2008 Audi TT Roadster Car Review (Trailer)

From the moment we saw it as a concept car in 1995, the Audi TT cast a rather unique shadow. Audi really blew us away as they brought a car to market that was both organic in nature, symmetrical to the eye and bore the name of one of the most exciting road races in history!

The Audi TT Roadster is about as unique a convertible as you can get, and once inside you feel like a real open top sports car driver. She handles superbly and rewards you at every turn. So - while there may be harder edged sports cars out there - if you are after a stylish, energetic and definitely individual driving experience then pop out and get behind the wheel of the Audi TT Roadster.



� Source: youtube
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HTC Touch Diamond - video review from stuff.tv

Hands on video review of the HTC Touch Diamond smartphone. Is it the iPhone killer? From stuff.tv - the gadget guide

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Samsung D780 review: Dual SIMplicity

Gsmarena have posted their review of the dual sim Samsung D780. Here are the key features, main disadvantages and final words. Enjoy!

Key features:
Seamless dual SIM handling (both cards are active simultaneously)
2 megapixel camera with nice image quality
2.1" 262K-color TFT display (QVGA resolution)
microSD memory expansion
FM radio
Bluetooth with A2DP
MS Office document viewer
Snappy user interface
Comfortable keyboard and controls

Main disadvantages:
Secondary SIM good for telephony and messaging only
Secondary SIM dual-band only (no 1900 MHz support)
Large size
Interface options well behind the times
Poor sunlight legibility
No 3G support
Portrait-oriented camera
Poor web browser
Awkward file browser
Poor music player

Final words
Samsung D780 is a well balanced phone for the mass user and the dual SIM action is truly an ace up its sleeve. The lack of 3G support and the poor music player and web browser are the main drawbacks - we've already been there with Samsung D880 Duos. Again much like the D880 Duos, the Samsung D780 packs an excellent camera and a rather large body. Having mentioned it, Samsung D780 brings nothing we didn't see in the Duos, except for the different form factor.

Anyway, the appeal of Samsung D780 is not skin deep. It may only play one song, but it plays it right, and in a market niche wide open it just can't be a one hit wonder. After all, it takes a few tries like D780 before we move on to dual SIM Ultra handsets and dual SIM smartphones.

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LG KF700 Review

The LG-KF700 is the first phone to integrate three separate input methods, including a 3-inch touchscreen, alpha-numeric keypad and Shortcut Dial. Each of these input methods is assigned to the tasks at which it is most best suited, creating a user-optimized interface and making all of the phone?s functions and features instantly accessible.

?LG has already established itself as a leader in phones with touch technology with Chocolate, the Prada Phone by LG and Viewty, and the LG-KF700 continues this legacy,? said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. ?We realize that touchscreens are a wonderful advancement, but they are not the solution for every problem or every user. We looked beyond just touch when designing the LG-KF700 and studied how people actually use their phones. The LG-KF700?s three separate input methods provide unmatched convenience and mean that users don?t have to give up anything to gain a touchscreen.?

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Sony Ericsson W980 Walkman review: 8 gigs of character

Gsmarena have posted their review of the Sony Ericsson W980 Walkman clamshell. Here are the key features, main disadvantages and final words. Enjoy!

Key features:
2.2" 262K-color TFT LCD display of QVGA resolution
3 megapixel camera
8 gigs of onboard memory
FM transmitter
Great user interface
3G with HSDPA
External 262K-color display with a resolution of 176 x 176 pixels
Walkman 3.0 music player
Shake control
Light effects
Touch-sensitive keys
Ambient light sensor
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP profile support
USB 2.0 connectivity
FM radio with RDS
Good battery life
Comfortable keypad

Main disadvantages:
No auto focus nor flash for the camera
Inconvenient camera lens location
Shiny surface a fingerprint nightmare
Display kinda small for a high-end phone
Awkward context keys
Camera interface not user-friendly

Final words
As time has come for us to part with Sony Ericsson W980, we are left with quite positive impressions. The latest Walkman clamshell has a really nice feature-pack and great user interface to back it up.

The camera functionality was the only serious disappointment - the lack of auto focus and the ridiculous camera interface are anything but appropriate for a high-end such as this one.

However the Sony Ericsson W980 manages to flaunt a number of unique extras that make it stand out. The piano black front, light effects and the FM transmitter are not something to find on every other phone out there. Identity is getting more and more crucial in the overcrowded mobile market. That alone is enough for a well deserved pat on the back for Sony Ericsson W980.

The only reason for a cool-off is the lack of information about the expected price of Sony Ericsson W980. We can't help anticipating a rather hefty price tag on the new Walkman flagship. This might just be enough to throw it in the pool with some big sharks and we are not quite sure if the W980 will make it there. We do like it enough though to hope it proves us wrong.

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2008 Mazda CX-9 Review

Making a great thing even better is a wonderful thing indeed -- like adding Al Pacino to the Ocean's 11 cast or plugging Alex Rodriguez into the Yankees lineup. After only one year in production, the 2008 Mazda CX-9 can now be included on that "great things made better" list along with Al, A-Rod and Diet Coke with lemon.

Last year's CX-9 featured a 263-hp, 3.5-liter V6 that we described as having "strong pull through the midrange, as well as impressive smoothness and a sporty sound when the whip is cracked." It also brought the CX-9 from zero to 60 mph in a tidy 7.7 seconds, which was very quick for its class. In other words, this was an engine that didn't need to be replaced. Mazda did it anyway. The 2008 CX-9 features a bored-out version of the "old" engine shared with the Ford Edge and other Ford family products, resulting in a 3.7-liter displacement, 273 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The new engine, and its transmission, is also now built in Japan rather than in the United States.

Aside from its engine, the CX-9 remains the same. It still boasts a very spacious interior, including a third-row seat that is legitimately habitable for adults, with relatively easy ingress and egress made possible by a fold-and-slide second row. That interior is also elegantly tailored in any of the three trim levels, with an attractive dash design, high feature content and excellent materials. Best of all, the CX-9 sets itself apart with superb handling that makes this 4,500-pound sport-utility feel like a much smaller vehicle. Just because this is the largest vehicle Mazda has ever produced doesn't mean it lacks that zoom-zoom attitude.

The seven-passenger midsize crossover segment is expanding faster than Donald Trump's ego. An all-new Toyota Highlander and forthcoming all-new Honda Pilot should make things harder for the 2008 Mazda CX-9, which already has been greeted with three formidable opponents from GM's Buick, GMC and Saturn divisions. Yet this Mazda's ability to meld real utility, sharp good looks, excellent quality and a fun-to-drive personality make it a very tough package to beat.

� Source: edmunds
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2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Review

Mercury's largest sedan continues to provide traditional American-car values, with rear-wheel drive, a standard V-8 engine and a spacious six-passenger interior with a roomy 20.6 cubic foot trunk. The standard 224-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 engine may also be ordered with E85/flex-fuel capability in some markets. A four-speed automatic is standard.

The power of the standard engine can be goosed a bit if you order the optional Handling Package (LS models only) which adds dual exhausts and boost the engine's output to 239 horsepower.

The Marquis is quiet and comfortable, with a smooth ride and relaxed handling. Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes are standard, with traction control, front-side airbags, and a rear air suspension optional.

Changes for '08 include a simplified trim lineup, base GS and up-level LS. A Palm Beach package ? your dead giveway on the target audience ? includes side airbags and other upgrades. Tire pressure monitors are now standard.

Three new packages are offered for the 2008 model year as well ? a GS Comfort Appearance Package adds leather, a power driver seat and painted wheels, while the GS Confidence Package includes power mirrors and traction control. The LS Travel Package gets a CD player.

� Source: thecarconnection
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2008 Toyota Rav4 CV6 review

The surge of urgency delivered by the engine hits all at once and is extremely sharp. To the regular driver, this can come as a total shock in certain situations. It?s way too much power to be sending through such a vehicle and in my opinion, it should have been down-tuned to reduce the spasmodic delivery of power, perhaps with more concentration on producing torque.

Interior room is impressive, as are the ergonomics of the seats. They fold down quite easily and provide easy entry/exit for children and adults. The sound system is quite average and the head-unit looks poorly integrated, unfortunately this is a trait shared with the Corolla and Kluger.

The quality of plastics is good, but some feel a bit cheap (like the dash surrounds and door handle surrounds). Interior room is great for a small family and the styling is good enough to keep the masses pleased. Fuel economy on test was reminiscent of a V6 ? around 11-litres/100km.

Priced from $39,990 for the base model CV6 (as tested), prices move onto $43,990 for the SX6 and max out at $49,990 for the ZR6. The Mitsubishi Outlander and Honda CR-V offer a better package. If you are desperate for a V6 though, Mitsubishi?s offering is far more linear and smooth and is capable on mild off-road tracks. The Outlander?s engine is well behaved and can be controlled by steering wheel paddle shifters ? a quaint touch.

As for the Rav4. If driven sedately it?s a car you could live with. But if the off chance arises where full power is required, you would need to be paying full attention.

Specifications :

Engine: 3.5-litre
Power: 201kW
Torque: 333Nm
Top speed: N/A
Safety: Electronic stability control- front air bags - side airbags - curtain airbags - front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters.
0-100km/h: N/A
EuroNCAP rating: N/A
Turning circle: 10.6m
Fuel tank: N/A
Fuel consumption : 10.5 litres/100km (claimed)
Fuel type: 91RON unleaded

� Source: caradvice
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