Buying a car is a huge investment. Whether a brand new or a second hand car, you still have to shell out a tidy sum to hopefully get the car that meets your specifications.

Second hand cars can be purchased by going to the local dealer, looking at the classified ads or checking out the various websites that allow a person to search and buy a car online.

There are two reasons why used cars are cheaper. The first is that cars once purchased and driven off a lot immediately depreciate. Annually, these cars lose about 20% in value making it easy for you to buy a second hand car almost at half the original price.

Another reason is that it is hard to buy a car and pay the full payment up front. By acquiring the services of a financial institution such as a bank, a person can pay off the loan through monthly installments. Unfortunately, some people have failed to honor that commitment which leaves the financial institutions no choice but to have the car repossessed.

For the bank to avoid storing the many cars that have been repossessed and make up for the lost money, these cars are auctioned off immediately which make it easy for some lucky people to buy fairly new cars and prevent being taken advantage of by car dealers.

Before buying a car, it is best to think about the kind of car you are willing to spend for and the options that come with it. By doing some research and checking out various dealers, you will be able to pick the right car and get the best deal.

You should also check the history of the car. This can be checked by going online and typing in the vehicle identification number or VIN. This can help verify the accidents the car has been in, if the car was reported stolen and the previous owner of the vehicle. It can also check if the mileage was rolled back.

Most cars have a maintenance record. The buyer must ask the dealer to see it and if it is not available, then you should contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done.

The car should also be test driven on the road at various conditions and checked by a trusted and reputable mechanic just to be safe that the car you will buy is road worthy.

Most important of all, you should ask about the warranty. If there are some things not covered by it, it is best to get a service contract to be safe.

About the author:

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

Don’t let the cops bully you around. Learn how you can legally fight your speeding tickets.

If you’ve got a speeding ticket you have two choices: pay the fine, or fight the ticket.

After reading Case Dismissed, you can be sure I’ll fight from now on. The costs of a ticket are considerable. Of course, there is the initial fine. But when you add in insurance surcharges over the next couple of years, and the points on your license, the final cost of a ticket is considerable.

Case Dismissed is a 50 page eBook in pdf format that gives you practical strategies to fighting your ticket in court. It provides information for people caught speeding by radar, laser, airplane and pace car.

The premise behind Case Dismissed is interesting: attack the evidence, not the police officer. This has the benefit of being far easier to manage in court when you will likely be fairly nervous. Case Dismissed outlines what questions to ask, and provides the likely answers so you won t be surprised.

Heres what one customer had to say, “Thank God for your amazing book. I had less than 10 hrs to prepare and it saved my butt.

Basically, I downloaded your book into my brain over 3 hrs by taking intensive notes. Then developed my strategy from my evidence. I used the strategy from pages 34-36 and it worked to a T! I found a discrepancy in the tuning fork serial numbers. One tricky bit was the judge would not accept the evidence without me testifying. It was worth it.

I asked for case dismissed, the judge took 1/2 hr to dismiss my case. The police prosecutor was spitting tacks!”

Thank you,
Alvin Crosby

There is surprisingly little you have to know, and Case Dismissed lays it out in an organized, logical fashion. The book states that you can print out the notes and questions, and bring them with you to read from them. So you don t need to memorize anything.

After reading Case Dismissed, I feel quite prepared to fight any speeding ticket and quite confident I will win. And in case I don t, the book comes with a money-back guarantee.

There is also a free download by the same author called: BUSTED: Tips to Avoid and Fight Your Speeding Ticket. This 25 pager is loaded with advice on avoiding speed traps, and what to say and how to act if you get pulled over to minimize your chances of getting a ticket. It also outlines many excuses that people have heard, but that do not generally work. You don t want to rely on these!

Overall, I can recommend Case Dismissed, especially if you have a speeding ticket or a lead foot. And anyone who exceeds the speed limit should get a free copy of BUSTED for the information it contains.

About the author:

Kevin Emswiler is a freelance writer who has published many articles online and off.
For more information on Case Dismissed, visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb158196.htm

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

It always happens at the worst times! You need to know how to change a tire even if you have an auto club membership. Depending on where you get a flat, there may not be a phone nearby to call a tow truck. Let’s take is step by step and always remember to read your owners manual, there will be detailed instructions relating to your car there. I should mention also a few tips for getting to the side of the road safely if you have a blowout on the road.

Stay calm, do not panic
Slowly take your foot off of the gas and let the vehicle coast to a stop.
Do not make any sudden braking or steering actions.
Put your flashers on to alert other drivers.
Now that you are safely off of the road.
Step 1: Make sure you are on firm level ground and away from traffic. If you are not, then try to drive to a better spot, but only if you can do it safely. Avoid going back onto the road and into traffic.
Step 2: Set your emergency brake and put the car in Park or 1st gear if you have a manual transmission. Make sure the engine is turned off.
Step 3: Locate the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. These are usually located in the trunk underneath the carpet on cars. Trucks usually have the jack and lug wrench behind the seat or under the hood, with the spare tire under the bed.
Step 4: Typically there are instructions printed on the jack or somewhere near the storage compartment. Read these instructions, they will tell you where to jack the vehicle and any special steps you will need to take.
Step 5: First remove the hubcap or wheel cover. The lug wrench often has a flat end, which you can use to pry off the cover. If not, a screwdriver will work just fine.
Step 6: Before you jack the car up you will want to break loose the lug nuts. The weight of the car will keep the wheel from spinning and allow you to apply more force to the nuts. You do not want to completely remove the lug nuts yet…. just break them loose. Once the lug nut begins to move, STOP and move onto the next one. I often carry a small pipe, which will fit over the lug wrench. This pipe can provide additional leverage and allow you to get those stubborn lug nuts off. Always remember righty tighty, lefty loosy. Turn the lug nuts left or counter clockwise to loosen.
Step 7: Now it’s time to jack up the car. Make sure you know where the manufacturer has placed jacking points by reading the owners manual or the instructions near or on the jack. Most cars will have a reinforced lip where the jack can be placed. If you can not locate this, look for a solid portion of the frame to jack on. Make sure the jack is on firm level ground and start jacking. Take it slowly and only go as far as you need to get the wheel off.
Step 8: The wheel is off the ground and it’s time to remove the lug nuts. Use the wrench or your fingers to remove the nuts. Slowly take the wheel off and set it to the side.
Step 9: Get the new wheel and put it on the car. Tighten the lug nuts as tight as you can without the wheel spinning. Don’t worry about getting the nuts super tight, as you will do the final tightening when the car is off of the jack.
Step 10: Let the car down off of the jack and get your lug wrench. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern if there are five nuts. Start with one lug nut and skip the next one until they are all tight. If you have 4 nuts, just tighten the opposite nut from where you started and then the remaining two in any order.
Step 11: Replace your wheel cover or hubcap and clean up the jack, lug wrench and blown tire. If your spare tire had air in it, you should be able to continue your journey.
Finally: Remember if you have a temporary spare tire (AKA doughnut) you can only drive a few miles to a service station and usually not over 50 MPH.

About the Author

Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair