Auto | Rugged Wheels

Getting the Most Out of Your Old Automobile

To get the most out of your old automobile requires getting regular maintenance and operating your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s standards. Here are three ways to get the most out of your old car.

1. Get Regular Oil Changes

Getting regular oil changes is perhaps the most important thing you can do to maintain the life of your old automobile. Most car manufacturers recommend getting an oil change every three months or every 3,000 miles. Follow this guideline to maintain the life of your engine and to prevent corrosion. When the oil in your vehicle is not changed as recommended it loses its viscosity and lubricating properties. Since the engine is the life of a car, asking yourself “what’s my car worth?” can be determined by the quality of your engine.

2. Get Correct Grade Gas

Filling your gas tank with the recommended octane level will keep your engine running smoothly and enhance your car’s durability. The numbers 87, 89 and 92 that you see at the pump relate to the grade of octane from regular to premium. For example, if you have a BMW, regardless of age, it is a high performance automobile and requires premium 92 level gasoline. High performance vehicles in good condition are valuable and you can get free car valuations to find out the cash value of your car.

3. Maintain Heating/Cooling System

The simplest way to maintain your vehicle’s heating and cooling system is to use antifreeze or coolant. Maintaining a full level of antifreeze in your coolant reservoir will prevent the engine from overheating and not functioning normal in cold temperatures. Promptly fixing non-working air conditioner/heater will also prolong the life of your automobile.

Filed Under: Auto Tagged With: Antifreeze, Coolant, Engine, Motor oil, Vehicle

Buying the Best Car for Your Budget

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It is essential to have transportation so that you can get to work and school, but it is also expensive. This means you should be very aware of your budget so that you get a car that you will be able to afford and that will also satisfy your needs. You are going to have to do a lot of research, so get prepared for a stressful situation.

One of the first things you need to do when you are looking for a new car is to sell your old one. This means you need to determine a price and then create a listing. If you are wondering, “How can I find the value of my car?” the answer is actually quite simple. You can go online to do some research. Compare your car to similar models that are also for sale and check out the Kelly Blue Book value. You can also check out used car prices at dealership websites and other places where used cars are listed.

Once you have sold your old car, you can use that money for a down payment on your new ride. The amount of money you receive for your old car can have a big impact on your budget for a new one, so try to get as much for your old ride as possible.

The next thing you need to remember is to look only at cars that are within your budget. This will help you avoid the temptation of buying something that will put too much financial strain on your budget. Be aware of your options, too. A lease can be a great way to get into a car that you normally would not be able to afford.

Use these tips for staying within your budget when buying a new car. They will make the process a whole lot easier and you’ll be happier in the long run.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: Budget, Kelley Blue Book, Used car

From Rust To Riches

If you’ve been dreaming of a new car, it may take time to save up money, but turning your current rolling piece of junk into a shiny new vehicle can be rewarding. If you’re interested in buying a new car, but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few tips.

One option you may want to look into is trading your old car for a new car. Some dealerships allow you to sell a car to them in order to receive a new car. If you would rather sell your car to a car-buying company and use the money toward a new car, you can do that, too. This is a great idea if you’re looking to buy a new car right now, but haven’t saved up quite enough money. If you’re wondering, “How much is my car worth?” you may want to go online or visit a dealership for a quote.

Most people buy new cars by applying for a loan. If you don’t have time to save money and need a new car immediately, this is a good option. There are plenty of places where you can apply for loans that accept different credit scores.

If you aren’t able to qualify for a loan, you may want to take the time to save up for a new car. Put aside some money from each paycheck so you are constantly increasing your savings. Paying for a car with your own money can help you avoid interest fees and keep you out of debt.

Filed Under: Auto, General Tagged With: Car dealership, Jalopy, Loan

Importance of Physical Inspection on Your Car

SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: A BMW Vision Conn...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Sweet on the outside, sour under the hood is how many car stories begin and it is not until the unsuspecting customer drives home or perhaps even months down the road before he or she realizes it’s a lemon. If you are thinking of buying a new car this doesn’t have to happen to you. Physical inspections can often be done on cars before they are purchased.

Most people are primarily worried with car finance; can I afford this car? Without thinking they take a car’s condition basically at face value. This can be a costly mistake. Professionals now provide a physical inspection that takes note of oil leaks, electrical issues, tires and much more. The downside is that it takes a little time, sometimes two to three days, and inspections can be a little pricey, costing upwards of $100. However, a service like this is invaluable to those who may not know the first clue in what to look for when purchasing a vehicle.

An alternative to having a full physical inspection is simply to make an arrangement with a mechanic you trust and ask him or her to give the vehicle you desire a quick once over. Mechanics can spot things even in a glance that automobile laymen may not. A deal like this can be a more affordable way to make an informed decision. A sign that says “Used BMW’s for Sale” would get anyone’s attention and customers with the knowledge of physical inspections can shop with confidence.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: Automobile, BMW, Inspection

Driving Safely on the Highway

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Driving safely should always be the number one priority for any driver on the road today. Although there are basic safety methods that are relevant across all forms of driving, there are certain things to keep in mind depending on the kind of road you are driving on.

This is especially relevant when you are driving on a highway. Increased speed limits and long travelling distances can make highway driving a precarious situation to be in. Highway driving should be treated slightly differently to driving on suburban streets and back roads.

The most important rule is to give the road your undivided attention. This involves focusing on yourself and your own driving as well as the drivers surrounding you on the highway. People who avoid accidents are good at pre-empting what the drivers around them are about to do because they have been paying attention to them.

Make sure that you can see clearly out of all your mirrors. This will help you to see exactly where other vehicles are when you need to change lanes. Always indicate before you make a move. Many people either fail to indicate at all, or wait until they are already moving the vehicle to indicate. An indicator is there to tell the drivers around you of what you intend to do so that it doesn’t cause an accident. Always keep a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you.

Finally, don’t multi-task whilst driving. Apply your makeup before you start driving, let your cell phone go to message bank and pull off the highway if you want to have a snack.

Filed Under: Auto, Safety Tagged With: Driving, Highway, Road

Finding Out the Cause of Your Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident is a disturbing event — likely just thinking back on it shakes you up. The psychological stress is bad enough, but often car accident victims must suffer daily pain from injuries acquired during the crash. When you’re suffering and shaken and you know the other guy was the one who caused it, the last thing you want to hear is that the accident was your fault.

Sadly, this happens to many people every year. Car accidents are sudden and short-lived, and considering the trauma involved, often crucial evidence is lost during the damage to the vehicles. Let’s picture a fictional scenario: You were involved in a car accident in busy Los Angeles traffic, and you’re not entirely sure who caused the accident. You are injured and upset, your car destroyed and your debt piling up in the thousands from the medical bills, and then the bomb drops: the other person involved in the case is blaming you. Time to panic, right?

Relax. Go out and find yourself the best personal injury lawyer los angeles has to offer. Having a personal injuries lawyer will always give you an extra edge in cases like these where the actual cause of the accident is difficult to determine. Your personal injuries lawyer will not only help prove that you weren’t the cause of the crash, but he or she will always work with your personal and financial interests in mind. And in the worst case — that you turn out to actually be the cause of the accident — your personal injuries lawyer will work to minimize any penalties.

Filed Under: Auto, Safety Tagged With: Los Angeles, Personal injury, Traffic collision

The Ease of Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is a very exciting experience, but it’s one that requires a little bit of planning. If you are interested in getting behind the wheel, you’ll want to make sure you enter into a dealership with a game plan. This is where the value of a good search engine comes into play. These days the search engines are a very helpful tool in cutting out the unnecessary window shopping that can create the hassle and the labor of car shopping.

A search engine, like Canada 411, is an easy way to get a head start on what you need. The first thing you can search is the local listings of car dealers in your area. You’ll be able to get an idea of what they are offering and what, if any, negative feedback they have. The last thing you want to do is get yourself into dealing with people who are less than reputable.

In addition to finding the dealers in your area, you can begin searching for a little information about the kinds of cars you are interested in. You can look up the specs of cars as well as relevant information about their ratings and fuel efficiency. This will take the guess work out of your interaction with the dealer. You’ll go in armed with knowledge which will give you much better buying power.

Making sure you know where and what you are doing when you are shopping for a new car can make a stressful situation much easier to manage. So, get online and start finding the fuel efficient car of your dreams, then go get it and bring it home.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: Canada, Car dealership, Fuel efficiency

The Easiest Way To Find Extra Funds

One of the easiest ways to find extra money in your monthly budget is car loan refinance. Auto loan rates vary greatly from month to month unless you acquired a very low interest rate. It can be fairly easy and in your best interest to refinance your car loan to better fit your needs. This is especially true if you have a high interest payment.

Car refinancing works the same way as home refinancing, with one exception. While home loans require an appraisal because refinancing is based on equity, car loans are based on how much you need to pay off the current loan. You must take several things into consideration when contemplating car refinancing. First and foremost you should consider the rates. It does not make sense to refinance unless you will be saving money. If you have an exceptionally low rate, you should hold onto it. However, if you were unable to secure a low rate for any reason and rates have dropped, you should try to take advantage of the opportunity. Second, you should consider how much longer you have until your auto loan is paid out. If you only have a few months left, refinancing may not be the best idea. Typically, refinancing costs would cost more or at least the same if you only have a short time left on the life of the loan. Another consideration is that most lenders frown upon refinancing their own loans. But if you shop around, it is easy to find lenders willing to accommodate your needs, especially if you have a proven history of paying on time.

Regardless of how much you owe on your vehicle, if you have a high interest rate, it is in your best interest to looking into car refinancing. Making your monthly payment lower can help you pay off the car faster and help you alleviate the burden of other bills.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: Automobile, Loan, Refinancing

8 Cities With the Highest Crash Rates

In this world, everybody is always going to be on the verge of getting into an accident, no matter how carefully they may drive or how few miles they log on their commute to and from work. Unfortunately, when you get a large number of cars on the road in a relatively confined space (such as is the case for nearly every major city in the country), accidents are inevitably going to happen. Between the capricious laws of physics, the temptation to drive while under the influence, and the tendency of people to push their luck, it is a wonder anybody can go more than a few months at a time without having an accident of some kind. Let’s look at some of the most crashworthy cities in the country.

8. Jersey City, New Jersey

This city boasts a population of just under a quarter of a million people. Even being so small, it still boasts a 50.2% higher rate of accidents per driver than the national average. If you live in Jersey city and you have gone more than 6.7 years without having an accident, count yourself either good or fortunate.

7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While this city boasts almost 1.5 million people, Philly is even more dangerous, with most people getting into an accident every six and a half years on the average. While some people are obviously far better off than that, imagine what that says about the worst (or just unluckiest) drivers.

6. Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is tied with Philadelphia as far as the average number of years between accidents. At a crash rate of 54.8% higher than the national average, this is downright disturbing. Just imagine how scared the pedestrians must be.

5. Hartford, Connecticut

The average person in Hartford has an accident every 6.3 years, which is a 59.4% higher than average rate. At this rate, you might be wondering if the top rated (or perhaps bottom rated?) city for safe driving is double the average. No reading ahead now!

4. Newark, New Jersey

At a 62.9% above average nominal crash rate, Newark is . . . making Jersey City look good, which is just sad.

3. Glendale, California

For a population of under 200,000, Glendale’s 70.8% higher than average crash rate is absolutely abysmal. Every 5.9 years, there are almost 200,000 auto accidents. This must be a good city for being an auto mechanic, though, which is a persent albeit pretty slender silver lining.

2. Baltimore, Maryland

With their 79.4% above average crash rate, Baltimore is undoubtedly embarrassed.

1. Washington, D.C.

At just over half a million people, D.C.’s 5.1-year average between accidents is 195.5% of the national average. We didn’t quite get to double, but not for lack of effort.

Driving safely is never a guarantee, no matter where you live. Keep in mind that no matter where that might be, it takes at least two for most accidents to happen. Hopefully you will not be among that number, but the statistics have neither bias nor hope- just facts and aftermath. Makes you realize how important life is, and automobile insurance too.

Filed Under: Auto, Safety Tagged With: Accident, Jersey City New Jersey, Newark New Jersey

Car safety comes first

With transportation becoming need of the hour many people are taking safety of the car for granted. Cars form the base of transportation system all over the world. Safety of the cars doesn’t only means safety of the vehicle but safety of the person sitting inside it. Ignorance towards driving and safety has led to sever accidents in many places. Besides obeying traffic rules one should also buck up while driving that leads to car safety. There is a rising risk of r accidents with cases of rash driving and flouting traffic rules coming up. One should follow certain guidelines while driving cars so that they reach home safely. Fastening eat belts is the first and foremost rule of safe driving. Never ever drink and drive. This is the most important rule which is ignored mostly by the young generation of our society. Car safety means safety of many lives. In sever road accidents one can see that many people die in car crash. Driving the vehicle properly is important with regard to safe driving on roads. Getting a car insurance also helps. Car insurance saves the cost incurred in repairing the car after an accident. An insurance also warranties against cases such as loss of car. People maintaining highway safety and maintenance on new or old car ensures the safety of cars to a great extent. SUVs demand more care and safety as they are huge in size and require more maintenance than other cars. Transportation demands safety recalls warranties highway safety and maintenance of both new and old cars.

Filed Under: Auto, Safety Tagged With: Automobile, Traffic, Traffic collision