Month: April 2015

Old cars and maintenance

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Owning an old car can be an enjoyable hobby. It’s both unique, eye catching, and fun to own. However, as with anything owning an old car requires a lot more commitment and diligence than with a regular or newer car. That doesn’t mean owning an old car isn’t rewarding but not for the faint of heart.

100,000 miles and going

Most people consider a car old once it gets close to the dreaded 75,000 mark. While the bluebook value of your car may drop that doesn’t mean it isn’t still valuable. While most people consider a car just a means to an end, holding onto requires more than just a casual glance and a trip to the mechanic once in a while. As a car gets older and starts putting on more miles certain parts will eventually need to be replaced no matter how good of a condition you keep it; thinks like axels, hoses, cylinders, and in some cases the entire engine. Also a lot depends on the manufacturer and model of the car. Some cars age better than others.

Maintenance routine

low-angle photo of classic teal Chevrolet carHaving a regular maintenance routine for your car is a great way to keep it running longer and keeping repairs less expensive. However, with an older car increasing the frequency of the routine is one of the best ways to keep your car on the road. As mentioned above once a car gets older, certain parts are bound to need repair. This plus certain makes and models are prone to certain problems. Knowing what to look for and when can extend the life of your car indefinitely.

Finding parts

One of the toughest parts of maintaining an old car is finding parts to replace the ones that break or are going bad. This is especially true of the older, more exotic cars. While some parts are easy to replace and interchangeable, other parts might not be. This is why if you know your car is prone to having a specific part break, having extra’s on hand can cut down on the cost for a replacement while eliminating the potential scavenger hunt to find it.

Conclusion

Having an old car might seem counter-intuitive to many people but cars like people serve a purpose. Whether it’s getting us around, going on trips with the family or carting us off after the wedding. These special moments we share with our cars. Why wouldn’t we want them to stick around a little bit more?

Take care when buying a used car

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When buying a used car, whether it’s from a dealership or sold by the owner, taking some precautions can help you avoid potential trouble with the vehicle. Buying a new car can be stressful at best and no more so when buying a previously owned vehicle. Much like buying a house, knowing the history can make a huge difference when deciding which car to buy.

Dealerships

ok used cars signageGetting a used car from a dealership is often considered a safer bet compared to other options but as the phrase goes “Buyer beware.” While most dealerships generally have a level of quality that they hold too but that doesn’t mean every one of them does. One thing to keep in mind with dealerships is that most of the salesmen work on commission. This means that they are very inclined to try and get you to buy a car from them. Most salesmen will offer a number of incentives and deals for buying a car from them while others will promise extra features and tack on the costs for them during the signing. Additionally many salesmen employ a number of manipulative tactics to boost the price of the car before signing.

Previous owners

Buying a car from a previous owner has its own advantages and disadvantages as well. For instance, the car could need major repairs increasing the overall cost of purchasing the car. Like the car salesmen mentioned above, most owners are honest and forthcoming with information but that doesn’t mean all of them will be. One of the best ways to avoid a potential scam is to inspect the car both yourself and have a licensed and reputable mechanic check it out first. This way you get a firsthand knowledge of the condition of the car and how honest the seller is. This may be hard to do if purchasing a car though an online posting, but most online sellers frequently answer questions and post multiple pictures along with all relevant information.

Conclusion

Getting a used car is often a far cheaper and easier way to get a car. Many states have specific laws regarding the fraudulent selling of a used car but this doesn’t mean that are completely safe. Whether you buy from a dealership or from a private owner, know exactly what you are purchasing. Some key items to note are:

  • • Total mileage
  • • Any major accidents and/or insurance claims made on the car
  • • Who was driving it prior
  • • How many owners has it had
  • • What is the overall physical condition of the car
  • • If purchasing from a dealership what warranty’s or extra incentives do they offer for purchasing a car

By doing your homework you can avoid going home with a junker instead of the car you need.

How to sell your car

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Getting rid of an older, no longer needed vehicle requires a lot more than just throwing a for sale sign in the window. Making sure your car is in ready to be sold will help you get a better price for your vehicle as well as make it more likely to be sold.

Road worthy

Whether you are selling a car to get rid of an extra vehicle that you don’t need, looking to upgrade and want a few more bucks towards a new car, or whatever reason you may have; making sure your car is in good condition prior is hugely beneficial. Having your car in decent condition will allow you to get a better price for your car as well as increases the likely hood that it will be sold quickly.

Advertising

You won’t be able to sell your car quickly unless people know about it. Having your car listed in local newspapers, on auto sale websites, etc. will boost the exposure of your sale. Additionally when selling your car this way make sure you include several photos and give as many details about the car as possible. Everything from the color, to any accidents it might have had, to the last time it was inspected. All of this informs potential buyers that you have nothing to hide with the car as well as shows you take good care of the vehicle.

Selling online

Another way to sell your car is to list it on some of the various online car selling websites. Similar to advertising, making sure that all of the relevant information is included along with various pictures of the exterior and interior of the vehicle. This will eliminate a lot of the common questions that might be asked as well as increase the chances of your car being sold.

Conclusion

Selling your car might seem like more of a hassle than it’s worth but with just a few simple things to keep in mind you can ensure that you get the price you ask for as well as a speedy sale. Some of these key points to remember are:

  • • Make sure the car is inspected and all repairs are done before selling it
  • • Take lots of pictures of the exterior as well as the interior for any advertisements or online postings.
  • • When listing your car for advertisement or online sale include as many details about the car as possible. This will show confidence in your ability to take care of the car prior to the sale

A few preparations before the sale can pay off tenfold later.

Used cars and insurance

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Buying a used car is something most of us have done or will do at some point in our life. Whether it’s our first car in high school or a replacement for an old one that bit the dust, used cars come in handy. Of course, as with owning any car having the right insurance is just as important as finding the right car

Used Cars

 There are a few things that one has to consider when buying a used car. When buying from a dealer, generally you can expect a better quality and more confidence in your purchase. This isn’t to say that buying a car from an owner directly isn’t an option but a lot more homework is required. For example, a history of any major repairs, accident reports, the last time the vehicle received a scheduled checkup, etc are good information regardless of who you are buying the car from. However, a dealership will have better access to this information than a direct owner might.

Car insurance

silver and black car engineNot all car insurance is created equally. Having car insurance for a newer car vs a used car are two different policies. For new cars most dealerships offer a manufactures warranty on the vehicle up to a set window of time and/or miles driven. This helps keep the insurance rates down as any major issue most of it could very well fall under this warranty meaning the insurance company does not have to run the risk of having to pay. For a used car, a warranty isn’t always a given from the dealership which is why the insurance will generally be far greater for a used car than a new car. Additionally you might need more protection with a used car than a new one. Such as window replacement, towing coverage, along with other possible amenities. All of this increases your overall insurance for the vehicle.

Some great links to read more about car insurance are:

Bilforsikring (In Danish) – You can use Google Translate. It works fine

Wikipedia – Vehicle Insurance

Confused.com – find the perfect car insurance

Gov.uk – Information on car insurance from the UK government

Conclusion

While buying a used car will typically be far cheaper than buying new, there are some pitfalls to beware of. Additionally knowing your state and federal laws regarding the sale of used cars can help you avoid potential scams or false sales. In this day and age owning a car is practically a necessity especially for certain parts of the country. For this reason having the proper insurance for your car will protect you and your family as well as add some extra piece of mind with owning and operating your car.