Automotive

Melissa has been a life-long fan of automobiles. In a male-dominated topic, her passion for cars allows her to bring a distinct voice to automotive-related articles. Melissa was the lead blogger for The Green Motorist from August 2008 until September 2009. Additionally, Melissa has automotive-related pieces published on Suite101.

Infiniti G35 and G37 Modifications

Infiniti G35 and G37 Modifications was published on Suite 101 in February 2008. Melissa’s experience modifying her own Infiniti G35 allowed her to write an engaging article describing several of the more common modifications available for the luxury sports coupe.

The Infiniti G coupe is one of the most popular luxury sports cars in the United States. The G35 comes with 298 base horsepower in the six-speed manual model. Infiniti bumped up the horsepower with the release of the new 2008 G37 coupe providing drivers with 330 base horsepower. The wide availability of aftermarket modifications allows speed lovers to easily boost the car to 500 or more horsepower to the wheels.

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The Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy

The Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy provides a unique opportunity for fans of Mercedes-Benz and AMG to drive a top of the line vehicle on such famed tracks as the Nurburgring in Germany. Melissa’s article gives readers a glimpse into the opportunities that await.

Fans of the Mercedes-Benz AMG models, including the ultra-exclusive Black series, can participate in the exciting Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy. The academy is held at locations throughout Europe and features five different skill levels: Emotion, Basic, Advanced, Pro and Masters. Prices for events in 2009/2010 range from 285 Euros to 4890 Euros.

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August 2009 Auto Sales Figures

August 2009 Sales Figures is just one example of the work that Melissa produced for The Green Motorist. As the economy dipped into recession and the automakers teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, interest in the monthly sales figures increased. Melissa began writing a monthly recap of the sales figures, which quickly became some of the more popular articles on the site.

Ford was the only one of the Detroit 3 to post an increase in sales. Ford’s year-over-year August sales were up by 17.2%. The fuel-efficient Ford Focus was one of the best selling Cash for Clunkers vehicles and several model years of the Ford Explorer were one of the most traded in vehicles. It looks like Ford’s customer loyalty paid off and helped put the company in the black for a second month in a row.