Auto Magazine

Five Minor Car Problems You Should Never Ignore

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/20 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Keeping a car in good condition requires constant updates and care on your part. While it’s obvious when you need some major repairs, there are some minor problems that are just as important to take care of quickly so it they don’t get worse.

Worn-out Windshield Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are irritating when they begin to wear out. However, when you are stuck in a rain storm, the problem quickly turns into a serious hazard on the road. Remember that blades don’t only wear out from extended use. Long hours baking in the sun, or turning them on when snow and ice is built up on them can do just as much damage. Check your blades if you haven’t used them in a while or if bad weather is in the forecast. It doesn’t hurt to carry a replacement set in the car for emergencies.

Low Fluid Levels

One of the best maintenance chores you can do for your car is check the oil regularly. When the oil level gets too low, the moving parts of the engine suffer increased friction and wear. If you lose all the oil, your engine will seize up and and you’ll have to replace it. Even though you may have a date or mileage to give you an idea of when it needs changed, make sure you check it every once in a while and before long trips. If you find that your oil level is dropping rapidly no matter how often you fill it, take it in to a mechanic to find the leak or any other problem that could damage your car.

Lights

Nothing is more unnerving than approaching a car from behind and suddenly realizing it isn’t moving because the break lights weren’t working. Because you never see your break lights when you drive, it’s likely you don’t think about them often. Check for broken headlights and tail lights and replace them immediately. Your ability to see in the dark, and your visibility to others, is crucial to your safety. It could also cost you a fine if a cop sees that your lights aren’t working properly.

Worn Tires

Never drive around on worn tires. As the tire’s tread wears down, a blowout becomes more likely. This is a hazard that becomes much worse in the rain or on slick, icy roads. Uneven wear on tires indicates a misalignment or other structural problem. Make sure that is taken care of before getting new tires, and keep a good set on your car, especially during the months of bad weather.

Chipped or Cracked Windshield

A chip or small break in the windshield might pass inspection, but sooner or later it’s going to give you trouble. Once a crack develops, you’ll have to replace the whole windshield, says professionals at Auto Glass in Los Angeles. By fixing the chip, you will maintain the factory seal around the glass.

Take these maintenance chores seriously and don’t let minor car problems create more expensive repairs for you in the future. These tips will help you stay safe on the road and save money on repairs.

Should I Buy or Lease? 5 Ways to Arrive at the Best Choice for You

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/18 in Auto Financing, Auto Leasing with Comments Off

Deciding whether to buy or lease a car can be a tough decision. Although a lease is cheaper, it may not give you the best value for your money. Here are five things to consider when determining whether to buy or lease your next car.

How Long Will You Want The Car For?

If you like to trade in your car every few years, a lease is certainly for you. Most leases run for two to four years. This means that you don’t want to buy something unless you plan on keeping it for five or more years. So, if you’re the type of person that needs a change every now and again, leasing is the way to go. If you want to find the perfect car that you’ll be happy with for ten years or more, obviously buying is a better choice.

How Stable Is Your Financial Situation?

Will you be able to make payments for the next five years on your car? If not, you should strongly consider leasing. According to car experts who specialize in auto repair in Edmonton, a lease is also easier to get out of because lenders relax their rules when another driver takes over the remaining portion of your lease. If you feel that you are in a position to make payments on a car, you can consider buying. Evaluating your financial situation for the future can be difficult because you can’t always anticipate losing your job, or your business going under. However, if you think events like this are likely in the future, leasing is a safer option.

Is It For Business Or Pleasure?

If you are getting a car for your company, a lease is the way to go. Your monthly lease payment can be written off as a business expense. If you are getting the car for yourself, you may want to consider buying it outright if you can afford to. You should also consider that you can take business deductions for depreciation if your company owns it outright as opposed to leasing it. The use of the car an really make a difference in your decision to buy or lease, so make sure you know what your options are before you go looking.

How Much Can You Afford?

Lease payments are typically lower than a new car payment. This means that you get more car for less. On the other hand, you don’t build equity in the car each time you make a payment. If your only option to get a new car is to lease, you should consider buying a used car instead. Choosing between buying and leasing will require you to examine your current financial situation. As discussed before, you can’t always predict how stable your finances will be in the future, however you can base your decision off of how your finances look currently.

How Much Do You Drive?

Many lease agreements restrict the amount of miles that you can drive in a year. Typically, you cannot drive more than 12,000 miles in a year. While you may be able to buy more miles, it is generally cheaper to buy a car if you need to drive more than 12,000 miles per year. Perhaps you don’t realize how much you drive, and maybe it varies depending on the day, week, or even the time of year. If you are unsure, you can talk to your regular mechanic about whether to lease or buy based on how much you drive. Many mechanics have digital records of how often you get your oil changed, so they can tell you how much you drive in a certain period of time, making it easier to decide whether leasing or buying is the way to go.

So, should you buy or lease your next car? That depends on your financial situation, how long you plan to drive the car and how much you drive each year. Once you determine how much you can afford and how you plan to use the car, you can make an educated decision for yourself. As you can see, there is a lot to consider when making this decision, but if you evaluate your current situation, you will probably find that either buying or leasing is the obvious choice for you.

How To Keep Your Nice Cars In Good Shape In The Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/16 in Uncategorized with Comments Off

Winter can be a rough time on cars. Temperature extremes, poor road conditions and the presence of corrosive materials on the roads can all add up to problems. Fortunately, there are a number of things that car owners can do to keep their rides in great shape through the cold months of winter.

Washing and Waxing

Keeping a car washed and waxed does more than make it look good. Washing removes dirt and other debris that can scratch paint and waxing provides a protective layer to protect a car’s finish from damage from sand, cinders and other objects on the road that are thrown up by other cars. Washing and waxing is especially important during the winter months when there is more debris on the road surface that can end up on a car.

Underbody Washing

While maintaining a clean and well waxed exterior is important, winter is also a time to focus on the underbody of the car. Road salt and other corrosive materials are constantly being splashed under a car onto frame components, CV joints, brake lines and other parts. Left alone over time these materials will cause parts to corrode and fail. For this reason, it is important for car owners to thoroughly clean the underbody of their cars during winter. It is important to spray off the bottom of the car as well as focusing on the wheel wells, bumpers and other areas that collect debris.

Tires

If a car owner plans to drive his or her car during the winter months, a tire inspection is mandatory. Tires should have at least 50% of its original tread depth for safe winter driving. An even better idea is to purchase winter tires to be used only during the cold months. Studded tires are still available in most areas, but modern winter tires that do not use studs perform better in most winter driving conditions. Car owners who choose to buy winter tires can have them taken off when warm weather returns in the spring and stored until next winter.

Storage

Car owners who want to protect their cars from all of the problems that winter can present should consider renting storage units to protect their car during the cold months. This is a particularly good idea for those people who do not have access to off street parking. Parking on the street in winter is especially hazardous for a nice car as snow plows, sliding cars and the splash of salty street slush provides an unending array of hazards for a parked car.

Five Easily Preventable Car Troubles and How to Avoid Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/12 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Car ownership can often be a pain for some people. Now, usually, one can take steps to prevent problems and save money in the process. In fact, here are five easily preventable car troubles and how to avoid them.

Windshield cracks

While driving down the highway, a lot of people end up with smashed windshields. This is usually not the driver’s fault. However, to protect the vehicle, one should avoid driving behind a semi or other large trucks or vans. If one does not heed this advice and ends up with a cracked windshield, they should look for a windshield repair kit of some sort such as Tri Glass Windshield Repair Kits. With this, one can fix the problem and enjoy a crack-free windshield.

Dead battery

Sometimes, when in a parking lot, a driver will walk out to a dead battery. This leaves a person unable to move his or her car. Luckily, when carrying jumper cables, one can fix the issue and drive the car safely. Of course, to avoid this in the first place, a car owner should try to avoid leaving the lights on and other electronics while he or she is not driving.

Flat tire

Now, it is impossible to prevent getting a flat tire. With that being said, a smart driver who keeps his or her tires inflated properly can avoid this problem. Furthermore, when driving on the highway, one should avoid emergency lanes as plenty of glass and nails sit on the side of the road.

Electrical problems

Some European cars have electrical problems. However, this is preventable should a driver opt to change out the fuses and avoid overusing electronic devices such as refrigerators and computers. Otherwise, a car owner will spend thousands of dollars fixing the issue.

Leaks

When driving a car off the road, one will end up with problems. Often, the biggest problem one will encounter is leaks. With this, a vehicle owner may experience problems and end up messing up his or her engine. To avoid this, one should watch out for leaks by looking on the ground. If a driver notices anything out of the ordinary, he or she should take it to a mechanic and get it looked at immediately.

A car owner must take a proactive approach and avoid problems from occurring in the first place. Otherwise, he or she will spend a lot of time and money trying to fix seemingly minor issues that will get out of control in the long run.

How To Find The Best Used Car For Your Money

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/10 in Used Autos & Trucks with Comments Off

With the economy still being in such bad shape, more and more consumers are starting to reap the benefits of purchasing a used vehicle. Although most used vehicles are substantially less expensive than brand new vehicles, the majority of motorists still have a desire to get the best possible deal. Here are some important tips on how to find the best used car for your money.

Do not show your hand too soon

Whether you are trying to negotiate with a used car salesman or a private seller, it is essential that you maintain a poker face at all times. If the seller perceives you to be overly eager to purchase a particular vehicle, they will be less likely to lower the asking price.

Fear the unknown

Even if the seller of the vehicle seems to be very honest, it is always best to err of the side of caution. Unknowingly making the purchase of a vehicle that has been involved in a flood or car accident could mean major trouble in the long run. The best approach is to always spend the extra money for a vehicle history report.

Consider all sources

Although a private seller may offer a lower price, some dealerships also have great bargains. Reputable dealerships such as Premier Mazda thoroughly inspect each vehicle before deeming it to be worthy of a spot on their lot. Some used cars Kansas City dealers also warranty their vehicles for a certain period of time.

Check the reviews for each prospective vehicle

When it comes to purchasing a used vehicle, car reviews become very valuable sources of information. Car reviews are important because they can alert shoppers of any red flags before making a final decision. For example, a specific model could have trouble-prone transmissions. By reading the reviews, the potential owner can be prevented from making an expensive mistake.

Monthly payments or cash

If the customer is seeking to purchase a used vehicle from a dealership, they usually have the option to pay for the vehicle in full or to make monthly payments. Although monthly payments allow more financial flexibility, prospective buyers need to pay close attention to the fine print. High interest rates could cause to final cost to rise substantially.

When searching for a used car, remember to avoid getting too anxious. If the proper steps are taken, you could end up saving lots of hard-earned cash in the process.