Do you wish you had the car of your dreams? Well now you can what with the numerous options available. However, there are a couple of things you need to do to ensure you get the best possible deal.
Seem less interested
One of the tricks to ensuring a good bargain deal is to act like you aren’t very interested in the car. You can act pricey and command a much better price if you look like the car isn’t all that good. The salesperson is also more likely to strike a lucrative deal with you in such cases, just to get the car sold. You could also cross check by asking the salesperson for some auto pics to check the condition of the car.
Shop around
One mistake many car buyers make is to not search enough. You can actually save on thousands of dollars if you just look around a little and do some research. You’d be surprised to find dealers offering the same car, just miles apart but with a price difference of a couple of thousands! Just imagine the kind of difference a couple of thousands can have on your monthly installment payments. Another trick to get a good deal is to first ask for some auto pics of the car in question so you know what you to expect when you go visit the dealer. Also getting auto pics is a good way to buy time before actually visiting the dealer. Plus you get to see the car’s condition as well.
Ask for add-ons
If you act like you aren’t too happy with the deal, chances are the dealer will offer you add-ons to the car in question. You can easily get these extra fittings into your car for no additional cost! If you try hard enough you can easily manage to get some nice rebates, gift certificates or just add-ons. It is a common trick used by many car dealers to improve on their sales figures and they will provide you with many extras as part of the deal. You can also ask for auto pics of the car with all the fittings attached so you know what to expect. Plus by having auto pics before paying the money, you also know what you are getting yourself into!
Target: end of year
Usually the end of the year is one of the best periods to land yourself a good bargain deal. You will usually get some of the best deals and discounts during this time of the year so make sure to shop around a lot. You can also look for car deals during the time period from August to October because usually many new car models come out this time. Hence the previous year’s models will need to be sold off soon. You can therefore manage to get good deals at this time. You can ask for auto pics of as many cars as possible to get an understanding of the car’s condition. You can compare auto pics of different cars to get the best deal possible.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Why getting a pre-owned car is a good idea
If you have been thinking that used or pre-owned cars are not entirely useful, think again! The entire auto community has been in favour of this segment of cars simply because of the numerous advantages it offers. Here we detail some of the benefits.
a. Cost effectiveness
One of the main reasons pre-owned cars are so popular is because of the cost savings they provide. If you are living on a budget and cannot afford to spend too much money on buying a brand new car, then a pre-owned car can be the best solution. As many auto community sites will advise, nowadays with the large disposable income of most people, you can easily get yourself a very nice looking, almost brand new car that is actually pre-owned. That means you get a car that looks like new, while paying a fraction of the cost!
b. Depreciation
Every tangible materialistic object in this world undergoes depreciation. It is the simple law of economics. The thing with new cars is that while they may enjoy a fairly good price in the first three years, after that the value becomes equivalent to peanuts! Is it really worth spending so much just to feel the novelty of a brand new car for a short time? Not really say auto community experts. Instead of a short lived, depreciating valued car, it is far better to buy a pre-owned car. At least you won’t regret having wasted so much money!
c. Long shelf life
Today a pre-owned car is not about having a dilapidated car that will break down any minute or fall apart to pieces! Today’s cars are built keeping in mind durability, long shelf life and minimal maintenance issues. This is another reason why the pre-owned car segment is seeing such a surge in demand from consumers. As most auto community experts say – why spend so much when you can get the same quality at an affordable price? Besides as many auto community sites will also inform you, today’s pre-owned cars are competitively priced owing to the large competition these days. That means you can expect good ROI and your money’s worth!
d. Certification
Nowadays most pre-owned car dealers need to provide certification before they can sell the cars. These CPOs or Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are far safer and robust as they essentially meet the stringent criteria of their manufacturers. Thus the manufacturer would have ensured that these pre-owned cars meet the criteria before certifying them. Hence as many auto community sites will mention, such CPOs will provide you with greater guarantee, safety and longer shelf life. Thus these are a better investment as compared to the regular pre-owned cars which can breakdown sooner than you think! However, the CPOs can work out to be a little more expensive than regular pre-owned cars but it is well worth the money spent! Thus the next time you decide on buying a pre-owned car, make sure to read up what the auto community experts have to say!
a. Cost effectiveness
One of the main reasons pre-owned cars are so popular is because of the cost savings they provide. If you are living on a budget and cannot afford to spend too much money on buying a brand new car, then a pre-owned car can be the best solution. As many auto community sites will advise, nowadays with the large disposable income of most people, you can easily get yourself a very nice looking, almost brand new car that is actually pre-owned. That means you get a car that looks like new, while paying a fraction of the cost!
b. Depreciation
Every tangible materialistic object in this world undergoes depreciation. It is the simple law of economics. The thing with new cars is that while they may enjoy a fairly good price in the first three years, after that the value becomes equivalent to peanuts! Is it really worth spending so much just to feel the novelty of a brand new car for a short time? Not really say auto community experts. Instead of a short lived, depreciating valued car, it is far better to buy a pre-owned car. At least you won’t regret having wasted so much money!
c. Long shelf life
Today a pre-owned car is not about having a dilapidated car that will break down any minute or fall apart to pieces! Today’s cars are built keeping in mind durability, long shelf life and minimal maintenance issues. This is another reason why the pre-owned car segment is seeing such a surge in demand from consumers. As most auto community experts say – why spend so much when you can get the same quality at an affordable price? Besides as many auto community sites will also inform you, today’s pre-owned cars are competitively priced owing to the large competition these days. That means you can expect good ROI and your money’s worth!
d. Certification
Nowadays most pre-owned car dealers need to provide certification before they can sell the cars. These CPOs or Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are far safer and robust as they essentially meet the stringent criteria of their manufacturers. Thus the manufacturer would have ensured that these pre-owned cars meet the criteria before certifying them. Hence as many auto community sites will mention, such CPOs will provide you with greater guarantee, safety and longer shelf life. Thus these are a better investment as compared to the regular pre-owned cars which can breakdown sooner than you think! However, the CPOs can work out to be a little more expensive than regular pre-owned cars but it is well worth the money spent! Thus the next time you decide on buying a pre-owned car, make sure to read up what the auto community experts have to say!
The top 4 cars of this year
So you have been planning on buying yourself a brand new car! Well, with the hordes of models out there in the industry, how do you find yourself a car that will be the envy of the neighbourhood? Well, with our guide on the 4 most top rated cars of this year, you won’t go wrong!
i. The Honda Fit
This is one car that has been touted as the ‘biggest thing’ to hit the market! In fact this has been one of the most top rated cars till date. The average price of this car ranges between 14 to 16 thousand dollars but that’s a small price considering the many advantages this car brings! It is a fun car that promises a lot of fuel efficiency while also being extremely compact. However, just because it is compact doesn’t mean it compromises on the interior space! Not at all – this car has ample room and leg space inside which is another reason why this is one of the top rated cars this year! It has received some of the best scores in terms of crash protection, reliability as well as satisfaction.
ii. The Honda Civic
Honda seems to rule the roost this year as the Civic gets second place after the Fit. This is another of those top rated cars that truly deserves its place! It comes with a nice comfortable and spacious interior, plenty of comfort in the riding experience as well as great handling. The price of the car is between 17 to 23 thousand dollars. This car is also great because it has good fuel economy, great results in terms of crash tests and is also very reliable. While this car may not be as economical as the Fit, it certainly makes up for it with its stylish exterior and good mileage.
iii. The Honda Accord
The Accord comes with a hybrid version and prices start at 20000 and peak till around 30000 dollars. The fuel economy of this car is quite good and is actually one shade better than the Honda Civic. The car has been voted one of the top rated cars this year and provides nice handling, roomy interior space as well as loads of comfortable riding experience. The Accord comes with a 25 mpg in the V6 variety. This car is definitely a choice if you don’t mind spending a little more especially since you get a great riding experience.
iv. Infiniti G35
The cost of this car is fairly expensive ranging between 35 to 39 thousand dollars. However this car has been voted one of the top rated cars for good reason. It comes in two varieties – rear wheel or all wheel. You can expect great speeds with a power of 306 HP, a speed of 0-60 in just 5.4 seconds, which is really fast compared to most other cars! It has a nice agile handling, roomy interiors as well as good control over steering functionality. No wonder that this car is one of the top rated cars this year!
i. The Honda Fit
This is one car that has been touted as the ‘biggest thing’ to hit the market! In fact this has been one of the most top rated cars till date. The average price of this car ranges between 14 to 16 thousand dollars but that’s a small price considering the many advantages this car brings! It is a fun car that promises a lot of fuel efficiency while also being extremely compact. However, just because it is compact doesn’t mean it compromises on the interior space! Not at all – this car has ample room and leg space inside which is another reason why this is one of the top rated cars this year! It has received some of the best scores in terms of crash protection, reliability as well as satisfaction.
ii. The Honda Civic
Honda seems to rule the roost this year as the Civic gets second place after the Fit. This is another of those top rated cars that truly deserves its place! It comes with a nice comfortable and spacious interior, plenty of comfort in the riding experience as well as great handling. The price of the car is between 17 to 23 thousand dollars. This car is also great because it has good fuel economy, great results in terms of crash tests and is also very reliable. While this car may not be as economical as the Fit, it certainly makes up for it with its stylish exterior and good mileage.
iii. The Honda Accord
The Accord comes with a hybrid version and prices start at 20000 and peak till around 30000 dollars. The fuel economy of this car is quite good and is actually one shade better than the Honda Civic. The car has been voted one of the top rated cars this year and provides nice handling, roomy interior space as well as loads of comfortable riding experience. The Accord comes with a 25 mpg in the V6 variety. This car is definitely a choice if you don’t mind spending a little more especially since you get a great riding experience.
iv. Infiniti G35
The cost of this car is fairly expensive ranging between 35 to 39 thousand dollars. However this car has been voted one of the top rated cars for good reason. It comes in two varieties – rear wheel or all wheel. You can expect great speeds with a power of 306 HP, a speed of 0-60 in just 5.4 seconds, which is really fast compared to most other cars! It has a nice agile handling, roomy interiors as well as good control over steering functionality. No wonder that this car is one of the top rated cars this year!
Insure your car before it’s too late!
You adore your car and it is your prized possession. However, imagine if it got stolen, caught fire or got damaged? You would lose thousands of dollars in repairing it. This is why getting an insurance is so important. Every car community expert will advise you to insure your car as soon as you buy it.
Cheap insurance deals
Nowadays you can easily get lucrative insurance deals online. However, while these may seem to be attractive with bargain deals they may not always be the best. The reason is that usually the cheaper the insurance the more experienced the driver it is targeted towards. Usually some of the cheapest insurance for cars is targeted at drivers with over 4 years experience. Most car community sites will advise you against going for such schemes if you are a relatively new driver. On the other hand if you are experienced in driving then getting the cheapest car insurance may well be the best way to keep maintenance costs to a bare minimum. It’s because as most car community sites will tell you, it is the maintenance of cars that can work out to be the most expensive.
Claim free drives
If you have a history of no claims then you can actually manage to get one of the cheapest car insurances possible. It is because such insurances provide you a discount on the no claims. This can save you a lot of money as it works out to be very affordable. Many car community experts will advise you to go for such an insurance type if you fall within the experienced bracket.
Lucrative deals: don’t get swayed
Nowadays you will find plenty of online dealers offering you attractive discounts and bargain deals. However it is important that you do not get carried away by these schemes. Many of these do not provide adequate protection in the policy, which can be detrimental if you do face any damages on your car. Therefore you need to check the fine print on the document before you sign up for any insurance deal. Every car community site will tell you to do your research and shop around for rates before taking the plunge for an insurance deal.
A stitch in time saves nine
As this popular adage goes, it is applicable to your car too! It is much better to get insurance beforehand rather than waiting for an accident to happen. That way if incase something happens to the car you have adequate financial coverage to make up for the repair costs. Nowadays many car community experts provide you with useful ways to get yourself the best insurance deal. You can go through the handy guides and tips they provide online.
Approval times
Another important aspect you need to check on before going for an insurance scheme is the amount of time it takes to get the insurance application approved. Many so-called legitimate companies will offer you attractive deals and then take several months to just approve your application! Reputed companies will never do this. Therefore you need to check on car community sites for the list of reputed insurance agencies.
Cheap insurance deals
Nowadays you can easily get lucrative insurance deals online. However, while these may seem to be attractive with bargain deals they may not always be the best. The reason is that usually the cheaper the insurance the more experienced the driver it is targeted towards. Usually some of the cheapest insurance for cars is targeted at drivers with over 4 years experience. Most car community sites will advise you against going for such schemes if you are a relatively new driver. On the other hand if you are experienced in driving then getting the cheapest car insurance may well be the best way to keep maintenance costs to a bare minimum. It’s because as most car community sites will tell you, it is the maintenance of cars that can work out to be the most expensive.
Claim free drives
If you have a history of no claims then you can actually manage to get one of the cheapest car insurances possible. It is because such insurances provide you a discount on the no claims. This can save you a lot of money as it works out to be very affordable. Many car community experts will advise you to go for such an insurance type if you fall within the experienced bracket.
Lucrative deals: don’t get swayed
Nowadays you will find plenty of online dealers offering you attractive discounts and bargain deals. However it is important that you do not get carried away by these schemes. Many of these do not provide adequate protection in the policy, which can be detrimental if you do face any damages on your car. Therefore you need to check the fine print on the document before you sign up for any insurance deal. Every car community site will tell you to do your research and shop around for rates before taking the plunge for an insurance deal.
A stitch in time saves nine
As this popular adage goes, it is applicable to your car too! It is much better to get insurance beforehand rather than waiting for an accident to happen. That way if incase something happens to the car you have adequate financial coverage to make up for the repair costs. Nowadays many car community experts provide you with useful ways to get yourself the best insurance deal. You can go through the handy guides and tips they provide online.
Approval times
Another important aspect you need to check on before going for an insurance scheme is the amount of time it takes to get the insurance application approved. Many so-called legitimate companies will offer you attractive deals and then take several months to just approve your application! Reputed companies will never do this. Therefore you need to check on car community sites for the list of reputed insurance agencies.
Getting finance for your car
So you have decided to go for a new car. However you suddenly realize that you don’t have enough funds! Well, you can now avail car finance. There are plenty of financial institutions that will readily offer you funds. You can easily check on an online car site for finance options.
Searching online
One of the best ways to get good quality rates for your car financing is to shop online. You need to compare rates as well as other aspects before zeroing in on a specific dealer. This is important as due to the tough competition there will be thousands of lenders flooding you with offers. You will find many an online car site that will provide you with lucrative rates and attractive discounts.
Don’t go for a dealer
One of the best ways to ensure a good and honest deal is to avoid the car lenders and instead get your financing from a financial institution. This is a better option because most financial institutions will be far more willing to negotiate on the repayment options as compared to car dealers. Plus you can expect much better and lower rates with a financial institution. You can easily check the current car rates on an online car site.
Check the quote
Usually you will always be entitled to a no obligation free quote from financial institutions. You can try to get as many free quotes as possible and then compare them to arrive at the best deal. You can also compare them with prevailing car rates on an online car site to provide greater transparency.
Background checks
You also need to ensure that the financial institution in question has a good track record and a good reputation. Otherwise you risk getting cheated of your hard earned money. You could ask your friends, acquaintances as well as family members who have taken loans from this bank to know the kind of treatment they provide. You can also check on the repayment options as well as flexibility in terms with friends. An online car site could also provide you valuable tips on getting the most of your car financing.
Multiple options
One of the best ways to ensure variety and flexibility is to go for a financial institution which offers you a combination of credit loans on automobiles, pre-owned car financing as well as car loan refinancing options. This way you have the flexibility to go for multiple loans while opting for the same company. Any online car site can provide you useful references of financial institutions that provide such options.
Get approval
Many people make the crucial mistake of buying the car only to find their application for the car loan being disapproved. This can put you in a lot of financial trouble. Hence always make sure your car finance has been approved before you go ahead and purchase the car! An online car site can help provide you many handy tips to get the best finance deal.
Searching online
One of the best ways to get good quality rates for your car financing is to shop online. You need to compare rates as well as other aspects before zeroing in on a specific dealer. This is important as due to the tough competition there will be thousands of lenders flooding you with offers. You will find many an online car site that will provide you with lucrative rates and attractive discounts.
Don’t go for a dealer
One of the best ways to ensure a good and honest deal is to avoid the car lenders and instead get your financing from a financial institution. This is a better option because most financial institutions will be far more willing to negotiate on the repayment options as compared to car dealers. Plus you can expect much better and lower rates with a financial institution. You can easily check the current car rates on an online car site.
Check the quote
Usually you will always be entitled to a no obligation free quote from financial institutions. You can try to get as many free quotes as possible and then compare them to arrive at the best deal. You can also compare them with prevailing car rates on an online car site to provide greater transparency.
Background checks
You also need to ensure that the financial institution in question has a good track record and a good reputation. Otherwise you risk getting cheated of your hard earned money. You could ask your friends, acquaintances as well as family members who have taken loans from this bank to know the kind of treatment they provide. You can also check on the repayment options as well as flexibility in terms with friends. An online car site could also provide you valuable tips on getting the most of your car financing.
Multiple options
One of the best ways to ensure variety and flexibility is to go for a financial institution which offers you a combination of credit loans on automobiles, pre-owned car financing as well as car loan refinancing options. This way you have the flexibility to go for multiple loans while opting for the same company. Any online car site can provide you useful references of financial institutions that provide such options.
Get approval
Many people make the crucial mistake of buying the car only to find their application for the car loan being disapproved. This can put you in a lot of financial trouble. Hence always make sure your car finance has been approved before you go ahead and purchase the car! An online car site can help provide you many handy tips to get the best finance deal.
5 tips on car maintenance
When it comes to your car, it deserves nothing short of the best. Every car community expert will tell you that maintenance is one of the key things that will keep your car going for a long time to come. Here are some handy tips to help in the upkeep of your car.
i. Oil checking
Your car runs on oil and hence while you need to refill oil every now and then, you also need to make sure that the oil remains clean. Otherwise you risk spoiling the engine. Most car community experts will suggest that you change the oil on a regular basis to prevent the engine shards from getting mixed up with the oil. Make sure to keep a tab on leaks as having a leak can mean running without oil, which can be disastrous for the engine of your car! Ideally as every car community site will tell you, you need to change oil once in every 3 months and completely replace with brand new oil.
ii. Tire pressure
The next thing you need to keep a close watch on is the tire pressure. Regular checks on tire air can help you save on costs associated with fuel expenses. As any car community expert will tell you, ideally you need to keep your tires filled and inflated, even if you feel they are not that squishy. You can easily procure a tire gauge yourself and keep checking on the air pressure. Even too much air can be bad so make sure to remove the excess also. You will also need to regularly keep a watch on tread wear on the tires.
iii. Wiper blade
Usually wiper blades give way when you need them the most. That’s why you need to regularly keep a close tab on them. Make sure to check if they’re working fine, on a regular basis. Every car community site and expert says that this is most neglected part of the car and it is high time owners gave it more attention. By keeping them in good order you save yourself the trouble of being stranded in rain due to bad visibility!
iv. Vacuuming
When you regularly vacuum your car you not only preserve its beauty but also pave the way for a good resale value later on. Every car community site will quickly tell you that regular vacuuming can take years off your car! If you are feeling a little lazy and don’t want to do the vacuuming yourself just take it to a nearby vacuum station! You can use their vacuum machines by paying one or two quarters.
v. Washing underneath
Your car goes through a lot while you ride it. Right from mud, corrosive salty water to even snow – a lot gets accumulated on the underside of your car. This can erode at the vital mechanical parts on the bottom of your car, which is why every car community expert will advise you to give it a wash regularly.
i. Oil checking
Your car runs on oil and hence while you need to refill oil every now and then, you also need to make sure that the oil remains clean. Otherwise you risk spoiling the engine. Most car community experts will suggest that you change the oil on a regular basis to prevent the engine shards from getting mixed up with the oil. Make sure to keep a tab on leaks as having a leak can mean running without oil, which can be disastrous for the engine of your car! Ideally as every car community site will tell you, you need to change oil once in every 3 months and completely replace with brand new oil.
ii. Tire pressure
The next thing you need to keep a close watch on is the tire pressure. Regular checks on tire air can help you save on costs associated with fuel expenses. As any car community expert will tell you, ideally you need to keep your tires filled and inflated, even if you feel they are not that squishy. You can easily procure a tire gauge yourself and keep checking on the air pressure. Even too much air can be bad so make sure to remove the excess also. You will also need to regularly keep a watch on tread wear on the tires.
iii. Wiper blade
Usually wiper blades give way when you need them the most. That’s why you need to regularly keep a close tab on them. Make sure to check if they’re working fine, on a regular basis. Every car community site and expert says that this is most neglected part of the car and it is high time owners gave it more attention. By keeping them in good order you save yourself the trouble of being stranded in rain due to bad visibility!
iv. Vacuuming
When you regularly vacuum your car you not only preserve its beauty but also pave the way for a good resale value later on. Every car community site will quickly tell you that regular vacuuming can take years off your car! If you are feeling a little lazy and don’t want to do the vacuuming yourself just take it to a nearby vacuum station! You can use their vacuum machines by paying one or two quarters.
v. Washing underneath
Your car goes through a lot while you ride it. Right from mud, corrosive salty water to even snow – a lot gets accumulated on the underside of your car. This can erode at the vital mechanical parts on the bottom of your car, which is why every car community expert will advise you to give it a wash regularly.
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