• Automobiles Guide
    Why prefer an All Wheel Drive (AWD)?

    Let’s get this straight. All-Wheel-Drives (AWD) are not for all.

    The AWD is a design and function where all four wheels spin all the time which gives an added traction to the automobile. Unlike the 4WD where you can shift from a two wheel drive to a 4 wheel drive, the AWD vehicles operate on a permanent drive. AWD’s made their first appearance during the late 1930s when General Motors first introduced them. Today, the AWDs have decked up a lot of technological improvements ranging from advanced traction controls to electronic systems and bold vehicle design. They have earned a separate genre among automobiles making them a necessity in certain types of terrain and climate. However, for anyone thinking of buying one, there are a set of pros and cons to consider.

    Traction
    Upside: The extra traction is needed for an efficient drive over the rough and slippery terrain. The AWD is usually preferred in places of harsh winters and slippery terrain. During times of a sudden snowstorm, one can feel safer in getting back on an AWD.

    Downside: Experts say that good traction help in moving over slippery surfaces and cutting corners but is not enough. A set of good snow tires and suspension are the fundamentals of the physics of optimum vehicle control.

    Design
    Upside: The AWDs design offers a huge space for at least 6 passengers and their luggage. Some of the AWD’s can carry up to 8 passengers and luggage efficiently. The vehicles are designed to drag weight across rough terrain ensuring safety to passengers. The modern all-wheel-drive design offers electronic stability control which gives more control to the vehicle.

    Downside: Due to the heavy weight and complex engineering, the AWDs are not fuel efficient. The AWD gain more power by during more fuel than the two wheel drives.

    Money
    Upside: The AWDs have a good resale value than the two wheel drive cars. You cannot me promised of a 100% resale value but your car will easier to sell for a better price than a two wheel drive. People living in the northern climate do not have to think about resale.

    Downside: The reason why the AWDs have a good resale value is due to their high cost of purchase. Many AWD manufacturers charge a premium between $1500 and $3000. The AWD are expensive to maintain as they have a more complex engineering.

    The final verdict is that you need an all-wheel-drive if you are living in harsh winter storms and have to travel through slippery roads. But if you are in places with milder climates, the AWD might not be the right fit.

  • Automobiles Guide
    Certified pre-owned, a checklist to help you buy your next

    There are number of things you should tick off your checklist, before you can actually go ahead and sign a deal with the dealership. This is very important and even more crucial when it comes to buying preowned vehicles.

    Of course, it goes without saying that you should do proper research, but where to start and what are the factors that should be taken into consideration before you go ahead and check out that new car or bike for that matter is the challenge.

    Here is an extensive checklist that will help you narrow down the important factors that make up a pre-owned vehicle inspection.

    There are a number of exterior check to be done on the body of the car you are planning to buy. Although you may not be an expert when it comes identifying automobile related problems, there are a few easy indicators for which you don’t necessarily need an engineering degree. Walk around and take note of all the minute scratches, dents, dings, that you can find. Open and close all the doors, windows, boot spaces, engine hood.

    Check for the tires and make sure they are of the same brand and that the seller is not cutting corners in order to save a few bucks and raise his profit. Tires are the most essential part of the vehicle and they should be in drivable condition in order for you to have the safest ride possible. Wheel balancing and tire rotation are regular maintenance procedures, check the vehicles maintenance report to see if they have been done on a regular basis. Lights are again a very important component, for night driving and while driving through foggy areas. Make sure the components are in order and wont fail you out on the road.

    Check the interior of the car you are buying, make sure there is no funky smell which might be the result of some coolant leak or oil leak, the fumes being vented through the air conditioning. This can cause serious problems while driving and hence you have to ensure the cab of the vehicle is smell free except for the fresh pine you will put up on the rearview mirror.

    Check the seats, instrument panels, every tiny little component on the dashboard. If your vehicle has a sunroof, check to ensure its proper working. All the mechanisms that control these little gadgets and gizmos should be examined to ensure proper working order. Check under the hood also, to ensure the belts, engine hoses, radiator components and all the fluids needed for the engine to function properly are there.

    The final thing left to do is take a test drive and figure out for yourself whether the vehicle is worth putting up the investment and only then, do the necessary paperwork.

  • Automobiles Guide
    Make sure you get a good deal, tips to make a sale

    Selling a vehicle can be a challenging experience and a very emotional one for that matter. You might be selling your car for extra money or maybe are looking to upgrade to a better model. Whatever the case may be, it is never easy to make a sale, especially when it come to your very first.

    Here are a few tips on how to close that sale and get a good deal for yourself.

    Analyze the market carefully: Unless you have luxury sports convertible or a luxury vehicle, nobody is going to give that car another look unless you spend the requisite time and effort making it ready of the sale. There are a number of vehicles which are in demand during some months and certain brands which are always in demand. Check the market deals being made regularly to see where your vehicle stands.

    Price matters: Price definitely makes all the difference; your car has to be good enough for the price that you are asking for it. You can easily determine your cars worth online on a number of popular book value websites.

    Paperwork: Any potential customer will be interested only when you have all the necessary paperwork ready at the time of the sale. Customers would want paperwork related to insurance, any maintenance records for the vehicle, the official pink slip for the car and of course, technical documentation. A general collection of paperwork includes the title, bill of sale from when you purchased it, routine maintenance records, release of liability from any pending loans or finances taken for the vehicle, warranty documents amongst others.

    Carry out a good maintenance: Before you try and contact potential buyers, or have some interested parties come and take a look at your car, get your car washed, waxed. Take the car through a nice car wash and make it look as good as new, looks matter.

    Advertise properly: In today’s digital age, advertisements are key. The more convincing the ad is, the better are your chances of making a sale. Use social networking to advertise on social media websites, get info about your car out and have people take a peek at some of the best photographs you could take of your vehicle.

    Overall, your approach will make all the difference while making the sale. Be flexible, hear the person out, take into consideration what he wants for the price he is offering and vice versa.

  • Automobiles Guide
    Buying from a dealer versus buying from the owner

    When you are buying from a dealer, you have the option of buying from a verified or authorized dealer. But the minute you think about buying a vehicle which is owned by another person, there are a number factors that should be taken into consideration.

    New and used cars are bought and sold regularly, they are just as good as any purchase provided you have the right paperwork and documentation to support the purchase. You can either buy a used car from an owner directly or go to a used car dealership, where you might just get a good deal.

    Here are the pros and cons discussed:

    If you buy a vehicle from a dealer, all the paperwork is handled by the dealer. Dealers also offer financing options and warranties on cars. When you go to buy a vehicle form an owner, he might ask you for a cash payment directly and there are no warranties. You will have to verify the documentation on you own and there might be chance one or two paperwork might just be missing.

    Dealer cars might be pre-certified by experts to determine its road safety. However, when you are buying from an owner directly, you will to hire an expert to determine its road safety. Certified cars are a much better option to buy since there are number of tests which are conducted to determine the vehicle’s viability.

    With a dealership, you might just get a good trade in option, while that is not possibility when you are buying from an owner. The owner wants cold hard cash from you, nothing more. you might be able to bargain with a private seller since it will be a bit difficulty to quote your price to the dealership.

    Since the prices are not easily negotiable, you might just end up paying more that what the maximum suggested retail price of the vehicle is. Refer to a number of reliable sources, to ensure you find out the ideal market value.

    When you are buying from a dealership, you might be pressured into buying a vehicle form the sale steam who are working on commission basis sand al they want to do is make the sale. The sales team are very adept at handling first time customers and there is a good chance you might just end up with a vehicle you didn’t want in the first place. Buying from an owner, you have the option to talk, think it through and then make a decision.

  • Automobiles Guide
    A guide to buying and selling automobiles

    Buying and selling of vehicles can be quite a task, especially when you are doing it for the first time. With so many different brands and models available to choose from, buying and selling of cars is a care intensive process. Knowing what to buy or finding out the best price at which you can sell is the challenge.

    Here are a few useful tips which will help you buy your very first car.

    Take your time and do a good research, don’t rush into the decision of buying. A car is an expensive purchase and you will be driving it for a while and hence, don’t want to be stuck with a model which is not suited for your purpose or doesn’t get the job done efficiently.

    Compare with different models on various parameters. Just because you don’t like a particular brand or may be a diehard fan of one, that doesn’t necessarily help when you are buying. Compare prices and features against multiple brands of the same vehicle class and if possible, take them out for a test run so that you get the feel of it.

    Budget plays a key role in deciding what to buy, or rather when to draw that line so that you don’t go overboard. Of course, with more number of options, prices will also be competitive and hence you might even find your dream car within your budget.

    Once you have narrowed down a couple of models, have them compared side by side with respect to all the technical specifications. They might be a bit difficult to understand, but the technical specifications will give you an idea of the what the car is actually made of and is it worth the price?

    Understand these terms before you go ahead and place you order in the showroom. Terms like invoice price, maximum suggested retail price, fair purchase price and more. the price will be affected by the model and additional accessories you are planning to install. But find out the exact base price and
    compare it with other showrooms to see what kind of a deal they are offering.
    The bigger question arises, whether to buy a car or leas a car for that matter. although if you are planning to hold on to the vehicle for a number of years, then leasing it is not a preferred option. However if you are particular about brands and want to explore different options down the line, then consider leasing.