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.

Foreign Cars: Fix ‘Em Up Or Throw ‘Em Out

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/06 in Foreign Cars with Comments Off on Foreign Cars: Fix ‘Em Up Or Throw ‘Em Out

When you own a foreign car, you may have a piece of junk on your hands. Other times, a foreign car is great for your wants and needs. Either way, if it starts to break, you need to either cut your losses or invest more in the vehicle. With this in mind, here are four ways to get your foreign vehicle fixed on the cheap.

Online auctions:

If you want a high-end part, you should head to online auction sites like Ebay. When going with this option, you can buy a part meeting your unique wants and needs. Simply put, when you own an older car, you will want to buy great parts and you can do so by heading to an online auction site. Again, while you will pay a higher price when compared with a salvage yard, you can get the item you want. And know for a fact that it is the right part for the issues you are experiencing, and it will be in perfect new condition. This is a great option when it comes to the actual mechanical issues of a car. After you have purchased the actually parts, then you can either take it into an auto shop, have a knowledgeable friend work on it, or learn how to make the repairs yourself.

Online salvage yard:

Believe it or not, if you want, you can head online to find a salvage yard. This is a more expensive option than doing it at the site. However, if you have an obscure car, you can find the part you want, just at a higher price. Without a doubt, if you want the item quickly and without doing much work, consider an online salvage yard.

Local paper or classifieds:

By heading to Craigslist or your local paper’s website, you can find that part for your vehicle. This is not a great option if you have an obscure car and have a need for lots of parts. But, if you want one or two items, head online and check your local classifieds. Especially if the repair isn’t an urgent one, this can be a great option to take your time, find the right part and for the right price. So this can be a great option when it comes to the more cosmetic issues with a vehicle.

Salvage yard:

If you own an older automobile, you can head to a local salvage yard. Here, you can get the right part for your needs. This is true whether you need an old carburetor or plastic piece on your bumper. Since a salvage yard is self-serve, this is the perfect option if you are busy and want to get in, grab the part, and move on with your life.

With these four options, you can get your vehicle fixed on the cheap. Otherwise, if you do not have access to inexpensive parts, you may think about getting rid of your old automobile.

Information Credit:
Looking for a part? You should head to a salvage yard such as All Japanese Auto Wrecking Services. They are experts at fixing foreign cars as well as having replacement parts. When doing so, you can get the part you want for a fraction of the cost.

The Five Most Futuristic Cars on the Market Right Now

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/05 in Auto Design with Comments Off on The Five Most Futuristic Cars on the Market Right Now

You probably grew up seeing futuristic cars in the movies, and you probably hoped that you would one day be driving one of those cars. While flying cars may not be available there are still plenty of futuristic options you can start driving. Here are a few cars that you should check out if that is the kind of car you are looking for.

McLaren MP4-12C

This vehicle can be purchased at select dealers and is available as a rental car for high-end business clients. TopGear reports that the MP4-12C tops out at a max speed of 205 mph and can accelerate from rest to 62 mph in a little over 3 seconds. Despite being an elite vehicle, its reported mpg is surprisingly mediocre: 15/22 for city/highway driving. 

Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

These vehicles are priced at slightly over $500,000 depending on mileage and the local market. Like the McLaren MP4-12C, it is not renowned for efficiency, clocking in only 11/19 city/highway MPG. If you can pay for that kind of millage you will get a very sleek looking car.

Aptera 2e

The “Aptera” class of vehicles was first developed by Aptera Motors. A few years ago, that business formally failed. However, the vehicle design went on and is now under further development by Zap Jonway. Despite its obvious function as a car, there is some legal ambiguity over the Aptera’s classification as a “car” because it has only one wheel in the back. This has consequences for safety and emission standards. Available for roughly $30,000-$40,000, the Aptera gets approximately 200 mpg. That’s right, 200 miles per gallon. 

Terrafugia Transition

Finally, a flying car. Aside from the approximately $300,000 price tag, the Terrafugia Transition requires several licenses and certifications to operate. The vehicle’s legal future and market appeal is also very unclear. As Popular Mechanics outlines, a vehicle that is roadworthy and airworthy simply requires different design priorities. Currently it seems that improvement in flying performance will almost certainly come at the expense of important driving variables, and vice versa. 

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

This small personal transport is designed to run efficiently on an electric engine, vastly reducing dependence on petroleum. Though great for urban transport and short commutes, the U.S. version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a limited range of approximately 62 miles. This means an effective maximum radius of 31 miles from a given charging station. Though it has much appeal for city driving, this car will have trouble competing without comparable infrastructure that supports electric cars as gas stations support petroleum-fueled cars.

So start living in the future and get one of these awesome cars as your next mode of transportation.

Author Bio: Annette is a freelance writer that suggests using Fastlane Window Tint after getting a new car. Annette often writes about finances and ways to save money.

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