Archive for October, 2009
Cars Are Investments In Times Of Crisis
As most of you know just by looking at any of your used car dealerships that the prices of different types of vehicles fluctuate. During times of high gas prices all of the large vehicles such as pickup trucks have been discounted while the compacts and hatchbacks have been marked up. If you’re in the market for a truck it’s the perfect time but if you’re looking for a compact it might be rough.
There are ways that we can take advantage of these economic situations though. If you’ve currently got a compact vehicle it might be the perfect time to sell to a private seller of course. If you try to trade your vehicle in you’ll probably get what they used to be worth so stay away from the dealers for selling. After your sale once you have some cash in your hand go ahead and browse the dealerships. You’ll find that you’ve got a ton of bartering power with cash instead of a trade in. Also don’t disclose exactly how much cash you have available keep some tricks in the bag.
If you’ve considered getting a slightly larger vehicle like a crossover this would be the best situation. The 6 and 8cylinder vehicles are extremely cheap! Don’t get yourself into it unless you know you can afford the gas for now. As we all know gas prices typically go back down after a few months.
This plan is not 100 fool proof but it can help save you thousands of dollars on your next car purchase. Think smart and play your cars right and you’ll come out with a great deal on a new vehicle.
About the writer: Mike Ford runs an automotive dealer directory that provides car dealer reviews and ratings for thousands of dealers around the country. Browse your local auto dealers by going to Auto Sales Dealers AutoSaleSeek.com
Car Repair Tips To Avoid Trouble
The more you notice about your vehicle the more likely you will be able to head off repair problems. Is there a little stain or a drop of fluid under your vehicle? It may mean absolutely nothing. But you do want to check the wet spots immediately just to make sure.
What color is the fluid under your car? Yellowish green pretty blue or neon orange colors indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a bad hose water pump or leaking radiator. A dark brown or black oily fluid means the engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could cause the leak. This is how many cars meet their demise.
A red oily looking spot indicates a transmission or power steering fluid leak.
A puddle of clear water usually is not a cause for concern. It may be normal condensation from your vehicles air conditioner. Do you smell burned toast? This odor often signals an electrical short and burning insulation. Have someone come look at your car. Dont drive it anywhere until the problem is diagnosed.
How about the smell of rotten eggs? This usually indicates a problem in the catalytic converter. Get to a repair shop!
A thick sharp odor usually means burning oil. Look for the sign of a leak. This problem needs to be addressed immediately if having transportation is important to you. You may also notice a bluish smoke coming from your vehicle.
The smell of gas after a failed start may mean the engine is flooded. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the odor continues there may be a leak in the fuel system a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
A chemical odor may mean overheated brakes or clutch. Check the parking brake. Stop and let the brakes cool after repeated hard braking. Light smoke coming from a wheel indicates a stuck brake. Call a tow truck.
Do you notice a sweet odor? This may indicate a coolant leak. Watch your temperature gauge and warning light and drive to a repair shop. Now if you see steam from under the hood stop and pull over. If you keep driving an overheated vehicle your engine will be seriously damaged. Call a tow truck.
The basic rule of smell is that if you do notice an unusual odor get to a mechanic or get one to come to you. A little extra attention to what is coming out of your car or truck could save you the cost of a new vehicle payment! Keep those eyes and that nose on the job!
About the writer: For further advice on your vehicle or for premium car repair please visit our site.
Car Buying From A Dealer
Have you ever heard that you don’t want to go to a car dealership? All though most of us hate to go to the car dealerships to purchase a car we often find ourselves ending up at one. For the most part we feel we are getting a better deal than going to some person we don’t know or an auction where we can’t test drive the vehicle. There are many tips that can help you get through the car buying process with a car dealer that you may feel help you the next time you purchase a new or used car.
When purchasing from a dealer you have to know about the car. In other words do your research. Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and learn the facts about the car. Is the car going to be road safe? What might the dealer not want to tell you about that particular car in order to make a sale?
You will also want to check out Kelly Blue Book or some other consumer report where you will learn the retail value the used retail value from a car dealership or private sale and what the car is really worth. The details that are given are based on the condition amenities that come with the car and the year of the vehicle. Armed with this data you have a better negotiation stand with the car dealership.
You also want to know where you stand on your FICO credit scores. Not everyone is honest when it comes to these numbers. To make a sale they may tell you your numbers are low. If you have the scores in front of you you can make a stand and ask to see where they pulled their numbers. A car dealership also uses a risk number that is determined by more than just the FICO score. This number will tell them the likelihood of your not making payments regarding a loan or getting into an accident. Your credit scores are going to be important to the negotiations as well.
You should also ask to see the carfax report. Carfax is a report put out on your vehicle vin number. In other words the maintenance schedule accident reports and other things that a vehicle may go through are reported to carfax and available to consumers. In fact you can find out how many previous owners there were for the used car you are interested in. The dealership must show you this paper if you ask for it. It is another line of defense to make sure the dealership is being honest about the cars mechanical state.
Don’t buy into the salesman line. They have several different sentences that are supposed to pressure you into taking the sale right then such as ‘This is such a hot deal you know it won’t be here tomorrow or I have five other people interested in this car’. There are many lines and you should establish that you are in control during the negotiations not the salesperson.
About the writer: Mark Robinson writes for AutoLoans.GuideFin.com. Visit his website for information about used car loans.