Delilah asked:


How long do you keep oil change receipts and maintenance work receipts for your car??

OLIN

SandySansing asked:

Helpful tips for first-time car buyers

BELINDA

Mark Robinson asked:


You can find plenty of choice of vehicles these days whether it is sports utility vehicles, minivans, luxury sedans, land rovers, station wagons, and even light trucks. These vehicles seem to have flooded the US market like never before with a sharp increase in sales volume. There is severe competition among car dealers including car financiers and carmakers. As a result, the choice becomes even more difficult for the consumers among numerous brands and models.

Here are some tips that can probably help you in making an informed car purchase decision:

- Evaluate your options

It is essential to get all the important facts and information on the car based on the price range and the different features that are offered. It is a good idea to attend auto car shows where you get the opportunity of viewing different car models at the same time. You can have a look at the variety of cars with their different sizes and specifications. It is important that the car fits into your garage well so that you do not end up buying something that is does not fit into your space.

- Analyze the cost factors

As an owner of the car, you need to consider the costs associated with the vehicle. You need to pay regular insurance premiums for which you need to set aside a budget. And if you are planning to buy a car on a loan basis, then it is better to choose good finance options even before you consider buying a car. However, you also need to take into consideration the down payment, monthly installment and interest rates that will have a huge impact on your finances.

- Be an informed shopper

It always pays to have a sound knowledge about the vehicle that you are planning to purchase. You can have a list of options that best suits your needs and requirement with a bit of research on the current market price of the models. It helps to get a price quote of the car from different dealers. However, you can also check the resale value of the car from various car dealers to gauge the popularity of your vehicle.

- Check for car rebates

You can save cash with the car rebates that are offered on various models during a specified time period. Sometimes car dealers offer rebates to customers to popularize a new segment of car. At times, you can avail of financial schemes with zero percent finance offered by car finance companies. You should keep a close watch on the various schemes that are offered from time to time by car dealers.

- Read the contract carefully

It is very important to read the terms and conditions of the contract very carefully before signing it during the final purchase. Check if the sales figures quoted are the same as at the time of final negotiation between you and the car dealer. Otherwise, it is likely that you may end up paying more from your pocket with a little bit of carelessness.



LINCOLN

Neil Teasdale asked:


Is it time for a new car? Depending on where you’re located, it may be possible for you to save a substantial amount of time and money by researching and buying your new car online. Buying cars online is becoming just as normal as buying household items online. The internet is truly expanding to make it easier and cheaper for dealers to sell and buyers to buy.

Dealers love the concept; they get more visitors than the average walk in neighborhood dealership and don’t necessarily have 8 car sales people sitting around reading the paper. Their overhead drops significantly while the sales and profits soar through the roof. Consumers are starting to get more comfortable with it because a high percentage of car shoppers **** the car dealership experience. But online they can get the answers many of us are afraid to ask when we’re sitting in front of a pushy car salesman.

In some countries such as the United Kingdom, an increasing number of people are choosing to cut out shady dealerships and buy their new auto on the internet. Now you have the luxury to shop online and take your time understanding what vehicle and what price you want. As long as you choose a reputable source, it’s possible to save a substantial chunk of money by purchasing your new car online.

Remember, when you buy online you cannot test out the car you’re interested in..so only choose to buy online once you’ve driven the car (try it out at a dealership first). Even when buying online you should still do your homework and know the car you’re getting and the price it’s worth. Learn about the car you like before a dealer decides what they want you to buy, which is the car that makes them more commission, keep the ball in your court.

Use price guides such as Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book to find out the true value of the car you’re buying. This will make sure you’re not paying more then normal prices for your new or used car. A little homework will give you some confidence and most probably save you some cash.

Many online sites for car purchases work by local dealers offering you free price quotes (these can often be negotiated downwards). These sites are growing larger by the month and are being considered more and more by consumers in North America. Popular sites like Auto Trader which we took as a manual search from their catalogues at the store are now really building their online presence. Other sites like CarsDirect.com, CarMax.com and CarPrice.com are also starting to see sales rise.

Some sites will even offer a lowest price guarantee - so if you do find the car for less, they’ll match the price. Additionally, some online car buying sites will even drive the car directly to your home. If you’re in the market for a new car and really don’t like the whole dealership experience, this just might be what you’re looking for.

Serious ease and convenience not to mention you can save thousands of dollars this way. But best of all, no hard sell.



ELISA

Juble.com asked:


The latest edition of our monthly maintenance “how to” series, is going to teach us how to check the hydraulic fluid in a vehicle with a stick shift, or in other words, a manual transmission. Cars that have a manual transmission use either a cable, which connects the transmission and the clutch, or a hydraulic system, for which you need a fluid to help keep it running efficiently, and smoothly.

For the purpose of this article, we will assume that you have determined that your vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic clutch system. You can easily find out which type of automatic transmission that you have in your car, by reading your owner/operator manual, or by researching your vehicle make and model online. A browser search using the name and year of your car will return results pertaining to any question about your type of car that you want to ask.

The steps listed below will guide you through the process.



Hydraulic clutch fluid in a manual transmission.

There really is no actual “clutch fluid”, so what you are going to use will be stated in your manual. Likely, it will be either some type of automatic transmission fluid, or perhaps even a brake fluid, or motor oil, which is also designed for use in manual transmissions.

1.    Park the car on level ground, turn off the engine, and allow it to cool down.

2.    If the clutch pedal went directly into the engine compartment, this is where you would find the clutch master cylinder and clutch reservoir. At the back of the engine.

3.    You should be able to see a plastic container; it is only about an inch big. It looks similar to the brake fluid reservoir, only quite a bit smaller.

4.    The hydraulic fluid reservoir is usually made of clear plastic, so you should be able to check the fluid level without even having to open it up.

5.    If the fluid level does not reach the top of the reservoir, then you should add hydraulic fluid.

6.    If your clutch pedal is not working properly even after you add fluid, or the fluid level continues to drop, then there is probably a leak somewhere in the hydraulic line, or in the reservoir itself, or at the connection between the pedal and the hydraulic line.

In some vehicles, there is actually no place in the engine compartment where you can easily check the hydraulic fluid level. The only way a check can be accomplished is from underneath the car. If you’re not comfortable yet with your newly learned acquired maintenance skills, and your vehicle is not exhibiting any shifting symptoms, don’t worry. Just have the hydraulic fluid level checked at your next oil change.

However, if you want to give it a try, here are the steps to do it.

1.    Get under the vehicle, and locate the fill plug, it should be underneath where the clutch pedal is.

2.    Remove the plug and stick your finger in, (it won’t leak out on you because the reservoir is tilted), if you cannot feel any fluid with your fingertip, add some.

Do not try to check your hydraulic fluid level, without consulting your manual first.

 

http://www.juble.com/articles/a303-manual-transmissionhydraulic-clutch-fluid-monthly-automotive-maintenance.html



HERBERT

Gregg Hall asked:


As your life changes, your transportation needs change. When you were single that two door sport coupe was perfect for you and your girlfriend. But now you are married and your baby just turned 4, so it is time for a new vehicle. Or, perhaps the vehicle you had is just on its last leg and is headed for the garbage heap. It happens to everyone, so we all must eventually become acquainted with the techniques of shopping for a car. It can be a daunting task.

We know that retailers get their vehicles at wholesale so that they can sell for a profit. We know that they often try to slip in extras that we may not need in order to boost up the price, and they are also offering their salespeople special incentives to make money. The trick to car buying is to somehow come out, as a consumer, with a little bit better deal than if we just walked in and paid whatever the salesperson wants us to pay. There is a little room for bargaining, and we all need to learn how to use that room.

Smart consumers take the time to learn the tricks of vehicle buying and selling, so that they are prepared for the onslaught of the talented car dealer. They speak their own language, so you need to tap into that lingo, learn it for yourself, and use it to talk the salesperson into a better deal for you and your family. Where can you go to learn that language? Is it better just to try and find a good friend to go with you, someone who knows a lot about cars?

While it often helps sometimes simply to bring a strong willed friend with you to the car dealership, here is a guide that you can read beforehand and bring along with you as well, it’s kind of like the armor you put on before heading into the arena.

Our guide will help you to learn how to spot scams from salespersons, what the best time of the year is to purchase a vehicle, how to get a good buying price, how to finance your automobile, and how to negotiate the opening price. Reading through this guide will give you the tools necessary to talk confidently about your purchase with the salespeople at the car dealership, and give you a better chance of getting a car that will meet your needs without crashing your budget.

So many people are turned off by talking to car dealers, but it is important to remember that they are simply trying to make a living just like you are. Buying a car does not have to be intimidating or unpleasant. This guide will show you how to avoid unpleasant problems, and show you how to have a little fun while you shop.



MARVIN

jeremy W asked:


I am looking to buy a car on yahoo and have found one. The seller wants to use Yahoo! Premium to deal with the transactions and everything. I have tried researching it on google but cant really find any information on how Yahoo actually deals with the transaction or even if it does. If anyone can give me any information or even just a link to a site that gives info on it. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

GWENDOLYN

Mr. Hat asked:


I have heard two arguments about the most economical way to buy cars over a life time. I’ve heard that if you buy a new car, never trade it in and drive it until the end of its natural life, you’ll end up saving the most money in repairs. I’ve also heard that always buying slightly used cars will end up saving you the most money, (though you have to replace them sooner since they have less shelf life.) Are either of these theories true?

ALEXIS

Stacey Wilson asked:


For months, every driver and car owner in the United States and in the rest of the world was suffering from really high gas and fuel prices. Because of this, almost everybody was trying to cut back from using their vehicles and would rather find alternative ways of traveling from one destination to another.

However, it seems like the upward trend of gas and fuel prices has already reached its peak and is now starting to decline. With such a trend going on, many companies who do offer automotive parts and other services are now hoping that the drivers would go back to their usual habits. And in this line, the companies would also be benefiting from such for more drivers on the road would also mean more revenue for companies and businesses who offer auto parts like Audi car parts and auto services like repairs.

The NPD Group, one of the auto industry’s leading company on that provides information on consumer and retail, does say that come the following year, businesses who offer auto services like maintenance and repair are much likely to suffer from low income if people do not go back to their normal driving habits. Of course, if a person does not use his vehicle that often and his vehicle only gets a couple in his mileage, then maintenance would also not be done much. However, with frequent use, that is when these businesses that offer car maintenance get in more revenue.

David Portalatin is the director of industry analysis for the NPD Group. And with the changing trends, he does offer, “Spending on vehicle appearance could be a real bright spot in the market in 2007. Companies might consider offering product bundles and/or service packages that cross-promote appearance and maintenance items to make the most of the appearance oriented consumer purchase occasion.” However, he also does have a piece of advice for those in the auto business: “Another option could be to ensure when consumers visit a retailer or service outlet for repairs, that they are also cross-sold maintenance products or services to capture more unperformed maintenance.”



YOUNG

Answerer asked:


A friend of mine seems to be having a lot of maintenance on his car, I’d like to know if anyone thinks this is excessive, over 6 years he spent $4800 in maintenance taking the car to the
dealer. Is this excessive or normal?

I am purposely not stating the type of car, as I want a general answer. What are your first-hand experiences or what do you think in general?
The car was bought brand new in 2001 for $20,000.

HOUSTON