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How to Tell if a Used Car has Flood Damge

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Most sellers are honest enough to let you know if the used car or truck you’re interested in has been in a flood. There are the rare occasions, however, when seller may not know everything about a vehicle’s past or may simply be trying to deceive you. Flood damage is one of the hardest sorts of used car damage to detect if you don’t know what you’re looking for, but there are a handful of easy tip offs. If you suspect the used car you’re interested in has been flooded in the past, it’s best to just walk away and find a better deal.

The Smell

One of the easiest ways to tell if a car has been flooded is if the interior has a musty, damp smell. No matter how hard you try, that smell is almost impossible to get rid of.

Odd Colors

Be sure to check out the interior thoroughly. Is the carpet discolored? Do the seats match the rest of the interior? It’s easy to swap large pieces of interior like seats, but carpet and door panels may be more difficult to replace in good condition. Keep an eye out for dark stains toward the lower portion of the used car or truck, too.

Debris

When a vehicle is an a flood, water carries all sorts of debris everywhere. That includes lots and lots of soil. When the water recedes, all that dirt is left behind all over the vehicle. No matter how thoroughly a car has been cleaned, caked on mud will remain. Give the car a good once over and look for any odd build up.

History Report

If the vehicle has been reported as being in a flood, that information will show up on the history report.

Tags: Flood Damage, Used, Used Car, Used Cars, Used Truck, Used vehicles
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Check Out UsedCars.com’s CPO Center!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

We have a new Certified Pre-Owned center over at UsedCars.com! You can get the skinny on all the different manufacturers’ CPO programs, and what exactly a car needs to be the cream of the crop. Usually, CPO cars are off-lease, which means they have really low miles and have been maintained by the dealership. That means you’re getting an essentially brand-new vehicle without having to shoulder all the depreciation. Now that UsedCars.com has a special CPO center, you can easily tell which vehicles on the site are certified – identifiable by special badges – and which aren’t.

There is a big difference in the type of certification used cars carry. While manufacturers maintain strict standards with long lists of check points, mileage stipulations and repair history parameters, local dealers can have their own CPO programs. Many times, local programs are less strict when it comes to what vehicles make it into the pool and as a result, you may end up with a car that could be more of a headache than a help. Fortunately, UsedCars.com’s newest CPO center only picks manufacturer-backed vehicles to help you find the perfect CPO car or truck in a hurry.

Aside from knowing your CPO vehicle has been given an extensive once-over by the manufacturer, there’s another reason to go certified. Most CPO cars and trucks carry a factory warranty, which is better than most used vehicles out there. That means if you encounter a mechanical problem, just take it back to the dealer and everything should be squared away at a fraction of the cost of a normal repair. So, if you’re looking to get into a great used car sometime soon, check out UsedCars.com’s CPO center to get started.

Tags: Certified Pre-Owned, CPO, Pre-Owned, Used, Used Cars, Used Trucks, Used vehicles, UsedCars.com, Warranty
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Three Easy Ways to Tell if Your Vehicle Has Been in a Collision

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Not every accident gets reported to insurance companies, and as a result, even the best vehicle history report may miss a bruise or two. Usually, small parking-lot nudges and fender-benders are no big deal if they’ve been repaired properly and the seller is willing to come clean about the vehicle’s not-so-spotless history. Not everyone’s honest when it comes to selling a used vehicle, though. The good news is you can protect yourself from buying a problem vehicle with these three easy ways to tell if the car has been in an accident. Hop the jump for a look.

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Tags: Body Work, Collision, Damage, Fender Bender, Used Cars, Vehicle History Report, Wreck
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Kenya Becomes Biggest Importer of Japanese Used Cars

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Back in the ‘90s, if you were into the import car scene, the hottest stuff came courtesy of Japan. Anything marked as Japanese Domestic Market, or JDM, cost a pretty penny. Importers picked up engines, transmissions, even the front half of cars, to sell here in the land of the free. The most ambitious guys went about importing whole cars. Right-hand drive Honda Civics and Nissan Skyline GTR’s were the ultimate in not-for-US cool. These days, we get fun cars like the Honda Civic SI and the Nissan GT-R that are just as fast as their Japanese counterparts. That means the import and sale of JDM metal has slacked off considerably.

At least that’s the case here in the states. Kenya has just taken the throne as the number one importer of Japanese used cars. By and large, Kenyans aren’t so much looking for extra performance as they are a low-dollar, reliable vehicle. While dealers in Kenya have seen interest in used cars slack somewhat in recent months, individual importers are buying cars abroad and having them shipped home to save on dealer fees, resulting in a spike in imports. Previously both Russia and Chile have held the title as importing the most used Japanese vehicles.

It just goes to show that a good used vehicle is a better buy than a new one no matter where you live. [Source: AllAfrica]

Tags: Africa, Japanese Used Cars, JDM, Kenya, Used Cars
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Used Car Sellers Scammed in Cleveland

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Police in Cleveland, OH are searching for a man accused of scamming individuals trying to sell their used cars through the classifieds. According to Fox 8, Anthony Kimbrough talks sellers down from their asking price. When the price comes down, Kimbrough says he has a cashier’s check made out to the higher amount, and asks the seller to give him change. Kimbrough then has the seller drive him to a relative’s house to retrieve the check, then makes off with the sellers change. In the end, the house turns out to belong to a stranger.

In one case, Kimbrough made off with $900. Watch the video above for the full story.

It’s not uncommon for less than trust worthy individuals to take advantage of people selling their used cars. While the police are doing all they can to protect the public from predatory individuals, those looking to take your hard-earned money will always find a new way to take advantage of your trust. In the end, it’s important to remember that no matter how nice a person seems, it’s best to protect yourself first and worry about being rude second. [Source: Fox8]

Tags: Cleveland, Money, Ohio, Scam, Selling, Selling Used Cars, Used Cars
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Tough Loan Criteria Make Used Cars Attractive

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

No matter how you slice it, the economy is in a pretty tough spot. Banks and other lenders are understandably hesitant to hand out new loans for just about anything after a surprising number of defaults in 2008. As a result, people who would have been able to easily secure a loan for a new car or truck just a year ago are suddenly being turned away. That makes getting the cash for a brand-new vehicle a serious headache. So what are buyers doing? As it turns out, the smart ones are turning to buying used in order to get a great vehicle for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

According to an article in SubPrime Auto Finance, a little over 68 percent of all auto loans were for used vehicles in the first quarter of 2009. That’s up around four percent compared to the same time last year. The same article says that independent auto dealers saw their loans for used autos climb to nearly 35 percent – up from 31.5 percent from a year ago. So people are buying more used cars than ever before. We knew that one already. What we didn’t know is why.

Since loans for used vehicles are almost always for lower amounts than new cars or trucks, lenders are more likely to take a risk to help you get the keys to your dream ride. After all, in the unfortunate event you do fault on the loan, the bank will have lost less than if you had gone for a brand new car. Just another reason why buying used is the way to go.

Tags: auto dealers, auto loans, Car Loan, Dealers, Lenders, Used, Used Car Loan, Used Cars
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New Cash For Clunkers Bill Makes Used Cars Eligible

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Congress has been hard at work trying to sort out the details of a Cash for Clunkers type vehicle incentive program for months. The basic concept is this: you take your old, gas thirsty car or truck and turn it in at a dealership for a $4,500 voucher toward a new used car or truck of your choice – so long as that car or truck gets 30 mpg or better. Until now, most of the legislation making its way through the legislative branch has only had the vouchers applying toward the purchase of a new vehicle. That is until now.

A new counterproposal bill drawn up by four Senators from both sides of the aisle aims to change all that. Aside from upping the proposed legislation’s green credentials by increasing the mileage requirements for less fuel consumption and decreased emissions, it also makes leased cars and trucks and used vehicles eligible for the vouchers as well. Critics pointed out the House of Representatives bill seemed to be heavily influenced by lobbying from automakers, and the Senate’s version is a welcome solution to the raised eyebrows of used car dealers and consumers who couldn’t imagine taking on payments for a brand new car.

The Senate’s version of the bill was officially introduced on June 9, and some analysts believe it should pass by the end of the summer. If it does, getting into the used car or truck of your dreams could be that much easier very soon. Keep your eyes open for progress on the legislation.

Tags: Congress, House of Representatives, legislation, Senate, Used Cars
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More Used Car Dealerships on the Horizon

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Some Chrysler and General Motors dealerships got a nasty surprise in the mail last week. As both companies see cash become tighter than it ever was before, underperforming dealers received a letter saying the Michigan-based companies no longer required their services. Ouch. That’s bad news for hard-working folk all over the country, with dealerships being the base upon which a car company’s empire is built. There may be a silver lining for dealers and customers alike however. While some lots have made it clear they intend to fight for their spot with the parent company, others are looking to different opportunities – like used car sales.

According to an article in the Automotive News, it’s likely those shunned dealers will reorganize as a used car operation. The piece says last year alone, of the 960 franchises that closed last year, around 10 percent reopened selling used cars. Expect that number to climb this year due to greater profits in the pre-owned world. AN says that a used car usually returns around $165 in net profit while its new counterpart serves up a net loss of around $992. Ouch.

Keeping the lights on at dealerships is good news for the people that work there, but it’s also great for shoppers looking to pick up a new-to-them used car. With hundreds of dealerships and their massive inventory capacities looking to wiggle into the used market, it should be easier than ever to find a good vehicle and a great price soon. What’s more, with an even broader used-car network out there, picking and choosing what vehicle works best for you should be a breeze.

Of course, more used lots isn’t necessarily all roses and sunshine, either. The AN article says that an increase in used dealers means sellers are less likely to pick and choose which cars they take in. The result could be a flood of less than admirable wheels out there. As always, doing your homework and researching the car’s past will do much to protect you from a lemon. [Source: AutomotiveNews]

Tags: chrysler, Dealers, Dealership, General Motors, Used Cars
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Cash For Clunkers Bill to Help Used Car Sales?

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

That’s the premise behind an article from the Fort Wayne News Sentinel. According to a piece written by Bob Caylor that ran on May 18, industry analysts say that the current slow-down in new car sales may eventually put a crunch on the number of good, used vehicles available to the public. Why? Caylor says in a few years, when today’s new cars should be making their way into the used market, supply will be tighter than it is today. If you remember those boring lessons from your economics class, less supply usually means higher prices.

Critics of the Cash for Clunkers legislation have raised concerns that any type of government-sponsored voucher system requiring citizens to turn in old, inefficient cars will put a pinch on the supply of good used parts down the line. The News Sentinel piece contends that without some sort of action to spur new car sales now, five years from now the price of a used vehicle will be inaccessible – negating the benefits of buying used all together.

So who’s in the right here? That’s a hard one to say. The News Sentinel piece has a valid argument – no new cars now means no used cars later, but how long would the current sales downturn have to last in order to impact supply? No one knows for sure. What we do know is that current used car sales haven’t suffered the same way new ones have, with certified pre-owned units actually climbing against the rest of the market. That means now is as good a time as ever to pick up a good used car to save on your overall debt load. [Source: NewsSentinel]

Tags: Cash For Clunkers, Demand, Supply, Used Car Supply, Used Cars
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Used Car Values Climb

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

While automakers are scrambling to get buyers into showrooms to pick up shiny new models right now, used cars seem to be having no trouble finding homes. In fact, a report by Manheim Consulting says used car sales are up by almost 9 percent compared to the beginning of the year. That’s good news for dealers and sellers alike, but the figure is still down nearly 2 percent versus last year. Given that information, it’s no surprise that the report goes on to say dealers are beginning to make up the losses they’re experiencing the new car front with more used-car sales.

That also means the value of the used car in your driveway is climbing – probably not enough to retire on, but climbing none the less. The Manheim report says the gradual rise in wholesale prices of used cars, that is, prices paid by dealers at auction, was originally thought to be driven by the lack of new car sales the market saw toward the end of last year and the beginning of 2009. Now it appears the trend is separate from new car sales all together – especially good news if you’re looking to sell or trade in your current used car right now.

Its true higher values usually mean a steeper price tag when it comes time to buy your new-to-you car, but in this case, Manheim says a number of factors are combining to be beneficial for both buyers and sellers. For one, the growth of internet-based cars sales has helped dealers limit their inventory and reduce costs, allowing them to pass some of the savings along to buyers. At the same time, the ability to find a vehicle over the Web means consumers now have access to a greater selection of vehicles than ever before, meaning it’s easier to shop around for the best deal anywhere. Now that’s progress.

Tags: buying, Sales, Selling, Used Car Value, Used Cars, Value
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