What to Look at Before Purchasing a Used Car

What to Look at Before Purchasing a Used Car
So, you re looking at purchasing a used car. Sure you probably have a wish list with few models in mind, but which one to choose from? With oil prices soaring and the prices of everything on the rise with not nearly good enough pay increases, we all want to get the best for our money and be happy with the purchase made right? We all want reliability, low maintenance costs, safety, and above all great fuel economy. Is that too much to ask? The best way to accomplish all this is by being an informed buyer! First we start with make and model. As stated above, you are looking for what fits you the best, personality, reliability, low maintenance costs, safety, and above all great fuel economy. You may have a few models in mind that are made by different manufacturers. There are websites that you can visit and compare more than one manufacturer all at the same time (www.edmunds.com , www.carsmart.com , autos.msn.com , carfax , www.iihs.org). My personal favorite site is www.consumerreports.org. This site is not free, but it is inexpensive to join ($26 per year or $4.95 per month) and it is handy for researching many other consumer products than cars! These sites (as well as others out there) can provide you with invaluable groundwork to make a final decision on one model. Keep in mind that with brand new models, these sites will often have incomplete data as they have not received crash test data etc from government agencies etc. After I decide what make and model I want to purchase I go to the manufacturers web page and do some research on available packages, as well as if they are planning on releasing a newer model in the near future. This can benefit you come purchase time as when a new body style of the same model is released, it drops the resale price of the previous generation of the vehicle by a bit. Every bit counts and you can score big on clearance sales, lease returns, etc if your timing is right. The last thing to research before purchasing a new car is what dealer to purchase from (if you are looking at dealerships). This might take some leg work, as most of this research cannot be done online. You need to get a list of local dealerships and visit each one. This will allow you to observe the atmosphere of the dealership, and see how friendly/service oriented they are. See what kind of warranties they offer, just beware of some extended warranties as they require you to bring your vehicle to the dealership only for service, which can be a hassle etc. On the flip side, buying from a private seller has its advantages and disadvantages. Advantage: Often a lower price, more room to haggle, and less dealership type intimidation, no warranty (unless one is already purchased by private seller and is transferable). Disadvantage: Higher price due to dealer overhead costs, little or no room to haggle, Pay extra for extended warranty. As always the biggest disadvantage/gamble of purchasing a used car is its history. Unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon a used car that is owned by an immaculate owner who has service logs, and receipts of all the service ever done on the vehicle, is always a gamble. This is where a pre-check by your trusted mechanic can pay off, or the purchase of an extended warranty to cover any unknown problems that my crop up (and there always are!). In this day and age, it is important to research products before you buy them. For those of use without millions of dollars to throw away on impulse purchases, we need to know we are getting what we pay for. There is nothing worse than purchasing a car only to have it have serious reliability issues or horrible safety ratings. Just because it looks good or goes fast, does not mean it s reliable and/or safe! Research first = informed decision and ultimately the goal is getting your moneys worth when buying used. www.Jac2000.com New Cars Used Cars Exotic Cars car rental

Feeling The Squeeze With A Potential Car Lemon?
No one buys a new vehicle expecting it to break down time and time again. However, these days consist of corporate finger-pointing and not wanting to take responsibility for any potential problems. Consumers have to take care and trust no one but themselves when it comes to a car lemon and they have to arm themselves with the latest on their state?s car lemon law. Unfortunately, that means always being diligent about documentation and keeping paperwork, no matter what is involved.

According to most lemon laws, a vehicle is considered a lemon when it has a defect or malfunction that continually pops up despite repairs and could be a potential hazard to the driver?s safety. Every state is different and has special requirements on the number of times a vehicle should be brought in for service for the same defect before it is considered a car lemon. The lemon law of California states that four attempts should be made to repair the same defect. However, the lemon law of Florida states that it is three attempts.

It is every man for himself, so that is why documentation is so important. Sometimes, the vehicle you bought new is not presumed a lemon until the warranty is out of date or the number of miles on the odometer is over the limit specified in your state?s lemon law. The documentation you keep - repair visits, routine maintenance, etc. - will help uphold your rights under the car lemon law.

When you are getting warranty work done on your car, make notes on each and every person you talked with about your maintenance and repairs. Ask for quotes as well as actual work done in writing. Just because some repair work may have been done under warranty and therefore covered by the manufacturer does not mean you are not entitled to an invoice. The burden of proof lies with you.

Another tip is to have the authorized repair center make note of your complaint on your invoice. Make sure that every time you receive a receipt or any piece of paper with your car statistics that it has your car?s odometer reading listed too. Write down the date and time of all of your phone conversations. Sometimes, managers and other decision makers will claim that they did not receive any messages from you. Be sure to get last names and employee titles where applicable. It will be harder for anyone to ‘pass the buck’ with your documentation.

As a consumer, you have certain rights under your state?s lemon laws. If you have any trouble with the manufacturer making good on your car, you can consult with lemon law attorneys. They will help you understand your rights. The lesson to be learned when buying a new car, is always expect a car lemon. That way you will be prepared for anything that happens.

Earl Powers, US Lawyer and <a href="http://www.free-car-lemon-check.com">Lemon Law In</a> expert - focusing on <a href="http://www.lemon-law-lawyers.com">State Lemon Laws</a> and <a href="http://www.used-car-lemon-laws.com">Lemon Law Attorney</a>

A Car Loan For People With Bad Credit
Most banks have strict policies about whom they will lend their money to and for what the money will be used. They will not grant you a car loan for a used car which is older than five years. They charge higher interest rates on loans for used cars than on loans for new cars. And very rarely do they grant loans to people who fall under the ?subprime? category.

A person who is considered a subprime borrower is one who has a blemished credit history. He may not be paying his bills on time or he may overextend his credit card. A subprime borrower is usually someone who has a credit score below 620. If your loan application has been rejected on the grounds that you belong to this credit-unworthy group, does this mean that you cannot borrow anymore?

You may still get a car loan if you will look for lenders that grant financing to subprime borrowers. Avoid finance companies that advertise ?1.9% interest**?. Notice the sign (**)? Below the big ads, written in fine print, the ** means for prime borrowers only or for people with excellent credit. Clearly you do not belong to this worthy group. People with bad credit will have less privileges when getting a car loan. The interest rates are decidedly high. You may opt to search for online lenders. But there are measures you may take to improve your circumstances.

The first thing to avoid is to rely completely on the car dealer. He will always get a certain percentage out of car loan transactions. In fact, it will be advisable if you are able to secure a car loan before you allow a car dealer to be within a shouting distance from you. When you look for a credit grantor, don?t accept the first one you encounter. Compare interest rates offered by lenders, but don?t accept the average rates they give. A lender may offer a lower interest rate for a person with a credit score of 800 and a higher interest rate for someone with a score of 600. Ask for specific rates. You may also approach credit unions and banks where you have a current account.

You also have a chance to improve your ?category? by checking your credit report and reforming your credit score. For example, there might be an error in the information found in your credit report. This error may have been the one responsible for the black mark on your credit history. You must immediately have this error corrected by informing the credit bureau in writing.

Credit scores can change. If you pay your bills on time and if you always stay within your budget, then your credit score will likely improve. Once you have a higher number, you may get a lower-rate refinancing for your car loan.

Peter Garant is writing articles about bad credit for his <a href="http://creditrepairkits.blogspot.com/">credit repair kits</a> blog and articles about <a href="http://www.halds.com/category/car-loans/">bad credit car loans</a> for his family finance site.

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Help! My cold engine won’t start Posted By : OzFree Cars
It is a cold Melbourne morning. Your feet are freezing, your scarf is so tight you feel as though you are strangling yourself and your fingers will not work because they are blue and cold. You slide into the front seat behind the wheel and turn the key. Nothing happens. Well it is winter! Now what do you do? Call the car repair shop? Buy a new, better car? Or you can do few simple things to prevent this happening.

Instant Car Loans - Using Credit Score To Get A Lower Rate
Smart car buyers know the advantages of getting pre-approved for a car loan before entering a dealership. Because dealerships have shady practices that involve charging higher interest rates and fees, many people choose to secure private financing and compare various auto loan offers. One way to get a low rate on an instant car loan is to have good credit. Here are three tips on improving credit before applying for a car loan.

Auto Loan for People with Good Credit

Regardless of credit rating, almost everyone can get approved for a car loan. Auto loans are secured, thus lenders have easy lending requirements. In their mind, it’s a win-win situation. If a person with bad credit defaults on the loan, the lender simply repossess the vehicle and re-sells it. However, because individuals with bad credit are charged higher fees, lenders are able to recoup some of their loss.

Unfortunately, many auto finance companies also charge good credit borrowers higher rates and fees. Because the majority of car buyers are unfamiliar with the auto buying process, they fail to take the necessary steps to ensure a low rate.

Know Your Personal Credit Score

Many people do not know their credit score. They likely know their credit category: good, fair, bad, etc. When determining an interest rate on auto loans, lenders review credit scores. If your score is above 680, you are a prime borrower and entitled to a low rate.

However, deceitful lenders do not inform borrowers of the prime credit rating, and charge more interest. To avoid this scam, car buyers should obtain a copy of their credit report and score before applying for a loan. This way, you have an idea of the rates you may qualify for.

Boost Credit Rating

Because instant car loan approvals are usually based on credit scores, maintaining a high or good credit rating is essential. Credit reports can be ordered and viewed online. If your score needs improvement, attempt to boost score by a few points before applying for a loan. This may entail paying bills on time, limiting number of credit inquiries, reducing debts, or settling past due accounts.

Try using <a href="http://www.abcloanguide.com">www.abcloanguide.com</a> for a list of <a href="http://www.abcloanguide.com/autoloans.shtml">Recommended Auto Loan Lenders</a> online. Their recommended companies are reputable and competitive in their rates.

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Buying A New Car
There are many things that you must consider when buying a new car. Most will have to do with the car itself such as what model to buy, the options you want to add, and the price of the car. However, there is one thing that it always pays to check out first, and that is, who are you buying the car from.

Dealers

Perhaps more important than the car you buy, is who you buy it from, what character they have and how they do business and treat customers. No matter what kind of car you are buying, it is possible that something will go wrong and you will need to call the dealer to fix the problem for you. If the dealer is honest and puts pride into satisfying his customers, you will have your problem solved quickly and you?ll be on the road, enjoying your new car in no time. If, on the other hand, he is only interested in getting paid and wants nothing more to do with you, then you could have a serious problem on your hands.

Be Aware

If you are calling a number of dealers to find out about the availability of a particular model, use the opportunity while on the phone to try and get a feel for the dealer. Ask yourself the question, ?is this someone I want to do business with?? If not, simply call another dealer.

If the sales person is in anyway impatient or pushy, perhaps you should be thinking about going elsewhere. If you are not completely comfortable in the environment then there is a higher chance that you are going to buy a car you don?t want, you?re not going to have a proper chance to weigh up all the advantages and disadvantages, and you are going to be reluctant to deal with the seller again if you have a problem.

However, if the dealer is relaxed and open, listens to your thoughts and needs and tries to help you find the car you want, there is a much better chance that you are going to leave with a car you actually want, and are not going to be pushed into making a rash purchase.

All purchases involve a personal relationship of some type between buyer and seller and there must be an element of trust if the transaction is to be wholly satisfactory. So when you?re thinking of the car you want, the financing, the insurance and all the other things that go with buying a new car, add to your list the salesperson and make sure you are dealing with someone you trust and are comfortable with.

Joseph Kenny writes for the loan advice and comparison sites <a href="http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/">Loan Store</a> and <a href="http://www.selectloans.co.uk/">http://www.selectloans.co.uk/</a>. For the best <a href="http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/compare_personal_loans.html">personal loans</a> the Loan Store have some of the latest offers.

Guidelines In Buying Cars Online
The Web is a hassle free place to shop for cars. There are many advantages to shopping cars online. First, it greatly reduces the hassle of dealing with car dealers and salesmen. When buying a car online, you don?t have to listen to a dealer talk about the specs of a car. You just have to read all about it in a website. You don?t have to go to a showroom, you just to have to point and click your mouse and you could browse through different make and models of cars. And if you want to take a second look at a car it?s very easy.

The advantage of shopping for a car online is that all transactions can be done without you having to go out of your room. After ordering the car you want and paying the price, all you have to do is to wit for your brand new vehicle to be delivered to the nearest dealer. Some dealers would even deliver the car right at your doorstep (or garage for that matter).

There are basically two types of online car shopping website. One will only get you in touch with a real car seller. This means you have to transact the traditional way. Then there are websites that would take car of everything. Some websites would even deliver the car at your doorstep. Of course this would entail a bigger amount of service fee. And deliveries are made only to nearby areas.

But before you click and buy, you must first know exactly what kind of car you want. Determine the types of car you?re looking for and the price you are willing to pay for that car.

Below are some other tips on how to buy a car online.

1. The most important thing to do is to research. Don?t get too excited. Check on the different packages available.

2. Make sure that the Website you go to is secure and reliable. Most sites would let you browse by car type, by price range or both.

3. If you don?t want to make all transactions online then you could ask the dealer to meet you in person once you found him on the Internet. Upon meeting the dealer, negotiate with him as you would a normal car dealer and then sign the papers.

4. It?s not necessary to pin the model, year and male of the car you want to buy. Just a general picture would do. Determine how you will be using your new car and the reason why you are buying a car in the first place. Ask yourself what features are important to you. Do you give much ore importance to fuel efficiency than speed or vice versa? Are you more concerned about safety features than a good sound system? After you?ve done all these, it?s time to determine your budget. Just how much are you willing to spend for a vehicle?

5. Once you have decided on a brand and model car it would be prudent t6o check on the history of the particular car line. You can easily do this by consulting consumer magazines and websites. You could also check out the website of the cart?s manufacturer (e.g. Ford, Toyota, BMW, etc.)

6. If you cannot afford new models, there are websites hat sells used cars. Popular search engines usually have an automotive section so this is a good place to shop. If you don?t find one here you can try searching using the search string ?used car.?

7. Check the background of the website of the online car dealer by clicking on the ?about us? section of the site. It is advisable to buy only from websites which has detailed information about the vehicles they are selling. Ask if they have conducted inspections of each car in their lot through independent mechanics. If they have, then you?ll know that that website is a good place to shop for cars. Most manufacturers’ Web sites have detailed information on models, including available options, photos and MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price).

8. Read reviews about the different make, model and year of cars. A good website must also have reviews and ratings for the cars they are selling. But you should also cross check by visiting independent car sites or sites that do not sell cars or are connected to car companies to get a more objective review.

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. <a href="http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com" title="http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com" target="_blank">http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com</a>