May 21st, 2011 by Hal Moses
It can be quite a challenge to find a handicap-accessible vehicle to suit your needs. Also, it can be nearly impossible to sort through newspapers and services online. This is why Rick Shutes started HandicapAutoTrader.com. He wanted to help people who are disabled to find suitable vehicles.
HandicapAutoTrader.com is great for buyers and sellers. People who want to buy can search available vehicles at no cost, and contact the website’s staff conveniently through email or phone. Sellers are able to list their cars, with an addition of three images for free.
This website allows consumers to search cars according to the features that they desire. In addition, you can search by categories, such as model, make, year, etc. Also convenient is the feature, “Easy Compare Vehiclesâ€. This lets people compare vehicles side-by-side to get the features and price that they want.
As with any vehicle purchase, it is necessary to do your homework. Make sure to research vehicles, used car warranties, and auto loans before deciding anything. This will allow you to get the best deals.
May 19th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Probably at one time or another you have been told that you need new shocks and (or) struts. After being quoted a large price, you might find yourself thinking, “Can I get away without replacing them?
Your shocks and struts serve two functions in your car. Some vehicles only have struts, and some only have shocks. Their purpose is to dampen the oscillation of springs and assist in ride control.
If your shocks and/or struts are worn, your suspension parts and tires will wear out sooner. This is why it is important to take your vehicle in for preventative checkups. It is a good idea to have your mechanic look at them every time you get an oil change.
There are several warning signs that might tell you it is time to replace your shocks/struts. First, you might notice leaks on the housing or dents on the strut body. Also, you might see high and low worn spots on your tires and pitted piston rods. Finally, you may have rubber bumpers that are crushed from bottoming out.
Make sure you don’t cut corners when dealing with your shocks/struts. It is essential that these parts function correctly for handling and cornering, otherwise you might find yourself calling for emergency roadside assistance. Also, make sure to protect yourself with used car warranties.
May 5th, 2011 by Hal Moses
There’s no way to get around the fact that vehicles experience damage, often irrevocably, everyday in America. According to recent data, last year, approximately 1.3 million cars were tagged as damaged, either because of accidents or severe weather. When damage such as this occurs, it is required that the car’s official title be “branded†as Lemon, Salvaged, Flood, etc, in order for used car shoppers to be protected from buying a poor product.
However, it is predicted that at least 15% of the damaged cars, or a total of 185,000, have gotten new titles in other states that don’t include the offending “brandâ€. This sort of “title-washing†leaves buyers in the dark, and causes them to purchase vehicles that they otherwise wouldn’t have considered. This is leading to a high level of unsafe vehicles on the road that often requires emergency roadside assistance.
Of course it is no secret that there can be pitfalls to purchasing a pre-owned car. Unfortunately, consumers can inherit other people’s car problems. This is why it is important to do your homework before buying a used car and always access vehicle records online. In addition, you should purchase used car warranties to protect your wallet.
April 29th, 2011 by Hal Moses
For motorists who like to take things into their own hands, the Internet is the place to look for valuable information. Consumers are seeking research online to aid them in buying a new automobile, finding out about car service, and finding a good auto warranty.
A new study shows that 74 percent of people who do research on service and parts say they are utilizing the Internet more now than two years ago. In addition, 90 percent of motorists researching service information about automobiles say that the Internet influenced their purchase.
Customers who are well informed can do a good job of describing issues for potential repair when they visit their mechanic for maintenance. However, it can be a problem when car owners try to do significant repairs by themselves because many times they make misdiagnoses on their car. This can end up harming their car more.
For example, if a motorist replaces the alternator because the car is having trouble starting, when in fact the battery should have been changed, it could cost hundreds of dollars to rectify the situation.
It is good for consumers to use the Web to research about cars because it can aid their mechanic. However, motorists who think they can fix anything could end up stranded somewhere. At any rate, it is always good to have used car warranties to protect your wallet.
April 22nd, 2011 by Hal Moses
Imagine one day waking up to find that the only vehicles on the roads, in driveways, and in parking lots were electrics or hybrids.
CNW Marketing Research made some calculations to determine when America would become completely hybridized, and could stop depending on Middle Eastern powers for barrels of oil.
Based on the amount of people who live in America today (300 million), the number of cars driving on U.S. roads (11 million), the number of new cars that are sold in a year (15 million), and the number of those purchased cars that are hybrids, CNW calculated that in 2034 there is going to be:
• 357 million Americans
• 381 million cars, all hybrid or electric
• 15.7 million cars written off
• 18.1 new cars sold that are all hybrid or electric
It may seem like a long timetable, but it’s not unreasonable when you consider that every car being built and sold would have to be a hybrid, and every car on the road would have to be replaced with a hybrid vehicle. Also, many people are holding onto their old vehicles and buying used car warranties because of the poor economy, so that is slowing things down.
April 21st, 2011 by Hal Moses
Drivers who are fuel-conscious now have a new innovative way to calculate their vehicle’s mileage and compare their mileage to other drivers’. Also, motorists will be able to devise ways that they can improve their own fuel-economy.
A new website, called fuelly.com, allows you to put your car in their system by entering details about your car. For example, by imputing your vehicle’s year, and make and model, they will track your gas mileage, gas expenditures, how your car compares to estimates by the EPA, and also how much you could save by using different ways to improve your gas mileage.
One helpful feature is that you are able to see how your vehicle compares to vehicles that identical. Then, if your gas mileage is significantly worse it will tell you some things. For example, maybe you have poor driving habits when it comes to burning gas, or maybe your tires aren’t inflated like they should be, or it’s time to replace your air filter. Whatever it may be, fuelly.com could be a valuable warning system. In addition, if you own a mobile device, you can update the website remotely.
We all dread paying the high fuel costs, even to the point where we run out of gas and have to call for roadside assistance. However, by using fuelly.com, you can now improve your fuel-efficiency by being aware of your poor driving habits. Always purchase used car warranties to cut down on costs, as well.
April 16th, 2011 by Hal Moses
One trick that people use to sell a used car is to detail it until it looks brand new. However, beware, a motor that is steam-cleaned won’t fix a gasket that is blown. This is why it is important to purchase an auto warranty.
Having said that, dealers that are reputable typically won’t try to sell vehicles with big issues, for fear that they’ll have to fix them down the road. If you test drive a vehicle that doesn’t make awful noises and feels pretty good, chances are it is fine. Dealers don’t like to sell junky cars.
In any case, it is still a smart idea to have a trained professional take a look at your vehicle. If the dealer claims the vehicle was inspected by it’s mechanic, request to view the paperwork. If the dealer can’t produce them, make sure an outside technician sees the vehicle.
Also important, is to check that the car has a clear title and that it hasn’t ever been in a big accident. You can tell the dealer to go on Carfax or AutoCheck to confirm this. Both of these sites have a fee to trace the car identification number for odometer and service registrations, and accidents. However, often dealerships will check the vehicles on their lot free of charge.
Typically, it is safe to buy a used car from a dealership; however, it never hurts to take these quick steps to ensure you don’t get a lemon. In addition, used car warranties will give you peace of mind in case you need repairs.
April 9th, 2011 by Hal Moses
It can be quite a challenge to find a handicap-accessible vehicle to suit your needs. Also, it can be nearly impossible to sort through newspapers and services online. This is why Rick Shutes started HandicapAutoTrader.com. He wanted to help people who are disabled find suitable vehicles.
HandicapAutoTrader.com is great for buyers and sellers. People who want to buy can search available vehicles at no cost, and contact the website’s staff conveniently through email or phone. Sellers are able to list their cars, with an addition of three images for free.
This website allows consumers to search cars according to the features that they desire. In addition, you can search by categories, such as model, make, year, etc. Also convenient is the feature, “Easy Compare Vehiclesâ€. This lets people compare vehicles side-by-side to get the features and price that they want.
As with any vehicle purchase, it is necessary to do your homework. Make sure to research vehicles, used car warranties, and auto loans before making any decisions. This will allow you to get the best deals.
March 9th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, partly responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.
With about half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market. Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors. In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.
GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers. This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.
Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid distractions by GPSs. In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.
March 2nd, 2011 by Hal Moses
With high gas prices, motorists are looking a little more closely at used cars. The National Automobile Dealers Association reports that last year the average cost of a used vehicle was around $15,000, while it was $29,000 for new vehicles.
While you want to purchase a pre-owned car that has a solid reputation for dependability, it’s even more beneficial to purchase a used vehicle that consumers find less popular, because it has already depreciated rapidly.
Many people believe that the best new vehicles make the best used vehicles, which is true in general. However, often these cars depreciate at a slower rate, which makes them popular as new vehicles, but means they cost more as used vehicles.
According to Kelly Blue Book, the vehicle brands that depreciate the slowest are Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, BMW, and Honda.
Instead of purchasing those models, consider other brands that have high reliability scores, but depreciate more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars. Domestic brands are good to consider, such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet. These will get you a bargain.
If you want to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by buying reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.