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4 Signs You Need a New Car

Knowing just when to get a new car is a difficult thing to determine. There are many elements that go into deciding to buy a new car. Because of this, it is important that the investment is necessary and cost-effective for the future. Below are four signs that you are probably in need of a new car.

Car Worth Less Than a Current Repair

The older your car is, the more it drops in value. When a car gets old enough, it can quickly get to the point where a major repair is actually more than the car itself is worth. When you encounter this kind of situation, you would be better off asking yourself: “Should I just sell my car?”, rather than keeping it and letting the repair bills stack up.

Car is Too Old

When cars become too dated, they can end up costing the owner big money. Determine how old your car is and if it will end up costing less to keep it and eat the inevitably upcoming repair bills, or to simply purchase a new one.

Car has Major Upcoming Repairs

At a specific mileage, major systems of the car begin failing and need repairs. In many cases, putting thousands of dollars into repairing these systems on a car that has high mileage is less productive than simply purchasing a new vehicle altogether. Consider getting cash for cars that are older and using the money as a down payment on a new vehicle.

New Car Payments Will be Less Than Monthly Gas Bills

Each year, cars become more fuel-efficient. If you have a dated vehicle and are wasting hundreds of dollars per month on gas due to lack of fuel efficiency, it would be more cost-effective to buy a more fuel-efficient new car.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: , ,

Car Dealership Business Model – Loyalty Tilts Naturally Towards Car Makers And Lenders

cars used 

Image by hessiebell via Flickr

It is important to understand how the business model of car dealer works to identify where their loyalties lie. The dealer purchases vehicles in bulk from the automobile manufacturing company and sells the same to the masses.

The dealer does not have freedom of determining the price of the vehicle. The company sets the terms of sale and the dealer simply has to follow the rules. The dealer acts as an agent and bridge between the customer and the car manufacturer.

In return, the dealer earns commission on ever sale. The dealer is dependent on high sales volumes to earn more. Further, finance companies have tie-ups where they pay the dealer to refer clients needing finance. This situation creates loyalty issues

The dealer receives business from customers but receives remuneration from car manufacturers and lenders. When push comes to shove, the dealer will focus on keeping the manufacturer and lenders happy. Losing a client is not a big deal as buyers are aplenty. This is the reason why individuals often complain that dealers do not focus on the interests of the customers. The dealer has a lot to gain by encouraging customers to go in for the most expensive car.

Another flaw in this setup is that the dealer is left free to use the most unscrupulous methods to boost sales. Dealers cannot raise car prices but often jack up price of after sales service by relying on redundant repairs and high labor costs. Rather than complaining about the condition of affairs, you should keep these factors in mind when you rely on a dealer for impartial and unbiased advice.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Auto, Shopping Tagged With: , ,

Latest Car Features

As consumers want more comforts the increase of technology has made everything possible. Technology used in cars also changes from time to time by enhancing new features to satisfy the consumers needs. Present situation Manufactures come up with new innovative ideas and with the help of technology and try to meet or exceed the expectations of the car owners. Some new features in cars which we draw people in buying them are
Air bags: These are located above the windows and it prevents any type of accidents to the person who is driving the car.
Blue-tooth technology. This is used for communication when you are traveling.

Route finder: This is one latest technology in foreign countries which will help you to detect the route while you are traveling.

Automatic on/off of AC :Most of the car owners think about the fuel will be consumed more due to Air conditioner , so they On and off it when it is cold .This automatic feature will switch on/off.

Safe guard lock system :This is special features which has sensors in it and any person who tries to break the lock it will give a long beeping sound.

Automatic Gear system. This feature will set the car gear automatically depending on the situation with button press.
There are research works taking place to enhance a feature by which cars will be driven by its own technology. Future car makers are seeing to design a cars with technology which is fuel efficient.

Filed Under: Auto, Transportation Tagged With: , ,

Customizing Car Performance

For most people their car is more than just a mode of transportation. They take care of their car like a pet, keeping it immaculately clean and taking it for regular ‘check ups’ or servicing. A lot of people take great pride in customizing their cars often adding a host of accessories that enhance the look of the cars exteriors as well as interiors. There are also several adjustments and fine tuning that boost the performance of a car. If you have in-depth understanding of how a car works then you will know what extra fitting would add to your cars performance. However, if you don’t have the know how and would still like to improve your cars performance then here are some guidelines to keep in mind when customizing your car for performance:

1. The body: There are several accessories that go a long way towards improving the aerodynamics of your car in addition to making it look great. Bull bars help saving your car from damage in minor crashes while front bumpers help air to flow over the car reducing drag. Similarly, rear spoilers, despite their name, actually make the car look more like a sports model and help with the aerodynamics too! If you are looking to ramp up your cars body, then do a good deal of research on what accessories are available in the market and how they affect your car’s performance.

2. Wheels: People wanting to accessorize their cars often look to install funky and cool looking wheels but fail to consider how it will impact their cars performance. While chrome steel wheels look great, they end up adding weight to the cars leading to increased drag. You can instead go for aluminum wheels that are lighter, have stylish looks and improve your cars performance.

3. Tires: Tires contribute a lot to the grip your car has on the road and also determine how fast your car can go. Grooved tires have stronger grip while slick ones are meant for fast driving. You should also check out what compounds the tires are made of.

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Add Ons to a Car’s Cost

If you are looking to buy a new car, you will go through several dealerships and look at a host of models before zeroing in on the model that you like the most. However, once you have selected a car of your choice, then starts the process of getting the best price for it. While you may want to get the best bargain out of a car dealer, there are certain factors, the knowledge of which can help you strike a better deal. The sales price of a car consists of many things, some of which can be used by the dealer to make bigger profit. That, however, means that you end up paying more than you should! So here is a list of things you should check up on before bargaining with a car salesman:

1. The Monroney Sticker: Way back in 1958, Oklahoma Senator Almer Monroney backed by the National Automobile Dealer’s Association and Detroit manufacturers, helped in the passing of a law that made it mandatory for new cars to carry a sales sticker. This sticker informed you of retail price suggested by the manufacturer as well as a list of features already installed by the manufacturer before the car was delivered to the dealer. This helps in preventing any kind of fraud or malpractice regarding the retail price and add ons on the part of the car dealer.

2. False Stickers: Dealer sometimes place a sticker of their own next to the Monroney sticker and try to pass it off as the original. In addition to mentioning accessories installed by the dealer, this sticker may include costs such as Additional Dealer Markup (ADM) or Additional Dealer Profit (ADP) that are fully negotiable by the customer.

3. Fees for Documentation: Dealers often add a ‘Document Fee’ which they say is payment for getting the vehicle title, plate and registration done and also other activities like checking for recalls. This fee can range anywhere from $30 to $500! Although you can’t have this cost reduced, you can keep it in mind while bargaining the over all price.

Filed Under: Auto Tagged With: ,

Lexus’ Program for Certified Used Cars

Lexus LF-A

Image via Wikipedia

It is sometimes wise to purchase a used car from a new car dealer. Let us take a look at the certified used car program offered by Lexus. It has several advantages and apprises customers about the qualifications required for certification.

Qualifications to be Certified as a Lexus Used Car

Like all car manufacturers, Lexus sets its own standards and criteria for certification. As per these criteria, the Lexus vehicle must be less than six years old, and must have logged less than seventy thousand miles. Moreover, the car should pass the 161-point mechanical as well as appearance inspection conducted by Lexus professionals.

Warranty Coverage of Lexus Used Car Certification

Most car manufacturers consider warranty to begin when the car is put into is first service. Lexus’ warranty lasts for three years after the used car is purchased, or a hundred thousand miles logged, which ever happens first.

Lexus offers no covered repairs, and also offers a loan car if the car is in the workshop for an entire working day. Moreover, Lexus also provides free assistance if a car breaks down on the road. The certified warranty covers engine, transmission, axles, steering, brakes, fuel and cooling systems, air conditioning, heating, electrical, safety systems, accessories and wheels. What it does not cover are brake pads and rotors.

Advantages of a Purchasing a Used Certified Lexus

A used certified Lexus can be purchased at lower financing rates. The parts used for reconditioning will be genuine. The car’s history report will be genuine, and report any accidents or problems that the car may have had. Tyres and brakes will be guaranteed to be appropriate. Reconditioning would have been done by the Lexus professional mechanics.

Conclusion

There are several advantages of buying a used Lexus with a certified value. It is best to explore this option, along side others, before making your purchase of a used car.

Filed Under: Auto, Shopping Tagged With: , , ,

Used Car Buying Tips

There are number of things that you should look out for when buying a used car. To start with first do your research on what car you want to buy. The key factor that you should find out is the current market value for the car that you are eyeing on. This will give you a good picture of the price that you should be paying for the car and for that particular model. Before you go to a used car dealer, make sure you make a checklist of things that you want to check on the car before you decide on buying the car.

The things that you should do homework on are the dealer from whom you are buying the car, the price that you are willing to pay, how many years has the car been used, what make the car is of, the exterior and interior color and condition and definitely the mileage of the car as this sums up for a lot of things giving you an idea of how new or old the car could be.

It will always be better to involve your friends when you are looking for a used car, this way you will cover more ground quicker and also get different opinions on the car that you want to buy. Make sure that you spend enough time on scouting for the right car at the right price so that you don’t repent after spending the money on the car. Make sure that the car goes through your self-made checklist and passes it. You should also take note on the dealer from whom you are dealing with. Use references and previous customers of the dealer to find out about the genuine quality of the cars they sell and if they are at the right price. Little homework to find the right car is the best way to buy a used car

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Smart Cars with Smart Safety

A picture of my own Smart car.

Image via Wikipedia

Smart cars are one of the biggest crazes in the chic cities all over the world. The smart cars are smaller and can easily cut through traffic and are environmental friendly than any other car. They are light and easy to maneuver. But when in real life on the streets, it all comes down to how safe the car is. Due to their light weight many might think that they don’t really stand a chance against the bigger and heftier vehicles that are nearly twice their size and also twice their weight. But the smart cars have smart safety features.  They have the active and passive safety features. The ABS and Electronic Stability Program gives the driver a true piece of mind while driving these cars in decent speeds without worrying about skidding out. The US board ran it though many tests before accepting it.

The passive features of safety include the inbuilt safety features. The front airbags and the side airbags, with the seat belt sensors you can adjust yourself in an instant without any discomfort. It also has steel bumpers in the front and back. The car is made of tough material to withstand high impact collisions and also to protect the passengers and driver inside the car.

Most these smart cars got a good passing raging in the NCAP in Europe. Though not up to the level of other heavier vehicles right now, smart cars are getting there slowly. They are able to pass the safety aspects of almost any country at least with low set of ratings; the considerable point is that they pass the tests. On an overall basis, the smart cars still need some improvements to improve the efficiency of the car. As long as you are driving inside the city limits, this car is best suited.

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Automobile Crash Safety

Crash-tested 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer photograph...

Image via Wikipedia

Anyone before buying a car must give a good deal of priority to the safety aspects of the vehicle. Especially if you are planning to buy a family car, then you have to spend additional time on choosing the car that offers maximum safety. Since the 1990s, vehicle safety has improved drastically giving consumer many options to choose. The NHTSA conducts many-controlled crash tests on the new cars that launches into the market and gives each car ratings based on how it performs under the crash conditions that is set by them. These tests usually cover all the safety aspects of the car including for all the passengers and driver inside the vehicle. They have rates in several areas out of five. A maximum of five stars given when the safety conditions are highest and a one star given when the safety aspect is lowest. Even if the safety aspect is low, they should still meet the minimum set requirements established by the NHTSA.

The website offers all the details about the tests conducted on the cars since 1990. Inside the five star safety ratings link, you can choose the new or older models that are available. Then you can enter the class, year, make and model of the car to get the exact ratings of the car that you are looking for. However, the newer models will definitely have more and better collected information when compared to older ones. This is due to the improved technology used to test the crash results. Today’s crash tests provides more accurate results and also many other aspects are brought into consideration each year, thus updating the requirements of the safety standard and thereby improving the overall standard of the vehicle that the end consumer will be driving in the future. The new cars are fairing much better even with stricter crash testing standards.

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Car Safety and Aftermarket Products

Whether you are a driver or a passenger, the safety that the car gives is what you rely upon when you get into it. Sometimes the fancy things that you add to your car might not be the best for your car especially in terms of safety. Safety is of the utmost importance to a parent who is taking their child along. There are many aftermarket products that are available promising provide better safety to you and your child but might actually end up hurting. Though many are available in the market, not all are approved by the car sear manufacturing companies. The aftermarket products that are sold apart from the car seats separately like the toys that are placed inside the car, or some kind of positioning and tightening device or even the thermal covers that are bought to keep the heat away are not completely safe and cannot be relied upon. Majority of these products would not have undergone quality tests and might not deliver what they promise.

In every car seat manual, there is one thing that is stated as prime ultimate – not to use aftermarket products on the seat as they could disrupt the integrity that the seat offers originally. When the user violates this message and uses aftermarket products, then the warranty for the seat covers becomes void and will not stand of any use to you. There are a number of accessories available for the children who are travelling in the vehicle. But many of them might actually injure the tender children in some way or the other. The seat belt positioners which are actually supposed to hold the seat belts at the place you want them to be, actually could be rubbing against the soft skin of your child and causing damage to it. So is the case with many other products. You should take extreme care while using or if possible avoid them all.

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