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Along with more than 13,000 drag racing timelips, dyno graphs, pictures and drag racing videos, DragTimes.com now has dedicated areas featuring classic cars and muscle cars for sale.  Muscle cars from all over the country are broken down and organized into the top 100 metropolitan areas throughout the US.  Available muscle cars range from project cars
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The website gives people who really want to have cars but don’t have the right amount to purchase one the chance to buy the car of their dreams. And this is through the cheap used cars that they offer. The cars, even if they are already used, still look good and brand new. All you have to do is make some changes and you’re off to the road to show your car! Plus, they have all the brands of cars you can think of. Click on http://www.carsforagrand.com to have a better look on these cars.

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During the early 1970s, when the American Motors Company (AMC) was still around, the company aired a television advertisement in which a voice asked, “What Is It?” Featured on screen was the AMC Matador, a sedan that looked like a distorted Dodge Dart. In the background another voice answered with passion, “Its a Matador!”

That ad came to mind when I was thinking of ways to describe the soon to be released Ford Flex, a crossover vehicle that defies easy description. I’ve seen the Flex up close at a pair of auto shows this year, but I haven’t driven one yet. I’m not in the market for this type of vehicle personally, but I can see where families who might be thinking “minivan” or “let’s trade in the SUV” would consider something like the Flex.

I’m just not sure how the Flex’s distinct looks will play out when people shop for a crossover.

The Ford Flex is an alternative to the minivan, a product segment Ford abandoned a few years ago. Ford, like GM, decided to let Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda battle it out for minivan supremacy, choosing to go with the current hot segment — crossovers.

The Flex is a 7-passenger vehicle offered in front wheel or all wheel drive. Looking a lot like a station wagon, the Flex attempts to steer clear of that designation through its interior set up, most notably the seating arrangement.

One option Ford thinks will be a big hit is the roof which is available in contrasting white or silver instead of just the matching body color customers might usually choose. If you think you’ve seen this set up before, you have — the MINI Cooper also has the same floating roof design. A point of controversy will be the Flex’s side panel grooves, a design feature unique to a vehicle in this class.

Outfitted with its popular Ford SYNC navigation system and the SIRIUS Travel Link (an ideal feature for accessing weather, traffic, and gas station location information), the Flex offers an optional rear camera system which can be helpful for backing out of tight spaces.

Many times it is the “little touches” which help sway customer opinion about a vehicle. Ford hopes that the refrigerated second row center console will be one of those deciding factors, a unit that can hold as many as 7 cans of soda or a pair of 20-oz. bottles of the same. With a chill temperature of 41 degrees, even certain perishable food items could find a temporary home in this unit. For families who take long road trips, this touch is a real parent-pleaser, one more way to provide peace while on an endless trip.

Under the hood, the 3.5L V6 which powers the Taurus X does duty for the Flex. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Flex delivers EPA figures of 17 mpg city/24 highway for the FWD model; 16/22 for the AWD model. Those fuel figures compare favorably with similar-equipped minivans.

Though pricing hasn’t been firmed up as of this writing, the base Flex should retail for about $28,000 with a fully equipped AWD Flex selling for just over $36,000. Starting prices for the Flex are slightly higher than similarly equipped minivans, but compare favorable to similar sized SUVs.

Like the Matador, the Flex will probably elicit the usual “what is it?” reactions when the first vehicles hit the road this summer. That might not be a bad thing as Ford can use all the attention it can get with the Flex. Converting customer reactions into actual sales may be the Flex’s biggest challenge, but with important safety and cabin features included, Ford just may have a beautiful swan on its hands.

Photos are courtesy and the copyright of the Ford Motor Company.

• Ford has gotten plenty of mileage from its American Idol sponsorship this year, by introducing its redesigned Ford Focus coupe on the air earlier this month. The company also awarded finalists David Archuleta and David Cook one Ford Escape Hybrid each and is enjoying the gushing praise that Cook has been giving his not yet arrived prize. Ford also used “Idol” to introduce its new “Drive One” campaign.

• Fisker has been getting a lot of press lately, not just for its legal battle with Tesla, but for its debut of the prototype of its $80K electric sports car. Quite frankly, the car is beautiful. Whether the car will truly be introduced later this year and capacity of 15k models annually reached is subject to debate, but the car is a step in the right direction.

• Autoblog is reporting that one aftermarket parts supplier can help convert your Saturn SKY into a Tesla fighter, but for about half of the price of the Tesla Roadster. AMP Motorworks is planning to convert 300 SKYs and promises to deliver a car that can go 90 MPH, 150 miles on one charge, and produce zero emissions.

• Chrysler, which reached an agreement with Nissan recently to produce vehicles for each other, is exploring possible relationships with other vehicle manufacturers to help advance its fleet. Chrysler may drop some of its larger models in face of the current gas price surge and hook up with other companies who could help fill important gaps its model line up.

• Finally, congratulations are in order for Scott Dixon and Kasey Kahne who respectively won yesterday’s Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600, two of the biggest motorsport races of the year.

Pictured: Henrik Fisker with his Fisker Karma all-electric sportscar.

We all know that our dependency on foreign oil is wreaking havoc on our lives today. What’s particularly sad is that a pair of wake up calls in the 1970s went virtually unheeded and we’re more dependent on international crude than every before.

Congress is trying to place the blame on the oil companies for excessive profiteering while the President wants OPEC to increase production. With the former, Congress isn’t telling the American people the truth — oil companies plow the bulk of their profits back into exploration. A windfall profit tax would be passed on to consumers essentially shifting taxes to where it would hurt the most.

Telling OPEC to do anything is a joke as their interests are not served by increasing production. Moreover, it doesn’t solve the problem at hand: speculators have driven up the price of a barrel of oil and mandates for producing ethanol (biofuels) are taking a similar toll.

While politicians bicker, there are some reasonable and short term solutions consumers can take now to ease their pain at the pump. It doesn’t even involve the cost of selling an older, less fuel efficient vehicle at a loss and buying an overpriced economy car.

If you are in the market for a new car and have the funds to make a purchase, then the timing is right for you. For most other consumers a panic sell off is just that — over reaction to a problem that can cost you thousands of dollars.

Without suggesting long term solutions which don’t help anyone now, the following are some ways that I believe will help consumers today:

Work From Home — Long commutes are destroying our way of life, making it impossible for families to absorb the doubling of fuel costs associated with traveling back and forth to work. Many office workers have laptops and can work anywhere — working from home, at least one day per week, can slash commuting expenses by 20% or more. As someone who has worked from home for more than five years I can attest to the savings that this option has given to me.

Company Sponsored Car Pools — For some businesses, having employees work from home is unpractical — their people still need to be at work every day. Government credits are already in place for businesses to buy vans and allow employees to carpool to work. Ten employees riding in one vehicle can benefit everyone — the company takes an important pressure point off of employees, workers contribute a monthly fee to cover their share of car pool expenses, and the demand on gasoline drops.

Four Day Work Weeks — Some companies can switch from 5-day work days to 4-days allowing employees to work four ten-hour shifts instead of five eight-hour shifts. Many nurses today already work three twelve-hour shifts and quite a few businesses can make the transition without losing production.

Yes, these are short term solutions and nothing more. Over time, consumers will adjust by choosing more fuel efficient vehicles, go with mass transit (where available) while (we hope) our politicians come up with a sensible energy plan that we can all live with.

Expecting our elected officials to take a leadership role now may be a pipe dream. On the other hand, I trust that resourceful Americans will find alternatives that work for them now, solutions that can reduce their weekly fuel costs by 20% or more.

Who doesn’t like to win prizes? I know that I do. Yet, I rarely bother to enter most sweepstakes, figuring that I don’t stand a chance to win. You know what? I don’t because I haven’t filled out the entry form.

As with any contest, you gotta be in it to win it. I know people who have a knack at winning sweepstakes because they take the time to see what is out there and carefully choose the contests that are right for them.

Automakers, part suppliers, and other companies who gear their products to today’s drivers often develop sweepstakes as part of their marketing programs. Sure, it may cost them a car, a year’s supply of free car washes, or some other expense, but the marketing attention they receive with these schemes pays off.

I’ve hunted down several contests currently in effect, some ending very shortly with others with months to go. I’m not endorsing any of the products or contests mentioned, nor is this article some sort of paid advertisement. Take care when entering any contest; read the contest rules and fine print — opt out of any mailings you do not want:

Contest: “See Us, You Could Be In A Prius”
Sponsor: PNC Bank
Grand Prize: A total of eight (8) new Toyota Prius’ will be given away.
Ending Date: May 31, 2008
More Info: PNC Bank

Contest: Crocs Next Step Campus Tour
Sponsor: Crocs and Ford
Grand Prize: 2008 Ford Focus SES with SYNC
Ending Date: May 31, 2008
More Info: Crocs

Contest: K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes
Sponsor: K&N and Pontiac
Grand Prize: Pontiac G6 GXP Coupe
Ending Date: May 25, 2008
More Info: K&N Sweepstakes

Contest: Custom Civic Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Panic at the Disco (PATD), Honda
Grand Prize: 2008 Civic Hybrid customized by PATD
Ending Date: August 15, 2008
More Info: PATD sweepstakes

Contest: RoadRunner High Speed - Online Race to Win Sweepstakes
Sponsor: RoadRunner
Grand Prize: Mazda3Speed Sport
Ending Date: May 31, 2008
More Info: Race To Win

Contest: Listerine Kids - Sound Byte Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
Grand Prize: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Ending Date: June 1, 2008
More Info: Listerine Kids

Contest: Thrive and Drive Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Scotts
Grand Prize: Ford Racing Equipped Mustang GT
Ending Date: July 5, 2008
More Info: Thrive and Drive

Contest: Pontiac KVD Contest
Sponsor: Maxim, Pontiac
Grand Prize: Kat Von D’s Tattooed Vibe
Ending Date: July 15, 2008
More Info: Von D’s Vibe

Contest: Win A Truck Built Right
Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
Grand Prize: A Customized Boyd Coddington Ford F-150
Ending Date: July 31, 2008
More Info: You Build The Ride

Contest: Rigged Up Truck Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Advance Auto Parts
Grand Prize: A Tricked Out Toyota Tundra
Ending Date: September 30, 2008
More Info: Advance Auto Parts

Contest: The Car You Can’t Ignore Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Chevrolet
Grand Prize: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
Ending Date: October 31, 2008
More Info: The Car You Can’t Ignore

Contest: The Rookie Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Degree Deodorant, Fox Broadcasting
Grand Prize: 2008 Hummer H3
Ending Date: May 25, 2008
More Info: The Rookie

Please note that most contests are open to U.S. households only, with some contests that include Canadian households as well. Restrictions apply; you may have to pay taxes on your winnings.

If you win, why not hit the reply button and let the world know? Happy trails!

As you can tell, I don’t drive the car all that much as I work from home and only have need of it about two days per week. My wife and I have thought about selling it, but on those days when I really need a vehicle, sharing her Toyota RAV4 would just not work out. Besides, at the rate that I am going, I’ll still have a low mileage car to give to my oldest child when he starts driving in seven years!

My car is in excellent condition and would fetch a nice price if I were to sell it. What has surprised me is that its book value is still very good and could net me about $5500 if sold privately according to Kelley Blue Book. When I purchased the car I expected to keep it for about seven years, thinking that I would be driving it a lot more than I currently do and be in the market for a new set of wheels by then. Instead, I have driven a lot less than I thought I would, therefore the car has only depreciated by about $300 per year!

The trend for higher prices for fuel efficient used cars is spreading with J.D. Power reporting that the average price of a compact car has risen by 2% in the past year. Conversely, the resell price for big trucks and SUVs is dropping rapidly, with many consumers likely holding a vehicle that is worth less than what their loan payoff amount is.

A recently published Associated Press article details the experience of a used car dealer in Atlanta who is selling his compact cars at a premium price. Though his lot only holds 15 vehicles, he has filled it up with compact cars he bought at automotive auctions in Orlando and Atlanta. As a result, his cars are selling as people look for a way to deal with gas prices approaching $4 per gallon.

Sure, I’d prefer to drive something else, but my Neon serves my needs and it certainly is the right kind of wheels for the current price run up. Though I believe gas prices will eventually retreat, the demand for fuel efficient vehicles will likely remain strong, including for plain jane compact cars such as my 2001 Dodge Neon.

Automakers, like all major corporations, craft marketing campaigns designed to help drum up business. Many times these campaigns are developed in coordination with an ad agency to help find the “sweet spot” where customer interest is turned into actual sales.

Some campaigns are a bust, quickly scrapped and soon forgotten. Others, do their job and help bring in a steady stream of customers who might otherwise not show up at a particular brand’s new car showroom, giving sales people the opportunity to market their products.

Once in awhile a marketing campaign has an impact that not only brings in additional customers, but provokes the type of controversy that causes the campaign to go viral. By viral, I mean that the campaign mutates and spreads on its own with very little help from the company or the ad agency.

A prime example of viral marketing success is Chrysler’s current Let’s Refuel America campaign, an initiative started by Chrysler LLC to guarantee buyers that they would not have to pay more than $2.99 per gallon when filling up. Specifically, customers buying a new Dodge Ram truck would be guaranteed that their gas price would not hit $3 per gallon even if the pump price says $4, $6, or even $10 as some are predicting will happen.

Chrysler’s marketing scheme extends to most other Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge brand vehicles, not just to the Dodge Ram, and the program was to end on June 2nd. However, Chrysler is reporting a 25% increase in web activity and a 34% increase in lead activity from the internet. With this news, Chrysler is extending the initiative through July 7th, in a bid to keep the momentum building.

Many of the automotive blogs have commented on the Chrysler initiative, with most articles stating that “Let’s Refuel America” is a bad idea. Actually, I’m being kind by not repeating some of the uglier comments as they can easily be found by looking around for yourself.

Personally, I wouldn’t advise a customer interested in buying a Jeep, Dodge, or Chrysler vehicle to join the program for one important reason: you lose the chance to take advantage of other incentives offered by Chrysler LLC including rebates which can add up to more than $5000 for certain vehicles. Yes, as gas prices fluctuate your costs will be capped, but if gas prices drop below $3 per gallon, then you lose the benefit of this program.

Chrysler’s does hold the line on gasoline for three full years with their program, an option that will appeal to people who want pump price stability. Personally, I believe gas prices will eventually drop as national demand for fuel continues to drop and prices begin to stabilize later this summer. Even if prices settle at around $3.25 per gallon, the 25 cents per gallon savings with a 26-gallon fuel tank would save you $6.50 per fill up.

Moreover, if you drive a lot and fill up twice per week your savings would be $13 per week or $676 per year. Move that figure out for three years and your savings would be $2028. If gas was to settle at $3.50 per gallon then your savings would be $4056 for the same three year period. Not bad, but if you check Chrysler’s current incentives you could save more money by taking the rebate. Don’t forget, the 2009 Dodge Ram is all-new, therefore the incentives to push 2008 models out of the showroom will only get better.

From a marketing standpoint, the “Let’s Refuel America” campaign is a smart one, even if your depending on gas prices to stay high is a risky idea. For Chrysler, there is risk involved for themselves, especially if certain global conditions push prices to the top of the scale. Yet, the “controversy” generated from this campaign is likely to make Chrysler’s risk worthwhile — just don’t join in as I believe you’d do better by opting for their other deep incentives instead.