Making the Most Out of Test Drives

In buying a used car, you know how important it is to have a feel of the vehicle by taking it on a spin. Generally, test drives have two purposes. First, you’ll want to figure out if you like the model you’re driving in general, especially if you haven’t driven that model before. Second, you’ll want to determine if there are mechanical problems that you have to be aware of. Make the most out of your test drives through the following steps.

Most Common Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make

When buying a used car, you need to protect and prepare yourself well against a bad used car purchase. A lot of used car buyers commit really costly mistakes. Here are the most common ones that you must avoid to make sure you get only the best used car for your needs.

Not Doing Research

Most used car buyers are guilty of not doing proper research on their part before buying a used car. Before going to a dealer, you must have sufficiently researched the vehicles that you are considering. Read online reviews, and don’t hesitate to consult friends and neighbors who own a similar type of vehicle.

Not Checking the Tire’s Age

One thing that most car buyers tend to overlook is to check the tires’ age—a mistake that can cost them a lot in the end. To confirm the tire’s age, check the sidewalls of the tires—generally, a four-digit number will indicate the week and year it was manufactured. Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing your tires every six years, provided that they are well-cared for.

Mistakes in Negotiating the Price

When it comes to negotiating the price with a used car seller, you might be tempted to squeeze out the last dollar, which can lead to you not getting the most out of the used car’s performance. Remember that your main goal is to be satisfied with a used car’s overall quality even if you have to pay a few more dollars for it.

Strong Points of the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Of today’s auto manufacturers, Subaru stands tall as one of the most beloved brands. This goes beyond loyal fans, as even industry experts have professed their love of the brand’s cars. They present an air of practicality coupled with simple yet beautiful designs. 

Among the brand’s SUVs is the XV Crosstrek. Here, you’ll see some of the strongest points of the 2013 model:

Subaru: A Decade of Zero Landfill Manufacturing

To say that Subaru is a green car maker is a bit of a stretch since the brand is not entirely famous for manufacturing electric cars and in fact has launched only one hybrid model thus far. Subaru, however, is the leading car manufacturer when it comes to green manufacturing practices. For over a decade now, Subaru has been building cars with zero landfills. Such a feat is what other big car companies hope to emulate.

Minimal Waste

These efforts began in 2004, back when Subaru’s Indiana plant began rolling out thousands of cars with minimal waste. This was the first manufacturing facility nationwide to achieve zero-landfill status. To manage and reduce waste, Subaru kept track of materials by means of bar-coded containers, which are then weighed and tabulated to keep tabs on the amount of waste produced at each assembly station.

Negotiating the Price for a Used Car

It’s easy enough to get sales talked into buying a used car for more than what it is actually worth. However, you can avoid this—and get the best possible deal--by following these simple tips.

Never Fall in Love with a Car

One of the first things you need to remember is to not to fall in love with a car at first sight. Keep in mind that there are other used cars that might be better suited to your needs. Treat cars as commodities rather than people, and simply don’t settle for one specific model.

Do Your Research

The price you’ll pay for the purchase will ultimately depend on how much you’re willing to shell out, so before actually buying a used car, you need to set a budget. You can then check out online guides like the Kelley Blue Book to see the kind of used cars you could get for your budget, and limit your choices among those models.

Negotiating One at a Time

When negotiating with a dealer, it’s advisable to first settle on the price of the vehicle, then separately discuss trade-in or financial terms. Do your research before negotiating so you can make a realistic offer.

Filing a New Identity for Your Used Car

License plates of used cars aren't carried over to the new owner with the car itself. The plates are either destroyed by the previous owner or surrendered to authorities. This is to avoid using the plate for unlawful activity, as well as prevent the new owner from carrying any liability of the old owner.

Top Car Myths of All Time, Debunked

If you’re in the market for a car, whether new or used, you’ll likely meet scores of people who will tell all sorts of stories about automobiles. Not all of those stories, however, are true. If you want some help distinguishing which is real and which isn’t, you’re reading the right article.

Manual transmission offers better fuel economy

Back when automatic cars are relatively new, this used to be the case. Today, however, the aged manual vehicles are continuously being outpaced by newer generations of automatic vehicle. The continuously variable transmission, for example, offers an infinite range of gear ratios).

Six Reasons Why You Should Buy a Used Car

A used car is a practical choice for fresh graduates who are just starting their careers, and for families who have somewhere else to invest their funds in. Below are reasons why a used car is a great investment:

1. Sturdier. Recent used models have proven their durability without suffering from exhaust-system, rust, transmission and engine problems. With more regular maintenance, these can go even farther than 100,000 miles without needing major repairs.

The Prices of New and Used Cars in New Orleans

Used car prices in New Orleans continue to plummet. It’s been several straight months of dropping as the economy of the city surges. This could be bad news for new car buyers, as auto makers are forced to offer lower lease prices and raise the costs of new vehicles.

The price is not right

In simpler terms, if pre-owned cars are not in demand, car companies will lose money since they are forced to spend on promos that offer lower lease prices. To make up for the loss, they inevitably jack up the prices of brand new vehicles.

What’s the Best Car for Savings-Savvy Moms?

Mothers do know best. They are the ones who know first-hand how much of a challenge it can be to manage a household while keeping everyone happy and safe. Mothers who live in New Orleans and surrounding areas know that having your own car is an absolute necessity, but brand-new ones can seem to be too big a purchase when put beside other expenses.

A Little Patience will Pay off for Used Car Buyers

If you’re planning to purchase a pre-owned car, you may want to wait a couple of months. Industry observers have noted that many leases will be expiring, thereby flooding the market with millions of used vehicles. This should effectively bring current used car prices to new lows

New car sales are up

One factor that is driving pre-owned car prices down is the brisk sales of new ones. Given the demand for new cars plus the entry of next year’s models onto the showroom floors, it looks as if car sales will keep climbing until early 2015. Car owners looking to unload their used vehicles will most likely not be able to get the price they want within the next few months. 

How to Spot a Lemon Car

Purchasing a used car comes with risks, but all of those can be mitigated with sound inspection and identifying right away the defects you can live with and send out for repair. The risk of ending up with a so-called “lemon” happens when the buyer wasn’t able to spot hidden defects in the vehicle, and is then compelled to spend massive cash for repairs. Here are some tips in spotting a lemon.

Check the reliability record – Models with a good reliability record should always be on the top of any used car buyer’s list. Sites like Consumer Reports have an annual subscriber survey which details real-world reliability information of a specific car model in scrutiny.

Identify flood damage – Once a car has been submerged in floodwater, it is bound to experience further performance issues in the long run. One way to identify flood damage is by inspecting electrical connections for corrosion, or moldy upholstery. A funky cabin smell is also a tell-tale sign, as well as silt underneath the carpets.

Test-drive it on the freeway – Driving a used car fast is often the best way to listen for rattles, as well as identify unwanted gaps between doors and frames. However, buyers should always remember to drive fast in a safe way, or the car won’t be the only wreck at the end of the day.