2008 November — Vinart Blog

All About Used Car History Reports

2008/11/28 By jcme Leave a Comment

One of the best things you can do when you’re considering buying a used car is to get a used car history report. The history report not only tells you what’s happened to the vehicle in the past, it can give you some indication of what you might be able to expect for the future.

A vehicle history report will tell you if a vehicle has been in a major accident that’s been reported through an insurance company. It will tell you if a vehicle has previously been totalled. It will even tell you if the vehicle is reported as having been in a flood.

Now, a vehicle history report has some limitations. If it was never reported, for example, that the vehicle was damaged, you won’t know that it happened. In addition, A car could have been in an accident that caused major damage that wasn’t necessarily visible to the previous owner, such as a bent axle.

A vehicle history report should supplement, not replace, an inspection and test drive. You still need to thoroughly look over the car, and to take it out and see how it drives on the road. Once you have done so, take a look at the history report to add an extra sense of security.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, used car, vehicle history report

The Buying Used Decision

2008/11/26 By jcme Leave a Comment

Especially in these tough times, it’s common for people to do things to cut costs that they may never have considered in the past. For example, many people who haven’t bought a used car in many years, even decades, may find that they are considering buying used for the first time in a long time.

There are good reasons to consider buying a used car, of course. Depreciation is a compelling factor, for example. The moment you drive a new car off the lot, it loses value. During that first two years, your new car loses a full third of its value, usually. There’s no way to stop it, either.

Buying used can create some stress, however. You might worry about the car being mechanically sound, or it needing repairs. That’s a valid concern. However, there are ways around this problem. For example, if you consider buying a certified used car, you won’t have to worry as much. You can know that the car has been inspected by a mechanic approved by the manufacturer, and that it’s been closely looked at to insure that the vehicle is mechanically sound.

While the decision to buy used isn’t always easy, it very often is the right decision.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: buying used, used cars

How Buying Used Cars Leads to Luxury

2008/11/24 By jcme Leave a Comment

Most of the time, if someone has the money to buy a new car, they’re going to buy a new car. They’re not going to take the time to go through used lots to find the right vehicle. So, they wind up with a car that is, in most cases, as luxurious as they can afford. Or, so they think.

You see, the sticker price on a new car and your car budget tell only part of the tale. The fact of the matter is you can enhance your lifestyle and increase your standard of living buy buying used, rather than buying new.

Cars depreciate rapidly. Most cars lose at least a third of their value within two years of being driven off the lot. In many cases, these cars haven’t been driven very far, and may have been very well maintained.

Let’s say, for example, you have a choice between a new midsize sedan and a three year-old luxury sedan. If you choose a used luxury car in a manufacturer’s certified used program, you are going to have the same kind of reliability that you would with a new, non-luxury car, all for the same price.

If you’ve never considered buying a used car, now is the time to start. You might be able to start riding around in the lap of luxury today.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, luxury cars, used cars

Used Car Inspections

2008/11/21 By jcme 1 Comment

When you’re out shopping for used cars, one of the most common questions you’re going to face is: “Should I have this car inspected?” The fact is that very few activities will give you more useful information when it comes to a used car than a thorough inspection.

The big question, however, is what kind of inspection you ought to have. If you’re a mechanic, you know what to look for in a used car. You can turn the key and know, just by the sound of the engine, if there’s a reason to be concerned.

Most of us aren’t mechanics, however, so we have to rely on someone else. In many cases, this might be your own mechanic. You might be able to arrange a used car inspection by your own mechanic, or arrange a time that you can bring the car to your mechanic to be inspected.

Another great way to have the peace of mind that comes with a used car inspection is to buy certified. A certified used car has already been through an inspection process by a manufacturer-approved mechanic. If you’re buying a used car that’s certified, ask to see the inspection records. In many cases, that will be enough to insure that the used car you’re buying is a sound investment.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, used car inspection, used cars

Questions for your Used Car Dealer

2008/11/19 By jcme Leave a Comment

Your used car dealer is there to help you through the process of buying a used car. Make sure that you take advantage of that fact and ask about anything you’d like to know before you sign on the dotted line.

Here are some of the questions you should ask your used car dealer:

If the car is certified, is it certified by the manufacturer? If so, is the mechanic’s inspection record available to look at? Make sure you look carefully at any third-party certification claims.
What is the vehicle’s maintenance history? Ask if maintenance records are available for the vehicle. You should also ask what kinds of service the dealership has done with the vehicle.
What is the vehicle’s overall history? Ask the used car dealer if they can provide a used vehicle history report so that you can be sure that the vehicle hasn’t been through a flood or a catastrophic accident.
What is the dealer’s return policy? While no dealership is likely to give you your money back, a good dealership will stand behind their vehicles and offer you a vehicle of equivalent value within a certain amount of time.
Does the dealer take trade-ins? If the dealer is able to take your old vehicle and apply its value to your new one, it can save you a lot of time, trouble and headache.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, used car

The Benefits of Buying a Used Car

2008/11/17 By jcme Leave a Comment

In this time of economic trouble, people are trying to cut costs everywhere they can. Many people are now considering buying a used car that wouldn’t have considered it before.

There are good reasons, beyond just the price tag, to consider buying a used car. However, the biggest benefit is always price. The average price of a used car in 2008 was just over $8,000, while the average price of a new car was $25,000. You are going to pay less, out of pocket, when you’re buying a used car.

A fairly recent development in the world of used cars gives buyers another reason to consider buying used. Certification programs offered by manufacturers now offer buyers some of the same type of security and confidence that goes with buying a new car. Certified Used cars go through a rigorous inspection process and are often covered by a warranty that takes the vehicle beyond the original warranty provided by the manufacturer.

There’s another good reason to buy a used car instead of a new car, and it has to do with depreciation. A new car will usually lose around a third of its value over the first two years that you own it. By buying used, you avoid that depreciation penalty.

While buying a used car isn’t for everyone, there are significant advantages.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, used cars

Used Car Vehicle Service Concerns

2008/11/16 By jcme Leave a Comment

When you’re shopping for a used car, you probably aren’t thinking much about the kinds of vehicle service and repair you might need to have within the coming months. The fact of the matter is, however, that used vehicles are more likely to need service sooner than new vehicles. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is something you need to be aware of.

When you first drive your used car home, there are some maintenance concerns you need to put on your radar. Within the first few weeks of driving your car, you want to pay careful attention. You want to listen for any strange sounds, and pay attention to odd smells such as burning oil. Inspect the vehicle once a week or so just to make sure everything is looking the way that it should.

Within the first few weeks of owning your new car, you’ll want to take it to your mechanic to have several service and repair items looked at. He should check all of your fluids, making sure that none of your levels are low. He should inspect your tires, listen to your engine, and give the car a good going-over. You’ll possibly need to have your radiator flushed, have service on your transmission or, at the very least, get an oil change.

The best way to make your used car last is to take good care of it.

Filed Under: Auto Repair

Choosing the Right Safety Seat for your Used Car

2008/11/14 By jcme Leave a Comment

When you’re out buying a used car, you’re going to be concerned about safety features. You’ll inspect seatbelts, ask about airbags, and look at the overall integrity of the vehicle. You want your family to be safe.

The same kind of care should go into choosing a car seat. You can choose new car seats or used car seats, but there are some things you need to keep in mind regardless of whether you buy new or used. For example, car seats differ based on the age of the child. The seat that your newborn will use isn’t the same seat your toddler will use.

You also need to choose a car seat that fits your vehicle. Some car seats don’t seem to match up well with some vehicles. You need to be able to install it correctly in your vehicle, and to easily and correctly use it when the time comes.

The price of the car seat doesn’t tell the whole tale. An inexpensive car seat may be as useful and as safe as an expensive car seat.

If you do buy a used car seat, don’t get one that’s too old. Anything more than three or four years old should be avoided. You’ll want to make sure you can read and check the manufacturer as well as the model number, so you can check for recalls.

Finally, you want to avoid a car seat that has experienced an accident. Even if you can’t see any damage, the structure may have been damaged.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, safety seat, used cars

How the Drive-Thru Lowers the Value of your Used Car

2008/11/12 By jcme Leave a Comment

Whether you’re looking at used cars or you’re thinking about trading in your own car on a new or a newer model, there’s one aspect of used car values that you may not readily think about.

You see, there are plenty of obvious ways to help your car retain value. For example, getting regular maintenance and service will help your car run better while you have it and help you get more when it’s time to get rid of it. The same holds true for regularly washing your car.

Still, there’s a hidden cause that can lower a vehicle’s value that you may not have thought about.

I’m talking about eating in the car. A recent survey by Kelly Blue Book and Taco Bell found that around 60 percent of people either eat in their car or allow others to eat in their car. The problem is that a messy interior, as much as a messy exterior, is likely to affect the value of a car.

Some fast food restaurants like Taco Bell are responding to this information by trying to create drive-thru food that’s easier to eat while driving and create less of a mess. Meanwhile, the auto makers are working to help develop car interiors that are more stain resistant and that can even be hosed out.

Next time you hit the drive-thru, ask yourself if the items you’re ordering will cost you money on your trade-in value down the road.

Filed Under: Buying a Used Car Tagged With: Buying a Used Car, used car

How to Check a Used Car’s Body

2008/11/10 By jcme Leave a Comment

When you’re looking at used cars, you should spend some time inspecting the vehicle. While it’s easy to look at tires and the interior, many people forget to take a good close look at the body. Looking at the body of a used car can help you know if there are structural problems, or if the car has been in an accident.

There are several steps to checking the body of a used car:

First, look along the side of the car. Are the lines straight? If not, that can be a sign that there’s been an accident. You’re especially looking for ripples as you go.
Take a look at the body from different angles and from different distances. Make sure the color of the paint matches everywhere.
You also want to look at the quality of the paint. If a section looks shinier than the body around it, it can mean the car has been painted recently.
Inspect the gaps between the panels. They should be even, and around the same width. If a gap seems off, check it on the other side to see if it matches.
Watch out for rust, of course. Even if you repair rust spots, they will corrode again later.

While you can’t guarantee that this kind of inspection will catch every flaw, it should help keep you from buying a vehicle with major body problems.