VIN NUMBER EXPLAINED

This is good to know. 

3HGCG6650YG700365  Y is 2000.  

Check an Engine Before You Buy

Salvage Title: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

First the good.  The price should be discounted.  Way discounted.  If the salvage title is due to an accident on the front end, then the car should not be more than $5,000.  The reason is for all of the repairs and for the DMV fees.

The bad.  Again, if the salvage is from an accident to the front end, you're looking at expensive front-end alignment repairs.

The Ugly.  It's as bad as the bad.

Has to exceed 70% of the vehicles's value.  The insurance company determines this.  They have their own network of repair companies.  There's the per hour cost of repairs.

Title Washing?  Change the salvage title to clean title.  Dependent on insurance companies who don't always report information to the national motor vehicle information system.

Rebuilt title was taken off the road for . . . . it had some serious damage, taken off road, not authorized for road use, and then re-inspected for road use. 

Transmissions: Which Is Best?

Different transmissions.

CVT

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) (also known as a single-speed transmission, stepless transmission, pulley transmission, or, in case of motorcycles, a twist-and-go) is an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios. The flexibility of a CVT allows the input shaft to maintain a constant angular velocity.

Check Engine Light Is Flashing

Hooking your engine up to the computer can tell you which piston is not firing.  

Benefits of Turbo Charged Engines

From Turbos  

BENEFITS OF TURBO-CHARGED ENGINES

1.  FUEL CONSUMPTION IS LESS.

Compared with a naturally aspirated engine of identical power output, the fuel consumption of a turbocharger engine is lower, as some of the normally wasted exhaust energy contributes to the engine's efficiency. Due to the lower volumetric displacement of the turbo engine, frictional and thermal losses are less.

2.  POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO IS BETTER

The power-to-weight ratio, i.e. kilowatt (power output)/kilograms (engine weight), of the exhaust gas turbocharged engine is much better than that of the naturally aspirated engine.

3.  ENGINE WELL REQUIREMENTS ARE SMALLER

The turbocharger engine's installation space requirement is smaller than that of a naturally aspirated engine with the same power output.

4.  TORQUE CAN BE IMPROVED

A turbocharged engine's torque characteristic can be improved. Due to the so-called "maxidyne characteristic" (a very high torque increase at low engine speeds), close to full power output is maintained well below rated engine speed. Therefore, climbing a hill requires fewer gear changes and speed loss is lower.

5.  GREAT HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE

The high-altitude performance of a turbocharged engine is significantly better. Because of the lower air pressure at high altitudes, the power loss of a naturally aspirated engine is considerable. In contrast, the performance of the turbine improves at altitude as a result of the greater pressure difference between the virtually constant pressure upstream of the turbine and the lower ambient pressure at outlet. The lower air density at the compressor inlet is largely equalized. Hence, the engine has barely any power loss.

Because of reduced overall size, the sound-radiating outer surface of a turbocharger engine is smaller, it is therefore less noisy than a naturally aspirated engine with identical output. The turbocharger itself acts as an additional silencer.

THE DOWNSIDES (from Automotive Training Centers)
The most immediately observable con to a turbocharged engine is the money and time that go into it. You’re going to have to pay a handsome sum to an automotive technician to get your regular engine souped up and turbocharged. What’s more is that it will require some shifting and moving under the hood, as a turbo charged engine requires some additional wiring and tubing to function properly – cars with crowded front ends need not apply. Though many car companies such as Volkswagen offer factory made models with turbocharged engines, those wishing to upgrade on their own might encounter setbacks.

Also, less gas mileage.  

Differences Between FWD, AWD, RWD, & 4WD

What's The Difference Between FWD,RWD, AWD, And 4WD?

Vehicles of all shapes and types act differently on various surfaces depending on whether they feature front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. You might know which drive system your vehicle has, but here we’ll explain a little bit more about how each of these drive systems work. (It might not be the most exciting topic, but it is worth understanding how your vehicle functions and how you can get the most out of it.)

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD):

Easily the most common drive system found in today’s vehicles, front-wheel drive vehicles simply channel their power to the front wheels. Standard on all Buick’s, front-wheel drive is often employed because it is a compact system that frees up space inside the cabin. Plus, the majority of the weight is positioned over the front wheels, offering good traction when its slippery.

Rear-Wheel Drive:

As you’ve probably guessed, rear-wheel drive vehicles channel their power strictly to the vehicle’s rear wheels. Rear-wheel drive used to be the most common drive system until the advent of front-wheel drive in the early 80s. However, RWD vehicles can handle more horsepower and higher vehicle weights, which is why it is often found in sports cars, performance sedans, big trucks, race cars, and law enforcement pursuit vehicles.

Four-Wheel Drive (4WD or 4×4):

Four-wheel vehicles tend to feature a two speed transfer case* with both high and low ranges. Most 4WD vehicles tend to operate in RWD mode until four-wheel traction is required. But unlike AWD, most systems are driver activated, meaning the driver must engage the AWD function via a secondary gear shift or through a button or setting. However, many feature a setting that automatically engages the high range. The driver must still engage the low range.

It is often found on large SUVs and trucks because it provides optimal traction when off-road.

All-Wheel Drive (AWD):

All-wheel drive is often confused with four-wheel drive but despite the fact both engage all four wheels, their are some key differences between the two.

Generally, a AWD system operates as a RWD or FWD vehicle– most are FWD. Buick’s all-wheel drive preemptively sends power to both the front and rear wheels on every launch to prevent slip and loss of traction. Unlike AWD, four-wheel drive is beautiful in its simplicity: the system does everything automatically, without driver intervention.

* A transfer case connects to the transmission to split power between the front and rear wheels.