Taking a small luxury vehicle out for a test drive is the ideal way to get a feel for the car. Take the car for a good drive, book it out in advance and find out how much time you are allowed it for. Trying the car at highway speeds, around the city and other modes is important to recognize any issues you might have later. If the car feels good and it’s in your budget then go ahead and buy one.

Enjoying a small luxury car is easy with the fun and excitement that accompany owning one!

Renting a deluxe car is a great way to try before you buy. it is really impractical to test run a car by going around the block from your local dealer. To really test a car properly it should be part of your daily routine for a few days at least. What is the car like to drive in the early morning on the way to work? What is it like to drive at night with all the lights on? What is that car like when cruising on the freeway for several hours? All these and many other questions will not be answered by taking a car around the block. You need to have access to it for about a week to really get to know if it will suit your lifestyle and needs. By renting a luxury car and not paying for it outright could be a big way to save your money when you realize the car is not what you really wanted.

Talk to your local deluxe car rental firm and see if they have new models or models that are very similar to the one you have in mind. You don’t always need to have the exact 2011 or 1012 model as most often the 2009 or 2010 model will be very similar and you can teat out the features of the latest model when you visit the car dealer.

Renting a deluxe car is the way to go if you want to really test out the car you are interested in buying.

Of course you can rent luxury cars for a day or weekend and just enjoy having a great time without the pressure of testing it etc. People rent out deluxe cars all the time, for special occasions, for weddings, for family reunions or for just to impress their girlfriend or friends.

Whatever your needs, a deluxe rental car is a lot of fun and it’s something everyone should enjoy at least once in their life.

• 

  BMW 3 Series

  The BMW 3-Series

  
  The 2006 model features a roomy interior and more powerful engines, the fifth-generation BMW 3-Series adds a new line of coupes to its lineup. Featuring the 328i, 328xi and 335i, the new models replace the 325i and 330i coupes, convertibles and sedans. The 335i is highlighted by a 300-horsepower turbo charged inline six-cylinder that features twin turbochargers and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. At the North American International Auto Show 2007 in Detroit, BMW unveiled its new 3-Series Convertible with a retractable hardtop. The power-operated steel roof goes up in 23 seconds and down in 22.

• 

  Acura TL

  The Acura TL

  
  For 2007 Acura’s entry-luxury car receives new exterior and interior styling, a new 5-speed automatic transmission and the return of the Type-S. The third-generation TL adds minor upgrades for 2006 including adds a standard tire-pressure-monitoring system and engine control module changes to help reduce torque steer when equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission. The high-performance Type-S is differentiated by exclusive front and rear fascias, black chrome trim and 10-spoke alloy wheels. Under the hood is a new 286-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 5-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters.

• 

  Infiniti G35

  The Infiniti G35

  
  The 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury sports coupe, available in two trims, the Base and the 6MT. Upon introduction, the Base is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 280-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 6MT is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 298-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe is a carryover from 2005

This will be an ongoing, continuously updated review, resource and blog for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. I have just purchased one and this will be photographed and reviewed here over the coming weeks. The car will be delivered in a couple of days.

Topics covered will include 2011 Toyota Corolla Hatchback:

Performance:

A sophisticated 100kW 1.8L dual VVT-i engine makes getting behind the wheel a pleasure.

It’s hard to write much about performance in the early stage of the cars life but it has enough torque to keep most motorists happy. I will be going into more intensive testing in the future once the car has been run in.

Quality:

Impressively equipped with great features and advanced technology . You feel like the car has evolved a lot and is solid.

Style:

Built on Corolla’s heritage with intelligent design, comfort and convenience. Well you can see from the pictures that this model has a lot of style and oozes with personality. Obviously it helps to add your own touches to it and personalize the Corolla to how you like it. I just done a few little things like using premium number plates, putting some new wheels/tires on along with tinting the windows. Everyone that has seen it has been blown away. It’s amazing how a little bit of extra effort on some of these accessories can make such a difference.

Let’s take a look at some images, all the pics of the graphite colour car is the one tested.

Comfort
Style
Engine
Transmission
Wheels
Interior
Exterior
Trim
Glass
Body
Lights
Audio
Accessories

2011 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Specification:

INSTRUMENT & CONTROLS

Power steering: STD …
- Power steering type: Electric …
Steering wheel: STD …
- Steering wheel type: Plastic/urethane …
- Tilting adjustment: STD …
- Telescopic/reach adjustment: STD …
Cruise control: O/PACK …
Trip computer: STD …
Door mirrors – driver’s side: STD …
- Exterior mirror adjustment type: Electrically adjustable …
- Exterior mirror colour: Body colour …
Door mirrors – passenger’s side: STD …
- Exterior mirror adjustment type: Electrically adjustable …
- Exterior mirror colour: Body colour …
Rear view mirror: STD …
Windscreen wipers: STD …
- Intermittent windscreen wipers: Variable …
Rear window: STD …
- Rear window wipers: Intermittent …
Headlight control: STD …
Main dashboard display: STD …
- Type: Analog …
Tachometer: STD …
Low fuel level warning: STD

FEATURES

Air conditioning: STD …
Ventilation system: STD …
Power windows – front: STD …
Power windows – rear: STD …
Vanity mirror – driver’s side: STD …
- Illuminated vanity mirror: STD …
Vanity mirror – passenger’s side: STD …
- Illuminated vanity mirror: STD

DIMENSIONS

(Note: Some figures are approximate only and may vary due to options/accessories fitted.)

External dimensions: STD …
- Length (mm): 4245 …
- Width (mm): 1760 …
- Height (mm): 1515 …
- Wheelbase (mm): 2600 …
Off road specifics: STD …
- Approach angle: 15 …
- Departure angle: 28 ….

STORAGE

Glovebox: STD …
- Illuminated glovebox: STD …
Sunglass holder: STD …
Console – floor: STD …
- Console type: Full …
Seat back storage – behind front seat(s): STD …
- Seat back storage – type: Pocket …
Door pockets – driver’s side: STD …
Door pockets – passenger’s side: STD …
Door pockets – rear: STD …
Beverage holders – front seats: STD …
- Number of cup holders: 2 …
- Number of bottle holder/s: 2 …
Beverage holders – rear seats: STD …
- Number of bottle holder/s: 2 ….

SAFETY

Anti-Skid Brakes (ABS) – All wheels: STD …
Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD): STD …
Brake Assist (BA): STD …
Traction Control (TRC): STD …
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC): STD …
Front airbag – driver: STD …
Front airbag – passenger: STD …
Side airbag – front seats: STD …
Side curtain airbag – front and rear: STD …
Knee airbag – driver’s side: STD …
Front seat belts – driver: STD …
- Pre-tensioner seatbelts: STD …
- Front seat belts force limiter: STD …
- Height adjustable seatbelts: STD …
Front seat belts – passenger: STD …
- Pre-tensioner seatbelts: STD …
- Front seat belts force limiter: STD …
- Height adjustable seatbelts: STD …
Rear seat belts – centre: STD …
- Seatbelt type: 3-point …
- 2nd row/rear seat ALR seatbelts for child seats: STD …
Rear seat belts – driver’s side: STD …
- Seatbelt type: 3-point …
- 2nd row/rear seat ALR seatbelts for child seats: STD …
Rear seat belts – passenger’s side: STD …
- Seatbelt type:3-point …
- 2nd row/rear seat ALR seatbelts for child seats: STD ….

TYRES & RIMS

Tyres – front: STD …
- Tyre width (mm): 195 …
- Tyre profile: 65 …
- Tyre rating: H …
Tyres – rear: STD …
- Tyre width (mm): 195 …
- Tyre profile: 65 …
- Tyre rating:H …
Wheels – front: STD …
- Rim type: Steel …
- Rim diameter (inch): 15 …
- Rim width (inch): 6 …
- Wheel covers: Full …
Wheels – rear: STD …
- Rim type: Steel …
- Rim diameter (inch): 15 …
- Rim width (inch): 6 …
- Wheel covers: Full …
Spare wheel – internal: STD …
- Spare wheel type: Full: size …
- Rim type: Steel …
- Spare wheel tyre size: 195/65 R15 91H ….

SOUND SYSTEM

Audio system: STD …
- Audio includes radio: AM & FM …
- Audio includes single CD: STD …
- MP3 compatibility: STD …
Speakers: STD …
- Number of speakers: 6 ….

DRIVETRAIN

Drive: STD …
- Driven wheels: Front …
Transmission: STD …
- Transmission type: Manual …
- Number of gears: 6 …
- Transmission description: Manual ….

WEIGHTS & CAPACITIES

(Note: Kerb, tare & payload weights are nominal and will vary depending on options and tray/body type.)

Weights: STD …
- Kerb weight (kg): 1260 …
- Gross vehicle weight rating (kg): 1805 …
- Gross trailer weight braked (kg): 1300 …
- Gross trailer weight unbraked (kg): 450 …
Seating: STD …
- Seating capacity: 5 …
Fuel tank – main: STD …
- Capacity (L): 55 …
- Fuel type: Unleaded …

(Note: Genuine Towbar Capacity – Refer to Genuine Accessory Guide, as it may differ from Vehicle Towing Capacity in some circumstances.
Towing capacity – Subject to state regulations, towbar design and towing equipment.)

INTERIOR TRIM AND SEATING

Seat upholstery: STD …
- Main seat material: Cloth …
Floor covering: STD …
- Floor covering in cabin: Textile …
Grab handles: STD …
- Number of grab handles: 4 …
Front seat – driver: STD …
- Front seat type: Bucket …
- Slide adjustment: STD …
- Slide adjustment type: Manual …
- Recline adjustment: STD …
- Recline adjustment type: Manual …
- Height adjustment: STD …
- Height adjustment type: Manual …
Front seat – passenger: STD …
- Front seat type: Bucket …
- Slide adjustment: STD …
- Slide adjustment type: Manual …
- Recline adjustment: STD …
- Recline adjustment type: Manual …
Rear seats – front facing: STD …
- Recline adjustment: STD …
- Recline adjustment type: Manual …
- Folding rear seat back: 40/60 …
Head restraints – front seats: STD …
Head restraints – rear seats: STD ….

LIGHTING

Courtesy (dome) lights: STD …
- Delayed/fade: STD …
Map lights – front: STD …
Cargo light: STD ….

SECURITY

Immobiliser: STD …
Central door locking: STD …
- Central door locking operation: Remote …
Cargo area cover: STD …
Remote fuel flap release: STD ….

EXTERIOR

Bumpers – front: STD …
- Colour of bumpers: Body colour …
Bumpers – rear: STD …
- Colour of bumpers: Body colour …
Headlights: STD …
- Lens type: Complex surface …
- Headlight bulb type: Halogen …
Spoiler – boot/hatch: STD …
Exterior door handles: STD …
- Exterior door handles colour: Body colour …
Paint: STD …
- Paint type: Gloss ….

VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS

Mobile phone additions: STD …
- Wireless connection: Bluetooth …

(Note: The Bluetooth word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Bluetooth™ will only operate with telephones enabled with compatible Bluetooth wireless technology (HFP (Hands Free Profile) v1.0 and OPP (Object Push Profile) v1.1 international standards.)

(Note: Satellite Navigation coverage are major capitals, primary national roads & some regional areas.) .

BRAKES

Disc brakes: STD …
- Number of disc brakes: 4 …
- Number of ventilated disc brakes: 2 …
- Front brake rotor size (mm): 275 x 22 …
- Rear brake rotor size (mm): 259 x 9 ….WARRANTY / SERVICE .

(Note: Warranties here are in addition to implied warranties under the Trade Practices Act. Conditions apply. See warranty booklet for details.)

Warranty whole vehicle: STD …
- Duration (months): 36 …
- Distance (km): 100000 …
Warranty paint: STD …
- Duration (months): 36 …
Warranty anti-corrosion: STD …
- Duration (months): 60 ….

ENGINE

Engine: STD …
- Engine type: Petrol …
- Capacity (cc): 1798 …
- Engine description: Four cylinder, in-line, DOHC, four valves per cylinder with dual variable valve timing, alloy block, cross-flow alloy head. …
- Configuration: In-line …
- Head composition: Light alloy …
- Variable valve timing: STD …
- Variable valve timing type: Dual VVT-i …
- Valve gear type: DOHC …
- Number of valves per cylinder: 4 …
Fuel: STD …
- Fuel type: Unleaded …
- Fuel type octane no.: 91 …
Power: STD …
- Maximum power kW: 100 …
- Rpm for maximum power: 6000 …
- Maximum torque Nm: 175 …
- Rpm for maximum torque: 4400 …
Fuel system: STD …
- Injection type: Multi-point injection …
- Ignition type: Electronic …
Fuel consumption – ADR 81/02: STD …
- Fuel consumption – combined (L/100km): 7.3 …
Emission control level: STD …
- Australia – greenhouse rating: 7 …
- Australia – air pollution rating: 6.5 …

(Note: Fuel consumption will vary depending on driving conditions/style, vehicle conditions and options/accessories.)

STEERING

Steering: STD …
- Type: Rack & Pinion ….

The sterring is responisvie and quick. The sterring wheel feels slightly bulky to me but still is quick enjoyable to and comfotable to use. The car car lean into any corner and it’s just a matter of then picking your line while the steering locks on and takes you around effortlesly. The car hugs the road nicely, the mags and low profile tires help too.

SUSPENSION

Suspension – front: STD …
- Suspension description: Independent, MacPherson struts, lower L-arms, gas dampers and off set coil springs and front anti-roll bar. …
Suspension – rear: STD …
- Suspension description: Semi-independent trailing torsion beam, coil springs and gas damper units.

The suspension feel very comfortable, firm but soft. It feels strong and candle a lot of situations or whatever is thrown at it.

The Buying Process:

I had owned a corolla station wagon in the mid 80′s and I have very good memories of a totally reliable and solid car. My plan here was to buy a reliable and efficient car that I could use to drive around the city and region daily.

I purchased this Toyota Corolla from a Newcastle Toyota dealer. I first decided to take a walk around the Hamilton car dealership centre where Suzuki, VW, Nissan, Ford and nearly every other popular car brand is located in Newcastle, NSW. I had been through a few weeks earlier and had researched somewhat as well. My initial budget was under $18,000 for a new car and I was awaiting finance approval from my bank. In this period I had heard of Toyota offering a low 4.9% interest rate on Corollas.  I thought about a VW and Subaru’s along with some European models too but the Toyota Corolla Hatchback appealed to me . I walked past the dealer and took a look at a model with the salesman. We discussed some details and I decided to buy one after a drive and many questions.

Overall I enjoyed the buying process at that time. I was a little rushed though since it was closing time but the salesman communicated well.

The next day we trimmed some accessories off the sale and was able to secure a 2011 model instead of what I was initially offered, a 2010 November model. I felt that was good of them along with that in my excitement I must have signed up for nearly every accessory and option. I was now just down to the car & wheels really and I would worry about adding extras later like tinted glass.

So we finalised the deal and I had spent the previous evening researching and contacting agents. The morning before I went to the dealer I had a number of quotes from other dealers that wanted to sell me a vehicle. The dealership decided to agree to give me the 2011 model along with some free headlamp covers I had initially secured. I was able to get the car bit cheaper at a few other places but there were issues including not so close to my location, not the right colour in stock etc. I was also able to arrange for some allow wheels to be included in the overall finance package. They seemed good people to deal with and I would prefer I kept it with them now. Overall it was a good experience and the finance woman was great to deal with as I proceed financial applications.  The finance was approved right away. The facilities of their show room are modern. It’s a great showroom with free coffee in a comfortable setting.

I picked the car up and the salesman walked me through using the car and the controls. His demonstration was very well done and it was clear and precise. The car looked very cool in the middle of the showroom and it was admired by other customers along with the dealership staff.

The Tire Issue:

I drove the car home and it felt great. I was very happy with my purchase .  The wheels became a bit of an issue though as Bob Jane’s never gave me the original tire I was initially shown. After some phone calls this was corrected but it was a little bit of a disapointment on an otherwise very happy sale .

The car was taken for a drive up to the Nelson Bay area and it was a pleasure to drive really. It hugs the road perfectly and it’s so comfortable.

Driving around a city was an enjoyable experience. The car looks and feels good and a pleasure to own.

Sound System & Media

The 2011 Corolla comes with USB and Bluetooth connection but it was not so easy to pair the bluetooth up and then get it to work with my Android. The usb was easy enough to work out. The stereo itself is quite basic but usable. It certainly serves well to play music but one of the first things to buy is a new higher end stereo system. The speakers only put out a certain level, the features are simple but efficient to get many people by but for those who prefer a little bit more in music quality then replacing with something else will be worth the extra.

Dashboard & Controls

The window wipers work efficiently but I feel one more option between the first two speeds would be an improvements. The back wiper is easy to find on the wiper control.

Indicators are effortless to use, not noticeable and you don’t feel distracted by them.

Lights are easy to find and work out the basics. The car lights up when you need it like when you get in or out in the dark. The main controls, speedo, revs etc illuminate when driving and the sun starts going down, so that’s cool I’m not sure if this has been standard on cars but I like it anyway.

The seats work fine and may feel a little chunky with the airbags but it’s well worth having that extra safety, the car feels like it is really padded out with the latest airbags and safety features which is great.

Door handles are responsive and the doors shut effortlessly although will still need a slight touch.

Air Conditioning: The three lowest settings do little and only the 4th setting is noticeable. There is a real lack of performance in the air/con and is the only problem I have really had with this model. I hope a computer setting can be changed or something to get it fixed.

Driving the Corolla: This is the best thing about the car, driving it is what it’s all about despite what’s on paper. The car takes to the streets of a small city or a big city. It will jug the corners like an f1 car. It will take bumps and curves in Australian roads as part of the deal. This car is made for the roads in our cities and suburbs. Driving the 2011 Corolla hatch was a real pleasure, you feel you are driving a model at it’s peak of performance and engineering.

more soon….

External Resources:

• 2011 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Home

To be continued….

There are many reasons Webber would not of done this on purpose and I personally think it has got to be the most stupid ever BS to ever get on the news for f1.

Reasons:

To put yourself in front of a speeding F1 car is suicide, drivers would be wanting to avoid this at all costs and especially from an experienced driver who has a family. He is also a person who cares so much for his family that he away gets out and waves at a crash so his family know he is ok.

Webber is known as one of the most fair and respected drivers, to make these pathetic accusations is the lowest thing I have seen in F1.

Webber would have no interest in taking out Rosberg if he was low enough to consider such a thing as Rosberg poses no threat to him. He would not want to take out Alonso either since they are both good friends.

Webber had little time to think after the accident, he was bouncing off a wall and if he was able to think in a split second he would then have to decide if he should put on the brakes and stop in the middle of the track and risk rolling the car or just let the car continue it’s natural momentum. He would have had to do this after getting a jolt from the hit against the wall and in the rain, wet and foggy visibility all in a matter of about 1 second.

Bergers attempt to make Webber look bad has backfired on him as the only one who believes this disgusting crap is Berger himself. He has just ruined his own reputation and has not done a lot for Austrians in general either since most of us were still getting over the Marko comments.

Features:

• power steering
• ABS
• twin air bags
• Good Stereo
• 4 cylinder motor
• economical

You might also request that the car has:

• a 3 year warranty
• 1 year free service
• discount on price

Then you need to know what type of car you prefer, i.e sports car, coupe, hatchback etc

If you know what are your preferred makes then that can help, i.e Honda, Toyota, Fiat

Once you have this all written out it is time to get online before you do anything. Browse through the makes websites for the cars you are interested in and view the specs and features for the models. Compare them and keep reading as many reviews as you can.

Make a short list of 3 or 4 models you are interested in and then head out to some dealers and take some for a test drive. Don’t make any on the spot decisions as the car salesmen will be doing all they can to make you sign then and there. Instead make notes and go home and sleep on all the information and decide which car you want to buy. Once you know the car you are certain you want then it is time to get on the phone and haggle with the dealers to see who will give you the best deal. You might prefer to go out and drive out and talk to them in person which is fine but it is easier to say no on the phone when a salesman is offering you a deal.

Good luck! Cars Review

Volkswagen Touareg

The SUV Volkswagen Touareg comes loaded with a powerful 3.0 litre diesel mill along with auto sensing rain wipers, powered seats for both, driver and passengers, remote controlled rear hatch, dual-zone climatronic and permanent all-wheel drive system. The new Volkswagen Touareg lightens your load by providing exterior features like 17″ alloy wheels with all-season tires, Silver roof rails, Power liftgate, Front and rear Park Distance and interior features such as Premium VI AM/FM stereo with CD player and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, Heatable front seats and 4XMOTION® permanent all-wheel drive system. These features make Volkswagen Touareg a car with class, appearance and attitude.

Audi R8 Spyder

Extraordinary performance and breath-taking vigour combined with the powerful sensations of open-top driving, Audi presents the R8 Spyder – a car that lets you enjoy the surroundings while you are on the wheels of this sensational vehicle. Featuring technologies such as permanent all-wheel drive, full-LED headlights with an advanced seatbelt microphone available as an option and mind blowing looks, the Audi R8 Spyder makes a powerful statement.

Ford Focus RS

The Ford Focus RS comes with matching 19-inch alloy wheels and a tuned 350-horsepower engine under the bonnet. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox, turbocharged power unit propels the Ford Focus RS from 0 to 100 kilometres an hour in 5.6 seconds. To give it a unique pub brawler look, the Ford Focus RS is finished in Batman-spec ‘Panther’ matt black with metallic black, a special RS numbering plaques and a twin-blade rear spoiler. The looks, the style and the speed of Ford Focus RS will definitely make others envy you.

Honda Legend

The gen-X , Honda Legend is simply the most exciting, agile sedan to ever wear the Honda trademark. This latest personification, with its combination of performance, style, handling and luxury, represents the zenith of Honda’s advanced engineering. Inside the new Honda Legend, you will find impressive levels of relaxation and advanced technology, designed to send you on a journey for the senses. Trendy, fresh, lavish and now more spacious, new Honda Legend is all set to pamper you.

About the Author
Find a wide range of brand new cars to buy in Australia at AutoMarket.com.au. Auto Market is one of biggest collections for new or used cars for sale. Visit site and choose the best car for you according your budget and requirements and buy your dream car at best affordable prices.

And the last thing you want to do is end up with the wrong type of car for your particular driving needs, especially it’s going to be a long time before you replace it.

So here are a few facts that should help you to lease the right car and help you to avoid getting stuck with a piece of junk that just doesn’t feel right.

1) Think about the type of car you need. You should think about what you need from your car, not what you want. The excitement caused by an impulse buy passes very quickly so you should think about your long term needs as your choice is going to have to last. Consider: passengers, likely journeys, costs, mileage and functionality. You should also think about how it is going to perform in both the summer and winter. It would be counter intuitive to purchase a car in a particular season and consequently discover that it isn’t functioning correctly six months down the line.

2) Based on your personal circumstances research your possible options. Nowadays this can be achieved with a few simple clicks, as there is a huge variety of sites that compare care prices and features. With these websites you can compare many deals and offers and decide exactly which model you want to drive. It is just so simple.

3) Book a test drive. Once you’ve finished researching you should ensure you book a test drive so contact a dealer. This will give you the opportunity to get a feel for the car and experience how it performs on the road. You will then be better equipped to know if the car can meet your personal driving needs. To be honest, you cannot really know whether a car is right for you unless you take it for a 15 minute or half an hour spin. So it is better to have a test drive rather than not.

4) Take time to think about your test drive experience. You don’t want to sign a deal in the spur of the moment, even if the dealer is offering you an incredible Mini leasing deal. Instead take some time to think it over before you go back to the car leaser and sign the agreement. You may even want to go home and talk it over with your family or partner. Ask them what they would do and what they think of the car. At that point you can make an informed decision about the car.

Here’s a check-list of important things to remember: think about your car needs, work out how much you can afford, consider all cars in a certain class and test drive the vehicle before committing. Hopefully, if you remember these guidelines you will enjoy your new car for many years.

About the Author
To ensure you receive competitive quotes for Mini leasing ring our 0844 number today. We’re standing by to go through the various car leasing options. We make comparing a Mini lease simple.

So far I have found F1 2010 to be better than expected after installing it. But in saying that, the installation was very slow but no big problem. Once you start it up you are presented with a number of questions by the press. Right away you feel like you are playing a polished game and not starting up some half hacked unfinished mod. Once you have your profile setup then you can select what you want to do next. I decided to skip the career or championship modes for now and just get some laps down in the time trial mode.

So once in the time trial mode you can talk to your race engineer or you can go in and change the settings for the car. You can also check out your lap stats, track records and information on the history of the track. All very impressive stuff. You can also change control, audio and some graphic settings.

Once on the track in the default mode driving feels good and realistic, not on ice etc. But for experienced drivers you will soon want to pause the game and change some things. For me the first thing was to turn of automatic gear shifting and to turn all driver aids off.

So far I have set the car up a little but need to work out better settings for the Logic wheel. I like all the in car settings in the pit, looks like plenty of options for future tuning. From what a couple of people were saying online, I was not expecting anything so I’m surprised how much is there to tweak the car.

The only issue I have so far is the audio, it sounds bit tinny and even on my Sony Hi-Fi home stereo. The only drivers I have are software ones coming up in the audio settings, maybe that is all I have but will try a restart of computer and see if it changes anything otherwise check out some computer audio settings. I only have it running on my Toshiba laptop but it has a fairly good harmon/kardon audio system built in.

I have too much running on it so had to turn all graphics right down but I’m going to run it on a new profile later and clean up my computer as well. Now downloading new ATI drivers as well since I see mine are only version 7.1 while the current version is 10.8 so that could improve things I hope. Still, didn’t expect much from hearing that others said it was graphic heavy but from running through time trials at Bahrain I have really enjoyed it and can see it will be taking up a lot of spare time in the future.

I will be updating how things went with the graphics and audio later plus I will be writing a lot more later about the details on the car setup options as well as uploading some photos and pics….

Ok, I thought I should also post a pic of what is included in the DVD purchase. All you get is a DVD case, the DVD and a manual. The game manual is well put together. Here is the picture.

Where can I buy F1 2010?

Here is a list of places to buy online right now:

• PCMall.com – $67.99 USD
• OnSale – $67.99 USD
• Buy.com – PS3 – $58.99 USD
• Buy.com – Xbox 360 – $57.99 USD
• BestBuy.com – PS3 – $59.99 USD
• BestBuy.com – Xbox 360 – $59.99 USD
• Overstock.com – PS3 – $59.49 USD
• Overstock.com – Xbox 360 – $58.19 USD
• Wal-Mart.com -PS3 – $56.99
• Wal-Mart.com – Xbox 360 – $59.96
• GameStop – Xbox 360 – $49.99
• GameStop – PS3 – $59.99
• J&R Computer – PS3 – $59.99
• J&R Computer – Xbox 360 – $59.99
• Computers4SURE – PS3 – $54.95
• Computers4SURE – X360 – $54.95
• Tech Depot – PS3 – $54.95
• Tech Depot – X360 – $54.95
• Toys R Us – PS3 – $59.99
• Toys R Us – Xbox 360 – $59.99