Five Things to Ask a Private Seller When Buying a Used Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/13 in Used Autos & Trucks with Comments Off on Five Things to Ask a Private Seller When Buying a Used Car

The purchase of a vehicle is one the the largest investments you will ever make on a single item, so it is crucial to have a good understanding of the car or truck you may have in mind. While there are advantages of buying from a private seller, there are no warranties, so it is important to ask five crucial questions when buying a used car from a private seller.

Reason for the Sale

Behind every car sale from a private owner, there is a logical reason why the transaction is taking place. The first question you should ask a private seller is what their motivation is for the sale. If they are selling because they purchased a new vehicle, this means they want to sell quickly, and this can be advantageous for you. Some owners will be completely honest and admit that the vehicle is not economical, reliable, or fuel-efficient, which is important to know.

Past Owners

Once you meet with the seller, it is time to inquire more about the car’s history. Make sure to ask them where they bought the car. If they are the original owner, this is a good sign. They should be able to provide all of the maintenance records. If they cannot provide an adequate record of the vehicle’s history, a specialist from a used car dealership in Utah recommends that you walk away. An incomplete car history could be hiding parts replacements, repairs, and illegal ownership—none of which any new owner would want to deal with.

Condition of the Vehicle

This is a question that can be asked over the phone prior to the first meeting. Ask the seller how they would describe their car’s condition. Terms such as "excellent", "good", and "fair" are all positive responses, and it could be worth the time to check out. At the same time, be wary of hesitation or unwillingness to provide pictures of any part of the vehicle.

Independent Inspection

After you have taken the vehicle on a test drive, ask the seller if they mind if you get an independent inspection done. If they are at all hesitant to agree, this should be a huge red flag that something is not right. An inspection performed by an unbiased third party is your best chance at receiving a complete and accurate evaluation of the vehicle’s condition and should be performed on any used car you consider purchasing, especially from a private seller.

Oil Type

A clever way, recommended by experts from used car dealerships in Utah, to discover how well maintained the vehicle has been is to ask what kind of oil it uses. A seller able to quickly answer this question likely did oil changes themselves and took care of the vehicle. If hesitant, it is a good idea to have a mechanic look over the vehicle.

Getting the Best for Your Money

Buying a used car from a private seller can be a bargain, but there are bad apples in every barrel. By asking these five questions, you can rest assured in your decision. A car is a major purchase, and a used car can be quite a gamble, but by standing your ground and employing the tips discussed above, you can ensure the vehicle you buy is in good shape and priced fairly.

Vehicle Price Haggling: What to Know before you step onto the Lot

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/12 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on Vehicle Price Haggling: What to Know before you step onto the Lot

Buying a vehicle is not at all like buying a pair of shoes or a bunch of grapes. You are going to be paying for this object for the next several years and will need it to last for as long as possible. Therefore, it is critical that you do not pay more than your desired vehicle is worth. What are some ways that you can haggle effectively to get the right price on your next car?

1) Know What You Want Before Going to the Dealership

The easiest way to spend too much on a car is to have no idea what you want before you go to the dealership. The goal of the dealership is to maximize profits and get you to spend as much money as possible. By knowing what you want ahead of time, you can skip the sales pitch and go straight into negotiating the price. For example, if you know that you want a Hyundai Elantra, you won’t be duped into buying a Porsche for $20,000 more.

2) Negotiate Price, Trade In and Then Talk Payment

Whenever you negotiate a car deal, you want to negotiate the price of the car first. This is because a salesperson may try to get you to pay more by offering a lower monthly payment or by guaranteeing more for a trade in. However, your monthly payment and the value of your trade in mean nothing if you are still paying too much for the car. Remember, you want a 60 month loan if possible because you pay the least amount of interest without breaking the bank for the monthly payment.

3) Never Be Afraid to Walk Away

Whether you are dealing with a private seller or a dealership, you should never be afraid to walk away. When a customer walks away, it represents a lost sale and a potential commission out the window. Therefore, do not be afraid to exercise your power as a consumer to get the best possible deal.

4) Have Alternate Financing Available

When you start to negotiate a deal, make sure that you have financing lined up in case the dealer tries to play games with you when it comes to paying for the car. Some dealers may try to tell you that your credit score is lower than it is to hike up your interest rate or tell you that you can only qualify if you have a cosigner. This makes it necessary to only go to credible dealerships. Your local credit union may be able to get you a new car deal with an APR of 2 percent or less.

Know ahead of time what you want, check your credit and get financed before you start shopping if you want the best deal on your next car. When tens of thousands of dollars are at stake, you want to know that you have spent your money well.

Author Bio:
This Article is written by Erika Remmington in connection with a Lansing, Michigan Car Dealer. Erika is a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley in linguistics and a minor in business. Erika enjoys spending time with her family and rock climbing in her spare time.

Time For A New Car? How To Get The Best Deal For What You Need

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/09 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on Time For A New Car? How To Get The Best Deal For What You Need

When looking to get a new car, most people are overwhelmed by the process and have a hard time choosing. While this is often the case, you can still find a great price and get the vehicle you need. With this in mind, here is a short guide on how to get the best deal for what you need.

Choose a car

Above all else, when you want to buy a vehicle, you should know what you want before coming into the dealership. A smart buyer should head online and research his or her favorite vehicle options. Not only that, when coming up with a car to buy, you should make sure to choose two or three ones. With this, you will not fixate on one car and overspend. Remember, with this, you can choose the car ahead of time and make the decision once you talk to the dealer.

Go at the end of the month

Next, you should try to head to the dealership at the end of the month. Ideally, you should wait until the end of a quarter. Either way, when walking into the situation at the end of a month, you can talk the company down one even more as salespeople want to close sales and get the biggest bonuses. Not only that, if the end of the month happens to be a bad weather day, you certainly should head out the dealership immediately.

Prepare to walk

Now, when you work with a car dealership, you should never all in love with the car or deal you get. No, instead, you should, at any time, never fear walking away from the transaction. By the time the seller is filling out paperwork, he or she is salivating at the fat commission check. To take advantage of this, a buyer should ask for a little more and look for freebies such as mats or free oil-changes. Remember, towards the end, the salesperson will want to complete the sale quickly, and you must exploit this by asking for free stuff.

Get multiple quotes

Finally, if you have the patience, you should obtain multiple quotes form a few sellers. With this, you can find the best deal on a new car. To take this further, a buyer should get them to compete with each other. Either way, with multiple quotes, you can land a bargain. Dealerships like the Findlay Auto Kia dealership in St. George are great places to start for getting quotes.

With this short guide, you can find the best deal on a new vehicle.

Roadside Smarts: How to Prepare New Drivers for a Flat Tire

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/08 in On the Road with Comments Off on Roadside Smarts: How to Prepare New Drivers for a Flat Tire

A flat tire is one of the most common problems on the road. New drivers should be prepared to deal with the following situations involving a loss of air pressure in the tires. Don’t leave a new driver without these instructions to help them if the worst should happen.

Measuring Tire Pressure

Modern cars are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems. Such digital technology automatically alerts when the gauge pressure in any tire drops below normal. A flat tire signal light may come on in the dashboard or central console. However, such a warning doesn’t always imply that there is a flat tire. Drivers should be able to use manual gauges to measure the gauge pressure of each tire. As long as the tire gauge pressure is above 25 psi, it’s still safe to drive.

Inflation

A driver may be able to inflate a tire that has lost a few PSI in gauge pressure. Simple battery powered air pumps can be used to inflate a car tire back to normal condition. Such pumps can also be connected directly to the battery pack under the hood. A tire may not always go flat right away. For example, a screw or nail may gradually reduce the internal pressure of a tire. It might take several hours for a tire to completely lose all of its air through small punctures. Keep a sharp eye on all your tires throughout the week.

Quick Patchwork

A deflated tire could be fixed without any roadside assistance. A relatively small screw or nail can be removed from the tire tread with pliers. A hole that’s not too deep may be patched with tire sealant that’s available in aerosol cans. After the patching, the entire tire can be inflated to the proper gauge pressure. When inflating a completely deflated tire, it’s important to use a jack to balance the vehicle when above the ground.

Roadside Assistance

Changing a tire might be out of the comfort level of new drivers. Roadside assistance can quickly remove a deflated tire and install a spare tire. However, a spare tire could only last for a few dozen miles. During a flat tire problem, a towing service may be needed to bring a car back home. Drivers should be equipped with the right phone numbers to call and the specific instructions for what to do in each situation.

Drivers can take different steps to handle a flat tire without any assistance. It is always a good idea to prepare new drivers with the basics on how to care for a car and it’s tires. With the right instructions, any new driver can get ready for any kind of emergency situation.

Article Credit: supplied by Milwaukee OWI law firm

How To Tell If Your Whole Engine Needs To Be Replaced

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/07 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on How To Tell If Your Whole Engine Needs To Be Replaced

Due to today’s economic landscape, buying a brand new car can put a major dent into a driver’s monthly budget. If your current vehicle is in relatively good condition, the best approach is to keep it running for as long as possible. In the event that your engine is on its last leg, you can have your motor rebuilt or replaced for a very reasonable price. Here are some of the signs that your whole engine needs to be replaced.

Constant Blue Smoke

The presence of exhaust smoke warrants an immediate red flag. Upon first cranking your vehicle in the morning, you may notice a puff of bluish-colored smoke coming out of the tailpipe. This usually indicates a set of worn valve seals, which can be repaired by an experienced mechanic. However, a vehicle that constantly spews blue smoke is an entirely different story. The cylinders inside the engine are probably worn beyond repair, so the engine will be burning a significant amount of motor oil.

Knocking Noises

If you consistently hear a knocking sound from the engine, you should stop driving your vehicle until you get engine inspected. If you are lucky, the knocking sound may stem from a loose spark plug that needs to be re-tightened. Low octane is also a common cause of knocking. If you consistently hear a knocking sound during acceleration, a bearing inside the engine may have failed. If your engine has a lot of miles on it, you will be better off just replacing the engine.

Low Engine Compression

Low engine compression can cause a number of problems including a loss of power and difficulty in starting the engine. If you notice that the performance of your vehicle has suddenly declined, ask a repair shop to check the compression in each engine cylinder.

Severely Overheated Engine

According to Gulftech Engines Inc., a company that specializes in rebuilt engines in Houston, overheating the engine is one of the most common causes of premature engine failure. If the engine is not cooled down in a timely manner, the cylinder head can suffer permanent damage. A warped cylinder head is a complex auto repair that requires a very experienced mechanic.

The engine is definitely the most important component on your vehicle. The good news is that replacing it can give your old ride a new lease on life. The extra money can be used to to pay your rent or mortgage.

Savannah Coulsen is a freelance  writer. She lives in Raleigh. Savannah loves to read and write and she hopes to write a novel someday. Savannah also loves learning and is a self-proclaimed health guru. Savannah got information for this article from Gulftech Engines Inc., a company that specializes in rebuilt engines in Houston.

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