Archive > August 2009

Choosing to Buy Used Cars by Owner

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

Buying a Used Car There comes a time in our life that we all want to buy a new car, until we get to the dealers lot and see the prices that is. Some new cars today are costing as much as a house did just a few years ago and I don’t know about you but my wages have not gone up that much. It is times like these that there can be wisdom in purchasing a used car. Unlike a new car, however some things are different when buying a used car.

There are two places you can purchase these used cars on the lot of a new dealership and used cars by owner. When you find them on the dealers lot most of the time they are trade-ins of someone wanting to upgrade. A trained mechanic should have inspected these cars at the lot; they may even come with a small limited warranty.

Used cars for sale by owner, however, have been checked out by no one but you. This is not necessarily a bad thing. All you need is a little knowledge before hand and you should have no problem buying the used car for sale by owner.

Mechanic

The question is should you have a used car checked by a mechanic before you buy it? Well that depends on your expertise, if you have no idea of where to put the gas in your car then you might want to find a mechanic you can trust to do it for you. The downside to this is mechanics are very busy many times and may not be able to check out your little gem within a reasonable amount of time. On the other hand, the owner may not want you taking it to another mechanic; people can be funny some times. In the last case I would walk away from a deal like that, it leads you to believe that there are things wrong with the car that the owner does not want you to know.

Used cars by owner can be a great deal or a great lemon just like a car lot the thing is knowing how to tell the difference.

Homework

When you are considering purchasing a used car by owner, you should get all the pertinent facts on the vehicle and then do your homework. There are sites like Kelley bluebook that will give you a good idea of the going rate for a used vehicle in your area. The thing to remember is this if you are buying a car for sale by owner in another state, be sure and use their state as a basis when searching approximate value.

Mileage

If you have done your homework from above you will have a good approximation of the vehicles worth and part of that will be based on the mileage that you used in the search. Be sure that you double-check this data when you get to the car.

Final

A few final things to watch for are strange knocking sounds or weird odors coming from the vehicle. If you have driven a car very long, you will know that a sickly sweet smell coming from the vents is an indication something is wrong. In addition check every function on the vehicle, heat, air, defrost, wipers ECT…. Finally take it for a test drive, do not check out the stereo on your test drive you will want to be able to hear any odd noises or vibrations the car may be making. Once you are through and have discussed with the owner any potential problems with the vehicle make an offer or if you are still concerned about the running of the car ask if you can have your mechanic check it out. These tips are a few ground rules to get you started. Most of my cars have been purchased from a for-sale-by-owner ad and I have been extremely happy with each one, it is not a process to be feared but one you need to be knowledgeable about.

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Hot Tips For Buying The Dream Used Car!

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

Recession is nothing but postponing your strategy for purchasing your wish list for better sunny days. The slump is here & it’s going to stay for a while now. Why wait to buy your dream car when you can make it happen ‘now’ with used cars. Now ‘Used’ is not a word we have a high regard for as we all want to be proud owners of new objects. But the panorama of buying a used car has a lot many benefits including prices that fit your pocket starting surprisingly affordable prices.

If you want to buy a car for a few months and not willing to spend lakhs than a used car can come to your rescue.  There has been a lot written about what you need to do to buy a used car. This section, nevertheless, will tell you the top 5 tips for buying a used car in 2009 regardless of your credit position.

Tip One: What’s Your Budget Chidambaram?

Before you start your search for the best used cars, spend time considering factors such as your daily travelling time, Do you take regular outdoor trips or do will you use your car only occasionally for you weekend trips. It is important to know what you require & accordingly plan to buy a used car.

Tip Two: ‘Old is Gold’

Old is the ‘old’ is your old car. Does it have a warranty extension, maintenance & repair costs. Your best stake is to look for something almost new – a car two years old or younger. Buying a in your prime car (3-5 years old) that has been treated well by its owner could be a great buy. Cars that have logged 14,000-18,000km a year are prime buys.

Tip Three: How Much Should I spend?

Do some research on the new version of the old car that you are purchasing? You can take a price Evaluation to the approximate value of the used car that you plan to purchase.

Tip Four: Take A Test Drive Dude

The test-drive is, certainly, an indispensable part of the process. Test-drive the car on different types of roads. Make sure the engine gives a good start right away & there are no unusual noises or vibrations. Look out for a shaky steering, it could mean future prospective trouble. Test the brakes for signs of pulling. Check if the seats are comfortable & not worn out. Additional features like the music system, Air Conditioning, Wiper & the engine should also be checked.

Tip Five: Take An Expert’s Advice:

Before paying that one good amount spend a few hundreds on a professional mechanic who will inspect the user car before you pay up from you kitty. This way you get a sound professional advice & peace of mind. Also ask for the legal documents of the car & the registration number. You don’t want to end up being caught by the cops for buying stolen car!

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Buy Used Cars at Cheap Prices

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

There are two reasons why buying car that are second hand are cheaper. The first is that cars once purchased and driven off a lot immediately depreciate. Annually, these cars lose about 20% in value making it easy for you to buy a second hand car almost at half the original price.

Another reason is that it is hard buying car and pay the full payment up front. By acquiring the services of a financial institution such as a bank, a person can pay off the loan through monthly installments. Unfortunately, some people have failed to honor that commitment which leaves the financial institutions no choice but to have the car repossessed.

For the bank to avoid storing the many cars that have been repossessed and make up for the lost money, these cars are auctioned off immediately which make it easy for some lucky people to buy fairly new cars and prevent being taken advantage of by car dealers.

Before buying car, it is best to think about the kind of car you are willing to spend for and the options that come with it. By doing some research and checking out various dealers, you will be able to pick the right car and get the best deal.

You should also check the history of the used car. This can be checked by going online and typing in the vehicle identification number or VIN. This can help verify the accidents the car has been in, if the car was reported stolen and the previous owner of the vehicle. It can also check if the mileage was rolled back.

Most cars have a maintenance record. The buyer must ask the dealer to see it and if it is not available, then you should contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done.

The car should also be test driven on the road at various conditions and checked by a trusted and reputable mechanic just to be safe that the car you will buy is road worthy.

Most important of all, you should ask about the warranty. If there are some things not covered by it, it is best to get a service contract to be safe.

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Used Car Loans Tips

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

Until now, you probably have heard about this subject a lot of times, but really didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. It is really a tough deal for loans for buying a used car comparing to other types of loans in case of purchasing a new car. But if we look forward, it will make some possibilities also. The procedure is almost same like any other car loan facilities. The main difference in this kind of loan is that you can save cost, which you cannot do in other car loans. That is the biggest benefit you can have while getting used car loans.

However problem is always there, so while you want to have used car loan facility you have to be aware of making your every step. Every step is vital otherwise you may be in bad credit reputation and big chances to be ripped off. Be positive in getting the source of used car financing and do shop around the whole market.

Try to do credit check to be assured that the given information is correct in your credit statement. After choosing the car you are going to purchase, look into the whole payment procedure of the purchase money. Always remember while you are going to have car financing, the purchase price increases as you are to pay the money including credit. Before having the loan try to get knowledge of the annual percentage rate of that very car loan and length of the loan and see whether the monthly payments are affordable or not.

Don’t make any quick decision as that can lead you to create a bad credit history.

It is very much important to set the price range in case of second hand car loans. Don’t forget to add the maintenance cost so that you can have an idea of an approximate price of the car and the amount you need to obtain from car loan. It is the best way to get your budget perfectly applicable to your finance.

The next step is to decide from where you want to get your car loan. There are various lenders such as bank, individual dealers etc. try not to make the bank as your first option as in most cases they don’t provide loans of cars used for more than few years. You can have online dealer option but it is cheapest to get an individual lender as you can clear out your confusion and have guidance accordingly.

But be aware of the frauds in this field. Get a concept about everything related to your dream car you are going to purchase and if you are satisfied with the qualities you can proceed further. So it is now no longer tough job to get a used car loan facility and to apply it confidently though in past your finances were holding you back to purchase the wheel of your dream car. Now you can get the option of getting used car via loans without any hurdle. This article is meant to both inform and entertain those who read it. Hopefully, we have accomplished both goals for you.

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New Auto Loans – Deal for Your New Car Purchase

auto363 » 30 August 2009 » In New Cars » No Comments

Introduction:

It is everyone’s dream to own a brand new car and go for a long trip in it. However its implementation is not that easy. But stalling these dreams for the want of money has become history now. People can also buy brand new car and drive their dream. New auto loans will help you to buy a new car. Getting an auto loan is no more an uphill task to get afraid of. It is the easiest and fastest loan at your service.

Features:

New auto loans are generally available in secured and unsecured form. In case of secured car loan you have to put new car as collateral against the loan. Secured loans will get the amount at lower interest rate there will always be the risk of losing your security. But for the second type the unsecured loan there is no such need of collateral. It may charge you some extra bucks but it has some advantages also. As there is no need of hectic paper processing of your property it will be sanctioned in lesser time. It depends solely upon you to decide which one is better for him or her depending upon your current financial circumstances.

Down payment of 25% of the loan should be done before itself remaining we can pay on monthly basis.

How to get:

If you are in market searching for a car loan then take your time to get the best lender with a tough competition in the financial market options for you. Loans with more and more flexible features are available both offline and online mode. Online mode will be easiest way for approaching the loan because no paper work and no need roam around the office for loan.

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Skint and Need a New Car? No Problem if you Say Yes to Car Credit

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

It is Christmas financial fallout time; a time when everyone adds up their festive excesses and most realise that yet again they spent much more than they had intended. The credit card bills have started arriving, prompting a massive collective intake of breath throughout the UK as most people work out just how skint they are.

But, for those wanting a new car, excessive Christmas spending and a greatly diminished bank balance needn’t prove a problem. There are plenty of garages, used car dealers and car supermarkets offering great deals at this time of the year. All are anxious to get stock off their forecourts at a traditionally slow time of the year for car sales, so canny buyers could bag themselves a bargain motor.

In addition, most used car dealers and car supermarkets offer finance packages tied directly to the purchase of the car. Because their own loans are secured on the car, it tends to be a lot easier to get a yes to car credit at the dealers than by applying for a personal loan at a financial institution. Plus, applicants won’t have to make a special trip to the bank or building society either!

To make it even easier many dealers allow buyers to drive the car away once finance has been approved and after making only a small deposit, in many cases less than £100. Or, if the buyer has a car to sell, the dealer will typically offer a minimum of £1,000 part-exchange against the purchase of a replacement vehicle, meaning no cash deposit is required at all – extremely handy for those left skint by Christmas spending!

But, if you want to buy a car before you say yes to car credit make sure you understand exactly what you are getting. Despite what might be reported in the popular press most garages aren’t in the habit of ripping off their customers as in this day and age major businesses in a competitive marketplace cannot survive if they show scant disregard for their customers.

However, there are some disreputable traders out there, and if you encounter any problems be aware of your rights. Under the Sales of Goods Act, 1979 used cars must be in satisfactory condition when sold, both in appearance and mechanically. So, if bits start falling off your newly acquired vehicle or it stops working all together, be assured that you are covered by UK legislation and you’ll be able to return the car to the dealer without any financial penalty to you.

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Need a Better Auto Loan – Deal for Your New Car Purchase

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

Introduction

Dreaming to get a new car and wonder how to get the best financing for it? While others are simply getting their new cars and buying it with whatever deal the dealer gives them, you know you can get better auto loan deal. Need a better auto loan help us a better deal for our dream with some preliminary steps?

Types

You can avail car need a better auto loan in two forms secured and unsecured. In case of secured car loan you have to put car as collateral against the loan, but for the second type of unsecured loan there is no such need. Though secured car loans will get the amount at comparatively lower interest rate there will always be the risk of losing your security.

Tips for better deal

Getting preapproved means that a lender looks at your credit situation and you are then given a credit limit and a blank check for your auto loan. All you need to do next is to find the car you want, and pay for it with the check.

In order to save even more money, though, you need to select a car or two that you want to buy in advance. You do this because you know that a particular make and model fit within the credit limit of the preapproved check. Once you have a car in mind, you then need to investigate what kind of prices you can find for it in the market, and what is the cost of the car.

It is a good idea to have a copy of your credit report with you when you see the dealer. Sometimes a dealer will try to tell you that you have bad credit and make you accept a higher interest charge because of it.

There are plenty of places on the Internet where you can find auto financing. It’s really sweet and fastest deal. When the contract is being filled out, make sure that you clearly understand what everything on it is for.

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Never Get Tricked by Used Car Dealers Again – (part 4)

auto363 » 29 August 2009 » In Used Car » No Comments

Another trick employed by used car dealers is appraising your trade-in car at a far lesser price than what you initially offer.

Car Dealer Tactic #5

Some car salespersons connive with mechanics just to undervalue your trade in car. If you think your car is worth more than it really is, then you hope that you just might get a clever salesperson who will give in and agree to an excessive price for your trade in. Now you might be pleased by this, because you may be thinking that you are ‘putting one over’ the dealer. Not so. Generally, the sales person will look up on the computer or in the Car Dealers Price Guide to find out the going price for your trade in and will start from there. And if you don’t watch out, you might end up shouldering all the car costs in the end. How, you ask? Well, when the dealer charges TOO much for your new car.

Let’s say the car dealer contacts you before your new car is delivered. When the niceties are over, you will be told that there is an issue with the trade in. You will be asked to bring the car into the workshop for further inspection. When your vehicle has been in the garage for 60 minutes, (having nothing done to it), the salesperson will tell you that the mechanic claims to have found it is really only worth $500 less than what they have offered for it. Thus, the salesperson gets to pocket an extra $500 if you give in and agree your used car is really worth far lesser.

Car Dealer Tactic #6

Salespeople sometimes quote prices of a car excluding the on-road costs. If you don’t specifically ask for on-road costs to be included, the salesperson will most likely give you the excluding on-road costs price. Of course, you have to be guarded because your contract may be drawn up on this proviso. Trouble is that when you are ready to sign, the ‘quoted’ price of the car, will then be understated by many thousands of dollars.

To make sure this does not happen to you, shop around for car prices online. There, you’ll get a wide array of information on car trends, models, and car price range. Armed with such knowledge, you are at a much better bargaining position with the car dealer. You know what your used car is worth in the market, and you know how far a leeway you can go without losing too much at the bargaining table.

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Car Repair Dayton Ohio

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

A lot of us recognize the significance of keeping our car in good shape. In fact, it’s our transportation to work, and it takes our family to places we would like to go. Unfortunately, cars are mechanical beasts and infrequently they develop a problem that needs a tiny tender, loving, care. The friendly people at Murphy’s Auto Care are here to help and your car get back up to speed.

Dave started his car career when the present day Murphy’s was Tom’s Sohio way back in 1975. That philosophy is the foundation of the business today. As a family owned business, they are your neighbors and a vital part of the local community.

Sure, you might take your auto to a huge dealership for repairs, waiting in long lines and paying lots of money to get your car fixed.

Murphy’s is not just another drive-by oil change shop. Even the term “full service” does not truly describe all the things that are available. As well as the regular sorts of repairs and upkeep the 7 ASE certified execs ( 3 of those are “Master” certified) perform each day, you can look to Murphy’s for pre-purchase inspections of new or used autos to make certain you keep any lemons out of your drive. Also They are also authorized to perform factory prepared upkeep on vehicles. If you have a special occasion coming up, Murphy’s can also detail clean your vehicle, within and out! Another specialty is the replacement of windshields and other automobile glass. The base line is that there is no car repair job that’s too big or too little for Murphy’s.

Automobile fix technology changes fast. From digital alignments to computer diagnostics, Murphy’s keeps up with those changes to guarantee your auto’s mended to the highest standards. The blend of state of the art kit and the best trained technicians means your auto’s in the right place when you drop it off at Murphy’s.

So when it is time to do some regular upkeep or astonishing correct to your vehicle, head on down to the local people who has the ability to get the job finished right. If you’d like to see a full list of everything Murphy’s can do, or if you had just like to learn a little more about the company, visit them on line at http://www.murphysautocare.com.

http://murphysautocare.com/

 

In the Ohio area : Serving Dayton, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Xenia, Kettering and Wright Patterson AFB.

See our new video here

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How to Check a Used Car Before You Buy it

auto363 » 28 August 2009 » In Used Car » No Comments

A used car always has faults that reduce the comfort of using the car or that must be repaired before using it comfortably and safely. This is all right, as long the prize you pay is not too high when you also add the prize, time and efforts for subsequent repair and adjustments. Here are some tips for checking a used car before any purchase.

 

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSING A CAR BEFORE YOU BUY

The basic principles of assessing a used car before you buy it are:

- Look at everything.

- Test everything.

- Check the car’s history.

- Write down what you find.

Before you begin checking the car, make sure you have ready something to note down your findings upon.

If you only remember these four depicted principles, you will probably make a good assessment even without any more detailed plan. However, in the following a plan for the assessment is presented. It is not always possible to do it exactly as described, but try to follow the procedures as well as you can.

 

LOOK IT ALL OVER

Before starting the car, you should watch the whole car externally and internally in a systematic manner:

- Go around the car and watch every point. Look for broken windows, unclear windows, unclear or broken mirrors, bumps, rust or damaged painting.

- Then look especially well at the channels on the sides. Look for any rust and injuries.

- Try to open and close all doors. Look around the doors, both at the doors themselves and the frames around the doors. Try the locks in every door.

- Look at the wheels and the wheel suspensions.

- Look under the car. Look especially for rust, broken parts or unsymmetrical parts.

- Look into the luggage room. Look under carpets and covers. Look especially for cracks, rust or unsymmetrical parts. Such symptoms can indicate that the car has been subjected to an injury.

- Look into the motor room. Check for loose parts. Does everything seems solid and in place? Is there much rust? Are there signs of oil leakage? Is it very dirty, and what kind of dirt is present? Some dirt is normal, but extreme and unusual dirt should give you something to think about. Do you see any cracks or any asymmetry? Are there any signs of repair work done? Such symptoms indicate that the car has been through an accident.

- Try the suspension by bouncing each of the corners of the car. They should bounce only one or two times in every corner, and without any cracking noise.

- Look to see if the car has spare wheels, standard tools for repair and wheel shift, and both summer and winter wheels present.

- Then turn the key so that the electric systems are activated.

- Look at everything in the cabin. Look under the carpets. Sit down in all seats. Try all regulatory possibilities of the seats.

- Try all electric windows, electric mirrors and other commodities that are electrically operated.

- Try out all lights, including the signal lights and the serene. If some of them do not work, set in a new bulb, to see if this is the only problem.

- Try the radio, car computer, music equipment and any GPS navigation unit.

 

 

START THE MOTOR AND TEST

After having seen the car all over, it is time to start the motor. The motor should ideally be started when it is cold. A motor started easily when it is warm, does not necessarily start easily when cold.

- Start the motor. Does the motor start easily or not? Listen for sound of uneven motor work, sounds of vibrations or sounds of friction. Do you feel any vibrations outside the normal?

- When starting the motor, kick the brake pedal. It should easily go down and kick in the brakes when the motor is started. If not, the brake servo can be broken.

- Listen for unusual or high sounds from the exhaust system indicating breakage.

- Look at the dashboard panel. Do all indicators work? Does any indicator signal any problem?

- Try the steering by turning the steering wheels. How much do you have to rotate it before the wheels turn? It should not be more than around 2 cm or 0.8 inch.

- Try the window washers and the window wipers, and any light wiper and washers.

- Kick in the clutch, and try all the gears if it is manually geared.

- Try out the cabin heater or air conditioning.

 

TEST DRIVE

Then there is the time for a test drive. When you are test-driving the car, you should try out the following:

- Set the gearbox in reverse, and back out of the parking place. Does the gas and the clutch work smoothly when backing? Does the car get smoothly into motion?

- Set the car in motion forewords. Does the gas and the clutch work smoothly in foreword motion? Does the car get smoothly into foreword motion?

- Increase the speed and gear up to second gear if the car is manually geared. If it has automatic gearshift, just speed up until the second gear sets in. Are there any problems to go up one gear? If the car has an automatic gearbox, does the second gear kick in when expected?

- Try the breaks from a low speed. Is there any problem with the brakes, like poor action, vibrations or unmoral noises? Does the car pull to one side when you use the brakes?

- Park the car and note down all your findings so far. Then start again.

- Try a wider range of speeds, and the rest of the gears. If the car has an automatic gearbox, do the other gears kick in when expected? Does the motor feel quick, or is it lazy?

- Listen to the car mechanics. Is there any rattling or whining sounds from anywhere? Be especially aware of singling sounds from the gearbox or unexpected motor sounds.

- Watch out for any smell of gasoline, diesel, oil or anything burnt during drive?

- Does the car go in a straight line and direction at higher speeds, or does it wiggle or pull to one side. Is it still easy to steer it both to right and left? Is the steering accurate?

- Try the breaks from a higher speed and notice any irregularities.

- Look at the figures for motor temperature. Is it in the normal range?

- Finish by testing the reverse once again when parking.

- When finished the test drive, look into the motor room. Do you see any oil leaks, or water leaks, or is there any unexpected high temperature? Is there any smell of burnt substance? Is there any smell of gasoline or diesel?

- Note down all your findings.

 

CHECK THE PAPERS AND CAR HISTORY

Then, before buying the car, check all the papers.

- Look at the service book. Has the car had all its services?

- Look at all repair bills. All of these should ideally follow the car.

- Look at the mileage indicator to see how long the car has been driven.

- Take out a history report of the car from authorities, insurance companies or other instances offering such reports. An example of such a report is a Carfax report that can be taken out online.

- In some countries or areas dept issues or fines that an owner has generated follow the car to the new owner. Such issues are especially important to check out. How you can do so, will vary from place to place.

- Ask the seller about history issues, for example accidents the car has gone through. If you have found some signs indicating some issue, ask directly about them. Many sellers will be honest and tell any truth. In other cases you can guess from the way that the seller answers if he is lying or not.

 

DECIDING

At the end, you must decide several things based on the findings.

- First of all, is this really the car type you need? If not, decline the offer, even though everything looks fine.

If you have decided that this is the car type for you, then think further.

- Is the car in such a technical condition that it is possible to bring it to the standard you want? If not, decline the offer.

- Then think about how much time and effort the repair of the car will cost you. Even though you let a workshop repair the car, you must spend time by bringing the car to and from the workshop, by explaining what to repair, by waiting, by checking after repair, and so on.

- What do you think the repair of the car will cost?

- Now you can decide if the car is worth buying after all, and the maximal prize worth paying.

- As the last point, discuss the prize with the seller, even if it is within the right prize range.

Then at last, after all checking, and all thinking, and discussing the prize, you can decide to buy or not.

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