Kamis, 14 April 2011

How to choose an Auto repair facility


We have become so dependent on vehicles for daily life and we expect them to work ... all the time. When not working, things can get stressful, especially when we don't have a decent machine repair facility to turn to for advice. Trying to find an auto repair facility that you can depend on reliable, it can be overwhelming. Safely bet that at one time or another when you've got to have your car has worked on, which in the back of your mind you've probably wondered if there is excess or if repairs are really necessary or if the engineers actually know what they're doing.

In this article I'm going to give you some ideas that will help you find a trust worthy auto repair shop.

1. Word of mouth is the best: the best way to find a decent car repair shop is to ask your friends, family or co-workers for a good recommendation. It is important to discover what type of vehicle which have, in particular whether it is or abroad, that type of work they had done, and if there were repairs was done efficiently and at the same price that was on the estimate.

2. check the local Better Business Bureau for complaints: checks to see if there have been complaints against the facility. Don't assume that if there are complaints that the store is fine. This should be just one of the factors helping you make your decision.

3. do a search on Google: Google often compiles reviews of auto repair services from different websites and show them when you search the name of the store. The Internet is fast becoming a place to make your ideas known.

4. Don't Wait Till Your Car needs to fix: Check around and do your research when the car does not need repair. Having to look for a mechanic: usually most shops give a guarantee of one-year/12,000 miles. Shops have a warranty of 2 years/24,000 miles. This may be a testament to the confidence they have in their work.

7. don't Shop Around completely on price: don't get me wrong, the price is very important, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Compare prices of the services you need and then weigh I mentioned with other factors.

Finding a good repair tool machine can be overwhelming, but it is very important to make sure that you feel comfortable with your mechanic. A good auto repair shop will go out of their way to make sure that you and your vehicle and you're being well cared for. A little homework on your part now will give you peace of mind in the future.








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Online Street Racing Games


Road games are fun games because it gets run all sorts of different dangerous tricks with the car with almost no casualties. You will find online street racing games like Tokyo Xtreme Racer, Street Racers Syndicate and devils of speed that will provide countless hours of fun.

One of the fun games you can play Speed Devils, a game very unusual in the list of online games.

The street racing part is no different from other games: getting challenged by a rival or a rival challenge yourself, and the winner takes the money. On top of this speed Devils allows players to challenge each other to perform various feats, while they are driving and place bets on whether or not a player can run his business.

The money that a player earns the chance to win street racing and bets can be used to buy a new car or in upgrading of the current one. An interesting feature of Speed Devils consists of obstacles that the game throws in front of the races, like rolling boulders and sometimes even dinosaurs. The action of the game takes place in exotic places like Aspen, Nevada, Mexico and Hollywood.

Other online games such as Street road Racers syndicate are a bit more serious: there are no dinosaurs falling from the sky and you have to drive carefully to ensure that we win the game. This game has 50 licensed cars with models from Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, Mitsubishi, and was released for PS2, Xbox, PC and Nintendo GameCube.

In order to win the game you need to do more than just win a road race. The money you earn races are most important in deciding the winner of the game and you will lose money if you need to restore your car after every race. Road Racers Syndicate is one of the few on-line games that actually promotes safe driving.

Your search for free games also take you to Tokyo Xtreme Racer, a racing game developed by Sega's Dreamcast and released in 1999. Tokyo Xtreme Racer is very different from other games and had success especially in North America. Due to his success in North America were developed some sequels: Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2, Tokyo Xtreme Racer Zero and Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 in this chronological order. The player's goal is to challenge the drivers from the streets of Tokyo, winning a race and make enough money to upgrade his car or buy a new, better one. Opponents rather than beat the best car that can afford to buy. Other street racing games such as Midnight Club move the action during the night and takes you in the middle of the world of illegal racing.

To find more funny race Games Internet research for a complete list of racing games, choose your favorite and enjoy the race.








More resources from the author Volkswagen Eos pictures, that Volkswagen Touareg, and more information about 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle.


LeBra car Bras add flashy style and impeccable security


The car hit puberty? And so, it's time to take bra shopping. Maybe you're looking to protect your paint job? In both cases, car Bras provide the car with many advantages.

What is a car bra? The name is pretty self-explanatory. A car bra is a piece of equipment equipped, often made of durable vinyl or leather, which wraps the front-end of your car. Original style bra, ideal for sports cars, provide comprehensive coverage with cutouts for lighthouses, fog lamps and plates. Sport-style Bras, perfect for SUVs and pickups, covering the front of the hood and not interfere with brush guards, winches or a towing hook. No matter what you drive, auto bras are tailored for your specific vehicle and have openings at just the right places, to keep your lights shinning and breathing engine.

As my fellow German Tim once: "why would anyone want a car bra? They are horrible! " Well Tim, bras car capable of protecting the car blocking the filth, dirt, rocks, and anything else that can hit your hood. If you had the license for more than a year I'm sure you've driven through a construction zone. If you haven't, consider yourself lucky because to me, tri-state area, roads are constantly being torn and repaved. It seems that I can't go a month without cruise along a road recently repaired
Here is a perfect example when I would have liked to have a car bra.

It was a sunny Saturday and I had just washed my car. And wasn't one of those cheap car washes where they sit in the car, while a track she pulls through a tunnel of 15 feet of tubing and automated brushes. I'm talking about a car wash. Started by vacuuming my Interior and waving off my mats. Then they sent my Subaru through external wash cycle down the easy stuff. After that, a crew of 15 men equipped with spray bottles and rags attacked my Subaru, every last particle of dirt and dust every last nook and cranny.

This car wash is not cheap, but they do quality work, so spring for it every now and then. So pull out washing cars and head to my friend's House. How to pull in his way are immediately greeted by a portly city worker next to a sign of "flooring". How slowly crawling down the road, I can hear thousands of small pebbles and rocks, bouncing just washed my car. Cringed with every ping ting and I've heard. By the time that I have at my friend's House, the front of my car was covered with tiny tar balls, spit gums in front of me. I was pissed.

These newly paved roads and driving is hell. No matter how slow you are driving, the body of your car will inevitably be pelted with stones and gravel. So if you live in New Jersey, probably you should get a car bra. Especially if leasing would behoove you to consider a car bra. But what happens if I don't like how they look? Well, if you have a car, you probably won't even be able to see it (most of them are black).








LeBra is one of the best-known brands. Wolf, Colgan and Covercraft make a nice auto bra as well. -Mike Rosania


A car buying story-part three-makes and models

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Generally, I wasn't too happy with the variety of models in Canada. When it comes to family cars, the choices are quite simple - you go for a mini van or, as of lately, for an SUV. No big deal. But I thought that mini van is a waste of money if you have only two kids and don't run a repair business. SUV has a fun, all-terrain drift to it, but it too is a waste if you don't use it. What I was looking for is a smaller multi-purpose, single-volume vehicle, and there aren't many of them here. Domestic makes are better in that respect than imports. I almost got to think that the selection is such that it forces you to either buy a big car or two cars.

I'm mostly saying this because I've seen plenty of such versatile models in Europe. For example, you can find a new Civic in 5 door trim -- diesel!

Or a highly unusual, but apparently very versatile and practical Fiat Doblo (a wide spacious crossover) that looks somewhat like Honda Element, only it's a bit smaller and proportionally wider.

Wagons and generally single volume vehicles are very popular in Europe. Half of Fiat's fleet are such cars. And of course, the diesel option -- everybody has it. I was really sorry I did not find a suitable one here.

Anyhow, that is what it is. This is my overview of different models I've looked at:

Honda Accord

I drove Accord '89 for years, and I can testify to its quality. The engine was just great, even with 230,000 km on it. Every year when I need to perform Air-Care, all I'm thinking is: "Is it going to be slightly better or slightly worse than last year?" In the first couple of years I used to drive a bit before the air-care to warm up the engine, but later abandoned that practice -- it was simply unnecessary. Anyhow, Accord was my first thought, and always a backup plan: "if I don't find anything I like, I'll just buy Accord".

And the latest Accord (model 2003) was in all aspects a very good choice. Good space, good quality, safety, fuel economy, pretty much everything. It wasn't that sleek and pretty as I would hope, but that's really not big a deal. Also, it did not have the perfect safety scores (in couple of tests it had 4 out of 5) -- and I was kind of expecting perfection from my favourite make. In the end, the current model was just about to be replaced, the 2008 is completely redesigned, and I was expecting major improvements with the new model. So the current model seemed somewhat an outdated choice.

Honda Civic

Haven't really thought of Civic before -- to me it was a city car for singles or a first family car that you replace quickly. However, the new Civic (model from 2006) made a strong impression on me.

Pros: A lot of new features, some quite advanced. Top safety: impact-absorbing body, all 6 airbags, ABS, sensors, and all of that in the base version. Excellent fuel economy -- just slightly worse than Corolla (which is top in that respect). Although a smaller car, it grew over time. The passenger space is very good even for a taller person. I even tried moving the driver seat all the way back and then sitting behind it, and it was ok. It's quite wide inside -- it's no minivan, so don't expect wonders, but perfectly acceptable.

Also, the options are created reasonably, so all I had to add was AC -- it had everything else. The design is sleek, the interior very pleasant, and very enjoyable for a driver. Driving a Civic (manual transmission) is just a beautiful experience.

Cons: The only flaw I found was small trunk space. Trunk is smaller than most of the cars I've looked at. Corolla has 40L bigger trunk which is not negligible especially in smaller cars. The shape of the trunk is good which means you can put in different robust pieces, but the total volume is simply small.

Honda CR-V

A completely new model (2007), bigger than before, and very nicely designed. I generally did not shoot for SUVs, but if I decided to get one, CRV would have been a serious candidate. The only flaw for me was that it doesn't come with manual transmission.

Honda Hybrid

I have also considered hybrid cars, but gave up generally for one reason: the batteries occupy a good part of the trunk space, and that was already an issue with non-hybrid models. And with the price, I decided to pass on those nice modern things this time.

Toyota Corolla

Towards Corolla, I had similar feeling as to the pre-2006 Civic -- seems as a city, young/small family car, only even more than Civic. For my current situation, I was seriously considering it. What I didn't like was the way it was sold: the base model did not have ABS, only front airbags, and generally some other nice safety features were missing. Now the options are managed in such a way that if you add those things, you also get plenty of those that you don't need (e.g. sunroof), and it's not that affordable anymore.

On the other hand it had a lot to offer: good space for a smaller car, the best fuel economy, proven quality.

But I gave up on it mainly because of the lack of safety features.

Toyota Matrix

Similar to Corolla, with very similar and annoying option structure. I mean, it goes up to $28,000 if I add features I want (ABS, Airbags, AC, ...). That is because you also get leather seats, sunroof, and some other options.

Now Matrix was conceptually exactly what I wanted -- a single-volume, not too big, but practical, multipurpose car. But it has been built on Corolla chassis, and to me it had a certain "incomplete" feeling to it. And almost some cheapness as well.

Toyota Camry

I did not like it very much. I mean, it seems to be a great car -- it's big, spacious, amazingly soft and comfortable. It's a bit heavy which you can feel on acceleration, but again, it's a bigger car, so it's no surprise. Generally, Camry is starting to look and feel as a regular 6 cylinder large American car, which is perhaps exactly what they are trying to do. I did not like that much -- I like cars such as Accord better; it's sleeker, more dynamic, a bit harder on the road, more sporty.

Anyhow, except for the fact that I did not need a big limousine-like car, I have nothing really against it.

Nissan

Nissan is an excellent car that simply did not flare any particular interest with me. This is of course just a personal taste. Altima is in particular very nice, well made and affordable car. Sentra is less so -- I found it below similar sized cars. Maxima is a great full sized car -- but similar to Toyota Camry it was a bit larger sedan that I'd go for.

Hyundai

Now this is a puzzle. Sonata has a beautiful and very elegant style. It looks fairly high-end by appearance. And it has excellent features and plenty of them. For example, a latest trend -- Shiftronic transmission or CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) that pairs the best attributes of manual and automatic mechanisms. I've heard that the fuel economy with CVT is almost as good as in the manual one; actually Volvo claims that in one of their models, on a highway, CVT performs even better than manual. But to me, driving a car with CVT was not that impressive experience.

Hyundai obviously has a lot of latest features for a highly affordable price. And although it does look good, you can still tell that it's an affordable car. When Hyundai entered the American market it was known as the worst car -- people say it would last you for about a year. But in the past 5 years they have made such a good progress, that in some independent ratings (Such as Consumer Report's) they rate better in some aspects than Honda or Toyota.

All in all, I did not spend much time on it, although I've considered both Sonata and their SUV Tucson as an option.

Mazda

I was looking mainly at Mazda 3 Sport. By the way, the name is completely misleading -- for a long time I did not even consider it because I simply thought it's a sport edition not suitable for a family. But when I did looked at it, I was surprised to learn that it actually isn't -- the term "sport" apparently came up only because "hatchback" was too "boring". Silly -- I don't think they really thought this one through well.

Anyhow, I learned it has almost all I needed, and on test drive it felt really good. The dealer told me they sell mostly manual versions because it's a performance car. I doubt this is really true, but it is true that the car is pretty sporty -- very responsive, fairly strong, and in general a pleasure to drive. Nevertheless, it has good space inside, and generally is suitable for a family.

But the trunk was small, i.e. narrow. The width of the trunk is virtually the same as the width of the trunk door. This I simply don't understand -- seems as if they purposely did not use all the available space.

In addition, its crash ratings (from the tests) were not the best. And as a smaller flaw the seat covers felt a bit unpleasant.

But it is generally a very good car and I was considering it very seriously

Mazda 5 also caught my attention because it was a bigger family car, yet not a mini van. I was comparing it to Matrix. However, it looked to me that the goal with an unusual "crossover" design was not really achieved (or completed), at least to my personal taste. The third row is too small for anyone except kids to use for any longer drive. With the third row up, the trunk is too small. Although not a mini van it is still fairly heavy and "lazy" on the road.

It's generally a very interesting vehicle, worth looking at.

Subaru

Ah, Subaru...

Subaru was the most pleasant discovery for me. I didn't know much at all about this make, only a few vague facts. But after I learned a bit about it I figured that this make is simply excellent. And they have recently been gaining more and more popularity. Then I went to US for a weekend and saw that there are as many Subarus (mostly Outbacks) on the road there as there are Honda Civics in Canada. Every other person owns it!

So I explored the models a bit and figured that Forester and Outback are most appealing. Forester as a smaller and cheaper option and Outback as a bigger and more expensive. Impreza was too small and a bit too much sporty -- it's a performance car used for racing. Legacy, built on the same chassis as Outback and very similar as well was ok, but Outback simply looks better.

I took Forester on a test drive -- although it has older look, and is boxier, jeep-like, I liked it somewhat better than Outback. Actually this comparison is a bit like comparing apples and oranges -- both look very nice and are conceptually different in exterior design. Perhaps I liked Forester a bit better exactly because it looks like a small SUV. It drives just beautifully. It's not really an SUV, because it's smaller and lower than, say CR-V, but it does feel like one because you sit higher above the road than, say, in a sedan. This gives you an excellent visibility of the road in front of you. The space was good, but not too good -- in particular the shoulder and hip room is comparable to even Corolla and Civic. So two car seats and an adult can fit in the back, but it wouldn't be too comfortable on a longer, hour%u2019s long trip. Other dimensions including the trunk size are just fine.

An interesting little side feature of the Boxer engine (horizontally opposed pistons): When you turn the ignition on, Forester "shakes" just a wee bit, just as if you were sitting in a truck. This is not too noticeable, but it gives you a bit of a nice feeling of strength.

Security with Subaru vehicles is the one of the strongest points. Their cars have straight 5 on all tests (front impact, side impact and rear impact). This is not accidental -- they have systematically developed this quality. They've been known in the past to put a lot of effort in security, so much that even they admitted they did it on account of the style. Thus, even the Forester that does not have the curtain airbags at all, protects rear passenger better than some vehicles that have the curtain airbags. However, I found that lack of those airbags was too serious flaw for me -- as I mentioned, my first priority was safety and I did not want to compromise in that respect even a bit. Outback on the other hand has all 6 airbags, but it's also considerably more expensive.

Another security feature resulting from the engine design, i.e. the Boxer style, is that it has very low center of gravity, lower than ordinary engines. For this reason, the risk of rollover with Forester is comparable to a sedan, rather than any SUV.

Subaru vehicles are not true gas-savers. Specifications claim they spend 10.7L/100km. I drove Outback for 24 hours, and it spent 12L/100km. This is understandable; you'll never get the fuel economy from the spec, especially with brand new car. However, compared to Corolla's 7.1 or Civic 7.8, it is almost 50% more.

I didn't choose Subaru for a couple of reasons, although I was so close to buying one. Forester does not have curtain airbags, and new Forester model is planned for 2009. Outback is not cheap -- with taxes and PDI and the rest of the fees it comes up to $38,000. Buying Outback in US would cost me somewhat above $30,000. Forester would be somewhat below $30,000. So, I'd have to pay good money, and wouldn't be happy with either lack of airbags or not the best fuel economy. But I think my next car might easily be a Subaru.

Volvo

No need to say it's a great make, and one of my personal favourites. However, affordable or close to affordable Volvo's (such as S40, V50) are small, and larger ones (S70, XC70) are expensive. If it wasn't for the price I think I wouldn't even analyze it -- I'd just go and buy it.

Volkswagen

I know VW was always a good car -- when I was a kid half of my hometown was driving VW. I know features of Golf models from Golf I to Golf IV. And I drove it a bit too. But my main interest in VW was that I was looking for a diesel car. I was disappointed to find that VW dealers in Canada do not sell plenty of diesel models. There is TDI (here and now it means Jetta TDI) -- that's it.

Then I also discovered that City Golf and City Jetta are amazingly affordable -- they are cheaper than Civic and Corolla. And they are good cars! I almost decided to go for one of them!!

But Golf is small for a Canadian family, in particular, the trunk is too narrow -- I can't even put the kid's stroller in straight, but have to incline it a bit. I started wondering how did the half of my hometown raise kids with a Golf? (And the other half of the town drove smaller cars.) But those were different times...

City Jetta is better in that respect, but not too much. It is an old Jetta model, first designed several years ago. It's still the same with all the small improvements made over the years, but nothing major.

Major redesign of Jetta went into the Jetta model (without "City") that is some 8 grand more expensive and looks more like a Passsat (actually so much so that on the road I have trouble telling Jetta from Passat). Jetta is an excellent car, has excellent security features, lots of space (very, very comfortable inside). And there is diesel (TDI) option.

Generally, an excellent option -- only a summary of all features and price decided against it, and not by far at all.








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Michael Thornessen is a typical car buyer that has recently spent some substantial time and effort researching the auto market. Michael writes for Cheap Gasoline dot biz. See this article at http://cheapgasoline.biz/page.cfm/id/10132


The importance of a used vehicle inspection and Test Drive


Used car inspected by a mechanic needs an expert to identify any preexisting problems. They should be given a thorough test drive to see any problems that are evident of driveability. These two suggestions will discover many of the problems with a used car.

For example, if looking at a used Subaru Impreza for sale and it is noteworthy that it feels as if the brakes are locked up when making sharp turns, the vehicle might have suffered damages for all wheel drive system. This vehicle with a manual transmission, there is a viscous coupling Center differential that can bind.

For the automatic transmission, there is a transfer package clutch in the back of the unit in which they can be corrupted and not release fully. This condition is often called the pair engage in Subaru vehicles. The condition is repairable, but can be expensive, so it can make a good point to negotiate the price with the owner.

In addition, the vehicle maintenance records used should be inspected. Some owners do a better job of keeping track of these records than do other people. Sometimes you can find this information on the website of the manufacturer if the service work has been done at a dealership. In this case the information maintenance may also appear on common vehicle history reports. For example, Subaru and Honda have websites where vehicle owners can register their maintenance work.

Performance vehicles, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI have been abused by previous owners. This vehicle is fitted with a turbocharged engine, producing a decent amount of torque at relatively low engine speeds. If the engine speed is raised and then quickly released the clutch components can be damaged car train.

Since this vehicle has all-wheel drive, popping out the clutch as this introduces large amounts of torque transmission. Vehicles with rear wheel drive, wheel spin restricts these forces. The most likely to damage occurring differential gear teeth is chipped. These gear teeth are hardened steel.

The hardening make stronger gears, but that also makes them a little flimsy. There have been reports from people who have been denied warranty claims for this type of damage, because it is relatively clear that the abuse was the cause.

In conclusion, a careful inspection and test drive can reveal many of the problems in a used vehicle.








Some people decide to look for a used Subaru Impreza WRX for sale as their choice. This vehicle is rally inspired and has a loyal following. But such a small sports car is not for everyone. Other people simply seek a Subaru Impreza for sale for a solid, inexpensive, reliable daily driver. If you choose, there are substantial savings to be had on both used to purchase new verses.


Rabu, 13 April 2011

Avoid car dealerships for a good deal on your car loan


Do not be hasty when buying a new car. Consumers in the United Kingdom are said to pay through the nose for overpriced car financing plans offered through dealerships.

The average auto finance leads an APR of approximately 11%, but sourced to a personal loan with the intention of buying a car could cost around 50% less. New figures suggest that motorists in the United Kingdom will be overspending by almost 230 million pounds on car financing plans pushed their showroom.

If you buy a new car on credit that it would be wise to look around before visiting a showroom. There are at least 3 personal loan providers in the United Kingdom which offers auto loan plans carrying an APR of 6% or less.

There are also less likely to feel pressurised into signing finance agreements, if you already have the finance in place.

Dealers will not only damage your wallet, but can also damage the car as well, which leads to borrow more for repairs that may be needed.

Recent research conducted by Auto Express magazine revealed that the Lexus franchisees are, after all, the best by a comfortable margin. The dealer network Skoda justifiably proud is second place, followed by Subaru, Toyota, Porsche, Honda, Jaguar, Kia, Hyundai and Suzuki, who are all "dealers".

That occupy the middle ground of the 30-strong League table are Mazda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, Volvo, Audi, Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, Saab, Land Rover and twentieth place, MINI dealers. Next is 10th from the bottom, then Alfa Romeo Nissan, Volkswagen, Seat and Citroën. Bring up the rear are fifth from bottom of Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Fiat and Renault 30 final loser and last place.

The main complaints against Fiat dealerships are that are dirty, lacking in atmosphere, useless and attitude problems. But at least we are improving. Franchisee Renault haven't moved forward in a year. It's bad enough that this French marque and its 330 dealerships are classified as the lowest of the low to look after your customers. But equally alarming is the fact that they are also judged to be the absolute pits in terms of communication and processing and only marginally better in technical knowledge, helpfulness and value for money.

The category value is interesting. When you buy a car, we tend not to think about future costs of repair and maintenance. And that is short-sighted, because the cost of parts and labor may be exceeded to fuel, road tax and insurance.

Read the report and it becomes clear that the workshop Skoda offer the greatest value, followed by those of Lexus, Kia, Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru, Honda, Mazda and Ford, which should be quite proud.

The bottom 10 marques/dealerships are the clan Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep, Saab, VW, BMW, Land Rover, Volvo, Peugeot, Renault, Audi and Mercedes. The authors suggest politely that Audi might like to rethink its labour rates and bluntly tells Mercedes that the wooden spoon for value should serve as a "big warning".

The star report is Lexus, beating rival comprehensively each marque in every sector, except for value.








Christian is the author of several articles related to loans guaranteed. He is known for his expertise in this area and on other business and finance related articles.


Helps you understand what factors determine your Auto Insurance Premium


I don't know about you, but I always wondered what factors determined the award on my auto insurance. Well, I'm going to hopefully help. Just a few factors can surprise and some can make you think. Let's start here.

One of the most important factors that determine your auto insurance premium is naturally the vehicle that you drive. This is one of the few factors you can control or change. Is the way that the insurance company you look to this factor. One-what are the costs of collision damage? This is one of the main factors that puts some cars on the "list of good machine" that you want and "Bad" drive list, which does not want. This has a great impact on the price difference between a type of vehicle with respect to another. On a less expensive is attractive as the car is of thieves. Vehicles that are on top of the list of insurance costs are usually high power, high-dollar or those that are expensive to repair. So that hot looking sporty car always will cost more, most especially for young drivers, because they tend to crash more often. They see it as if you have a high-powered machine that you are going to drive in such a way that, although this may not be true, that you will not be able to change their mind about it. Even if the machine you own has been crashed a lot of other people rate this is going to be jack as well. This is not only how you drive but how other people are riding the same car. On some high-end cars tend to have the aluminium body panels; These are more expensive to replace then.

Another fact, that you can't know; If you drive an SUV or a vechal greater than liability insurance will most likely have a higher premium, because these types of vehicles will cause more damage in an accident.

Here's a helpful tip on which cars are the easiest and least expensive to insure. I'll start with the first most expensive. These cars in this list are the most expensive due to collision losses. This is the most recent list that I could find. Some of these cars just might surprise you. I know it's surprised me when I saw my car $ 20,000 in this list. As you will see not only the expensive cars that cost more, or the safe that cost less. There is a real science in determining the cost of insurance.
More expensive

1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2. Mercedes CL-class
3. Dodge SRT-4
4. Subaru Impreza WRX STI
5. Jaguar XK (convertible)
6. Lexus is 300
7. Honda S2000
8. Acura RSX
9. Nissan 350Z
10. Jaguar XJ

Less expensive
1. Volvo XC90
2. Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
3. GMC Safari
4. Buick LeSabre
5. Nissan Pathfinder Armada (2004)
6. Pontiac Montana (standard model)
7. Mazda MPV
8. Ford Thunderbird
9. Pontiac Montana (model)
10. Ford Taurus (station wagon)

So think of these factors when buying a new car or wondering why your insurance is so expensive. But if your auto insurance is too expensive there is nothing wrong with always shopping around before buying. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I hope that helped you learn a few things that may not have known.








Check out this link if you want to learn more. http://Help-on-autoinsurance.blogspot.com


Which car should possess in order to keep your insurance rates more affordable?


Consider the cost of insurance before you purchase your dream car? You should. The highway loss data Institute analyzes the cost to insurance companies from theft, collision and injury claims as they relate to cars. Look at the color of the car, how many doors that have, and even break down.

The highway loss data Institute is a nonprofit organization of public service. It is closely associated and funded through the Insurance Institute for highway safety, which is wholly supported by auto insurers. HLDI collects, processes and publishes data on ways losses vary between the different types of vehicles. [http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ictl/ictl.htm]

4-door cars have a 93% less likely to have a claim relating to the theft with respect to their auto 2-door sibling. Buy a Buick LeSabre and have relatively no chance of loss of theft. Comparison of the Chevrolet Corvette convertible that has more than 5 times the average rate of theft. You know that. However, did you know that Toyota has a probability higher than 67% of stolen Toyota Camry?

In addition, although the 2002 Lexus is 300 Gets a "best pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for highway safety for its performance on crash test, models of earlier years of the same cars are some of the most expensive in terms of collision claims. "One of the factors that come into play there is the cost of repairing an expensive vehicle," said Russ Rader, with the Insurance Institute for highway safety.

Where is the security? You may be surprised by some of the results. For example, the Porsche 911 has a 67% less chance for injury claims that the norm. Go figure. Mitsubishi Lancer has nearly twice the rate of injury claim beyond the norm.

Where auto fit for theft and collision damage? Where is your dream car? Take a look at this race based on 2000–2002 data HLDI:

Models that are among the most expensive for theft claims include:

Four wheel drive Cadillac Escalade

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Lincoln Navigator 4 x 4

Jeep Cherokee 4-door

BMW 3 Series Convertible

Models that are among the least expensive for theft claims include:

Buick LeSabre

Buick Park Avenue

Volvo V70 Station Wagon

Mercury Grand Marquis four doors

Models that are among the most expensive for injury claims include:

Four-door Suzuki Esteem

Kia Rio four-door

Mitsubishi Mirage 2 ports

Kia Sepectra four ports

Models that are among the least expensive for injury claims include:

GMC Sierra 2500 two-wheel drive

Chevrolet Silverado 2500

GMC Yukon XL 1500 4 x 4

GMC Sierra 2500 4WD

Chevrolet Tahoe two-wheel drive

Models that are among the most expensive for collision claims include:

Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4-door four-wheel drive

Lexus IS 300 leads to 4

Hyundai Tiburon 2-door

Porsche 911 Coupe

Acura RSX

Models that are among the least expensive for the claims of collision include:

Two-wheel drive Ford excursion

GMC Safari four-wheel drive

GMC Sierra 2500

GMC Yukon XL 1500 4 x 4

Source: the highway loss data Institute

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10 cars are most likely to be lemons


Shopping for a car should be a joyous occasion, but it could turn into a nightmare if you're shopping for a used car. No one wants to find out that he/she have been the victim of a fraud, that their car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, motor home or trailer is a lemon, a bad used car.

It is not easy, trying to spot a fraud scheme. Did you know that:

The dealership that sold the car, truck or RV is a lemon.

The repair is not going to explain to you your rights under your State's lemon law.

The producer say from their mouths that they are obliged to repurchase or redeem your lemon car.

No automobile dealership is going to tell you that they were defrauded.

Every year, thousands of citizens called their Government to register complaints about their vehicles. According to the 2009 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these vehicles 10 cars got more complaints logged:



Land Rover LR2


mitsubishi Lancer


Pontiac Solstice


Dodge Avenger


subaru impreza


Jeep Wrangler


Scion xB


Pontiac G8


Buick Enclave


Jeep Commander

There are ways to avoid lemons in the used car market. Here are some car buying tips when shopping for used cars:

To see if the used car is in good condition or not, obtain extracts from a mechanic.

Take a soft refrigerator magnet with you to verify damage old hidden under a new paint job and run the magnet along the steel panels. There is more likely if paint stucco under the magnet does not stick.

A damaged car flooded may be trouble, be sure to check the car for water stains on the carpet and dried mud.

The wear on the brake and gas pedal should also be consistency with stated the mileage on the odometer.

The car is out of alignment or worn-out components, if there is wear on the outer edge of the front tires.

Once you purchase, you should take the measures for which the fuel system inside your car engine is clean. Make sure to delete the previous engine deposits and optimize the performance of your car and fuel economy recovery-your new purchase should be clean inside and out.








For more information about the California lemon law, or if you need to get in touch with a lawyer specializing in California Lemon Law, please http://www.california-lemonlawyer.comvisit.


Reliable used cars-used cars you can buy better


When buying a used car, one of the most important factors that consumers consider it reliable. Of course you don't want to spend your hard earned money on something that will break down and in need of expensive repairs. If you're in the market for a used vehicle, here is a list of the best reliable used car that you can buy.

This list is taken from the Consumer Reports rates cars over several years of reliability from 1999 to 2008. These data are taken from the annual survey Auto on more than 1.4 million new and used vehicles in which the owners reported serious problems with vehicles on the previous year. According to the survey results, here are the best to try.

Small cars

#1 Honda Civic-this car is reliable and economic units. The redesign in 2001, has seen its popularity grow even bigger and in 2003 was introduced the hybrid model. The redesign included standard anti lock brakes 2006, curtain airbags, and reports of owners that the race is even better than before.

The next best choices

Toyota Echo
Scion xB
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Matrix
Pontiac Vibe
Mazda3
Mazda Protege
Subaru Impreza
Auto family

#1 Honda Accord-this car was an excellent choice for years. The redesign in 2003 has made this car more agile and even quieter plus standard anti-lock brakes were added.

The next best choices

Toyota Prius
Ford Fusion
Mercury Milan
Toyota Camry (except ' 08 V6)
Subaru Outback (6 cyl.)
Nissan Altima
Luxury car

#1 Lexus ES-this car is quiet and comfortable tested reliably for many years. In 2004 a fuel-efficient engine.

The next best choices

Lexus Is
Toyota Avalon
Acura TSX
Lincoln MKZ, Zephyr (FWD)
Infiniti G20
Acura TL
Infiniti I30 And I35
Infiniti G35 (saloon)
Volvo S60
Buick Lucerne (V8)
Nissan Maxima
Luxury car

#1 Since 2003 Infiniti M35-this car is on the list of reliable vehicles. The redesign in 2006 added more comfort at this car well built.

The next best choices

Lexus LS
Lexus GS (6 cyl., RWD)
Acura RL
Sports and sports cars

#1 Mazda Miata-this car gets points for reliability, manageability, performance and convenience.

The next best choices

Lexus SC
Honda S2000
Toyota Camry Solara
Acura RSX
Toyota Celica
Scion tC
BMW Z3, Z4
Acura Integra
Porsche Boxster
BMW M3
Subaru Impreza WRX/STi
Ford Mustang (V6)
Nissan 350Z
Minivan

# 1 -Toyota Sienna-the redesign of 2003 gave this reliable vehicle more power and more space and is also available with AWD.

The next best choice

Honda Odyssey
Small SUV -Toyota RAV4-this vehicle has been reliable since it was introduced in 1996. The redesign of 2001 brought more power plus more space inside and in 2006 he added a third row.

The next best choices

Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester
Mitsubishi Outlander
Medium-sized and large SUV

# 1 -Honda-first introduced in 2003, this vehicle has had excellent crash test results and reliability. There is a lot of room in this vehicle fuel consumption and also flexible seating for eight.

The next best choices

Toyota Highlander
Lexus RX
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota 4Runner
Infiniti FX35
Acura MDX
Infiniti QX4
Lexus GX
Hyundai Santa Fe
Subaru Tribeca
Nissan Xterra (' 05-' 08)
Toyota Sequoia
Pickup Trucks

# 1 -Honda Ridgeline-this vehicle offers everything that you need in a truck, but it handles and rides like a sedan. Have a read, weather-tight lockable trunk and a smooth V6 engine.

The next best choices

Toyota Tacoma (' 05-' 08)
Toyota Tundra
Subaru Baja
Nissan Frontier (' 05-' 08)

As you can see from the results, Toyota and Honda coming out way ahead of the pack for reliable used cars. If you're in the market for a used vehicle, this list will point in the right direction for reliability.








To find reliable used cars in your area, check out local car Auctions for more information about how you can save thousands of dollars on a used car, truck or SUV.


Selasa, 12 April 2011

The electric car

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A Brief History and What's Next? 

The Beginning

At the end of the 19th century, any vehicle not pulled by a horse or mule was considered an alternative power vehicle, powered by steam, electricity or gasoline. But oil was discovered in Texas in 1901 and by 1920, gasoline fueled internal-combustion engine vehicles dominated the marketplace. Electricity and steam powered vehicles became distant also-rans. Oil was cheap, effective, readily available and easily transportable. It was also dirty, noisy and smelly but these characteristics were minor in comparison with its cost and availability.

Electric cars were introduced in the first half of the 19th century. At the end of the 20th century, electric vehicles held most world speed and distance records. They were cleaner, quieter, easier to operate and easier to maintain than steam or gasoline fueled cars but had a fatal weakness: battery technology limited the driving range of electric cars to between 40 and 50 miles before needing a 6 to 8 hour charge. Electric vehicles continued to be manufactured in the U.S. through 1939.

The ZEV Mandate

No electric cars were produced in the U.S. between 1939 and 1996. That changed when General Motors produced the EV1 in response to California's 1991 zero emission vehicle mandate which required 2% of all new cars sold by major auto manufacturers in California in 1998 to meet 'zero emission' standards. The first EV1 autos used lead-acid batteries. Second generation GM EV1 cars had a range of 160 miles using nickel metal hydride batteries. A total of 4-5,000 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. under the ZEV mandate.

In 2001 GM and Daimler Chrysler sued California for regulating fuel economy in violation of U.S. law, after which California relaxed the zero emission vehicle mandate. In late 2003, GM cancelled the EV1 program and other manufacturers soon followed suit. The film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" suggested that GM's EV1 program was canceled once California relaxed its zero emission vehicle mandate because 1) production was no longer essential; 2) electric cars impacted the oil industry; and 3) sale of electric cars adversely affected GM's replacement parts after-market. Virtually all EV1 cars, leased to the public, were recalled and destroyed by GM who estimated that they invested $1 billion in development of the EV-1. General Motors recently announced that the electric Chevy Volt (hybrid electric vehicle) will be available for sale in the U.S. in 2010.

Enter the 21st Century

According to the US Department of Energy, more than 60,000 electric cars are in use in the US with more than 15,000 operational in California. More than 800 vehicles (mainly Toyota RAV4 EVs), produced during California's zero emission mandate have survived with several logging more than 110,000 miles, proving durability and maintainability.

What's next?

Although there is no zero emission mandates in place, the marketplace has spoken. The combination of high gasoline prices, global warming and the absurdity of U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern sources of oil has inspired development and manufacture of electric vehicles.

o Five low-speed (neighborhood) model electric vehicles and six expressway capable electric vehicles are currently in production.

o In addition to Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan, VW and Renault, a dozen or more new auto firms have introduced or plan to introduce electric cars by 2010.

o The industry is rapidly moving towards new battery technology. Tesla Motors and Miles Electric Vehicles amongst others are now using Lithium-ion battery technology.

Europe and Japan

Since the first oil embargo in 1973 Europe has shown a continuous interest in electric vehicles. Today, electric cars are being built across Europe from Norway to Italy. Not to be left out, Mitsubishi and Subaru announced that they would be manufacturing lithium ion-powered cars before 2010. Toyota and Honda and Nissan will also have production models available in the U.S.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles

43 states and Washington D.C. allow operation of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) that can travel on streets which have a maximum 35 mph speed limit. Local jurisdictions have the right to ban their use or may require licensing and liability insurance. NEVs must have seatbelts, four wheels, windshield safety glass, windshield wipers, headlights, taillights, and turn signals but airbags aren't required. NEVs cannot legally travel faster than 25 mph. They're usually equipped with lead acid batteries offering a range of about 30 miles. Prices range from around $6000 to more than $14,000.

Freeway Electric Vehicles

Aside from Toyota RAV4 EVs, most electric vehicles operating in the U.S. in 2008 are NEVs. Freeway capable vehicles are expected to be readily available by 2010. In addition to Tesla, Chevy (Volt), Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda (hydrogen fuel cell technology) and Toyota, we can look for electric vehicles from Think (Norway), Smart EV (Mercedes) and Zenn (Toronto).

Electric Vehicle Benefits

o Pure electric vehicles are true zero emissions vehicles. No greenhouse gases are emitted during vehicle operation.

o Gasoline is eliminated, replaced by grid sourced electricity generated from traditional and increasingly renewable sources. Many electric vehicles have factory installed or aftermarket solar panels installed on roofs.

o Fuel cost (electricity) per mile is 20-25% of gasoline or flex-fuel cost.

o 95% of the energy used to recharge EVs comes from domestic sources. Dependence on foreign oil is reduced.

o Very low vehicle operation and maintenance costs.

o Self energy generation through regenerative braking.

o Simple battery recharging through standard household 110V outlets and recharging stations.

o Electric vehicles are in production and available today at prices in a similar range to that of traditional gasoline and hybrid cars. A few models are also available in the luxury price range.

Limitations

o 250-300 mileage range using Lithium-ion batteries

o Battery cost, weight, disposal

o Few commercial battery recharging stations

o At-home battery charging is not practical for apartment dwellers and those who cannot park near their home

Overcoming limitations

o EV mileage range will increase as battery technology improves.

o Battery footprint, cost and weight will be reduced through new technology.

o Battery recharging stations will spread as EV production increases

Implications and Consequences

o Physical vehicle characteristics and conveniences will change. Vehicles will take on non-traditional appearances

o Vehicle reliability and durability will increase

o Vehicle operating costs will decline as fuel costs, repair costs and replacement parts costs will all decline

o Reduced congestion due to smaller vehicle footprint

o More consumer choices

o Reduced dependence on fossil fuels, imported oil

Stan Gassman, BSC Sustainability Services, Copyright 2008-2009








Stan Gassman is a co-founder and principal of BSC Sustainability Services, http://www.bscsustainabilityservices.com a consulting company devoted to helping clients increase marketplace value by incorporating sustainability within their culture and operations.

Contact Stan via email, sgassman@bscsustainabilityservices.com


Buy the best luxury car for your money


If you're thinking of buying the best luxury cars, that money can buy, the first question is how much money you are going to spend. When it comes to luxury cars, prices can vary from half-30 thousands and up. Luxury cars can be classified into different levels: entry, mid luxury car of high level and ultra. Each level is designed for a certain type of consumer.

So where to start searching for best luxury car? You should look for resellers available in your area. If you live near a big city, you should have lots of options for car dealerships. If you live in an area more remote, will probably have more difficulty finding a local dealership and will need to go to your nearest metropolis. In both cases, keep in mind that it will be easier in the future if you find a dealer that is close to your home or work. It will be cheaper to get the car for maintenance or service if it is close to your normal routes.

After you have selected your local area, be sure to do a lot of research on the Internet. Look for patterns that can have local dealerships available. Consider what kind of luxury cars could be better for you. Some cars will focus more presenting in an aura of success and wealth (as Lincoln) while others (such as Subaru) people who want a powerful engine under the hood.

Narrow down your choices and look at the history of models that are still considering. Worth buying a Consumer Reports magazine, or the annual new car buying guide, look at that model in recent years. Consumer Reports does a very thorough job researching the quality of the cars we review, and you can get a lot of good information about problems that model has had through the years, as well as the positive aspects of that model.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing the best car for you is the gas consumption. In the last year or two, this has become more of the major concerns in car buying at any level. A few years ago, it wasn't much of a factor, which is why half the people you see walking around today gas guzzling SUV. There is no end in sight to the increase in gas prices, and then try to find a machine that can preserve the decent gas mileage standard speed of city and highway.

When you do your research, examine the car's resale value. You can obtain this information from Kelley Blue Book or other sources. If you really want to play the game of depreciation, buying a car that has one or two years, where most of the value is already lost. Spend a lot of money buying the best car luxury you can afford, but that is no reason to invest. Finally, consider how much money you spend on routine maintenance or potential repairs. This may require some additional research, such as dealerships are not generally forthcoming with that information.

Doing your homework thoroughly, you will find the best car for you. Any more than you can afford, and get the best deal you can buy. Enjoy the ride!








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5 tips to avoid being over charged by your mechanic


We all live in a world very transitory. We are collecting and moving our families to new places more frequently than ever before. Whenever we need to build our local network of resources. You know what I'm taking on ... the new auto repair shop, school, dry cleaning, plumber, electrician, etc, etc. That usually I always find myself dreading is auto repair guy. Why? Because for some reason I always feel no matter where I go, I'm going to have taken advantage of monetarily. It is as if I had a sign on me that says "I obviously have no idea how my car works or how to solve the problem."

Let me give an example. Last week in the month of August I went to a Subaru dealer to get an oil change and tire rotation for my Subaru Outback. 2 hours later I found obvious this laundry list of repairs that were presented to me by the retailer to be urgent and potentially dangerous if did not act soon. Oh, ya did mention that this list was also estimated upwards of $ 1500. I left there thinking that my car is falling apart. I have to sell, get a new one? These fixed now have better or I might be on the side of the road, stuck with two children. Life seemed to take a hold of me and repairs on my sweet Subaru, Betty went to the way side. Two months later and we've finally gotten around to the choice of a local store to make my own repairs. Here's how the narrowed down;

Networking Group: I am a member of the group to a MOM in Denver and I find that it is a huge resource for anything from where to buy diapers which restaurants are good and which is reputable businesses around the city. If you have one of these in your area, and you're a parent, do. You'll thank me later.

Read reviews on Business: go to your local BBB and type in the name of the business that you have heard of or been shown. See if there are any complaints. Go to the search engine of your choice and type in "auto repair Denver, CO" and read reviews from Google, Yahoo, Bing, Google, Yelp, Angie on local auto repair shops. There are so many customer testimonials on the web. Educate yourself.

Check to see if they are reputable: look to see if the store is certified ASE? This certification carries a lot of weight. How long they have been in business? Can do the work of factory warranty on your car?

Get more than an estimate: If you have a main repair as you please, please, please take time to get at least two estimates on the job.

Repairs auto research: what is the average labour costs per hour? You will find that normality is $ 90-$ 120. Visit a store pieces as AutoZone to check to see what is the cost of the part. You will be able to understand very quickly if the shop is right or not in their estimates.

Finally talk to the owner of the shop to repair yourself. Let's see if I'm honest and I will let you know if you can wait for a repair or if it is a necessary to fix now. I ended up doing a lot of research and in the end it was worth it. I took my first estimate of more than $ 1500 and found a repair shop that was right in the pricelists honest about the repairs that were urgent and I ended up cutting $ 1,100 bill. The next time I need a repair that I know where I'm going to go. If any of you live in the Denver area I did your homework for you all ready.








Visit to Pro Car Care in 2030 S Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80222 or call them at 303-756-6300.

Megan Martell owner to locate It online.


EBay Motors Australia


The Internet gives buyers of all sites of great things and on-line trading buy whatever is required by anyone, where necessary. It is possible for a person to buy products from all over the world today with the internet. And if there is any information needed by a person, the information required can be retrieved from the internet. And if you want to find information on cars in Australia, eBay Motors Australia is the site for you.

Visit eBay Motors Australia, you're sure to agree that this is really the best site of the vehicle for you to find information and buy and sell not only cars in Australia, but also parts of cars, motorcycles, boats, accessories and many more. There is no need to run all over Australia looking for part of your car for its repair. All you have to do is visit the site, eBay Motors Australia and you'll find it.

EBay Motors Australia is a site worth visiting to find great deals on numerous branded as Holden cars, Honda, Mitsubishi, BMW, Suzuki, Subaru, Nissan, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. All you have to do is visit the site and talk about the brand and model of car you're looking for. You will then be given a list of the vehicles probable, where you must bid for the vehicle you want.

EBay Motors Australia is the site to visit if you're looking for not only cars, but also a boat, motorcycle, dirt bike or camper can. You will find a wide variety of these vehicles and auto parts and accessories to complete your vehicle that you buy at eBay Motors Australia. There is no need to buy your vehicle from eBay Motors Australia if following the recommendations and guidelines of eBay.
If you are looking for your dream car or plan to sell your existing vehicle, then you should visit eBay Motors Australia where you will find many vehicles to choose from. You can find many types of cars, including Ford Falcon, Nissan Skyline, hatchbacks, sedans, sports cars and off-road vehicles. You can choose between the classic and rare automobiles dating back to the early 1900s and newer cars like mustang convertibles on eBay Motors Australia.

Look at the various vehicles on eBay Motors Australia, you're sure to find some car which has a starting price of $ 1. I don't think you can find a car for a price so low. The reason that the car is quoted at a low rate is to draw attention to it. It is very unlikely that you will get the car at the rate of $ 1.

Whatever the rate bid and get your car on eBay Motors in Australia, it is important that you first register on the eBay site. Registration is quick and easy where you must reveal only some of your information. Once registered, you can make as many offers as you like, how many vehicles do you like eBay Motors Australia.








Michael Gosford is editor-in-Chief of http://www.ebaycheckout.com.au , one of the most popular sites eBay Checkout of the web.


My sister In law and its amazing cars


My sister has had the same Subaru for several years. I teased her about getting a new car, but she refuses. Over the years has taken its share of damage from overuse, shopping cart parking random attacks and some minor fender Benders and after more than a decade, most people would have transferred something newerbut she clings tenaciously to his Subaru. I thought that there might be some sort of emotional attachment to the car, but it turns out that for her, is almost entirely practical. She loves the car because it has almost never broken.

You take care of it, following a regular tune ups and maintenance, but also with that, most of the cars would have an average amount of downtime. Not so with his Subaru. There was a problem that had pulled out of Commission for a couple of days, I believe that the alternator finally wore out, but that was easily repaired and she was back on the road in no time. For her, she sees no reason why you should get rid of a car that he played so well when you buy a new one could mean that you might end up with something that might seem more recently, but will go much longer in the store.

So she loves his Subaru, and respect for it. I have the feeling that when that car eventually give up the ghost, she will choose another Subaru.








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Senin, 11 April 2011

Should I buy a new or a used Toyota car or truck?


You have decided that Toyota is the brand of the vehicle for you. But maybe you're wondering what kind of Toyota-new or used? -You should buy. This article contains some information that will allow you to weigh up the pros and cons of buying new or used.

Toyota used cars: risk larger or largest savings?

Michelle Krebs, a writer for Cars.com, asserts that the current market has an abundance of used cars for sale. Because the supply is currently exceeds the demand, prices are falling. In many places, used Toyota selections are plentiful-eco-conscious shoppers can also find hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Camry at reduced rates. For many buyers, used cars or trucks are synonymous with a great selection at the lowest possible prices.

Used cars, however, can be a gamble. Some information about a used car or truck-like where the previous owner has pushed as he or she treated the vehicle, and if the vehicle was purchased used in the first place-they may not be available to the purchaser. Worse still, some car dealerships rehab cars that do not work well or have severe malfunctions that may occur later. These types of vehicles used are called "lemons", and no brand vehicle-Toyota, Subaru or Dodge is without its lemons.

Fortunately, reputable dealerships that Toyota have been hardening their requirements upon which used vehicles will or will not accept. Some used cars include warranties transferable factory that can be transported from one owner to the next. More importantly, a good dealership will always perform a thorough inspection and test drive any vehicles used slated to be sold on his lot. Still other dealers offer "certified pre-owned programs that involve more stringent requirements for used cars that can be sold.

Finally, cars and trucks can be a better value. Even when equipped with special characteristics, always cost less than their counterparts in new factory. Remember: a new car loses value the minute that is driven off the lot dealership.

New car Toyota: more money-less problems?

When buying a new Toyota car or truck, you are almost guaranteed some benefits. Firstly, the new vehicle should be relatively maintenance free – especially for the early years of ownership. Vehicle warranty cover often routine maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations, as well as the cost of the repairs or replacements. Guarantees can also cover vehicle related services, such as roadside assistance. .

You might have more information available on the new Toyota vehicle prices, too. The price of a car or truck is heavily dependent on its condition and mileage-two factors that are often completely independent of the vehicle brand and model. Conversely, information on new vehicles are readily available-prices in newspapers, the Toyota Web sites, or resources on the Internet auto-prices and the prices are pretty standard. If you are trying to negotiate a fair price on a new car, you're in a better position to ask for the lowest price available, because unlike mileage, used cars and wear are factors.

The biggest disadvantage of buying a new Toyota is this: a new vehicle is an investment larger and depreciate the minute you start driving. Depreciation of the vehicle is the exponential, as evidenced by the mathematical model of exponential decay, V = Voert. This model shows that in a period of 10 years, a vehicle will lose much of its value; for example, a new $ 20,000 worth of little more than three thousand dollars in 10 years.

Ultimately, consumers should chose the Toyota model and vehicle condition suitable for their individual lifestyles, needs and budget. The best way to shop for a vehicle is to take stock; draw up a list of what you are looking for a car or truck and then become as informed as possible about all options.








Toyota Greensburg, located in Pittsburgh, PA offers a wide selection of new Toyota and used by Toyota for sale, including the Toyota Prius, Camry, Avalon and Tundra. For more information, or to see if a vehicle is in stock, http://greensburgtoyota.com/visit.


Old cars price guide-the right price for the right features


You have come to the right place in search of an old cars price guide. Many collectors of antiques as you started their search for the list values in the same place. This type of help we will direct to value based on brand, model, year and condition of the vehicle in question. While this is a great piece of information, one must also take into account that it is necessary to be unbiased in your assessment of the condition of your car or truck in order to obtain an accurate value estimate.

Before you even start looking for a guide price of old cars, obviously first to make sure you can answer all questions necessary to find the information you seek. What is the make of your vehicle? This is a Ford, Chevy, GMC, Mercedes, BMW, KIA, Toyota, Saturn, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan, etc.? Then, more specifically, you need to know the model of your vehicle.

The model of your vehicle can be one of the many hundreds of possibilities. Chevrolet is famous for the manufacture of the Corvette, Cavalier, F150 and Corsica. If you have a Ford, might be a Camaro, Mustang, focus or Taurus. If foreign cars are more for you, you can own a Nissan Quest, or even an Altima. After knowing this information, you are still not ready.

It is also important to know the year of the model in question. Vehicles vary in form and function. A pick up can have two tanks and another of the same make and model, but a different year, can only have one. This is only an example of why it is important to know the exact year of the vehicle to search an old cars price guide, and not just a range in possible.

Knowing what features has your car or truck in question is also important. Has an eight-track tape, cd, cd-player? Or maybe he just an old-fashioned am/fm radio! One must also know if the characteristics of the vehicle has now are the characteristics that were original to the production of the vehicle. Otherwise, the car or truck in question will not be the same value.

In addition, it will not be the same value if the vehicle in question is not in the original pristine condition. If the vehicle is fitted with rust or mechanical or motor problems, you've missed a lot of value out of the top. New buyers will be interested in looking inside the vehicle. Cigarette burns, stains or any bad smell will depreciate your vehicle and make it more difficult to sell at a price.

It may be possible for you to make some repairs to the vehicle alone so you will not lose money when compared to the value indicated in the price of old car. We wish you good luck in your search and your car collection or sale of company!








Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. For more information about old cars price guide [http://carsofyesteryear.info/old-car-price-guide-right-price-for-right-features], please visit Cars of Yesteryear [http://carsofyesteryear.info] for current articles and discussions.


Getting cheap Auto insurance often depends on which car you Drive


If your thinking of buying a new car, insurance Economics should be one of the factors that you consider. Annual insurance premiums are one of the most significant operational costs, so if you want to keep these costs to a minimum, choosing the right car is important.

Insurance companies come to insurance rates using reams and reams of stats that analyse things like the number of accidents, the costs associated with such incidents, the age of the driver, the location of the driver, etc ... and what kind of vehicles are involved in such incidents. From these statistics may determine what types of cars are more or less likely to be involved in insurance claims and will follow their premiums on the basis of this analysis.

According to InsWeb, one of the leading online insurance citing web sites, the least expensive 2010 vehicles to insure top 10 are:

Kia Sedona
Mazda Mazda5
Ford Escape
Hyundai Santa Fe
Mercury Mariner
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Ford Explorer
Subaru Outback
Kia Optima
Chevrolet Equinox

On the contrary, are the most expensive models 2010 to ensure:

Acura ZDX

Audi TTS
Audi A5
Cadillac Escalade
Chevrolet Corvette
BMW Z4
Lexus SC
Jaguar XF
Cadillac STS
Dodge Challenger

Of course, the first thing that jumps out at you from these lists is that the more expensive than a vehicle is less likely you are to get cheap auto insurance. Most of the vehicles in the most expensive to insure list costs more than $ 40,000, but then, if you can afford the car you should be able to afford insurance.

Besides the cost of car insurance is influenced by several factors.

1-Loss history reflects the involvement of a specific model in insurance claims. Of course that is not the model itself that causes accidents but the driver. However, some cars attract certain higher-risk drivers. It is not difficult to understand why would high performance vehicles on the most expensive to insure list. Similarly, the cars cheaper not always do the least expensive to insure the list because they tend to attract the young, the first time the owners, who carry a higher risk profile.

Repair costs 2-is just cheaper to repair some models than others. Parts availability and the price is an important consideration. Notice how many of the expensive to ensure cars are high-end imports.

Features of 3-security-cars that come with a lot of security features like airbags and vehicle stability control will have reduced claims from serious injury.

4-Security features-vehicles with good alarms or vehicle location devices are less likely to be stolen.

So if you get cheap car insurance is an important element in your car buying process, be sure to review the lists mentioned above and shop accordingly. However, remember that these lists are always changing, so make sure you're looking for updated information.








You will find the most useful information on cheap auto insurance to The Cheap autoinsurance Areas


Force change in the automotive industry


It's time for you, the average consumer to take a stand!

Fellow consumers, for years we have been taken to the cleaners by the automotive industry: it's time for us to demand change in the quality of the product and how the industry does business! As consumers, we need to push the industry to change course and give us the best product and service may or let them die-let them go bankrupt! If only a few American companies could get survive-they could finally understand that Americans deserve and expect more.

Don't be fooled by the stories of bad economy and poor sales! U.s. auto industry has done this to ourselves!

I'm not saying that there is a bad economy, but have been on this road to destruction for a long time. I used to work in an Oldsmobile, Subaru dealership in 1986 we sold all models from both manufacturers, let me quote two models from the 80 's to make my point.

1) Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra wagon came with a 4-cylinder engine, air conditioning, radio, power steering, brakes, A.M., the approximate retail price was 10 k and 11 k.

2) Subaru GL wagon came with 4-cylinder engine, air conditioning, F.M. stereo, servo steering, power brakes, 4WD, electric Windows, power locks, split rear seats, rear defrost, front seats with multi position tiltracks, and more: the approximate retail price was 10 k and 11 k.

The children had a reputation for having great problems with engine and often would not have survived more than 100,000. Conversely, the Subaru was well known to survive 200,000 km plus with small engine problems. In addition, there was a huge difference in the characteristics of standard comfort for the same price-we sold Subaru at a rate of 40 to 1 compared to the toddlers.

The automotive industry of the United States continued down that path for several years, while the price of vehicles has increased drastically started to use financing tactics to sell their products below. The inevitable happened and many of the vehicles sold last but not least, the term of loans without major repairs and the resale value of a vehicle according to the U.S. was poor, so you may not exchange them without going backward financially.

Around 1990 car factory in the U.S. began to take heed, have produced some of best quality vehicles and kept prices stable. Unfortunately, along with the best quality product came a remarkable increase in the costs. So, repair bills began to rocket and continued to stay behind foreign competitors and their technology. Around 2000 it seemed that we went down new quality Department, around 2005 we started to get some, but I think it was too little and a little too late.

In 2008, Ford Motor Company has had an advertising campaign on stating that now they had cars with quality equivalent to Toyota. I don't know about you, but if I owned a Ford would feel as "great, Oh!" so I bought before 2008 Ford was certainly less

U.S. automakers sponsoring teams ran at a cost of millions of dollars a year: still grossly overpay their leaders: they are wildly exaggerated Union worker compensation: and yet, after at least two decades of foreign competitors nipping at their heels, there are still so far behind in technology and quality. Frankly, I don't understand why!

Now, after years of lower, upper, repair invoices, payments executives must have exuberant unions to work in plants, they put their hands out to the taxpayer because it printed? There should be no doubt about the answer: a resounding NO!

Thank you Mr Ford to make the model t and further, ushering in the industrial age, thank you U.S. auto production for the supply of good work for so many years: but you're a business after all, and must hold for do or die like the rest of the world of business!

I'm not arguing that Americans should buy foreign products-especially in our current economic crisis! However, most of the working group that the u.s. public has a limited amount of money for the purchase of the car that needs to use that limited quantity wisely. With past and current conditions of the highest quality of automobile industry, better comfort, more options for the same price suggests that foreign car manufacturers provide "more bang for the buck".

(By the way, I own two vehicles, one that I'm not satisfied at all and the other has so far * crossing fingers * been fantastic.)








My name is Christian Gillman, I worked in various fields of the automotive industry, including cars for sale, foreclosures, Auto Transport, car detailing, I saw the best and worst and I'm more of a consumer advocate

If you liked my article then be sure to visit my website [http://www.dontbeapatsy.com] for more information about purchasing new and used car, the automobile industry.


Minggu, 10 April 2011

Hoods used for Jeep and Subaru


A cap or hood of your car is the lid that covers the engine and other mechanical parts which function next to it. Not only is a protective covering for these parts from dust, rain and other subjects, but also increases the aesthetic appearance of the car. Not only that, the shape of the hood has a direct impact on the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Many a builders have spent millions of dollars trying to come up with attractive caps that score in terms of aerodynamics of the vehicle as well. In short, a hood is a very important part of your car, both virtually as well as aesthetically.

A hood is part of the exterior of the vehicle and is usually made of the same material that the rest of the body is composed. It is hinged to the body of the car and can be raised every time access is required for the engine or any other electrical and mechanical parts of the car. Theres an old saying that goes like "the true measure of a car is known by what is under the hood", so is the hood that houses the most important part of the vehicle; the engine.

Normally would never arise the need to replace the hood of a car unless of course the car is involved in any accident or maybe the hood completely rust away due to negligence. In both cases, the repair is first and foremost before thinking of substitution. When it comes to replacement, although it is always appropriate to consider whether to go for a new or a used one, or perhaps an aftermarket hood.

Brand new car hoods cost a lot these days. The question is how can a sheet of metal printed to fit a car cost so much, but unfortunately that is the reality. When it comes to aftermarket hoods, you might come to good markets, but there are no guarantees, if they fit properly. I know that in the case of a friend of mine, an aftermarket hood used to initiate rocking on uneven surfaces, ultimately destroying the space where it was hinged to the body of the car. Now certainly do not want these things to a replacement hood.

Then there is the option of OEM hoods used. This is the original hoods that were used previously. Before ordering, you can match the specifications with the Jeep or Subaru cars and you can be sure that it fits perfectly.

An advantage with hoods used is that cost only one-third of what they are doing brand new ones. You will not only end up with the right side, but along the way to reduce costs as well. There is also doubt whether a cap last long or not. I mean, a hood is a sheet of metal, there are mechanical parts that will cease to work after a certain time. If you enter the car, buy and serve the purpose marvelously unless you decide to bang the car again.

When it comes to buying used auto parts, going online is the best option. In this way, you can select from numerous offerings to meet your needs as well as your budget. You also have the ability to compare prices before buying.

Whatever you decide, be sure to buy auto parts from shops are reputed only.








James Rodham
WOW Car Parts

James Rodham is the architect of at http://www.wowautoparts.cominformation


Small SUV-sporty and smart option


Current trends in the smaller SUVS include fuel efficiency, excellent interior space that competes with new vehicles larger standard sports cars and motor options and features luxurious upgraded to create incredible versatility. Offering the best of both worlds, many small SUV attract buyers with their appearance, as well as their ability to have a fuel at much lower prices.

Subaru Forester was named Motor Trend SUV of the year, but many other SUVS are quickly approaching and surpassing the characteristics of Subaru. The Forester is a vehicle of all-wheel-drive-only, and although many people like this option, others prefer the choice to switch back and forth between one and two-wheel drive if necessary. Offer seats that fold into the floor for extra storage. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are other small sport utility vehicles that are receiving rave reviews as well. A favorite in recent years, the Honda CR-V is competent in roominess, but lacks the option to upgrade engines and high noise levels have been reported. The Toyota RAV4 is designed for comfort and versatility. With the second row of seats that slide forward and out as an option for third in a row, this SUV boasts what can no longer find SUV. New small SUV scene, Mercedes Benz GLK Class and Audi Q5 are considered more luxurious, but have a slightly higher price.

Smaller sport utility vehicles have an abundance of features compared to the older model cars. Capacity in the smallest SUV is comfortable, which allows passengers to enjoy ample headroom and legroom. As mentioned earlier, several small sport utility vehicles are now seats offer the third row, but most agree that this space is best suited for children. Measures for both of these spaces are comparable between all top rated small SUV. Cargo space is excellent thanks to the option of folding seats, and a few small SUVS offer the possibility to remove the second row of seats. Because the fuel is at a high price today, these new hybrid vehicles are exceptional in terms of fuel efficiency. They offer performance SUV while using fuel at a rate of more standard cars. Saving money on gas so did small SUVS appealing to buyers.

Most small sport utility vehicles keep a range of rice between $ 19,000 and $ 30,000, depending on options chosen, updates or additional features included. Accessibility is one of the key points of most of these cars, because they offer greater fuel efficiency as well as low cost and maintenance. Focusing on current trends, many families, financial companies boast about the potential of these vehicles.

Many families and individuals keep older, larger SUVS because they are paid and treated as a lower cost to maintain. Ironically, the cost of maintenance of older vehicles, sport can be comparable to purchasing a new, smaller SUVS because of better fuel efficiency and pricing or payment options. Calculating a breakdown by month of repair costs against a payment of cars, many are surprised to find that the most recent, small SUVS are better options because of their fuel efficiency.








For more information about Small SUV, visit http://www.CarsOfAllSorts.com


Keep your tires Subaru in optimal conditions


After years of considerable use, you might find in your Subaru parts that require your attention. Those first among them are the tires. Lets face it, this is the case with every vehicle in the world. Tyre wear and that is a universal truth.

Tires are the point of contact between the vehicle and the road. Different kinds of road surfaces over the years leaving a significant effect on the gums and even timely maintenance can only stalled the need for replacements for some time. Tires lose their tread and their protection against insect bites. Recommended levels of tyres without tread create dangerous driving conditions, since there is lack of road-grip.

It is essential to keep a check on wear process of tire and do your bit to keep their condition. At any time, the depth of the tread on your tires car should be more than 32/4 of an inch. You can use a device to measure tread for this purpose is available in almost all car parts stores.

Among many tire maintenance practices, you can be sure that the air pressure in your tires is always maintained at recommended levels. Over-inflation, under-inflation can seriously damage tires. In addition to this it is necessary to keep a check on the process of checking your tires wear at regular intervals. You should also check whether the tires are correctly having an alignment done after every 6-8 months. In addition, you must practice tire rotation after regular intervals so that all the tires wear evenly.

These practices will definitely help, but what happens after that the process of wear years at least a couple of stalling?

Replacement of the tyre is a reality faced every motorist at a certain point in time. If the vehicle is approximately 6-8 years, you should seriously consider replacing your tires with those who have better tread. This does not mean that you need to buy new tires. New tires cost a lot and if there is an option to have decent tires with tread to one-third of those new, why not take.

It is a fact that after 6-8 years of use, you must replace the old tires. But how many years you would use the same vehicle? Can be more than 4-5 years. No more than that and you know that your vehicle could become a liability due to constant need for repairs and maintenance. In that case, why not go for used tires that will last for another 4-5 years, until the time you use your vehicle. Most people who use a vehicle of that age prefer going in the direction of "tyres", because it is a sensible and logical choice. Why spend a fortune on new tires when you do not use the vehicle for another 8 years.

In case your Subaru needs a spare tire, make sure tyres order from authorized stores only.

James Rodham
WOW Car Parts








James Rodham is the architect of at http://www.wowautoparts.cominformation


A history of buying cars-part 4-dealers

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You know, while researching the cars, I read a lot about dealing with car dealers. People generally have a negative attitude towards them and the whole car buying experience, and you can find tons of information on how to avoid their scams, how to lower the price, how to negotiate with them, what to tell them, etc, etc. An excellent website to inform yourself on all aspects of car buying is Car Buying Tips: (http://www.carbuyingtips.com/). Now with all the great info and details I learned from various sources, I still thought that generally the prevailing attitude is not realistic. I mean, you almost get a feeling that if you pay anything more than a factory price, you made a bad deal. You can certainly succeed in lowering the price apparently to a large extent, but it is the fact that the dealers have to make money too. Ok, sometimes just selling the car, e.g. to meet their projected numbers, is beneficial to them, and they might give away even the whole of their profit for that sake. But come on, I can consider such situation just a crazy luck, not my goal! Anyway, I think that the current craze about "beating" those prices down to the floor is just as unrealistic and aggressive as the dealer's craze to take as much money from you as possible.

However, after this buying experience, I lost pretty much any respect and sympathy for the dealers. And I will always advise anyone never to become one. Of course some of them were great examples of normal and pleasant behaviour, but unfortunately I must say that most of them have taken the activity of deceit and aggressiveness to such extent that for an honest and well meaning man the idea of going to a dealership must be repugnant. I very quickly got such a strong feeling of insecurity about everything I was told by them. I think everything was a lie, smaller or bigger. A lot of what I've heard I don't believe, and none of it I trust.

Here are some of the examples, more or less funny, from my recent experience:

Systematic approach

I enter a dealership, with the intention of exploring a car that really caught my attention simply by offering all of the basic features I wanted. So I wanted to see it, test drive it, and ask a couple of questions. So I ask the dealer: "I've read that the crash test scores for this model are not that good, most are graded 3 out of 5. Now, I know that there are different tests, and you can't judge simply by the grade. Do you know more details about those tests and the scores? What is tested exactly, and how did they score the cars?"

The answer was: "Yes, yes I know, the scores are not the best possible. I know. But you know -- what do they mean really? (And I'm thinking -- yes, that is exactly what I asked) You see, a grade of 3 is really not that bad. It's almost like 4. What is the difference? Almost nothing let me tell you. And also, all of that means something only in most severe crashes!!"

Well, no kidding!! What a thorough explanation. Now I understand and my worries are gone. And what a relief. So, if a car is simply parked on a lot, I shouldn't worry that it will suddenly open the hood and hit me right in the face!

Bonding

A question occurred to me about a car, and I decided to drop by a dealership to ask. My visit was about 10 minutes long -- of course we exchanged numbers, I got the brochure and usual stuff. Tomorrow morning, my cell phone rings, I answer and I get this:

- "Hey Michael, Jord here from the dealership." - "Hey Jord, how are you, what's up?" (I thought he might have just gotten some good used car) - "Nothing, nothing...just wanted to see how are you."

Huh... If this doesn't sound as a start of a beautiful friendship I don't know what does!

Then he goes on: - "So have you made a decision on which car you want?" - "No, not really, not yet. I told you I'll need some time, and I'm not rushing really." - "Ok, tell me, what's blocking it? Can I help?"

Man, of course you can! Go do something else instead of asking me questions...

Landing on all four whatever happens

I wasn't sure about a size of a trunk of one of the models, so on my visit to the dealerships I brought couple of boxes and a cart that I use often to see how they fit into the trunk. Now this was one of the smaller cars, so I wasn't sure about the trunk size. And I tell the dealer what I'd like to do and he says no problem. So I take out the stuff and he laughs:

- "C'mooon, how can you doubt it -- that will fit without a problem. Don't worry!!" - "Wait, wait, let me try, I know what I'm talking about."

And then I try, and he tries, but it doesn't go so easy -- the cart is a bit long and the boxes a bit high. Separately they go in no problem, but together, not that easy. Finally, he laughs again and remarks:

- "And you really thought ALL OF THAT will fit into this trunk??!!"

Wha...??

Get all the money you can

I receive a long talk describing how I should buy the replacement insurance. And the more expensive one ("better" in the jargon), which covers you for a longer time and gives you the value of the new car, rather the amount that you paid. Ok, that is a fine product. Now I also get a long description on how I should absolutely buy a VIN engraving package where they engrave the VIN on all windshields so that the thieves are less likely to steal it (they can't sell the windshields for parts). It's about $300. Well, I gave both of these things a good thought, but tomorrow I realized a simple thing: Why do I need two protections? If I get the replacement insurance, and if they are going to give me a new car if mine is stolen, why would I then protect it even more?? Damn, I should also probably buy two cars in case one is stolen after all.

And on top of that, I found on the internet that the engraving kit, very simple to use and apply, can be bought for mere $20.

Get all the money you can -- again

This one is well-known, and usually titled as a "dealer scam", but I decided I put it here anyways just as another example.

So I finally decide to buy the car and I arrive to the dealership at around 6:00pm. I expect the process to last about an hour. However, little thing here and there and I end up at the dealership for four hours. I think ok, nobody's fault, there are simply a lot of things to do and a lot of people to involve -- the dealer, finance guy, insurance girl, then the finance guy again, then the manager because there was an error, etc. So, I get the contract with all the figures there, and everything looks fine: all the figures match almost perfectly to mine that I calculated before. Except one thing -- $900 of loan life insurance. So I ask:

- "Why is it there? Is that mandatory?" - "Well, we made such an application to Company's Finance." - "Ok, but is it mandatory?" - "We could reapply and see what happens -- if you have life insurance elsewhere."

Now, you see, I am not too easy to confuse, but it was late and I didn't want to repeat the whole process again, so I'm thinking: "Ok, I'm going to think about it tomorrow." And I let it by. Now good thing was that I had the contract with me (I had to take it home for my wife to sign), so I wasn't too worried.

Anyhow, in the morning I realize that not only it is not mandatory to have the insurance and that I definitely do not need life insurance elsewhere, but another application without it will certainly go through. And, at that point I sincerely doubted that they need to make another application at all. So I get really angry and I go there and I get the exact same answer again. So I say:

- "Let's apply again; I am sure the application will go trough. I simply don't want it and I never wanted it and I never asked for it. And if it doesn't we'll see then what we do."

And she does the paperwork, and seeing me irritated, remarks: "Don't worry I'm sure it will go trough." Of course it will -- and it does.

Get on customer's side -- even if you overdo it

One of the dealers was affirming every little thing I said. It got funny and a bit annoying:

He thought that the features I wanted are absolutely the only important features in the car.

He was also in computer business just a few years ago.

The funniest was when we discussed payment options. He told me that leasing is a better option if I want to change the car every couple of years. So I say:

- "You know, I am more the other type of buyer, at least so far. I drive one car for years before I buy a new one, so I probably won't go with the lease." - "I understand, I completely understand. You know, the worst part of the auto business for me is that you simply have to change the car every 1-2 years. I hate that. If I wasn't selling cars, I would do the same as you."

Well, this really made me feel like home. C'mon guys, we just met and will probably never see each other again; don't do these things.

Advertise what you have

This one was not really on the negative side, it was just funny. I went to Subaru and dealers there were actually very cool. They were very cooperative, and without the aggressive edge. And they never called me to push or ask whether I've made a decision. They also have a great program where you can take the car for 24hr test drive. I had really a good experience with them.

Anyhow, I told this dealer that I know that their cars use specific technology in their engine that is different from all other cars, and that repairs can be expensive. And he says:

- "Yeah, it's so called Boxer engine where pistons are opposed horizontally instead of vertically. But we are not the only ones to use it... Porsche uses it -- you know Porsche Boxster. ... And some smaller planes."

Well, that much for the affordable repairs...

Then he also added that it's an old technology that has been well perfected so far and that I shouldn't worry really, which was a bit more reassuring.

Always fish for customer's weak spots -- even in the dark Honda was giving rebate and they advertised it everywhere: that was very important sales pitch. Now I come to a dealership, and one of the first things the guy tells me is: "You know, I'll tell you one thing: we will give you a good rebate, and it's Honda's rebate but most of the dealers won't even mention it."

He made it as if he is letting me know a secret, and not only that it isn't, but it's all over radio, their website, everywhere. But I might have been uninformed and careless and would think that I'm getting a special deal.

Lie like there's no tomorrow and hope you don't get caught

I was quite close to buying a car so I called some dealerships inquiring whether they have a certain model and the color on the lot. I told them I don't want the car to be brought from some other dealership. I want to see the car and get the one I saw. This is because I don't want to get into whole new set of issues and questions. For example, one dealer told me that they charge extra delivery fee if they bring the car from other dealership, which is by the way ridiculous and perhaps deserves story on its own. It can also happen that the car that arrives is different in some detail than what you wanted, and you already signed the papers. Etc.

So I made sure they know what I want, and then came to one of the dealerships. We chat a bit and then I say:

- "So let me see the car." - "Oh, I was afraid you were gonna ask me that. I really don't know exactly where the car is."

I laugh: "But I told you I want to see the car before I buy it."

- "Oh, don't worry -- it's here, I'm just not sure where." - "Ok, I'll go outside and look for it." - "But our lots are really big." - "I don't mind, I have the time." - "But they are not really all here -- we have two lots a few blocks away."

I just don't like arguing that much -- in cases like these I give up and simply walk away.

A good guy

The positive highlight was a young dealer for which I could quickly tell that he is not (yet) turned his abilities into a deceitful routine -- he even gets confused a bit when I ask him a stupid question. To me that is the normal reaction. And when I asked him what he drives, he said: "an old Volvo, you know it's a really good car." I am really sorry that cars he was selling were not suitable for me -- I would have been very happy to buy one from him. And I didn't even feel like negotiating with him at all.








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Michael Thornessen is a typical car buyer that has recently spent some substantial time and effort researching the auto market. Michael writes for Cheap Gasoline dot biz. See this article at http://cheapgasoline.biz/page.cfm/id/10133