CarBuyersNoteBook

Car Shopping Made Easy with GetAuto.com

For the people in search of a used car online, here is another site that was redesigned to be more browser-friendly. When it comes to matching used cars with car finders, site owners just have to put into consideration things that a person would be looking for. And it looks like Dominion Dealer Solutions has done just that with GetAuto.com.

Among the highlights of GetAuto.com include that of over 1 million used vehicles and real-time updates on vehicle choices. As you know, the demand for second hand cars has grown tremendously, something sparked by the financial problems that most people are plagued with today.

The new GetAuto.com is accessible to consumers anywhere, anytime through its new iPhone application. Also available on the iTouch, the GetAuto iPhone application can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes Store by searching for “GetAuto.com.”

(Source) Press

Posted in Cars, Industry | 0 Comments

Car Cramming Becoming Rampant

For cars, there is a specific number of people who are allowed to ride in them. But in some cases, this is not being followed. Among the leading sector that are practicing this are the teenagers who are either trying to save on cost or for some joy-ride reasons. While the latter may seem a generous act, it still remains that there are laws against this.

Going back to saving on cost, it is evident to date that people are trying to buck the transportation expenses that they have to face. Similar to vehicle overcrowding, car cramming can result in hefty fines which may end up be a double whammy. Aside from the fines, the car structure and support will severely be affected.

Here are some risks of car cramming:

• Dragging – when a vehicle is overcrowded it can cause the underside to drag over speed bumps and when travelling up and down hills. This can cause damage to exhausts and brackets which can be costly to repair.
• Handling – more weight in your car than it was designed to carry can affect steering and braking which makes the car slow to respond and could lead to a nasty accident
• Headlights – excess weight can mean that headlights will appear misaligned and could cause dazzling in drivers travelling in the opposite direction

The current economy should not be an excuse. As drivers, they should know the capacity that their car can accommodate. Overlooking this can result in more expenses rather than saving if they are not careful.

(Source) Press

Posted in Cars, Industry, Law | 0 Comments

Car Buying Service Website Goes Online

If you are too lazy to head on over to the nearest car dealer shop to buy a vehicle, perhaps you don’t need to anymore. Thanks to this new site,Wheelator.com, will do all that for you. We have been seeing this trend lately, businesses making use of the web to provide service. Not that most people are becoming too lazy to get up, why bother if there is a group that can do all the legwork for you?

And the best part of it all is that they make the necessary negotiations and handle all the paper work for you. Ranging from trade-in to rebates, you can get the best price to fit your budget on the car you want and the staff over at Wheelator.com will simply have you sign the paperwork and inform you when to pick up your car. Now that is easy as it gets!

Wheelator.com offers its services for $299, which includes a money-back guarantee. Not all car buying services operate using the same payment structure.

(Source) Press

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Car Buyers Weighing Gas Consumption of New Cars

If you think the potential new car buyers are now leaning more on finally buying a new car with the recent gas price rollbacks then guess again. They will buy a new car but they will be asking for one thing car dealers will have to answer honestly and convincingly: gas consumption.

This practice is common but not as important for buyers in the past decade. But with the increasing price of fuel, one has to really become attentive to it, particularly since finances are becoming harder to manage. Adding gasoline or fuel costs is an area that they can really cut down on and for the people who are buying a new one, the gas consumption ratio is something that will play a vital role in their next car purchase consideration.

Hence, car dealers can use in preparation for the questions to be expected. It may even be the difference between a sale or a waste of time.

(Source) Press

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Car Mileage Tops Car Buying Consideration Factor

When it comes to buying a second-hand car, car mileage was seen as the top consideration for selecting a new vehicle. This was revealed by CarMax in a survey they had conducted online. The next factors were car accident frame damages and regular maintenance.

Going back to car mileage, it is not surprising. The longer a car runs, the more issues on wear and tear for the entire car surfaces. They may not necessarily be glaring, but the fact remains, the more a car is used, the depreciation value starts to sink in.

This is not of course to discourage people from buying a car that has been used over and over again. The fact remains first owners need cars for various reasons. They are the means for everyday transportation and depending on their profession or venture, car use may really be a need.

Of course, the pricing factor will play a vital role. It is only common to find that cars which are extensively used to carry a lower market value would naturally be priced lower. The more things you do to dilapidate your car only leads to being valued lower since they have been obviously used in any which way where owners would want a car in the first place.

(Source) Press

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Car Maintenance Consideration During the Summer

If there is one best tip to give motorists, it is that of taking advantage of peak seasons as far as their car maintenance needs are concerned. You don’t have to wait for the season where such parts like air conditioning or cooling systems need to be addressed. If you feel that a certain car part needs checking up, go ahead and don’t wait. Doing so may even aggravate it and cost you more than having it attended to before it actually gets worse.

Here are some tips from JC Whitney for the summer riders:

• Cooling System: In summer, the cooling system has to work harder to prevent the engine from overheating. Check the radiator, belts and hoses for leaks or cracks. Be sure all the connections are snug, and make sure all the fluids are “topped off”. When towing boats, campers, or trailers, be sure to install additional transmission or oil coolers. In all cases, take great care with a hot engine – it’s very easy to get burned by hot engine parts or fluids.
• Air Conditioning: The engine belts also drive the air conditioner’s compressor, so also inspect this system for worn or damaged belts. Have a local mechanic inspect the compressor’s cooling fluids.
• Tires: In contrast to winter tires, summer tires provide more speed, better handling, and better fuel efficiency. Many drivers keep two sets of wheels: one set mounted with snow tires and one set mounted with summer or all-season tires. For maximum mileage and wear, make sure tires are inflated to the maker’s specifications.
• Brakes: Hot weather can increase the temperature of brake systems, causing pads to wear more quickly, so it’s important to inspect the pads and rotors for wear more frequently in summer.

“A qualified technician can check the systems that often suffer from the summer heat,” added West. “Following the diagnosis, car owners can save money by buying the parts they need from JC Whitney and then having their local mechanic install them.”

(Source) Press

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Car Free Challenge from Zipcar Low-Car Diet

Diets don’t only cover humans. They are now used for cars as the continued rise in fuel costs and car maintenance continue to bring harder times to the modern consumer. But perhaps it is in the type of lifestyle you follow to which ZipCar issues a challenge through its Low-Car Diet.

Beginning July 15, participants will hand over the keys to their personal cars and commit to living one month without the use of their vehicles. Instead, they will utilize public transportation, increase walking and biking, and be given a membership to Zipcar to access the vehicles when necessary.

Among the perks included in this program include:

• Five free servings of Berry Chill’s all-natural chilled yogurt each week
• A one-month gym membership at Equinox
• Airbrush tans from Ortanic
• Montague Corporation will provide one lucky Chicago participant with a SwissBike TX

“Chicago’s Low-Car Diet is an opportunity for residents to experience all of the benefits of living car-free and encourages them to rethink their routine and opt for a smarter and healthier lifestyle,” said Mark Norman, president and COO of Zipcar. “Last year’s Low-Car Diet demonstrated that trying a car-free lifestyle can lead to permanent car shedding, and we believe even more Chicagoans will discover the same benefits this year.”

(Source) Press

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Car Ownership Patterns Shared

As far as car ownership is concerned, consumers barely pay attention the frequency at which they own a car. This will vary and normally age and financial capacity to own one comes into mind. Thanks to studies shared by Tescocompare.com, we find some glaring facts such as the average age of owning a car at 24 and others averaging 9 cars owned in their lifetime.

Calculations by Tescocompare.com, the financial search engine, have revealed drivers own an average of 9 cars each during a lifetime – and of those 9 cars, the first two will be purchased before we’re 24, with this figure rising to six cars by the time we reach 40. However, not everyone conforms to this trend with one in five (19%) motorists across the UK displaying extreme car ownership trends. 1 million drivers own 20 or more cars over their driving career, whereas for 5.5 million drivers, 1 car throughout their driving lifetime is simply enough.

Additional Facts:

• Half (50%) of car owners say unreliability is a key factor and would lead them to change their vehicle if this became an issue
• A desire for something better (26%), or coming into money (26%) are the second most popular triggers to changing cars
• Older drivers seem more content with what they’ve got with only 22% of over 55yrs saying they’d change cars ‘if they see something better’, compared to more than double (47%) the amount of 18-24yr olds
• Whilst changing a car simply as a matter of course (18%), because of servicing costs (22%) or for family reasons (16%) impact on car ownership trends, only a small number of drivers (14%) are influenced by a car’s ‘green’ credentials

(Source) Press

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Car Insurance Premiums Continue to Slide

To date, car insurance premiums continue their slide which many attribute to governing market conditions and economic instability that has led motorists to pass on certain privileges and follow a wait-and-see attitude. Among them include car insurance premiums which many people are choosing to pass up to save on spending.

For figures, CarInsurance.com has the figures to show this declining trend. CarInsurance.com Premium Index (CPI) shows the national average of auto insurance premiums which showed June drop to 5.69% in premiums, compared to May. To date in 2009, car insurance rates are still 12.06% higher in 2009 then they were in 2008, but many states finally see car insurance rates going down.

In addition to CPI, CarInsurance.com offers tools to show historical average premiums, auto insurance changes, and state trends. These tools are available here. http://www.carinsurance.com/Average-Premiums.aspx.

(Source) Press

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Car Insurance Based on Driving Behavior

Here is an appealing way to distinguish the type of car insurance coverage motorists should have. Employing the MyRateSM behavior-based insurance program, the right kind of insurance will be given depending on the type of driver you are. The best part of it is that you will pay lower rates on vehicles that are driven in less risky ways, a big plus for drivers who are low risk.

“MyRate is designed for consistent and safe drivers,” said Richard Hutchinson, Progressive’s MyRate general manager. “It’s for people who drive at low risk times of day and who keep alert for others on the road. They don’t make fast lane changes or follow too closely behind other drivers so they don’t have to over-react or slam on the brakes.”

Drivers who sign up with MyRate receive a device that plugs into a port in their car and measures how, how much and when the car is being driven. Cars driven less often, in less risky ways, and at less risky times will be receiving a lower premium. Also, drivers with more than one car can select which, if any, of their vehicles to enroll in MyRate.

(Source) Press

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