Lesson 1: What is Torque?

What is torque?

The technical definition is that Torque is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, Torque can be thought of as a twist. In essence, Torque is the amount of turning power you have.

Torque will be displayed in lb-ft (generally pronounced foot-pounds), ft/lb or sometimes newton-metre (N·m).

What does Torque mean for your car?

Essentially Torque causes your car to accelerate. In fact, when you are feeling the power of your car screaming along, what you are really feeling is the Torque – along with more obvious things like the weight of the car, the size of the tires and whether your engine can produce that Torque over a variety of engine speeds. Any given car, in any given gear, will accelerate at a rate that *exactly* matches its torque curve (allowing for increased air and rolling resistance as speeds climb). Making sense?

The Torque specification in your car spec is generally the maximum torque of the internal-combustion engine, which is usually a higher value than the actual Torque on the wheels.

People also confuse HP with Torque, and this does get a lot more confusing. However, the easiest way to think of it is this: Horsepower makes you go fast, whilst Torque makes you feel like you are going fast. Horsepower involves Torque and Revs and tends to involve equations that, whilst manageable, put most of us to sleep. Torque is the only thing that a driver feels, and Horsepower is just sort of an esoteric measurement in that context.

Does Torque make more sense to you now?

The main problem is almost two thirds (62%) of what we currently pay for our fuel is to cover fuel duty and VAT costs. So here’s where we get slightly mathematical; consider that the average petrol price is currently around 134ppl (134.5 according to the AA, but for the sake of making a point let’s round it down). Now 62% of that equates to around 83ppl; so for every full tank, of say a Ford Fiesta (42 Litres), you are spending £34.86 out of your total £56.28 on taxes!

It’s starting to get ridiculous, and others are agreeing; with 87% of those surveyed concerned about the rising cost of petrol, and of that 9% don’t even drive! However, a little leeway is being made; with a debate forced for MP’s to discuss the excessive charges next week, thanks to a FairFuelUK petition signed by over 100,000 people!

It’s estimated that a minority of just 0.6% of cars on the road are more than 50 years old; a figure used to reinforce the fact that even for those who aren’t quite so meticulous the danger is minimal. On top of figures provided by the government that suggest these cars are driven less than 500 miles a year anyway.

Overall, I can see the potential for the plan, and the reasoning behind it. However, the older the car, the more time, effort and money it takes to maintain. If just one of these cars isn’t looked after then it could claim a life, surely the possibility for fatality, even a single one, is worth leaving things as they are?

Joe says he drove his car, on average, 62,500 miles each year, and fans have been able to follow his progress thank to Honda. Once passing around 300,000 miles Joe started to keep records and has taken over 600 pictures of his odometer along the way.

This is defiantly shows just how reliable Honda’s are, and as a thank you for showing this to the world Honda not only put on a surprise parade for Joe; which you can see here, but they also awarded him with a brand new 2012 Honda Accord!

Now a free car is always nice, but considering he’s had the same car for the past 15 years, and shown it some real TLC; I think he’s earned it.

So to put it as Honda does, “Here’s to a million more”!

As you can see from the video (below) hitting something solid when travelling so fast means almost complete and instant destruction (travelling from 120mph to 0mph in just 0.06 seconds) and certain fatality for anyone within the car.

Not only is this devastating to watch, but even more so when considering the proposed 80mph limit increase, which will more than likely encourage drivers to up their driving speed.

We are then left with the question; why do manufacturers afford cars, which will often never see speeds in excess of 100mph, such high top speeds?

It’s no surprise that high speed crashes will lead to destruction; even 70mph ones can lead to fatalities, but should better prevention measures be put in place – because, unlike in this controlled test; it’s unlikely to simply be the speeding car involved in the crash…

How do you feel about this latest news? and the topic in general?

The big finding being that half of the local authorities who responded to Autoglass are cutting their road maintenance budget; with reductions equating to an astonishing total figure of up to £17 million.

This has led to Matthew Mycock, Autoglass’ managing director, warning, “This will cause discomfort and inconvenience to drivers, damage to their vehicles and even jeopardise their safety. Every day, we hear from our customers that travelling around parts of Britain is becoming a nightmare because of the state of the roads and this is not likely to improve in the foreseeable future.”

Potholes are a huge annoyance, and become more so should you have to fix a cracked windscreen; with Autoglass serving 100,000 customers every year with cracked windscreens as a result of potholes and poorly maintained roads. In a poll carried out recently by the company it is no surprise that 80% of motorists were calling for potholes to be a top priority for the national road budget.

As is this point needed further illustrating, 47% of those polled said would cut State support for the Royal Family in preference of fixing the crumbling road network.

The biggest cut of those local authorities responding to the Freedom of Information requests was in Kent where the county council is cutting its overall road maintenance budget from £90m to £73m.

As concluded by Matthew Mycock: “The state of the UK’s transport network is a huge issue and and many drivers would be prepared to countenance cuts in other budgets if the money was then earmarked to fix the nation’s roads.”

What do you think of the Nations roads?

The NCAP rating, a European Standard applied to all new cars, is the indicator, so let’s have a look at the ten best scoring cars across all model variations…

Family Saloon:

BMW 5 Series

This perennial favourite simply gets better and better, and the safety features built into the popular German executive models are second to none. With a range of different specifications to choose from it is no surprise the 5-series continues to be the choice of many, and as the top performing car in the latest NCAP safety tests BMW can be proud of its achievements.

Hatchback:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Alfa Romeo brand has undergone a spectacular revival in recent years with a raft of new, innovative and very attractive models adding to its popularity and reputation for classy sporty cars, and the Giulietta adds another string to the company bow by coming out on top as safest small family car in the latest tests.

Coupe:

Honda CR-Z

The supermini is a class of car that has practically taken over our roads lately, and the Honda CR-Z is a very impressive vehicle in more ways than one. Coming out top in the supermini safety tests means it is going to be very popular indeed, so get your order in now!

Compact Crossover SUV:

Kia Sportage

If you are looking for a small SUV the Kia Sportage has to be a contender. This is a manufacturer that has come a long way since its bargain-basement models of yesterday, and while prices are still very competitive indeed this is an attractive and great performing vehicle that also scores highest in its class in terms of safety.

 Compact MPV:

Toyota Verso

There is no surprise at finding a Toyota topping the small MPV class, and the Verso is very much a class act. This is a well built and refined family car that scores very highly in child and adult safety protection tests, and it comes in a range of specifications that keep it high on the best seller lists.

Supermini:

Suzuki Swift

Often overlooked in comparison with more common models in the class the Suzuki Swift is nevertheless a fives star performer when it comes to safety, and in a small car such as this you want all the protection you can get in the event of a crash.

Supermini MPV:

Kia Venga

Proof that Kia is a manufacturer very much in touch with the needs of drivers comes in the shape of the pretty and cleverly designed Venga, a car that – despite its diminutive dimensions – ranks very highly in current safety tests, and also comes at an excellent price.

Crossover Urban SUV:

BMW X1

For those who want a bigger SUV take a look at the popular BMW X1, a vehicle that offers five star safety standards and luxury specifications, and a range of clever safety assistance features that make it a favourite across the board.

Large MPV:

Volkswagen Sharan/Seat Alhambra

These models are the same car built by different VW group companies, and the model comes top in terms of safety among a strongly contested market for people carriers. In terms of reducing car accident claims and providing adult occupancy safety, there is nothing to beat this car on the roads right now.

Small Family Car:

Citroen C4

This attractive and typically quirky executive family car is one of the safest on the road and is packed with safest features that allowed it to score 97% in that area of the tests. Well priced with great looks and excellent comfort, this is one for the discerning driver who wants a bit of luxury and likes great value.

So there we have it, 10 of the safest cars from across the marketplace as judged by the experts at NCAP. But what about the car you definitely shouldn’t buy if you’re planning to get intimate with grass verges and street furniture? Well, that’d be the Chinese-built Landwind CV9, it scored two stars out of five in a recent NCAP test, scary.

Stephen Holly writes about car accident claims and whiplash compensation at www.PerfectClaims.co.uk a UK based website in the personal injury claims sector. Stephen also writes about personal injuries, sports injuries, accidents at work and asbestos related illnesses as well as serious head injury claims.

So, without further ado, we thought we would put together a little and rather educational guide on what actually causes potholes.

1. The road surface when laid is laced with imperfections. Air pockets, holes and cracks all exist where the eye can’t see.

2. General wear and tear, such as traffic travelling over the surface at high speed, can weaken the integrity of the road surface and make it more prone to potholes.

3. Winter weather tends to turn these imperfections into potholes – water gets into the cracks, and when this freezes it expands. The expansion widens cracks, and any rain washes away the gravel left behind. Eventually these cracks turn into minor potholes.

4. Whilst some potholes appear very suddenly, others will be gradually widened by the bumping of cars over the existing hole.

[Image: Source]

Aftermarket products

When you want to upgrade any feature in your car, consult your dealership or any dealer that sells the same make and model as your car. Many times, aftermarket products not built by the same manufacturer are considered to be of lower quality. If you do plan on selling your car eventually, it is advised that you look to your dealership for anything you might want to add on.

An exception to this consideration, however, is if you plan on dealing with a private buyer rather than a dealership. A private buyer might be more willing – and might actually prefer – to buy a car with specific aftermarket parts, such as a premium sound system.

Company Vans or large Transport Fleets

You may have a fleet of commercial vans that you use for ferrying around tools and materials, and keeping your van pristine for resale can be a tough prospect.  You can however protect the inside of your Van with a number of protective solutions. Ply lining kits are an effective option and give a strong, flexible and lightweight, scratch resistant solution, and for a relatively low cost. Opt for the plastic polypropylene kits and bulkheads, they’re made to last a lot longer than your Van – wooden linings are yesterdays solution, but still a viable DIY job if you can’t afford the fitting.

Maintenance

When you bring in your car for routine maintenance and service, save all of your receipts to show that you have followed the proper maintenance schedule. At the first sign of car trouble, bring your car to a mechanic so that the problem does not escalate and result in even further damage. The more repairs that the buyer needs to do to the car, the lower the value of the car.

Prevention of Aesthetic Damage

This goes for both the interior and exterior. When possible, stay parked at a distance from other cars to prevent door dings, and park in covered areas as often as possible to prevent damage from the elements. As far as the interior is concerned, you will want to be consistent about vacuuming and polishing the interior as it is usually obvious when a car has been well kept or whether it was simply detailed just before putting it up for sale. Do not smoke in the car or allow passengers to smoke, as stray ashes can leave permanent burn marks in the seats.

Keeping your car’s resale value is important if you plan on upgrading to a different model after a few years of driving it.  With the above in mind, Buyacar can offer an online used car valuation and calculate a trade in price, so that you can put that money towards your next new car.

Yoga Images On Parking Ticket

Now is it just me who thinks this looks and sounds completely bonkers? The first thought that probably comes into the mind of a parking ticket recipient is hatred towards the issuer. However the city’s transportation chief thinks that this new initiative will help calm the recipients down, and make them believe that parking tickets are not a hostile directive, but actually a way to keep the city functioning.

I don’t dispute the requirement for parking tickets; after all they do maintain functionality in a city, and stop dangerous and irritating parking practices. But frankly, it’s already enough of a blow to see a parking ticket slapped on your windscreen – traffic authorities don’t need to add insult to injury by drawing ‘calming’ images on the envelope.

For all our sakes, I hope this initiative doesn’t make its way across the pond…