Used Car Buying Tips
by: Steve Gillman
Some of these used car buying tips won't be new to you. Often the trick is just to apply what you already know. On the other hand, when it comes to expensive areas of life like buying a car, one new thing learned can save you hundreds of dollars. Try some of the following.
1. Make a low offer. Okay, you knew this one. A trick you may not have used, though, is to make a low offer, and then leave your phone number with the seller. Time has a way of making sellers desperate, especially after you just helped convince them that they are asking too much.
2. Be careful with car price guides. Use the "blue book" etc, but try not to pay more than wholesale. I can't think of many times when people I know have paid more than "bluebook," so these "average" sales prices are doubtful.
3. Talk to people. This is one of the simplest and effective used car buying tips. Just let friends, family and others know you're looking for a car. Quite often people would be happy to avoid the whole process of advertising and showing their car if they could just get rid of it by giving a good deal to a friend.
4. Check out the engine. Have a mechanic look at the car, and tell you what it's likely to need in the next year or so. Then make a list, so the seller can see in writing why you are offering less than he wants.
5. Auctions. See if there is a public auction in your area. If not, maybe you can go with a dealer friend and give him a $100 to buy a car for you.
6. www.carfax.com. It's around $25 to run vehicle background checks for a month - long enough to find your next car. They'll show the chain of title, accident reports for the car, and even safety and reliability scores for that model.
7. "Ugly" cars. Watch for cars that sit on the lot for months. Dealers will often sell these "ugly ducklings" at a loss just to move them. Again, you may want to leave your phone number with a low offer.
8. Rental company cars. They are sold fairly cheap when they get the new ones in. Buy at bluebook wholesale or less, because they have had many different drivers, so they've more wear than normal.
9. Repos. Credit unions and some small banks do their own selling of repossessed cars. You usually bid on paper, maybe with a $50 deposit, and then get your $50 back if you're not the winning bidder. If they don't sell their own repossessions, ask where they are sold.
10. Consider gas mileage. High mileage may be better, but maybe a car that costs $500 less will use only $400 more gas in the two years you expect to own it. Do the math.
Use the tips here the next time you are shopping for a used car. Meanwhile, why not learn a few negotiating strategies. This helps in many areas of life, and is the most important of these used car buying tips.
About The Author
Steve Gillman has been hunting down obscure knowledge and useful secrets for years. Learn more and get a free gift at:
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Driving In The Green - Golf Cart Tips
Driving In The Green - Golf Cart Tips
by: Edwin Shackleford
When playing golf, it is quite difficult to carry a bag with the different clubs even with the company of a caddy. This is because the bag weighs a lot and of course, be it 18 or 36 holes, is a long walk. It is a good thing that there are golf carts to get from one hole to another which will save the person time and energy especially if one is playing for a lot of money in a golf tournament.
The first golf car was launched in 1962 and since then has made some modifications. The traditional golf car is a battery powered 2- seater that comes with a hood and has a small baggage compartment for the golf bag in the back.
If one is interested in getting one, here are a few things that a person must know;
1. Golf cars may not be as expensive as the real car but one still has to shell out some money to get a unit. Since such models are not usually sold in dealer lots like regular...
Driving In The Green - Golf Cart Tips
Cars > Driving In The Green - Golf Cart Tips
Used Cars At Cheap Prices
Used Cars At Cheap Prices
by: Gregory Ashton
Buying a car is a huge investment. Whether a brand new or a second hand car, you still have to shell out a tidy sum to hopefully get the car that meets your specifications.
Second hand cars can be purchased by going to the local dealer, looking at the classified ads or checking out the various websites that allow a person to search and buy a car online.
There are two reasons why used cars are cheaper. The first is that cars once purchased and driven off a lot immediately depreciate. Annually, these cars lose about 20% in value making it easy for you to buy a second hand car almost at half the original price.
Another reason is that it is hard to buy a car and pay the full payment up front. By acquiring the services of a financial institution such as a bank, a person can pay off the loan through monthly installments. Unfortunately, some people have failed to honor that commitment which...
Used Cars At Cheap Prices
Cars > Used Cars At Cheap Prices
The Top 3 Ways to Look For A Classic Car Online
The Top 3 Ways to Look For A Classic Car Online
by: Tim Jeffries
It?s annoying, I know, but it certainly is effective.
The time and energy doing the research might seem annoying but it?s always worth it in the end.
Imagine being 3 clicks from the find of your life. That?s the way the classic car market works online.
I must admit to being a little bit of a classic car enthusiast myself. Furthermore, I must admit to being a diligent researcher. So, when I?m looking to either buy or examine the collection of classic cars for sale, it?s not too tough. So, I?m going to give you a couple of hints of where to start looking (hint, it?s not the mighty Google. Though, Google is fantastic for a whole bunch of reasons- a high stock price not being last on the list!).
1) Forums. This tip is generally only known to people in the know.
There are a ton of forums (basically online community discussion boards) for...
Cars > The Top 3 Ways to Look For A Classic Car Online
Saturn Sky: Sneak Peek
Saturn Sky: Sneak Peek
by: Matthew C. Keegan
Somebody at General Motors must love Saturn. One hundred year old Oldsmobile was killed off in favor of bringing the Saturn brand in-house. Up until the early part of this decade, Saturn was a separate automaker, wholly owned by GM. Now, as a bonafide GM division, the Saturn line is finally getting some much needed new models including the Sky roadster, the focus of this preview.
In the early 1990s, dent resistant polymer cars with the ?S? designation began to roll of a factory line of a new plant located in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Several things were unusual about the project. The first was the company: Saturn. As a wholly owned but separately managed GM company, the Saturn initially escaped GM?s often overbearing culture and began to produce cars on its own far removed from Detroit. The second unusual point about the company was the cars itself: compact, import-fighting models designed to withstand...
Saturn Sky: Sneak Peek
Cars > Saturn Sky: Sneak Peek
Tips On Buying Warranty For Used Cars
Tips On Buying Warranty For Used Cars
by: Gregory Ashton
Used car buyers need to get their money?s worth as soon as their purchase has been confirmed. New or not, cars should have warranties. It is a right, not a privilege.
The following are tips to better your chances of getting the best warranty for your money. Know what you are buying
Some people who avail themselves of auto warranty coverage usually have a notion that they are purchasing a special shield that protects their vehicle from unnecessary wear and tear. Though this is true, this idea is primarily bound to a contract that the buyer should read prior to signing anything. There are instances when consumers buy a used car then expect the warranty company to get their cars back in shape for them. Buyers then unnecessarily file a complaint and get angry once their request is denied simply because their understanding of the conditions that constitute the warranty differs from what...
Tips On Buying Warranty For Used Cars
Cars > Tips On Buying Warranty For Used Cars
Top 10 Buying Tips for Buying a Car
Top 10 Buying Tips for Buying a Car
by: Danny Huang
1. Money: Make sure you know what is your budget. Never exceed the amount you can afford. For instance if your income is 50,000$ USD, you shouldn?t spend more than 25,000$ on the car because the car will may become a finical problem to you.
2. Personal need: Ask yourself what is the purpose of the car. Decide whether you want a 4 door sedan or a 6 people van. Look into what class and what kind car you want. If the purpose of the car is just purposely transportation, then don?t look into luxurious cars such as Benz or BMW.
Or whether the car is for
family purpose or personal love of car then you can decide whether you want a SUV or Sports Car.
3. Difference Brand: Once you decide what type of car you want. Look at different brands that has similar cars. For instance, if you are looking into the Lexus IS, also look into the Nissan G35, BMW 3 series, Acura TL, Cadillac...
Top 10 Buying Tips for Buying a Car
Cars > Top 10 Buying Tips for Buying a Car
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
by: Jason Tarasi
Power, speed and performance ? those are the three major traits of a muscle car. When first produced, muscle cars were just pretty darn amazing because they combined the efficiency of a lightweight, mid-sized body with the performance of a high-power V8 engine and special design features that further increased the cars? acceleration capabilities. Because muscle cars topped all other vehicles in terms of power, speed and performance, they were ideal for racing.
Muscle cars were produced from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s, but the production of such beasts fell drastically due to a number of factors. First was the controversy over whether it was wise and responsible to make such powerful vehicles available to the general public, primarily due to road racing. Because muscle cars were often used irresponsibly, liability relating to them was pretty high which forced insurance companies...
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
Cars > The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
Import Street Racing Cars
Import Street Racing Cars
by: Matt Garrett
There is no other exciting fun in the town than the late night street car racing. You are probably among the street cars racers who are in love with racing and money making. Though street car racing is illegal in countries, but who can stop the fans. Several street car racers dump their old cars and search for new and better racing cars. If you are one street racer who wants to dump his old car and import a street racing car, its time you act with maturity and sharpness. After all you are importing your love- your street racing car.
Every country sets its own car importing and exporting rules. There is no such standard tariff rate and import duty on cars. They differ from country to country. So it is very important for you to choose, from where you want to import your car. There are some basic guidelines which you should follow before you import your car.
Research
The first thing you...
Import Street Racing Cars
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Plasma TVs And Your Home Entertainment Center
Plasma TVs And Your Home Entertainment Center
by: John Rivers
It seems as if everyone these days is showing off their expensive flashy new home entertainment centers. They?re linked wirelessly to computers, have more speakers than a Rolling Stone?s concert, and cost more than a midsize luxury sedan. They feature DVD players, DVR or Tivo, CD players, MP3 players, and anything else you can imagine. The centerpiece, though, still remains the same: the television.
Plasma...
Plasma TVs And Your Home Entertainment Center Cars lcd tv
Cars > Plasma TVs And Your Home Entertainment Center
Finding a Mortgage Refinance Advisor
Finding a Mortgage Refinance Advisor
by: Jennifer Hershey
If you are looking to refinance your home for a lower rate, or you are interested in a refinance with cash out to do some home repairs, buy a new car, etc., you may want to consider finding a mortgage refinance advisor.
There are actually two ways you can go about refinancing your home. The first would be to do the shopping around for a refinance on your own. The second way would be to locate a mortgage...
refinance Finding a Mortgage Refinance Advisor Cars Used Car Buying Tips
Cars > Finding a Mortgage Refinance Advisor