Friday, March 27, 2009

13 Hot Tips For Buying A New Car

A question recently raised by one of our readers prompted the team to list out this 13 Hot Tips For Buying A New Car guide. Through this tips to buy a new car guide we sincerely hope that it will, in a way, help you in making that big decision. So, whether it’s new cars, used cars, trucks, SUVs or just plain curiosity on your part, this guide shortlists the points that you would need to seriously consider, and at the same time avoid getting into any car buying scams that might be out there.

Currently the best and the first option to start this whole process on the move would be to reach pages like this - shop for information! Nowadays, the web is full of information. So get your price quotes, view images, read reviews, and start comparing details.

Next up would be the old conventional method which has been in practice for God knows how long - going to a car dealer to shop! Yes, unfortunately, many people still prefer to actually start it off this way.

Anyway, with the influx of so many new car models (not to mention SUVs, MPVs, and “crossovers”) to choose from, how do you buy a new car that’s right for you?

The normal misconception is - Go on looks alone! That of course, will spell trouble down the road (Like our friend Rob, always likes to say - It’s very much like picking a spouse based entirely on their looks alone).

Another common misbelief - Price is all that matters, cheaper the better! Focusing on the price of your new car solely and excluding other considerations such as safety, comfort or even reliability, would mean that it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be happy with your so-called “bargain buy”.

So, how does one begin the steps on buying a new car?

Well, we at Car Crazy prefer to run through a checklist like this :

1. What is your budget/how much do you intend to spend?

To us, this should be the No.1 checklist question that should be answered honestly by you. Stick to a budget that you’re really comfortable with, because there are many who fall prey to the low monthly payment promises that often gets unsuspecting new car buyers in way over their heads. Also when you’re doing your budget for this, make sure to include your monthly and/or annual - finance charges, interests, road tax, insurance, and everything else that you will need to spend to own and drive the car.

Once you’ve settled on that right figure, you can further narrow down the potential new cars on your list.

2. Should I get a Local branded car or should I get an Imported model? How important is this and will it make a difference?

3. Should I get a Large/Medium/Small sized car? What is my actual need?

4. Should I get a car that can carry cargo? Is this totally a family car or would it be used for both, work and home?

5. Should I get a car that hits 100mph in 60 secs? Is this very important to me - performance & power?

6. What is the petrol consumption for this car? How much of mileage will I get from a full tank? Will this ultimately cost me a bomb?

7. Are parts easily available for this model? Are they costly? How much is a routine service package going for on this model?

8. Does all the technical specifications and safety aspects like - BA, air-bags, crash-tests, stability control, ABS, etc) look acceptable to me? Would I need additional fittings later on?

9. Should I get a car that has front-wheel drive, full time 4×4, rear-wheel drive, etc? Is this highly needed?

10. What is the warranty package for this car? Does it cover parts and labour? Do they give any extensions?

11. What is the trade-in/resale value for this car in the future? Will this brand hold its value better than others in the market?

12. What is current promotion offered, if any? Are there any added benefits to me if I were to trade-in my old car?

13. How long is the delivery period, once an order is placed? Is the delivery time important for me in making a decision?

And finally when you’ve narrowed down to your potential new car choice, it’s now time to make a visit to their nearest showroom. Sit in the car, see and feel the controls around you, and make sure you get a test drive done at the same time. Because if you don’t sit and feel it for yourself, you might just end up buying a car that you would later find to have hard seats, gears that don’t shift smoothly as expected, and worst-still, an engine that could be too noisy to your ears!

So remember, get that test-drive done folks. And probably by then you’ll have a much better idea and understand … this is your “right” new car!

How to Finance your Car? With Bad Credit Auto Loan or through Car Dealers?

Getting a car is a one of the most financial decision in a men’s life. Almost most of the peoples are not capable to get the right amount that is necessary to buy a car. That is why many people prefer to get a car through vehicles financing to carry out their car buying. Now the question is why type of financing will be suitable for a person. According to research made recently by price comparison site carloans123.net, taking auto loans to buy a car people can save a fair amount than purchasing a car through car financers or car dealers.

Still then, problem occurs with the people who have bad credit history but need to purchase new auto finance or used car loan. From them, car dealers have launched special loans in the form of bad credit car loans. This loan remains accessible even if your credit history poor credit, no credit, default, bankruptcy etc.

One benefits of bad credit auto loan is that it remains available in spite of a poor credit record. The second other advantage of this loan that is not negligible at all. As said above avoiding car financers and opting for auto loan online, you will end up saving a reasonable amount of money. On the other hand, some of the low car loan interest rate comes at half the interest rate charged by the car dealers.

So, it is obvious that opting for bad credit auto loan to finance your car you can buy the car in a highly sympathetic manner. Moreover, in case you go through dealers finance, you have to face so many hidden charges down the line. Taking the help of a bad credit auto loan to purchase your favorite car you can avoid the danger of hidden charges too. So, avail the favorable option and finance your car with bad credit auto loans.

Buying Auto or Car Parts at Affordable Prices

Owning a vehicle is almost a necessity in today's world but having one sometimes can be expensive, especially when it comes to used auto or car parts. From time to time, you're going to have a problem with your car and a large portion of the expense of taking care of that problem is buying the right car parts for the job. The good news is you can save money in a couple of ways.

Buying Used Car & Auto Parts
If you're on a tight budget, one option you might want to consider is purchasing used auto parts for the vehicle. The savings will vary depending on the part but in some cases you'll be able to cut your expenses by 30 to 50%. One downside is determining the best way to find these parts. Although you could stick to the junkyards and dealers in your area, they may not always have what you need. Using a search service online that would allow you to connect to a network of potential suppliers will greatly increase your chances of finding what you need.

Buying Wholesale Car Parts
Basically, if you purchase wholesale car or auto parks, you are paying the same price as the auto parts stores themselves. The manufacturers sell the parts to the retailers at a lower price than what you would pay in the store so the retailers can increase the price in order to make a profit. When you buy the parts directly from a wholesaler, you're automatically going to be saving a lot of money on the parts you get. Again, the savings is going to vary but you'll have the best luck locating these wholesalers in the auto industry by searching online.

Buying Replacement / Aftermarket Parts
You can save a lot of money even up to 70% on purchasing aftermarket auto parts instead of OEM parts. OEM parts usually are purchased through local dealership and they charge a lot to install the new parts as well. It's a good idea to purchase replacement parts as it is highly cost effective.

Finding Both in One
The best hope you have for success in saving money on these parts is going to be locating a site that provides the network and that operates as wholesalers. Search for a site that offers wide network of car parts, truck parts for various models at affordable prices and full online support.

Tips to Purchase Car Online

The Internet is becoming an increasingly popular method to purchase cars. Although you may have heard a lot about the risks associated with the process, the following buying car tips can help reduce or eliminate those risks.

Look Close to Home
Although the Internet could connect you to available new cars and used cars all over the world, you are going to have the best luck if you focus your search closer to home. Using an online search site to find nearby available cars means you'll be able to see the cars and take them for a test drive before you make any type of commitment. Test drives are always a good idea since your protection after purchase may be minimal.

Keep Options Open
Some people are uncomfortable with private sales and prefer to work only with car dealers. While this logic does make some sense, it can sometimes be misguided. Just as not all people are going to be trustworthy, not all dealers will be believable either. Regardless of who you decide to buy from, you should find out as much about the car as possible. If you're buying a used vehicle, ask to see maintenance records so you'll know how well the car was taken care of. If you're buying a new vehicle, ask about warranties.

Do Research
Before making any purchasing car decision, you need to do your research. The Internet can be helpful here because you can determine the approximate value for the vehicle you are considering, and you can read reviews about the cars to determine if the one you're considering is going to be a good fit. By doing the research ahead of time, you'll be more prepared for haggling or just for finding a good deal on the car you want.

Find a Reliable Site
The best way to find the car you want is to use a site that locates the available automobiles. There are many websites available online for buying cars, searching for variety of cars, car dealers at affordable prices.