Automotive Addict

Step One: . . . The Conversion Process


We have to break down carbohydrate sugars, such as the starch from corn. Create it into "Mash". Grind or crush the feedstock (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc...). Then dilute and add an enzyme (alpha amylase) to turn the mixture into a liquid. Once liquified a second enzyme is added(glucoamylase) to convert the starch into sugar. (If the source is mainly sugar, i.e...rotten fruit, molasses, etc..., the conversion step can be skipped.


Step Two: . . . Fermentation


Add yeast and make it into a beer (wine) type solution.


Step Three: . . . Distillation


The beer (wine) type solution needs to be run through a still to extract the alcohol from the solution.


Step Four: . . . Filtration


The ethanol now needs to be filtered to get rid of excess organic volatiles.


Step Five: . . . Dehydration


The ethanol needs to be "dried". After the distillation process there will be a certain amount of water in the ethanol you have just created - this can be dried running the ethanol through Zeolite a readily available product for drying ethanol.


Step Six: . . . Ethanol Into e85


Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol. e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.

I have to say, I am not a big dodge man, but the Challenger has everyone turning their heads. The specs that I have seen show the Challenger with a 6.1 liter Hemi V8 with 425 horse power at 6000 rpm and 420 lb-ft torque at 4800 rpm. It showes an impressive 0-60 in 4.5 sec. I wish GM would have taken the retro look with the GTO!

GM's OnStar is becoming more popular with the car buying public. On Star's one year free safe and sound package covers airbag deployment notification, remote vehicle diagnostics, remote door unlock, emergency services, stolen vehicle location assistance, roadside assistance, accident assistance, remote horn and lights if you are having trouble locating your vehicle, and 30 minutes free personal hands free calling. When OnStar was first introduced customers were apprehensive and did not want this feature and now they will not consider a vehicle without it. The dealership that I work at has a 92% renewal rate after the first year. The second year costs $199, but most customers feel this is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

GM's OnStar Feature has added voice activated Navigation. You contact an OnStar Advisor, tell them where you want to go, they download the route to your vehicle, voice commands tell you every turn to make. You can even go to Map Quest on the Internet and plan out a trip, download the trip to your OnStar Account, after naming the trip you can download it to your vehicle for directions and destinations that you have pre-determined on Map Quest. You can even plan how many miles you want to drive per day, where you want to stay, etc. OnStar is adding new features that Customers have found they do not want to live without.

One of the keys to negotiation is understanding the language. Most car dealers use the trade difference method and this is very confusing to some customers. For instance, the salesperson will say "We will trade for $7000 difference, plus payoff, plus TTF-Tax, Title, Fees". Just to make things simple we will say that you are buying a $27000 vehicle. This means that your vehicle appraised for $20000, or less if there are rebates involved. Now, you may owe $30000 on your car, meaning that you are actually financing $37000 on this vehicle, plus TTF. Most customers cannot understand that the payoff has to be added back to the deal.
$27000 minus $20000 is $7000 trade difference, plus payoff, in this case $30000 which will give you $37000, plus TTF.
This method is used to make you forget about how much your trade is worth because it makes you focus on the payoff instead of the amount appraised on your car. Ask the salesperson to break your numbers down so you can analyze them better. Sale price, trade amount, rebates if applicable, taxes, and so on. I myself would rather lay everything out in the open for the customer and not give the old smoke and mirror approach.