Wednesday, July 18, 2007

How To Improve Gas Mileage

It is impossible to pick up a news paper, turn on the radio or television, or to listen to office conversation without hearing about the high price of gasoline. Every where you turn people are talking about the impact that the high gas prices is having on their household budget. Many people have to find a way to adjust their budgets to accommodate for the rising costs.

Many people are asking the question of how to improve gas mileage on their vehicles and others are purchasing more economical cars. There are some practical things that can be done to decrease the number of trips that are made to the pump. One of the simplest answers to how to improve gas mileage is simply to drive less. Incorporate errands so you are not making as many trips car pool and ride share as often as possible. If there are short trips try walking or riding a bike. Young drivers are often hard on gas mileage because they do not drive at a consistent rate of speed. Talk to your young drivers about accelerating slowly and driving the speed limit. Another answer to how to improve gas mileage is to make sure that you have proper inflation in your tires. Check on your tires to make sure that they are filled to the manufactured suggested amount of pressure. Tires that are under inflated can reduce gas mileage by up to 20%.

My children have been complaining that they need to contribute more money to the family car than they have in the past. This reduces the amount of money that they have to spend. My husband and I had a conversation with them regarding how to improve gas mileage and also to reduce the number of miles they drive by ride sharing and using other modes of transportation. I also thought that it was good for them to realize the larger scope of the increase in the gas prices. I had them come to the grocery store with me and I explained how much fruits and vegetables have gone up because of the higher cost of shipping as well as running the farm equipment that is needed to produce the food. They were surprised at how much the price of gas affects all aspects of our economy. We talked about needing to make choices about which trips are essential and which ones can wait until they can be incorporated with other errands. I think they are learning a good lesson through the rise of gas prices. It is easier to get them to listen when they are feeling the affects in the amount of money that is in their wallets.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Best Used Cars - The Secrets Dealers Are Hiding Form You!

By: Glen Crawford

Finding the best used cars is not as simple as looking for the
biggest and flashiest advertising, or the car yard that has the
most used cars for sale. There are quite a few issues that will
indicate whether you are dealing with a reputable firm.

Used cars dealers are governed by a standard which is set by the
Federal Trade Commission. This applies through all states of the
US except Maine and Wisconsin who have their own used cars laws.
You are deemed a used cars dealer if you sell more than five
vehicles over a 12 month period.

The used cars dealers have a responsibility to display a buyer's
guide on all of their vehicles for sale. This has to be in a
prominent position and ideally should be posted alongside the
'for sale' sign. This information is now required by law and
offers information aimed at protecting the buying from
unscrupulous dealers.

The guide will also provide the name and address of the used
cars dealer together with their full contact details. This is
essential should there be any problems that have to be dealt
with in the future. It also shows the buyer that the dealer is
fully accountable and trustworthy and is available to address
any customer concerns.

Used cars dealers must also indicate important information in
the buyer's guide in accordance with the National Automobile
Dealers Association used car guide such as the following:
Information that would tell if the vehicle comes with a warranty
or not; The different services that the car dealer could offer;
Other promises that must be put into writing; The various
mechanical and electrical systems; Which parts of the used car
should the buyer watch out for; A reminder for the buyer to look
for an independent mechanic to handle inspection of the used car
for sale before he makes the final decision.

A used car by definition is one that has been previously titled
before. This covers all vehicles whether commercial or for
private use, and also includes dealer's demonstrator cars and
program cars. The information about the car must be displayed on
the vehicle before it is advertised for sale.

More and more buyers are finding the best used cars dealer
online. This certainly is a more relaxed way of looking for used
cars, and you have the advantage of seeing what's available from
many different locations. There are some websites that work for
a group of used cars dealers so you have the advantage of being
able to see a broad range of vehicles all at once.

When searching the web all you are required to do is to provide
the details such as model, make and price and these are then
forwarded to the dealers who are a member of the group. Any of
the dealers who can match the requirements are then given the
contact details to the buyer. This is proving to be a very
efficient and easy way for both parties to negotiate.

There are many advantages when dealing with these networks of
dealers. For instance they will be legitimate and must have the
relevant used car dealer's license. This will also mean that
they will provide all the proper documents for the sale. Finding
the best used cars dealers may also mean that you will be able
to get the best possible deal.

After the initial online searches, the buyer will usually visit
the used cars dealers in person. This is also the time for more
haggling on price to get the best deal. It is also the time to
establish the warranty period, and to see all the relevant
paperwork relating to the vehicle.

About the author:
Best
used cars
are easy to locate if you know where to search.
Glen Crawford's website UsedCars-Latest.com
demonstrates the newest dealers tricks.You can get a unique
content version of this article
.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Top 5 Tips For Buying A Used Car

By: Louis Rix

While you can get a great bargain by purchasing a second hand
car you can also get nothing more than an old banger if you
don't take care. When it comes to purchasing a second hand car
from a private dealer there are different rules than if you
bought from an established dealer. One of the biggest
differences are your consumer rights - or lack of them.

While there are many honest and trustworthy people out there
selling used cars there are also some "dodgy" characters and of
course sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. One of the
best tips when buying a car from a private dealer is to pay a
small fee to have a car data check carried out. This will check
such things as the previous owner of the car, mileage data
associated with the vehicle and if there are any problems
relating to finance or insurance.

When going to look at a second hand car sold by a private buyer
you should consider taking someone with you who knows about
cars. If you don't have someone who knows enough about cars and
what to look for when buying second hand then it could save you
money and heartache in the long run if you were to pay a
mechanic to go and look over the car with you before committing
yourself to purchasing it.

When buying privately make sure that you learn as much as you
can about the make and model of the particular car that you are
going to look over. Do an online search through used cars for
the model and make sure that you have a very good idea of what
that particular make and model is selling for.

When buying privately always make sure that you go and look over
the car in daylight. If the seller is wary of letting you do
this then it is very likely that they have something to hide.
The seller should be able to answer all your questions willingly
about the history of the car. If they tell you they don't know
or are unsure because they are selling the car for a friend or
relative then you should stay clear and look elsewhere. They
should also be able to provide you with all the necessary
documentation relating to the cars history.

If you are buying from a dealer then be aware of all the added
extras which they could try to entice you with and ask yourself
if you really need them. Also be careful when it comes to taking
any payment protection insurance associated with any car finance
through them as this can boost the price up drastically of the
car.

About the author:
MotorCarLoans offers a free to use and independent service for
car finance and car loans. We also provide car
insurance
as well as other car-related products such as
breakdown cover, gap insurance, car warranty, as well as useful
articles.