Students Of Success

There’s a reason why auto service stations have one of the largest numbers of complaints with state attorney generals in every state. Some uphold good business practices and ethics, but most, unfortunately are all about profit and don’t care if they have to lie and cheat to get it. To prove this all one has to do is go to several dealers with the same problem or question. You will get many different answers, price ranges and estimates all for the same problem(s) and almost all recommending unnecessary and unneeded services or repairs.

Just ask the dealer the question of routine maintenance and what is recommended at each service. If you open your owners manual it will tell you what is recommended for normal driving habits and some may give you recommendations for harch conditions. Regardless of your climate and weather most service advisors will tell you that the area of your country qualifies for harsh and extreme weather – they are trained to do this as it requires more services and makes them more money. Its not whether your car needs it – most people will qualify as normal conditions and require a lot less servicing per the National Highway Traffic Safety Association and AAA. The manufacturer made those owners manuals after millions of dollars were spent on design, research, and testing – I think I would listen to the manual.

On calling several dealers as to recommended mileage intervals between oil changes we got a range of 3,000 – 3,500. It didn’t matter what area of the country we called. The answer was the same. Upon reading the owners manual of several cars it says 4,000 – 5,000 for normal driving habits. We then called asking about the correct mileage to change a timing belt 60,000 to 70,000 was the answer range we got. The owners manuals gave a range of 90,000 -100,000. This is proof positive that profit hungry dealers are pushing up more expensive services, requiring additional and unnecessary services, and basically scamming and ripping off customers. We could not find an honest new car dealer in the bunch, but we did find one service and repair shop that did not require anything over the manufactures recommendations.

Our recommendations:

1) Read your owners manual and take it with you for servicing. Let the service advisor try and argue with you over when an actual service is really recommended. Don’t pay attention to his fancy charts and recommendations.

2) Check and see if your warranty covers the item and if it is really necessary.

3) Oil changes are only $14.95 at Walmart – why pay more at your dealer (dealer average is $26). The oil is the same and you can get synthetic, the best, for the price the dealer charges for regular. As an added bonus, Walmart won’t push unnecessary repairs or services on you. Walmart is also much cheaper for tires – so is BJ’s, and Discount Tire.

4) Do minor items your self. Windshield wipers cost only $4 for a set of two of the same original equipment quality. Just guess what dealers charge. We only asked a few as we could quickly see, just like with oil changes, that the dealer wants to make a lot of money - $54 including installation for the same $4 wipers. Buy then at most Auto parts stores and they will install them for free.

5) If you must use a dealer for repair, always call around. Don’t just take their word for it. Before you go to the dealer, check them out with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Find out what their customers are saying.

The most important thing to remember here is to not get scammed. Some services are needed, just check it out and make sure the dealer isn’t just trying to get a high priced and unnecessary service out of you. Get your owners manual and read the section on required services – it will save you money nest time you visit your dealer. Remember their service advisors are constantly trained just like car salespeople to get you to buy regardless of whether you may need it.

Car auctions are a good place to get good a bargain on cars. But buying cars from auctions can be very complicated. This is particularly true for the uninitiated. Of course the cars in auctions are generally cheaper. But they are cheap because they lack the guarantees that come with cars bought from dealers. The rules in auctions are simple, you bid an item, you pay for it, and you own it.

It is therefore not advisable for persons without much experience in motor vehicles to just go to an auction and buy a car.

What you’ll need if you’re planning to buy a car in an auction is a good eye, good observation skills and a willingness to learn the car auction process.

You can even make it a business by buying cars at auction and then selling them at a profit. There are several people who have made huge profits by buying and selling cars at auction.

There are basically two kinds of car auctions, local car auctions and online car auctions. Each of the auctions works differently. Each has a different set of rules so you must study them very carefully if you are planning to buy a car from either kind of auction.

If you want to buy a vehicle in a car auction you must first pre-register with the local auction you want to join. The pre-registration process won’t take much of your time and will provide you all the essential information that you will need in order to buy a car. An auction site will often have an auction staff who will explain to you the rules of their auction site and the procedures and instruction on how to participate and bid on the cars.

It is wise to inspect the cars before the actual bidding begins. Ask the auction organizer or staff if they can allow you to take a closer look at the cars before the start of the actual auction. Another wise decision is to set your payment limit before the actual sale. This way, you won’t fall victim to the trap of overbidding.

As in other auctions, it is very important that you signal your bids carefully to the car auctioneer to avoid confusion. Settle your transaction as soon as the auction ends. Look for the block clerk and settle your accounts with him. A car auction staff will usually be available to assist you when you are ready to pay for the vehicle you have won. He should also be able to guarantee you a good title for the vehicle.

You must also check the vehicle after you have won and settling your account. Take the vehicle for a test drive and make sure that it conforms to the guarantee and representation made during the auction.

Most auction sites would accept check or credit card if you cannot pay the car with cash. An auction staff will also usually give you a third party financing offer. It is advisable though to have your own finances ready before entering a car auction. Outside financing is usually cheaper than most in-house financing of auction sites.

Ask for an invoice copy from the auction staff. This will enable you to drive or ship your newly bought car to your location. Most car auction managers will give you good deals on shipping arrangements so inquire about this.

There really are no significant differences between a local auction and an online auction. Online car auctions work more or less the same way as local ones. The only disadvantage of online auction sites is that you won’t be able to inspect the car as you would in an actual car auction. In participating in online car auctions be sure that you will be provided with all the necessary information about the car upfront and that there is an actual photograph of the vehicle.

Cars bought from an online auction are usually shipped to the buyer for a minimal fee. Inspect the car immediately upon arrival at your location to minimize risks.

You are now ready for your first car auction. Happy bidding!

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. www.best-car-buying-tips.com

Are you thinking of buying or selling a used truck through classifieds like Truck Trader magazine? Why do people choose to buy a truck through classifieds such as the Truck Trader magazine rather than a dealership? What are some suggestions to make the buying and selling experience safer for both parties? How can the internet make the experience with truck trader and classifieds easier?

People buy and sell used trucks through publications and online classifieds like a truck trader because they can save money. Sellers offer lower prices than most dealerships because they could not get even that much for the truck as a trade in. Buyers are happy to pay the lower prices they get in a magazine such as Truck Trader, and are willing to put forth the effort to get their own financing and get the car checked at a mechanic because of they money they can save.

When you buy a truck through classifieds like Truck Trader, you need to be very cautious to make sure that not only is the truck the “great deal” that you think it is, but also that you are treated fairly by the seller. After you have decided what kind of truck you would like to buy, you will need to Blue Book it to get a good idea of what a fair price is. Once you find a truck in Truck Trader that you are interested in buying, you should make sure that the seller will allow you to take the car to a mechanic of your choice to get it checked out and check it out on CARFAX as well to see if it has been in any accidents. You should offer a cash down payment to provide the seller with “earnest money.” Financing can be done through your bank, credit union, or an online loan company.

Truck Trader and other classified magazines are also good for sellers. You can advertise your used truck to a wide audience. Offer a fair price that you can find in a Blue Book and write an ad that emphasizes the positives such as low miles. Before any potential buyer takes the car for a test drive, positively ID them, and you can even ask for something as collateral such as a down payment if they want to take it to a mechanic.

The internet makes it easy for you to list your used truck if you are a seller, and it makes it easy to find and narrow down your choices if you are a buyer. You will find other resources such as financing, Blue Book info, and tips for both buyers and sellers as well.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Trucks. If you would like more information about a truck trader visit daytruck.com

If you are looking to purchase a used truck through the newspaper then there are several advantages to that line of thinking. It is no secret that the newspaper is one of the most popular venues to buy and sell automobiles. Since the time that automobiles became popular people have been buying and selling them between themselves and most the time through the newspaper as it was the easiest way to reach a large amount of people with a minimum of expense.

There are more than enough trucks available in the newspapers to suit anyone’s needs. This is due in part to the large amount of people who buy a truck and realize that it is not the right vehicle for them. This can work to your advantage. If the person tells you that they need to get rid of the truck because it is not right for them then the chance of getting a great deal is right there on the surface waiting for you to take advantage of it.

Another advantage of buying a truck through the newspaper is the price. Because newspaper ads do not cost large amounts of money, people are more than willing to offer a better price because they do not have a lot of over head to think about. The less it costs them to sell the truck the better the price they are going to offer.

Through the newspapers you have a good chance to view hundreds of trucks depending on the size of the newspaper where the ads appear. Newspaper ads are the first place that people turn when they need to sell a truck or car. You will most likely have the pick of pretty much any brand and model that you could ever want. This is a direct advantage over other forms of truck purchase that may be limited in one way or another.

Few people realize that newspapers are the place where people who are extremely desperate to sell their trucks list them for sale. They know that they are more likely to get an immediate response in the newspaper than anywhere else. If someone has died and left someone with a truck that they cannot use or afford to keep then they will most likely list it in the newspaper. This is a situation that can work to your advantage as these people are more likely to offer a great deal in order to unload the truck that they have no use for. Look for the words ‘must sell’ and call them right away. Make sure you get all the details of why they are selling the truck to be sure that they are not trying to scam someone with a sob story.

With a little patience you can easily use the newspapers to your advantage when looking for a used truck. Make a list of all the questions you wish to ask before making the calls to make the process go a little smoother.

There are certain disadvantages that you face when buying a used truck through a newspaper or personal meeting. With everything that goes with buying a used truck, you need to watch out for the other people more than the truck. One thing that people seem to forget is that the world is full of people who do not care about anyone but themselves. This can create a series of problems with buying a truck as you need to be on the constant alert to make sure that you are not getting scammed by anyone.

Being scammed by a private party is a very real problem that occurs in transactions of this type. It is not uncommon for a truck to break down a few days after you purchase it because something on the truck was doctored just good enough to get it by through the sale. It is very hard to recover from this as not all states have laws against such a thing. Even if the state does have a law, it requires large amounts of time in the court system to do anything about it. This can be a costly and time consuming event that may not produce any results in the end.

There are also occasions where the truck that is being sold turns out to be a stolen vehicle. This will not only get the person in trouble but it can also come back to bite you as it may be considered receiving stolen property and that is against the law in most states. Before purchasing any vehicle make sure that all of the numbers match to the title and registration. If there is any discrepancy then the police should be called to make sure that it is nothing more than an honest mistake on the person’s part or that of the state when the documents were created.

Purchasing a flooded out truck is another real issue that can happen with a private sale. This occurs when there has been a natural disaster somewhere and several hundred automobiles were damaged. Less than moral people will purchase these automobiles for pennies on the dollar, dry them out then re-sell them in another state. Eventually the effects of the water will create problems with the automobile and it will become worthless to the owner. These trucks are illegal to sell as they have been written off by the insurance companies. These trucks are fairly easy to spot among the private sales as they will be marked way under value and they will normally be the newest and nicest looking automobiles on the market. The really low price should be the first clue and then you can look under the hood and look for excessive rust on the firewall that is always a dead give away.

The only way to protect yourself from one of these scams is to be informed and go into any meeting prepared.

Lonny Potecho is the owner of the trucking network: http://www.loadmove.com which offers truck classifieds articles, forums, reviews & much more..

Tips to Save on Car Insurance

By Pradeep Aggarwal

We all wish to make savings in our life. Cars included. Myriad
insurance companies offer varying premium rates depending on
their policy coverage. So it is important that you get the best
Insurance package for your car.

These tips will help you how to manage your Car Insurance budget
within limits.

Making Comparisons: The costs of at least three to six insurance
companies will give you a fair idea of the costs involved with
different policies. Seek the advise of colleagues, friends,
relatives. Besides from costs involved, the track record of the
companies matter a lot.

The standing, strength and financial position of the company
need to be looked into. Request for higher deductibles - It’s
the amount one pays prior to making any claim for the accident.
The complete coverage and collision is sold along with the
deductibles. The more the deductibles the less the premium rate.
By increasing the deductible say from $300 to $600 will
invariable reduce the cost to 20 to 35 percent.

Old Cars - Drop Collision and Comprehensive Coverage - It is
better to drop the collision and comprehensive coverage if the
car is worth less than 10 times your premium in the current
market. One way to reduce the cost is buying the auto coverage
from the existing insurance and insurance coverage from existing
carrier.

No to Double Health Coverage - Avoid health coverage with auto
policy provided you have enough health insurance. This is one
way of reducing costs.

A Good Credit Card Record - This has multiple benefits - helps
to file claims if the credit score is less. A good credit score
will also help in settling the accident with the help of the
company.

Low Profile Car Discount - Fancy and trendy cars with high
maintenance costs higher rate and attract thieves as well. A low
budget, low profile car will help a lot with insurer discounts
to boost.

Mileage Counts - More discounts can be obtained by driving less
than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Avoid double health coverage- If you think that you have enough
health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto
policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record- Insurers are using the credit
history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically,
the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file
claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to
settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to
maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car- Cars that are expensive to
repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate.
Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer
might come up with discounts for such a car.

Low Mileage Pays - Obtain some discount on premiums by driving
less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

All about Group Discount - It’s all about a group taking
insurance plan collectively. Be it an employer, business group
or associations. Check for such plans.

Safety Discount - Discounts are also offered if the car is
fitted with safety items like air bag, automatic seat belts,
anti lock brakes. So make safety pay for you.

People generally enjoy the act of donation, they like the knowledge that items which they are no longer able to use can be give to someone who may be less fortunate to use and enjoy. Donating clothing, toys or furniture is not difficult, in fact, most of the time it is one of the easiest things to accomplish. Car Donation isn’t any different. While this is a fairly new concept, donating a car accomplishes exactly the same outcome as donating clothes. The following information will help you with this process.

1- If you are considering car donation, it is very important to be sure that you are donating to a charity or cause that is approved by the government. The best way to be sure is to ask to see the 501(c)(3) certification that is given by the government to an organization that is given tax-exempt status.

2- Once you decide on the charity that you want to give a car donation to, you need to get a “blue book” price for your car. This is will give you the fair market value of the vehicle that is being donated.

3- When the car donation is completed, you will get a receipt from the charity that you donated to.

This should have the following information:
The make and model of the car
The year of the car
The date of donation
The “blue book” value

If this information is not on your particular receipt, make sure to have it added, as the government will not allow you to claim the car donation on your taxes if this important information is missing.

4- In the past, you were given the fair market value of the car that was donated as a deduction on your taxes for that year. However, that has recently changed. If you donate your car to a charity that sells it, the price it is sold for is the amount that you are able to deduct on your yearly taxes.

5- It is important to remember that as with anything that you decide to donate as opposed to selling, the act of a car donation has important benefits for all involved. You get to do something that benefits you and the charity. The charity in turn, gets to help someone while at the same time earning money to keep their programs going and the purchaser of the car gets transportation to and from work. This is truly a win-win situation all the way around.

Visit http://cardonationsinfo.org or http://www.cardonationexplained.info to learn more about donate cars and vehicle donation.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of car shopping. Someone paid
too much for a new car because the dealer refused to negotiate.
Another person walked away with monthly payments higher than
they could really afford. Yet another person settling for a car
that had way more features than they wanted or needed because it
was the only car on the lot.

While it’s true that finding and then negotiating for a new car
can be challenging, chances are that if you’re prepared before
walking into a car dealership, you’ll walk out with a better
deal. Here are three things that you can do to prepare yourself
to get the absolute best deal.

Research

You should know what type of car you’re interested in, and how
much it should cost before you ever walk into a dealership. The
salespeople are paid on a commission, and their objective is to
get you to pay as much as they can for your car. Your objective,
of course, is just the opposite! Begin by doing some online
research to find out the going rate of the car, and then check
around in various dealerships. You should know that the
“sticker” price that is on the windshield of the car isn’t the
cost at all–but instead it is the starting price. You will be
able to negotiate between 10-20 percent off of that
price.

Trade-In

If you have a car that you plan to trade in, don’t present it to
the dealer until after you’ve negotiated your best price. In
addition, you should be aware–after conducting a lot of
research–how much your old car is worth. Many times, dealers
will try and pay a fraction of what a trade-in is worth in order
to increase the price of the new car. Once you have done your
research on the wholesale value of your car, stand firm and
don’t allow the salesperson to take advantage of you. If you
find that you can’t get as much trade-in value as you think you
should, be prepared to walk away from the deal, sell the car on
your own, and then return with the money to use as a down
payment. This will take some time, but you will come out
financially better for it.

Financing

Be aware that the dealer offered financing isn’t always the
best. It’s important for you to compare the interest rates and
terms with those of a private lender, and then select whichever
one will offer you the best deal. In addition, look closely at
how your down payment will affect your loan balance and monthly
payments. Remember, a 1 percent change in your interest rate
will not only affect your monthly payments, but your overall
loan balance as well! Finally, be sure that the dealer hasn’t
included any life insurance or warranties in your loan balance
that you didn’t authorize, otherwise you could find yourself
paying thousands of dollars that you hadn’t intended to. Ask to
see a complete listing of all charges before you sign on the
dotted line.

Your wheels need to be set up correctly in order to accommodate a bolt on hubcap. The lug nuts need to have outside thread for the hubcaps that screw down, or the lug nuts need to be flanged or contain a washer insert for the hubcaps that bolt on behind the lugs.

In addition, all of the bolt on hubcaps are made to fit a particular wheel rim. The depth that the hubcap sits need to be perfect in order for the locking mechanism to reach the lugs and every wheel is different. Also the holes in the hubcap need to be the same distance apart as the wheel in order to bolt up and this differs from model to model. In other words, there are no universal “bolt on” hubcaps on the market because every vehicle is different.

Some car companies have been bolting them on for years. Honda hubcaps have always bolted on as have Saturn’s. Others such as some GM and recently many Chevrolet hubcaps also bolt on. Certain Chrysler and dodge hubcaps are starting to bolt on after several years of poor design, most notably the mini vans.

Some such as Toyota hubcaps, Volkswagen hubcaps and most Ford hubcaps do not as of yet bolt on and these are the covers that most have problems with. So what can you do?

Most non lockable factory original hubcaps are designed with a wire retention system. The clips, or tabs that hold the retaining wire on the wheel covers are made of plastic and lost are quite fragile. Careless handling causes these tabs to break which takes the critical tension from the wire. This is when the losses happen.

Most of these hubcaps will remain on the wheel if handled properly, so careful handling is critical when removing and installing the hubcaps. If the hubcaps are already damaged and you wish to replace them with good quality Custom hubcaps. Make sure you select a style that is constructed with metal retaining tabs. The auto parts and bargain store brands are usually constructed with retaining tabs that are more fragile that the original ones that you are replacing, so make sure you choose a quality hubcap with a solid metal retaining system. Not unlike other purchases, you get what you pay for.

For all of your hubcap and wheel needs, visit Hubcap Heaven and Wheels.
at http://www.hubcaps-wheelcovers.com

Kurt is the VP and general manager of Hubcap Heaven and Wheels in Cleveland, Ohio

Has your vehicle’s alternator failed? Are you absolutely certain that it isn’t your battery or starter? Determining which part has failed is essential toward avoiding unnecessarily replacing something that hasn’t failed, like your battery. Let’s take a look at some steps you can take to determine that your alternator, in fact, has bit the dust.

If you own an alternator testing machine, you can test to see whether your car’s alternator is charging correctly. For most people this isn’t practical as few motorists own such an expensive piece of equipment. For everyone else, there is a practical way for you to easily check to see if your alternator is working properly:

What’s new for the 2006 Corvette Z06?

First, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette has been redesigned for the 2006-year model. It has enhanced features, but in this article I want to tell you specifically about the Z06 features to this model.

The Z06 is, of course, the fastest vette ever built. It will have a 500 horsepower 427 cubic inch engine with lightweight components. What does this mean in a 3130-pound car? It means superior performance beyond all other Corvettes. Estimated 0-60 in less than 4 seconds along with a sub 12-second quarter mile. Top speed is reported to be more than 190 MPH (on a closed race track of course).

What makes this new Corvette so much better? Several components:

1. 500-hp/475 lb.-ft torque

2. 7000 RPM redline

3. 11.0:1 Compression

4. Titanium connecting rods

5. Titanium intake valves and pushrods

6. Hand built engine

7. Dry sump lubrication

8. Aluminum body structure

9. Carbon fiber front fenders

10. Magnesium front cradle

11. Fixed roof design for rigidity

12. Larger grill and cold air intake scoop

13. Wide rear fenders and a rear spoiler incorporated into the tail of the car

14. Larger cross-drilled front and rear disc brakes

15. Larger wheels and tires

16. 3” exhaust

17. Light weight seats with fixed side bolsters

Options:

1. Bose audio with an in dash six CD changer

2. Polished wheels

3. Telescoping steering wheel

4. Heated seats

5. Navigation system

6. Homelink

7. XM Satellite Radio

All in all, this is going to be one of the best Corvettes Chevrolet has ever offered. I can’t wait to see one.

Stuart Simpson collects pictures of the new C6 corvette. If you have any you’d like posted on the web site, contact me. http://www.corvette-links.com/