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

Most people are trying to save money when they buy a used car. Used cars are cheaper to buy, insure, register and pay tax on. A key reason for many people is the first year depreciation of a new car. A new car can depreciate as much as 30% in the first year.

Used cars are popular choices for parents buying a car for their kid. They want something safe and reliable but aren’t as particular about how it looks so that dings and dents aren’t that important. They mainly want to avoid buying a used car that will need major repairs.

A good place to start is to come up with a list of cars you are most interested in. Cars like the Toyota Camry which are considered very reliable and have a long history of lasting for years can be a good choice. This list will naturally depend on what type of car you need. If you live in a snow belt you may want to get a 4 wheel drive vehicle or at least a front wheel drive vehicle which handles well in the snow. You may need a pickup to haul things around. Once you know what type of vehicle you need make a list of the models you want to look for.

The internet has lots of resources you can use to build your list and to check on the fair market value and technical specifications of the cars you are interested in. Review the lists of the most reliable cars over time. Car and Driver has an annual list of the top five cars in each category. See which cars they have recommended in past years and review them. Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and Edmunds.com provide information on the fair market value, technical specifications and reviews of used cars, trucks and SUV’s.

Once you start looking at used cars make sure you find out if the car has ever been in an accident and it’s great if the seller has repair records and the maintenance history. If you are buying from a used car dealer ask if there is a warranty.

Do a good inspection of the car, the exterior, interior and the engine. Is the engine clean? Are the fluid levels good? Do you see signs of any leaks underneath the vehicle? Make sure you test drive the car, the longer the better. Leave the radio off so you can hear any strange noises. Notice how the car takes bumps, how many rattles you hear and engine noises. Check underneath particularly the exhaust system.

When you find the used car you want and have agreed on a price with a used car dealer make sure you read the fine print of anything you sign. Once you sign it is a done deal. A lot of people dread dealing with used car dealers but if you do your homework, inspect and test drive the car you will avoid most of the pitfalls. Also, dealing with a reputable used car dealer you can trust can make the process enjoyable.

No car lasts forever, but when they do finally break down for the last time it always seems to happen at the worst possible moment. If you are used to relying on your car to get around, suddenly finding yourself without one can cause major problems. It’s harder to get to work, it takes longer, and trying to do the weekly shopping without relying on the car is almost impossible.

The problem is, it’s not always as simple as popping out to buy a new one. Quite apart from the paperwork side of things, there’s the question of money to consider. How can you get a new car if you can’t afford to buy one? Your first thought will probably be to get a car loan to help you buy your next vehicle, but if you have a bad credit rating your bank is unlikely to look favourably on lending you money.

Of course the amount of money you need will depend largely on what kind of car you want to buy. If you are finding it hard to get the money together then you will no doubt be looking at the cheapest cars you can find. This can be a temptation you might be better off avoiding however. Buying a cheap car can leave you open to the possibility of further break downs and repairs in the near future, as the car is already several years old.

Happily there is another solution. Even car hunters with poor credit ratings can apply and be accepted for personal car finance through specialist lenders and brokers, which has two main benefits over other solutions.

Firstly you’ll often find that the loan is secured on the car itself, which means you won’t need to put up any security to make the loan possible. Secondly you will also be able to afford a much better car than you would be able to otherwise, meaning it will last far longer and be much more reliable as a result.

One of the main problems of having a bad credit history is the task of improving it again. It can be done of course, but it generally takes time and it can hamper your chances of getting credit anywhere else until your rating improves. This is where car finance can come in very useful, because as long as you meet your monthly payments you will be improving your credit rating with every month that goes by. This can have an enormous effect on your future status.

So if your car is looking decidedly shabby and it’s time to find a new one, there’s no need to worry about how you are going to afford it. A personal car loan direct from a car finance company might be the perfect solution.

No doubt you have made your mind up to buy a used car, after being sick of traveling on the bus everyday, to work or college, and you want to gain your independence.  For whatever reason, you will want a car that will get you from one place to another and back again.  More than likely, the route of getting a certified reliable used car will be the route that you want to go down.

There are many benefits to looking at certified used cars, and some people are opting to choose this type of car over buying a new model. Certified cars undergo rigorous testing, checking different parts of the car, to ensure that it is sound. They will check such things as the original engine parts and if any replacement parts have been added to the car since it was first registered – they will also check the wear and tear of these parts, to ensure that the car is consistent. The main things about this type of car is that is it will be more expensive than a typical car that you would buy from a friend or independent seller; if you are unsure of the inner workings of how a car works, then this could be a good option for you.

Certified cars also carry warranties, which means that previous work carried out on them, before it has been sold to you, will be of high quality and has to pass specified inspections, making this type of car more reliable. If you are looking to finance such a car from a dealership, or leasing company, then you will also find it a little easier for them to say yes to your deal, as they will be able to see that the car is going to last and has been given a suitable rating for it to last for the foreseeable future. More so, when you buy a used car with certification, you will be able to buy the make, model and colour of car that you want without the immediate depreciating value that a new one would cost you once you have driven it off the fore-court.  When you are looking at certified cars, be sure to understand what is included and what each individual dealer believes to be checked and included in a certified used car, as some will not include certain areas of the car, whereas others will.

The main question you will want to have at the back of your mind, when you walk into a dealership then, is whether the car is actually certified and to what extent does this certification cover the car for you when you buy it. For a car to be certified it must pass a number of independent checks, the car must pass an inspection by an experienced and certified mechanic, it will need to be under 10 years old, not have more than 75,000 miles, and have been with the same owner for at least one year. However, you’ll find that many dealers will offer a 100 point inspection before selling the car to you.

When you are looking to buy a certified used car, you should remember some of the tips above and also know that you should go to a reliable dealership who has a good reputation for selling used cars.  You should make sure that the information contained within the inspection you understand from each dealership, and that you are happy that such an inspection means that you shouldn’t have too many problems with your first used car.

These days, people are buying used cars that are more economical on fuel, but there are also ways you can improve the gas mileage of your used car.

Learn How to Improve the Gas Mileage of Your Used Car

After purchasing a used car from a used car dealer, many people just start driving it without bothering to perform any sort of maintenance to it. However, by following this simple guide, you’ll be able to insure that the engine is running at optimal fuel-consumption, and that the car is traveling under the most economical conditions. The most important tip you can use is to buy a used car that has the best gas mileage. But even then, you can improve the performance of your newly purchased car. Follow these steps the first day you buy your used car, and you’ll realize tremendous savings.

Reduce Drag

Did the car come with a luggage or ski rack on top? Consider remove those accessories that add significantly to the car’s aerodynamic drag. Research shows that simply installing a car-top carrier can reduce the gas mileage of a vehicle by over 5 mpg.

Replace the Tires

Consider replacing the tires if the used car dealership hasn’t already done so. At the same time, make sure to ask for an alignment. Brand new, balanced, perfectly inflated tires can improve the overall gas mileage of your used car by 1 mpg or more on the highway. If you purchase tires with lower “rolling resistance,” the gas savings are even more significant. According to the latest research, tires with low rolling resistance can save you over $100 a year in fuel costs. New tires will also reduce the wear on your car and lead to a much longer life for your vehicle. Plus, buying new tires will make it feel like you’re driving a brand new car.

Check the Gas Cap

Did you know that just having a loose gas cap can result in gas evaporating straight out of your car’s gas tank? It’s true, and most people don’t even realize that the damaged gas cap on their car is causing them to lose gallons of gas every month. Have a mechanic check out the gas cap the next time you are having your car serviced, or an oil change. If it’s seeping, just contact the local dealership for the brand of car you’ve purchased, they will be able to find you a replacement gas cap.

Give It a Tune Up

One of the best things you can do for your newly purchased used car is to give it a tune-up. Have a mechanic replace all spark plugs and spark plug wires with a new set. A new set of plugs and a finely tuned engine is the single most effective method to experience drastic fuel savings. Spark plugs can misfire, and often the damage isn’t enough so that you’ll notice. This condition can reduce engine efficiency by an drastic 30 percent. Fixing the problem will save you a fortune.

Replace the Air Filter

If your engine can’t breathe properly, it will work harder and burn more fuel to perform the same amount of work. In fact, whenever you have your oil change (or you change it yourself), always check the air filter and replace it every three months. A clean air filter will improve your engine efficiency by as much as 10 percent!

Empty the Trunk

Many people purchase a used car and don’t even bother checking what’s in the trunk. Often tools that have been stored away, or extra tires and supplies can add up to 100 pounds to the overall weight of the car. Believe it or not, every 100 pounds added to your car reduces the MPG by 2%. Yes, that means driving your 225 mother-in-law home from Thanksgiving dinner costs you a fortune (what better excuse to give your wife for refusing to do it?) Check the trunk, and if you don’t absolutely need what’s there, chuck it.

Drive Conservatively

Your driving habits probably have the most influence on a car’s fuel efficiency. Methods to increase the overall mpg of your used car the most:

Try to drive at as constant a speed as possible.

Driving 55 is the most efficient speed.

Avoid routes that have a lot of hills.

Avoid accelerating hard as much as possible.

Run multiple errands on one trip, and travel less.

For more information about quality used cars, including vehicle listings, vehicle information and even used car credit information, visit Harry Coker at www.blueskymotors.net.