How To Purchase A Used Car

Buying a used car is a bit trickier than buying a new car although you can follow most of the same guidelines for both.

First, know what car you have in mind. Research the car. There is a wealth of information online. Check the car manufacturers web site, consumer reports and the edmunds.com. web site. Know the approximate value of the car before you head out to the dealer. Go to your bank or to your credit union before you go shopping and see how much money they'll be able to lend you on a used car. This way you'll have a much better idea what you can realistically spend.

Realize that there are many different models of the same car. You may not find exactly the car with all the extras you want, or the exact color, but you may find something close that is a great deal.

Most dealers are upright and honest when selling used cars. They offer limited warranties with them. In the case of luxury end cars a lot of them still have warranties in effect when you purchase them.

If you are buying from a private seller ask to see service records. Go online and order a carfax car history report. Find out if the car will be sold "as is" or already state inspected. When you are serious about a used car make sure that you have time to take the car to your mechanic for him to give the car the once over, especially if it's being sold "as is". You don't need to find out after the fact that it needs many more repairs than you thought. You can't tell just by a visual inspection.

The cosmetics of the car are an important factor in determining it's value. Cars are generally rated as being in good, fair or excellent condition. However, especially when purchasing from a private seller you'll find that these ratings vary, sometimes greatly.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone pressure you into making a quick decision, especially a private seller. If you hear something like "I already have someone else who's willing to give me a down payment" let the car go. Stick to your guns, and your budget. If you don't get this car it wasn't meant to be and there will always be another, and better one.

Read More

Car Thieves at Dealerships

It seems the effects of these trying economic times know no bounds. People are resorting to even more illegal activities and theft is on the rise. In particular, car theft seems to be the most attractive for the desperate because of its street value.

Most car thieves used the old fashion techniques like jimmying the lock or using a crowbar. Lately, many car dealerships are dealing with car theft right under their own noses. It seems many of these thefts are inside jobs. Vast majorities of other car dealerships with less than adequate security are becoming more hip to the times and have beefed up security measures to protect against theft form the outside.

It was reported that a western Nebraska, Scottsbluff to be exact, the Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota car dealership lost dozens of new cars in early March of this year. The cars were later found at auto auctions in Utah and Arizona. The culprits? Well it wasn't the usual suspects. It was the executives working inside the car dealership - the dealership owner Allen Patch, the general manager Rick Covello and the controller Rachel Fait. They cleared out their offices and left town with 81 Ford and Toyota vehicles!

This was not your ordinary heist. These vehicles were vanishing by the truckload! It rather reminds you of the Fast and the Furious movie with Vin Diesel and his crew high jacking fast cars while driving in even faster cars on the highway at high speed. Of course, that's Hollywood and the guilty here were more low - keyed and under the radar and arranged it from behind an office desk. This was a true insider operation and a car theft story with TV or movie potential. How about that ol' Nicholas Cage auto theft film - Gone in Sixty Seconds? The total cost of the merchandise stolen was over $2 million! It's no wonder the car dealer executives disappeared all of a sudden after the heist occurred.

Though many of these cars were sold, they were eventually caught in Utah at an auto auction. When you're trusted with very expensive inventory, and desperation takes over, stories such as this become the reality. This car dealership was obviously going through some financial troubles just like most businesses in the country.

Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a car theft at a successful cash for car business in Long Island, NY. The car thief was daring and managed to steal car keys to a Mercedes on the car lot. The thief managed to sneak in and out with the key and drive off the lot with the Mercedes.

Thanks to sophisticated video surveillance placed strategically in key areas, the key theft was caught on tape! The dealership immediately had the video aired on the Channel 12 News that evening as well as the following morning. They received an anonymous phone call from an individual stating the exact same car was parked in the nearby area. Seeing himself on the Channel 12 News must've made him think twice about keeping it.

Suffice to say, the dealership was able to recover the stolen vehicle back to their lot. The owner immediately added more upgrades to the dealership's security to the point where it is more airtight than ever before. Considering the shape the economy is in, they're doing rather well in these times and the owner obviously intends to keep it that way.

Bond Mejeh produces automotive related articles for Quick Cash Auto, a service helping people sell a car. Quick Cash Auto not only buys pre-owned vehicles of any year, make or model, but they also provide numerous articles about vehicle repair and automotive news.

Read More

Solar Powered Electric Cars

Toyota Introduces Solar Power To Electric Vehicles

Toyota is developing electric cars which can utilize solar panels for power. This is the first time that Toyota is using solar energy, a great renewable source of energy to charge electric batteries in hybrid cars.

Solar panels are being mounted on each end of new Toyota electric cars to draw renewable energy from the sun. This is not the first time solar energy has been introduced as a source of energy to power automobiles. It is possible to create a solar powered vehicle but there are trade-offs when it comes to speed. As far as using it for powering electric batteries found in hybrid vehicles there is considerable concern as to whether or not the sun will be able to provide enough power to charge the battery.

Solar powered methods have been used for powering outdoor lamps. These lamps collect energy from the sun during the day and then can be used at night. That type of simple and efficient energy transfer for hybrid type vehicles still needs more development and improvement.

It would seem, however, that Toyota may have found a means to effectively recharge hybrid batteries. Though Toyota has made no comment regarding this prototype, it is conceivable that solar energy could be harvested through panels and may possess enough energy to power dashboards systems, headlights, windshield wipers and even the vehicles radio. Other more energy utilizing systems may require much more power than panels can provide. If Toyota has found a way around this we'll know soon enough.

Since 2008, it has been rumored that Toyota has created a roof top solar panel for a next generation Prius. We know Toyota has been using solar power for its plant in central Japan but beyond that we'll just have to wait and see. But even if this becomes a mainstream reality, what price tag will it have?

When asked about the affect on the cash for car business, the owner of Quick Cash Auto felt he'd be doing fine either way. More than likely the price tag will be steep and in this economy where people are literally getting rid of leased and pre-owned vehicles like hot cakes to places like Quick Cash Auto, it'll probably be a long while before one could really consider a solar powered hybrid as a factor on present car values. And even if the day comes when everyone wants a new solar paneled trick out hybrid, they'll probably want to sell their current car anyway. So it looks like he'll be just fine. We're definitely going to be keeping an eye on later developments in this area. After all, this is the future of hybrids.

Remember when the first hybrid came out? It was heralded as the future of the conventional car. My how far we've come! And it looks like we're just getting started.

Read More

Car Insurance Goes Online!

People have growing needs when it comes to choosing the best car insurance. Several factors must be taken into consideration that is why a prospective car insurance buyer must be knowledgeable before purchasing. Car Insurance Companies reinvent their packages to better fit the needs of car owners. With the progress of technology, auto insurance is now based online to serve you better.

As a general overview, everything that your insurance company offers can be found in a web-based insurance company. However, online insurance speaks better when it comes to faster, easier and more reliable service. You do not have to travel far and wait in line just to seek auto insurance specialists to heed your needs. Minus the effort and the time spent waiting, you can now have access to direct automobile insurance from anywhere in the world!

The advantages of online car insurance are as follows:

Easy Access to Information

Online Tutorial

Not everyone is adept with general car insurance or commercial auto insurance. As mentioned, prices or premiums and coverage vary by state and by company. Not only that, there are factors that you need to consider as a buyer, such as if you are prone to accidents or if you carry a used car. The online tutorial that these online companies offer can help you as they are easy to understand. At times, online inquiry can even be easier than through phone or personal assistance.

Online quotes

As fast as the click on the screen, you can find the cheapest auto insurance or the best auto insurance for your needs. Most auto insurance companies can help you find the premium that you need as it differs when you have a new car or a used car. You may compare auto insurance rates so that you have an idea of what to buy.

Reliable Comparison

Car insurance ratings

Comparison is probably one of the few difficult stages when deciding for an insurance automobile. However, online comparison is proven to be a lot easier and you can even get the best rate without doubt. People get tired of the sales pitch; online can deliver better without it.

Car Coverage in a jiffy

If you know your car and are ready for every detail that is needed to know what insurance package you need, then getting it can be easier for you and your car insurance calculator. In an instant, you will have the best car insurance and not regret what you have purchased.

Read More