Anatomy of a Vehicle Indentification Number (VIN)

Smart car buyers consider many different factors when looking for a quality used car. One of the things they wouldn’t miss out on is the vehicle identification number (VIN). The 17-character VIN is every vehicle’s unique fingerprint. It was originally created in the early 80’s to help authorities track stolen vehicles, but has since been used for other purposes.

As an example, below is the VIN of a 2009 Range Rover Sport HSE SUV. The car has traveled 71,210 miles and operates on a 4.4-L V8 gas engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.

SALSK25489A213885

The first digit "S" means this car was made in England. The "A" means it was made by Jaguar. The "L" refers to the manufacturing division or type of the vehicle, which in this example is Land Rover. The fourth to eighth digits (SK254) identify the basic specs of the vehicle: weight and horsepower, platform (sedan, van, pick-up, etc), model-specific code, body type (convertible, 2-door, 4-door, etc), and number of cylinders.

The ninth digit determines the VIN’s accuracy. This digit is calculated through a specified formula, and can be anywhere from 0 to 9, or an “X” which is a “10” expressed in a single digit. The tenth digit identifies the model year, and the "9" in the example stands for 2009. The eleventh digit refers to the plant that made the vehicle. The last six digits collectively make up the Vehicle Identifier Section, and refer to the vehicle’s sequence in production.

Newbie Motorist’s Guide to Buying a Bike

For most of your life you’ve been looking at people tearing through the streets on their impressive Harley-Davidsons, and you’ve always wanted to get in on the action. If you think that you’re now ready for your very own bike, here are some of the most important things you have to consider first:

How will you ride?

Your choice of motorcycle will depend on how you intend to ride. If you’re a big fan of lengthy, highway rides, then choppers or cruisers should be your best bet. Buy dirt bikes for off-road thrill rides and treks, and if you want to combine both functions, opt for tour bikes or adventure tourers that can help you keep an upright posture while still allowing for plenty of clearance.

Is the dealership reputable?

This is especially useful when you’re buying a used bike. You should make sure that you won’t end up walking away with a lemon, so it’s best to choose the most reliable dealer you can find before you sign onto anything. Do some research on a prospective seller, or ask around town or among your family and friends for recommendations.

Test Drive

After scoping out your prospective dealers, it’s time to check how their bikes handle or feel. Ask to do a test drive to get the feel of things. Choose the road you want to drive it on based on the bike’s function.

Two-Door vs. Four-Door

Stock cars don't have doors; in fact, they aren't exactly built like cars. Believe it or not, the entire frame of a stock car is one big roll cage. Aside from protecting the driver in case the car begins tumbling, the roll cage is built to withstand high-speed impact. Due to its enveloping design, the stock car had to do away with conventional access.

Some fans believe a door doesn't serve any significant purpose in stock car racing. In fact, a car door may come off during the race, putting the safety of other racers at risk. Coupes, however, aren't racecars but normally limit the number of doors to a pair, as opposed to the sedan's two pairs. Is it aerodynamics at work?

When two Toyota AE85/86 variants— one two-door and one hatchback— were compared, it was found out that the hatchback was more aerodynamic. The three-door variant's drag coefficient was at 0.35, 0.02 points lower than the two-door one. Neither variant provided more elbow room than the other.

The two-door design may have stemmed from the coupe's smaller size. With normally less than 33 cubic feet, there may not be enough room to fit extra doors. However, manufacturers have broken this convention by designing "two-door sedans," with an interior volume of more than 33 cubic feet. More or less, they're just the same.