Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Advantages Of Buying Used Cars



When it is time to purchase a different automobile, many consumers face the choice of new or used. While there are advantages to both, most consumers will benefit from the financial advantage offered by used cars. It is often possible to by a gently used vehicle that offers many great options at a much lower price than buying new.
One of the primary advantages of buying used cars instead of new is cost. The average new automobile drops in value by 20-25% when the buyer drives it off the showroom floor. While some may think this to be an urban legend, the Blue Book values confirm that with as little as 1,000 miles, practically new vehicles have lost this amount of value.



All cars on the road could be considered used cars. It really does not matter who put the first 100 miles on the vehicle, once it hits the pavement it is a used car. Vehicles manufactured today have a much longer lifespan than those manufactured 25 years ago. Older vehicles often were designed for a 100,000 life span. Many would need a major overhaul before reaching that mark. However a vehicle manufactured today often is good for 300,000 miles without major repair. This makes purchasing a vehicle that someone else has had before an even smarter move.

How to Choose the Best Car Alarm System for Your Vehicle



Whether you live in the quiet suburbs or an urban center, you are never completely invulnerable to the threats of vandalism, especially when it comes to your vehicle. Regardless of whether you park your car in your driveway or on the street, the well-being of your vehicle is in the hands of the conscience of whoever passes by. The fact that the wrong person could happen upon your vehicle at any given point is certainly unnerving, but that doesn't mean you're powerless. In actuality, you can protect your car or truck in a number of ways, primarily with the help of a professional-grade car alarm system.
By simply installing a vehicle security system, you'll be able to deter potential burglars and prevent auto theft. Most remote car alarms display a blinking light or other sign to indicate their installation, which is usually enough to send a message to would-be vandals and thieves that they should just keep walking. However, if a burglar decides to ignore the warning signs and proceeds to break in to your car, truck, van, or SUV, an alarm will sound and you'll be notified immediately of the violation. 

Whether the crook decides to exercise his better judgment or rob your vehicle anyway, having a car alarm will assist you in retaining your whole vehicle and everything inside it.
The current technology for car alarms is, in a word, impressive. Overwhelming, even. With so many customizable options, installation variables, and remote-access features, it may be difficult to choose exactly which system is best for your car and your particular security concerns. Your options may include:

Low-Emission Cars on the Second Hand Vehicles Market



Reduced CO2 vehicles move onto the second hand car market
New sub-100g/km cars are selling increasingly well. But will that rise in demand continue onto the second hand vehicle market? Let's look into it.
What are the advantages of reduced-emission vehicles for businesses and consumers?
European has set CO2-targets that car manufactures have to live by. This is why almost all car makers have developed strategies for reducing emissions. But consumers and businesses are also wising up to the benefits of reduced-emission cars.
Businesses are always looking for ways to limit operating costs as much as they can without having to compromise on service levels. And that is where sub-100g/km vehicles come into the fleet! Fleet managers are putting the focus on whole-life cost and value for money and they realize how interesting low-CO2 cars can be for their fleets. Think tax-advantages.
Off course, We can't ignore external factors like natural disasters, war and civil unrest. Each of these have helped increase oil prices significantly. The effect of these factors can't be underestimated as a cause offuel-efficient vehicles demand shooting up.
Sub-100g/km vehicles on the second hand car market
Reduced-emission vehicles have only recently started appearing on the second hand car market. But we still don't see high numbers of hybrids, electric cars and reduced-emission vehicles on second hand vehicle marketplaces. That is why it would be difficult to make an accurate prediction on the success low-emission, high-mpg vehicles will have in the future.
At the moment, the reduced-emission cars supply mainly exists out of petrol-electric hybrids, super-minis and the latest generation of fuel-efficient small hatchbacks. Because they are so scarce, availability and prices are the major issues for car buyers right now.
Car choices are limited because the majority of cars have a similar body shape. Moreover, the majority of second hand cars are retail rather than fleet models and tend not to surface in a wholesale car auction.

Cash for Cars: Getting The Most For Your Vehicle

While on surface it may seem that a junk vehicle is exactly what it's called "Junk", they actually have many car parts that can be used for additional purposes. Most scrap car buyers or people that are intrigued in obtaining junk cars from the general public, usually have use for distinct automobile parts, in which they sell to metal companies, or they used the car parts on other autos, after striping the junk automobile.
If you are considering selling your junk car for cash, then perhaps searching the Web, or even local classifieds for providers that buy junk cars, is is one of the simplest and fastest methods to acquire cash for junk cars.
Generally, the procedure is very basic, and in most scenarios you can contact these companies 247, as there are several junk car removal companies, that buy cars each and everyday of the week. It is recommended that you have proof of ownership before you contact one of these companies, as the service will need to have proof of ownership, before they can tow you automobile away, just to make sure the vehicle belongs to you, and know one else.
We have one more weblog that you may find to be fascinating, as we go into far more details about junking cars for dollars, and things to take into account before doing so. While the procedure is very simple as stated before in this post, there are some things that you can do to make sure you obtain the most value. OK for now that's it and many thanks for reading.

Will My Vehicle Warranty Still Be Valid If I Ship My Car Abroad?

If you are planning to ship your car overseas in areas that have facilities to provide automotive services, your car's vehicle warranty issued by your car manufacturer and/or dealer in the United States may not be valid overseas. You should look into buying an extended auto warranty often called an international vehicle warranty before shipping your car overseas. Your automobile manufacturer or dealer can be contacted before you ship your car overseas to find a suitable extended vehicle warranty or an international car warranty.
Shipping your car abroad and hoping to use your U.S. auto manufacturer's car warranty abroad would not be a wise course of action. Neither would be waiting until your car is abroad before finding an international warranty to buy overseas. You can locate an extended warranty seller online very easily and very economically. Of course, your car warranty should be valid in the United States or else you might want a more expensive vehicle warranty.
Vehicle warranties in the United States and abroad are time oriented. If your auto warranty has expired, you should buy an extended warranty to cover your costs in maintaining your auto before you buy an international vehicle warranty. There are some online sellers of international auto warranties that are very inexpensive. There might be a reason for the low cost of international vehicle warranties. Your best course to insure your overseas experience with your auto is to contact your car's manufacturer either directly or through your auto dealer and get more detailed information.

Nissan Cars - Choose a Vehicle That Suits Your Needs

Are you considering buying a new or used car? If you answered yes to this question then why not also ask yourself why not a Nissan? This is because Nissan cars continue to offer real value for money to vehicle consumers in the South African market. Even better news is that Nissan is continuously improving the quality and reliability of their vehicles, to the point that they are now considered one of the safest vehicles in the world.
Passenger vehicles for families and speed freaks
Whether you are looking for a passenger vehicle, sports utility vehicle or a powerful commercial vehicle, you will find a Nissan car that is right for you. The new Nissan passenger cars include some of South Africa's most iconic vehicles and include the Nissan Tiida, Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Livina, Nissan 370Z and the powerful (not to mention legendary) Nissan GT-R.
Reliable is simply another word for Nissan...
Are you looking for a reliable sports utility vehicle for business or recreation? Well then, why not consider the all new Nissan Navara, Pathfinder, Murano, Patrol or even the multi award-winning Nissan X-trail. They are some of the toughest vehicles in the world and offer consumers a safe and secure drive and a comfortable yet powerful driving experience.
Commercial is king
If your business requires a new commercial vehicle you will need one that is both cost-effective and functional. This is why Nissan South Africa provides you with a number of possibilities. This includes the Nissan NP200 (a worthy replacement for the much-loved 1400 Bakkie that was popular in South Africa for decades), Nissan Patrol Pickup, Interstar and Interstar Taxi, NP300 Hardbody, Primastar and the Nissan Cabstar.

Car and Vehicle

They say that buying a car is the cheapest part - and this is often correct. When buying a car there are many other cost factors to consider, and how much road tax you will have to pay each year is an important one. In this article we explain how road tax works, and how much you can expect to pay today.
The tax you pay to keep your vehicle on the road each year has many names. Officially it is VED, or Vehicle Excise Duty. However in the day to day this phrase is rarely used. You also may hear it referred to as 'road tax', 'vehicle tax', or 'car tax'.
Vehicle Excise Duty is paid to the Driver and Licensing Agency, also known as the DVLA. The DVLA is a government organisation charged with keeping a database of all registered vehicles and registered drivers in the UK. They are an agency of the Department of Transport, and are based in Swansea. While they hold the responsibility for driver and vehicle details, they do not endorse penalty points on driver licenses, this is a matter for the police.
If you wish to drive or park your car on a public road you must make sure you display a current Vehicle Excise Duty disc in the windscreen at all times. This not only proves that you have paid your tax but also that you had a valid MOT and insurance at the time (and hopefully still do!). A registered car owner who has not paid tax is flagged up on the DVLA computer system. Technology in this field is so advanced now it is quite easy for the DVLA to track down those avoiding their car tax responsibilities. Failure to pay car tax will result in a fine of up to £1000, and in extreme cases such as repeat offenders, you may be prosecuted.
If you have a vehicle but do not wish to drive or park it on the road for a period of time you will need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN for short. If a registered vehicle's tax runs out and you do not supply a SORN to the DVLA they will assume that you are still using the vehicle but not paying tax, and it is very likely that a fine will be issued. By declaring your vehicle off the road via a SORN notice you are telling the DVLA that you will not be using the vehicle and therefore no tax is due. A SORN needs to be renewed every 12 months unless the vehicle is re-taxed.

Vehicle Impacts in Car Crashes and Injuries

Vehicles manufactured today contain more safety features and injury prevention measures than any ever produced. Front airbags, side airbags, and crumpling frames work to reduce the amount of impact a collision has on a driver or passenger's body. Although these safety features help to reduce the amount of injuries and fatalities experienced in car accidents every year, they cannot prevent all casualties. While many accidents result in little to no injury whatsoever, there are some types of collisions that frequently result in injuries that not even the best protection can prevent.
During a motor vehicle collision, the steady movement of the vehicle is abruptly stopped, but the body of a driver continues to move forward. Depending on where the car is impacted, a human body will be affected in various ways, each with harmful consequences. If a body were left to continue without prevention of any safety measure during a frontal impact crash, it would slam into the wheel and dashboard of the car and quite possibly continue through the front windshield. As such, seatbelts stop the body from moving forward and front airbags cushion a person's head and torso, instead of allowing them to impact the hard interior. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in a motor vehicle accident, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Biomechanics Research.

Car Ownership: Making Your Vehicle Last Longer by Doing Things Right

been with the same company, USAA, since 1977. They are simply wonderful.
Another glance at my policy and I realized that I have had 32 vehicles since 1977. In that time I've had a vehicle stolen, I've had a vehicle backed into in a parking lot, another vehicle broken into, wheels ripped off, hail damage and more. I even damaged one of my own cars while it was sitting in the garage. With each incident, I learned something, and I'd like to share a few of my top tips.
Do You Need an Indoor Car Cover for Your Vehicle?
I've always been a sports car buff. As a young man I had visions of a bright red Ferrari in the garage. That never happened, but I did buy a two year old Fiat X/19 and customized the heck out of it with custom body work, a beautiful interior with Recaro seats, and a Borg Warner K27 turbo to make things exciting. I painted the car Attract-a-COP red in the style of the old Ferrari 512bb with satin black from the belt line down.

Safely Reverse and Park Your Car With Vehicle Parking and Backup Sensor

Backing up a vehicle or reversing is very important when you are going to park your car in a small space or between two vehicles. To reverse a vehicle safely you should have a good visibility of the back of your car. Vehicles with poor rear visibility are always very hard to backup. Even there is a rear view mirror; it is not enough to determine the distance to the back obstacle when reversing. Most collisions happen in reversing vehicles due to the invisibility of objects behind the vehicle.
Vehicle reverse or backup sensors can be effective to back a vehicle safely. These back sensors are very useful and affordable for any driver who cares about safety and protection of the vehicle, especially with poor rear view capability. This will prevent you from hitting obstacles such as objects which are not high as up to the level you can see through back window, another vehicle or even people when you reversing.
With backup sensors installed you can prevent hitting your vehicle with these obstacles behind the car when reversing or parking parallel. Sensors use ultrasonic wave technology to detect the objects behind the vehicle. Each sensor emits a signal which bounces after hitting obstacles and return back to sensor head. The distance to objects will be calculated by using the time difference since the signal sent out and to return. So the closer the object to the vehicle, the less time takes signal to return and displays the distance to the obstacle in the LCD display. When the object comes closer a beep sounds and the beep becomes a continuous tone to alert driver to stop the vehicle.

Online Car Listings Can Help Shoppers Find the Right Vehicle

Since the early Twentieth Century, cars have been popular in United States. For the past several generations, one of the primary goals for an American teenager has been to get their driver's license and buy a car. In past years, the only places to find car listings were usually in the local newspaper or auto magazines.
Before the internet, not only were car listings much harder to come by, but information about vehicles in general was, as well. In the past, a typical buyer would either search the newspaper classifieds or go straight down to the dealership. Teenage buyers were more likely to deal with private parties from either classified ads or people they knew, because they were looking for the best deal and didn't mind if they had to fix up the vehicle a little bit. Older buyers tended to purchase from a dealership where they felt some assurance that the car was in good repair.
With relatively few places to look, vehicle choices were fairly limited as well. Often, the only options for a new or used car was at the local dealership, and in smaller communities, there were usually only one or two of those. Because of the limited choices, shoppers often chose to buy brand new vehicles, because even though they were more expensive than the used variety, they tended to be in greater supply and offered more options for people who were more particular about what they wanted.

Vehicle Backup Camera Systems and More

If you find yourself with the wanderlust, craving travel and waking up in new states with different shades of sunshine, there's only one remedy. You must hit the road. Renting an RV has major benefits, but you may think that a car is right for you. Anyway, when you slowly drive across the country visiting places and seeing things that you have never seen before, you will be satiated. To choose how you want to go, read this.
1. Drive: As far as maneuvering goes, a car is easy to park and drive. If you've never driven anything larger than a minivan, chances are you won't be prepared for an RV. An RV back up camera will help you with a 20 foot long vehicle. Don't take the risk of damaging yours or someone else's transport; invest in a RV back up camera. An RV isn't as nimble as a minivan, it takes longer to slow, and can't make sharp turns. When driving, it's important to remember this in order to think ahead.

 Relaxation: Perhaps the largest pitfall of RV driving is that you are in charge. While that means the options are open, it also means that it's up to you to clean, plan, and cook. Many people take vacations to escape from duties like these, but depending on how much you want to spend, and what kinds of experience you want to have, the positives can outweigh the negatives.
All in all, road trips aren't about luxury. Americans like to rough it, because it takes you into areas that you wouldn't normally be prepared for. That said, RV's provide the best experience for a road trip.

New Car Vehicle Inspections

Is getting a vehicle inspection on your car really a good idea? Well, the good news is that there are mechanics that will give you a vehicle inspection for under $200. So the answer to this question is very much determined upon the price of the vehicle.
Most home owners get a home inspection before buying their house to make sure that they are getting what they are paying for. There is no reason not to do the same thing for your car. And considering that an independent vehicle inspector is much less expensive then a home inspector, if your car is worth more than $50,000 there is no reason that you should no do the same thing.
Many people think that getting a vehicle inspection on a new car does not make sense. However, even new cars can have problems. Every manufacturer has a quality inspector that inspects the car prior to leaving the factory, but that does not mean that damages were not incurred once the car left the factory. In addition, it is possible that the manufacturer's quality inspector may have missed something.
Be reasonable about the value of your car before you get your vehicle inspected. It is not necessary to get a vehicle inspection if you are buying a car that is less than $2000 as spending $200 is just not worth the cost. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, if you are buying a car that costs more than $60,000 then it is absolutely essential that you spend the $200 to get your car independently investigated.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Vehicle Graphics - Make Money From Your Car

A vehicle graphic of your business logo, a website address or other contact information not on your car could be considered money left on the table. Think about how many people see your car, truck, or van each week. The reality, is perhaps more than you think. Vehicle graphics typically fetch a cool thirty to seventy thousand views in a single day. That quickly accumulates to millions of impressions a year. The impact that could have on your business is huge.
Many large companies understand this and have used this method to brand their logo or website URL into the minds of customers or potential customers for years. Small to mid-size businesses are catching on. Custom vehicle wrap companies have had increasing business from the mushrooming popularity of vehicle decals. Consider the amount of time americans spend on the highways each year. For a company that wants to benefit from that fact a car wrap may be the way to go. Outdoor advertising methods such as billboards often cost thousands for a single month. Graphics on a car can often kickstart a business for less than a cup of coffee a day.