April 30th, 2009 admin
Common Mistakes Car Buyers Make
Automakers, desperate to sell their inventories, have begun offering attractive incentives to lure prospective buyers. But, finding an automotive bargain can still prove elusive. Car dealerships can easily confound buyers and secretly hide pockets of profit. For the unwary, a trip to the auto dealer may begin as a bargain-hunting expedition, but end up as an expensive lesson in car shopping.
In this article, I’ll give you three important tips that you should use when shopping for your next vehicle. These tips will help you save money, save time, and negotiate objectively to get the best deal.
#1 – Set Your Emotions Aside
You visit the dealership lot and your eyes settle longingly on the gorgeous red automobile gracing the nearby pavement. You must have it, no matter the price. Slow down and take a breath. Buying a vehicle is a substantial investment. Unless you’re paying cash, you’ll be making monthly payments for several years. Will you feel the same way about the car three or four years down the road? Or, are you merely suffering from love at first sight?
#2 – Keep The Numbers Separate
If you’re hoping to trade-in your clunker to have the value applied to your new automobile, be careful. When it comes to numbers and amortization schedules, the dealer’s salesperson is king. Too often, prospective buyers will blend the negotiations. Predictably, the salesperson will offer what seems to be an incredibly generous amount on the trade-in. The buyer, reeling from his good fortune, practically falls into the seat of his new vehicle. Unknown to him or her, the dealer’s profit is built into the monthly payments.
Negotiate the transactions separately. Begin with cementing the price of your new automobile. Then, work on the value of your trade-in. That way, you’ll know whether you’re truly getting a good deal (on both transactions) or if you’re being taken around the block.
#3 – Shorten The Financing Terms
One of the strategies that auto dealerships are using in order to entice people into buying new vehicles is offering a 7-year loan. At first, it sounds great; a longer loan means lower monthly payments. The truth is, longer financing terms translate into a higher cost for you and more profit for the dealer. In other words, they’re not offering it to be nice.
If possible, say no to the extra long loan. Instead, opt for shorter terms that allow you to pay off the loan more quickly. You’ll pay less interest and when the time comes to sell your car, you won’t find yourself owing more than it’s worth.
Even though the car-buying landscape has shifted in favor of the buyer, you should still be wary of making a purchase decision too quickly. Remember, set your emotions aside, keep your trade-in negotiation separate, and avoid the extra long financing. By the time you leave the dealership lot, you’ll be confident that you weren’t taken for a ride.
Muscle Cars
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April 21st, 2009 admin
The Push Toward The Electric Car
Television news programs, newspapers, and magazines constantly extol the advantages of driving a battery-powered automobile. The coverage is having an effect on the auto buying public. Last year, when gas prices skyrocketed, motorists flocked to their dealerships to inspect the latest electric vehicles (EVs).
But, all is not as it seems. Even as consumer polls suggest that the public has made a mass migration to EVs, our highways and city streets tell a markedly different story. Battery-powered cars are seldom seen. What’s more, automakers and dealerships report that over 95% of sales are comprised of cars with gas (and sometimes, diesel) engines.
In this article, I’ll explain the obstacles that EVs must overcome in order to dominate our highways. I’ll also describe one sector of the auto industry that will likely remain a permanent fixture of our culture.
The High Price Of Going Electric
Hybrids are priced higher than their gas-powered brethren. Recent polls organized by J.D. Power and Associates suggest that nearly half of motorists would be willing to absorb a higher price if the difference was only a few thousand dollars. Unfortunately, the difference is often much greater.
Families that are considering larger vehicles often have to choose between a gas-powered engine or a hybrid costing $15,000 more. Further, those people who need extra towing capacity are often confronted with the same dilemma.
Car Parts And Maintenance Costs
Mechanics report that automobiles with battery-powered engines are more complicated than conventional vehicles. Aside from oil changes and other low-maintenance jobs, they’re harder to work on. Also, not only do EVs require specialized training to fix, but the parts are often more expensive to replace.
During the first few years of ownership, when the vehicle is fully covered by a warranty, these issues are less relevant. However, auto parts fail over time due to wear and tear. Down the road, replacing those parts – not to mention the labor involved – can carry a hefty price.
The Death Of The Muscle Car?
Electric vehicles are fuel-efficient and more friendly to the environment. However, it’s unlikely their engines will ever be able to match the raw power and intensity of a muscle car. Automobile enthusiasts take great pride in their performance cars. Their engines may guzzle fuel, but the sound and sensation of their roar are a time-honored part of our automotive culture. They will not be easily replaced by a fuel-efficient electric engine.
There is no doubt that the car-buying public is becoming more open to the idea of driving an electric-powered vehicle. The cost advantages and environmental friendliness of EVs make our eventual adoption of them a forgone conclusion. But, there are obstacles to overcome. Until prices come down further, and parts and maintenance costs level, drivers will continue voting with their dollars for gas-powered vehicles.
Muscle Cars
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April 16th, 2009 admin
How To Detail Your Car’s Interior
It’s easy to become so immersed into your daily life that cleaning the inside of your vehicle is demoted lower and lower on your “to do” list. Eventually, the dirt, debris, and grime (not to mention a few fast food wrappers) accumulate to the point that your friends refuse to get in. Fortunately, detailing your car’s interior is simple with a little preparation.
This article will give you an easy-to-follow blueprint for making the inside of your vehicle look practically new. Whether you’re cleaning it for personal satisfaction or because you’re planning to sell it, the following 3 steps will put a new shine on the interior.
Step 1: Remove The Junk
You might be surprised by the items which are stuck into the nooks and crannies of your vehicle. This is especially true if you have young children. Besides your own shopping receipts, wrappers, and errant paperwork, you’ll discover toys and trinkets buried under your car seats.
Take everything out. Depending on the disarray, you may even want to wear gloves. After all, if you find food that has been driven into the carpet, you’ll want to protect your hands. Plus, while you’re digging around in the dark crevices, you may have to deal with paper cuts and other annoyances.
Step 2: Get Out The Vacuum
Once you’ve removed the junk from your car’s interior, it’s time to let your vacuum do its job. Put one of the brush attachments on the nozzle so you can break loose some of the debris. Just like washing the exterior, start high and work down. Begin on the surface of the dash before moving down to the gauges. And don’t forget the panels of the doors before vacuuming the seats. Finally, remove the floor mats before turning your vacuum onto the carpet.
When you’ve finished vacuuming, use a damp cloth to wipe the dash, console, steering wheel, and doors. Chances are, the vacuum will have kicked up a bit of dust.
Step 3: Clean The Surfaces
Applying a little polish and wax can give the surfaces a new look and feel. You can use an off-the-shelf polish like Pledge. Or, visit your local auto supply shop to pick up a polish and wax combo (anything sold by Mother is a good choice).
You’ll notice that despite having vacuumed the surfaces, dust still remains in the corners. You can dislodge it by spraying a soft toothbrush or thin paintbrush with polish. Lastly, use Windex on your vehicle’s windows. Your auto supply store will have a number of window cleaning products, but Windex is inexpensive and effective.
Detailing your car’s interior isn’t hard or complicated. It’s merely a matter of setting aside the time and going about the process methodically. Follow the 3 steps above to help the inside of your vehicle regain its vibrancy and attractiveness.
Muscle Cars
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