Ballin' on a Budget

As a member to a bunch of automotive forums, I often see bad installations that can affect everyday driving and are dangerous. This one took my by surprise. I witness many users trying to save money when lowering their car. I always say do it right the first time and it will save you money in the long run. This one example took it to the extreme. Lowering a car takes time, money and knowledge. The suspension is a huge component on any vehicle. The aftermarket scene is littered with bad installations, horrible suspension setups and unsafe driving situations. When lowering a car, quality suspension components and quality installations go hand in hand. Having proper alignment is essential to drivability, handling and tire wear. Too much negative camber and the tires will wear out excessively quick. Parts like control arms and axles must be reconnected the proper way to prevent any catastrophic failures. What this Honda owner did with his vehicle is just mind blowing. He is putting himself and others in danger when driving.

Camaro ZL1 vs. Nissan GT-R

The debate between these two high powered vehicles shouldn't even be. Comparing a muscle car with a super car is like bringing a gun to a knife fight. The Camaro ZL1 is a great car, no doubt about it. It has a V8 580 hp engine, traction management, RWD, and muscle car DNA. All muscle cars are designed to perform best in a straight line. The Nissan GT-R would put the Camaro to shame on both street and track. The GT-R was built to take on the best vehicles in the world, not the ZL1. Sure, some enthusiasts want domestic over import any day, and that's their preference. But when comparing these side by side, the GT-R wins everyday. Nissan's GT-R combines a twin-turbo V6 with AWD handling to make an incredible car. The real debate would be the ZL1 vs. the new Shelby GT500. What do you guys think?

Gone in 60 Seconds

How many of you have seen Gone in 60 Seconds? You know, the movie with Nicholas Cage and his infamous Eleanor 1967 Mustang? Well, the classic just sold for a whopping $1.1 Million at the Mecum Auto Auction. This 1967 Mustang fastback was used in the movie, and was one out of 11 that were created. Out of the 11, only 3 actually worked, and 2 of them were destroyed during the movie. This left only 1. Chip Foose had a hand in this build, helping out Cinema Vehicle Services who recreated the car. Although not used in the movie, the crew at Classic Recreations can build you one for a mere $139,900. This isn't bad considering what it has to offer. Everything from the frame up is new, making it that much better than your classic led sled that's building dust and inheriting rust sitting in the garage.

Acura NSX Anyone?

Ever since 2005, enthusiasts have been waiting for Honda to bring back its infamous NSX. Production began in 1991 for this supercar, and came to a halt in the early years of the new millennium. It was state-of-the-art for its time and became increasingly popular. Finding an NSX today can be challenging. NSX owners do not want to give up their seemingly rare sports car. Honda has plans on releasing their newly designed and re-engineered NSX in 2015, or so they say. The new look is what today's technology is all about. It will also be an electronic engine. Honda is calling it their Sport Hybrid, which combines all-wheel drive and great gas mileage with a supercar feel. Price remains unknown, but we can expect it to be much more than the GT-R from Nissan, which almost reaches $100,000. Who's name is on the top of the pre-order list?

Ultrarev: The Beginning

Currently located in Farmingdale, NJ, Ultrarev began as a custom tuner shop in the Queens area of New York. It was running under the name "Civicshop". The shop consisted of a few lifts and a couple of technicians. Due to the aftermarket industry booming, the company needed to expand and that was when Ultrarev.com was created. The company eventually moved to where it sits now back in 2008. Ultrarev.net carries some of the biggest names in the industry including K&N, Energy Suspension, Spec Clutch, and Borla. Customers have over 250,000 aftermarket performance parts to choose from. With the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S hitting the market, Ultrarev is proud to support both those vehicles with numerous amounts of performance parts. The staff at Ultrarev provides quality support along with low everyday prices to accommodate any car enthusiast.

F1 Car Simulator

You don't need to be a professional F1 race car driver to have the experience. Costco U.K. has made it easy for anyone with a load of cash to drive an F1 race care. Costco isn't just about packaged goods and large cases of water. The F1 simulator costs a whopping $115,000. The simulator is very realistic as well. The body of the car consists of carbon fiber details with the driver having complete control of the wheel. Brembo brakes accent the wheels which have Pirelli tires wrapped around them. You'll never have to leave your house again. Oh, and a custom paint job is included in the price as well. Not bad, right? You go in for some groceries and end up calling your buddy for his trailer to get the car home.

Retrofit Headlights

Looking for more light output from your headlights? Aftermarket light bulbs are a common upgrade among enthusiasts. They are an inexpensive upgrade and provide some more light output. A retrofit headlight consists of the OEM headlight housing with a projector mounted on the inside. The light output from a projector can be double from the factory headlight. Retrofitting headlights is an easy task for anyone with mild mechanical skills. Heat the headlight up in the oven, pry apart the front lens from the back and mount the projector. Retrofitting headlights can be somewhat costly, but are extremely better than factory headlights. Here is a great link to a VW DIY for retrofitting headlights. For a video, click here.

NGK Spark Plugs

Its been a long and harsh winter for most of us. Our vehicle's ignition system has taken a beating. It has worked hard turning that engine over on those bitterly cold days. NGK spark plugs are a great replacement for improved starting and smoother idle. NGK spark plugs come in various applications depending on what your needs are. NGK has factory replacement plugs all the way up to high performance spark plugs. With the warm weather coming, a tune up will be perfect to handle the hot temperatures.

Toyota's 2JZ Engine

How many Lexus IS300 SportCross wagons have you guys seen? This one really took me by surprise. Not only is it rare, but its a perfect candidate for a turbo. Toyota's 2JZ is one of the best NA engines around. The owner of this Lexus obviously knew what he was working with. The 2JZ engine can be highly modified and is highly sought after by car enthusiasts. Its internals and design can take major abuse from an added turbocharger. The Toyota Supra benefits from the 2JZ-GTE, which is a twin-turbocharged engine. Engine internals from the 2JZ-GTE can be swapped to the 2JZ for upgraded performance. Both the Lexus IS300 and Toyota Supra are becoming more and more rare in today's world. Bulletproof engines aren't so common anymore!

iPhone-Controlled Suspension

Wait, what? That's right. KW suspension has created their coilover system to be electronically controlled via iPhone. Toss away those spanning wrenches and adjustable tools. Download the app on your iPhone and watch it go to work. Both dampening and height can be adjusted on the KW DDC coilovers. Are you leaving the grocery store and headed right for the track? Open the app on your iPhone and have the suspension adjusted by the time you arrive. Throwing more weight in the trunk for you and your golfing buddies? Raise the suspension to avoid any wheel rubbing using the iPhone. Sorry Android users, this feature isn't available just yet! Ultrarev.net is the leading supplier of suspension products at some of the lowest prices on the internet.

Supercar or Superfly?

If money was not an issue, I'm sure all of us have a dream car in mine we want. The LFA from Lexus is nothing short of incredible. With a base price of $375,000, the Lexus LFA is part airplane and part car. Its unique and plush interior will have you feeling like a pilot. The exterior of the supercar presents just enough of an exotic look to make a Ferrari do a double-take. The Lexus LFA is so simple, yet so sophisticated that it can be a daily driver or a weekend track monster. Back in 2000, the supercar began its journey to where it stands today. A 12-year process produced such a classy vehicle. With only 500 made, getting your hands on one would be an enormous feat. If not this, maybe wait until 2015 where Acura will release its re-make of the now discontinued NSX. High performance doesn't get much better than one of these supercars.

Automotive Air Intakes

An inexpensive solution for added power and more engine flow is to upgrade to a cold air intake. There are so many different brands on the market and Ultrarev.net carries all of them. You might be considering a short ram intake for its cheaper price and ease of installation, but you're going to run into some problems. The short ram air intake plays victim to heat soak and bogs down the engine. Stick with the cold air intake for optimum air flow and much less heat soak than the short ram intake system. In air intake is just as good as its filter. Ultrarev.net carries everything needed for performance and installation of automotive air intakes.

Honda S2000 Supercharger

Pumping out around 200 horsepower from the factory, Honda's S2000 is very appealing to most enthusiasts. Its lightweight body and rear-wheel drive setup make this sports car quite fun. S2000 owners turn to forced induction to add serious amount of power. The Comptech supercharger tacks on an extra 100 horsepower to put the S2000 over the 300 mark. Ultrarev.net carries various forced induction kits for many vehicles, both import and domestic. Don't be caught this summer without some power under the hood to impress the crowd at the car shows!

Summerize Your Vehicle!

Now that the cold weather, for the most part, is out of the way, we can prepare for the warm weather. After a long cold season, our cars need to be pampered. The engine's oil should be checked and replaced with a K&N oil filter. A smooth running engine only runs on clean oil. Sucking in all that salt and debris from the winter storms wreaks havoc on our air filter. Replace your dry and dirty air intake filter with a quality one from K&N. Ultrarev.net carries many types of filters for any vehicle. Brake pads are crucial to stopping your car or truck. The winter is a harsh environment for many of us. Our car's brakes feel just the same as we do. Upgrade your brakes and rotors for optimal stopping power. A quality set of brake pads and rotors from Stoptech will prevent any chances of the brakes failing. Ultrarev.net has all your needs when getting your car ready for summe

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