Used Car Buying: Three Things You Need To Know

By Ira Benet

It doesnt matter how you decide to go about used car buying, but when you go to the Internet to get those used cars online and a good deal, you still need to be aware there are certain things that youll need to know so that you can get the best deal possible.

Heres where a used car buying checklist helps out.

1. Remember that you need to get the vehicles services records. Just because youre buying something from online car dealers or even somewhere else like a government auction, it doesnt mean that you can skip this important piece of information. It doesnt even matter what your mechanic says, you need those service records to ensure that the car buying process starts off on the right foot. No service records? Then its time to move on and look for another car.

2. As is means that youll need to be especially careful. When you see used cars online that have this as part of the conditions of sale, its a red flag that should raise your concern but not necessarily kill the deal. One of the ways that you can feel more comfortable about car buying this way is to learn all you can about what a mechanic would look for. Once youve got that covered youre sure to find some great deals from online car dealers.

3. Make sure that you get a reliable car history as well. Most of the reputable places that you buy from will supply a CARFAX report. If they dont but you really like the car, youll need to secure your own. But never go through the car buying process without getting one of these

Used Cars Online

If youre the kind of person that likes to keep on top of the latest innovations when it comes to cay buying, youll want to look at the possibilities for buying used cars online. Here its possible to see a much greater selection that you would through more traditional models. On the cutting edge of this new industry is ibuyer.com, where the buyer tells the sellers what they want and they bid for the business.

Regardless of the method that you select, you need to follow the rules for car buying since you need to be sure that you get the vehicle in the end that will satisfy you needs and last for as long as possible. - 21392

About the Author:

Ira Benet knows all about the car buying process. He's worked for years buying and selling used cars online.

Understanding The New "Cash For Clunkers" Law

By Everette Jamison

If you're driving a gas guzzler and have been thinking about retiring it and upgrading to a later model, you may have your eyes on the "Cash For Clunkers" program. This new piece of legislation was drafted by the federal government in order to improve the environment. By encouraging motorists who drive older, fuel-inefficient vehicles, the government hopes to upgrade the cars, trucks, and SUVs on our nation's roads.

A lot of people are thinking about taking advantage of this law to purchase a new vehicle. However, it may not be as flexible as many drivers believe. Below, we'll take a look at the program's specifics and discuss whether the program will truly help you buy a new car. I'll also provide a few tips for getting the most value from the legislation.

Specifics Of The Plan

Under the "Cash For Clunkers" deal, motorists can trade in their gas guzzlers and receive a predefined value that goes toward the purchase of a more fuel-efficient model. There are several standards that must be met prior to receiving that trade-in value. First, the deal only applies to vehicles that were built after 1983 and get 18 miles per gallon or less. To clarify, this is not technically a refund or rebate. Instead, it is merely a guaranteed trade-in voucher.

Drivers will receive a voucher worth either $3,500 or $4,500. The amount depends on the type of vehicle they're driving and how fuel-efficient the new model is. For example, an increase of ten miles per gallon is required for cars in order to receive the full $4,500. An increase of four to nine miles per gallon will receive $3,500. Light trucks, vans, SUVs, and work trucks each have different standards that must be met.

Will It Help You Buy A Car?

While the "Cash For Clunkers" law seems like a boon for motorists, it is unlikely to help most people. If you are driving an older vehicle that gets less than 18 miles per gallon, there is probably a compelling reason. For example, you may want to avoid absorbing a hefty monthly payment. Or, you might enjoy the flexibility of performing minor repairs and replacing parts yourself, when necessary. In either case, you may not be a good candidate for buying a new vehicle.

A Few Tips For Navigating The Program

To be sure, the "Cash For Clunkers" legislation will help more than a few drivers upgrade their cars. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

First, it's important that you are aware of your mileage. A lot of cars and trucks with smaller engines will not qualify. And if your car does, you should know whether you're eligible for the full $4,500. Second, be aware of the trade-in value. If you can trade in your SUV for a dollar value that is higher than the $4,500 voucher, you'll be better off doing so. Third, understand how the program works. Your vehicle must be drivable and insured for a full year in order to qualify.

The "Cash For Clunkers" law creates an attractive buying opportunity for some motorists. For most people, however, it will be more sensible (and less expensive) to keep their cars and replace parts, when necessary. - 21392

About the Author:

For all your used Ford Escort engines and used Ford Mustang engines needs consider the leader in parts, http://www.everdrive.com

The Best Tips And Hints To Get Cheap Car Insurance For Teenagers

By Kim Draegan

Cheap car insurance is essential to fulfill parts of a teenagers dream to get their own automobile. Many young drivers do not realize how expensive insurance can get. There are many factors which contribute to the overall costs of car insurance; some have more weight than others. For example, the type of car you have would be a primary factor and we will reveal why this is the case.

The primary factor which influences the price of your car insurance is the type of car you own. Auto insurance companies will definitely offer cheaper car insurance for young teenager drivers who own a small secondhand automobile. Cars which go classifications like muscle, sports and classical will have higher insurance rates because they cost more to fix. These types of cars also tend to be harder to drive in, especially for young teenager drivers. Therefore, this also increases the chances of car accidents.

Equipping your car with common safety devices is also another way to reduce your overall car insurance deal. Safety features like seat belts, airbags and cushions ensure there is a less likelihood that you will obtain an injury if you end up becoming involved in a traffic accident. The fact that it lowers the potential cost of repair and medical-related fees helps in reducing the insurance premium.

The deductible is another factor which influences the cost of car insurance. The deductible is the amount the driver who is insured pays before the insurance company pays up for the rest of the cost. Auto insurance companies will reduce their premium offer if you increase the deductible because it shows that you are willing to pay more of the expenses if any accidents occur while you are driving.

Getting excellent grades in your driving test also determines the overall pricing of the insurance. The auto insurance company will obviously have more confidence in a person who obtained a high score in the driving written test compared to someone who scored an average score. The higher your score is, the higher the chances of getting a reduction in insurance premium. - 21392

About the Author:

Jamie likes to write about very cheap car insurance and cheap car insurance for young drivers.

Water4gas Scam - Rip-off Or Not

By Adrian Fletcher

The price of the goods we need every day seems to increase every time you visit your grocery store. Inflation is on the rise for over a year now. An economic downturn and a rise in oil prices is often blamed for this state of affairs. Indeed, the upward movement of prices is no more apparent than at the gas pump. With gas prices as high as they are, it's easy to see why people are starting to seek out alternatives to save money on fuel costs. One of the newest fads out there these days is something frequently called water for gas, or "water4gas."

As appealing as it sounds, is it true that you can really use water for gas? Putting water into the combustion engine of your car or any other vehicle would be pretty catastrophic for that engine. It would mess up the engine and ruin your car. So does it mean the water4gas is a lie? In fact, it can be done, but it has to be implemented a different way, and it is not in a way most people would imagine.

Water4gas is a bit of misnomer because the water is not the actual alternative fuel, but rather provides the elements hydrogen and oxygen to create the reactive process to boost gasoline performance and economy. There is no dispute that hydrogen gas burns more cleanly and efficiently than ethanol-based gasoline and unlike gasoline, produces no emissions other than ordinary water vapor.

The premise behind water for gas is the production of hydrogen gas which can be used by your car to burn gasoline more efficiently and thereby reducing consumption. By splitting out the oxygen and hydrogen atoms that comprise water, you theoretically can create your own source of alternative fuel to power your car. In fact, NASA's space shuttles are sent into space using hydrogen fuel.

Most water4gas systems that are currently available online teach you how to convert water for gas to fuel your vehicle. You can also find Internet sites or even auto parts stores that sell kits to assemble and install inside your car. When you purchase a downloadable version of the water4gas systems you receive instructions on how to build a water4gas converter and will need to purchase materials to build it with as well.

It's normal to be wary that untested or untraditional products could be a rip-off or not live up to the claims. Simply typing "water4gas scam" into any online search engine will bring up pages of information. There are dozens of sites that recommend the water4gas system as an economical way to fuel your car, and another dozen that call the system a waste of money or a scam. Interestingly, there are a number of on-line forums that include active and spirited discussions about water for gas technology from not only its proponents, but also from those who strongly criticize this technology.

Whether the water4gas system is a scam or a truly revolutionary way for the average person to save money at the pump remains to be seen. However, it is interesting to note that major car manufacturers such as Honda and BMW have plans in the pipeline to produce hydrogen fuel cell powered cars for wide consumption. Honda's Clarity FCX, the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to hit the market, is scheduled for limited leasing-only availability in Southern California for the 2008 summer season. - 21392

About the Author:

For reports on the leading water for gas conversion kits visit water to gas reports, including a report on Gas4Free.

What Gauges Are In My Car

By Derrick Dobins

Learning how to drive will require a lot of studying. You have to know how to read road signals, drive your car and of course read your car gauges. In this way, you will know the current condition of your car and what you can do to prevent having future problems with it in the future.

So what are car gauges? These are the flashing lights that you see on your car's dashboard. These lights and indicators will tell you the current things happening in your car. Here are the basic things that you should know in reading these lights and indicators.

One of the gauges that you will see, the gas gauges, is the perhaps the one you will pay attention to most. The tells you how much fuel you have in your car and many cars now even estimate how many miles you will be able to drive before you run out of fuel. It is important that you pay attention to the fuel gauges and stop to add fuel to your gas tank when it is getting low. If you do not, you may find yourself with a dead car in the middle of the road because you ran out of gas. Plan ahead for long trips and make sure that you do not let the gas gauge get too low before you stop to refuel.

The next gauge will save you from a speeding violation. You need to monitor your speed with the speedometer. Keep in mind that there is a required speed limit wherever you drive. Checking the speedometer will keep you on the right speed limit and keep you from collecting a speeding ticket.

The tachometer is another gauge that you can find in your car. The tachometer is a gauge that tells you the RPM's, or revolutions per minute, the crank of the engine is turning. This is important because the faster it is turning the more likely it is to break causing expensive repairs. This gauge is found in all cars, regardless of whether it is a manual transmission or a standard one. The gauge will have some red area indicating that is a dangerous area, or the crank and engine parts are turning faster than is recommended. Make sure that you drive in the appropriate gears to keep the tachometer gauge from going in the red.

The temperature of the coolant in your engine also has a gauge. The temperature gauge tells you how hot the coolant is. The hotter the coolant, the more likely you are to have problems inside the engine. Again, the gauge should have a red zone and you need to watch to make sure that the gauge does not get into the red zone. If the gauge is moving in that direction and does not come back down quickly as you get to speed, then you should pull over. You will need to let the engine cool down substantially before continuing on. You should check the coolant level the next morning before driving because it is likely too low and needs to be topped off to prevent the engine from getting too hot.

A less familiar gauge is the oil pressure gauge. The oil pressure gauge can tell you about the flow of the oil through the engine. Because oil is critical in maintaining your engine, it is important that it is always flowing with the right amount of pressure. A drop in oil pressure may mean you are low on oil. A rise in pressure may mean that you are too full on oil. A fluctuation up and down may indicate some clog in the system and should be checked out by an auto mechanic. If you need to check the level of your oil, remember to always shut the car off before doing so.

These gauges are general and are found on most every car. If you have questions about specific gauges found in your car, you can consult the owner's manual. Being able to interpret your car's gauges and take appropriate action will be a key in keeping your car running for a long time. - 21392

About the Author:

In your instrument cluster you can find car gauges. It is imperative that you pay attention to them, especially the speedometer gauge. If you don't, you may pay in the way of tickets.