Tag Archives: used car

The Top Ten Autos of 2005

Each year experts in the automobile industry come up with their lists of the top ten vehicles of the year. Some experts put the vehicles through a series of tests, while others create their lists purely on market and consumer response. Vehicle choice is certainly a personal one, but experts like Cars.com, Consumer Reports magazine, Automobile magazine, and Car and Driver magazine, are certainly worth listening to. What did they have to say this year?

Well, the Cars.com list of most popular vehicles in 2005 was topped by the Honda Civic. Cars.com analyzes the vehicular market to come up with the most popular new car models based on consumer interest (i.e. on the number of email requests for price quotes sent to dealers) and not car tests. Here’s their top ten list for 2005:

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New Car Pricing: Looking into the Crystal Ball

You just landed your first promotion and you need to celebrate! What a better way to celebrate your new salary by purchasing a new car. It’s time to start spending your hard earned dollars on a valuable new vehicle purchase. But, how do you know you are paying the right value for your car? It’s important to remember when trying to look into the future that a new car depreciates 20% of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot.

New car pricing can be difficult if you are looking with foresight into the future, and each consumer guide will quote you various prices on the same make and models of cars. It’s hard to decide where to begin, but let’s take the guessing out of new car pricing, and begin by contacting AutoDiscover who will offer you the best rates across North America.

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The Top 5 New Car Buying Mistakes To Avoid

Buying a new car is exciting to be sure, but it can also be much more expensive than it really should be for most people. If you aren’t careful you can wind up spending thousands more than someone else for the same kind of deal. Let’s review the top 5 new car buying mistakes that many people make and see how to avoid them.

1. Probably the first thing that costs most car buyers money is not doing enough advance research about new cars before they start the shopping process. You may think that you will learn a lot by just visiting the dealership and asking the salespeople about new vehicles, but you will only learn what they want you to know that way. If you want unbiased information that you can trust, you need to do some online research or read Consumer Reports instead. You can find out which vehicles are rated highest for reliability and other factors, as well as get specific pricing information that will help guide you in price negotiations. By doing this advance research you will know what you want and how much you are willing to pay for it.

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Where to Find a Complete List of Used Cars?

I recently was at a site online and it had a used car section. I thought it might be a good source to try and find some used cars, since I’m in the market. Perusing through the used car section, I noticed they online had 2 pages of used cars! 2…pages…!

When you’re searching for a used car, you want to be able to find a complete list of used cars from every corner of whatever country you live in. I’m in the US, so naturally (or un-naturally) I want to see used cars from Dells, Wisconsin to Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, not everyone that has a website online can put together such a monstrous list of information.

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5 Ways That New Car Dealers Get You To Pay Too Much

In the new car buying process, new car dealers are going to try to make as much money as possible from each sale, and this is only reasonable as they are in business to make money. But too often consumers wind up paying way too much. There is nothing wrong with allowing the dealer to make a fair profit, but these five methods are regularly used by new car dealers to inflate their profits considerably and you should be aware of them in advance.

1. Leasing is an increasingly attractive option to many new car buyers and they often think that the lease payments are set in stone for each car, but that simply isn’t true. Lease payments are most often calculated using the MSRP, or retail price, of the vehicle as a starting point. So if you accept the lease offered without actually dickering on the sale price of the vehicle, you are most likely losing lots of money in the lease payments that you make each month. You can also negotiate the down payment, the mileage allowed under the lease and other options too.

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Used Cars: "Certified" No Substitute for Extended Warranties

Thinking about a used car extended warranty? Nervous about what’s under the hood? Used car dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. In an ironic twist, “pre-owned vehicle” dealers have found a way to profit from their bad reputation.

No, they’re not just selling overpriced used car extended warranties anymore. They’re charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars “certified” (by them) not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying “certified” used car warranties in fact usually carry much less protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a “certified” machine?

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5 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Used Car

The used car market is huge, and every day lots of people are spending way too much money when they buy a used car. Dealers count on this. In fact, the used car section of most new car dealerships is one of the most profitable departments for the dealer. There are usually very common mistakes that most people make that cost them money. Let’s review them here:

1. Not doing advance research to know what their current car is worth. This is a very common mistake that is so easy to solve today. There are two major providers of used car value information in the US and they are (1) Kelly Blue Book and (2) the NADA Guide. It used to be that you had to find someone who had a copy of one of either of them to find out what your vehicle is worth. But now all you have to do is just log onto the internet and go to their websites to get a quick, easy figure with no hassle. It’s worth the time taken to know what your car is worth as you start to negotiate a trade-in or sale.

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Used Car Sellers - Watch Out for the African Buyer Scam

These new-age scammers. They prey on unsuspecting folks who are trying to sell used cars (or other items) through Internet classified ads or an “autotrader” web site.

Even though this scam has been around for a few years and has been publicized in many news stories, there are still people who haven’t heard about it — and are at-risk to be victimized by it.

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Negotiating Tips for New Car Buyers

You need a new car, but you’re just not ready? Even if you have money and/or great credit and you know all the details of the car you want, there is still one thing standing in your way… Negotiating the price!

It can be uncomfortable or even scary, but you’ll have to do it at almost every car dealer. That’s why I’m going to give you some tips to get you through the negotiating process and drive home in your new car!

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Buying A Car - Four Tips for Car Buyers

Americans like to buy a car at the dealership in one afternoon, and the dealerships try very hard to make you think that is possible and even smart. But it’s not. Realize how big a purchase a car is. And it is complicated.

Buying a car is the second-largest purchase most people make after buying a home. When you buy a home, think about all the help you have: you have a broker to help you find the best home for you, and a mortgage broker to help you find the best financing. And an inspector to make sure the house is safe. Sometimes you also have an attorney to make sure the contract is fair, and a title company makes sure the title is clear before you pay for the home. But when you buy a car, there is not one person there to help you. And the dealers want you to THINK you can waltz in to the dealership and buy a car from start to finish in an afternoon… and sure, you can, but you will pay much much more if you do it that way. Here are four tips to give you an advantage:

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Automotive Dynamic Guide - How To Be Ready To Drive In A Foreign Land

If you are going to be behind the wheel of a new rented car, and in a strange foreign land where you have never driven before, what should you do in preparing to drive?

Just not so long ago, I was in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, located just north of Singapore. As those of you who have traveled widely to Asia would know, the traffic on the roads in most of the asian countries is heavy throughout the day, and many times driving habits take precedence over traffic rules and regulations, especially when the searing tropical heat bears down on cool heads, and raise tempers!

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Used Car Lemon Law - What Is It?

What is a Used Car Lemon Law? Essentially, Used Car Lemon Laws provide some legal recourse for consumers who happen to buy a “lemon” of an auto. You are guaranteed a written warranty that specifically states that a dealer must repair any problems or defects in the car or reimburse you for the cost of the repairs. If the car cannot be repaired, you are entitled to a refund.

Lemon cars which are essentially cars that are covered by the lemon law cannot be sold “as is” which does not imply a warranty. Remember, a dealer who sells or leases you a used car must provide you with a written warranty that specifies the terms or sell the car “as is” which essentially means consumer beware. If the vehicle is covered by a warranty, it must be given to you prior to or at the signing of a sales contract or lease.

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Mazda’s Miata Starts Off Empire

Car enthusiasts are always on the lookout for an affordable sports car. Over the years, many companies have tried to fill that niche, with varying success. Indeed, it takes a brave and intelligent manufacturer to come up with an attractive, pleasurable and cost-conscious sports vehicle. Luckily, Mazda was able to do just that.

Plans for a unique open two-seater began around 1981. With a team based in both California and Japan, a design focused on a compact, streamlined, easy-to-handle, and overall unassuming sports car began to take shape. Around 1989, to the delight of millions worldwide, the Mazda Miata was born.

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10 Things To Know Before Buying Your First Used Car

Here are 10 things to keep in mind before you sign the dotted line on a used car.

1. Before selecting a used car you want to buy, read some reviews and check if the car has a good track record in terms of reliability. You may get an unreliable car cheap, but it’ll likely break down. Spend a little more money on something more reliable as repairs are still expensive on cheap cars.

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Best Tips on Buying a Used Car

There are a few advantages to buying a used car. The biggest benefit is in the cost of the vehicle. Cars depreciate about 40% in the first three years of ownership. You can save a significant amount of money if you purchase an automobile that is about three or four years old, rather than a new one. Of course, you want to make sure the vehicle is in good condition. If it isn’t, the money you put out for repairs can eat up your savings.

Questions to Ask:

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