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How To Sell Your Used Car

Everyone loves getting a new car – it’s such an exciting event, and there is endless enjoyment in playing with all the new features. Financing a new car can be difficult, though…cars depreciate fast, so buying new means you pay a premium over a used car. Deciding which to buy is usually quite simple – if you can afford to buy new, and do plenty of miles, a new car is definately worth it.

Once you’ve decided to change your car, you need to sell your old one. Fortunately, plenty of people buy used cars, and if it is in good condition, it’ll usually be easy to sell.

Take the car to a dealer. If you can, go to the dealer who has maintained the car. If you have always used the ‘brand’ garage, such as going to an official BMW garage for your BMW, your car is likely to be worth more. Tell them you are considering changing your car, and ask for a quote. Do not accept the quote straight away, but write it down so you don’t forget it.

Check online. You could use a car price guide, such as Parkers Price Guide, or look on websites such as Autotrader to see the average selling price. Keep in mind any alterations – things such as alloy wheels or above standard accessories will increase the price of your car, whereas bas condition and dents will reduce it.

If the car is very old, and not worth much, you might be interested in finding out the scrap value of the car. For most cars, this will be a few hundred dollars, and you can remove parts such as seats to sell as spares.

Finally, advertise! Use local messageboards as well as car forums and auction sites to show the car, and the price you want for it. Ensure this is above the dealers price – your car is worth more then this. If you can’t attract the price you want, or you have a time limit to sell the car within, consider accepting the quote from the dealer, or the scrap quote, whichever is highest.

Remember to always be honest about the condition of the car, and its maintainence – court is expensive!

Filed Under: Cars

Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is a fun and exciting event, unless of course it is something that is an emergency. For the latter cases, many people find that they have a hard time with financing, or finding the money to put down. This is where having a backup plan comes in handy.

Creative Car Financing

Many people find that they have to be creative when it comes to finding the cash they need to get a car. Some use their investments that they have, like when using UFX Markets Trading, or another type of online or market exchange. Some have found that this made for a perfect plan B when needing a car fast.

Some of the other ways include using a co-signer, and if that is not enough, there are dealerships that offer sub prime lending on new cars. It is important to check out which brands offer this, as not all do.

Alternative Financing

Others have relied on the alternative financing options, especially if their credit is sub par, or there is not a lot of money to use for a down payment. These options include purchases from a dealer that holds that loan as the owner. This is a nice alternative because they are the ultimate decision makers on whether you will qualify.

Investigate all the options you have. This could be a great cost savings, especially is money is an issue. The upside is that the slow economy has forced companies to be more accepting of lower credit scores, so there are more options today than ever before for car financing.

 

Filed Under: Cars, Travel, Trucks Tagged With: , ,

The Conscientious Person’s Guide to Selling a Used Car

The car that you’ve been driving for years may seem like junk to you, but it might be someone else’s perfect solution for a small budget and urgent transportation needs. If you are a conscientious person, you will very likely be concerned with how you go about selling your car. You don’t want to sell someone a vehicle that might get them into an accident or cause expenses for which they’re unprepared. Several strategies will help you to create a win-win outcome.

Sharing All of Your Knowledge About the Car

First, share everything you know about the car with the potential buyer. If you were the first owner of the car and have kept all of the maintenance paperwork and receipts, show them to the prospective buyer. If the buyer has done his homework, he probably has a car report that tells him about any prior accidents or if the car has been driven in a flood zone. In the event of a prior accident, do share all of the details you can think of so that the buyer can make a decision that feels right for him. Additionally, any strange sounds or characteristics of the car should be explained. This will help the new owner to determine which issues should be addressed by a mechanic and which problems are a result of ordinary wear and tear.

Encourage the Potential Buyer to Do His Homework

Your main responsibility is to share as much as you know about the car and its history. Beyond that, you cannot predict what will happen when the buyer drives off with the car. To assist the buyer in his decision-making, you can encourage him to take the car to a mechanic he trusts for a full evaluation. Once the buyer makes up his mind to purchase the car from you, be sure to write out a bill of sale that indicates the terms of the sale. In it, you’ll want to include that the car is being sold “as-is” to avail you of any responsibilities should an unexpected break-down occur immediately after purchase.

Filed Under: Cars, Modes of Transportation Tagged With: , ,

Purchasing a Used Car for a Long Distance Trip

Many reasons exist for purchasing a used car before a long distance trip. A high school graduate who is just starting college hundreds of miles away may want to buy a used car to drive to college. In other cases, a car may break down right before a planned vacation and needs to be replaced.  Whatever the case may be, here are some factors to consider carefully when purchasing a used car before a long distance trip.

The Risks of Traveling with a Newly Purchased Used Car

When you drive a newly purchased used car for your long distance trip, you endure greater risks. Anytime you are not familiar with a car, you will encounter questions and potential problems. An owner who has heard a recurring noise on his car, checked it out and knows that no real risk is present can drive the car with some measure of security. When you buy a used car and do not have this history, every new sound or odd occurrence can be a cause for alarm.

Additionally, unless you know and trust the previous owner of the used car, it’s difficult to have confidence that you’ve been informed of everything there is to know about the car. Car reports do exist indicating whether the car has been in an accident. In some cases, however, accidents go unreported and you might end up with a sour deal.

Ways to Protect Yourself With a Used Car Purchase

To protect yourself with a used car purchase, do order a car report to examine if any accidents have been reported and avoid buying a car with prior accidents. Next, take the used car to a trusted mechanic for a full evaluation before purchase. If you get a good report from the mechanic, you can have greater confidence in your purchase. As an extra safety measure, be sure to drive the car locally for as long as possible, to see if any issues come up, before taking off on your long distance trip.

Filed Under: Cars, Modes of Transportation, Travel Tagged With: , ,

Should You Buy a New or Used Car?

Most people, when given the choice, would choose a brand new car over a used one. The only exception might be a car collector who has endless funds to surround himself with his favorite car models. If you can’t decide between purchasing a new car and a used one, here are a few factors to consider.

Buying a New Car

Maybe your existing car is breaking down repeatedly and it’s time to replace it. Everyone knows that when you buy a brand new car, its value drops immediately upon driving off the dealer’s lot. If you have the money for a new car or good enough credit to buy one, this may be one consideration that prevents you from running out and making a new purchase.  The obvious advantage of a new car purchase is reliability. You can also purchase a warranty that relieves you of financial obligations and provides for maintenance and repairs. Because of the reliability, many people opt for a new car purchase.

When Does Buying a Used Car Make Sense?

If you’re low on cash or consider the purchase of a brand new car a waste of money, there may be scenarios where a used car makes good sense. For one, if you can find a reliable used car that will endure many more years of driving without breaking down, you might have a perfect situation on your hands. Do your research for the best car brands and models. Read consumer reviews. Some cars really do last longer than others, so doing your research will make a big difference.

Additionally, it may be that you have a short daily commute. In this case, a reliable used car might do the job. A person with a heavy daily commute would run a used car into the ground. In your case, it may be years before you need repairs.

Filed Under: Cars, Modes of Transportation Tagged With: , ,

Car Headaches

Cars are absolutely necessary in today’s culture. They not only transport us from point to point, but allow us the freedom to travel on our own terms. Not to mention that sometimes it’s the only way to shop at the grocery store. It can be stressful when your car breaks down, especially these days when funds are tight for a lot of people. Here are a few steps and helpful hints to take into consideration.

1. Ask Friends and Family

It seems like there’s always that one friend or family member that knows a thing or two about cars. Don’t be afraid to pick their brain a bit before you decide to take you car into a shop. The problem could be very simple to fix, which will end up only costing you the price of the part and a little something extra for the family mechanic. Hey, even a plate of cookies could do the trick! If they can’t fix it or figure out what’s wrong, you’re not out much.

2. Make Friends With a Mechanic

Taking your car to a mechanic can be terrifying. You have to sit and wait while the fate of your car (and pocketbook) hangs in the balance. So first, ask friends and family who they recommend. Also, it never hurts to try and make friends with a mechanic. They really know what’s what when dealing with cars, so they are a huge asset when you are in desperate need of repairs.

3. Finding the Funds

There are some things that friends and family just can’t fix for free. So, if it comes down to it, there are steps that you can take to help yourself find the funds to pay for the much needed repairs. One great way is using a site like paydayone.com. There, you can apply for and receive funds quickly and painlessly.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: ,

It’s Electric!

Peapod, Electric car
Image via Wikipedia

It the heart of the economic crisis, many cities are trying to figure out a way to create more revenue for the government without raising taxes. One city in California has decided to try to create revenue through a very unique and environmentally friendly way.

Riverside, California has developed the idea of placing electric car outlets throughout the city. More and more people are starting to make the switch to electric cars because these cars are environmentally friendly and reduce the world’s dependence upon fossil fuels. However, many people are not making the switch to these types of cars because of the lack of outlets to plug the electric car into, which is why many Riverside property management companies, government agencies, and other places have come up with the idea of placing electrical car outlets all over the city.

These electrical car outlets can be found anywhere from parking garages, driveways, and even out on public streets. An electric car driver would be able to pull up to the outlet, swipe a credit or debit card in the machine, and get the electricity that their car needs to run. It is believed that the city would be able to profit from the demand for such a service. It is also believed that if the city of Riverside was more electric-car friendly, then visitors from other surrounding areas would be encouraged to make the trip to Riverside and shop at the surrounding businesses. This increase in shops and revenues would help the city and businesses owners.

As more and more people start switching to electric cars, and the demand for electrical car outlets grow, more cities will start to develop the concept of creating public electrical car outlets. It’s a great way to increase revenue for the cities and businesses while encouraging people to change to environmentally friendly ways to drive.

Filed Under: Cars, Travel

Handling The Emergency

No one starts out on a trip expecting there to be an emergency. Fortunately, there are not a huge amount of emergencies and most people will not experience a serious emergency in the entire time they drive a car or travel in any way. However, if an emergency should occur, it is most important to be prepared. Having a knowledge of what to do in an emergency may never be used, but if an emergency occurs, it will be the most important thing you ever learned.

There are minor emergencies, flat tires, running out of gas, someone getting sick and needing to pull over. These emergencies will be more likely to occur than the more serious ones. Knowing how to change a tire or pump your own gas becomes essential in these types of emergencies, and you will be so happy you took the time to learn either skill. Make sure your spare tire is okay before going on a long trip, thereby avoiding the added expense of having to be towed somewhere to get the tire fixed. Making sure your gas gauge is working properly can avoid the problem of running out of gas.

Having an emergency kit in your car is a valuable friend in an emergency. It may sit in the back of your car or in your trunk for years, but when it is needed, it will be the best investment you ever made. Maybe you need a flare to warn other cars of a breakdown, or a patch for a quick fix.

Even though you may never, ever need it, you should be prepared for a serious emergency, a car run off the road, someone getting into your car and taking over or your car being abandoned on a side road. Being prepared for anything will make your emergency less frightening and hopefully you will get through it with the least amount of damage.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,

A Luxury Car That’s Safe and Fashionable

Korean-spec Hyundai Equus photographed in Chan...
Image via Wikipedia

Money can buy you a lot of things. Sometimes money can buy you things that the normal person wouldn’t dream of owning. So, when you are a self-made millionaire not yet forty, then you have the luxury of buying whatever you want, no matter how outrageous it seems. For Mark Ecko, the founder of the ultra cool and hip clothing company, Ecko Unlimited, that comes in the form of one of the most exotic armored cars on the planet.

The eccentric and always fashionable Ecko bought himself a Gurkha Armored Car. This car is not just an ordinary vehicle. It’s got the cache of a Hummer, but far more protection and unique features that make it one of the hottest cars on the market (not that there are a lot of stores that you can get it from).

The car has a five cylinder Diesel engine that can hold up to 63 liters of diesel gas. It comes equipped with a five speed transmission, making it a car that is not just durable, but fun to drive. In order to make sure that the ride is as smooth as it is safe, the car comes equipped with telescopic shock absorbers and it’s own anti-roll bar. The short version is that this car can’t be harmed and can’t put you, the driver, in harm’s way.

Of course a car like this comes with some other interior features as well. It’s got air conditioning, and all five sides of the car are armor plated to ensure that the people in the car have maximum protection. The battery in the car is protected by armor, and it seats up to six fully protected people.

Ecko could be doing the car for safety, or he could have chosen it because there is nothing more stylish than a car that no one else has. Either way, driving with him just got a whole lot safer.

Filed Under: Cars, General Tagged With:

Who Makes Our Cars Safe?

When purchasing a new or used car, you take many things into consideration. What exactly are you looking for? Purchasing a car, whether new or used, is a huge investment. You want to make sure that your purchase is exactly what you want and has all the necessary things you need in a car. What kind of car do you want? Is it an SUV, a sedan, a luxury model, or are you open to all models? Maybe the car company itself is the most important factor, you will only buy American made or one company has always had your family’s business. Whatever choice you make, you count on the car company to make sure the automobile you will be driving for years to come is safe. How do we know it is safe?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues the minimum federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations that the car manufacturers must comply with. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent group that conducts crash tests and issues safety ratings approved by insurance companies. Crash tests are performed for front impact, side impact, rear impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the only body that tests rollover type accidents. These tests are done with different weights of passengers, sitting in different seats within the car, using different passenger or driver “dummies” that represent the weight of an adult or a child. The crashes are simulated and the damage is observed.

Different cars are tested from different manufacturers, and are given ratings from poor to excellent. The “star” rating is then given based on these ratings. These ratings are across the board for car manufacturers and insurance companies all using the same system, thus regulating that cars have a minimum overall rating to insure the safety of its passengers. It is comforting to know that these regulations will keep us safer on the road.  And just like taking the time to meet with your CPA, do your taxes and file now rather than late, it is a smart move to make sure you check out the safety reports and buy a safe vehicle.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel Tagged With: , ,
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