When you’re in the market for used cars for sale in Rochester, it’s important to read the vehicle’s CARFAX report first. This report costs about $40 and could save you money, time and stress. If you don’t know how to read a report properly, this report could be useless. However, thanks to this guide, you can become a pro at CARFAX reports and what to look for when shopping for pre-owned cars. Continue reading “What to Look for on a CARFAX Vehicle History Report”
For any car owner, the first thing that you should be looking at is getting the finest quality of brakes and other materials that you can. The quality of your vehicle is hugely important, and with the climate and landscape of Las Vegas having quality brakes is very important – it can help you get out of a tough spot with ease, when you may have been in trouble otherwise. Continue reading “Getting the best Brakes Las Vegas Can Offer”
There are dozens of potential risks you may face when it comes purchasing a used car. For instance, when you’re looking to buy a used car, you need to make sure that you don’t end up with one that has a history of mechanical problems. Otherwise, you will end up paying even more money than you intended to!
Regardless of who or where you buy your car from, theres always that possibility that the car is too good to be true. Lets say you got a new-to-you vehicles for an amazing deal. Maybe just a bit too amazing, but you don’t think twice because who would pass up a deal that great? Right? Well, if you did your research properly you would have found out how much can actually be wrong with a car when its being sold for a too-good-to-be-true price.
Theres a possibility that car could have internal mechanical problems that may cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars to replace or repair. However, if you want to avoid this kind of situation there is one thing you can use as your ally to protect you against the dangers of used car shopping.
A company called instaVIN pulls information on over 40 million used, junk, and salvage cars from multiple reliable sources so you can have the power of knowledge for when you’re deciding on the used car you may think that you want. With just one instaVIN report, you will find out about:
For a better car shopping experience, get an instaVIN report. InstaVIN strives to protect you from unwanted situations while looking for the perfect used car!
Purchasing a used car can be one of the most valuable investments that you will ever expect to make. In fact, some of these cars can last for decades at a time; their prices dramatically reduced than those that would have been encountered only a few years ago when they were considered new. Still, all that glitters is not necessarily gold. While larger used car dealers such as Carcraft are built upon a solid reputation, there are others that may be less transparent. So, let us take a quick look at some of the best ways to avoid purchasing a vehicle that will cause more consternation than convenience.
Perform an Internet Search
When considering doing business with any company, it is important to first appreciate what others may be saying about their products or services. The same principle holds true (if not more so) for used car dealers. You will often be able to find a wealth of information on a certain dealership and obtain independent reviews by searching the Internet. While a company with poor reviews indeed should be avoided, one with little or no information should likewise not be chosen.
Ask for a Test Drive
Although a used car may appear to be shiny and new on the outside, never judge a book by its cover. There may very well be mechanical or electronic problems that are not seen until you will ask for a test drive. Also, avoid taking the car only around the block. It is instead recommended to spend fifteen or twenty minutes driving it on surface streets, on highways and if possible, in city traffic. These varying conditions will likewise make the vehicle respond differently. This is an excellent way to determine if there are any issues with the car before you commit to signing a contract. Most reputable dealerships will include this option as a part of their service and you should be suspect of any company that will not allow a simple test drive.
Take the Car to a Trusted Mechanic
Still, you should be aware that a test drive will not always be an accurate indicator of any faults that may be present just underneath the bonnet. Thus, it is always advisable to take the car to at least one mechanic that is not associated with the dealership. They can provide a thorough inspection that will highlight any issues with the vehicle. The most common problems will tend to centre around the brakes, the transmission, the suspension, body rot and oil leaks. While most newer model cars will most likely be devoid of these faults, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
This is not to say that all used car dealers are not to be trusted. On the contrary, lager portals including such nationally-recognised names as Carcraft are indeed very well respected. Still, the slogan “buyer beware” should always be remembered in cases such as this. These simple tips will help you avoid spending a great deal of time and money on a vehicle that is not at all what you had expected.
Buying a used car is always met with a certain level of trepidation, much of which is entirely unwarranted. In truth, buying a used car really shouldn’t be much of a problem, as long as you do your homework and check it out thoroughly before handing over your hard earned money. While some sellers will try to pull the wool over your eyes, the vast majority will just be normal people trying to move their car onto a new owner.
When it comes to buying a used car, whether you find it via Carcraft or another method, you need to be certain that you have made the right checks for the vehicle thoroughly, so that there aren’t any surprises a few months down the line. In order to do this, you should consider these helpful and simple tips.
The place to start is the car’s exterior. If the car seems to have a fresh lick of paint on it, check around it for any damages, and find out when it was done and how much it cost. Often a cheap paint job will hide some of the more pressing problems the car may have.
Next, it would be wise to check for rust. Look at the wheel wells, the bumper, and check the underside of the vehicle as well. Whilst you’re doing that check for scratches and dents, check the vehicle for any superficial problems. Always look for inconsistencies with the bodywork, such as whether the doors line up properly, and whether the frame looks straight. If certain things appear slightly misleading, it may indicate that the car was involved in a serious crash beforehand, something that the seller may not wish to tell you up front.
Ask the seller for maintenance records, and ensure that they all match up with any problems you find with the car itself. For example, if you notice that the car isn’t aligned properly, and there is nothing in the maintenance report that suggests that the car was seriously damaged in the past, you might want to consider looking elsewhere. If something doesn’t add up, do not take the buy any further.
Start up the engine and see that it comes alive immediately. When you take the car out for a test drive, check the brakes to make sure that they don’t squeal or give off any funny sounds or smells. Make sure that the car turns properly and doesn’t feel laboured in its handling, and tick off particular aspects such as the lights, the windscreen wipers, and so on to ensure that everything inside works as advertised.
Once you are happy with everything, have the car checked over by a professional mechanic before you sign up to buy it. Tell the seller that you want to buy the car on the provision that there are no hidden problems uncovered after being professionally tested. They should be fine with this. If not, they can’t be trusted.
After everything has been fully checked over and ticked off, you should feel happy enough that the car is in a good enough condition to buy. If there is any scope for negotiating the price down because of problems you found, take the chance and play hardball. This is obviously easier if you have several options available to you, giving you a greater degree of power as your barter over a lower price.
If you do run into any problems, cancel all ties and re-start your search back with the likes of a leading car supermarket like Carcraft, or wherever else you may be searching for your new vehicle. Be patient and firm within your search, and eventually you’ll find a perfect match.
In today’s economy we are all looking for the best deals and values for our money. When venturing off into the world of used cars there are numerous options to choose from. Luckily much of the brunt work is already taken care of by “Best Car” lists that are done every year. Different groups perform extensive research on all types of cars and compiles a list of the best based off criteria such as reliability, safety, value, and availability. One such group is Edmunds.com annual Used Best Car Bet Awards. Eligibility is limited to cars originally sold from 2004 to 2009.
They come up with their lists after looking at consumer ratings as well as sources that report on reliability and longevity. They then apply this to their own experience and judgment to determine a vehicle’s reliability. They also consider various crash test ratings conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The following are a few of the winners for 2011! In the compact sedan category, the 2004-2009 Hyundai Elantra has taken the top spot. It’s solid build; quality, reliability and operating economy will definitely put a smile on your face. The Elantra offers a peppy performance and smooth ride. It received very impressive crash test scores that will put your mind at ease while driving this fun and safe car.
The winner of the mid size sedan is the 2004-2009 Nissan Altima. The accommodating midsize car comes with strong performance especially equipped with a potent V6 engine. In 2007 the Altima was redesigned and introduced very handsome Infiniti like styling and CVT (continuously variable transmission) that delivers ultra smooth operation and increased fuel efficiency. In the compact truck category, the 2004-2009 Toyota Tacoma shines with its well known impressive overall quality and rock solid reliability record. Toyota offers a pick up for any need or personality. The Pre-runner edition offers the suspension, ride height and aggressive tires of a 4WD truck without the fuel appetite.
The winner of the luxury category happens to be one of my favorite cars. The 2004-2009 Infiniti G35/37 offers rear wheel drive, a ripping V6 engine, sporty tuning, and sleek good looks. Compared to its class rival, the BMW 3series, Infiniti’s much roomier cabin, lower maintenance costs and acquisition makes the G37 the right choice. 04-27 Honda CR-V is the standout in the compact SUV/crossover category. This fun to drive crossover is space efficient, fuel efficient and easy to own. The CR-V has just as much cargo space as some larger SUV’s and is usually more than enough for most consumer’s needs. While it does not have a V6 engine, its inline 4 version is sufficient for real world driving and results in respectable fuel mileage. Its comfortable ride, excellent reliability record, and strong crash tests scores show why the Honda CR-V is a top pick.
Consumer Reports is the leader of the pack when it comes to giving the public the information that it needs to keep cash in their wallet. They devote enormous resources to testing and evaluating the models as they come out and publish data from their members on their personal experiences with each model. This comprehensive data bank allows them to recommend cars that are time tested and reliable. Their article “Top-20 most fuel-efficient used cars” by Liza Barth, gives the inside scoop on what to look for to when you want the most miles for your buck.
The range of miles per gallon on the models selected is from 33 to 51. With gas prices now over $4 per gallon, the fuel economy of your vehicle can make or break you budget.So before you need to take out a second mortgage to fill your gas tank, check out some of these babies. The Honda Civic Hybrid 2003-2010 gets 36-37 miles per gallon and is an extremely reliable car. Although you may pay more for a Honda, it tends to retain its book value on resale. When you factor in the dollars that you save, by not having it in the shop you come out way ahead of the pack. This car has a long history and your get what you pay for.
Toyota came out with the Prius in 2001 with 41 mpg and the 2004 model increased that to 44 mpg. Consumer Reports put a Prius with 200,000 miles on it through its paces and found very little had changed from the tests that it had run on it as a new car. This is quite remarkable given the miles it had traveled. You do still need to maintain any vehicle to keep it operating at is peak. In the middle of the miles per gallon pack, sits the 2010 VW Golf TDI at 38 mpg. Although not as dominant in the number of entries into the top 20 as Toyota with only 5 models compared to Toyota’s8, thereliability of this car is not the same as a Honda or Toyota.
The 2011 Honda Fit is also a good bet with highway fuel economy at 32-34 mpg. It has excellent reliability and will save you money by not being in the repair shop or at the pump. Buzz.comoffers a list of vehicles that are reliable and affordable in price ranges of under $5000 and $10,000 respectively. As you might have guessed, the list of the 10 most reliable less than 10K is dominated by Toyota with the Prius, Echo, Yaris and Camry and Honda’s Insight, Civic Hybrid and Cr-V. This site is worth a look see. For those who need to find out how to test drive a car or how to spot flaws in a used car, videos are provided for your convenience at about.com. This could help you hold on to your money when it comes to negotiating the best deal.
The internet is a very big place. It is easy to get lost and end up in the wrong situation. However, when you know what to do, it turns out to be simple. When buying a car, using the internet can be a great tool, that is, if you know where to look. It is easier to buy a car online because instead of the hassle of going from dealership to dealership, with just one click of your finger you can have a great car. Before even starting to look for a car, one of the best websites online is carbuyingtips.com. They offer information on everything you need to know about buying a new or used car.
Once you have done some research on the kind of vehicle you want, you can check out different websites on pricing. Different websites offer different things, some give quotes without asking for any information while others want some contact information before giving anything. There are four major websites that are top class in the market and each offer something different. The first is Kelley Blue Book they offer both used and new cars. Some of their services include new car pricing, used car trade in values, side by side car comparisons, ratings and reviews, buying advice, financing and insurance tools, used car listings, and dealer price quotes.
MSN Autos is another great car buying website. They offer almost everything as Kelley Blue Book but their financing and advice is not focused on cars. Their approach is to control the power of its entire network. Edmunds has simple tools such as sorting cars by price that makes their website simple and easy to use. They also offer almost everything as Kelley Blue Book. All of the above websites offer dealer quotes but required information before giving it.
The one car website that does not require information before giving quotes is CarsDirect. Not requiring information is a big plus for them especially most buyers want a feel of how much discount they can get off the sticker price before buying a car.CarsDirect website offers the same services as Kelley Blue Book and may be the most comprehensive approach to buying a car online. Those are the four top players in the internet car selling game. They are not only safe but also reliable. Other websites where you can buy cars safely include: cars.com, autotrader.com, carmax.com, etc. It is very simple to buy cars online and looking at these websites can help when trying to compare prices and finding quotes. The internet offers a wide range of cars and that can be accessed very quickly. It is easy, simple, and takes away the hassle of disagreeable experiences connected with a dealership.
Buying any car, especially a used one can be a daunting task. There are so many different types, specifications, and technical jargon—it is easy to get confused and discouraged. In this article, I will provide a brief overview of what to look for and what to expect to make your use car buying process a smooth one. Before you even start looking for the car, do your homework. Clearly, you understand the importance of this step because you are here! Develop a clear picture of what you want out of your car. What is important to you may not be important to others. Is color a make or break factor for you (“I need a red car!”), gas mileage, brand, etc. —write it down. The second (but probably most important) step is to develop a budget—decide how much you are willing to spend on your car, then go back to your list of needs and decide what you are willing to compromise in order to stay within your budget. You may not be able to find that red car under your $13,000 budget; will you be willing to buy a blue one instead provided it has everything else you want?
Next, you will begin the actual process of searching for and buying your used car. Used cars are available in a variety of places: dealerships, “used car superstores”, and independent owners are just a few of your many options. Obviously, each method has its pros and cons. Dealerships and “used car superstores” tend to be listed by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) so you can learn if there was a problem with the dealership in the past, which would deter you from working with them. Knowing that they are rated positively or negatively can provide an element of security for you before purchasing your used car from them. Additionally, dealers and superstores must adhere to certain rules and codes put forth by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While independent owners are not businesses and therefore cannot be listed by a consumer protection agency like the BBB, you can find owners in secure ways. Ask around to friends and see if they know anyone selling a car. Often, if you can buy a car from a friend of a friend, you feel more secure about the purchase.
After finding the car that you are interested in purchasing, carefully inspect the car for dents and scratches. Take the car for a test drive, see how it starts, how it drives, and listen for any suspicious sounds. One part that is often overlooked is the trunk—be sure to make sure that it is still in good condition as well. You do not want to purchase a car that is falling apart before you even get it home. Check under the car’s hood for any signs of damage or rust. If you are not sure what you are looking for (“Is that rusty or is that how it’s supposed to look?”), it might be beneficial for you to take someone with more experience with cars with you to inspect the car.
Finally, before purchasing the car, be sure to inquire about the car’s warranty. Is the car being offered “as-is”? That means there is no warranty. Do you have three days to decide if the car is working properly? Can you take it to a mechanic for inspection and if they find problems you can get your money back? These are all important questions to ask! You are paying your money for an investment—no request is too big. The worst they can say is no and you walk away from the car with all of your money.
The first thing you need to do is figure out what’s the right car for you. Do you care more about mileage, manufacturer, price or color? Once you’ve got your car picked out, it’s time for research. When it comes to research, the internet is your best friend. A used car is “based on its condition, mileage, reliability, performance and popularity.” You should be looking for: the number of previous owners, accident history, previous repairs, and maintenance history. Websites like CarFax.com are your second best friend. Don’t ever buy a used car unless you have all the information.
Next, is finding where to buy your car. Obviously, there are used car dealerships, like Hertz or your neighborhood dealership. But don’t forget about new car dealerships. Many of them sell used cars. Websites like ConsumerGuide.com and online classifieds are also a good resource. Print classifieds work well, too. Now that you’ve got the research down, it’s time to go the dealership. But before that, make sure you have your own “financing and loan approvals ready before you go buy the car.” Once there, “have a mechanic put the car up on a lift for a full inspection.” Once this is done, it’s time to scope out the scams and avoid them. If the dealer claims that there’s a “One Day Only” sale, they’re lying. They want your business, not the other way around. You are the boss. If they say the sale won’t be there tomorrow, then you tell them that you want to check back tomorrow just to make sure.
There is also the “4-Square Method,” which is when the dealer tries to distract you like you’re a child. It’s just the game it’s so aptly named after. The dealer tries to emphasis different components separately so that you stop paying attention to the big picture. If you’re only focused on one component, they can rip you off, and you’ll be none-the-wiser. So pay attention people! It’s your money, be careful with it. So, you’ve found a good deal, and you want to buy the car. It’s time to look at the paperwork. Car dealers are there to rip you off. With so much paperwork, it’s hard to know what you’re doing. Don’t sign anything before reading it. Here are some things to look for:
If you see a statement that says “As Is,” don’t sign it right away. If you do, once that car is off the lot, any problems you encounter are your responsibility. You should have a minimum of 30 days to make sure you’re satisfied with your car, and that it’s in the condition you expected. Make sure that all the numbers match up to what you agreed to. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised. So, after careful deliberation, you’ve signed the paperwork. Congratulations, you now have an amazing used car. Enjoy it.
