Top 10 Best Cars of 2014 Under $60K

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Oh, cars. We can't live without them anymore in the modern age. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some have so many different luxuries and safety add-ons that can make your car suitable for your every need. 

Whether you have a large family or are on your own, there will always be a car for you. Need a few suggestions of the best cars of 2014? Here they come (Hint: The prices are all from the sites of the car brands):

1. Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

This hybrid comes in three versions. The comfortline (SE), the SEL and the highline (SEL Premium). Both are beautiful cars with a classy and beautiful interior that gives off a nice and professional feel. 

You only use 42 mpg and because of both the high comfort and the space you have it’s a great car to go on long trips with. 

The SE costs $27,645, the SEL costs $30,245 and the SEL Premium costs $31,895.

2. Mazda 3 4-Door

The Mazda 3 is an amazing car that perfectly shows what Mazda is capable of without it’s former part owner Ford backing it up. 

This elegant and innovative car is lighter than its former versions, which makes it faster. The cabin has an interface that will limit all your distractions with a simple but modern main screen. 

The best thing? It’s affordable at $16,945.

3. Subaru Forester

After it’s 2014 redesign this small SUV has climbed to the top of its class. It has both a lot of space and big windows and doors, while remaining user friendly with simple controls. 

You have an absolutely wonderful driving position in this car and not that expensive for an SUV with a price at $22,195.

4. Honda Odyssey

This beautiful car is one of the most complete family cars you could ever wish for. 

With enough capacity to seat 8 people and a great fit for child seats, this is the minivan you need when you have a big family. The car itself is very accessible and has a nice and peaceful interior. 

The cost for the LX? $28,825.

5. Dodge Charger SRT8

Are you more of a muscle car type of guy? This Dodge charger is the best muscle car for those who value good performance in a car. 

With it’s bulky yet beautiful design it’s still an eye catcher, though. It pulls up to 60 miles in 4.6 seconds, which is pretty good for the heavier muscle cars. 

You can make this car yours for $26,995.

6. Audi A3

Looking for a more compact yet stylish car? Then the Audi A3 might be something for you. This car has a somewhat professional look and even though it’s a compact car it still has quite a big amount of space. 

With a simple, but gorgeous dashboard with the newest technology and a classy interior it’s definitively a good car for anyone. 

You can buy it for $29,900. 

7. Nissan Rogue

This crossover is also an amazing family car. With a capacity of 7 passengers your whole family will be able to fit in this beautiful car. 

Not only that, but the designers actually made sure that you will be able to reach your baby, by letting the second row slide forward 9 inches. Parking will be no worry thanks to the Around View Monitor. 

This car costs $22,790.

8. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 1LT

Classy and fast, that’s definitely a way to describe this gorgeous car. This sports car at it’s seventh edition has both a high performance and one of the best appearances. 

With a sleek, chic and unique interior it’s a great car for fans of Chevrolet. 

The price of this beautiful car? $53,000, which makes it the most expensive car of the list. 

9. Ford Fiesta 4-Door S Sedan

This is Ford’s smallest Sedan, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in a both balanced and quiet ride. This car is a good fit for those out there who are single, or who have a small family. 

The interior is a little more classy than the price suggest, because at $14,100 it’s the least expensive of the list.

10. Nissan 370Z 2-Door Coupe

Single, or have no children? Want a absolutely stunning car with a rooftop that’s foldable? This Nissan is just what you are looking for. 

This is the perfect car to use for romantic rides along the beach on a warm day. 

The price? Only $29,990!

Every year our editors create a list of vehicle models that are under $60K, then we choose ten standouts. Choosing a good car is easier than ever, but choosing the best car keeps getting trickier. Make an informed buying decision by investigating their rankings before heading to the dealership. If you need some extra help then there is no reason to stress. If you have any questions we can help you to shorten the process. 

Andreas also posted: 5 Top Tech Toys For Your Car

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*by andreascy*

Transportation Options While Vacationing

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Taking a vacation with family or friends can be great fun, but all of the different transportation options can cause confusion over the way to get around. 

Whether you hop on a minibus or you rent a car, each option has benefits and drawbacks, depending on the situation. Here are some suggestions for transportation options away from home that will leave you moving smoothly wherever you go.

Renting a Car

This is one of the most common forms of transportation used while traveling. But is it right for your trip?

If you plan to be traveling long distances each day on your trip, renting a car can be the greatest way to move around. Most rental car services offer low daily rates, or will even consider offering a flat rate for the entire period you travel. Of course, the gas costs will be covered by you, but many rental services provide renters with choices between cars - opt for a hybrid, or any other car that gets good mileage. Some services even offer cheaper rates on weekdays than on weekends, so plan your trip well in advance to get the best deal.

When it comes to insurance, be very wary. Rental insurance prices are often extremely inflated, and often times a driver's personal automobile insurance already covers all of the same things as the rental insurance. Before purchasing rental insurance through a service, check with your current insurance provider to see if it's the right choice - it may save you a lot of money.

Taking the Bus/Taking a Taxi

If you're traveling to a location where public transportation is cheap and efficient, and if you don't need to travel long distances, consider taking the bus or riding on a metro. Often times you can purchase passes for a week or even a month, significantly cutting down the costs of transportation. In many cities and towns parking can also be a problem, thus making a rental car more difficult to use - in this case, opt for riding the bus around town so as to not worry about a car. 

If you're trying to get somewhere at night, forgo the bus for an official taxi. While taxis might be slightly more expensive, they offer safer transportation than a public bus or metro, and will take you exactly where you need to be.

Use Your Feet

An often overlooked form of transportation while on vacation, walking can offer benefits that far surpass any other way. Walking allows you to exercise while away from home, it saves a lot of money on transportation costs, and it allows you to see your destination of choice from a different perspective.

And you must consider the location to which you're traveling. If you're trying to get from Paris to Hamburg, or even San Francisco to Los Angeles in a few days, walking might not be your best option. But if you have a whole week to explore downtown Budapest, or if your entire trip is in Salt Lake City, put on a pair of walking shoes and see all of the sites you can.

Time to Get Away

Going on a vacation can be great fun for you and your friends or family, but make sure you plan accordingly before leaving. Whether you ride the bus, rent a car, or simply walk around town, find out the best transportation option for you to have the trip of a lifetime.

As travel enthusiasts, here at THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY we always encourage our readers to explore new areas when traveling. Let us know how can we help you with your next trip. 😉

*by andreascy*

Benefits of the Different Types of Alternative Transportation

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

There are a lot of reasons to want to leave your car behind and find alternative modes of transportation if you're in the city. Cars can be a gigantic hassle--traffic and parking nearly always present problems, and you are constantly running the risk of fender benders and other accidents. 

Cars also guzzle gas (especially during the aforementioned traffic in larger cities), and are thus much more costly than most alternate forms of transportation. And finally, cars are very inefficient, and thus environmentally unfriendly. So if you're thinking of leaving the car behind, and hopping on some alternative transportation, here are some options to consider.

Bus 

A bus is often the best friend of a city dweller. Buses run frequently to all the busiest parts of town, and for very reasonable rates. If you're a frequent public transportation user, a bus pass is a very worthwhile investment. Chances are, if you live in the city, there's a bus stop within a few blocks of your residence. It's a good bet that walking to the bus stop takes less time than trying to find a parking spot. 

Buses equipped with hybrid engines or solar panels on their roofs are becoming more and more popular, meaning this mode of transportation is getting greener and greener. So buses are also a way to feel better about your carbon footprint when you're moving from Point A to Point B. 

Subway 

If you live in a city with a good subway system, then look no further. Subways can be the ultimate form of transportation, as they are speedy, usually run with good frequency, bypass traffic completely, and are a fantastic, environmentally friendly choice.

If you're lucky enough to live near a subway station, your trip or commute is bound to be much less of a hassle than it would have been by car. And if you don't live in walking distance of a station, just hop a bus to one! Subways are also important because they represent the future of public transportation: they can hold lots of people, they travel at good speeds, and the potential to lower their environmental impact is almost limitless. 

Taxis 

Taxis are pretty prevalent in almost all of the major metropolitan areas. They're a great way to get where you need to go with little hassle or wait. You can call and reserve a taxi, or simply flag one on the street, and it will take you exactly where you're going: no parking, no stopping for other guests, just a beeline to your destination. There used to be two downsides to taxis: money, and environmental impact. They still cost a lot more money than, say, a bus, but you certainly make up for it with the low-hassle and quick delivery. As for the environmental impact, more and more taxi companies are shifting to hybrid vehicles, meaning you needn't feel so bad about wasting gas to get to work or that new restaurant you've been wanting to try.

Car Share

Car sharing is a revolutionary idea that allows you to have a car only when you need it. With a membership to one of the many car sharing services, you have access to a whole fleet of vehicles that are conveniently parked in street spots reserved just for them, or cruising around town waiting to pick you up. These vehicles are usually environmentally friendly (and you don't pay for gas or insurance, just a membership), so they're a fantastic alternative to owning a car.

That was it for today, we hope you enjoyed our article. Feel free to like, comment and share it with your friends and other social circles. Hopefully we will inspire and attract more people on our Blog. Thank you everyone for your continuous support! 

*by andreascy*

How Climate Change Is Destroying The Earth

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Climate Change Is Real 

Thanks to new studies and noticeable changes in weather and storm prevalence, it’s getting harder to turn a blind eye to the reality of climate change. Since the Industrial Age spurred the increasing usage of fossil fuels for energy production, the weather has been warming slowly. In fact, since 1880, the temperature of the earth has increased by 1 degree Celsius.

Although 72% of media outlets report on global warming with a skeptical air, the overwhelming majority of scientists believe that the extreme weather of the last decade is at least partially caused by global warming.

Some examples of climate calamities caused partly by global warming include:

•  Hurricane Katrina 

•  Drought in desert countries 

•  Hurricane Sandy 

•  Tornadoes in the Midwest 

These storms, droughts, and floods are causing death and economic issues for people all over the world - many of whom cannot afford to rebuild their lives from the ground up after being wiped out by a tsunami or other disaster. 

Evidence also indicates that the face of the Earth is changing because of warming trends. The ice caps of the Arctic are noticeably shrinking, the ice cap of Mt. Kilimanjaro alone has shrunk by 85% in the last hundred years, and the sea levels are rising at the rate of about 3 millimeters per year because of all the melting ice. Climate change is also affecting wildlife - for instance, Arctic polar bears are at risk of losing their environment; the Golden Toad has gone extinct; and the most adaptable species are evolving into new versions capable of withstanding warmer water. 

Despite some naysayers with alternative theories about why global temperatures are rising - including the idea that the earth goes through natural temperature cycles every few millennia - the dramatic changes in the earth’s atmospheric makeup suggests humans are to blame. In fact, 97% of scientists agree humans are responsible for climate change. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels increased 38% because of humans, methane levels have increased 148%, nitrous oxide is up 15% - and the list goes on and on, all because of human-instigated production, manufacturing, and organizations and individuals work hard to promote an Earth-friendly existence, resistance to change is rampant and actions are slow. 

For instance, while the US Environmental Protection Agency is still working on collecting data to support development of greenhouse gas reduction expectations for businesses, most of their efforts feel more like pre-research than actual change. Other countries have made efforts - such as signing to Kyoto Protocol to reduce their 1990 emission levels by 18% by 2020 - but the only solution will require the whole world band together. 

Steps Anyone Can Take To Reduce Global Warming

1. Driving a car with good gas mileage, or investing in a hybrid or electric car 

2. Switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFL or LED 

3. Insulating your home and stocking it with energy efficient appliances 

4. Recycling 

5. Using green power available in your area

Check out the infographic below to see what else the gender wage gap affects.

There is a ton of information available on our website. If you liked this infographic, follow the recommended link below and enjoy.

WHAT TO READ NEXT: Urban Farming is a Green Way to Improving Cities 

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*by andreascy*

Research for Making Engine Sounds Pleasant

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

In research to create comfortable sound, DigInfoTV presented Sound Design Lab LLC and the Takeshi Toi Laboratory at Chuo University that are advancing with a project to make engine sound more comfortable. Until now, engine sound was perceived as noise, but this research team has discovered that engine sound actually resembles the tonal characteristics of stringed instruments. 

"Electric and hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity, but these types of cars don't generate any engine sound. There are concerns that they may be dangerous to others who can't hear them coming. The best solution would be if a person could hear the sound of the engine and immediately recognize about how fast the car is traveling and from which direction. The only way to create comfortable engine sound is to examine all of those sounds and determine what types actually sound like an engine but are comfortable." 

In tests, the research team used several instuments to represent good sound and analyzed vehicle engine sounds, acoustic pressures, and frequencies. Next, test participants listened to 5 types of vehicle engine sounds and the tones of instruments, and subjective and objective assessments were conducted to analyze sound quality. 

The subjective assessment looked at psychological effects, while the objective assessment considered indicators such as changes in heart rate, changes in saliva amylase, and changes in the blood flow in the brain. As a result, the researchers found that engine sound and the tonal characteristics of stringed instruments are similar. They also learned that the tonal sound of imported luxury sports cars is particularly close to that of a violin. 

"We think that the sounds of a musical instrument and an engine are vastly different. But a physical analysis of those sounds shows that the waveform created by a musical instrument contains sound components that are higher than the harmonic sounds. Such characteristics make the engine and the musical instrument sound similar. Our latest test showed that when someone hears these sounds and perceives these types of characteristics, they recognize that the sounds are very similar." 

Sound Design Lab and the Toi Lab will examine the impact that engine sounds have on the human body and will advance with research and development to make the sounds of industrial products more comfortable. 

*by andreascy*

Invisible Mercedes Car

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

When Mercedes wanted to promote its new fuel cell vehicle, instead of placing it squarely in front of everyone in the world, the company decided to make the car invisible by covering it with LEDs.

Enjoy the video!

ARTICLE OF THE DAY: Self-Driving Cars of the Imminent and Distant Future

Whatya think? 😎

*by andreascy*

Sony: New Concept Envisions in 2030 With Pay As You Go Power

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Sony is looking to revolutionize the inefficient way in which we consume power.

A new concept video from the electronics giant shows how we could use power more efficiently in the year 2030 by switching to smart outlets with authentication and wireless charging on a broad scale, assuming we survive the Zombie Mayan Apocalypse.

The prototype power outlet, integrated with a short-range wireless FeliCa transmitter (and a new RFID over power line technology), allows the user to swipe a pay card across the faceplate and pay for energy on the spot. What makes it truly interesting is if humankind keeps progressing towards alternative energies (such as wind, solar, and biomass), then our outlets could give us options as to what source from which we obtain our power.

The video description below notes that with this outlet, "the user can actively control and manage power consumption on a user basis as well as on a device basis."

Imagine not having to use power from the electric company for a TV-viewing session, instead drawing from a battery in your house that contains stored power from your solar- and wind-power generation sources. These outlets, if available all over a city, can offer people with electric cars the ability to charge up and pay for that energy easily.

The proposed power control center app (for tablet or smartphone) would enable consumers to observe how much power is available from various power sources in the home. With the app, one could check how much juice the electric car in the garage contains, enable or disable outlets in various areas of the house, or remotely control devices connected to a power outlet.

In a recent press conference in Tokyo, reps at Sony spoke about the developments, says AV Watch (check out their hands-on pics, too). A timetable for commercializing these smart outlets seems "ten years away," according to Taro Tadano from Sony Japan's business development department. Admittedly, he wants to speed up the process of development and integration, but reliability, safety, and patent battles present several roadblocks.

While the overall idea seems grand, one must also wonder about cost.

Regardless, he and many others at Sony are working hard to strengthen relationships with various Japanese companies related to this field with hope of moving this past the concept stage and into reality. 

One cannot help but admire the craveworthy Sony concept products (from 2030) also shown in the video, such as: a TV that you turn on by facing a wall and drawing a rectangle with your hand, a flexible tablet, and easy wireless charging.

ARTICLE OF THE DAY: Some Emergent Internet Applications

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*by andreascy*

Wireless Electric Cars

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Recharging On The Go. No More Plugs. 

Hi everyone! Looking for some Saturday morning reading? 

Soon parking and charging will be one. Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), a world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies, has acquired the technology and other assets (patents) of HaloIPT (a British start-up firm specialized in Inductive Power Transfer).

“Qualcomm has been investing in wireless power for a number of years and the HaloIPT acquisition will further strengthen our technology and patent portfolio,” said Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of European Innovation Development for Qualcomm. 

Both are now working hard to put in place the infrastructure in electric road vehicles. 

HaloIPT is the first company in the world that enables wireless charging via an electromagnetic field (no wires). The firm says roads where electric cars batteries are wirelessly charged as a driver moves around are "technologically possible".

Wireless. Worriless. Limitless.

The wirelessly transmitted power goes to the car’s battery for an ongoing charge, similar to the concept of recharging an electric toothbrush but with a lot more energy. 

Each car is outfitted with a pad underneath the car that is ready to receive power. It could enable all electric cars to run without ever needing to recharge manually. Just park over an inductive plate and you’re done. 

The cost of getting such charging lanes to most of the UK's population would be around £60bn.

The company outlines it's vision in this video. Arup, the engineering design giant, helped develop HaloIPT wireless charging technology for electric vehicles in conjunction with the University of Auckland's Uniservices group. Have a quick look on the video below:

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