When purchasing a used vehicle you should definitely get a vehicle history check. All cars made after 1980 have these history reports that will tell you everything you want to know about the vehicle in question from who owned the car to when the vehicle was serviced.
What does this mean you need to do? Just ask! You can either search online or call to see if the vehicle dealer you are looking to work with offers free vehicle history reports. Different dealerships may have different policies about this reports, so it doesn't hurt to do a little bit of research first. Some dealers may offer free history checks but don't just hand them out, you need to request them.
To make the process easier on yourself and the dealer find a car you are interested before asking for a history report. Don't waste your or the dealer's time on a car you don't actually have any intention of purchasing. Get all the info you need and get the vehicle of your dreams!
Read more: How to Get an Absolutely Free Vehicle History Check at eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7349839_absolutely-vehicle-history-check.html#ixzz13arEHbt3
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Learn the Unwritten Rules of the Road
Go to http://www.icbc.com/drivesmart and check out the "unwritten rules of the road." This rule book may be lighthearted and whimsical, but there is a lot of truth to every word of it.
From tips to how to curb road rage to preventing break-ins, this guide gives us a fairytale-esque view of driving.
One of the most important lessons is to "treat your vehicle like you treat your friends." Routine check-ups help to prevent you from getting into a sticky situation on the road. No one likes a flat tire! In the long run you save money from unnecessary fix-ups and gas usage. As the book states, a vehicle that is not well maintained consumes up to 15% more gas which isn't any good for the environment or your wallet.
The main moral of the story: be aware of what driving entails, and don't hit the road unless you are willing to be a safe, conscientious, and courteous driver.
From tips to how to curb road rage to preventing break-ins, this guide gives us a fairytale-esque view of driving.
One of the most important lessons is to "treat your vehicle like you treat your friends." Routine check-ups help to prevent you from getting into a sticky situation on the road. No one likes a flat tire! In the long run you save money from unnecessary fix-ups and gas usage. As the book states, a vehicle that is not well maintained consumes up to 15% more gas which isn't any good for the environment or your wallet.
The main moral of the story: be aware of what driving entails, and don't hit the road unless you are willing to be a safe, conscientious, and courteous driver.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Get Quality Brake Parts to Ensure Vehicle Safety
During a Sprint Cup Series race at a short track like Martinsville Speedway, tempers often flare and leave drivers and crew members alike seeing red. But it's not always because of the beating and banging going on at the track; sometimes it is the reflection of the bright red glow emitted from overworked brake rotors.
This process is a normal one. Brake components generate heat (energy), which is used to stop the vehicle. This heat is responsible for that red glow that's ever so apparent during racing action.
And although your home vehicle may not be under the same extreme racing conditions as a NASCAR stock car, your rotors are still exposed to the same process, which takes a toll on the life of your brakes.
Quality brake parts are designed to generate and dissipate heat very quickly, the keys to both long life for your parts, and safe braking. However, when it's time for a brake repair, quality parts are not always used as replacements.
Some automotive repair facilities advertise bargain brake jobs in an effort to lure customers into their place of business. When your brakes are repaired here, the majority of the times, replacement brake parts are used. Quality, professional grade products are often sacrificed to perform these brake jobs, directly affecting vehicle safety. In the case of brake repairs, you get what you pay for. Quality and safety come at a cost.
And although some brake components are required to meet federal safety standards, items like rotors, drums, brake pads and shoes are not. These components have a direct affect on the stopping distance of the vehicle, the noise created while braking, and how long the brakes will wear.
To ensure safety, have your brake system inspected annually. And when it comes time for repair, insist on professional grade products, which meet or exceed original equipment performance.
This process is a normal one. Brake components generate heat (energy), which is used to stop the vehicle. This heat is responsible for that red glow that's ever so apparent during racing action.
And although your home vehicle may not be under the same extreme racing conditions as a NASCAR stock car, your rotors are still exposed to the same process, which takes a toll on the life of your brakes.
Quality brake parts are designed to generate and dissipate heat very quickly, the keys to both long life for your parts, and safe braking. However, when it's time for a brake repair, quality parts are not always used as replacements.
Some automotive repair facilities advertise bargain brake jobs in an effort to lure customers into their place of business. When your brakes are repaired here, the majority of the times, replacement brake parts are used. Quality, professional grade products are often sacrificed to perform these brake jobs, directly affecting vehicle safety. In the case of brake repairs, you get what you pay for. Quality and safety come at a cost.
And although some brake components are required to meet federal safety standards, items like rotors, drums, brake pads and shoes are not. These components have a direct affect on the stopping distance of the vehicle, the noise created while braking, and how long the brakes will wear.
To ensure safety, have your brake system inspected annually. And when it comes time for repair, insist on professional grade products, which meet or exceed original equipment performance.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
U.S. News Automotive and Vast.com Make Researching Vehicles a Better Experience
Vast.com and U.S. News Automotive today announced an experience that car shoppers have been asking for – a site that connects U.S. News’ respected automotive research with vehicles that are currently available for purchase. The service offers rankings and reviews from thousands of test drives, critical evaluations, safety tests and reliability reports. With a search platform powered by Vast.com, recommendations are now linked to a complete list of the cars for sale that meet consumer needs – cars that happen to be on the lot down the street at their local dealership.
With this announcement, U.S. News joins the Vast network of partner websites, including kbb.com, Vehix.com, yp.com, AOL Autos, Overstock.com Cars, and many others. The Vast network websites serve their consumers with a customized experience, delivering to their distinct user base the research, information, and dealer connections needed to make the car shopping process efficient and enjoyable.
“Our mission is to make car buying easier by doing extensive car research on behalf of our users. We started this three years ago by extending the U.S. News rankings franchise to cover cars and trucks, which was a new category for us,” explains Chad Smolinski, VP Rankings & Reviews at U.S. News. “Now, we are aiming to help consumers further along in the car purchase process, including people who are ready to buy. With a car shopping service powered by the Vast.com platform, we can present our users with a huge selection of cars for sale and connections to dealers.”
U.S. News sorts millions of results ranked by how well they match consumers needs, and within that subset, by promotions placed on the listings by motivated dealers. Dealers interested in reaching the 80% of consumers that only view listings on page one of the search results promote their listings by bidding for higher placement. Vast’s service only charges for results, so dealers pay for their promotions only when a customer contacts them.
“People visit U.S. News Automotive because it’s a respected brand known for top-notch research, information and evaluations,” said John Price, CEO of Vast.com. “By adding Vast’s search and search advertising platform to their service, we’re helping bring interested car shoppers to motivated dealers who will advise and assist consumers during both the research and purchasing phase.”
“I want consumers to find the car they are interested in buying,” comments Tony Giorgione, Internet manager for United Dealerships in Las Vegas, Nevada. “All being equal, if I have a car the consumer is interested in, I want to make sure my listings show on top of the search results, right in front of that consumer. U.S. News and the Vast network allow me to work my way up in the search results in a cost effective way.”
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