May 8th, 2008 by Hal Moses
It can be difficult to decide if you should buy or lease a vehicle. There are more things to consider than just their car budget. Most often, leasing ends up costing less money, but in the long run the motorist has no equity. Consider these important factors when making your decision.
The most obvious thing to consider is the cost. There are four factors to think about. They are the length of the lease, the monthly payments, the restrictions on the mileage, and the down payment. You could end up with large fines if your mileage exceeds the restrictions. In addition, if you keep the lease for over three years, replacing tires and other maintenance costs will be up to you.
You also have to pay close attention to your budget. If you are thinking short term, leases are generally less expensive because of the lack of a down payment and the low monthly costs. However, purchasing a vehicle that you plan on keeping for ten years ends up being less expensive than leasing. This is making the assumption that you have an auto warranty that will save you from paying unnecessary expenses. Motorists who enjoy having a new vehicle every three years would benefit from leasing.
Also, consider if you have any changes coming up in your life. If you are going to be moving far away or beginning a family, leasing is the way to go. This gives you a lot of flexibility.
Consider all of these things to make an educated decision on buying or leasing. Just keep in mind that whenever you buy you want to make sure you are covered by an auto warranty to keep you from paying unnecessary repair expenses.
May 8th, 2008 by Hal Moses
If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it. The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it. In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report. This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at. Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.
Determine if the car has had many owners. You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of. Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.
Also, consider the location that the car has been in. This is important because some climates are harsher on cars. For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads. Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.
Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at. This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.
A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car. Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy. You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs. An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.
May 8th, 2008 by Hal Moses
There is no vehicle quite as exhilarating as a convertible. Motorists love to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces. Convertibles give drivers a sense of freedom that is hard to find in any other vehicle. However, are convertibles a good purchase? Read on and decide for yourself.
Automakers have spent a lot of time improving convertibles. Motorists used to have to worry about retractable tops leaking, but that is a thing of the past. Today, convertible tops are superb at sealing out weather and sound. And whether fabric or metal, the tops can go up and down with the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds.
Convertible safety has also greatly improved. Cars are now equipped with side airbags. These airbags deploy from the line of the window in order to create protection. This is important in the case of a crash or rollover.
Although the convertible market hasn’t been growing, there are many interesting choices for consumers to consider. Models that are newer, such as the Volkswagen Eos and Saturn Sky have been doing well in sales. You might also want to consider a high-performance convertible, such as the Dodge Viper SRT10, Audi RS 4 Cabriolet, or the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. The benefit of buying a new convertible is that it comes with an auto warranty.
Unfortunately, many convertible owners admit that the novelty of driving a convertible wears off within the first year. Luckily, convertibles hold their value very well, which means that if you become fickle, you probably won’t have a hard time getting your money back.
May 6th, 2008 by Hal Moses
You might find that your car has become a mess from kids, pets, friends, etc. But how are you supposed to keep it clean with kids spitting up and people having four-course meals in your backseat? Let’s face it; it can be hard. However, here are some tips to help you get started.
You might want to insist that whatever people bring in the car they have to take it out. This means that kids should be responsible for the cups, stuffed animals, books, etc. Also, you could limit them to only bringing one item each car ride.
Keep a trash bag from the kitchen in your vehicle. This comes in handy for trash, or for dirty wet clothes. You can have your oldest child be in charge of the trash bag.
For toddlers, purchase spill proof snack bowls and cups. You can buy a “snack trapâ€, which keeps Cheerios from spilling all over your floor.
Keep toothpaste in your glove compartment. This can save you from a stain on your upholstery. Just rub gently on lipstick or ketchup stains to remove stains.
Purchase some rubber mats to go on top of your carpet. If you don’t want to spend the extra money you can even turn your carpet mats upside down to reveal the rubber side.
It’s never easy to keep your car clean when you have a busy lifestyle, however, these tips will help. Don’t just purchase an auto warranty to maintain your car, put a little bit of work into cleaning the interior.
May 6th, 2008 by Hal Moses
An extended auto warranty is a great way to bring a motorist peace of mind. In the event of a breakdown you don’t want to end up paying unnecessary repair costs. Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your auto warranty.
You need to know who is offering the auto warranty. Is it an after-market company or the auto manufacturer? Know who is underwriting on the policy. You don’t want to wait until your car breaks down to find this out.
Read the auto warranty in its entirety to find out what coverage is included and for how long. Keep in mind that time conditions and mileage in the auto warranty could be different for varying systems of your car.
Make sure you know the maintenance that you are responsible for keeping up with. You have to do certain things for the auto warranty to be valid. Also, keep records of the work you had done on your car because this will be necessary in the case of a claim.
An extended auto warranty will bring you peace of mind, but you need to be clear on the terms of it to get the most out of it. Make sure to get maintenance when it required in the terms of the auto warranty.
May 5th, 2008 by Hal Moses
Well, it is obvious that hybrids are the wave of the future. Gas prices are staying over $3 per gallon and the price of oil is approximately $100 per barrel. Motorists are spending a lot of money on maintenance, new car warranties and financing, and need to save on fuel costs. So, is it worth it to buy a hybrid to save money at the gas pump? Let’s take a look.
To see how long it will take you to recoup your premium up-front, we can compare the Toyota Camry Hybrid to a typical Camry. Because of the equipment level of the hybrid, however, it is necessary to compare it to the V-6 Camry LE. The base prices of the cars are only $2,000 apart. The Hybrid is $25,000 and the Camry V6 LE is $23,640.
According to Toyota, the Camry Hybrid gets 33mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway. The Camry V6, however, gets 21mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway.
If you were to drive 15,000 miles in a year you will use about 454 gallons. With the V6 LE you will burn approximately 635 gallons in a year. If gas costs $3.20 per gallon, you will have a fuel cost savings of approximately $547 per year. This means that you would recoup the premium up-front that you spent to purchase the hybrid.
In this comparison you can see that in the long run you will end up saving with a hybrid. In addition, you get the satisfaction of doing a service to your planet.
May 5th, 2008 by Hal Moses
Most vehicles today have ABS, or Antilock brakes. You’ve probably heard about these brakes but may not know what they are. ABS is a safety feature that detects if one of the wheels is going to lock up in your vehicle. In this case the hydraulic pressure of that wheel is controlled, similar to when you pump the brake. This helps you keep control of the vehicle.
If you haven’t used ABS before you might notice some new things. For instance, when ABS is activated you may feel that the brake pedal feels hard, which is normal. Also, you might feel pulsating under your foot, which is also normal. In addition, you might notice a noise similar to that of a motorboat engine, again normal.
When driving with ABS make sure you still leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you. Don’t think you will be able to stop on a dime. Also, it is important not to pump the brake, but apply pressure that is firm and strong.
Follow these tips and you will adjust to ABS just fine. In addition, you will feel an added sense of security on the road. However, as with any new technology, there are bugs to work out, so protect yourself with an auto warranty.
May 5th, 2008 by Hal Moses
If you’re looking for an affordable car that will give you a lot of bang for your buck, consider the Honda Fit. It has a versatile, perky performance and is one of the coolest hatchbacks to date. At a base price of $13,950 complete with an auto warranty, this car delivers
The Fit has a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine putting out 109hp with 105 lb-ft of torque. This vehicle can be equipped with a manual 5-speed transmission, with sport paddle shifters, which you can use with the automatic transmission on sport mode. The fit will go from 0-60mph in 9 seconds.
The Honda Fit sports a functional and refined exterior. It has a sloping nose with a slightly rounded hood, giving it a modern flair. The Fit uses simplicity to its advantage and isn’t overzealous like others in its class. It is a simple, clean looking hatchback.
The cockpit of the vehicle is sophisticated, convenient and comfortable. It has superior color matching with accents placed strategically to complement its décor. Surprisingly, this car also has ample storage room because of its brilliant ability for different seat arrangements.
All in all, the Honda Fit is a winner. You can’t beat the price of just under $14,000 complete with an auto warranty, and you are getting some fantastic features. Honda doesn’t disappoint.
May 4th, 2008 by Hal Moses
Every day people are asking dealership service departments, “Isn’t that covered under my auto warranty?†A lot of drivers assume that an auto warranty allows for repairs regardless of such things as maintenance requirements, environmental conditions, and vehicle mileage.
An auto warranty is an agreement you make with the manufacturer of the car. As the warranty purchaser, you are responsible for following specific maintenance requirements. Only if you perform the maintenance, is the manufacturer obligated to have repairs done.
Because of questionable practices that dealers have performed in the past, car manufacturers scrutinize every auto warranty claim. Consumers often interpret this as an effort to get out of paying for repair costs. However, the reality is that the repair might not qualify under the terms of the auto warranty. This could be due to things such as, vehicle abuse, expiration, or parts that aren’t covered under the agreement.
Buyers need to be extra careful and read their auto warranty thoroughly. Make sure to fulfill your side of the deal in order to have the manufacturer fulfill their side.
May 4th, 2008 by Hal Moses
If you are thinking of selling your car you need to make a proper assessment of your vehicle. Sometimes it can be hard to see your vehicle the ways others see it, because you have a special connection to it. Here are some tips to help you.
Some car owners trick themselves into believing that their car is worth more than it really is. People are convinced that their car is in excellent condition when it actually has a lot of where and tear. Even if you have an auto warranty and have tried to keep your vehicle maintained, know that it is a used car and it isn’t as fresh as when you bought it. When you are trying to sell a used vehicle its condition is the most important thing, so assess it honestly.
It is best to give an honest disclosure as to your cars true condition. In most cases you don’t need to go to a body shop to get your car looking perfect. People know they are buying a used car and don’t usually want to spend the extra money on a perfect body. The best thing that you can do is to take your car to get a wash and wax. This is equivalent to a houses curb appeal. This will make your car look its best without spending a fortune.
If you are trying to sell your car make sure you make an honest assessment of your vehicle. You don’t want to hold onto a vehicle waiting for money if your never going to get it.
It can be difficult to decide if you should buy or lease a vehicle. There are more things to consider than just their car budget. Most often, leasing ends up costing less money, but in the long run the motorist has no equity. Consider these important factors when making your decision.
