Archive for the ‘Autos’ Category

Buying a car needs not just investment but deep thought. The market is overflowing with choices and temptations. Buyers need to think, what kind of car and can I afford it?

Think, what do I need transportation for right now and what will I need two years from now? Do I want a car as a status symbol or as something that makes my life easier? Will the car be a commuter vehicle, or to transport children? Would a van with cargo space and high clearance be more suitable for a growing family? Should the car be a two-wheel or four-wheel drive? What kind of terrain will I be driving in most of the time? Go through auto magazines as well as consumer reports to get a clear picture of the world of cars.

1.    Work on your finances and determine what you need to spend each month on transportation. A car should not cost more than 10% of your net pay per month. If it is more, then consider leasing a car instead of buying one.

2.    Before you finalize anything, find out what the target price is. Four figure discounts are available with almost every make.

3.    Never sign an arbitration clause or blank financial forms. Try and get finance from a separate source, a bank or financial institution.

4.    Haggling will get you a good deal apart from shopping around for finance. The market is competitive be sure to check dealer fiancé, high street, internet lenders, as well as other options.

It is amazing the number of people that don’t know how to properly clean or polish and wax their cars.  Many people use products that were never intended for their car and others use products and equipment that should only be used by properly trained professionals.  Some never even wax or clean their cars.  Then they wonder why their car is given a very low trade in figure at the dealer, or why their paint is dull and flaking.

For the purpose of this article we interviewed numerous professional automotive detailers and similar professionals.  We asked them what products they used and for tips that consumers could use.  They pretty much came back with the same advice:

Properly clean the car:  This is very important as the use of harsh, non-automotive products can actually harm your cars finish and make it wear quicker.  Spray the car first and get it wet.  Use the water to spray off dirt and other contaminates that will scratch your car if you immediately start using a sponge and water first.  Also do not clean your car in the sun on a hot day.  Do make sure you use warm water as it works best to loosen contaminates.  After getting your car wet, use an automotive car wash solution and add to water in a bucket.  Follow the directions on the bottle.  Then wash the car.  You will find it easier if you use a long handled wash brush (most auto parts stores have these).  Be sure to wash and rinse in sections so the car wash soap doesn’t dry before being washed off.  Then using terry cloth towels or chamois, dry the car off.  Expert tip: use a squeegee.  It is much faster and easier.

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