Information about Cheap Cars, Car Parts, Car Loans and Others

Most of us need a car to get to work, run errands or got to and from the places we wish to go. Since owning a car is such a necessity, millions of of us buy brand new cars without considering the benefits of pre-owned over new cars. A brand new minivan like the one I drive can cost over $20,000. A 2 year-old van with 45,000 miles on it can be bought for less than $7,000. Considering that a good car will last at least 125,000 miles without major repairs such as transmission, engine or suspension problems, a new minivan would cost you 16 cents a mile just to own it, versus the used van which will cost of just over 11 cents. If you run the math, the value of a used car is impossible to beat.

There are strategies you can follow to make sure a used car will fit into your lifestyle. Most people fear used cars due to reliability issues. This is a fair concern, but how you choose a used car will help you mitigate this issue. To begin, a car that was a dud when it was new will still be a dud after three or four years. Well-made cars are still well made after several years. It isn’t difficult to buy a car with a good reputation that has been maintained responsibly. Do your research and choose several years and models of car that will both suit your needs and have a good reputation, such as winning a JD Power award, a good mention in Consumer Reports, or a good review with Kelly Blue Book. All these have online resources you can use to get clear and important information, like how much a car is actually worth on the open market. Knowing this you from paying too much for the car.

Once you have some car models in mind, arrange financing if you don’t have the cash. Your bank or credit union will know what the “blue book” value is on a car and can commit to a price so you know how much you can offer. Craig’s List is an excellent resource to buy from individuals, and I have found that some will even accept PayPal. Here is a little hint when buying from individuals either through websites or newspapers, the farther the person lives out of town, the better deal you can get because they usually have fewer buyers to choose from. In my town, these websites update hourly, so don’t be afraid to check often. Another money-saving strategy is to buy a car BEFORE yours goes kaput. If your current car does fail on you, renting a car for a week or two and taking your time to find a good used car will save you money and headaches in the long run.

In a perfect world, a buyer would let you take your car to a mechanic for a thorough check, but I have found there are some simple ways to tell if a car has been taken care of and is in good repair. Begin by going online for a good checklist, but I have found that people who are sticklers for maintenance show it in other ways. Check out their yard and garage. A tidy garage, tool shed and house is the sign of someone who takes care of things. A guy who shows you all the receipts for minor repairs and maintenance is telling you he’s a good steward of his car. If you buy a car that is less than 10 years old, you can often get an extended warranty to insure against major repairs for just a few dollars a month, far less than a car payment.

Finally, join an automotive club ( I joined AAA), and pay the extra money for the gold membership if you can afford it. Even a good used car may need a new battery, and you may not learn until it is an extra cold or extra hot day. Frankly, to save the cost of a car payment every month (not to mention the insurance), I am willing to sit for an hour until the tow truck arrives. Most of us have cell phones, but a cheap disposable one for less than 20 bucks can buy you peace of mind. Like buying a car before you need one, choose a mechanic the same way. I have a great mechanic I have known for years and recommend him all the time. Someone you know has a favorite “car guy”. Keep that information handy in case you have a problem.

Given the sheer math, I can tell you from decades of experience there is no better value when it comes to owning and operating than a used car. Choose carefully, and the used car isn’t any more problematic than a new one but they cost a whole lot less to own.

There are a number of ways in which you can protect your car from being targeted unnecessarily by joy riders and thieves. Here are 8 tips that we have compiled, they may seem obvious but it is often little mistakes than can lead to great expense and heartache.

Like the day you forget to lock the boot, or the time you left the car running while you nipped to the cash machine.

Take a look at our list of how to keep your car as safe as you can.

When you park your car in a car park that requires a ticket in order to exit, make sure you take the ticket with you.

Do not leave any possessions on display; when you leave valuables or possessions in your car make sure you put them in the boot and lock it. If you do not have room in the boot try to hide any valuables under the seats. Mobiles, cigarettes, CD’s and bags are all prime targets for thieves.

Always try and park in a well-lit and public place, or in a car park that has a security guard or cameras in order to deter thieves and joy riders.

Always double-check that you have shut all the windows including the sunroof, as it is easy for a thief to get in by using the sunroof. Finally, double check that you have locked all the doors, and the boot before leaving your vehicle.

Never leave your keys in the ignition, even for a moment while you pop into a shop or to the cash machine. It only takes 3 seconds for a thief to get in and drive off.

Have the registration number of your car etched into every window. This will discourage thieves, as it increases their workload.

Look into getting a good steering wheel lock and an alarm this acts as a deterrent as it will delay a potential thief. Also, many, insurance companies will give discounts on your premium if you have a quality security device fitted.

If you park your car in a driveway at night, it may be a good idea to invest in some good gates or a removable bollard.

Don’t use your mobile when driving.

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance quotes, you’ll want to consider long established as well as newer auto insurance companies for cheaper rates; newer companies are competing for your business, however they don’t have the history to back them up. Getting vehicle, truck, auto or car insurance is something everyone who drives a vehicle has to have; yet many people end up paying too much for their auto insurance and they’ll never know they are doing so. Today most car or auto insurance companies offer a wide range of policies and plans to their customers and therefore can offer discounted free online cheap car insurance quotes.

You also may want to consider your longevity with your current company, especially if you have a good record in case length of your coverage plays a part in the rates you have now or other variables in your policy that might be different and more valuable to you than with a newer company — even at a lower or cheaper rate. You definitely want to compare insurance policy features; compare the wide range of deductibles that are offered and compare the level of coverage they provide, this can vary quite a bit. Of course if you’re already insured you can choose to stay with your present auto insurance company or go with a new company if you want to, but low cost or cheaper rates may be a good reason to switch to another insurance company.

Make sure to find out all you can about the company you’ve selected; check online for customer car insurance reviews and ratings but keep in mind that a few negative reviews can happen with any auto insurance company. Many companies will offer lower or cheaper insurance rates or more affordable rates than others with the same type of policies. Make sure you find out exactly how much deductibles will be and any conditions attached to them.

You can also look for insurance companies that offer discounts to good drivers; this is another good reason to concentrate on driving defensively and keep focused on your driving. If you’re over 50 years of age, you and your spouse can become members of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) for only $12.50 a year for US residents; they deeply discount insurance and are currently affiliated with one company, thus able to give you an online cheap car insurance quote. You can visit websites and request free cheap car insurance quotes; you’ll need to give them basic, detailed information about your car insurance history, your current situation and what you need in terms of your policy.

Several car insurance policies or plans rely on a reasonable estimation of the average annual distance expected to be driven which is provided by the insured; this discount benefits drivers who drive their cars infrequently. Most single line and multiple line companies offer discounts and other great benefits for carrying multiple car insurance policies and other lines of insurance in the same household. Some companies do take into consideration the credit report rating of the customer in determining the level of risk for the insurance company; if you have poor credit or bad marks on your credit report you’ll want to find a car insurance company that doesn’t look at FICO or credit scores in making its decision about what rates they will charge you in their quote.

A discounted insurance policy doesn’t mean that you’ll have the best policy so you’ll need to check this out carefully first; make sure to compare it with other companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal. You want to compare, compare and compare the cheap car insurance quotes that you do get; some may be very similar but some quotes could be quite different.

In the U.S. many insurers offer a good grade discount to students with a good academic record and resident student discounts to those who live away from home. Some companies offer special discounts for women too; make sure to ask if you’re female.

And make sure to compare, compare and compare again; get as many quotes as you can find time for and you should be able to come up with some of the best, free, online, cheap car insurance quotes. These are just some of the best tips that can help you save money on your auto insurance and give you an idea what to ask and look for when you are trying to get a cheap car insurance quote. Make sure the company you select offers excellent low cost and cheap rates of car insurance and a good level of customer service too.

Leaping into production in 1958, the Donald Healey Sprite was a low cost sports car which used existing BMC parts to ensure over heads of the cars productions remained low. The Austin Healey Sprite would prove to be a big success.

The commonly named “Austin Frogeye”, the Mark I Sprite, was a massive success in its three years of production, with no other car competing on price or performance. As its widely used nick name suggests, the distinctive look of the Mark I Sprite owed itself to the round headlamps on the bonnet of the car, nicked named “frog-eye” headlamps. Cheap and easy to maintain, the wings and bonnet was a one piece unit which opened up to allow easy and large access to the engine. The Mark I used the 948cc Austin A-Series engine which was tuneable and capable of 43bhp, the A35 gearbox and axels, and the twin SU carburettors. Equipped with leaf spring suspension to the front, and wishbone suspension to the rear, the Mark I got it suspension from earlier models such as the A35 and Moris Minor.

The Mark II saw some cosmetic changes including the famous headlamps being moved on to the wings, a change of rear bumper, and the introduction of front disc brakes. The Mark II was also equipped with a new larger engine from the Morris Minor 1000 and Morris Minor 1100, increasing the engine size to 1098cc.

A less performance geared Mark III Sprite was more fined with lockable doors, wind up windows, and quarter lights. With the rebadging of the Sprite by BMC to the Midget, the Sprite Mark III was also sold as the MG Midget Mark II.

The Mark IV had two main difference, with an increased capacity to 1275cc and a convertible roof instead of the removable roofs from the earlier variations.

The production of this classic car ended in 1971. Today many of this classic cars are known as “Spridgets” with the classic car enthusiasts community due to the Austin Healey Sprite and the MG Midgets sharing the same design and parts. This makes finding parts relatively easy due to the parts being interchangeable.