The Last Great Independent Used Car Site
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Use this UsedCars.biz handy checklist when you are test driving a used car. If some of the items below seem too “picky” for you, skip them: but remember that little annoyances today can grow into huge disturbances tomorrow.
_____Acceleration should be smooth (not necessarily rapid).
_____Pinging may indicate a needed tune-up or may be poor fuel. Some Read more . . .
Use this UsedCars.biz handy checklist when you are inspecting a used car. If some of the items below seem too “picky” for you, skip them: but remember that little annoyances today can grow into huge disturbances tomorrow.
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_____Look for unmatched paint or poor body fit (may indicate collision damage).
_____Check for body filler (use a refrigerator magnet on suspicious spots, unless body panel is not made of metal to begin with).
_____Look for rust all around, especially at wheelwells, under doors, in trunk.
_____Musty smell or dampness in trunk may indicate collision damage. Read more . . .
The sheer variety of vehicles available from so many manufacturers can easily overwhelm an unprepared shopper. Below, we tackle as many of the issues, in as much detail as we think you can stand!
• How much car do you really need?
• Budget early
• Research insurance costs
• Color and trim
• Lease or buy?
• Choosing a dealer
• Negotiating
• Saving money
• Negotiating psychology
• Financing and contracts Read more . . .
Are you afraid you missed the boat on refinancing your auto loan, because interest rates are now on the rise? Well, it’s not too late to enjoy some savings, especially if you have a long (four-, five- or six-year) loan from an earlier, high-interest rate time. But the clock is ticking, and the Fed could call for a boost in interest rates at any time.
Last year, we revealed the savings the average consumer could realize from a well-conceived automotive refinance as interest rates edged lower. Now, with the signals clearly indicating that higher interest rates are ahead, Read more . . .
Recently car dealers have been getting a bad rap on some local and national news shows. The latest complaint: Dealers actually make a profit when they sell financing and arrange car loans for customers buying vehicles from them. The audacity! Next some news program is going to report that grocery stores make a profit selling milk, and drug stores make a profit selling medicines. Gosh, how can we let abuses like this happen here?
A group calling itself the Consumer Federation of America suggests that car dealerships practice questionable business ethics when Read more . . .