Archive > July 2009

New Car Loans – Low Cost Finance for Owning a Car

auto363 » 31 July 2009 » In New Cars » No Comments

 

Everyone dreams of owning a brand new car. But as it involves great amounts, it is hard to buy it from your pocket, implying that new car loans become inevitable for most of the people. These loans can buy you any latest car that has hit the market recently. However, be aware of the costs and terms-conditions that consist of such a loan.

 

Before applying for the loan, it is important and crucial for a suitable deal that you first take out copies of your credit report from all the three reputed credit rating agencies. The lender may ask any agency for your report. Hence, make sure that each copy is free of inaccuracies about your payment record, or your credit rating will be unfairly lowered, implying high costs of the loan.

 

If your credit rating is poor, then first try to improve it by clearing some of the debts and then apply for the loan after few months, when the rating has improved a bit.

 

Since a huge amount is required for buying the latest model, usually new car loans are secured loans. This means that depending on value of collateral, consisting of your home or any other property, you can borrow any greater amount. Even the very car can be pledged for collateral. Its deal papers will be returned to you after complete repayment of the loan and meanwhile you can drive the car. It is a short-term loan that you have to repay in 36 to 72 months. Because of collateral, interest rate is usually low on the borrowed amount.

 

You are also required to make the down payment to the lender. It is advisable to make a good amount of down payment, as it will not only ensure the loan approval, but even bad credit borrowers are certain to find the loan this way. You may be having multiple problems like late payments, arrears, CCJs and payment defaults in the past, still sizable down payment can ensure you the loan and interest rate may also be lower.

 

Before applying for new car loans, take out the rate quotes of the lenders, so that you can compare the offers for a suitable deal. Know the lenders’ additional charges as well. Prefer taking out the loan through online mode for competitive rates and low costs.

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Louisville, Kentucky Auto Repair Shops

auto363 » 31 July 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

No matter what you need done with your vehicle, whether it be a simple oil change to a massive transmission repair job, auto repair shops in Louisville can get the job done.  There are many experienced and well trained individuals available throughout Louisville that can get your car back to tip top condition in no time (Remember Louisville isn’t just the home of the Kentucky Derby and Louisville Slugger).

You will be pleased to know that there are simple ways to compare automotive shops available in Louisville, Kentucky with the aid of specialized websites to help compare and evaluate your repair shop needs and costs.  Ensuring that a vehicle and the accompanying owner’s wallet are well taken care of is a plus to any customer.

Repair shops are qualified in a wide range of automotive repair techniques.  You can take your vehicle in for a tune up to get everything up to optimum working order which may also reveal some underlying problems.  Making sure to get your vehicle checked at assigned dates helps to ensure that it will get the right servicing at the right time.  This also helps to illuminate large and destructive problems which may render a vehicle useless in the future.  It is very important to get a vehicle checked at the right time in Louisville, Kentucky.

Actual repair work is not uncommon as vehicles break down for no apparent reason all the time.  Even with scheduled maintenance followed on your vehicle, it can get under heavy stress from a large load or get overheated on a strong summer day. 

Automotive accidents can also cripple a vehicle by breaking certain components.  It is always good to get an estimate on the vehicle if the repair job is possible to correct.  Many shops will charge differently based on “book” determined value of service or their own system of repair prices, so compare.

Normally, the shop you call in the event that an accident or vehicle problem occurs is not researched extensively beforehand to ensure you are getting the best service and price.  If you are at home, it may be best to actually do research on auto repair shops available in Louisville, Kentucky on the Internet.

If you are on the road, or anywhere else but have an internet enabled device such as a mobile phone, you may have the appropriate tools available to you to get the best service package available to you.  In the event of an emergency, you will want to contact a repair shop that can guarantee fast service and has great customer reviews.

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How to Select Your First Used Car

auto363 » 30 July 2009 » In Used Car » No Comments

If you’re buying your first used car, you should know by now that this experience will influence how you manage your future purchases.  Used cars can offer a lot of value for people who want to save money.  But to the uninformed, they can be a total waste of time, effort and hard-earned money.  Still, used cars can be good buys – provided, of course, that you know what to look for.  Here are some used car buying tips to keep in mind when you’re in the market for one:

Compare everything

Before you go to a used car lot or pay for a secondhand car you find online, do your assignment first.  Decide on the type of used vehicle you want, the size, year, make/model and brand.  Next, consider your budget, give or take a few hundred dollars that you’re willing to spare for a good buy.  

You can also go online to check car features side-by-side.  Websites such as Cars.com, CarDirect and AutoTrader.com to name a few, allow you to search and then compare results based on categories you choose.  Try this several times to get an idea of what you can expect from the market.

Learn to know what to look for

It will help a great deal if you know how to inspect cars yourself.  But if you don’t, bring someone who is knowledgeable about cars, such as a mechanic or a friendly hobbyist.  Inspect the car physically – take a look under the hood, check the tires, inspect the interiors.  Test drive the unit if it’s allowed.  

Check the car’s history

When buying a used car, it pays to know about its past.  You can do this three ways:

1)    Ask.  Great if the past owner is willing to talk.  Too bad if they won’t tell you.

2)    Inspect.  The kind of experience a car has undergone will leave telltale signs.  These include rusting, burns and other evidence of wear and tear.  If you know how to interpret what you see, you could easily check whether the used car you’re eyeing is a good buy or not.

3)    Run a history report.  Get the VIN number of the used car you like and then run it through a vehicle history report service such as AutoCheck and CARFAX.  These services will dig out past data regarding the car, such as records of damages, repairs and even violations.

Ask for the extended auto warranty

This is an important thing to consider when buying used cars, especially those that are over 3 years old.  This will provide coverage for any repairs that might have to be performed after you drive the car off the lot.

Negotiate the final price

In majority of sales transactions involving used cars, the buyer gets to have a good deal by simply negotiating the price.  Don’t be afraid to do this.  Used car dealers and owners are familiar with this ritual.  Besides, the only way you can get a car at a fair price is if you haggle.

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Expenses of Car Repair

auto363 » 29 July 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

Getting a car repaired can be a major setback for anyone’s budget. People pay more for car repair sometimes than they do for the cost of buying the car itself. Why does car repair seem so expensive? Knowing a bit about how the auto shop business works can help answer this question and also help you find ways ensuring you get the best car repair deal possible next time your vehicle breaks down.

The Labor Costs

A good portion of any given car repair’s cost is going to come from the labor. Even if the parts required for the job are not expensive, you’ll be paying for the time and effort given by the mechanics. This is especially true in cases where the part in need of repair is hard to reach and requires taking a different section of the car apart in order to get to it.

Not all car repair shops charge the same for labor, though, so it is in your best interest to shop around. Some shops will charge $60 per hour for major repairs, and some may charge a lot more, or perhaps less. The range is considerable.  

Also, be aware that if you have to stop, because of an emergency, at a roadside car repair shop, the price of the repair will likely be higher than usual. This is because you’ll be paying for convenience.

Car Parts

Buying the car parts needed for a repair directly from the car shop will usually be more expensive than if you find them on your own. Car shops usually look to make a profit by marking up car parts by as much as 30% over the MSRP or more.

If you have a vintage or luxury vehicle, parts will also be more expensive. Sometimes parts will only be available directly from the manufacturer, or they will be no longer made new and therefore harder to track down.

One good way of saving money is to ask, once the mechanics do their estimate, to know what parts will be needed for the job. Then, go online and order the parts on discount.

Simple Maintenance

Another way to avoid overpaying for car maintenance is to learn to do some of the simple stuff (like oil changes) yourself. There are plenty of tasks that you can learn easily and quickly and that will save you many a trip to the mechanic.

San Diego BMW repair can give you excellent service and deals check it out at www.robertsautoservice.com.

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Seattle Car Repair Shop – Aurora Clutch Repair Services – Manual and Automatic Transmission

auto363 » 29 July 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

 

What are the most important things to know about the car transmission? A transmission is a device that every car has it. A car’s transmission enables the engine to provide a wide range of output speeds. Without it, you’d be limited to just one gear.

 

There are 2 types of transmissions Automatic and Manual transmissions. Make sure to get some opinion to an experience mechanic to work on your car transmissions. A manual transmission keeps you tuned in to your car. Learn the basics of a manual transmission and explore transmission parts and the inner workings.

 

If you have ever driven a car with an automatic transmission, then you know that there are two big differences between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission.

 

Automatic transmission there is no clutch pedal in an automatic transmission car. There is no gear shift in an automatic transmission car. Once you put the transmission into drive, everything else is automatic.

 

How much is the cost for a transmission repair? Well every car repair shop has a different price range it is approximately range from 2,000 to 4,000.

 

When you need repairs, parts, replacement and more, come to Aurora Clutch and More. We offer great automatic & manual transmission, CV axle, timing belt services & more.

 

The key difference between a manual and an automatic transmission is that the manual transmission locks and unlocks different sets of gears to the output shaft to achieve the various gear ratios.

 

The automatic transmission plus its torque converter and a manual transmission with its clutch accomplish exactly the same thing, but they do it in totally different ways.

 

To get the transmission into overdrive, lots of things have to be connected and disconnected by clutches and bands.

 

The planet carrier gets connected to the torque converter housing by a clutch. The small sun gets disconnected from the turbine by a clutch so that it can freewheel.

 

Over 35 years of experience mechanics at the Aurora clutch And More offer free clutch adjustments on vehicles with adjustable systems. Free test drive and diagnosis. For more info please visit www.auroraclutchandmore.com to speak with the certified technician/mechanics. They are located at

 

8401 Aurora Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

 

or you can email them at info@clutchandmore.com for more details about the transmission repair.

 

Author: Elmerante Acacio

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New Car Research

auto363 » 29 July 2009 » In New Cars » No Comments

New car research is much easier today then in the past. The use of the Internet has changed the way people buy cars. Not only with researching the cars, but in finding the availability of dealers vehicles and taking virtual tours of the vehicles. There are few items to keep in mind when getting ready to purchase a new car. These items will help your research go smoother.

Pick up a copy of consumer reports the car edition

Consumer reports rates cars every month, but that is going to take too long to read about three or four at a time. You need the addition that covers all the vehicles in one edition. This way you can have everything in one issue to get started. Start by looking through cars that you are interested in. Make sure you read through consumer reports ranking methods. One of the most important factors of their ranking system is their reliability report. If the car is a new model there will be no reliability information. Consider the source here and make a few assumptions. For example, if it’s a Honda or Volvo then you can assume that the reliability will be good. These vehicles always score high in this category. If it’s a dodge or Chrysler, then make a note. Those vehicles tend to report lower Reliabilities

Look at some details with a grain of salt

Here is what I mean by that. Gas mileage and performance are loosely based. If you live in florid and have the air conditioning on all the time, then your mileage is going to be less than what is advertised. A good practice is to at least subtract a mile per gallon from the reported statistic. This gives you a better idea of a realistic economy rating. If you drive mostly in the city this is very helpful since city mileage is always less than highway mileage.

Mark down prices and details

Compare the vehicles you are interested in and keep each on a separate piece of paper. By having them on a separate piece of paper you can make notes as you go along. Next go to the manufactures page and look up the model directly. Most sites now are highly interactive. You can take tours and see the car from every angle. This is good to do and will help you save some time from going to the dealer and doing this yourself. Keep in mind that the prices that you see on these sites should never be the price you are going to pay. If you were ignorant and walked into the dealer, this is where they would start. You need to know what the dealer pays (dealers invoice) then you can know where to start to negotiate. On each piece of paper right all this information down so you have it organized. Look at the prices of the options you are interested in and write those down as well. You should have a good idea what options cost . The reason is that you will go to the dealer and see a lot of cars in the lot. It can be overwhelming if you are not prepared. By knowing the model and options, you can work faster and accomplish your goal at the same time.

Now go to the dealer

After you have all your information, the real reason is to go and drive the vehicles. You need to make sure you like the way the car or truck rides and if it feels like a good fit for you. The process of decision is behind you at this point and you were able to make all your decisions at home where there is no pressure to buy anything. Ask the dealer what incentives are available from the manufacture. Make sure that you understand that the manufacturer gives you incentives but they also give the dealers incentives. That is their secret, they are going to get some sort of incentive to sell the cars and that you should keep in your back pocket. Some savy salesman may try to make you think he is not going to make anything on a deal if you low ball them. Carry your research paperwork with you and don’t be shy about having it. They will know that you did your homework and it helps at the bartering table.

At last take your paperwork and start to talk money. Be firm yet respectful and do not be afraid to walk away. For some reason there is a lot of back and forth in the negotiation process. Salesman have to steal away to ask their managers if they can sell for a certain price. When they come back and say that this is there last price, don’t be afraid to say its unacceptable. The business is highly competitive, they will try to sell you a car. If not, go to another dealer and start over. If you do your homework you will be much better off.

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Car Loans: Friendly Deals for you to Acquire a New Car

auto363 » 28 July 2009 » In New Cars » No Comments

The need of a new car may strike you now and again, but finances for the same are a limiting factor. For a common man, it is not possible to purchase a car with a down payment. He certainly needs some outside help to finance his car. This help can be provided by car loans.

Car loans help the borrower purchase any car that he wants to own. He can get the car financed for any purpose, personal or commercial. The car can be a new car or a used car.

The borrower can obtain car loans as secured or unsecured car loans. For the secured car loans, the borrower is required to pledge an asset as collateral for the loan. His house or the car itself can act as the collateral. This helps the borrower in obtaining a lower rate of interest. However, for the unsecured car loans, the borrower is not required to pledge collateral. The repayment term for car loans is 5-7 years.

The borrowers should decide beforehand what car he wants to buy. This will help him apply for an exact amount through the car loans. For the cost of the car, he should research for the market price of the car, especially if he wants to buy a used car. Only after the car loans are approved, he should approach the car dealer to make the car deal. This is suggested to the borrower so that he does not make any momentary decisions and make a higher deal which he has problems repaying later on.

Bad credit borrowers can also apply for car loans. Though they are charged a comparatively higher rate of interest to cut the risk factor, these rates can be lowered by proper research and comparison.

Online comparison of the quotes sent by numerous lenders present online helps the borrower in obtaining the lowest possible rates of interest. These rates are lowered due to the cut throat competition in the online market.

With car loans, it has now become possible for the common man to purchase a car and fulfill the needs of himself and his family.

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Learn How to Find the Free Auto Repair Manual You Need Online

auto363 » 28 July 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

If you are in need of an auto repair manual then feel confident that you can find it for free online. Using a manual in most cases is very important when you are working on your car. You need to have a guide so that you can diagnose the issue that your car is having and a auto manual is your best bet.

Find a Automotive Information Now

When searching for an auto repair manual it is good to know that there are 4 types. General manuals, Diagnosis descriptions, Repair manuals, Maintenance manuals.

Get Free Help With Auto

General manuals will give you a general maintenance guide that you can get for most makes and models for your car. You can search on Google to find these free manuals. Just type in free and the type of model and year of your car.

Diagnosis manuals focus more on the issue than just the make and model. For instance if you are looking to fix your carburetor then you can find a specific manual that will guide you to repair that part.

Repair manuals can be found by a general are to fix the car as well. If you are trying to find out repair for mufflers then search car make, year and mufflers. Also you can find many articles that will have the information you need to make the repair.

Maintenance manuals is most generic and can be used across most makes and models. If you are looking to change your oil then this type of manual can be used for most types of cars.

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Car Repair Prices: Why Your Oil Change Is Never “Just An Oil Change”

auto363 » 28 July 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

For a repair shop, there is little profit in the $29.95 oil change. By the time a shop pays its technician, pays for the oil, the filter, and the hazardous waste disposal fees, there’s no money left.

This low profit margin is worsened by the extremely competitive “Quick Lube” business, which forces local repair shops to refrain from raising prices, despite rising costs.

This all begs the question: If oil change specials, which range from $15.95 to $29.95, clearly produce very low profits, then why do so many service facilities advertise oil change specials?

The answer is actually very simple: It gets you in the door. Service centers know that once they have your vehicle, they can sell you additional work.

Suggesting additional work is called upselling, and it’s a primary profit tactic of every service facility.

Here’s a typical example. You drop your vehicle off for “just an oil change.” Upon completion your service representative smiles and proudly states, “We noticed that your air filter was dirty; so we popped in a new one.” You may think “Great; what wonderful service!”

What really occurred is that you were casually upsold an air filter. It probably wasn’t needed; it certainly wasn’t replaced according to any factory recommendation, and you were definitely overcharged for what was most likely a poorly-fitting, aftermarket, inferior air filter.

Here’s a real-life example that occurred recently. This particular vehicle had 54,000 miles on it, and was dropped off at a local shop for “just an oil change.” Upon paying the bill, the customer was handed an estimate for $199 to replace his air filter and top radiator hose.

Shocked at the price, he called me.

After review, I found that the air filter suggestion was premature. It didn’t need replacement until the manufacturer’s recommended 60,000-mile service interval. The top hose was also premature. In fact, it did not need replacement at all, despite a very minor problem easily addressed during the factory maintenance schedule—at no extra cost.

Check out the aftermarket part prices quoted below (including the unnecessary radiator hose). Compare these to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the factory OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

Local Shop Aftermarket Air Filter: $32

Manufacturer OEM Filter, MSRP: $17

Local Shop Aftermarket Top Hose: $36

Manufacturer OEM Top Hose, MSRP: $19

Notice that this local shop was doubling the price of the OEM parts with its inferior aftermarket parts.

Now, let’s look at the labor time quoted.

Local Shop Labor Time: 2.0 $60 per hour = $120
Manufacturer Labor Time: 0.9 $60 per hour = $81

Notice that the shop labor time estimate for the repairs was 2 hours. This is more than “twice” the manufacturer’s recommendations (even after calculating manufacturer times against the industry standard multiplier).

Had the local shop abided by the vehicle’s particular maintenance intervals instead of trying to make a quick buck, it should have recommended a 60,000-mile service at the next visit. This would have better served the client, saved him $199, and maintained the vehicle properly.

Instead, the service center lost a customer, forever!

What needs to be made crystal clear is that this type of price-gouging occurs every day in every type of service facility in one form or another across the automotive service industry.

This type of price-gouging is considered normal!

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