Nov 12

If you are thinking of buying either a new or used car it is sensible to invest some money in a car warranty because this could save you money if the vehicle breaks down or parts need replacing. Before you buy a warranty for a new or used vehicle there are certain things that need to be taken into consideration first.

Below we offer a few tips to help you when it comes to finding the right car warranty for you.

1. When buying a used vehicle first check to make sure that the manufacturer’s original warranty is still valid as normally with vehicles less than three years old this is generally the case. However, if you are purchasing the vehicle from a dealer and the warranty has expired they may offer you a short term warranty for free or elsewhere enquire if it is possible to purchase an extended warranty instead.

2. Ask to see a copy of the owner’s manual as this will tell you everything you need to know about the general warranty conditions for the vehicle. The general warranty provided by the manufacturer will either cover the owner of the vehicle for a three year period or 36,000 miles depending on which is reached sooner. Normally the warranty will list the parts of the vehicle which are covered by it.

3. Look for those vehicles where you can get an extended or power train warranty which cover the vehicle for 60 months or 60,000 miles. However, although some companies offer such warranties as standard many cannot be purchased until after the original warranty on the vehicle has expired.

4. If you do intend to go for an extended warranty on a new or used vehicle then make sure you go with a reputable company. Look for those who have a history of providing such like Carchex auto warranty, Wynn’s auto warranty or CNA auto warranty and who have a number of different car warranty plans for you to select from and who will provide you with their terms and conditions in writing before you sign up to one. Also look for those companies who offer a money back guarantee and will cover your vehicle no matter where you are.

5. It is crucial that you read each of the car warranty plans you are considering through carefully before you sign on the dotted line. Look not just how long the warranty is in place for but also what time limits there are in place in which you can make a claim. Ideally you want a warranty that is going to protect your investment which is a considerable one.

You need to remember that any car warranty you get is not going to provide a guarantee of how long the car will last for, but is to assure that you that the car was in good condition when purchased. So you need to be aware that there are certain limitations on the kinds of claims that can be made under such warranties and if you mishandle or abuse the vehicle these may well not be covered by it. So this is another reason why you need to read through the document carefully before agreeing to it.

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Nov 09

All car owners need car insurance. First, it is the law, and second, being properly insured can save you a lot of money in case of accident or theft. The main variable when it comes to insurance policies is finding a happy medium between how much you spend and how much coverage you want. Usually, the more you pay, the better the coverage. As expected, less expensive policies provide minimal coverage. Better (more pricey) coverage, on the other hand, offers not only more financial compensation, but usually has a more hassle-free claims process as well.

In the event that you and your vehicle are involved in an accident or theft, an insurance claim must be filed to help with repairs and financial coverage for any other loss or damage from the incident. Submitting the claim should be relatively simple if done carefully and with an open mind, but doing it as soon as possible should help expedite the settlement process and the awarding of any compensation.

For making an accident claim a police report has to be filed. When submitting a car insurance claim the insurance company will need a copy of police report if there is death or injury due to the accident. In such a case the claimant needs to record all information with care like time and place of accident, names, address, and other details about the persons involved in the accident, and witnesses if any.

In the spirit of fair and equal information exchange, inquiries by your insurance agent or company into the car accident or theft for verification purposes are expected. As you willingly share all the details that you have gathered, you will likely be encouraged to enter all such data in writing or online, as well as follow other claims-oriented procedures. During the filing process, you should begin inquiring about the amounts and wait-times for any possible compensation for loss and repairs, which, again, can vary depending on your policy and amount of coverage.

An insurance policy with collision coverage is ideal, as you are entitled to compensation for damages from any sort of accident, including those with walls, other cars, or even trees. Your agent should let you know about repair estimates and where you should go to have repairs done. Remember to be assertive and not be intimidated by the agent, company, repair shops or the claims process. You have a right to ask for clarification for any details you want, for you are the customer and claimant, and in the end it is your money that is at stake.

You must also remember to be assertive about being informed about time frames for compensation. The importance of this is the longer it takes for the claims process to occur, the longer you do not have a repaired car to drive and the more money you might lose on rentals or other necessities. If items like rentals are not covered in your policy, the time frame becomes even more important. While you are at it, inquire further about any other benefits that you are entitled to based on your policy.

The claimant can also inquire from the agent the duration after which he will be contacted about any further proceedings about the case. If he has an auto insurance policy with collision or comprehensive cover then he will not have any worries. The insurance company will pay the damages without assigning the fault.

The car insurance claims filing process does not have to be a nightmare. It can be a relatively simple and worry-free submission, especially if you keep your head on straight and remain assertive, persistent and smart. The process will flow more smoothly and you will see your compensation that much more quickly.

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Nov 05

Having trouble deciding whether you should donate a car or sell it? It’s important to keep four things in mind when deciding if you are donating your car or selling it to whoever is willing to pay your asking price. These four things are: –What is the value of the car? –What charity could you donate your car to? –What tax bracket do you fall under? –How much is your time worth to you?

First, when we say determine the value of your car, this means the “real value”. A common mistake, made by many people, is to just automatically assume that they will get whatever dollar value Kelley Blue Book reports. KBB is a good value base but it’s sometimes not realistic. You can start by cutting that KBB value by 30% to guess the amount you will most likely get from a buyer. For example: Let’s say a 1989 Mercury Topaz - in zip code 15045 with 170,000 miles - in fair condition with standard features - could have a trade-in value of $760 and a private party value of $1525. Cutting that private party value by 30% gives us a new value of $1067.50.

Depending on your tax bracket, you will have to cut your net profit by whatever percentage you fall under. If you are in the 25% tax bracket and you get an offer for $1000 for your car, just know that after you decrease it by the 25%, you will only have a net profit of $750. You need to take this in to account when determining the net profit. This may well affect your decision as to whether to donate or sell.

An additional expense to consider when you think about selling is the cost of advertising. You will have to subtract whatever advertising expense you have from the net profit. Assume you are going to have to spend $80 to advertise in an auto magazine and $30 for a newspaper. That totals to $80. Subtract that from the $750 net, and you are not down to $670. To get the top dollar for your car you may need to get it professionally cleaned and detailed. That will cost you probably another $70. You are now down to $600 for that $1000 car.

You will need to get the care inspected by a mechanic to be sure it is running correctly. Also, you will want to repair body damage to ensure you are getting top dollar. Subtract $75 or mechanic fees for the inspection alone, and you not have a car that is only netting you $525.

Do you see how the net value from selling the car now goes from $750 to $525? There is actually potential there for less than $525. What if something is wrong with the car? What if you need work done to fix some dents and scratches?

Let’s look at the difference in profit potential for donating compared to selling. Most donated cars are sold at auction. The IRS says they must be sold at auction and in use shortly after you have given it away in order to take the full deduction. Your tax deduction will more than likely be $500 or the auction price. If you get only the $500 deduction, you will be netting just $25 less than all the trouble of selling it. Is it really worth it?

To most of us, our time is extremely valuable. You only have a limited amount of time, and probably could find something better to spend it on than fixing up and selling a car for such a small amount of net profit. You will have to arrange you schedule to allow time to handle the sale, plus having to deal with strangers. Is it worth it to you?

What kind of time are you looking at to sell a car? Count on an hour and a half or so making signs and/or producing ads. Another one hour can be consumed in phone calls. Mechanic appointments may take two hours and may be inconvenient with work schedules. Cleaning and detailing may consume another half hour. You have easily just used up five hours before you ever get the car sold.

You will have to schedule times for people to come see the car, check under the hood and test drive the vehicle. You might even schedule with someone and have them no-show the appointment. Others not only want to look at the car themselves but will also request that you take the car to a mechanic that they trust for an inspection. And, most of the time, people with these type of demands are the ones who don’t close the deal! It is said that someone selling a car can optimistically expect five to ten inquiries that go nowhere before the car is sold. Let’s estimate that a total of three hours is spent meeting with people.

Add it all up and it takes approximately eight hours and about a dozen different steps to sell your car. In comparison, when you donate a car, it’s a matter of one phone call before a tow truck comes to haul the vehicle away. The car is put on auction and eventually goes to a person in need. You don’t think or worry about it until it’s time to claim your tax deduction. So, are you ready to donate your car?

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Nov 03

Selling cars can come with many challenges, especially when the current economic climate of the US is unstable. It is more important now than ever that sales managers and car salespeople around the country learn some innovative sales prospecting techniques to find buyers regardless of economic conditions.

Life events than economic events, ergo, those that need to buy a car if the economy is a good or bad. However, those that might \”want\” to buy a car, probably put it off until they see how the economy will move. The challenge is to find buyers and buyers need to buy a car that you want to show them that now is the right time.

Many auto dealerships for their sales staff, which is certainly beneficial offer comprehensive automotive training. However, these difficult period of time so that the success of their dealerships to keep up, you feel that the construction of very great importance to the motor vehicle sold in sales training is also prospecting ideas.

Some of the greatest car selling tips will come from those who have been in the industry the longest. After all, they have seen the market thru good and bad, and can probably provide you with several strategies that have worked for them over the years. This is a great place to start collecting your own automotive sales training prospecting ideas.

Bring your own ideas of seasoned professionals can certainly be useful, but not the only place where you should consider. Go to court and obtain lists of families who are just unloading bankruptcy is a major source of lead and there will be probably in the market for a new car very soon. Divorce decrees are also great places to pick up leading to those who will or who are in the market now.

Of course there are other places to find plenty of good leads as well. With gas prices being as high as they are, your service department manager has probably seen a few customers who are not to happy with their recent gas mileage. These leads are golden. First, because they are customers who have already bought with you and who have continued their relationship with you, and secondly because you can put them in a position to save a lot of money by purchasing a newer, more fuel efficient vehicle.

Another great place to look for prospecting purposes to the police report, with the recent losses that have been totaled in the details of the cars is. These new vehicles and a lot of people are going to need soon, if you can likely they are first, some additional sales, you will be able to clean every quarter.

Of course these are just a few of many automotive sales training prospecting ideas. Upon creation of your own training program to provide to your sales staff, I am sure that even more ideas will surface, but this should get the gears pumping in the right direction. Sales isnat about what happens, itas about what you make happen.

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Nov 01

Recently, it seems like the oil barons are out to empty our wallets. Gas prices have gone up threefold, along with everyday necessities, while our economy slows to a crawl. Most people are just trying to keep their heads above water, and need to learn some simple methods to improve gas mileage.

There are several ways to help improve gas mileage, many of them are effective, and others don’t make much of a difference. It can be difficult trying to wade through them all, so I have researched and compiled the most common techniques people are using to improve gas mileage in their cars, so I could pass them on to you.

First off, change your engine oil frequently, and get a tuneup. Nearly everyone knows that if your car is running properly, it will expend less energy than if it is bogging down because of mechanical problems. Basic things like installing a new air filter, changing cracked hoses, and regular oil and oil filter changes using the right weight oil with friction reducers can all improve gas mileage.

Another thing that works well, is getting rid of extra weight in your car, like luggage racks that can create resistance, and decrease your MPG. Keeping your tires at maximum air inflation can also help decrease resistance. Even if the the MPG gain is fairly small, every little bit helps!

You can improve gas mileage by learning to curb your wild side, and drive at sedate speeds. Keeping your car at a steady 55 mph on the highway can up your gas mileage by as much as 25%. That means no drag racing when the “man” isn’t looking! You can also gain a whopping 14% in MPG just by using your cruise control.

Also, resist the impulse to drive like a maniac, like constantly slamming on your brakes or quickly accelerating. All that does is burn up valuable fuel and waste your dollars. The same goes for excessive idling. If you have a long wait at a drive through, or at the bank, shut your car down. Cutting back on unnecessary idling has been shown to improve gas mileage by as much as 19%. That is a pretty darn big savings if you think about it, just for remembering to do something simple like shut your car down instead of idling.

So many simple methods to improve gas mileage, and not enough space to cover them all! Just implementing even one of these can help you save money.

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Nov 01

Advance auto part coupons are a an effective way to save expenses on the frequent maintenance for your car. This maintenance is something you have to do anyway, so looking for and using coupons may only be a profit for you.

Here are few ways of finding and using advance auto part coupons

Save Coupons As You Locate Them.

Coupons are being mailed to us from time to time. Most of the time it contain coupons or flayers from local malls, and be sure to include coupons from auto part stores. save these kind of advance auto part coupons, Even if it is a part you did not need at the end of the day, and you discard the coupon when it expires, the worst that can happen is that the coupon will fill up up some space on your refrigerator or in your locker for sometimes.

Best thing that might occur, of course, is that you find the coupon at just the best period to save cost on something important you must do anyway . some of the auto parts that you can get advance auto part coupon on are ;alternators, air filter etc.

Ask Your favorite Auto Part Store

Check with your choice auto repair shop. If you have a favorite website you usually purchase your car parts from, do not go some other store just because you have the coupon. There is a reason why that site is your favorite, and you might end up being displeased if you purchase your auto part someplace else. Instead, make enquiries with your choice site and see what offers they are running. They may have flayers with their recent coupons in the store, so they may give the special offers to buyers when they ask, particularly loyal returning customers like you. Or they may be able to inform you how you can get your hands on their specific coupons online, in the local paper, or in a mailing they sent out recently.

There is also another possibility you may look at. Sometimes one site will honor another store’s advance auto part coupons, just to get (or keep) you as customer, But this is a very rear occasion i must say.

Go For The Coupons Now

There are a lot of informations on the internet if you find yourself in need of a specific advance auto part coupon. For instance, sites such as ValPak gives a searchable coupon database. You just print the coupons you need, and take them with you when you go.

Buying auto parts can be costly, so is better to search for all possible methods to lower cost. A smart method to lower cost is to put to good use advance auto part coupons for expenses you’ll have one way or another. I hope these suggested methods have given you some ideas oh how and where you can save money on ordering auto parts.

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Oct 31

Why does the U.S. Gear D-Celerator not bolt to the back of the turbocharger like other brands?
All exhaust brakes are designed to enhance the driving experience by giving the operator the added security of braking assistance. The difference is in how the unit is engineered. Will the exhaust brake interfere with the operation of the vehicle’s other systems? The turbo-mounted exhaust brakes offered restrict exhaust flow by 25%. This is because the stock pipe (or casting) they remove behind the turbo is empty, but the replacement exhaust brake casting has parts in it.First, lets look at how much power the turbo compressor is using.

What is a turbocharger?
A turbocharger is really a mechanical device that is designed to pressurize air. We most commonly think of a turbocharger being applied to automotive use, so that is how we will describe it, but there are other uses for turbos that vary slightly in design. Think of a turbo as two fans that are connected to each other by a shaft. Exhaust gases coming out of the engine drive one fan, called a turbine wheel.Answer: The e-Ram is a distant cousin of the full blown turbo or supercharging system which employs a centrifugal impeller that must run all the time.

What is a “silencer ring”?
A silencer ring is a metal baffle placed into the turbocharger inlet to reduce whistle from the turbocharger. It is installed in Ram truck engines at the request of Chrysler. The silencer ring has no effect on engine output, EGT, or boost levels. Removal: Remove the flex hose from the front of the turbo that goes to the breather.A silencer ring is a metal baffle placed into the turbocharger inlet to reduce whistle from the turbocharger. It is installed in Ram truck engines at the request of Chrysler. The silencer ring has no effect on engine output, EGT, or boost levels.

How does a Magna Charger supercharger compare with a turbocharger?
All forced induction devices increase air pressure and density in the intake manifold by pumping more air than the engine would use without it. This concentrated charge of air results in a more powerful combustion stroke in the engine’s cylinders, resulting in improved performance over naturally aspirated vehicles. A supercharger is connected directly to the crankshaft by a belt; unlike a turbocharger, which is driven by exhaust gases.First of all, there are a couple different types of superchargers (positive displacement and centrifugal). The most popular these days seems to be the centrifugal supercharger which is basically the same design compressor as a turbocharger compressor. These compressors both increase in airflow and efficiency with impeller RPM’s. (Which basically means that doubling the impeller RPM doesn’t double the airflow, it increases the air flow exponentially.Every month I hold a Keyword Clinic teleseminar. It’s usually on the third or fourth Tuesday of the month.

What is the difference between a Supercharger and a Turbocharger?
First of all, there are a couple different types of superchargers (positive displacement and centrifugal). The most popular these days seems to be the centrifugal supercharger which is basically the same design compressor as a turbocharger compressor. These compressors both increase in airflow and efficiency with impeller RPM’s. (Which basically means that doubling the impeller RPM doesn’t double the airflow, it increases the air flow exponentially.Every month I hold a Keyword Clinic teleseminar. It’s usually on the third or fourth Tuesday of the month. The Clinic costs $24.95, however I offer Free to subscribers of the Keyword TurboCharger. During the Clinic, you can ask me any question you want, and you can listen to everyone else’s questions. We talk about Google and Marketing news, and answer a LOT of questions. We make a recording of the clinic available to attendees after the clinic, too.

What is a “silencer ring”?
A silencer ring is a metal baffle placed into the turbocharger inlet to reduce whistle from the turbocharger. It is installed in Ram truck engines at the request of Chrysler. The silencer ring has no effect on engine output, EGT, or boost levels. Removal: Remove the flex hose from the front of the turbo that goes to the breather.

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Oct 30

Your car is an amazing collection of working parts. From the simple Model T to the computer controlled modern car, there have always been two enemies of engines. They are heat and friction.

As any car owner well knows, lubricant is the best tool for fighting the ravages of friction and heat. This lubricant is, of course, better known as motor oil and it performs a vital function that keeps your car on the road.

Oil will only perform for so long under the stressful conditions found in the engine of a modern car. This leads us to the question of how often you should change the oil in your car.

The oil change mantra has been so ingrained into our head that we all know it. We must change our oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. None of us know why this is. Most would be unhappy to learn it is just a marketing slogan!

As with many things we know, the 3 and 3 rule is wrong. It is just marketing with no basis in fact. Every car performs differently and does different tasks. This means there is a different guideline for each of them.

The simple truth is there is no one standard mileage or time period that should be used for oil changes. A big Ford truck simple runs differently than a Honda Civic. The oil in the truck will need to be changed well before the oil in the Honda.

Still, we need some type of guideline right? Well, you have one. For men, this will be painful. Yes, we will have to read directions. In the owners manual for the car, we can find the information for the specific needs of our vehicle.

You can expect to find a recommendation regarding the miles and time period for the oil change in the manual. There should also be a recommendation on the weight of oil and specific oil brand that should be used.

Now pay attention. The miles and brand of oil are important, but the information on the weight of oil to be used is absolutely critical. You can get the miles and brand wrong, but do not get the weight wrong under any circumstances.

This also brings us to the issue surrounding the types of oil you can buy. Synthetic oils are all the rage and for a good reason - the work! Depending on the vehicle, they can last 15,000 miles or more between changes.

When it comes to motor oil, I actually have a favorite brand. Mobil 1 is something I highly recommend and have had recommended to me by auto mechanics. It is more expensive, but I have never had engine problems using it.

Stop throwing away money by unnecessarily paying for oil changes ever 3,000 miles. Give your owners manual a read and follow those directions. You will undoubtedly save some serious money.

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Oct 30

Buying a car, and buying auto insurance go hand in hand. You can’t legally have one without the other! When purchasing insurance, we go over our policy, checking for monthly price, co pay, all of the things we think will be required to cover us should something bad happen. We want to walk away feeling confident in our protection.

People tend to trust those in business, we follow blindly their directions and commands giving no thought to possible problems! After all, this person is a professional right? This especially applies with auto insurance. We cling to our policy, believing it to be the best without realizing the possible pitfalls.

Some people buy car insurance as it is required by law. What people generally do is they log on to the internet and obtain cheap car insurance quote. They compare these quotes and buy a cheap car insurance policy for themselves. They do not go into the details and just remain ignorant about the vital aspects of their insurance policy.

One of the pitfalls of car insurance is that people do not read the fine print before buying car insurance. They just skim through the basics and do not try to understand the repercussions of various clauses. If a person is paying below average insurance premium then, there are chances that his car will not have proper coverage against various kinds of harm. He might be saving some premium each month but in the event of an accident or theft he will get lesser compensation. So if a person pays low premium it does not translate into more savings.

Many car insurance companies offer incentives such as road side assistance and free rental cars. You may one day be shocked to find out after an accident that the road side assistance your offered can sometimes come at a high premium! Make sure to read the fine print to see exactly what’s covered, don’t be stuck on the side of the road distressed with nowhere to go!

Those free rental car offers are appealing on the surface, but many people have learned the hard way that often this only covers the first few days after an accident, and if your car takes awhile to repair, can add up to costly rental fees!

Many times we store valuables in our car, secure with the idea that no one will touch them. How many times have you left your laptop, cell phone, or large amounts of cash in your car and walked away? Did you know that your car insurance only covers the actual car in the event of theft or damage? You could be stuck with the replacement cost of your valuables!

Remember, you get what you pay for. When purchasing auto insurance, always ask questions! Who is covered to drive my car under this policy, what exactly is covered in case of accident? Always always remember to read the fine print! It can mean the difference between a horrible nightmare, or a minor inconvenience when involved in an accident.

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Oct 29

A car alarm is as an audible security system that activates when it detects a possible break-in. But these can create a noisy disturbance which is annoying, often a false alarm and so, often ignored. There are far more technologically sophisticated vehicle security systems currently available.

In an effort to reduce the number of car thefts that have been costing billions of dollars each year, car manufactures have come up with several different technologies. Things like remotes with two-way communication will warn you when your car’s engine has been started or why the alarm has been activated. Some of the most common car security systems include glass break sensors, two-way communication remotes and passive arming.

You won’t hear an audible car alarm if you’re not near your vehicle. If your car is stolen while you’re on vacation, it may be many days before you know about it. Some car security systems will phone you or send you a text message if a break in occurs. A two-stage automatic car alarm can also tell you if the car’s engine is running, if the car is in motion, or if the car is stationary and has just been bumped into by someone.

If the vehicle is moving, you could communicate to the automatic car alarm to turn off the fuel pump, which will effectively stop the vehicle. Of course, if your car is on the back of a tow truck, stopping the engine will not prevent the theft. Many of the newer vehicle security systems are also equipped with GPS tracking devices to keep tabs on your vehicle’s location.

Preventing Car Jacking: Several models of automatic vehicle alarms include a car jacking mechanism that will enable you to turn off the gas with the press of a button. The activation switch is usually located near the seat belt release and pressing it will shut off the fuel and apply the brakes to stop the car. This feature gives you a useful option when you might otherwise be helpless. With this system, a person being car jacked can actively prevent the theft of their vehicle.

Often these systems will alert police in the event of a car jacking. Most systems are intended to quickly notify authorities that something is happening and can be invaluable in life-threatening situations. Approaching a car thief in the middle of stealing your vehicle can be very dangerous. It is better to let law enforcement handle the situation. Once your automatic car alarm informs you with a phone call or text message that the car is being stolen, you can notify the police, who will have a head start on catching the thief in the act.

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