car

How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip

Angela Manning Travel , , , , , ,
How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip

Going on a road trip can be a rewarding and reinvigorating experience. Before you go, however, there are a number of things you need to do to prepare. Mainly, you need to prep your car for the long and rather grueling trip. If your car is mainly used for driving to and from work or school, then it will require some hefty preparation before hitting the long road. Here are several tips to get your car ready for an awesome road trip:

Get Your Vehicle Checked and Detailed

First of all, you need to take your vehicle to the nearest auto mechanic for a thorough checkup. There are several things to check before you hit the road. Some of these can be handled by car owners, such as checking the engine oil or examining the tire treads for wear and tear. But it’s highly recommended to have a professional mechanic take a good look at your vehicle. Tell the mechanic about your road trip and the terrain you intend to cover. Then the mechanic can examine your car and tell you if it’s ready for a road trip.

You can also get your vehicle detailed at this point, which would involve checking and cleaning the engine—a must before any road trip. You can ask your local mechanic for good car detailing options before you hit the road for weeks.

Lease a Larger Car if Needed

It’s worthwhile to stop and think if that Hyundai accent you are using to get to work every day is actually suited for a road trip across the country or in the mountains. The car you take should be able to accommodate all the people traveling. It should be spacious enough for one driver to nap while the other takes the wheel in turns. The car should be able to tackle the terrain you intend to travel. Considering these option, you might want to rent or lease a bigger vehicle just for the road trip.

For those young, wild and free at heart going on a road trip, be sure to balance out your youthful enthusiasm with temporary car insurance under 21. Better to be safe than sorry!

Change the Tires and Pack a Spare

Ask your auto mechanic to change tires to suit the terrain you plan on traveling on. Tires should be checked for wear and tear, and also for inflation levels. The tires may require deflating for certain types of rough terrain. Before driving off, you must pack a spare tire in the trunk.

Install a GPS Navigation System

Even if you are very good with directions, it’s strongly recommended to install a GPS system in your car before you go on your trip if it already doesn’t have one. You will be traveling on strange and unfamiliar roads, so you will need all the help you can get. When you go off road, keep in mind that some route information will not be available on GPS. So pack a detailed road map for info on those side roads the digital maps don’t show.

When you hit the road, you must pack an emergency toolkit, extra fuel, and a first aid kit in the trunk. Pack more tools than you usually do for everyday transport to make sure you are not stranded in the middle of your road trip.

10 Things Thieves Love to Steal from Cars

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
10 Things Thieves Love to Steal from Cars

When people think about car theft, they typically think of shattered glass, screeching tires, and a missing car. But what is a lot more common is for thieves to steal things from the inside or the outside of the vehicle rather than resorting to grand theft auto.

This is important for drivers to understand, because most people carry some very valuable items inside their car. If and when thieves strike is annoying at best and devastating at worst.

There are a number of things you can do to deflect and deter car thieves. First, however, it helps to understand what kinds of things thieves target. These are the top 10 items according to a study of more than 800,000 incident reports:

  1. Car stereos
  2. Shopping bags
  3. GPS devices
  4. Cell phones
  5. Clothing
  6. Sunglasses
  7. Vehicle badging
  8. Wallets
  9. Wheels
  10. License plate

Some of those are pretty obvious – shopping bags, wallets, cell phones. But others might come as a surprise. For instance, car stereos are still a hot target even though the technology is passé. Vehicle badging, like hood ornaments, has a surprisingly strong appeal to crooks. And car thieves are more than willing to use tools to steal a nice set of wheels.

To add insult to injury, a theft from a vehicle might also lead to a broken window, a vandalized interior/exterior, or damage to some mechanical component. The cost and consequence can extend beyond the missing item itself.

For reasons that are both obvious and obscure, drivers want to deter thieves at all costs and limit the damage if they do fall victim. Here are some strategies to safeguard your car:

Choose the Right Vehicle

Certain features of the vehicle itself can help to deter thieves. For instance, tinted windows make it harder to see if valuable items are left out in plain sight. Now obviously not every vehicle has tinted windows. So, try to think of other safety features. For example, a vehicle with a locking trunk that has no windows to see inside also helps to obscure valuables. A lockable glove box is another fantastic option. Finally, traditional keys tend to be harder to duplicate or steal than smart keys that rely on electronic signals to unlock doors or start the ignition.

Protect Valuables

If you must leave valuables inside your vehicle, try to put them on the floor where they are harder to see, such as the truck. If you don’t have a trunk, at least put your belongings under a blanket.

If you have a nice stereo unit, remove the faceplate and put it somewhere safe. If you do the same for a GPS unit, be sure the suction cups are not still stuck to your windshield and tipping off thieves that valuable are inside. Last but certainly not least, don’t attract thieves by leaving cash money sitting out or change in a cup holder. All it takes is one enticement for thieves to target your vehicle and ransack it entirely.

Park Smarter

Everyone understands how risky it is to leave doors unlocked or windows cracked, and yet almost everyone does it at some time. Make it a habit to close and lock every window and door. Better still, take anything you can’t afford to lose with you when you leave. Where you park is also important. Busy, well-lit areas attract fewer thieves and tend to have regular police presence.

Insure Correctly

You can be compensated for the cost of stolen items as long as you have the right kind of auto insurance policy. A quality auto insurance rate comparison tool makes it relatively easy to find the right kind of coverage at the best possible price. It’s still up to drivers to be diligent but being backed by good policy provides a lot of peace of mind.

Why a Used Mercedes Benz is Always a Wise Choice

Angela Manning Finance , , , , ,
Why a Used Mercedes Benz is Always a Wise Choice

If you’re shopping for a vehicle that has room for your growing family and accommodates your need for quality, speed, and style, then Mercedes Benz is an obvious contender. Combining quality engineering and luxury finishes with prestigious upgrades, the Mercedes Benz brand can be the perfect vehicle to keep your family safe and comfortable. Here are a few reasons why to choose your next vehicle as the used Mercedes Benz.  

They Age Well Compared to Other Vehicles

Unlike many other vehicles on the market, Mercedes Benz cars are made with quality materials to last a long time and maintain their value throughout. They take pride in the quality and beauty their vehicles represent, and strive to create a fine-tuned machine rather than just another automobile. For this reason, a used Mercedes Benz is often in much better shape than the average vehicle made by another automaker. Even if a Mercedes Benz was involved in an accident, the structural integrity of the vehicle remains the same.

Certified Repairs and Safety Ensure Long-Term Safety

A qualified Mercedes Benz dealership performs all of the repairs needed on the vehicle, using certified parts, to preserve the integrity of the engine and other major components. Master technicians are trained to meet our rigorous quality standards before they can even come near a vehicle. This helps to ensure that even after the vehicle has been on the road for years, it can keep your family just as safe as when it first hit the road. Many of the older Mercedes Benz vehicles on the road still have great safety features such as the anti-lock brakes, front and passenger side airbags, and drivers all over the world are confident in the safety, and quality Mercedes Benz provides.

Holds Value for Resale Down the Line

With proper care and maintenance, a used Mercedes Benz can command a high price when you are ready to sell. The popularity of the brand is global and has stayed strong for decades owing to their reputation for building reliable vehicles. This means that when you are ready to part with your car, you’ll never have trouble finding a buyer who is willing to pay the price you ask for a well-cared Mercedes Benz.

Can Accommodate the Family Without Sacrificing Style

If you love the luxury of a premium vehicle but need something that can be comfortable and practical for everyday use with kids, the Mercedes Benz line-up includes cars that can meet your needs. Their SUVs and wagons provide increased function without sacrificing the style they are known for. Even the more practical models have upgraded interiors and features that you won’t find on the average family vehicle.

If you’re looking for a used Mercedes Benz to call your own, Mercedes Basingstoke used cars is a great place to visit. You can choose from the number of models available, and book one that best befits your needs.

place to start looking. Visit our dealership today.

Protecting Your Vehicle after Your Car Warranty Expires

Angela Manning Finance , , , ,
Protecting Your Vehicle after Your Car Warranty Expires

You’ve saved up your money and made the biggest investment in your life. In other words you purchased an automobile. Whether it’s a new car or used vehicle it’s a big purchase that you need to protect.

You’ve made sure that you have good insurance coverage for your vehicle, by purchasing the type of coverage that your insurance broker recommended for your car. Your plan makes sure that no matter if you get into an accident that you caused, or are in an accident caused by someone else, or if someone breaks into your automobile, you will have insurance to cover the cost of repairing your automobile, the other person’s automobile, and any medical bills associated with the accident.

You also know that your vehicle has a vehicle warranty that covers many of the vital systems in it. This warranty is provided by the car manufacturer and lasts for what it considers an appropriate amount of time. However you’re also aware that many people find that there are key parts of their cars that are not covered under the warranty. They also find that manufacturer warranties are often not long enough to safely protect you while you own the car. Many of these parts and much of this maintenance that may not be covered over the appropriate time, can be very costly. So how do you protect yourself from paying expensive car repair costs?

A vehicle service contract

A vehicle service contract is purchased by a car owner to cover costs associated with vehicle repair, including parts, labor, and/or sales tax, for certain repairs or replacements to the car. It can insure that all parts that need to be covered as demanded by a lender based on the terms of the car financing, even if they are not covered by the manufacturer warranty, are in fact covered for the length of the loan agreement.

Companies like Accelerated Service International sell a variety of vehicle service contracts. They are also purchased as insurance for the car owner who might feel that manufacturer warranties are insufficient to cover all parts that might be susceptible to breaking.

Is a vehicle service contract necessary

In some cases your lender might demand that an additional service contract be purchased if the manufacturer warranty does not cover all of the parts that it deems susceptible to breaking. So a car owner might not have a choice as to whether he should purchase a service contract. But in the event the owner does have a choice, it is still a good decision to purchase a vehicle service contract.

Why purchase a vehicle service contract

Vehicle service contracts offer owners security against their cars having break down. Many now focus on maintenance which allows for certain maintenance of the car to be covered by the service contract. This ensures that the vehicle will be in best condition and any potential problems will be discovered early.

Vehicle service contracts also speak to help the driver deal with his car being in disrepair. Mini service contract provide roadside vehicle assistance and even loaner cars while their car is being repaired. Both these Services allow drivers to maintain their lifestyles while they car is in the shop.

Purchasing an automobile is a big decision that most of us have to make at some point in our lives. When you buy an automobile you are taking on a large responsibility for an extended period of time. Do everything you can to demonstrate that you take this responsibility seriously. Purchase a vehicle service contract.

How to Find the Right Vehicle for Your Business

Angela Manning Business , , , , ,
How to Find the Right Vehicle for Your Business

If you are running a sizable organization, you will have to soon consider buying a vehicle solely for business purposes. This is particularly important in companies where the employees are expected to constantly be on the move. Here, having to rely on taxis is not only costly, it can be time-consuming as well. If you are on the hunt for the perfect car, you know how difficult this endeavor can be. After all, you don’t have to be a car fanatic to know just how many options there are out there for you. To help you narrow down the list, here are some guidelines to stick to:

Assess the Business’ Needs

When looking for a company car, you need to assess the needs of the company and its employees. A good starting question is, how much space do you require? For instance, do your workers travel independently or do they sometimes have to journey as a group for presentations? The other thing to consider is storage space. Just how much room is there to store pamphlets, documents, and anything else your workers may need to carry with them? If you don’t need a lot of room for people or storage, you will find that a good-sized car such as the Toyota Corolla will suit your needs perfectly.

Figure Out the Budget

Of course, you will need to determine how much you are willing to spend on transportation each month. This doesn’t just refer to the amount that you need to shell out for the loan or insurance payments. It also alludes to the maintenance as well as the fuel consumption of the car. Now, if you are looking to keep this types of costs to a minimum, you should look at the Honda Accord. This vehicle is reliable, affordable, and has a decent fuel economy as well.

Consider External Factors

When choosing a vehicle, you will need to think about the environmental factors that the car will have to withstand. For instance, does the area in question experience extremes in temperature? If so, you will need to find a car that is suited to the regional conditions. The other thing to consider is the terrain that the vehicle will have to drive over each day. Is it smooth, paved roads, or does the car have to overcome rugged terrain and uneven roads? The reason that this is such an important factor is because getting a vehicle that is suitable to the right conditions will ensure that it will last longer.

Determine the Effect

To a certain extent, your business car is more than just a way to get from one place to another. It is also a style statement and a representation of your business. So, it is a good idea trying to decide just what statement it is that you want the car to make. Do you want something comfortable and relatable or are you looking for something sleek and sophisticated?

These are the elements that you will need to look at when you want to purchase a company car.

Robert Bassam – How Does a Used Car Inspection Help to Seal the Deal?

Angela Manning Finance , , , , , ,
Robert Bassam – How Does a Used Car Inspection Help to Seal the Deal?

Source

When you think about the tools most important to help life run smoothly, a car is one of the highest on the list. Cars are a key part in moving people around and having a smooth daily life. Owning one takes a bug responsibility and a cost commitment as well. When we dream of a car we tend to dream of new cars but the reality is that used cars are purchased more often and they may be a smarter choice for the majority of the population. Used cars allow for the most expensive aspects of car purchasing, their newness, to not be a factor in the price. As a result a buyer can get most of the same features of a new car in an automobile that is only a few years old but sells at a hugely reduced price compared to the new one.

Buying a used car however takes a particular set of guidelines and those seeking to do it must be cautious, because what you see is not always what you are getting. There are two routes that you can take to purchase a used car; either through a private sale or a dealer. Here is how you prepare for each:

Buying From a Dealer

When you purchase a used car from a dealership you get a real business with professionals in the business of selling cars. Used car dealers like Robert Bassam, make a living of supplying customers with used cars that they happily drive for years. If you are considering buying from a used car dealership, the most important things you need to do are to check the reputation of the dealership. You can do this online and look for feedback from customers. If they are happy about their purchase the dealership’s service there is a good chance that you will be as well. Is you find a dealership that does not market themselves online or that does not allow customers to leave public comments, this is a warning sign of potential trouble.

Also it is important to check the range of fees added to the price of the car from the dealership. These fees are sometimes high and need to be negotiated out of the purchase price. Look to do this at the closing when they are really motivated to make the sale. You can easily save yourself hundreds of dollars by understanding what things can be eaten by the dealer.

Buying From a Private Seller

When you purchase from a private seller you run a lot of risks and you need to be extremely cautious. First make sure you do not meet anyone at night and always take along someone with you. Finally when you agree to a purchase, never bring cash and do the sale at a bank if possible. Here is a checklist for you to put to the owner of the vehicle:

  • Who is the listed owner of the car?
  • Did you buy the car new? If not how many owners has the car had?
  • Do you have a vehicle report for the car?
  • Has the car been in any accidents?
  • Why are you selling the car?

What is as important as the answers you get, is the demeanor of the seller when he is answering the questions. Does he seem truthful? Is he willingly giving you the information you request? Do his answers make sense? Any sketchy answers is a warning sign that something may not be right and you should abandon the purchase.

If you are thinking of purchasing the car, you should hire a licensed mechanic to do a full inspection of the car. Many cars that look great have severe underlying issue that can cost you thousands of dollars. Only a certified mechanic will know what to look for and be able to give you expert advice on what you may be getting yourself into. Pay this persona and take his advice no matter how much you love the car. If there are repairs that need to be made and you still want the car, size them up and negotiate these repairs into the purchase price.