John Travolta - Why Danny Zuko's Car And My Wiper Blades Will Never Go Out Of Style

"Go Grease Lightning, Go grease Lightning!" Such a classic tune etched in the back of my brain. I'll never forget watching the race footage when John Travolta's white classic stainless steel steed launched over the water gap down in that Southern California sewer ditch, leaving Danny Zuko the winner. Also helping out with the whole situation was Sandra D. Every classic car should come with a woman like that.

By the age of 15, I was already gearing up to buy my first car, and it had to be a classic. I would rather own something that I understood under the hood than something that is smarter than me. I was scouring papers and the web and found great listings for Mustangs. Many were listed in our local Recycler. So the choice vehicle I went for was a 65 Mustang. They have such a classic and clean look to them and they look super impressive while rolling down the street.

This was a pretty impressive rig to own at the age of 16. I remember lots of heads turning when I used to park that beast in the student parking lot. One funny thing we used to do was we would point the wiper blades and water release vents out away from the windshields. So when the wiper fluid was turned on, the water would shoot out and hit any car or person to the side of the car. I'm not sure if this was easily done to Mustang wiper parts or if it was just a special trick that we could do with some of those older cars, but it sure surprised quite a few when they would get sprayed.

So along with my pimped out '65 Ford Mustang, I kind of liked the whole "greaser" look that the T-Birds had. I had to go out and get a leather jacket. I found one at a thrift store, and along with a couple pairs of blue jeans, I was there. Pretty much a blast from the past. It's pretty funny how fashions come back around in circles. Perhaps fanny packs and slap bracelets will be the next fad along with Iroc Camaros and white Jeeps and every school. And maybe the fashions can really be connected to each popular movie that comes out. So "Don't tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead" and "Clueless" can be blamed for such sweet fashions that will be coming back in the future.

I only wish that I decided to keep that '65 Mustang. Those classic cars will never go out of style. I have seen many of the new re-issues, the new PT Cruiser and the new Dodge Challenger.... They're very nostalgic and are new solutions. But the real deal lives in the old steel. Road rage is best in an old classic... just kidding :) But I'm sure many of us have thought from time to time how nice it would be to have an old clunker to teach a lazy driver a thing or two out there on the road. And the ease of being able to work under their hoods is so missed nowadays.

I have convinced myself enough to jump back online and search for one of those classic 'Stangs. I bet they go for more money now, but they are totally worth the investment.

Earn the Best Price on Your Car and Insurance

A study conducted by Sainsbury's Finance reveals that motorists were able to collectively overpay by nearly £200 million due to the fact that they're neglecting to haggle over the cost of a brand-new automobile. Worryingly, this might have long term consequences for their auto insurance premiums too.

The study determined that of the 1.33 million individuals thinking of purchasing an automobile between February and July 2009, approximately 117,000 claim they don't plan to haggle the cost they pay. This is in spite of the fact that rebates might be assured in the neighborhood of fifty percent with a few hotshot negotiations.

What is more is that neglecting to cut down the cost of a new automobile will at the same time have a harmful effect on your automobile insurance premiums as providers structure their prices based on the price of replacing the car in the case of a write-off. If you measure your vehicle at a more expensive price, you are probably going to pay a lot more on your auto insurance premiums.

It's feasible to earn many bonuses and extras from car dealers, especially because they really want to make a deal during a rough time in the auto industry. At the same time, it is deserving of thinking of the long-term consequences of your negotiations on your auto insurance.

For instance, requesting a dealer to add alloy wheels, boosted hydraulics or tinted windows within the price of a car purchase is a great money saver. However, almost all car modifications will knock up auto insurance premiums because they represent extra risk to insurers as parts are possibly hard to replace, and they might make the car a lot more attractive to criminals.

Many dealerships are conformable offering 12 months of free gas, car insurance or even road tax as a piece of the deal. This could really be worth taking advantage of because the amount of money you save could be significant - but make certain you're not connected to an auto insurance deal past the 1st twelve months.

Fast Cars and Turbochargers 101

They're the big things that sit on the bonnets of cars; cars that are usually surrounded by young males with loud music pumping from stereos. And they help cars go fast - really fast - by increasing their power. They're usually seen in high performance cars, and they can increase the power without adding size to the engine.

So, in essence, you get a really compact engine in a great looking car that can go really fast. They do have their drawbacks, though, and one is that they suffer from overheating - this needs to be taken into account. Turbochargers can be fitted after-market, which basically means you can put one in yourself, provided you know how to. It's a little difficult if you don't know much about cars, or engines, or turbochargers. Oh, and a high performance car (again, for the uninitiated) is one that has been created with specific facilities in place so that they can do things most other road cars can't - such as drive really fast. They usually have more powerful engines, thanks in part to turbochargers but also to things like injectors, and nitrous. That's nitrous oxide - a gas used to make cars go faster by increasing the engine's power. Beginning to sense a theme here?

For those that drive high performance vehicles, the trade-off comes with a cost - literally. Custom or modified cars contain parts that are pretty expensive and replacing or maintaining those parts can put holes in your pockets - quickly. The enhanced braking capabilities, the super suspension and the needy engines (like we need more needy things in our lives; aren't girlfriends enough?) mean you can spend a fair bit of your weekly wage just keeping your car going, not to mention the petrol and maintenance to keep it looking great. Kinda makes you wonder how some of these guys can spend all day sitting around with their cars, their mates, and their mates' cars - shouldn't they be working?

There are many things you need to take into account when you decide to purchase a high performance vehicle - or if you decide to modify an existing car. It's not just about pinstriping and alloy wheels. It's a way of life that demands expense and dedication - a turbocharger in the engine of a yellow sports car does not a statement make. Well, it makes a statement, but maybe not the kind you want to make. If you decide to go down this road, you need to put everything into it. It's a lifestyle, and not many belong in it.