One reason that dealers are running short on used cars is because some manufacturers stopped their leasing programs years ago. That means fewer vehicles are coming back from leases and going into the used car market like they used to do. The “Cash for Clunkers” program also cleared out many dealers and about 700,000 of the trade ins were destroyed rather than resold on the lots.

Another major reason for the shortage is that consumers are looking to the used car market for better deals. Some consumers want to pay cash for their vehicle rather than be stuck with a monthly payment. When they buy a used car, they can do that.

If you’ve been considering a used car, get to your dealer today while there are still some available!

3. Don’t let your credit discourage you. Many car buyers who have bad credit will allow their low credit rating to make them less assertive in the buying process. They feel they have to settle for less or they make bad decisions that only dig them deeper into debt and hurt their credit even more. Don’t let this happen to you. Do your homework before visiting the dealership. Know your credit history and determine the best deal for you. Is it best to trade in your current car even though you still have 9 months of payments? Or is it better to pay it off first? Consider questions like these before car shopping so you can make rational and informed decisions.
4. Know what you can afford. Car buyers often go to the dealer knowing about how much they can make for monthly payments and choosing a car and financing option based on that. But they fail to consider other variables like fuel, insurance, maintenance and more. Choose one of the used cars that cost much less than what you can afford and you will be more likely to get approved for a car loan.

I’m assuming you do not want to be in a situation like the lady on the left…car broken down on the highway, waiting for that expensive tow truck to come haul your vehicle away. If my assumption is correct, then get in the groove with Fall Car Care Month and show your used card some love.

Used cars can be extremely cost-effective for millions of Americans. With that said, if you own or are thinking of buying a used car, you should definitely try to keep up with proper maintenance. Now, I understand that maintaining your car is probably pretty far down your list of “to do” items, but there isn’t much that’s more important if you want to avoid those unfortunate situations like the one shown to the left. Hopefully Vinart can make servicing your car easier for you with the introduction of our Service & Repair Series.

This month we are focusing on overheating. We have posted two informative articles focused on preventing your car from overheating and what you can do if your car does overheat. Check out the articles and let us know what you think. If you have any other tips for reducing the chance of having your car overheat, please share them with us via the comments section of the blog. This way other people can learn from your knowledge. Take some time to read these posts as they may save you from the situation above:

• Keeping Your Used Cars from Overheating
• Discussing Overheating in Your Used Cars

If your car does breakdown, you can certainly call the Vinart Body Shop to receive an honest estimate for your repairs. Our commitment to timely, high quality auto repair has earned the respect of our customers. Not many businesses say this, but we actually hope we don’t hear from you, as that means your car is performing well. But if you need us, we are here.

If you’d like to be notified when new blog posts are available, as well as, become eligible for our weekly specials, you should consider subscribing to Vinart Insider List. If you have any questions or need to schedule a repair, don’t hesitate to contact Vinart.

Check us out on Facebook at the Vinart Dealerships Fan Page.

• Cut out the eating out. If you are a typical American family, you would be surprised how much you spend each month by eating at restaurants. Even fast food trips can add up over a few weeks. Keep a log of how much you spend this month by eating out and think about making meals at home and putting the extra money towards your used car fund.
• Evaluate your cable needs. Are you getting charged for premium or movie channels that you never watch? Are you ordering several pay-per-view events every month? If so, reconsider your TV-watching needs. You could save more than a hundred each month depending on the extras that you are paying for.
• Get a second job. Working at a second job for a just a few months can help you save enough money to buy a quality used car in cash. Just be sure to use that money for nothing else besides the car fund.

Use these suggestions and tighten your proverbial belt so you can see how good it feels to pay for a quality used car upfront. It’s truly a great feeling!

Every year, Consumer Reports publishes a list of the most reliable used cars on the market today. The reports highlight “the most well-rounded vehicles and lists other contenders in order of the overall reliability scores for model years 1999 to 2008.” There are nine categories in the rankings, including upscale used cars, sporty cars, small SUVs and more. Here are just a few of the findings:

• In the small car segment, the Honda Civic was voted the most reliable used car followed by the Toyota Echo, Corolla, Scion xB and Matrix. Other used cars that made the list include the Pontiac Vibe, the Mazda 3 and Protégé and the Subaru Impreza.
• As for used minvans, the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey topped the list of most reliable.
• For the small SUV category, the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester impressed the reviewers.

Those are just a few of the findings in the new edition of Consumer Reports. Pick one up at your local newsstand today before buying your next used car. It could save you a great deal of heartache and frustration.

1. Do your research before you shop. The best way to find a quality used car is to determine what you are looking for before you even begin shopping. Know your budget limits, financing possibilities and type of car you need. Once you know all that, you can begin visiting lots and searching online or through your local classifieds.
2. Bring a checklist. Your checklist should include a list of things to look for before you even take the car for a test drive. Does it have too much rust? Does it have too many miles? Consider those and other criteria.
3. Take it for a test drive. Never buy a used car before taking it for a test drive. Also, you should get it checked by your mechanic or an independent mechanic. It might cost 50 bucks or so, but it’s cheaper than doing thousands of dollars of repairs in the near future.

These are just a few things you can do for peace of mind when buying your next used car. We’ll give you more tips in the days and weeks to come.

1. Look for low miles. Cars are going to wear out and if the used car you are considering has hundreds of thousands of miles, it won’t be long before you’ll need to start replacing parts. Used cars with low miles are ideal even if they cost a little more.
2. Get a vehicle history report. This will tell you about how the previous owner treated the car and if it has been in any major accidents or catastrophes.
3. Consider a certified pre-owned car. These come with a warranty and they go through a rigorous inspection process before they get resold to a buyer.
4. Take it to a mechanic. A good mechanic may charge $100 or so to inspect a car you are considering purchasing, but it’s better to spend that $100 now rather than to start sinking money into a problem you could have detected before you bought it.

These are just four mistakes used car buyers make. We’ll write more about the mistakes you can make when buying a used car so you can make a better buying decision.

If the spark plug wires in your vehicle are bad, it can cause problems. A cracked wire can cause a spark to jump and hit metal under your hood. Everything from lower gas mileage to catalytic converter damage can be caused by spark plug wires that are cracked or damaged.

When you open the hood to look at the spark plug wires on a used car, you’re looking for several things. First of all, make sure that the vehicle isn’t running. You’ll start inspecting the wires near the distributor end. From there, you’ll work your way down to the plug end of the wire. As you go, bend the wire to see if you can find any cracks. You should also pull the plug wire off the spark plug and look for cracks.

1. First of all, know what warranty is involved. If you’re buying from a private individual, there usually isn’t a warranty. If you buy from a dealership, the vehcile may or may not have a warranty, depending on whether it’s part of a certified used program or not. Know what the warranty is before you buy.
2. You also need. think about the vehicle safety and reliability. You want a car that’s been through a thorough inspection. Whether you have your own mechanic inspect the vehicle, or whether you get a certified used vehicle that’s been inspected, you need to have some peace of mind knowing the car is in good shape.
3. Third, you want to know some vehicle history. A Vehicle history report can tell you if a car has been in a flood, or if it’s been totalled in an accident.
4. Finally, you want to be aware of the title. Make sure the vehicle has a title, and that the title is clean and legal.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The first thing you need to think about is price. Set your budget and stick to it. It can be tempting to want to buy more vehicle than what you can afford, but try to resist this urge.
• You also need to think about the cost of insurance. Check with your insurance agent, as there can be quite a variance in the cost of your insurance from one used car to the next.
• Safety is, of course, another concern. You want the safest used car you can find for the money. Look for cars with important safety features like side airbags.
• Finally, you want to get your teenager a car that runs well. Consider a certified vehicle, or hire a mechanic to inspect the used car before you drive it off the lot.