Welcome to Cliff's Car Review

I have grown up with a love of exotic and exciting cars shared by my father, his friends and our neighbors.  After owning 3 Range Rovers, I wrote a book about Range Rovers, Cliff's Unofficial Range Rover L322 Buyers Guide, and created offroadrover.com.  As I entered my early 30s I realized that reliability is also important as I had a 5.0L Supercharged Jaguar engine in pieces in my garage for months.  Therefore this will be a one of a kind blog, one that reviews high-end, emotive machines and appliance cars that get you from point A to B reliably.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rear Sway Bar for 2016 Avalon and Driving Impressions

Avalon, Camry Sway Bar Install The RSB part number for the camry, avalon and avalon touring is 4881206210: I used this sway bar from progress  which is significantly heavier and stiffer despite being only 3 mm larger than stock.  (Check out Progress Install Instructions ) The bar installed fairly easily.  I woke up early on an early spring morning, fired up the air compressor, got the Aircat ready to break free any stuck bolts, and to my great surprise everything came apart with hand tools and without drama. I jacked the car up with a floor jack then laid it down on a few rows of bricks to put some load on the suspension.  Taking apart the links needed a 14mm and a 6mm Allen wrench, break it free first with the 14 then use the 14 plus six to get it all the way off.  I would recommend taking a few pictures of the oem sway bar in place to get an idea of how the new one will be oriented. Then there are the sway bar mounts which are also 14mm IIRC and they...
Read more

How to use dynamat. Dynamat install on a Toyota Avalon

Image
I actually did not use but Rockville sound deadener which I actually like quite a bit.  I have used fatmat, norcool or whatever and certain other products and have always preferred dynamat extreme.  I have learned to always select sound deadener with butyl rubber compound versus asphalt.  I was thinking about the NVX product but I choose Rockville as it had better reviews.   This product was competitively priced, used butyl rubber compound, had good reviews. I have thus far only installed it in two places, this review is limited as I do not have any comments about it's long term use. So the Avalon has some issues with rattles, especially when the stereo is turned up.  There is a TSB regarding the issue.  So once I upgraded the speakers in the front door to 6x9s infinity reference's speakers the issue of rattling was horrible.  With the bass turned up just one notch, or any volume on the head unit over about 38-40 the doors would rattle...
Read more

Pioneer Auto EQ Greyed Out, Not Selectable, Fix

The Pioneer Auto EQ function does add quite a lot to the experience of aftermarket car audio by measuring and analyzing specific sounds using an external microphone.  I found that the music is much better, but distortion started earlier at 30 versus 38 without Auto EQ. I had a difficult time getting the Auto EQ selectable, and found others had the same issue.  I spent some time researching the issue and found the solution for me was a specific set of procedures: Turn car to "accessory mode" Have handbrake used, or other bypass  Disconnect any phones from bluetooth and/or wifi connection, imperative.  Select "Source Off" (not power off) Go to the home screen  Then hit the gears, scroll to audio, then AutoEq and the ability to measure the system should be selectable  Items 3-5 are I believe crucial, I know items 4 and 5 are above.  Subtle but necessary.  
Read more