Tag Archive > Money

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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Beware of Unnecessary Car Repairs

auto363 » 21 August 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

While the auto service industry has many honest auto shops, there are, unfortunately, dishonest mechanics out there who will try to charge you for repairs that your car simply does not need. To avoid getting ripped-off by unnecessary repairs, you should keep aware of some common pitfalls for the next time you need to get your car serviced.

Incredibly Low-Priced Services

Sometimes you’ll see a car shop advertising an extremely low priced auto service, or even a free service. There are “loss leaders” and it’s always good to be wary of them. Car shops will offer deals that they expect to lose money on in hopes that, once the customer comes in for the deal, he or she can be convinced to pay for other suggested services, which are usually more expensive or over-priced. If you are in this situation, ask the mechanics to explain why their suggested services are needed, and if you remain unconvinced, go out and get a second opinion.

Labor You Didn’t Authorize

Never let a mechanic begin work on your car without first getting a printed repair estimate complete with an itemized list of all the repairs that are going to be made and how much each is going to cost. Read this estimate over and make sure you understand all of the repairs and why they are being made before you sign off on the work. This way, when the bill comes, you’ll know if you were overcharged, or charged for services that you did not authorize.

Unnecessary Part Replacement

A mechanic will sometimes tell you that a car part needs replacing, even when said car part is working just fine. If an unexpected replacement suggestion is made by your mechanic, ask to be shown the exact part that allegedly needs replacing, and ask him to explain what exactly is wrong with it. If you decide to have the work done, ask to keep the old part. This way you can verify that they did, in fact, replace it. If you are still uncertain as to the legitimacy of the work, take the part to another shop and ask them to check it to see if it was actually bad condition or not.

Incorrect Diagnosis

Sometimes mechanics will simply make mistakes, but sometimes misdiagnoses are intentional. Either way, you should avoid them by always checking to make sure that the diagnosis you get appears to match the symptoms that the car has been displaying. If a job is done on the car, and the problem persists, an honest car shop will not charge you for the repair, and will try to figure out what else can be done.

The San Diego smog test shop has the best service around.  Check it out at http://www.robertsautoservice.com.

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Take a Ride to the Future In A Hybrid Car

auto363 » 01 June 2009 » In Hybrid Cars » No Comments

Utilizing the latest in advanced technology, hybrid cars might just provide a glimpse into the future of automobiles. Hybrid cars sport sleek and futuristic looks, but these cars aren’t just for show. These scientific marvels make use of both electric and gas power to make for a cleaner, more cost efficient, and environmentally friendlier car.

As the world’s supply of oil inevitably runs out and the prices of gasoline continue to skyrocket to staggering new heights, more and more people have begun to look for an alternative way to power their cars, as well as to save some money. Thankfully, the rise of hybrid cars are providing a much needed solution to these problems and more. The popularity of hybrid cars continue to grow as more people begin to realize the many advantages that hybrid cars hold over conventional ones.

So, what is a hybrid car and how does it work?

As the name suggests, hybrid cars utilizes a combination of different technologies. Hybrid cars use an electric propulsion system together with of a gas propulsion system to great effect.

Hybrids cars consist mostly of the same basic parts as normal gas cars. They contain a gasoline engine, a fuel tank, batteries, and a transmission. The difference is that hybrid cars also contain an electric motor and in some cases a generator, that work in conjunction with the gasoline engine to run the transmission.

A hybrid car can work in different ways.

In a parallel hybrid system, both the gasoline engine and the electric motor are connected to the transmission. The car alternates between the two and sometime uses them together. It typically works by using the electric motor to power the car at lower speeds and once the car reaches a certain speed, the car will automatically switch to the gasoline engine to give it extra power.

Other cars use what is called a series hybrid system. In this method, the gasoline engine is used to power a generator. The generator is responsible for charging the batteries that power the electric motor, which in turn, turns the transmission causing the car to move. The gasoline engine in a series hybrid never actually runs the car directly.

Some of the later hybrid models have a feature that stores up the kinetic energy that is built up when braking and uses it to further charge the car’s batteries.

The biggest advantage of a hybrid is that it uses a lot less fuel than normal cars. Hybrid owners will be very happy with the mileage that these cars are capable of.

It also helps that hybrid cars tend to be built with lighter materials like aluminum and plastic. The engine is also typically smaller and specially designed to consume less fuel.

Environmentalist will also be very pleased with hybrids seeing as how they emit far less air pollution. Using a hybrid car helps makes our world a cleaner and more beautiful place to live in.

The government is also very fond of hybrid cars. So much so that they’re offering buyers tax incentives and other benefits. In some states, hybrid car owners can drive their hybrids in the high occupancy lane, even if they’re all alone in their cars.

The earlier hybrid car models tended to have unique and special designs, but as more and more manufacturers are catching on to the hybrid craze, they have begun to create hybrid versions of their normal cars. The Honda Civic Hybrid for example, looks more or less exactly like a regular Civic.

Buying a hybrid car will inevitably cost more than a regular one. However, the money that is saved from the lower fuel consumption, along with the tax deductions will eventually make up for the extra cost of a hybrid. Those who drive frequently will be the ones that benefit most from this.

With all the of the benefits that hybrid cars give, it’s no wonder that they’re so quickly gaining in popularity. Hybrid owners figure that it’s an excellent way to save money on gas and it gives them a good feeling, knowing that they’re making a difference in the environment.

So those who are in interested should go seriously consider owning one and join the ever growing number of people who are stepping into the future with hybrid cars.

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Buy a New Car Online

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

Sooner or later everybody has to buy a new car. And chances are you’ve already bought your fair share of new and used cars by now–and you haven’t always gotten the deal you wanted. Even if you think you have, trust me–you haven’t. It doesn’t matter if it’s your fourth new car or your first, it is inevitable. Of course, we all know that there is an art to buying a new car that we should know sooner or later. And the sooner you learn this “art,” the better!

Everyone knows that there are haggling methods to getting a car at a reasonable price. Dealerships and private sellers rarely mark the car’s actual worth. Instead, they mark the price up so that they can clear a good profit for themselves. Some dealerships mark the prices up so that their salesmen will have a greater incentive to sell the cars for them. Now, there’s nothing wrong with any business making a profit. After all, it’s the American Way. But you stand to save thousands if you do a little homework BEFORE car shopping–whether you’re shopping online for a new car or not.

But almost all dealerships can be talked down on their initial prices, if you know how to haggle properly. And haggling is not hard at all–even for super-shy people–if they’re prepared. Preparation is everything. The savvy buyer will know that he can talk the dealership’s prices down at least a little. That’s IF he knows the dealer’s lingo and tricks beforehand and shows that he’s prepared to deal with them. That’s how you want to arrive at the dealership: prepared. I don’t care if you’re the shyest person

in the world, if you’re prepared, you’ll actually look forward to your new car buying experience!

Salesmen speak their own language, and to know when you are being sold on something that you don’t want, you need to know how to speak the same language as the salesmen do.

If you want to save money by negotiating, you should negotiate from the dealer cost up and not from the MSRP down. But you need to remember that the dealer cost is not the same as the factory invoice–the dealer cost is always less than the factory invoice. Go to DealersInvoice.com and figure the dealer cost by subtracting from the dealer’s invoice such things as “dealer’s incentive” and “dealer holdback.” This will give you the dealer’s cost.

Some dealerships refuse to haggle over the cost of a car. But once you make your opening offer you should never accept anything higher than that, as far as costs go. If the dealership that you go to doesn’t haggle, don’t sweat it. Some other dealership will. The reason some dealerships refuse to haggle is because they want to add extra fees to the MSRP. You need to decide what kind of buyer you are in order to get a negotiating stance.

You do not want to set yourself up as a monthly payment buyer because that is a guaranteed way for you to pay more for the car than it’s worth. You can expect them to offer to reduce the price a little from the MSRP. They will then ask you what you are looking to pay each month; this is where they get you to pay extra money. So don’t negotiate from a monthly payment position at all.

The dealer will ask you, “What are you willing to pay each month?” Don’t fall for this trap. Tell them that you want to haggle over the COST of the car, NOT the monthly payments. And be alert for a finance manager trying to get you to report your payment method BEFORE you have decided upon purchasing the car. Don’t be sucked into the trap!

Remember that the method of payment doesn’t matter unless you have decided to actually buy the car. Finance managers ask so that they can do their ‘homework’ on how best to screw you over.

Buying a car doesn’t have to be scary and it doesn’t have to be the worst experience of your life. Many people dread buying a new car because they know that they are likely going to get ripped off. And 9 times out of 10, they’re right. But not you, because now you know about this resource!

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Cheap Car Loan Uk Can Make you a Car Owner Taxing you Much

auto363 » 14 May 2009 » In Cheap Car » No Comments

You have already some debts to pay off. Now you need a loan to purchase a car and you want it to be cheap. Well, you have one in the form of cheap car loan UK. It is a customised loan, specially crafted for the borrowers who do not want to pay much pounds as interest while financing their car with a loan.

It is a fact that financing a car with a loan costs the consumer less in compared to the other method of car financing. Opting for cheap car loan UK one can bring down the cost even further. As indicated by the name, this loan carries cheap interest rate. So the lender does not require paying much in the form of interest. Thus, it does not put any heavy debt burden on his shoulder.

Availing a cheap car loan UK will become quite easy if you can offer collateral. If you have a home and there is sufficient amount of equity in it then you can use it as collateral. The attachment of collateral eliminates the risk of the lender. He has material guarantee to retrieve his money. So he does not hesitate to offer you the loan at low rate.

However, if you are a tenant or a homeowner with no intention to offer your home as collateral then you have to do a little extra work to obtain a cheap car loan UK. For that all you have to do is to dedicate a little time to explore the market in search of lenders who offer cheap car loans UK without collateral. Getting to the suitable lender will become quite easy if you use the Internet and search among the online lenders.

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Auto Repair Chicago – 5 Life-or-death Questions for you and your Mechanic

auto363 » 22 April 2009 » In Auto Repair » No Comments

When sweaters come out and the thermometers looking grim it’s time for auto repair Chicago! But with scams almost as plentiful as shops, how will you know you’re not really getting iced? We asked our users to throw some IanAuto style repair advice:

Auto Repair Chicago Tip #1: Ask Yourself: Does your mechanic explain everything in language YOU understand?

Randy from Arlington Heights says he won’t authorize any work until he has a complete understanding of what’s in store: “I didn’t know much about my car, and I used to think I was asking stupid questions. But I realized that I’m spending my money, and it’s their job to inform me! No question is ever stupid. In fact, if I can’t get a straight answer, I’ll just take my car elsewhere.”

Auto Repair Chicago Tip #2: Ask Yourself: How Are You Being Treated?

“When a mechanic talks down to me, or treats me poorly, or won’t give me information and estimates, I just move along,” says Jen from Oak Park. “Back in the day I would politely ask for my keys and go elsewhere. Now that I’m a bit wiser, I make most of my decisions online.”

Auto Repair Chicago Tip #3: Ask Your Mechanic: Are There Lower Cost Alternatives To High Dollar Repair?

Imagine being slapped with a $1200 repair bill when you’re still making payments on your car. Think it sounds far fetched? Not at all. Rachel from Glenview found herself in that exact situation. “I still was making payments on this thing, and it wasn’t until I compared notes from a few places that I found a seasonal fix to my problem. I went back in and turned an almost $1200 job into a $180 job.”

Auto Repair Chicago Tip #4: Ask Your Mechanic: What Is The Top Priority?

Scott from Addison discovered how to space it out: “The work I needed had a price tag about $350 more than my car was even worth. But I didn’t have enough spending cash to just go out and grab a replacement. I hit a few shops online and found one that would work with me by focusing on the major issue and then scheduling multiple, less costly follow ups.”

Auto Repair Chicago Tip #5: Ask Your Mechanic: For A Ballpark Figure And Relevant Information

“There’s nothing wrong with asking for a general estimate over the phone or online,” says Carla of Chicago. “Yes, I understand they need to look at my car to be sure, but if the person can’t give me reasonable information and/or a ballpark price, it makes me think he’s not qualified. And if he starts doing that ‘bring it in and we’ll take a look’ dance, I just head elsewhere.”

Always remember: in almost every instance, clear communication and education are the #1 ways for you to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous repair shops. When in doubt, always ask questions. And with the availability of online tools, you should compare quotes and notes on local service professionals before you find yourself living an auto repair nightmare.

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