Thursday, June 13, 2013

2011 Dodge Charger SRT 8

Front 3/4 view of 2011 Dodge Charger SRT-8

Never underestimate the power of something that looks this mean.

Its kinda easy to do, given that the Dodge Charger has been with us for 5 years now and a new ones on the way. Weve seen it too many times in airport car rental lots and giggled as Mark Harmon and the gang on NCIS make the 6-cylinder ones they drive try to look menacing.

But five minutes in a Charger SRT-8 is enough to wipe that smirk right off my face...and replace it with a great big ear-to-ear grin.

                              Rear 3/4 view of red 2011 Dodge Charger SRT-8

Tromp on the pedal of an SRT-8 and the rear of the car is what everyone else on the road is going to see.

Yes, it has a Hemi. 6.1 liters worth, putting out 425 horsepower with 420 pounds of torque. The 5-speed "AutoStick" automatic transmission is up to the task, though a real six-speed manual would be ideal.  Whatever...the point is brute strength and the Charger SRT-8 delivers big time.

According to the window sticker that came with our tester, its the official passenger car of NASCAR, which makes perfect sense. This is what NASCAR used to be. Take a big standard car, stuff the hairiest engine possible under the hood and hang on.

Sophisticated?

Refined?

Elegant?

No...but a big barrel of fun for a reasonable price. Base is $38,180. Yeah, that is awfully close to $40K. Find me this much performance for less than this money and maybe Ill change my mind.

Of course, you can load these up and thats just what the Dodge PR people did. This one had the SRT Option Groups II and III, roughly $2,800 worth of options including an upgraded radio, 13 high performance speakers, a 322-watt amplifier, a 200-watt subwoofer, surround sound, Uconnect, iPod control, a security alarm and a nav system.

Throw in the power sunroof ($950), HID headlamps ($695), performance tire and wheel upgrade ($250), rear seat video system (in a sedan?) ($1,480) and the inevitable gas guzzler tax (13 city/19 highway) of $1,700 and your bottom line after $750 destination charge is $46,850.

If your heart and your bank balance say yes, theres a lot of fun to be had here.
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Monday, June 10, 2013

Worst Parking Job Ever Here Comes The Judge

                        

Six months and a few hundred thousand pageviews later, the authorities have sentenced the woman seen in the video above parking her car on....well, two other cars.

Tripta Kaushal was arrested on the evidence of that video back in October. But the wheels of justice turn more deliberately than those of her SUV, so its only this week that the judge brought the hammer down.

A $500 fine for leaving the scene and failing to report the accident, restitution to the owners of the two cars she damaged, six months probation and shes not allowed to drive between 7PM and 7AM.

Do we really think low light was the issue here?

And yes, shes driving a BMW X5. Now, just imagine what the media would have said about the video if it had been a Toyota.
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Friday, June 7, 2013

Megacity BMW Vehicle Future Concept Cars

Future direction of the concept vehicle is already clear. Several terms, now is getting to be such obligation that is not too large size, low emissions and fuel economy must certainly be there. With the same understanding as well as BMWs long player in the automotive trying to design a concept car that will be the future of transportation. This car will be fully using electrical energy source and will carry a number of todays modern technology.


Megacity BMW Vehicle Project was actually started from Project i at the end of 2007. At that time, BMW began to try to glance at the hybrid car market with the launch of the Mini E. It was indeed a comparison between the use of fuel oil to electricity is not balanced and therefore BMW 1-series and then launched ActiveE Concept which will be launched later in 2011. This is not the last project of the BMW because for the year 2013 BMW is preparing for this Vehicle MCV or Megacity.



From the sketches on display, it appears that Megacity Vehicle body design is indeed very futuristic. It is possible that this concept will change shape when entering the later production globally but at least we can predict the basic shape of this Vehicle Megacity. From the data specification, BMW says that this MCV would accommodate four passengers although there is no clarity about the number of doors to be installed on this car.



An important component in realizing the optimal electric car is obviously the weight of the car itself. How not, the weight of the batteries alone can reach 250kg - 360kg. Therefore, BMW took dugwells Carbon to design what they call a carbon fiber cells that will become the fundamental building blocks of this MCV. With an electric motor that can generate power of 135 horsepower and weighs a light car it is expected that these MCV can achieve the ideal distance to be called as a tool of modern transportation. Source: spinnwebzine.wordpress.com
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Saturday, June 1, 2013

ABCs Brian Ross Did Toyota Hide Life Saving Information

The fuel just keeps getting poured on the Toyota fire. ABCs Brian Ross aired this piece on Good Morning America Thursday, with more promised for World News with Diane Sawyer. His on-camera introduction deals with Toyotas admission of a brake design flaw in the Prius, which we told you about earlier this morning. Its whats in his taped report that begins about 30 seconds in that is likely to cause still more damage to whats left of Toyotas reputation:

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Guide to Choosing Car Alarm

Choosing Car Alarm
It is not surprising when you want to buy a car alarm system, all the manufacturers claim to have the best alarm system. This is normal course. As consumers, we must be smart to choose and do a little research to find an alarm system that best suits our car.

Finding the best car alarm system starts with understanding the type of car you have to determine a compatible car alarm system. If you have a car manufactured in 2000, maybe an alarm that is for cars made in 2010 to no longer compatible. The first place to look for information is through your cars manual. Noteworthy, too, many cars that have been installed from the factory default alarm.

If it turns out this innate alarm is mounted and you want to upgrade your car alarm systems, spoke with the mechanic would be very helpful to determine where the alarm system should be selected. Next, choose a car alarm systems will also be influenced by the fi tour of what kind of security you want to install. Some car owners may prefer to choose a car alarm with remote control while others are more inclined to keyless entry systems.

After deciding which type of car alarm category is about to be selected, the next step is to study the product description and reviews from consumers. Narrow your choices to a few brands or models can help you more easily compare the fi-fi tour provided tour or ask questions to the provider.

No alarms are suitable for all types of cars. The best alarm is appropriate to the type of car, preferences, and budget you have. Talking with colleagues to gain their experience of an alarm system will facilitate you in making decisions. Make sure the car alarm installed by a person who qualifi cation to ensure the optimization function.
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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Polishing body

Almost every technical Motor Show in Ekaterinburg you can order a polished car. Polishing a car body is divided into two types: protective, restorative. In both cases, polishing one of the important conditions is the preservation refinishing machines as long as possible and making auto attractive appearance. To make a long time to keep in good condition paint the car, you need to regularly produce a protective finish. This form of polishing is done by hand using nonabrasive polishing paste. Protective polishing is most effective on paint when the vehicle has maintained the original shine. Such a polishing body Ekaterinburg is literally all the car-city. Polishing paste comes in a synthesis of paint or varnish, and forms a protective layer that protects the paint from the corrosive influences of burning in the sun, also from sticking poplar and linden buds. Validity of such a polishing, depends on the chemical composition of non-contact car wash. Restorative polishing performed in three phases of work. Using abrasive paste, from the most severe, to very soft. We first removed the factory coating 2-3 microns, and then cleaned minor scratches, clouding of varnish and wear, layering of different chemicals and pollinating after painting the body. After reducing polishing the car body color acquires its original form, appears shiny and bright.

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Toyota Avanza Style And Elegant Car

I LIKE TOYOTA AVANZA BECAUSE IT SMART AND SIMPLE LUXURY CAR 


Toyota Avanza Specifications

The car is a no holds barred Multi Utility vehicle and has no qualms about it. The Toyota Avanza Specifications come with a 1.5 litre engine with a four cylinder capacity and powers up to 141 Nm torque. The drive train comes with front engine seating up to seven occupants and has five doors. The car moves around with five speed manual transmission and encompasses a curb weight of 1100 kg. The mighty beast has a fuel thirst for every 11.8 kmpl on the busy streets and goes up to 16 kmpl on the long escapades at the highways. The ground clearance is a neat 180 mm and gobbles up any obstacles on the way.
Toyota Avanza Photos

The Toyota Avanza was incepted in the year 2003 and the renewed variant has been around since 2006. The newly renovated variant of the Avanza has a new front grille, new interior, new bumpers and new headlights and taillights. The Toyota Avanza Photos of the front show the trademark grille on most of its cars along with the logo. The raring front fascia and the sloping roofline all accentuate the overall looks of the Toyota Avanza. The Toyota Avanza photos of the rear show that the car is very stylish and the huge tailgate makes for easy movement of luggage. The Toyota Avanza also has a decent height and allows for handling of some heavy weight objects. The Avanza also has a good view for the drivers to watch oncoming traffic.


Specification


Engine Model
:VVT-i
Max. Torque
:141 Nm @ 4400 rpm
Transmission Type
:5-Speed Manual
Fuel Type
:Petrol
Length (mm)
:4120
Width (mm)
:1635
Height (mm)
:1695
Ground Clearance (mm)
:180
Minimum Turning Radius
:4.7





Toyota Avanza Price
The Toyota Avanza Price will be kept low and is looked as a replacement to the Toyota Innova, and will be positioned as an international Multi-Purpose Vehicle segment. The Toyota products are always an attractive option in the compact SUV’s and that too at affordable price. The Toyota Avanza ex-showroom price can expect to be around 7 lakhs. It is expected that Toyota Avanza India will hit the market by the end of the year and depending upon trim levels and other options. The Toyota Avanza On road price will be inclusive of the Vehicle price, Road tax, Insurance and registration fees can further increase the cost up to 10% extra. If you want additional accessories youll have to pay extra amount for the same. The Toyota Avanza India is looked upon as the competitor to the likes of the Mahindra Xylo, the Chevrolet Tavera and the newest entry Nissan NV200.




G



1.5 G 4-Speed A/T

1.5 G 5-Speed M/T
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Overall L x W x H (mm)4,140 x 1,660 x 1,6954,140 x 1,660 x 1,695
Wheelbase mm.2,6552,655
Tread Front/Rear mm.1,425 / 1,4351,425 / 1,435
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(Without Axle)200200
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(With Axle)180180
Weight Curb (min). mm1,1001,090
Weight Gross mm.1,7001,700
Min. Turning Radius m4.74.7
Seating Capacity7-Seater7-Seater


1.5 G 4-Speed A/T

1.5 G 5-Speed M/T
ENGINE
Model3SZ-VE3SZ-VE
TypeVVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC 16V EFIVVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC 16V EFI
Displacement1,4951,495
Bore and Stroke72 x 91.872 x 91.8
Compression Ratio10.0:110.0:1
Max Output102HP / 6,000 rpm102HP / 6,000 rpm
Max Torque136Nm / 4,400 rpm136Nm / 4,400 rpm
Fuel Supply SystemEFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)
Fuel Tank Capacity L4545
Catalytic ConverterWithWith


1.5 G 4-Speed A/T

1.5 G 5-Speed M/T
TRANSMISSION AND CHASSIS
Transmission TypeGate Type A/TM/T
Suspension FrontMcPherson Strut with Coil Spring & StabilizerMcPherson Strut with Coil Spring & Stabilizer
Suspension Rear4-link with Coil Spring4-link with Coil Spring
Brakes Front13" Disc13" Disc
Brakes Rear8" Leading-Trailing Drums8" Leading-Trailing Drums
Tires185 / 65 R15185 / 65 R15
Wheels15"x5J Alloy15"x5J Alloy

NOTE: Vehicle, equipment and specifications may vary from the models available locally. Vehicle body and colors might differ slightly from images.



E





1.3E 4-speed A/T

1.3 5-speed M/T
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Overall L x W x H (mm)4,140 x 1,660 x 1,6954,140 x 1,660 x 1,695
Wheelbase mm.2,6552,655
Tread Front/Rear mm.1,425 / 1,4351,425 / 1,435
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(Without Axle)200200
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(With Axle)180180
Weight Curb (min). mm1,0801,060
Weight Gross mm.1,6801,680
Min. Turning Radius m4.74.7
Seating Capacity7-Seater7-Seater


1.3E 4-speed A/T

1.3 5-speed M/T
ENGINE
ModelK3-VEK3-VE
TypeVVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC 16V EFIVVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC 16V EFI
Displacement1,2981,298
Bore and Stroke72.0 x 79.772.0 x 79.7
Compression Ratio10.0:110.0:1
Max Output90HP / 6,000 rpm90HP / 6,000 rpm
Max Torque117Nm / 4,400 rpm117Nm / 4,400 rpm
Fuel Supply SystemEFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)
Fuel Tank Capacity L4545
Catalytic ConverterWithWith


1.3E 4-speed A/T

1.3 5-speed M/T
TRANSMISSION AND CHASSIS
Transmission TypeAutomatic Gate Type A/TM/T
Suspension FrontMcPherson Strut with Coil Spring & StabilizerMcPherson Strut with Coil Spring & Stabilizer
Suspension Rear4-link with Coil Spring4-link with Coil Spring
Brakes Front13" Disc13" Disc
Brakes Rear8" Leading-Trailing Drums8" Leading-Trailing Drums
Tires185 / 65 R15185 / 70 R14
Wheels14"x5J Alloy14"x5J Alloy

NOTE: Vehicle, equipment and specifications may vary from the models available locally. Vehicle body and colors might differ slightly from images.


J



1.3J 5-speed M/T
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Overall L x W x H (mm)4,140 x 1,660 x 1,695
Wheelbase mm.2,655
Tread Front/Rear mm.1,425 / 1,435
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(Without Axle)200
Min. Ground Clearance mm.(With Axle)180
Weight Curb (min). mm1,090
Weight Gross mm.1,680
Min. Turning Radius m4.7
Seating Capacity5-Seater


1.3J 5-speed M/T
ENGINE
ModelK3-VE
TypeVVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC 16V EFI
Displacement1,298
Bore and Stroke72 x 79.7
Compression Ratio10.0:1
Max Output90HP / 6,000 rpm
Max Torque117Nm / 4,400 rpm
Fuel Supply SystemEFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)
Fuel Tank Capacity L45
Catalytic ConverterWith


1.3J 5-speed M/T
EXTERIOR
HeadlampsMulti-reflector Type Halogen
Front FoglampsWithout
Side Turn Signal LampWith (Headlamp Integrated)
Radiator GrilleColor-Keyed
Bumpers Front/RearColor-Keyed
Wipers Front/RearIntermittent/Without
WindshieldLaminated
Outer MirrorsBlack
Door Outside Handle (Grip Type)Color-Keyed
Mudguards Front/RearWithout
Backdoor GarnishColor-Keyed
AntennaPillar Type
Rear Window DefoggerWithout
Rear Combination LampsBulb Type
Rear SpoilerWithout
High Mount Stop LampWithout


1.3J 5-speed M/T
POWER FEATURES
Power SteeringWith
Power WindowWith
Power Door LockWithout
Power Outer MirrorsWithout


1.3J 5-speed M/T
INTERIOR
ClockWithout
Instrumental Panel SpeedometerStandard
Instrumental Panel TachometerStandard
Instrumental Panel Odo/Trip MeterDigital
Warning Seatbelt (Driver Only)Driver with (Lamp)
Warning Fuel LevelWith
Warning Door AjarWith
Warning Key RemindWithout
Warning Lamps RemindWithout
Instrument Panel Center ClusterBlack
AirconditioningManual Dial(cooler, Dual)
Audio2-Speaker CD/MP3/AUX/USB
Steering Wheel3-spoke / Urethane
Steering ColumnTilt-Adjustable (with EPS)
Shift Lever & KnobUrethane
Sun VisorsDriver, Passenger
Inside Rear View MirrorStandard
Assist GripFront (Single) & Rear (Dual)
Seats MaterialFabric
Seats FrontDriver & Passenger Sliding, Reclining
Seats Rear 150:50 Split, One-Touch Tumble
Seats Rear 2without
Seats Rear HeadrestsStandard
Door Inside HandleMaterial Color
Door TrimsMoulded, Full Trim
Storage Rear Console BoxWithout
Storage Glove BoxWith
Storage Cup & Bottle HoldersFront & Rear (11Pcs)
Storage Door PocketsDriver and Passenger (Door Trim Integrated)
Storage Glassess CaseWithout
Storage Back PocketsWithout
Lamps Room LampWith
Front Personal LampWithout
Door Courtesy LampWith


1.3J 5-speed M/T
SAFETY
GOA BodyStandard
SRS AirbagsWithout
Seatbelts Front Seats3-Pt. ELR x 2
Seatbelts Rear 1 Seats3Pt ELR x 2 and 2Pt NR x 1
Seatbelts Rear 2 Seat3-Pt ELR x 2
Child Lock ProtectionWith (Rear Door Only)
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)Without


1.3J 5-speed M/T
SECURITY
TVSS (Toyota Vehicle Security System)Without
Wireless DoorlockWithout


1.3J 5-speed M/T
TRANSMISSION AND CHASSIS
Transmission TypeM/T
Suspension FrontMcPherson Strut with Coil Spring & Stabilizer
Suspension Rear4-link with Coil Spring
Brakes Front13" Disc
Brakes Rear8" Leading-Trailing Drums
Tires185 / 70 R14
Wheels14"x5J Steel

NOTE: Vehicle, equipment and specifications may vary from the models available locally. Vehicle body and colors might differ slightly from images.
Read more »

Monday, May 20, 2013

Your First Car In USA


Your mobility depends too much on your possession of a private vehicle. You may go for a car, motorcycle or truck as your own vehicle. But due to severe weather conditions in many regions it is not a good idea to depend on motorcycles all the time. It is also not a good idea to have a truck or SUV as they drink lot of gas and the maintenance is high. Somewhere in the middle and perfectly positioned vehicle for Desi would be a car. There are various types of cars to suite your need.

What you should have

If you are a single man and do not depend primarily on your car for commuting to your work, then go for anything as you wish.

There are coupes which have capacity for 4 persons but only two big doors. Primarily these cars are designed keeping in view for two, driver and one passenger. The other model is the sedan which has capacity for 5 and has 4 doors. This can also be called a family car. Depending on the size of the car, they are categorized as Compact, Mid-sized and Full. Compact cars are very small in size and have a good mileage per gallon too. Some manufacturers even make two seated compact cars. The power of the compact car is also little less than the cars of other categories. There are other cars that have powerful engines and are rated as sports cars.

On the contrary, if you have a big family and need more space in your vehicle, then go for van/SUV. But I wont suggest this idea to people who have just come to US, before/after marriage and dont have any kids.

Besides, it is always your dream and desire that makes you to go for a particular type and model. But before deciding upon something, you must give a thought to the other factors like, the mileage, sitting capacity, transmission, trunk capacity, engine power, ease of driving/safety, interior, power doors and anti-theft devices. Also your affordability plays a major role in purchasing a vehicle.

Do you have a driver license yet? It is most important to have one before going for a vehicle. Various states have different rules for issuing drivers license. You can logon to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sites to know about the pre-requisites and methods of getting one driver license for your state. Normally it involves a written examination, minor vision test and a road test.

The never-ending comparison

Now you have to decide whether to buy a new car or a used car. I wont suggest you any thing or force you to go for what I think is right, but you must know the good and bad things involved in each.

Used Cars

* They are cheaper.

* They may be old.

* They might have more than one owner.

* They could be purchased from private parties or authorized dealers.

* They might have gone through serious maintenance/repair in the past.

* They might have gone through an accident in the past.

* Some parts/components are just about to die.

* There may not be enough warranty/guaranty on some expensive parts.

* The mileage may not be good.

* They may need more maintenance.

* They may not be reliable for long drives.

* Resale may be a headache.

New Cars

* They are not cheap.

* They are covered under manufacturer/dealer warranty.

* Their fuel efficiency must meet the specification.

* There is the satisfaction of owning a new car.

* Easy to get a finance for new car than a used car.

* No need to worry about the engine, body, suspension, tyre, batteries and interior conditions.

* Insurance premium may be higher.

* Can only be bought from an authorized dealer.

There are many other things that can be discussed as advantages and disadvantages under both the headings. However, I dont want to focus on them right now. If you are convinced to buy a new car, then go for it.

Your target

Now it is the time for you to decide the Make, Model and Type of your car. In US you will find hundreds of Make and Models (no Hind Motors/Maruti cars of course). From a Desi prospect I would say it is better to start with Honda/Toyota/Nissan. These Japanese car manufacturers know our requirement and never ditch us on the highways. The engines are good and prices are low. They run long enough before giving up. The life of a Honda/Toyota is considered to be 300K miles. But the look and interior designs are not at par with the American/European cars.

Buying a New Car

Take a cup of coffee, chat with your friends and go through some reviews before you decide upon the make model and color of your first dream car in USA. Check for the existing/upcoming models of your car by logging onto the sites. Select the color and interior and look at the car through the simulator. The most important thing that you must consider here is that, when the next model is going to be released. If it is very soon, then dont go for it, because after you buy your car, you will see the newer model in the market and the resale value of your car will fall drastically.

Cars with automatic transmission and power window have good resale value. ABS and anti-theft devices are added advantages. Leather interior is as per your wish.

Now you have all the details in your mind and the budget is also finalized. Next step is to study the finance market and look for the bank/credit union who gives the best APR. Also dont forget to decide upon your auto insurance. Find out a good insurance company and try to get a quote from them. The premium varies from place to place. With all these things set up, go to the Auto-Mall of your city. Go for a test drive for the car you have already decided. Beware of the car sales representatives. They will always try to sale you the most expensive car they have. But you shouldnt deviate from your decision. Try to bargain with them for a possible reduction in their margin and ask for extra accessories.

What is the status of the loan? Have you arranged one or you want the dealer to make some arrangements for you? Always try to bring down the APR. If you are very new to US and dont have any credit score, you may not get a good APR. However, dont worry about the APR right now. You can always refinance the loan with a better APR after you buildup the credit history after few months of repayment of the loan.

Once the deal is final, you need to sign some papers and then provide the Insurance details if you have. Otherwise, you could also provide the insurance agents phone number and the sales representative will talk to the insurance agent to get the car insured before leaving their premises (dont worry too much for the insurance premiums now, it is important to get your car insured before you drive out of the dealers premises, however you can easily change your insurance later, if you find a better one). In case you didnt get any insurance, you can always go for binder insurance, but they are quite expensive, but you can always cancel them in the middle once you establish your insurance with somebody else and get the refund for the unused portion of your premium.

The next thing is to make the financial paper work. You will be guided to the dealers accounts department and one of the accountants will assist you in finalizing the loan and payment for the car. At that time they will try to sale an extended warranty for another 3 years after the manufacturers warranty. It is you who will decide for that. Dont listen to them, but evaluate it being unbiased. They will try to sale so many other things like paint guard, gap insurance etc. I would suggest not to go with all these things except paint-guard.

After everything is over, they will apply for the vehicle registration/license plate to DMV on your behalf and give you the temporary ownership license (stuck to the windshield of your car). As far as I know, they wash the car and give you a full tank as a compliment before you drive your car back home.

New cars dont give you much trouble as long as you do all the regular oil change and maintenance in time.

Buying a Used Car

Used cars are good but not as new cars. They are much cheaper than the new cars, but at the cost of your peace of mind. You can buy used cars from either a private party or from any dealer. Here also you have to decide your budget and the make, model and year of the car that you need. Also the other main factor is the odometer reading.

There are many sites that give you the links for used cars for sale. You can also refer to the local news papers for any such advertisement. There are places in some cities where people come with their cars for auction/sale. Since you are new, dont go to such places. Rather get contact information from news paper ads or internet. Get the details of the car like make, model and year of the car, miles it has run, condition of batteries, tires and engine condition etc.

Now go to Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) or Edmund (www.edmund.com) and try to evaluate the car. KBB will ask you some question depending upon the private trading or buying from dealer. After you enter data about the private trading car, it will show you an approximate value of the car.

Private Party

If you are buying a used car from a private party, then you need to be more cautious about certain things like, the engine condition, the body condition, the interior and the accident/maintenance history of the car. Dont go for cars that have already run almost 300K miles (for Honda and Toyota). You can start locating for used cars for sale from various sources like, news papers, local ads and internet. After locating the availability near your place, prepare your matrix.

* Call each of them to fix an appointment for trial.

* Get the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from the owner.

* Check for the approximate cost of the car using KBB or EDMUND sites.

* Compare the advertised price with the approximate cost that you arrived at.

* Use the VIN to find out accident/maintenance history from CarFax.com and check for any major incident. There will be a registration fee for CarFax.com, go for the one month pack.

* Talk to a mechanic for pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle. Mechanics charge around $50 per car. It is better to go to some brand names like Pep-Boys. They are good and reliable, but you may need to take an appointment beforehand.

* Go to the owner, see the car physically (for any visible dents, body color, torn airbag containers and interior) and then drive it with the owner.

* Take the car to the mechanic and have it inspected.

* (All the cars need a timing belt replacement after running for around 100K miles, so if the car is around or over 100K, then you need to figure out if the timing belt has been replaced, this information could be obtained from the CarFax report too. One thing you must remember that, in US, the auto spare parts are not that expensive, but the labor charge to install them is too high.)

* The mechanic will give you a report, in which it will indicate the current condition of the car and what needs to be fixed with a rough estimation.

* Check for the vehicle registration, is it current?

* Is the vehicle smog certified?

With the Kelly Blue Book report, CarFax report and the mechanics report, you can have a good bargain with the owner. If you really like the car and every thing looks OK to you, then start bargaining. Dont focus more on the tires/batteries, they are not that important as the engine.

NEVER BUY A CAR THAT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE.

Once you have decided to buy the car, talk to the owner about the payment and mode of payment (check or cash). The owner has to give you a pink slip indicating that you paid for the car and it is yours now. He cant simply lodge a complaint with the police saying you have stolen his car. It is his duty to inform the DMV office about the sale and transfer of title. You should also apply to DMV for transferring the title to your name. For registration, you will need the pink slip, the insurance (get one immediately) and smog certification. After you apply for the transfer of the vehicle registration into your name, you are the proud owner of the car.

It is too cumbersome to buy a used car from a private party, sometimes it is too risky and in all the cases it is damn cheaper. For some unlucky guys it might have resulted in spending huge money on maintenance the next day. But it is not always true. However, you are supposed to visit the mechanic frequently and spend lot of time there.

Buying from Dealer

The next best thing that you can do is to buy a used car from a dealer. It may not be as cheaper as buying from private party, but 100 times more reliable. Even some dealers give warranty on the used cars they sale. They buy the used cars, clean them up, do a thorough checking of the engine and repair any damages, dents etc before putting them on sale. You dont have to take the car to a mechanic for inspection, worry about the smog certification. But never forget to check the approximate price through KBB and have a CarFax report handy before making a deal with the dealer. Normally, good dealers dont keep cars for sale that have any major issues like bad accident history, salvaged title etc.

Go to the dealer, talk to the sales representative about your purpose. He/she will show you all the different used cars they have that fits your requirement as well as your budget. Once you have selected the model, make and color, go for a test drive (dont forget to check the odometer reading). If everything feels ok to you, then go to the dealers office and access their computer to logon to KBB for approximate pricing as well as to CarFax for accident/maintenance history for that car. Some dealers even do this for free. Now with all these things handy, start the bargain. You must always consider the worry free deal with the worth of the vehicle you are paying for. You may end up paying a little more than that of a private party deal, but there wont be any worries after you buy the car. If there will be any problem with the car (which is covered under warranty), you can always comeback to the dealer for having it fixed for free. The dealer may also arrange a loan for you and take care of the other formalities like title transfer etc. You will save a lot of time/worries in this. Time is important and costly in this country. So it is your call again.

After you finalize the deal, it follows the same process as a new car purchase. So finish all paper work and drive the car safely back home.

Tips

* If you own an old used car that needs maintenance and the mechanic gives you a list of jobs to be done, then do all of them once. That way you may save a lot of labor charge.

* As per my experience, buying a new car is always better than buying a used car from a dealer and buying a used car from a dealer is always safer than buying a used car from a third party.

* It seems to be a huge amount in the beginning to buy a new car. But if you compare the money spent for new (repay the loan) and used car (repair/maintenance), then over a period of 3 years they will almost equate with each other. So, why not to enjoy the ride of a new car.



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