New Featured Parts & Products Showcase

Welcome Back to the Autos and Automotive Blog!

We have been testing and are now putting the final touches on a new Featured Parts & Products Showcase section at Syd's Eastside Auto Parts. We are happy to announce that it is now available and working. All online transactions are secured with 128 bit encryption and are safe (as usual for e-commerce at Syd's Eastside Auto Parts).

We will be adding many automotive parts and products to this new section over the next coming weeks. Here, we will be able to feature new auto parts and products, as well as showcase old auto parts.

Currently, the showcase is featuring a steering wheel from a 1949 Pontiac, and another from a 1952 Mercury.

1949 Pontiac Steering Wheel

1952 Mercury Steering Wheel

Syd's Eastside Auto Parts will use this section to showcase such older products as well as to expand our reach and offer new auto parts and automotive products.

The Syd's Eastside Auto Parts Search remains an important and functional focus for the website, where our customers can search virtually our entire inventory. But the Featured Parts & Products Showcase allows us to offer parts and products that you might not expect to find at an auto parts and salvage yard.

We hope our customers will enjoy the new service and that it may attract new customers.

Links:
Syd's Eastside Auto Parts
Featured Parts & Products Showcase

New Automotive Groups at Google Groups

Syd's Eastside Auto is proud to announce that it has started two new groups at Google Groups:

Autos & Automotive
An automotive and motorsports group for discussing all things automotive related. Topics may include autos, automotive mechanics, auto shows, automobile racing, automotive parts, salvage, classic cars, collector cars & more. Pickup trucks, tractor trailer trucks and motorcycling are also allowed. New members must be invited, although non-members may request membership. Each membership request must include a personal response so that we know that they aren't a spam bot collecting email addresses from such group mailing lists.

AutomotiveParts
Hunt for or offer automotive parts. Anyone may join to find or sell auto parts. All posts offering auto parts must include whether it is a used, rebuilt or new auto part. New parts should further indicate whether they are OEM, aftermarket or high performance parts. This group offers a unique opportunity for entreprenuers, salvage yards, parts shops, auto parts search pools and other automotive industry products. We welcome new aftermarket automotive and high performance auto parts sellers from drop shippers and wholesalers. Discuss the business or advertise your goods. Anyone may view the posts, but membership is required to post. New members must be invited, although non-members may request membership. Each membership request must include a personal response so that we know that they aren't a spam bot collecting email addresses from such group mailing lists.

Whether you are an automotive industry professional or just an automobile enthusiast, you will probably want to join the first group, which is more of a general subject group for anything automotive or motorsports related.

The second group is intended to offer a format for parts searches and querries, as well as offer a format from which automotive professionals can offer automotive parts, products and supplies.

We certainly encourage those of you who wish to join to do so. We are asking for a personal response from all new members in order to keep spam bots and spammers out of the group. We get enough spam as it is, I imagine you do to, as spam has alarmingly become a significant problem for anyone who conducts business on the internet.

-Syd's Eastside Auto Parts, Used Cars, Used Trucks & Rebuilders

New WebRing: "Automotive" - Seeking New Automotive and Motorsports Membership Sites

Syd's Eastside Auto Parts is happy to announce a new WebRing.

Automotive WebRing

Syd's Eastside Auto Parts, Used Cars & Rebuilders sponsors the Automotive SEARCH Network, which will also serve as the initial starting site for the new Automotive WebRing. The Automotive WebRing Hub is an official WebRing.com webring.

As we have previously announced, Automotive SEARCH is a selective search engine for automotive and motorsports related resources. More information about this new search facility is available in a couple of our previous posts, Automotive Search and Automotove Search Homepage.

Syd's Eastside Auto Parts is also a member of the webring, of course. Funny thing is, another member joined before actually getting the webring code implemented on that site and so the sponsor's site is the third on the list in their own webring. LOL!

But we are happy to have any and all family friendly automotive and/or motorsports related websites join our webring. The more membership we have, the better of a webring community it will be. The better the webring will be, the better the Automotive SEARCH Network will be, as well.

Automotive WebRing

Google PageRank Updates: January 2007

For those who don't know, Google maintains a numeral rank for each website it indexes. This rank is called the Google PageRank, and is often refered to as the PR of a site. According to Google's toolbar, PageRank is Google's measure of the importance of a page. In fact, a PageRank was one of the very first measures of trust for a website. More often than not, web surfers armed with a PageRank enabled Google toolbar in their browser would not trust a site which reported that the website they were visiting had a Pagerank any lower than 3. Some sites won't even link to another website with a PR of less than 4. It's all pretty paranoid, really.

When we started hearing that Google had updated its PageRank values for websites on about January 7th, 2007, we were getting excited that ours should update soon, as well. As time marched on our PR did not update, and this was making me and my boss more and more nervous (and frustrated). Our main website at Syd's Eastside Auto Parts has been trapped in the Google Sandbox with a lowly PageRank of 1 (on a scale of 0 to 10) for over 6 months, now. I was starting to think of the Google Sandbox as a sandpit filled with only quicksand.

Apparently, we are pretty far down on the list of websites for Google to update. Then, on January 25th, 2007, Google finally showed us a new PageRank of 4 for our website. I was so releived, as we had been fighting for a decent PR value for well over 6 months, and the strain on our business seemed intolerable. I was actually quite happy, having thought we would have to struggle another 3 months, until the next update, without any recognition of our hard work and effort in building the website, our brand, and for our considerable online marketing efforts.

But, Google wasn't done, yet. On Monday I came to work to find that our local shopping, tourism & business listings directory for Southeastern South Dakota, Yankton Shopping, had also been updated to a PR of 3 (from 0). To top this off, today I found that our Automotive Search Network and this blog (which you are reading now), were both among the websites further updated with Google PageRanks of 3 (each, they had both previously been rated 0).

Now, we hope that Google will take into account our last few pages that we put up recently durring the next Google PR Update... Our SydsEastside homepage at Google Pages, and our new Autos & Automotive group at Google Groups. ;)

If you are interested in joining our automotive and motorsports related group, Autos & Automotive, please be sure to check out our Group Welcome Page. We are very interested in signing-up automotive industry professionals, auto enthusiasts, car clubs and motorsports related members!

Look for further announcements concerning our group in the near future!

One thing I should mention, before I close this entry, is that Google's PageRank has not yet updated on all of Google's web servers. In fact, in the course of a day, I will notice that the Google toolbar will report a PR1 and later a PR4 and then flip-flop between the two throughout the day. Once Google updates all of it's servers that serve the Google Toolbar's PageRank, the PR should remain steady throughout the day. Let's hope that it won't take another Google update for the PR to be distributed to all such web servers. Hopefully, Google will address this in the future.

We hope you have a great day/night ahead of you! ;)
- Syd's Eastside Auto Parts

New Automotive Articles Online

Syd's Eastside Auto is proud to announce that over the past month we have been adding articles to the website, in the new Articles section.

We have started this section with 3 articles about vehicle maintenance and preparation:

• Winterization discusses how to prepare your vehicle for the winter, as well as preparing yourself for cold weather roadside emergencies.
• Coolant Change illustrates the mechanics and positive affects of changing and maintaining your coolant levels.
• Spark Plugs explains the basic knowledge required behind changing your spark plugs and wires. This is actually quite a good article since spark plugs usually are a tell-tale sign of exactly how your engine is performing. We plan to expand on this article in the future.

We hope that you will find these articles helpful. We are planning on adding even more automotive articles and mechanical tutorials in the near future.

Syd's Eastside Auto has also added more online contact web forms to make it easier for our customers to contact us and to direct specific comments or requests to the correct department or person. This should help expedite email based assistance for our customers. Our physical address and telephone contact information will also be found at the bottom of each of these web forms incase you would like to contact us more directly.

We will continue improving the website and invite everyone to offer thier own suggestions and feedback concerning our website, as well. In fact, the Site Feedback web form is also online to facilitate any such comments criticsm about the website.

We hope that you enjoyed a HAPPY HOLIDAYS and will have a GREAT NEW YEAR!

Toyota Auris - Inside Out

Ajang Paris Motor Show 2006 lalu menjadi saksi kehadiran konsep desain terbaru Toyota, “inside out” yang diwujudkan ke dalam mobil konsep Toyota Auris. Konsep ”inside out” memaksimalkan ruang dan kenyamanan interior tanpa melupakan faktor pengemudian yang mengasyikkan.

Dengan demikian, konsep ini pun sejalan dengan filosofi desain yang mendasari mobil-mobil keluaran Toyota di masa kini maupun ke depan, yakni Vibrant Clarity, yang memadukan dua prinsip yang bertolak belakang, dinamisme dan energi, dengan simplisitas dan logika. Dengan filosofi ini, Toyota mencoba memadukan bentuk dan fungsi ke dalam satu paket.

Mobil konsep hatchback 5-pintu rancangan studio desain Toyota Eropa ED2 ini menampilkan desain interior yang menselaraskan pengemudi dan penumpang dengan mobil. Konsol tengahnya dirancang elegan namun tidak melupakan faktor kepraktisan dan ergonomi. Hal itu diwujudkan dalam bentuk tongkat perseneling dan tombol-tombol lainnya di konsol tengah diposisikan sedikit lebih tinggi, namun mudah dijangkau.

Desain meter cluster-nya juga terbilang unik. Ada dua bulatan indikator di situ, masing-masing berfungsi sebagai tachometer dan speedometer. Sementara ruang bagian tengah kedua indikator itu dimanfaatkan untuk berbagai jenis indikator lainnya, mulai dari suhu, bahan bakar, sampai odomoter.

Aura konsep inside out pun makin terasa dengan diaplikasikannya atap panoramic glass, lantai ruang penumpang belakang yang rata dan permukaan jendela yang luas.

Auris memiliki panjang keseluruhan 4.220mm. Dan, dengan panjang wheelbase mencapai 2.600mm, Auris mengombinasikan stabilitas dan kenyamanan berkendara dengan luas ruang penumpang yang maksimum. Ketinggian mobil sebesar 1.515mm dan lebar 1.760 turut memberikan kesan interior yang lapang, namun tetap sporti.

Melihat eksterior Auris, mengingatkan kita kepada Toyota Yaris, yang pertama kali diluncurkan di Eropa tahun lalu. Terutama kalau kita melihat desain headlamp dan moncongnya. Hanya saja, Auris terlihat lebih panjang dan lebih gambot ketimbang Yaris.

Desain grill yang menyatu dengan bumper, overhang pendek, serta dipertegas dengan kehadiran velg alloy 19 inci, brake calliper yang terlihat jelas, serta exhaust muffler berwarna krom yang terintegrasi dengan bumper belakang membuat Auris tampil dinamis sekaligus sporti.

Nantinya, Auris akan tersedia dalam pilihan tipe bodi hatchback 3 dan 5 pintu. Pilihan mesinnya pun bakal beragam, yakni dua jenis mesin bensin 1,4 VVT-I dan 1,6 Dual VVT-i, serta tiga buah jenis mesin diesel 1,4 D-4D, 2,0 D-4D dan 2,2 D-4D Clean Power. Seluruhnya sudah memenuhi standar emisi Euro IV.

Kabarnya, Auris diproyeksikan Toyota sebagai generasi penerus Corolla, setidaknya untuk pasar Eropa. Apakah Auris sanggup meneruskan prestasi Corolla yang begitu legendaris: 30 juta unit terjual dalam kiprahnya selama empat dekade? Hanya waktu yang bisa menjawabnya.

Presiden Terima Tim Ekspedisi Palm Oil

Toyota menunjukkan komitmennya terhadap pengembangan energi alternatif sebagai pengganti bahan bakar minyak (BBM). Hal ini ditunjukkan dengan dukungan berupa keikutsertaan dalam tim kegiatan sosialisasi pemanfaatan energi alternatif bertajuk ”Palm Oil Expedition” yang secara resmi diterima oleh Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono di Istana Negara, Jakarta, Kamis, 21 Desember 2006. “Palm Oil Expedition” merupakan pengujian pemanfaatan minyak sawit asli (Pure Plant Oil) pada kendaraan niaga dan kendaraan penumpang bermesin diesel.

Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono saat menandatangani stiker Mobil Bio dalam kaitan sosisalisasi Energi Alternatif bertajuk "Palm Oil Expedition".


Dalam rombongan ”Palm Oil Expedition” yang mengambil rute sepanjang sentra perkebunan kelapa sawit di Pulau Sumatra, Toyota menyertakan 12 unit kendaraan antara lain: 3 unit truk Dyna dan 3 unit mobil Kijang Innova berbahan bakar diesel. Perjalanan ini dimulai dari kota Banda Aceh, propinsi NAD pada 12 Desember lalu dan berakhir di Jakarta 21 Desember 2006. Ekspedisi yang diprakarsai oleh Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) bekerjasama dengan Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT) dan didukung penuh oleh Toyota ini dirancang untuk mendukung rencana pemerintah dalam rangka pengembangan energi alternatif penganti BBM, khususnya solar dan minyak bakar.

Toyota menyadari bahwa untuk mengatasi masalah penggunaan bahan bakar minyak dan perbaikan lingkungan hidup dibutuhkan upaya bersama, tidak hanya dari pihak pemerintah namun juga seluruh masyarakat, termasuk pelaku industri kendaraan bermotor. Keikutsertaan dalam ”Palm Oil Expedition” membuktikan bahwa Toyota siap merespon semua kebijakan pemerintah yang berkaitan dengan industri kendaraan bermotor. ”Kesuksesan uji coba ini menunjukkan bahwa minyak sawit juga bisa dimanfaatkan pada mesin industri lain yang lebih sederhana,” tambah Johnny Darmawan, Presiden Direktur PT Toyota-Astra Motor.

Peran aktif Toyota bagi pengembangan bahan bakar alternatif yang ramah lingkungan ini sudah dilakukan lebih dari 15 tahun, sejak tahun 1990. Toyota secara berkesinambungan bekerjasama melakukan kajian dengan berbagai perguruan tinggi dan lembaga riset teknologi seperti Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) dan Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November Surabaya (ITS), BPPT, Lemigas, BTMP (Balai Termodinamika, Motor Bakar & Propulsi), LRPI (Lembaga Riset Perkebunan Indonesia), dan Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup.

Keterlibatan dalam ”Palm Oil Expedition” kali ini merupakan bentuk lain komitmen Toyota untuk mendukung pemerintah dalam mengkampanyekan energi alternatif pengganti BBM di dalam negeri. Tahun 2006 ini, untuk membangkitkan kesadaran masyarakat terhadap lingkungan, Toyota telah menginvestasikan lebih dari Rp 1 milyar dalam bentuk dukungan berbagai kegiatan kajian dan sosialisasi yang bertujuan untuk mencari energi alternatif yang ramah lingkungan dan dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat secara luas. Sementara itu, untuk tahun 2007 mendatang, Toyota akan menggali lebih dalam partisipasi masyarakat dalam penggunaan dan pengembangan bahan bakar alternatif. Toyota juga telah menyiapkan mobil hybrid Toyota Prius untuk diberikan kepada pemerintah Indonesia.

Selain pemanfaatan biofuel, pemerintah Indonesia menyadari perlunya mendorong upaya lain sebagai alternatif untuk mengatasi penghematan BBM dan pencemaran lingkungan. Salah satu teknologi yang telah berhasil dikembangkan oleh Toyota sebagai solusinya adalah penggunaan mobil hibrida (hybrid) yang menggabungkan mesin berbahan bakar minyak dengan motor listrik, yang sangat efisien dalam mengonsumsi bahan bakar dan mampu menekan kadar gas buang dengan optimal.

Teknologi hybrid pertama kali dikembangkan oleh Toyota pada tahun 1977 ketika berhasil meluncurkan Toyota Sports 800 Gas Turbine (GT) Hybrid Prototype. Sementara itu, Toyota Prius adalah mobil hibrida pertama yang diproduksi secara massal dan dijual kepada umum. Prius, yang di dalam bahasa Latin berarti sebelum atau pertama, pertama kali dijual di Jepang pada tahun 1997 dan di dunia pada tahun 2001. Dalam tahun 2006, Prius telah terjual lebih dari 600.000 unit di seluruh dunia