New Years Resolutions For Used Cars

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Happy New Year to you and yours! January is always a great time to sit down and make a few goals for the upcoming year. We aren’t just talking about limiting your doughnut intake or trimming a few inches from your waist, either. How about taking a look at your used car ownership and how you can save a little money and hassle in the upcoming months. To help you get started in the right direction, we’ve worked up a short list of used car resolutions for 2010.

1. Invest in a tire gauge.

If you don’t have one already, a tire gauge is perhaps the easiest way to save money with your used car in the New Year. While you can pay plenty of money for a fancy gauge, the truth is even the $2 examples from your local parts store or gas station work great. Taking the time to routinely check the tire pressure on your used car’s tires is an essential part of car care. Aside from making sure your tires wear evenly – and keeping you from buying a new set before you need to – it can also help your used car get better fuel economy.

2. Keep up with oil changes.

Oil changes are important to keep used cars running like a top. In general, most engines require fresh oil and a new filter every 3,000-4,500 miles. Remember, changing your used car’s oil early never hurt anything, but changing it late can lead to decreased mileage and early engine failure.

3. Consider synthetic oil.

Many manufacturers now stipulate synthetic oil for their high-performance models. In general, those oils withstand heat and abuse better than traditional lubricants. Even if you don’t plan on spending any time lapping your local race circuit, synthetic oil can help your engine last longer by helping to reduce engine sludge and deposits. It may be slightly more expensive than the oil you’re accustomed to, but the price is well worth it.

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GM Plans to Push Used Pontiacs and Saturns

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Pontiac G8

It looks like General Motors has a strategy for selling its remaining fleet of Pontiac and Saturn vehicles. As you may remember, both companies were discontinued earlier in 2009, leaving dealers and owners wondering about the future of their vehicles. According to a Reuters article, GM is offering dealerships $7,000 for every Saturn and Pontiac they put into rental or service vehicle duty. Why would General Motors want dealers to use their inventory for themselves instead of trying to find buyers? It turns out the answer is three fold.

For one, new car buyers across the country are very wary right now. That means manufacturers everywhere are offering some serious incentives on their models, and the newly orphaned brands from General Motors aren’t on the top of anyone’s wish list. Instead of cutting the cost of those cars to the point that neither GM nor the dealers would make a profit, GM hopes paying dealers to use Pontiacs and Saturns will pay dividends.

Since the dealer will become the first official owner of the Pontiacs and Saturns, GM’s sales reports will look significantly better for the end of 2009. That’s good news for everyone, but the real genius of the plan comes in later. Once the dealer is through using the fleet cars, they can then be sold as used vehicles or CPO vehicles at a much lower price.

Soon, buyers may have a shot at a near new Pontiac or Saturn at thousands off of the cost of a new vehicle. At the same time, dealers will be able to move stock that would have been difficult to sell otherwise, and GM’s sales look brighter and brighter.

Sounds like a win-win-win to us.

Source\\ Reuters

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A Used Car Holiday Wish List

Thursday, December 17th, 2009
It’s the holiday season, and that means it’s a great time to get all of your loved ones just what they want. That includes your used car. Don’t know what to get for the four-wheeled in your family? Don’t worry, we can help. Check out our list of great goodies for your used car or used truck.

It’s holiday season, that means it’s great time get all your loved ones just what they want. That includes your used car. Don’t know what get four-wheeled your family? Don’t worry, we can help. Check out our list great goodies your used car or used truck.

1. A Tune Up

With all hustle bustle this time year, it’s easy forget your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance. Before you your family go dashing through snow this season, take time make sure your used vehicle up task. A quick simple tune up should take care all problem areas get your used car running like top no time.

2. Snow Tires

Going somewhere frosty this time year? A good set snow tires may worth their weight gold. Snow tires specifically designed handle cold temperatures cut through slippery snow ice give your car best traction possible. While there studded tires extreme situations, most used cars for sale can benefit non-studded version.

3. Windshield Wipers

No matter where you live, odds holiday season means foul weather. How long has it been since you changed your vehicle’s windshield wipers? If it’s been longer than six months, odds you need new ones. New windshield wipers make all difference when it comes seeing where you’re going. Just remember, better you can see, better chance getting where you’re going without getting an accident this season.

4. De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid

Do you hate having scrape your windshield every morning? There’s simple solution – de-icer windshield washer fluid. Just spray your windshield frost, snow ice instantly melts away. While usually few dollars more than standard fluid, amount time you’ll save mornings will worth it.

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Beware Illegal Car Dealers

Friday, December 11th, 2009
A startling new trend is popping up across the country – illegal car dealers selling used cars and used trucks in unlicensed areas. According to the Chicago Sun Times, dealers from out of state set up a number of used cars at low prices on just about any street and move their entire inventory within a matter of hours. After that, they’re never seen or heard from again. Buyers may believe they’re getting an excellent deal on a low-priced vehicle, but in reality, they may be setting themselves up serious repairs or worse.
Since the sellers know buyers will have no way of tracking them down once the travelling sales lot leaves town, they have no motivation to sell quality vehicles or be honest with their customers. Several reports have even included stolen or totaled vehicles being sold to otherwise unsuspecting consumers – leaving the buyers without their money or a good vehicle. The Chicago Sun Times says that often, these roaming car lots target low income families who just need a ride to work. The good news is, many Chicago communities are cracking down on these rogue dealers to protect consumers from the worst.
Respectable dealers must go through an extensive licensing process that makes them accountable should they sell a faulty product. It’s best to purchase your next used car or used truck through channels you know and trust – channels like your established local car dealer or a reputable Web site that can put you in contact with a dealer in your area. As the old adage says, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. [Source: CST]

A startling new trend is popping up across the country – illegal car dealers selling used cars and used trucks in unlicensed areas. According to the Chicago Sun Times, dealers from out of state set up a number of used cars at low prices on just about any street and move their entire inventory within a matter of hours. After that, they’re never seen or heard from again. Buyers may believe they’re getting an excellent deal on a low-priced vehicle, but in reality, they may be setting themselves up serious repairs or worse.

Since the sellers know buyers will have no way of tracking them down once the travelling sales lot leaves town, they have no motivation to sell quality vehicles or be honest with their customers. Several reports have even included stolen or totaled vehicles being sold to otherwise unsuspecting consumers – leaving the buyers without their money or a good vehicle. The Chicago Sun Times says that often, these roaming car lots target low income families who just need a ride to work. The good news is, many Chicago communities are cracking down on every rogue used car dealer to protect consumers from the worst.

Respectable dealers must go through an extensive licensing process that makes them accountable should they sell a faulty product. It’s best to purchase your next used car or used truck through channels you know and trust – channels like your established local car dealer or a reputable Web site that can put you in contact with a dealer in your area. As the old adage says, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. [Source: CST]

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Local Used Car Selection Tight? Look Online!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
If you’ve been noticing a lack of local used cars in your area, odds are you’re not alone. It turns out dealers are facing pressures from multiple fronts when it comes to keeping their lots stocked, and as  a result it may be harder than ever to find a good used car in your neighborhood. So what are dealers facing? With unemployment the highest it’s been in years, more people than ever are holding onto their used cars, and stock still hasn’t quite recovered from the very popular Cash for Clunkers program. Demand for used cars continues to soar, too, putting even more stress on tight inventory. That usually means you can expect prices to inch upward, but the good news is there are more places than ever to find a quality used car or truck in your area.
There are plenty of sites on the Web dedicated to helping you find the perfect used car, used truck or used crossover for you and your family, just make sure you’re careful when it comes down to who you deal with. Make sure you’re comfortable with the site’s privacy policy before entering any sensitive information and you’ll be on the road to slipping behind the driver’s seat in no time. It also pays to remember that not every used vehicle site is created equal, and some may be more cumbersome to use than others. UsedCars.com is dedicated to user privacy and has a host of tools designed to make your used car buying process as easy as can be. We can help you locate, research, insure and secure financing all from one location, so why not let us give you a hand?
If you can’t find the perfect used car or used truck in your area, the internet is a great resource – allowing you to choose from thousands of vehicles from just a few miles away or across the country!

2008 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

If you’ve been noticing a lack of local used cars in your area, odds are you’re not alone. It turns out dealers are facing pressures from multiple fronts when it comes to keeping their lots stocked, and as  a result it may be harder than ever to find a good used car in your neighborhood. So what are dealers facing? With unemployment the highest it’s been in years, more people than ever are holding onto their used cars, and stock still hasn’t quite recovered from the very popular Cash for Clunkers program. Demand for used cars continues to soar, too, putting even more stress on tight inventory. That usually means you can expect prices to inch upward, but the good news is there are more places than ever to find a quality used car or truck in your area.

There are plenty of sites on the Web dedicated to helping you find the perfect used car, used truck or used crossover for you and your family, just make sure you’re careful when it comes down to who you deal with. Make sure you’re comfortable with the site’s privacy policy before entering any sensitive information and you’ll be on the road to slipping behind the driver’s seat in no time. It also pays to remember that not every used vehicle site is created equal, and some may be more cumbersome to use than others. UsedCars.com is dedicated to user privacy and has a host of tools designed to make your used car buying process as easy as can be. We can help you locate, research, insure and secure financing all from one location, so why not let us give you a hand?

If you can’t find the perfect used car or used truck in your area, the internet is a great resource – allowing you to choose from thousands of used vehicles from just a few miles away or across the country!

Photo courtesy of Subaru.

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How to Tell if a Used Car has Flood Damge

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Most used car dealers 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 used 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.

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Check Out UsedCars.com’s CPO Center!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Certified, the easy way!

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 used car 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.

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Three Easy Ways to Tell if Your Vehicle Has Been in a Collision

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Ouch

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.

(more…)

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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]

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]

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Used Car Sellers Scammed in Cleveland

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Car keys and money

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]

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