The Thrill Hunter

Spring Woman Run

2008-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

what are the guys doing here?

Snow Run In Spring

2008-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Tough and Durable Replacement Land Rover Parts: Defying Severe Off-Road Conditions - by Carol Michel

2008-04-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

Land Rover is an unbeatable name in the all-terrain utility vehicle market. This marque sports not only the toughest performance auto parts from Land Rover electrical parts [http://www.landrparts.com/rover-electrical-parts.html] to Land Rover fuel injection parts, Land Rover transmission parts, Land Rover suspension and Land Rover accessories; but rugged looks and excellent luxury features as well, being a part of the Premier Automotive Group of Ford.

Several Land Rover vehicles have made it to the top of the auto market through the years; the most popular is the Land Rover Discovery. This luxury SUV successfully vies in the auto industry’s luxury off-road vehicle segment. Powered by a 4.0 L V8, and equipped with heavy duty Land Rover mechanical engine parts, and highly efficient Land Rover fuel system parts, there’s no doubt this vehicle is ready to take you anywhere you desire.

Although less popular the than the Discovery, Land Rover’s top model, the Range Rover still heads the Land Rover line of SUVs. It comes with a permanent 4WD and disc brakes all around. Land Rover Range Rover auto parts are made with the highest standards in order to meet the meticulous demands of the luxury market. Since this vehicle was launched in 1970, no other sport utility vehicle has equaled or surpassed the Range Rover in terms of luxurious features. With its technologically advanced interior Land Rover Parts, excellent safety features and impressive line of performance auto parts, it is by far the Best Luxury SUV in the market.

Best as it may seem to be, Land Rover SUVs are still subject to common car problems and its tried and tested Land Rover Parts, subject to wear and tear. Hence, proper and frequent maintenance is needed to keep its driving potentials intact. If some of your Rover Range Rover parts have been damaged, perhaps due to a collision, make sure to replace them with equally dependable Land Rover Parts and Range Rover Parts [http://www.landrparts.com]. Replacing your stock auto parts with high quality, tough and reliable replacement performance parts, aftermarket parts and auto accessories is the best way to ensure your safety and driving satisfaction.

Among the thousands of auto parts store online that offer OEM-quality parts, only one store affords the most comprehensive and the most dependable line of Land Rover Parts and Land Rover Body Parts, Land Rover Parts for Discovery and other Land Rover vehicles, Land Rover Parts and Car Parts. All parts offered in this store are guaranteed tough and durable and are designed to defy severe off-road driving conditions.

Knowing that only the most reliable auto parts can give you ultimate driving satisfaction, Land Rover Parts and Car Parts delivers only the finest Land Rover Parts and Rover Parts, Land Rover Parts for Discovery, Land Rover Range Rover Parts [http://www.landrparts.com/rover-rangerover-parts.html] and Land Rover Defender Parts that meet your vehicle's specifications. The best way to prove these replacement parts' toughness and dependability is to take your SUV off-road. This Land Rover Parts and Rover Parts store is ready to take the challenge.

Land Rover LR3, Duly Awarded - by Carol Michel

2008-04-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Ford Motor Company is checking if they would continue on producing vehicles for the Jaguar luxury brand of vehicles. And right now, the company is trying to studying and doing a review on this brand. This situation has risen because sales for this brand seemed not be performing well enough. And sure enough, if everything does not go well enough, Ford might even decide on sending Jaguar to junkyard heaven.

The company has already appointed an expert on these matters to help them out. Kenneth Leet is a former investment banker and he will be the leader of a small team who would do the evaluation and analysis of the Jaguar brand. And if the brand can still be saved, it would have to go through a radical restructuring which would give the brand a boost in sales and in its performance in the auto market. The team would be looking at the Jaguar vehicles sold and its sales as a brand. It was not disclosed if other Jaguar products like Jaguar XK120 parts and the like would also be included in the study. All these are just rumors at present but experts in the automotive world have a feeling that the company would be sending out an announcement soon enough.

As per Leet, he is a respected person in Wall Street. Indeed, he could be quite a big help for Ford. He has already held senior positions in various banks that include Goldman Sachs and even the Bank of America. Since he knows his way around sales and investments, he might as well make a good decision out of Ford’s Jaguar brand issue.

Jaguar is a brand of luxury vehicles and its creator is the British Jaguar Cars Limited. It is based in Coventry, England and it was bought by the US based Ford Motor Company back in the year 1989 for a sum of £1.6 billion. This brand has already been in the auto world since 1922 but it only used the name Jaguar in 1945. Jaguar offers not only luxury vehicles but also holds cars that can perform well.

Chevy Equinox and Land Rover Freelander - by Matthew C. Keegan

2008-04-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

The sport utility market continues to expand despite higher than normal gas prices. The reason? Because, these do-almost-everything-vehicles provide just what consumers want. Sure, sales are down right now, but they will recover as more economical vehicles enter the mix. SUVs carry people, haul stuff, pull stuff, can go off-roading [okay, maybe not the Equinox], provide superior handling than many cars, etc. Fortunately, not all are gas guzzlers either. Chevrolet’s Equinox and the Land Rover Freelander are two that come to mind. Let’s take a look at these two compact SUVs.

Chevrolet Equinox – I like the looks of the Equinox, Chevy’s car-based SUV that is only slightly smaller than the mid-size TrailBlazer. By car-based I mean a vehicle that handles and drives more like a car and is actually built on a car platform [like the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4, for example]. This means that the Equinox is built chiefly for the road, so if you want an off road experience you would need to opt for the TrailBlazer or get the Freelander. Okay, I digress.

The Equinox is available as either a front wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle. Seating five passengers, the Equinox comes equipped with a 3.4L V6 that produces 185hp. The engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission; no manual transmission is available. A traction control system is standard with the front wheel drive Equinox while all models come equipped with ABS and electric steering. Standard equipment for the Equinox includes power windows, power mirrors, and power locks with Remote Keyless Entry; AM/FM stereo and CD player with six speakers; and air conditioning. The Equinox has received a 5 star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for frontal crash and side-impact crash tests. Starting prices for the Equinox are very competitive with comparable models in its class. Base MSRP for the FWD is just over 22K; 24K for the AWD.

Land Rover Freelander – The smallest of all Land Rovers is the Freelander, a compact full time all wheel drive vehicle available as either a 3 or 5 door SUV. Unlike the Equinox, the Freelander has full off road capabilities as do every Land Rover model. The Freelander comes equipped with a Four-wheel Electronic Traction Control system; ABS; a 2.5L Quad Cam V6 engine paired with a 5 speed automatic transmission; an AM/FM stereo/CD system with RDS radio; air conditioning; fog lamps; a perimeter security system; and much more. The Freelander, a five passenger vehicle, sells for a price starting at just over 27K.

The Freelander is produced in England while the Equinox is built in Canada, In all, both the Equinox and Freelander represent well built compact SUVs with two different purposes: the Equinox is built primarily for the highway and around town and has the stronger engine, while the Freelander is built for both highway and trail.

More Functions Added with Land Rover Electrical Parts - by Carol Mitchel

2008-04-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

The Land Rover was first produced by Rover in 1948. And this automobile and vehicle brand is actually one of the very first vehicles that could be owned by civilians and yet could actually be used anywhere else. It is considered to be an all terrain utility vehicle. However, this division of Rover went off its own way. At present, it continually produces a large line of vehicles that have been crafted just like the original set of vehicles that has made this brand known all over the globe.

Even if these Land Rover vehicles have been designed, crafted, and manufactured so as to be able to tackle any kind of terrain and go through every possible piece of land on the top of the earth, the company has certainly made sure that they would be providing not only a very functional vehicle but also a safe vehicle as well. Proof that Land Rover certainly has been doing its part when it comes to safety is that the United Kingdom’s Department of Transport’s statistics on road accidents show that two of the brand’s models are among the safest cars to be found on the roads of the said country. In fact, these vehicles have become three times much more safe than the safest Volvo models available. It is also twice just as safe when looking at the Jeep Cherokee and the Toyota Land Cruiser.

One of the systems that make Land Rover vehicles a success is the Land Rover electrical system and its electrical parts. What the Land Rover electrical parts do is it works together so as to provide the vehicle do their job well and also assists in making sure that the car is in its proper performance. Many vehicles from this brand now depends a large part of their accuracy and precision on the Land Rover electrical parts. Engine efficiency, as an example, is largely dependent on the competence and effectiveness of the spark plug and the ignition timers. These two units are Land Rover electrical parts.

To add to the enjoyment of being able to drive a car through any kind of terrain known to vehicles, Land Rover vehicles also have additional features. And yes, these features are also dependent and connected to Land Rover electrical parts and the electrical system. Samples of these features that rely on Land Rover electrical parts are entertainment systems, DVD players, CD players, satellite radios, air conditioning systems, electronic gadgets, speakers, and radios.

Other units that are considered to be Land Rover electrical parts include alternators, battery cables, battery filler caps, batteries, distributors, front corner markers, fuse boxes, gauges, headlights, horns, ignition coils, ignition switches, left speakers, light switches, negative grounds, negative terminals, positive cables, positive terminals, radio antennas, radios, rear turn signal indicators, right speakers, spark plug wires, spark plugs, starter motors, tail light housings, and voltage regulators.

http://www.landrparts.com is where you can order genuine Land Rover electrical parts and Land Rover auto parts and accessories at wholesale prices. This online store supplies every Land Rover parts available at present. Land Rover Parts and Range Rover Parts also has a huge inventory parts such as brakes, air intake, body parts, clutch parts and more. They also has an efficient delivery system that allows a quick and easy delivery of any parts that customers order. The staff of Land Rover Parts and Range Rover Parts also is highly experienced and very knowledgeable when it comes to Land Rover parts and accessories.

Keeping Passengers Safe with the Land Rover Exhaust System - by Carol Mitchel

2008-04-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

If you think that the muffler is what makes up the exhaust system, then think again for it is not. The Land Rover exhaust system is actually a series of pipes that run under your car. These pipes are actually connected to your muffler as well as to your catalytic converter.

One of the foremost functions of the Land Rover exhaust system is to actually control the noise of your engine. It also functions to funnel and channel the exhaust fumes away from the Land Rover’s passengers. After all, these fumes are really harmful to a person’s health. The latter is the very reason why people actually look at the Land Rover exhaust system to be like a chimney mounted on top of the house. Just like the Land Rover exhaust system, a house’s chimney directs any by products and waste from burning fuel away from the people inside. The chimney takes away the fumes from the embers burning in the fireplace below. On the other hand, the Land Rover exhaust system, routes gases that the car considers to be waste away from the passenger compartment by take these gases from the engine to the rear of the car. Then, in the rear, these gases are thrown to the wind outside, thus keeping everybody inside the car safe from the harmful fumes. You see, these gases actually contain carbon monoxide. And if you have been quite well informed, you would know that this gas is actually very harmful and hazardous to a person’s health and it also could poison people especially if taken-in in large amounts.

Aside from taking away these gases from the passenger compartment, the Land Rover exhaust system also converts pollutants. From being very hazardous, the Land Rover can actually change them into becoming something less harmful. Some even of the exhaust gases are directed to other parts of the car’s different systems for some gases can actually still be used so as to heat the air and fuel.

What makes up the Land Rover exhaust system? The key and major components of this system are the exhaust pipes, the exhaust manifold, the catalytic converter, the muffler, the resonator, and the tail pipe.

Buy top quality discount Land Rover exhaust system parts from Land Rover Parts and Range Rover Parts. This store not only offers Land Rover exhaust system parts but it also offers new Land Rover auto parts, replacement car parts, OEM auto parts, aftermarket auto parts, and Land Rover accessories as well. An excellent, trouble free, and satisfying shopping for Land Rover exhaust system parts, and auto parts and accessories is guaranteed by http://www.landrparts.com.

Off Roading with the Land Rover Defender - by Jennifer Dylan

2008-04-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

A subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, the Land Rover brand is one of the most popular brands and names when it comes to vehicles that are very flexible when it comes to function and to the types of roads that it can perform well on. In fact, this vehicle brand is very popular for its vehicles that are very much capable of doing off roading and capable of traversing through various rugged roads. The Land Rover is also the culprit behind the manufacturing of the first civilian all terrain utility vehicles.

The Land Rover Defender is one of these popular vehicles. It was actually manufactured, produced, and sold in the United States from 1993 up until 1995. In 1996, the production was stopped. However, after a year, the Land Rover Defender was back in business. This year, 1997, was the last year that it was produced in the United States. However, if you travel to other parts of the globe, the Land Rover Defender is still being produced and sold. The United States met this vehicle in the fall of 1992.

Also known for its abilities and its capacity to conquer off road conditions and terrain, the Land Rover Defender is one rugged vehicle. Its popularity and reputation was earned rightfully through its superb performance in endurance motor sports events that included the famous Paris-Dakar rally. The world has named this vehicle as the most versatile off road vehicle. This is due to its continuous ability to perform on different terrains especially on the off road. It has certainly lived up to its reputation. All these are because of the Land Rover Defender’s suspension and also because of its four wheel drive system.

Interested parties are given a chance to choose the measurement of the Land Rover Defender’s wheelbase. The choices are 90 inches, 110 inches, or 130 inches. The vehicle has also been crafted in different body styles that comprise of the Station Wagon, the Hard Top, the Single Cab Pick Up, as well as the Double Cab Pick Up. The power for this vehicle comes from a 2.5 TD 5 engine that is turbocharged and runs on diesel. Also, the Land Rover Defender is very much capable of taking in 9 passengers comfortably inside its interior.

For all your Land Rover Defender auto parts needs and Land Rover vehicles needs for parts, browse through Auto Parts Go and you can avail of top of the line Land Rover Defender parts and Land Rover auto parts. These Land Rover parts are also crafted from the best quality material so as to ensure a perfect fit for the vehicle as well as durability. Match the quality and performance of your Land Rover through excellent Land Rover parts and accessories at http://www.autopartsgo.com. The online collection of Land Rover parts are available 24 hours a day and the list includes not only parts for the Land Rover Defender but parts for other Land Rover vehicles as well like Discovery auto parts, Freelander auto parts, and Ranger Rover auto parts.

Land Rover's Resilient, But Absent Defender - by Matthew C. Keegan

2008-04-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Tracing its routes back to postwar Britain, Land Rover has been one of the most recognized names on the Australian outback, the African savannah, and in many other far flung places around the world. Since 1948, Land Rover has rivaled Jeep and Toyota in providing the most versatile 4x4 vehicles on the planet. Today, the Defender model continues to trudge on with important updates scheduled for the 2007 model year. Please read on to capture the essence of a brand that has admirably served driver and passenger for nearly six full decades.

Straight from the rubble of the Second World War, Britain was in need of a vehicle that could serve farmers, the military, government officials, and the like. Particularly in the hilly midlands of central England, not just any car would do in a bid to carry doctors, veterinarians, and military personnel on their rounds. If a road became impassable, no motorcar could be trusted to do the job. Enter Land Rover.

The first Land Rover is actually derived from the American jeep that saw duty throughout the war. Using a Jeep chassis, brothers Maurice and Spencer Wilks, both of whom worked for British automaker Rover decided that the Land Rover would go into production. Six decades later the company has evolved and changed ownership numerous times and the Defender, once offered for sale in the U.S., is no longer available in America.

Land Rover’s decision to keep the Defender out of the U.S. market is hinged on one very important fact: the vehicle doesn’t meet current stringent U.S. safety requirements. In particular, the Defender wasn’t able to be fitted with front passenger airbags, a requirement mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Because of the limited number of models sold in the U.S. and the big expense of preparing the Defender for airbags, Land Rover decided to quit importing the model in 1998.

Defender enthusiasts mourned the decision, but knew that given some time the Defender model would reappear in the U.S. For the 2007 model year many changes have been made, but not enough to bring the storied Defender back to the U.S. The current updates, although many, are seen as only interim changes before an all new Defender is expected to be marketed in 2010. That model just may meet all of the safety requirements found lacking in the current rendition of the Defender.

For 2007 the Defender will see the following changes according to the company’s August 2006 press release:

--Introduction of a 2.4L common rail diesel engine

--A 6-speed gearbox for better off-roading and cruising abilities

--New front end treatment, better heating/ventilation, more comfortable seating

--The third row seat on the extended wheelbase model will be reversed to face front

Additionally, the Sport model will get the 3.6L V8 diesel now found in the Range Rover.

Alas, all of this good news does little for the American consumer other than perhaps encouraging them to remind their local Land Rover dealer that a road ready American Defender would certainly be welcome. With parent Ford Motor Company mulling the sale of both Land Rover and Jaguar, those changes are likely to come later, rather than sooner.

Land Rover Introduces Its CO2 Offset Program -by Carol Mitchel

2008-04-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Due to the alarming risks brought about by global warming, greenhouse effect and other environment and health threats, Land Rover has come up with a program that will contribute to clean the environment. The program was named CO2 offset program - the largest and most comprehensive environment program ever undertaken by an automaker in the United Kingdom.

The motivated pilot has been specifically made for Land Rover vehicle. The program has key components – the first one is to offset emissions generated by Land Rover vehicle assembly - like in the manufacturing of Parts for Land Rover Freelander as well as other Rover parts and vehicle. The second aim is to provide mechanisms to offset emission from the use of their vehicle. As an aftermath of this aim, environmental technologies across Ford as well as its Premier Automotive Group will be developed. The equipment will be made by 3,000 engineers based at Rover’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The pilot will run until the end of the year 2008. The program is estimated to setoff approximately 2 million tons of CO2 over said period. The figure is equal to an average of 125,000 CO2 generated by homes over the same period.

According to Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover, "This announcement is part of a multi-stage and ongoing approach by Land Rover to environmental care and sustainability. Our CO2 offset program is the second demonstration from Land Rover in five months that it is helping to minimize the impact of its manufacturing processes and vehicles on the environment.

He further added, “This industry leading initiative follows hard on the heels of our Land-e technological exhibit which showcases innovative hybrid electric powertrains and biofuel capability – real world technology which will be seen on Land Rover production vehicles of the future. The announcement made by Ford yesterday will have a considerable impact in enabling us to develop that technology. It also acknowledges the challenges of climate change and recognizes our responsibility to take action now."

Mike Mason, director of Climate Care, added, "It will take time to incorporate the new technologies into the full model range so rather than wait, Land Rover have chosen to act immediately and, in addition, introduce a comprehensive CO2 offset program. This will start to reduce the climate impact of Land Rovers immediately."

Never Too Slow

2008-04-17T19:17:00.001-07:00

I have a need, a need for speed.

My first car is an Acura Legend, second a Beamer. These automobiles yield optimal momentum to the optimum speed on the freeway. The lower body gravitation makes each and every needle sharp turn exhilarating. Speeding on the freeway is a free way to hell, and you will grant a speeding ticket before the hell entrance.

First time off road, changing to the four wheel low gear, and go, I already take pleasure in the slow and cautious drive with Green Gust, my truck. The shrieking sound is stimulating when the four wheels grind and crush the rock and dirt on the road.

The brushing noise from the branches as they broom over my truck’s body, I feel the wind in a slow motion. It hurts Green Gust cosmetically but it keeps going as if no matter at all. When the wheels nose dive and take off from a huge oval muddy hole, with accelerate speed, the splashes are thrilling and rousing; these wonderful moment with rhythmic tempo all come in a slow motion.

Hey! Never too slow to evolve and conquer.

Body Parts and Pieces

2008-04-16T20:36:00.001-07:00

I brought this beauty home December 07’, a Christmas present to myself. I wanted to do this many years ago; rove along the rock jagged mountain, sandy hills and deep iced pack dense forest. Green gust is her name.

I begin to armor her, and that need to do some real homework otherwise I’ll burn out of cash and yet to get her ready for the off road thrill. I found a few websites, make phone call inquiries, and the sales person are very knowledgeable, and helpful, off course. I need to replace the front bumper, comparing the ARB bumper with TJM, I choose to go with TJM. However, the ARB one look really cool, but I learned that the TJM is tougher.

I bought most of the parts for the under body from www.rockware.net. I’m very happy with them. I got a pair of rock slider, pinion guard, off set tie rod, shock mount and later will add the skid plate and fuel tank shield.

The beauty needs a roof rack, and Hella lighting. I’m debating the 80” length or 50”. I’m proud of myself that I install the heated seat switches and mount the ladder myself. I realized that there will be never ending lists of parts and pieces to my rover, and this is a life time commitment, because the flare passion never fades.

Rugged Terrain with Co- Pilot

2008-04-16T17:07:00.001-07:00

Pamela came out with a challenging idea to end our Woman Spring Run. “Who want to volunteer first for the co-pilot drive?” “Co-pilot drive? What’s that?” I’m thinking. Without asking, I volunteered.

After Pamela explains the drill, she handed me an eye fold, I had to fold my eyes and maneuver my truck blind folded. Paul, be my co-pilot for the blind drive will give instruction and direct me to reach the destination.

Pamela had already placed poles along the trail. Paul gave me a brief prep for the run; we are going to navigate the trail together. I placed 101% trust on my co-pilot. As we go along, Paul told me to turn right, all the way right, go, stop, go, left, short left and go and stop, a big rock at left, tree at right, and right ahead and go… as if running in the black tunnel with rusted nails and shredded glasses everywhere, and a master by my side padding on my shoulder ensuring me that I can do this and master leading the way.

For about 5 minutes at 10 mph, Paul and I reach the final destination without hitting a single pole. Follow, the other drivers already paired up with their co-pilot, laughter’s and excitement blowing kisses in the rugged terrain as each truck with blind folded driver hit on the road. This is the best thrill to end our Saturday Woman Spring Run.

An Exceptional Wow Run

2008-04-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

Stuck In The Snow

2008-04-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-rock-dirt-green-pebble-sand-salt&Land-Rover&Rover-Lovers-Love-Land-Rover-rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-

It Flips!

2008-03-31T23:37:00.001-07:00

rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-rock-dirt-green-pebble-sand-salt&Land-Rover&Rover-Lovers-Love-Land-Rover-rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-

Thrills Begin and Never Ends

2008-03-31T23:11:00.001-07:00

rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-rock-dirt-green-pebble-sand-salt&Land-Rover&Rover-Lovers-Love-Land-Rover-rain-mud-snow-sun-dust-

My Off-Road Camaraderies

2008-03-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

A Winter Adventure

2008-01-16T15:55:00.000-08:00

Good Samaritan and shovel

Other helpers on the way to the rescue!!!

We went to the mountain, the irresistible temptation from the wood stirring again as we approached the destination. I insisted driving on the iced packed snow trail and parked deep into the wood; at about 500 meters from the other hiker’s vehicles parked by the street.

The open ground covered with tinted greenish snow and with light purplish patches on the green pines. We hiked for about an hour. When we get back to the truck, the four wheels of my truck froze and sank buried onto the ground, we were totally unprepared.
Fortunately there was a Good Samaritan who lender us a hand and shovel. We needed to build a track in order to move the wheels.

Nature has its charm and often we get too carried away. Winter has the melody of its own; it exerts a pull on the heart. They are three essential things to get you through the winter: warm fire, good wines and dear friends. Three essential gears to bring along driving in the winter, even just ¼ miles off road as you perceive: warm gloves, hot chocolate and definitely a good shovel!