Preparing your car for the winter

With the winter just around the corner this is a good time to prepare your vehicle for the oncoming snows,frosts and what
ever gets thrown at us.

oils and fluids:
Changing fluids on a regular basis is perhaps the most ecinomical way to look after your vehicle,changing the engine oil
every 3-4000 miles,the engine coolant should be diluted 50% with water and the gearbox every couple of years.
A check on a regular basis should also be made of the battery level radiator,steering fluid and the brake levels,
also important with the spray from the salt laden roads is the windshield washer.

Preventing rust:
The best way to prevent rust is to have the vehicle wax oiled from new with the salt from the road attacking any open rust
spot making it a major problem in the future

Tires:
A must is to check on your tires before any bad weather hits , check alignment and tire pressure,not forgetting to rotate them
every 5000 miles or so.Keeping a set of snow chains in the trunk is a good idea,and if it gets to bad many people have snow tires fitted.

Brakes:
Just as important is having reliable brakes,check the brake fluid regularly making sure the brake pads do not wear down scoring the brake drums/discs

Lights:
With bad weather comes dark nights ,so having all the relevant lights working is a must.

Maintain your vehicle regularly to provide years of service with better performance and safety.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Whats Best For You ,Petrol,Diesel or LPG ?

LPG:
The newcomer to this is LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) this produces less emissions than the other two but consumption is worse.although it is
possible to convert most cars to LPG with some manufacturers producing dual-fuel vehicles,which are designed for LPG with a petrol back-up.
LPG has been seen as a cheaper alternative to Gas & Diesel but it is not as clean as people think with greenhouse gases being released as it is a fossil based fuel.

DIESEL:
Diesel engines have always been seen as slow and noisy, however technology has seen some advances in recent years; for instance Honda has developed their own diesel engine that is designed to be quiet, refined, clean and with instant response – fighting against all the old stereotypes.
It turns out that diesel engines are more economical than petrol ones,with direct-injection being the best on fuel economy.There was a time when diesel
was significantly cheaper than petrol,but now diesel is dearer than petrol.

Petrol:
This fuel type has been the staple form in the car world for years.Petrol engines are generally quiet and smooth, they are responsive and their performance
is good and although being a cleaner fuel than diesel it emits 10% (approx) more carbon monoxide.At the moment there is no single source of fuel which can
compare with petroleum in terms of its instant bulk availability.

On reflection it seems to be the vehicle owners own personal preference which type of fuel thye go for.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Road Trip Preperation For Your Car

Alot of people have concerns about taking their cars on road trips, especially if their cars are getting on in years or mileage. Amazingly long trips are actually easier on your car than day-to-day driving -- but a breakdown far from home can really ruin your fun. A few simple checks will stave off many common problems. As with most things, it's best to start early.
Two to four weeks before you go, get any major repairs done. If your car needs a major repair or maintenance, do it at least one month before you go. That will allow plenty of time for any problems related to the repair to surface.
Check the coolant. If your destination is a lot warmer or cooler than home, check (or have your garage check) the coolant's mixture of antifreeze and water to make sure the car is properly protected. If the coolant needs to be changed, do it (or have it done) now.
Check the tires. Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure. Low pressure can cause extra heat buildup that can lead to a puncture at high speeds. Follow the instructions for checking tire pressure in your owner's manual. While you're down there, check the tire tread. Place a penny, edge on, in one the grooves of the tire. If you can see the space above Abe's head, it's time for new tires. Also check the tire pressure,if you have the correct pressure this will save you money on gas.
Check the spare tire. Make sure the spare is fully inflated and that the jack, wrench, and other tire-changing bits are in the trunk. If your car has wheel locks, make sure you have the adapter for the lock-nut.
Check the glovebox. Check for the owner's manual and registration. If the manual is missing, consider ordering a replacement before you go. Some automakers have manuals in PDF format on their web sites. Check the registration to make sure it won't expire during your trip. Consider carrying it in your wallet in case the car is stolen.
One week before you go get any scheduled maintenance done. If you think your car is going to come due for an oil change or other maintenance during your trip, get it done now.
Clean out your car. The more stuff you haul, the more fuel you burn. Clean mercilessly. If you're going to the Grand Canyon in the summer, do you really need those snow chains? My rule: If in doubt, take it out. If you miss anything in the next 6 days before your trip, you can always put it back.
Check the air filter. A clogged air filter reduces fuel economy. They're inexpensive and easy to change. If your current air filter has been in the car for more than 10,000 miles, it's time to clean it or change it.
Buy a road atlas. If you don't have a current road atlas, get one. Hours and hours of expressway can get boring. Getting off the beaten path can add an entirely new dimension to your trip.
Join AAA. If you don't have some sort of roadside assistance program, consider joining AAA. They'll tow your car if it breaks, change the tire if it goes flat, jump start the car if the battery dies, open the doors if you get locked out, and give you gas if you run out. An AAA membership will usually pay for itself the first time you run into trouble -- plus you'll get discounts at some roadside motels and restaurants.
One day before you goWash and vacuum your car. Before you pack, give your car a good scrubbing and vacuuming. Clean cars always seem to run better. Besides, who wants to travel in a dirty car?
Fill the gas tank. Might as well get it out of the way now. Besides, gas is often more expensive on the road.
The day of your tripLook at what you've packed. Open your suitcases and take one last look -- do you really need all that stuff? If there's anything you can do without, then do without.
Load evenly and carefully. If you're carrying lots of heavy objects, position them forward in the trunk and distribute the weight evenly side to side. Cars don't have unlimited carrying capacity, so don't overload.
Relax! Unexpected things can happen, but if you've followed these guidelines, you've headed off a lot of potential problems.

Dave Burton
http://www.bargain-motors.com/

Cash or Loan For Your Next Car

Paying cash for a car vs taking out a loan when purchasing a vehicle is a big decision and involves a lot of money. There's always the questions of whether to go used or new, buy or lease, finance through the dealership or the bank or to even pay cash and avoid payments. On the matter of automobile loans it seems like they've really become a part of everyday life; it would almost seem strange not to have a monthly payment. We've become use to the idea of a loan that allows us to enjoy a car sooner than we might have been able to. But how much do we pay for that convenience?So what does taking a 5%, 60-month loan actually costs you over 5 years:With $5,000 down payment with a loan of 5% over 5 yrs equates to a loan balance of about $15,000 = $2,025 in interestWithout the down payment and a starting balance of $20,000 = $2,685 in interestNot a huge difference, but the down payment dropped the monthly payment by $100. In both situations, the cost of the loan would run about 13.5% of the loan value. You can think of that 13.5% as a hidden tax on the car, which is more than the sales tax and other fees that get tacked on. Over a lifetime those interest payments can really add up. Aside from leasing, buying a car outright is your only other option. Why don't we buy new cars with cash more often?Because we are in a "I want it now" world,you could pay $330 dollars each month into a high-yield savings account for 5 years and buy a truck without getting a loan and saving yourself over $2000 dollars and earning interest on your deposit in the process. So why don't you? Mostly because people want a new vehicle sooner than later. You could even have replaced your car with a newer used car .The trade-in acting as a down payment is what keeps this from being outrageous, actually these numbers don't seem too bad. $21,500 in interest payments over a lifetime isn't too big of a deal. To accomplish the task of providing our own financing we have to delay our gratification and save. For the 5 years prior to a car purchase, we deposit the total cost of $60 into a high yield savings account every month, about $333 for a $20,000 car. The interest earned on the savings earmarked for a new car can be transfered to other investments for additional growth after the purchase. So by delaying the first car purchase and continuing that discipline we've saved $21,500 in interest payments, or have we?What would happen if we took every dollar we would be giving to a bank in interest and invested it in a Roth IRA (all contributions and earnings can be pulled out tax-free during retirement). $21,500 over 50 years is $430 a year, $36 a month. That's money we'd normally be giving away so why not invest it instead. Let's say our IRA starts with a $0 balance, grows at 8% and we don't worry about inflation yet.Amount invested = $21,500 Simple earnings = $43,860 Compund earnings = $201,099 Total account value after 50 years = $266,459 .This tho is a hypothetical situation, but the outcome and general idea are pretty clear. By delaying a car purchase and avoiding interest payments we are presented with the opportunity for incredible growth over the long term. Even without investing the difference you can save a good chunk of change. This scenario doesn't take into consideration a longer period between purchases or the possibility of buying used cars, both of which would allow more income to be directed towards investments.This is not the absolute best way to purchase cars, but the hidden costs of automobile loans aren't apparent until you crunch some numbers.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

America's Most Fuel Efficeint Cars

The #1 most efficeint car is the Toyota Prius which returns 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway these cost $22,000.

#2 is the Honda Civic Hybrid which gives you 40 mpg city driivng and 45 mpg cruising the highway these will set you back $23,650.

#3 is the Smart ForTwo car this gives you 33 mpg around the city and 41 mpg on the highway costing just $12,235.

#4 VW Jetta Sportswagen TDI (29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway) $23,870
#5 Toyota Camry Hybrid (33 mpg city, 34 mpg highway) $26,150
#6 Toyota Yaris (29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) $12,205
#7 Mini Cooper (28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway) $19,200
#8 Honda Fit (27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) $14,750
#9 Chevrolet Aveo5 (27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway) $12,625
#10 Nissan Versa (27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) $16,100

Dave Burton

www.bargain-motors.com

How to Deal with a Broken Windshield

Getting a broken windshield is not only a nuisance, but could also be dangerous and more importantly it's also illegal. If someone has a broken windshield, they must take steps to have the windshield repaired or replaced immediately. If you have the skill and tools, you can remove the broken windshield and then replace it with a new windshield. You will need to ensure that you have a new or replacement glass ready to go, and can lubricate the hinges. If the hinges need an adjustment be sure to perform that as well. If you don't feel comfortable performing the work, it is important to have a professional complete it instead. Since the windshield is such an invaluable aspect of your vehicle, it must be installed correctly. The replacement glass will also need to be cut to an exact measurement to ensure that it fits perfectly. It's important to keep the hinges of your windshield tight as well as the nuts that are used to keep the windshield securely set in place. If the windshield is not securely fastened, or the nuts and hinges kept tight, you run the risk of having the windshield break or become damaged due to any slight trauma or movement. This will also prevent any annoying rattling from occurring in the windshield, a sign that the windshield is not securely set in place and that the nuts affixing the windshield to the cowl brackets need tightening. When replacing a broken windshield be sure to determine what type of glass is being used in the new windshield as well as the best methods for taking care of it.

Dave Burton

www.bargain-motors.com

Top Tips for Saving Money on Car Parts and Maintainence

Taking care of your car maintenance can be very rewarding if done properly so here's a list of seven top tips that can help you save money on your car parts and service.
1. A well tuned car can have a fuel consumption from 25% to 33% lower than a poorly tuned car making a tune-up cheaper than driving without it, tuning your car for better performance can save you between ${
150 and $300 per year.
2. Regardless of the number of miles the manual recommends a oil change and filter change you should change them every 3,000 miles. This is one of the most important factors in your engine's life since it's going to prolong your engine's life and you're going to save on engine car parts. The potential savings are $500 to $3000.
3. Dirty air filter means more gasoline used and reduces the engine's life so you should check it regularly, maybe monthly. The air filter can be cleaned by blowing it with a hose or can be replaced. You can save about $130 per year..
4. Using steel-belted radial tires can increase the number of miles you make per year by up to 10%, saving this way about $130 per year.
5. Most cars, don't work better on premium gas, so, unless your car is pinging or knocking you shouldn't use higher octane gas. If your car doesn't have a high performance engine, using the gas that best suits your car's engine can save you $200 to $400 per year.
6. Having under inflated tires makes your engine burn about 6% more gas so make sure you check your tire pressure regularly.
7. If your tires are improperly balanced the tread on them will be destroyed. In addition, your suspension and shock absorbers can be damaged leading to more expense on car parts and service. Balancing your tires once a year can add thousands of miles to their life.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com