its earlier models, the biggest advancement is in the quality of the interior.

The 2010 Taurus goes on sale this summer. Visit Orange County Ford to view their inventory online. Also Best New Autos has review and info on new cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Rosquin

About Kia Motors

The Kia motor company has the distinction of being South Korea's oldest car company. Kia did not start out as an automobile manufacturer at all. Kia actually began in 1944 as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycles. Originally called the Kyungsung Precision Industry it changed its name to Kia when it began producing motorized vehicles such as motorcycles, trucks and cars.

Today Kia Motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai KIA Automotive Grove and is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer. Its CEO is Chung Eui-sun and has its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Kia Motors also maintains a presence in the United States as Kia Motors America and on October 20, 2006 broke ground for its first United States assembly plant in West Point, Georgia. Kia Motors has enjoyed tremendous success on the European market and is currently the fast growing car company in the United Kingdom.

The name Kia was derived from the Sino-Korean word ki, which means to come out, and the word a which means Asia. Translated it means to arise or come out of Asia or rising out of Asia.

Starting in 1986 Kia entered a partnership with Ford to produce several Mazda based vehicles for sale in South Korea and to be exported into other countries.

Kia officially arrived in the United States in 1992 however; it would be 1994 before the first Kia's would be sold in the United States. The first ones were available at four dealerships in Portland, Oregon. The first Kia models to be sold on the United States were the Sephia to be followed shortly by the Sportage.

Kia suffered tremendous loses in 1997 as a part of the financial meltdown experienced by Asia during that time. The company was forced to file bankruptcy and was acquired by Hyundai Motor Company. Because Ford had owned a portion of Kia since 1986, it also tried to acquire the company however, Hyundai was able to outbid Ford and Ford lost all but it's previously owned interest in the company.

Today Kia Motors has reorganized and now offers vehicles through 640 dealerships throughout the United States. Kia has enjoyed a fair amount of success in the North American market and in 2008 recoded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. Market share.

Kia has enjoyed quite a bit of success in the European market as well. It began importing cars to Europe in 1991. The Pride would be the first model to be offered there and proved quite popular with buyers. Kia maintains a presence in Europe as well. The Kia Motors Europe group is the European sales and marketing division of KIA Motors Corporation. It is now located adjacent to the Messe in Frankfurt, Germany.

Kia Motors has been in the European market for just over 16 years. Kia has certainly come a long way since its first offering of just one model. Today, Kia has expanded through midsize and full size sedans to the larger SUV's. The Sportage, Kia's SUV has been popular across Europe since its launch and with the introduction of the Sedona, the cheapest full-size people carrier in the United Kingdom, it is difficult to image a slowdown for Kia anytime in the near future.

About the Author

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SW Engines. He writes about purchasing used Kia Engines as a cost effective alternative to costly car purchases.

Lamborghini 2009 Gallardo LP560-4 Coupe

For 2009, Lamborghini today took the wraps off a more potent version of its Gallardo coupe, called the LP560-4. The car delivers 560 horsepower at 8,000 rpm via a 5.2-liter V10 engine. The car is capable of hitting 62 mph in an amazing 3.7 seconds. The sprint to twice that speed -- 124 mph -- takes just 11.8 seconds.

The 560 portion of the car's name reflects its horsepower, while the "4" designation indicates all-wheel-drive. The "4" was likely added to the name in anticipation of the forthcoming rear-wheel-drive variant, which will likely end in "2."

The engine not only gains power and displacement, it also features a new "Iniezione Diretta Stratificata" direct injection system. Despite its clearly increased output, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by a staggering 18 percent.

The enlarged and clearly redesigned cooling intakes meet the demands of augmented engine. The front spoiler, positioned low between the air intakes, improves aerodynamic equilibrium at high speeds.

The redesigned four-wheel-drive system, an improved suspension design, and optimized aerodynamics all contribute an improved driving experience. A weight reduction of 44 lbs and decreased friction between the components also enhance performance.

The Gallardo LP560-4 fulfils the not yet obligatory European pedestrian safety regulations, without compromising the look of the car.

The automated e-gear transmission has been completely redesigned for the LP560. Gear change time reduced by 40 percent, and the driver may choose between five different driving and changing programs. The most performance-oriented "CORSA" setting not only affects shift speed -- it also directs the engine for maximum acceleration. The 'Thrust Mode' ensures maximum acceleration from neutral while the angle of the throttle valve and the clutch are optimized.

An optional carbon-ceramic-disc braking system makes use of eight-piston Brembo calipers up front, and four-piston calipers at he rear. Rotor size is 14.4 inches at the front and 14 inches at the rear.

Bi-Xenon headlights provide plenty of illumination at night, while LED daytime running lights give the car a more aggressive and high-tech look.

Base Price : $198,000
Drivetrain : 4-Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs) : 3307
City (MPG) : 12
City (MPG) : 14
Hwy (MPG) : 20
Horsepower : 553 @ 8000
Torque (lb-ft) : 398 @ 6500
Wheelbase (in.) : 100.8
Length (in.) : 171.1
Width (in.) : 74.8
Height (in.) : 45.9

MECHANICAL
6-speed manual transmission w/OD
5.2L DOHC DFI 40-valve V10 engine
Variable-geometry intake system (VIS) & exhaust variable valve timing (VVT)
Lamborghini electronic engine management (LIE)
Static ignition w/individual coils
Drive-by-wire electronic throttle control
Dry sump lubrication system
Limited slip front & rear differential
All wheel drive
Cooling system -inc: (2) water radiators, gearbox oil cooler, engine oil cooler
Aluminum space frame
Front & rear aluminum double wishbone suspension -inc: coil springs, anti-dive, anti-squat, anti-roll bar, Koni FSD dampers
Front & rear stabilizer bars
Pwr rack & pinion steering
Front pwr vacuum ventilated disc brakes w/8-cyl alloy calipers
Rear pwr vacuum ventilated disc brakes w/4-cyl alloy calipers
Front automatic brake differential (ABD)
Quad exhaust tips

EXTERIOR
19" x 8.5" front aluminum wheels
19" x 11" rear aluminum wheels
235/35ZR19 front Pirelli PZero tires
295/30ZR19 rear Pirelli PZero tires
Front air dams
Rear diffuser
Electronically controlled rear spoiler
Bi-xenon projector beam headlights
Fog lights
Tinted glass
Fixed rear window
Pwr heated folding mirrors
Variable intermittent windshield wipers

INTERIOR
Front leather sport bucket seats
Full floor console w/storage
Full floor carpeting
Floor mats
Tilt/telescopic steering column
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Instrumentation -inc: tachometer, external temp, digital clock
Trip computer w/average speed, miles to empty
Warning lights -inc: check engine, low fuel, door/hood open
Dual pwr windows w/one-touch up/down
Speed-sensing pwr door locks
Remote entry
Remote fuel door & trunk release
Engine immobilizer
Dual-zone climate control system w/micro filter
Rear defroster
12V pwr outlet
Electrochromic rearview mirror
Dual illuminated visor-mounted vanity mirrors
Lighting -inc: front reading, delayed/fade courtesy, cargo area

SAFETY
4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) w/electronic brake force distribution
Brake assist
Electronic stability program (ESP)
Viscous traction control system
Daytime running lights
Driver & front passenger dual-stage airbags w/occupant sensors
Side airbags w/head protection
3-point seat belts w/belt pretensioners
Tire pressure monitor

VEHICLE
EPA Classification : Two Seater
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score : 2
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score : 3

ENGINE
Engine Type : Gas V10
Displacement : 5.2L/318
Fuel System : DFI
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM : 553 @ 8000
SAE Net Torque @ RPM : 398 @ 6500

TRANSMISSION
Drivetrain : 4-Wheel Drive
Trans Type : 6
First Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Second Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Third Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Reverse Ratio (:1) : - TBD -
Clutch Size (in) : 8.5
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1) : - TBD -

MILEAGE
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG) : 15
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG) : 16
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG) : 14
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG) : 12
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG) : 20

ELECTRICAL
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary) : - TBD -
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps) : - TBD -

COOLING SYSTEM
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts) : 21.1

WEIGHT INFORMATION
Base Curb Weight (lbs) : 3307

TRAILERING
SUSPENSION
Suspension Type - Front : Independent
Suspension Type - Rear : Independent
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.) : double wishbone
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.) : double wishbone
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm) : - TBD -
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm) : - TBD -
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in) : - TBD -
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in) : - TBD -

BRAKES
Brake Type : Power
Brake ABS System : 4-Wheel
Disc - Front (Yes or ) : Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or ) : Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 14.4 x 1.3
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 14.0 x 1.3

TIRES
Front Tire Size : 235/35ZR19
Front Tire Size : - TBD -
Rear Tire Size : - TBD -
Rear Tire Size : 295/30ZR19

WHEELS
Front Wheel Size (in) : 19 x 8.5
Rear Wheel Size (in) : 19 x 11
Front Wheel Material : Aluminum
Rear Wheel Material : Aluminum

STEERING
Steering Type : Power rack & pinion
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall : - TBD -
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering) : - TBD -
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft) : 37.7
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft) : - TBD -

FUEL TANK
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal) : 23.8

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase (in) : 100.8
Length, Overall (in) : 171.1
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in) : 74.8
Height, Overall (in) : 45.9
Tread Width, Front (in) : 63.9
Tread Width, Rear (in) : 62.7
Min Ground Clearance (in) : - TBD -
Liftover Height (in) : - TBD -

CARGO AREA DIMENSIONS
Trunk Volume (ft³) : 4.5

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Passenger Capacity : 2
Passenger Volume (ft³) : - TBD -
Front Head Room (in) : 36.0
Front Leg Room (in) : 45.0
Front Shoulder Room (in) : - TBD -
Front Hip Room (in) : - TBD -

SUMMARY
Vehicle Name
Gallardo
Body Style
2 Door Coupe