vigan philippines

When we arrive Vigan our first problem is where to eat, because I was very hungry then it’s 2 PM in the afternoon already I guess.

Since we are new in the place we are not familiar in the area. Thanks God people in the town are all very friendly. We found the place where to eat our late lunch :) . Fast foods like Jollibee, McDonald, Chowking are all located at one place near the Vigan City Hall beside the famous Vigan City Cathedral.

At the place also Max Restaurant is there. Tourist are amazed with the structure of this fast foods and restaurants because they were designed like the old houses of Vigan City.

The mestizo district has architecture and atmosphere that harkens back to the town’s trading days. There are many antiques for sale at shops in the mestizo district. Though most of these are not authentic, they make good souvenirs as long as the price is not too high. Being a former Spanish colony, most of the “antiques” are religious in nature. Simply wandering the cobblestone streets is a treat for the eye and the imagination.

2. Plaza Burgos is attractive both for its food vendors and festivals. There are local favorites as well as some unique fusion foods from Spanish times. Empanada, for example, is given a uniquely Filipino flare. Located next to the mestizo district, this is a great venue to start a walking tour of the area.

Vigan City Ilocos Sur is known and famous of their heritage village. I and my wife don’t miss the opportunity to visit this famous landmark of the province and country.

My first impression when I saw this old houses was wow! Yes the place is really amazing I can’t imagine how they preserve this buildings or houses for more than 100 years now. If you want to see how Philippine villages look like during the spanish regime Vigan Heritage Village is the place to go.

The local government of Vigan City and Ilocos Sur preserve this houses for tourist and for students educational tour.

UNESCO is also officially declare Vigan City as one of the world’s heritage site.

How to go to this heritage village of Vigan? Visiting the place is not that hard, if you don’t have your own car you can ride bus from Manila or Baguio City, Partas bus line , Philippine Rabit, Viron Transit and other bus companies have their trips bound to Vigan City.

The City of Vigan [spanish: La Ciudad de Vigan / ilocano: Siyudad ti Vigan] is a third class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The city is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.

It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of numerous Hispanic towns in the Philippines, and is well-known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine building design, and construction with colonial European architecture.

According to the 2007 Philippines census, it has a population of 47,246 people. Former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino, the 6th president of the Philippines, has a residence in Vigan, the Syquia MansionThis houses at Vigan City showed the design and architecture of pre spanish regime during 16th – 19th century.

I would like to these picture collection I have got from Vigan City at heritage village for my blog visitors to see how the vigan city heritage site look like.

By the way Vigan City is located at Northern Luzon. The capital town of Ilocos Sur. If you’re from Manila you will pass the following provinces Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and La Union.

hundred islands pangasinan

Ever since I was a child when I saw the Hundred Islands in a calendar, I was totally captivated. This natural wonder does invite some doubt. Are there really a hundred islands or is the name a hyperbole? The answer is yes, there are about 123 at high tide. Is the cluster of “hundred” really unique? Not really, Indonesia has a similar string of 105 islands called Pulau Seribu which in English means Thousand Islands.
Nonetheless, the the Hundred Island National Park is enchanting. Scattered over 18 square kilometers in Lingayen Gulf, they are tiny specks of coralline islands in Alaminos City of the northwest province of Pangasinan in Luzon. Three of the islands have viewing promontories and visitor facilities (Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island) but the rest can be accessed by boat.

I have never been there. I only had the pure luck to capture the Hundred Islands with my camera just one time in a plane, some 36,000 feet above land. Someday though, I really, really wish to see them for real.

This is one of the visited places in the country when it comes to beaches and resorts. The islands are really amazing. It looks like they cast down purposely. The other perfect place to relax and enjoy the vacation. "The Top 10 most beautiful place to go" declared by the Manila Bulletin one of the leading news papers in the country.

It was December 23rd when I and my friends decided to go there. I was very excited because it would be my first time to go there.

hundred island

Lose yourself among the Hundred Islands, scattered like emeralds in the deep blue waters off Pangasinan. Unexplored coves and islets await seekers of solitude. Each one in its own pristine beauty basks in the sun, lapped by the waters of Lingayen Gulf.

Situated in Alaminos, Pangasinan, Hundred Islands is a gem waiting to be discovered. Choose among it's many facets. Soak in the sunshine on the white sand beaches of Quezon Island. Frolic in the shallow waters of Children's Island. Hire a boat and go island-hopping. Explore the abundant marine life beneath the waters of Lingayen Gulf.


Hike through caves and across island trails and discover interesting rock formations.
Only three of those myriad islands have been partially developed in the interest of ecological balance. eds.

Accomodations on these developed islands are rustic and basic, for those who wish to touch base with nature. Nipa huts and duplexes offer simple facilities, such as kerosene lighting, a drum of fresh water, and trundle b

Small island pictuers

The assistant tells me Newton’s waiting in the van and we must leave now—Newton’s found another storyteller. Majuro is so small, a quarter mile wide and thirty miles long—actually several small islands strung together—you’d think it’d be easy to find the man or woman you’re looking for. But it hasn’t been easy. Life is so fluid here—seven degrees north of the equator in this tiny Pacific nation, just forty thousand souls scattered over seven hundred and fifty thousand square miles of ocean—people come and go with the tide, it seems. From the driver’s seat, Newton waves his greeting. He’s a handsome man of medium height and broad girth, curly graying hair, a slightly graying mustache, and dark brown complexion. Newton and I are trying to preserve this nation’s stories and tales. Until the missionaries found them in the nineteenth century, the Marshallese had lived for three millennia as an oral culture; everything they knew was contained in tales and songs and chants. The value of our project—the Marshall Islands Story Project—is that we are recording the last of the culture’s oral tradition, showing how it has changed, or how it looks and sounds in its last permutation.

The palm tree island is a decorative little island that you can use to create a nice tropical effect.

The palm tree island is decorated with two palm trees, trunks and grasses.

The palm tree island looks great in open water, close to the beach, in combination with grassland and even on the mainland.

The footprint of the palm tree island is 10x10 meters

Please visit our store, to see the Palm Tree Island inworld.

Newton hates driving. When people see him driving me around, they may get the wrong idea. He’s no chauffeur, he jokes. But he drives nonetheless because he knows where we’re going and we’re often going at odd times or without notice, when a driver can’t be found. I call “Iawke!” (literally, “love to you”), then slide onto the van’s shredded front seat. Newton’s assistant hops in the back. Newton recruits assistants either from the junior college or from his neighborhood. Unemployment is over thirty percent here, so help is easy to come by. It doesn’t matter that Newton can’t afford to pay them. He’ll compensate them some other way, sharing food or whatever there is to share. Island tradition has always centered on sharing. If you caught more fish than you could eat, you gave away the rest.


It’s not like you could save anything in this climate. Every van Newton borrows is rusted beyond hope; doors won’t open or shut right; windows won’t roll one way or the other; wipers and rearview mirrors are missing. Don’t even ask about radio or air conditioning. Nothing lasts out here. It’s the most corrosive environment in the world. Rain every day, ninety-percent humidity, voracious heat, windborne sand, and biting salt air. The bike I bought new when I arrived four months ago now looks ten years old. I can’t help thinking how futile it is trying to preserve anything in this place. This rapid erosion brings home the urgency of our preservation project

Como Poner Adsense Con Texto Alrededor en una entrada de Blogger

Muchos se han preguntado como poner su bloque de adsense en su articulo con texto alrededor. Por ejemplo ala mano derecha o izquierda pero con el texto envolviendolo. Hay un pequenio codigo que tienes que poner en su codigo HTML o CSS para poder realizar esto.

Para empezar tienes que poner al comienzo asi:

de alli pones tu codigo de adsense

Y al final cierras con esto:

Entonces al final todo tu codigo deberia verse asi:

Si al comienzo no funciona, intenta tipiando todo el codigo en vez de copiar y pegar. Puedes hacer pequenios ajustes y cambios a tu gusto. Por ejemplo puedes remplazar “left” por “right” o el margin (el borde de espacio en el codigo adsense y el texto de articulo) lo puedes variar tambien de numero por ejemplo en vez de 10px puedes poner 5px.

Como escoger los keywords, paginas que te ayudaran

Keyword Research o Investigacion de Keyword es muy importante en todo el proceso de crear y marketear un sitio web y para poder saber como ganar dinero por internet.

El “keyword” es la palabra que pone el usuario para buscar tu sitio. Por ejemplo, si tengo un sitio sobre carteras para mujeres entonces se que tal vez mis visitantes entren a mi pagina cuando buscan en google: cateras coach, ya que esta es una marca de carteras para mujeres. Claro, hay varias otras alternativas.

Ahora, como saber que estan poniendo los usuarios para buscar una pagina del tema de tu sitio web? Facil, para esto estan los keyword research tools.

Top Herramientas de Busqueda de Keywords

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/search.html

http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/

http://www.nichebotclassic.com/

En estos sitios simplemente empiezas con poner un keyword general. Por ejemplo, supongamos que tienes una pagina sobre carteras de mujer en ingles entonces pongamos para empezar, “purses”. Si usas el Google Keyword Tool entonces vera que le retorna una variedad de palabras sobre purses. Entonces empiezas a ser mas especifico, por ejemplo “handmade purses”, haz una busqueda denuevo pero con esa palabra.

Ahora es hora de ver cuanta competencia tendras con este keyword, siguendo el tema de handmade purses, vera que al poner este keyword en el Google Keyword Tool aparece tambien el keyword “handmade leather purses”, este keyword es aun mas especifico y para ver la competencia solo anda a google.com y para busqueda pon “handmade leather purses” y recuerda ponerlo CON los ” “.

Ala mano derecha vera: Resultados 1 – 10 de aproximadamente 5,220 de “handmade leather purses”.

Entonces ahora sabes que tienes una competencia de mas o menos 5,000 sitios que usan ese keyword. Es una buena opcion ya que no es mucha competencia. Mientras menos el numero mejor. Para tener una idea, es bueno usar keywords que tienen competencia entre 0 a 10,000 maximo, si te pasas de esto entonces sera mas dificil rankear tus sitios.

Ahora te preguntaras, como uso estos keywords para beneficio de mi sitio?

Despues de escojer un keyword con baja competencia lo puedes usar como titulo para un articulo, para backlinks, incluirlo entre los meta tags de tu pagina web o articulo etc. La clave es tratar de aprecer en la primera pagina de resultados para ese keyword.

Como usar Squidoo, como funciona? es una estafa?

Otras de las ventajas de Ganar Dinero por Internet es la variedad de herramientas gratis que puedes conseguir. Una de ellas es Squidoo.

Que es Squidoo?

Basicamente es un servicio similar al Blogger, pero no es un blog, si no UNA pagina por cada tema que escojas. Puedes poner links a tus affiliates/affiliados y con una buena cantidad de traffico puedes ganar mucho dinero.

NO puedes poner adsense en Squidoo. Pero si links de affiliados y si tienes buen ranking el mismo Squidoo te da una propina cada mes.

Porque Usar Squidoo?

Es gratis, y te permite crear una pagina para vender productos affiliados que pagan una mejor comission que Adsense. Es divertido y no tienes que actualizarlo tan seguido como los blogs.

Como Usar Squidoo?

Para empezar, registrate GRATIS en SQUIDOO.COM

Ahora, debes escojer el tema con el cual vas a trabajar. Para este ejemplo, hagamos un Squidoo Lens sobre Paid Surveys. Usare el affiliado Clickbank.

Es importante que el titulo sea un keyword. Para esto require que hagas una buena investigacion sobre Como Escojer Keywords.

Cuando ya tienes eso listo, ahora ya puedes empezar. Yo voy usar este keyword: paid to fill out surveys

esto significa que el enlace a mi Lens de Squidoo sera: http://www.squidoo.com/paid-to-fill-out-surveys

Este es solo un ejemplo de como puedes hacer tu squidoo.

En General, trata de que sea facil de leer, al grano y con muchos enlaces al producto de afiliado que esta recomendando.

Cuando eso este listo, empieza a marketear el squidoo con Article Marketing. Que es Article Marketing? Hablare mas de eso en mi siguente Post!

Que es Qassia? como puede usar Qassia? Beneficios

Qassia, la verdad ni se como pronunciarlo correctament, (ku-a-sia?). Que es Qassia?

Qassia es un sitio GRATUITO que te permite conseguir los muy nesecitados “backlinks” a tus sitios. Solo tienes que escribir sobre el tema, ya sea un parrafo o articulo, pero mientras mas contenido mejor.

Este contenido que mandas lo llaman “intel”. Mientras mas “intel” mejor para tu sitio. A la vez tambien acumulas dolares. Pero tranquilo, los dolares no son reales ni canjeables.

Sin embargo, dicen que en el futuro los “dolares” podran ser usado para comprar publicidad o enlaces, asi que es mejor acumular todo lo que puedas.

Como Empiezo a Usar Qassia?

Facil, solo ensribete GRATIS aca: Qassia.

Tambien puedes agregar tu ID de adsense at “intel” que mandas y a la vez ganar de los clicks que se produce de este. Yo he estado usando Qassia por unos anios y si ha sido una herramienta muy util. Recuerda que el texto que usas para el enlace a tu sitio sea el keyword para el cual quieras rankear. Por ejemplo si quieres rankear para Dog Training Tips, entonces asegurate que el texto de tu vinculo sea Dog Training Tips y no el nombre de tu sitio o compania. Usa varios keyword, especialmente los que tienen poca competencia. Como Saber si un keyword tiene mucha o poca competencia? Eso explicare en mi siguente post!

Palawan amazing island

Unfold one of the Philippines’ best kept secret, Palawan’s Calamian group of islands where in the midst lies Coron.
Discover pristine coves with limestone cliffs, teeming with swallows and palawan red hornbills. Snorkel in its marine rich coral reefs with unbelievable underwater visibility.
The quality of the sea water in this part of the Philippine archipelago is believed to be most ideal for cultured south sea pearls. Pearl farms are in the vicinity but their location are strictly classified.
Experience a safari in the middle of a tropical setting. Witness giraffes, zebras and gazelles running freely in the Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary. Trapped in time? These animals were brought to this island courtesy of the Marcos family in the early ‘80’s.
After a long day of sea and sand frolic, you can treat yourself to a hot spa courtesy of mother nature, the Makinit Hot springs. Free-flowing hot mineral rich salt water trapped in a man-made pool will surely soothe your weary bones.
A dip in this pool will relax tense and soothe aching muscles. Rejuvenated , one is ready for another day of adventure in Coron. There are many secrets awaiting to be disclosed.

grew up in the city, but I consider my self a taga-baybayon (coastal dweller) at heart. My siblings and I have very fond memories of life by the sea as we spent most of our childhood summers in Baclayon. This is a coastal town in Bohol, where my mother grew up. It is also the mainland town right across Pamilacan Island, now controversial for its whale shark-hunting practices. My great, great grandparents had a big old house right beside the sea, with only the huge and ancient mangroves, pagatpatan, standing between them and the vast blue yonder.

About 1768 islands bordered by the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea to the East side. The land area is 1.5 mill hectares and it's Philippine’s largest province with a coastline of almost 2000 km and the island is 650 km long

The warmest period of the year is from March to May. The coolest period is from December to February and the heaviest rainfall is usually from July to August.

Population of the island province is about 750,000 of which 130,000 live in Puerto Princesa, the capital city of this province.

Palawan is home to cobra, python, monitor lizards wandering around St. Paul's cave, huge scorpions, mouse deer, bearcat, Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Great Kingfisher and the Palawan Eagle, Sea Turtle and Dugongs.

The province is also home to several indigenous tribes - Tagbanua, Palaweños, Batak, Tau’t Bato, Tau’t Daram. Native born Palaweños include Cuyunons, Agutaynons and Molbags.

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometers (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide.

Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group of Islands, to the northwest consists of Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometers to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

Miami Beaches

Miami Beach has a rich history as a trend setting arts center, from the world famous nightclubs of the 50's, to the rich cultural life of today's modern South Beach. The City of Miami Beach has an identity that is intrinsically linked to the arts, and today our entertainment, production and arts communities are stronger than ever. Miami Beach is truly a major international entertainment and cultural destination.

The 1980s and early '90s brought a multi-billion dollar infusion of investment capital that produced a beautiful new Miami downtown skyline, a reborn Miami Beach, a modernized transportation infrastructure and a new way of life that features the arts, culture, sports and entertainment, all with an international accent.

Greater Miami and the City of Miami Beach continue to be an international mecca for travel, business and to establish a home.

The Miami Beach real estate market was hit quite hard by the nationwide economic recession, as well as the collapse of the local market and the spike in foreclosures throughout Southern Florida. The residential portions of Miami Beach are mainly composed of condominiums and higher-end properties, which meant that the recession affected the real estate market in a different way than many other portions of the Sunshine State and the American South. The condo market recently took a different direction, thanks to a power play by the Starwood Capital Group and reported by an October 8, 2009 article in the Miami Herald. The article, written by Monica Hatcher, stated that “South Florida’s battered condo market just got a major new player. Starwood Capital Group’s deal to acquire a big stake in a basket of condo construction loans and projects of failed Corus Bankshares from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation puts the Greenwich, Conn.-based private equity giant in charge of roughly 21 percent of the unsold condo inventory in greater downtown Miami.”


As well as Miami Beach homes homes for sale. This area is very popular but, because it is small area-wise, it can be expensive on a per square foot basis. Many individuals opt for condominiums or apartments as living space in this area and, because of that, apartments in Miami Beach comprise a huge range of options, from very simple and basic models to very upscale properties. These apartments are sometimes located in high-rise buildings and sometimes located in the more historic, Art Deco style buildings that are so associated with this area of the nation.
Finding Miami Beach apartments for sale

will almost certainly be easier with the help of a Miami Beach realtor. This is a competitive market and, because there are a lot of buyers, what’s on the market doesn’t tend to stay there for long, especially if it’s a solid deal. There are numerous high-end properties to be found in this area, many of which offer access to the beach or to facilities for watercraft. These oceanfront properties obviously come at a premium. Many of them have businesses, including restaurants and bars, located on the premises, which provide the spaces where many residents mingle and get to know one another.

has a lot of high rise developments, and the Miami Beach apartments for sale oftentimes include features that would be very expensive in other markets but which are more or less standard in this one. Balconies, for instance, that provide very expansive views, are found on a great many of these properties. Even those which are not located in high rises oftentimes have attached, outdoor space. Swimming pools and other amenities are available at some of the complexes, as well, and the weather is almost always very warm.

An article by Marc Jablon in the Huliq News noted that high-end Miami Beach homes for sale have been in serious trouble recently. According to the article, “While the sales figures of low and middle tier homes in South Florida continue their rapid upward climb, and their prices creep up, sales and prices for high end, luxury homes continue to decline. Prices and sales figures for these high end homes are so far down that, according to Fortune Magazine, lenders, in addition to sellers, are desperately searching for exit strategies. Many consider auction sales the quickest way to offload these white elephants.

Chevrolet Impala Review

2008 Chevrolet Impala LT Sedan Shown

When Chevrolet sent the first Impala off the assembly line in 1958, it was meant to be "a prestige car within the reach of the average American citizen." It would seem that the company was successful; nearly 50 years on, the Chevrolet Impala has gone on to become one of America's most well-known nameplates.

Throughout the '60s, the Chevy Impala dominated the sales charts, culminating in 1965 when more than 1 million were sold. Though the popularity of smaller, midsize muscle cars slowly ate away at sales of the Impala, it continued to sell in big numbers, registering as the best-selling car in America in 1973.

The Impala nameplate languished in the early '80s, eventually getting dropped in 1986 in favor of the Caprice designation. To the delight of enthusiasts, however, a Caprice-based Impala SS briefly returned in the mid-1990s with a Corvette-derived V8 and a monochromatic color scheme that made the car a bad-to-the-bone, rear-wheel-drive family sport sedan.

Since the new millennium, the modern Impala has served as Chevrolet's main full-size sedan, capable of transporting up to six people. With front-wheel drive and V6 power on most trim levels, the current Impala isn't exactly a tribute to the past, but it does continue the tradition of large, affordable Chevrolet family sedans.

The move to smaller, more efficient engines gives buyers enough power when they need it while still providing respectable mileage -- never one of the Impala's strong points in the past. And for buyers who truly desire a V8, the latest Impala SS does indeed have one under its hood.

The latest Chevrolet Impala has been available since the 2006 model year. It's a bit bigger than the typical family sedan, and with a front bench seat can accommodate six passengers in a pinch. There are four available trim levels: entry-level LS, mid-grade LT, premium LTZ and performance-oriented SS. Improvements on this model compared to the previous-generation Impala include new engines, more composed handling, a higher-quality interior and updated styling.

The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 211 horsepower. Available on the LT and standard on the LTZ is a 3.9-liter V6 with 240 hp. The Chevy Impala SS has a 5.3-liter V8 making an impressive 303 hp. All Impala models employ a four-speed automatic transmission that sends the power through the front wheels.

Shoppers looking for a used Chevrolet Impala will most likely encounter the previous-generation model, which was offered from 2000-'05 with minimal changes. Its basic dimensions are very similar to those of the current model, but it lacks that model's significant updates. For this generation, there were two main trim levels -- base and LS. In 2004, Chevy added the SS trim.

Base-model Impalas were powered by a 3.4-liter V6 engine that produced 180 hp. Stepping up to LS trim got you a 200-hp, 3.8-liter V6. The SS had a supercharged version of the 3.8-liter V6 making 240 hp. Though popular in terms of sales, this Impala did not fare well in reviews conducted by Edmunds.com editors. Noted downsides included bland interior and exterior design, vague steering and a soggy suspension on base and LS models.

Previous to this, there was a short-lived Chevy Impala SS. Offered from 1994-'96, it was based on the rear-drive Caprice. The SS featured a 260-hp, 5.7-liter V8 derived from the Corvette, large 17-inch wheels and tires, a sport tuned suspension, a monochromatic exterior (black only in its first year) and many hardware upgrades normally fitted to law enforcement vehicles. Today, the '90s Impala SS's have taken on a "collectible" quality.

There are also plenty of Impalas left from earlier decades. Those early Impalas were often America's most popular car, and they still hold significance today. They are prime candidates for restoring, traditional hot-rodding or modern customizing, the latter typically involving powerful audio/video systems, massive wheels and/or hydraulic suspensions.

Honda S2000 Review

The Honda S2000 is a two-seat roadster that features a high-performance, high-winding inline four-cylinder engine along with a superbly balanced chassis. Introduced for the 2000 model year, the S2000 was the first sports car to roll out of a Honda factory since the tiny S500, S600 and S800 roadsters of the 1960s.

2008 Honda S2000 Convertible

With minimalist cockpit comforts and a racetrack-ready suspension, the Honda S2000 is a pure sports car. More powerful than the less expensive Miata yet not as pricey or luxurious as a Z4 or SLK, the S2000 occupies a niche within a niche. Quick and communicative steering, an ideal 49/51 weight distribution and an engine that loves to rev coupled with a slick six-speed gearbox promise a lot of fun for the serious driving enthusiast.

There is only one version of the Honda S2000 roadster. Notable hardware includes a feisty inline four with an 8,200-rpm redline coupled to a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox. Without resorting to forced induction (turbo- or supercharging), this jewel of an engine utilizes Honda's variable valve timing and lift system (VTEC) to squeeze 237 horsepower out of just 2.2 liters. No automatic transmission is available.

Standard features include a power-operated top with a glass rear window (with defroster), lightweight 17-inch wheels, leather seats, keyless entry, air conditioning, an eight-speaker CD audio system, stability control and HID headlights. A lightweight (44 pounds) aluminum hardtop is optional. As expected, the S2000 retains strong Honda attributes such as sound ergonomics and comfortable, supportive seats with enough adjustment to make short and tall pilots alike a good fit.

As with prior S2000s, the current version speaks loudly to the enthusiast. With its finely balanced chassis, quick and communicative steering, eager-to-spin engine and flickable shifter, the S2000 makes short work of twisty roads as it slices through and then slingshots out of the corners.

Debuting in 2000, the Honda S2000 started life with a 2.0-liter inline four that redlined at 9,000 rpm. With 240 horsepower, it put out more horsepower per liter than any other naturally aspirated engine on the planet. Although it provided a thrilling ride when driven aggressively, our editors did find some faults. Among the more notable ones were a lack of low-end torque that made the S2000 a bit flat-footed around town, a sometimes persnickety shifter, a weak audio system and a plastic rear window.

Honda gradually made upgrades to the S2000. For 2002 the company amped up the radio, added a glass rear window with a defogger and even smoothed out the short-throw shifter. Some styling changes took place as well, with chrome rings added to the taillights, a new shift knob and a few pieces of well-placed silver trim in the cockpit. The lightweight aluminum hardtop became optional, a blessing (albeit a pricey one at $3,000) for those who live in areas where inclement weather is a part of life.

The year 2004 saw improvements that made the Honda S2000 more of a viable choice as a daily driver. A slight increase in engine displacement (from 2.0 to 2.2 liters) provided more power at lower rpm. Peak torque went up to 161 pound-feet (up from 153) and that peak occurred at a friendlier 6,500 rpm instead of 7,500 rpm. The redline dropped to a still heady 8,200 rpm. Combined with shorter gearing in the six-speed's lower four gears, this all translated into an S2000 that had more snap at lower engine speeds for dealing with the daily slog to work and dicing through urban traffic. Larger tires (215/45R17s vs. 205/55R16s up front and 245/40R17s vs 225/50R16s out back) were fitted, as were minor suspension tweaks designed to make the ultrareactive S2000 more forgiving of less-than-expert drivers.

Hyundai Tiburon Review

2008 Hyundai Tiburon SE Hatchback Shown

When it was introduced to the North American market in 1997, the Hyundai Tiburon signified Hyundai's first commitment to providing more than just value-oriented but bland economy cars. This coupe-styled, 2-door hatchback, though not as refined or as performance-oriented as some of its competitors, was surprisingly affordable and showed that Hyundai was serious about redefining its image. Since then, the Tiburon (the name means "shark" in Spanish) has improved in both looks and performance, and the current model represents the vehicle's second generation. Though the Tiburon has still not broken into the upper echelon of performance hatchbacks and coupes, its affordable price could make it a decent choice for both new and used vehicle shoppers.

The second generation, front-wheel-drive Hyundai Tiburon debuted for the 2003 model year. It's available in one body style, a two-door hatchback. The base GS trim is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine -- making 138-horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque -- and comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission. A 4-speed automatic is optional.

A better choice would be the Tiburon GT, which comes with a standard 172-hp 2.7-liter V6 engine and several performance features, such as a tuned suspension with firmer spring rates and larger 17-inch alloy wheels. Other amenities include automatic climate control, cruise control, a trip computer and a dramatic rear spoiler. A GT Limited trim level adds leather seats, a sunroof and a 440-watt Infinity audio system.

More performance-minded buyers should look at the Tiburon SE, which pairs the V6 engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Unique exterior additions, such as red front brake calipers, foglamps and a high-mounted rear spoiler, give the SE a sportier appearance. And it comes loaded on the inside, including leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a premium Kenwood CD/MP3 audio system, metallic interior trim, aluminum pedals and auxiliary gauges.

In road tests, our editors preferred the Hyundai Tiburon with the V6 engine, as it provides the 3,000-pound car with much-needed pulling power. The 5-speed manual transmission is user-friendly and the Tiburon GT handles well in demanding situations. The fun factor is high, though the tight suspension tilts ride comfort toward the harsh side.

Although the Tiburon GT doesn't lead its class in any category, some shoppers might be attracted to its distinctive styling and low price. Hyundai has made only minor changes to this model since its introduction, so those interested in a used model should feel free to focus on price and vehicle condition.

Over the past decade, the Hyundai Tiburon has come a long way. As a replacement for the previous Scoupe, the '97 launch model came in two trims: base and FX. The base trim was powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 130 hp. The FX had a 140-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Both came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic.

For Hyundai's first attempt at sexy, the Tiburon was a respectable effort. Hyundai equipped it with a number of standard features, especially inside the cabin. The FX got leather seats and cruise control. But it hardly performed like a sports coupe. In road tests, our editors complained of too much understeer. The loud exhaust on the FX made it seem like it was faster than it actually was. For 1998, all Hyundai Tiburons got the stronger engine.

Hyundai dropped the FX for 2000 and made 15-inch alloy wheels and power windows, mirrors and locks standard items on the base trim. The most significant change that year was the redesigned body. The front end featured 4 projector-beam headlights. The front fenders, rear end and taillights were also modified. Mechanically, nothing had changed. This Tiburon carried into 2001 and was then discontinued. There was no 2002 model.