Archive for July 18th, 2009

Need To Know Before Buying Used Cars

Do you wish to own a luxurious car but the limited budget is restricting you? Now you can simply fulfill your dream of driving a luxurious car by choosing the option of buying used cars. The auto dealers dealing in pre owned cars offer cars of various makes and models, such as Audi, Bentley, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford and GMC.

As a pre owned car can fit the budget of more car owner aspirant. By buying a used car or pre owned car, you can easily save large amounts of money while fulfilling the dream of owning a car.

Used car is the best alternative to expensive new cars, and a smart investment decision too. In terms of manufacture as well as maintenance, used cars provide the same services such as fuel mileage and driving performance as that of a new car.

However, buying cars is not an easy task especially if you are buying used cars. There are various factors which must be taken care so that you make the right choice.

One of the most important points which you must consider while buying a used car is that it should be a certified model. A certified model is a clear indication that the car has already been checked thoroughly by the car selling company and it comes with a warranty period as well. Always go for the car on which an extended warranty period is being offered as it may prove beneficial for you in long run and just incase if something happens to the car. If you want to know more about the car you are purchasing research about its Vehicle Identification Number. Whenever you are going to buy a pre-owned car, it is always advised to first know about the actual market value of the car and then offer your lowest price. The best advantage of buying second-hand cars is that you can easily negotiate with the prices. You must also check the history of the car such as accidents in the past or look for any kind of damage. It may prove beneficial for you to lower down the price. Always read the contract and confirm it before signing to it. There are chances that the company may try to fool you, therefore thoroughly reading the contract is a must. If you don’t understand any point get it cleared by the company and consult for further clarifications. Another important thing to know about the car is its performance and to know that you can take a test drive. Take as much time as you want for the test drive to examine the car performance thoroughly. If possible get it checked by a mechanic.

Automarket.com.au is a biggest Australia based automotive site offers free vehicle advertising in Australia. If you are looking for buying used, second hand or pre owned car then Automarket.com.au is best option for finding best used car for you at very affordable prices. Visit on Automarket.com.au for getting more details.

Compare the Costs: Buying a Used Car vs a New Car

Buy new or used?  That’s probably the first question that crosses a potential car buyer’s mind.  When money’s tight and the economy forces everyone to rethink both major and minor decisions, putting money on a significant purchase such as a car should be considered carefully.  If you still cannot decide

You avoid paying for the depreciation
Depreciation is a major issue when buying new cars.  A brand new vehicle will lose a significant percentage of its market value the moment you drive it off the retailer’s lot.  From there, it will continue to lose value for about three years.  For most first-time owners of new cars, the drop in value can be surprising in an unpleasant way.  Try selling a one-year-old car and you’ll see what a huge chunk of value gets shaved off.

If you wish to avoid paying for depreciation, a used car is far better than a new car in this department.  You leave it to the original owner to shoulder depreciation and you get to enjoy the use of the vehicle thereafter.

You can buy excellent cars cheaper than $10,000
Ten thousand dollars will probably buy you a brand new car — a nice, small, compact car that even your kid brother or young son could drive with little effort.  Great if you’re looking for a car this small and if you don’t mind the most basic (read: incomplete) features.  

If you choose to buy used, however, there’s no need to spend thousands of dollars on a purchase.  If budget is a big consideration, then a used car will be a better choice than a new car.  As long as you choose wisely, a new car can give you so much more in terms of savings over its usable years.

You have a choice in terms of brand, make and model
Hundreds of thousands of cars enter the used car market each year.  That should give you a few hundred choices that will fit your needs and whatever specifications you might require.  The number of cars made available through dealerships, auctions and private sellers also give you a wide range of choices in terms of mileage.  It’s even possible you’ll find a low-mileage car at a very affordable price.

You can find a used car that has great investment value AND excellent working features
Cars are not exactly investments unless you count their contribution to a business.  In most cases, the purchase of a car if often chalked up as expense.  There are also expenses that are often associated with brand new cars that may not be an issue with used cars.  Used cars, for example, do not require the high insurance premium that you’ll have to pay for if you choose a new car.  That’s a significant amount of savings in terms of dollars every year.

You get the car of your dreams at huge savings
Another reason why a used car is better than a new car is that it gives you access to some high-end cars without requiring you to spend a lot.  If brand names such as Mercedes, Audi and Chevrolet seem the epitome of hard-to-afford cars, you can still own one (or a few) of these cars without having a fat bank account.

If you are still undecided as to which of the wide variety of Birmingham Used Cars to buy, get confused more by visiting Car Sale Hub. Just kidding! Car Sale Hub shows you where to get only the best used cars in your area.

Reminiscing ‘porsche Pete’

He was known simply as “Porsche Pete”, a character created on a website intended for Porsche automobiles specifically the Boxster. The man behind it was Charles “Chuck” Hammersmith of Burlington.

In July 1, Hammersmith died at the age of 53. He pioneered the PPBB.com Web site, or Porsche Pete’s Boxster Board, one of the first Internet message boards on the subject, and the most active devoted to the Boxster, Porsche’s best-selling car. The website might also have an insight on Porsche 944 parts.

While Hammersmith had been charmed by Boxsters since before he could drive, friends from his message board say that the car particularly interested him because it was the first Porsche made available to a wider audience. Before his first Boxster, the fanatic owned three 911s.

Porsche fans organized the Blue Ridge Boxster Summit in Blowing Rock, where PPBB.com users have met for the last nine years. That’s because of Hammersmith’s site.

Karl Folkens, a South Carolina resident and PPBB.com administrator, said that the biggest thrill for many who attended the first and subsequent summits, was meeting “Porsche Pete” in person. He continued that one got the sense he’s a pistol-pulling kind of guy form the website, but in person one would find he’s very mild mannered.

Kim, Hammersmith’s daughter, said that her dad was never the spotlight dominant, and would have been surprised by all the appreciation he received since his death began to spread. Thousands of posts are on the Web site, highlighting Hammersmith through memories and photos.

Kim, who has an appreciation for Porsche herself and toured a factory while visiting Germany a few years ago, continued they didn’t realize how big an impact the site made for the past 10 years. The daughter added her dad never really wanted to take credit for anything he did.

Hammersmith wasn’t able to make it to the 9th annual gathering last month, where Boxster friends spent four days driving along the 400-mile Blue Ridge Parkway’s winding mountain roads.

Gordon Mckeehan, parts manager at Porsche dealer Suncoast Motorsports, said the honor was his and the other employees, to sell Hamersmith his last Boxster in 2003.

Cecil Thorpe, one of the site’s administrators said that since the opening of the website, Porsche owners and other self-designated “car geeks” have posted millions of messages on the message board.

Thorpe said the discussions on the board are monitored by Porsche’s corporate headquarters to learn what owners like and don’t like about the vehicle.

The loss was especially difficult for Robert Granger, Hammersmith’s co-host from Texas.

In an email, Granger implied that Chuck’s philosophy has always been really so special.

Aside from meeting Hammersmith at Boxster gatherings, Granger had met Hammersmith’s daughters, and was especially amazed by the father’s love for them. He said that other than a true Boxster fanatic, Chuck’s real pride and joy were his two girls, Kim and Sarah. He added Chuck never missed a chance to brag on them.

Rain Stockton is an engineer by profession. He is a motorsports fanatic, especially F1 and NASCAR. He seldom fails to attend major car racing events. A frustrated race car driver, he spends some of his free time working in one of the largest automotive shops in Indianapolis.