What’s My Car Worth? Using Kellys Blue Book to Determine the Value of Your Car

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As the saying goes, your car is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Nevertheless you still want to get the highest amount that you can for your used car. So the trick here is to determine how to make your car more attractive to buyers and to  know the baseline amount that cars similar to yours are selling for in your local market. The best place to start your search for tips and car values is Kellys Blue Book for cars.

Kellys Blue Book for cars is a renowned automotive industry standard car appraisal guide that provides step by step guides that will help you sell your car but also gives you the “Private Party” value of your car. And the Blue Book for cars is easy to use. At the Kellys Blue Book website click the tab for used cars, then under  KBB Values type in your car’s year, make and model or simply choose the specified data from the drop down menu that appears once you click the down arrow beside the required data box. For example, if you want to sell a 2005 Ford Focus, choose 2005 from the year box, Ford from the make box and Focus from the model box.

After pressing the GO button, you will be redirected to the  Value page where you have to choose the “Private Party” Value. The Private Party Value aims to provide you with the fair market price others would be willing to pay. Then select your car’s trim or version by clicking the list that appears. For example, if your trim is Focus ZX4 S Sedan 4D, click that and go to the KBB Equipment page where you choose your car’s specific details, including transmission and mileage, and accessories. Don’t be overwhelmed with the number of selections, the standard items included on your model are already checked on the  page, you just have to revise or add more equipment as needed by simply clicking the appropriate selections. After making the appropriate selections, the final Kellys Blue Book page will appear. You have to select your car’s overall condition – whether excellent, good, fair or poor. The description on each characteristic is described in the Kellys Blue Book page so you’re not confused. But if you still can’t decide, there is always the KBB condition quiz to further help you in your choice. But beware! Be truthful and remain as unbiased as possible when making your choices on this KBB page. Don’t let your sentimental attachment to your car cloud your choice. If you do, you will get an incorrect blue book for cars appraisal value. When you’re done, you will see the KBB Private Party Value for your specific car’s condition. You can further confirm your car’s value by comparing it with other similar cars in the market by browsing through  Local Listing Search. This will show you available similar cars available in your area. Once you become satisfied that you know your car’s blue book value, you can then concentrate on making your car more attractive to buyers, so that you’ll see the green!!

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Source by I Dint

What Are The Benefits Of Antifreeze Coolant And How Significant Is It For My Car?

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Antifreeze Coolant

Antifreeze is a very important unit of the car since it protects the engine from the freezing damage. When the water gets converted into ice, it poses a problem for the car. Antifreeze is actually the heat transfer fluid which is used to protect the freezing. In both the solar water heaters and the HVAC chillers it is used. Chemical are added to the water in order to prevent the freezing. Antifreeze assists in the freezing point when water is mixed, but then it also aids the boiling point. It is used widely in the car engine since it is capable of transferring the heat. When the antifreeze is used to the car engine, it is termed as the Antifreeze Coolant since it cools the engine.

What is the function of the ethylene glycol?

Ethylene glycol is the most commonly used antifreeze in the car. The water-based solution functions as the fantastic heat-transfer fluid. So, when the temperature reaches below the level of 32 degrees of Fahrenheit or 0 degrees. The fluid transfers the heat to prevent freezing. When the unit functions by the water-cooled engine, the coolant is used. Commonly used in the machines and the cars, the coolant cannot be used in the food processing equipment. This is so because if there is any leaking, the food can become poisonous. The Ethylene Glycol is used widely in the cars, machines, air conditioners and even the liquid cooled computer. Since the solution has the low freezing point, it resists the freezing. Ethylene Glycol has a great compatibility with water and has the higher boiling point.

The need for the antifreeze in extreme climatic conditions

Antifreeze is the real savior of the vehicle when it is cold. The water as a result of the antifreeze does not freeze. The water in the radiator of the car will not freeze and so the parts of the car will not get destroyed. When the outside temperature is hot also, the antifreeze is of great use. It even restricts the important fluids in the car from evaporating. Since the antifreeze has the lubricating properties, it does not evaporate with the pace of the water. In fact, the parts of the car like the hose pipe need to be prevented from damage.

The environmental friendly precious green liquid

The antifreeze coolant is a must if you really want the vehicle in the running condition. The environmentally friendly, precious green liquid will keep the car parts warm even when it is extremely cold. Without the antifreeze, the car will encounter a mechanical problem. When the car stops working due to freezing, many people think that it is all due to the leakage of the radiator, the failure of the heater core and even due to the opening or closing of the thermostat.

When it is winter, you need to start and stop the car to keep the engine warm. In countries where there is extreme cold, the engine needs to be started from time to time. When it comes to the car system, the antifreeze solution is vital.

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Source by Martin Stapper

I Love Selling Cars

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Where else can you get a job that allows you to drive all different kinds of new and used cars from sports cars to 4 wheel drive trucks with people that want to buy them? Then after you go for a ride you sit down with that person and talk about their interest in buying the vehicle. Sometimes they offer to buy the vehicle and sometimes they don’t. You both talk about the offer and if the dealership accepts their offer you made a sale. Depending on the dealership, the vehicle and the customer you could earn anywhere from $100 to $2000 or more. Now that’s what I call a job, I love selling cars.

Sounds pretty great doesn’t it? I may have exaggerated a little, but that is the long and short of selling cars for a living. People that come to automobile dealerships come there because they want to buy cars and they need car salesmen to sell them cars. That is one of the main reasons why I love selling cars. The customers come to you, you don’t have to chase them down, call them or anything else. They come to the dealer and talk to you, the car salesman about buying a car. Your job is to show them a car, go for a ride in a nice car and then talk to them about buying that car. Then you work out a few details and cha-ching you sold a car.

Ok, there is a downside to selling cars and that downside is that there aren’t always customers lining up to buy cars. So when you don’t have a customer you can swap stories with your car salesman friends and co-workers, tell jokes, check out the new and used cars and wait for a customer to come and see you about purchasing a vehicle. The customers come, they always do. Some days there are more customers than others, but they always come because the dealership will advertise in the newspaper, on the radio or television to keep a steady stream of potential auto buyers coming to the dealership to buy cars from their car salesmen. Wouldn’t you love selling cars too?

But Seriously, I Love Selling Cars

Being a car salesman can be a great job, may be not as easy as I described it above, but it’s not labor intensive or physically demanding and you can earn as much money as you desire. Quite a few automobile sales people earn a six figure income as a car salesman. However you do need to process some paperwork, demonstrate vehicles to customers, go for test drives and negotiate the price and terms of the vehicle you are trying to sell. You will also need to follow up with customers you have sold to make sure they are happy and get the ones to come back if you did not sell them. It’s a bit like having a business of your and own which is another one of the reasons I love selling automobiles.

When you find yourself needing a good job or you are thinking about a career change you ought to consider being a car salesman. There is a little more to selling automobiles than I covered here, but for the right person it can be a great career. I may be a little biased, but I really do love selling cars.

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Source by Karl Beckham

Tote the Note – Buy Here Pay Here

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Poor Credit, Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem.

We Tote the Note.

All of these are common signs you see at some used car dealerships and flashed across your television screen. However, do you really understand what goes behind this concept?

A Tote the Note dealership is really no different from the concept used at furniture rental companies, in that you pay for the car where you purchased it without any loan company in the middle. However, there is still a huge difference between a furniture rental company and a Tote the Note car dealership – Your Credit Report.

When you are searching for a new or used car, you will probably spend more time in the office with the car salesman and his manager trying to get your loan bought from a lending company. The way this is done is, you fill out a credit application, the car salesman, takes it to his manager who then punches your information into a computer to run a report on your credit. When they receive your credit report or credit score they will then fax this information to loan companies they use to finance the cars they sale. Now, the loan company will look over your credit report and decide if they wish to buy your loan. This means that you will by paying the loan company back the money they give the car dealership for the car that you purchase. If you do have poor credit, bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy on your credit report, you will more than likely be turned down for the car loan or you will get the bad news that you have to add 21% percent interest onto the price of the car. The bottom line is that you will paying about the same amount of money each month for that used car that you pay for rent or purchasing your home just because your credit is not up to par.

Furniture rental companies do the same, they look at your credit report and if your credit is not what it should be then you may not be able to rent to own their furniture either.

On the other hand, Tote the Note car dealerships do not look at your credit report. They will ask you to fill out an application, but the information they need is where you work, how much money you make, nearest relative’s address and telephone number, and of course, your address. The only thing you really need to purchase a used car from a Tote the Note lot is a job.

A Tote the Note car dealership receives cars from other people that trade in their vehicle in order to purchase another one, buy them from auctions, or other individuals. In most cases, the dealership has a mechanic that will fix major problems that are found with the car; however, you will be purchasing a car without any type of warranty. This means if something goes wrong with the car the dealership will not fix it for you, you will have to pay for all repairs. This is normally called “sold as is”.

The good part about buying from a Tote the Note lot is that you will not have to pay any interest. The price on the car is what you pay. The normal time to pay for the car is usually around 12 to 18 months. You will have to pay a certain amount each month until the total price of the car is paid off minus whatever down payment you may have. Some Tote the Note lots also offer “no down payment”, but this will raise your monthly payment.

Buying from a Tote the Note car dealership will not affect your credit rating in anyway. These car dealerships do not report your payments to the credit bureaus, however, if you default on the loan that is not reported either. If you do not make your payments, the Tote the Note car lot will repossess your vehicle and put it back on their lot for sale.

If you have bad credit, no credit, or other problems that stop you from purchasing a car through a loan company, then a Tote the Note car dealership may be your best bet in getting a car. Remember, to check the car out and test drive it since you will be the one paying for any repairs once you sign the agreement and drive off the lot. You do not want to drive the car a couple of blocks and it die on you, because then you will have to pay for repairs and keep up with your monthly car payment.

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Source by Dennis J James

Will My Vehicle Warranty Still Be Valid If I Ship My Car Abroad?

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If you are planning to ship your car overseas in areas that have facilities to provide automotive services, your car’s vehicle warranty issued by your car manufacturer and/or dealer in the United States may not be valid overseas. You should look into buying an extended auto warranty often called an international vehicle warranty before shipping your car overseas. Your automobile manufacturer or dealer can be contacted before you ship your car overseas to find a suitable extended vehicle warranty or an international car warranty.

Shipping your car abroad and hoping to use your U.S. auto manufacturer’s car warranty abroad would not be a wise course of action. Neither would be waiting until your car is abroad before finding an international warranty to buy overseas. You can locate an extended warranty seller online very easily and very economically. Of course, your car warranty should be valid in the United States or else you might want a more expensive vehicle warranty.

Vehicle warranties in the United States and abroad are time oriented. If your auto warranty has expired, you should buy an extended warranty to cover your costs in maintaining your auto before you buy an international vehicle warranty. There are some online sellers of international auto warranties that are very inexpensive. There might be a reason for the low cost of international vehicle warranties. Your best course to insure your overseas experience with your auto is to contact your car’s manufacturer either directly or through your auto dealer and get more detailed information.

Another point to remember is that your automobile warranty in the United States covers your car repairs, usually, only if a manufacturer approved mechanic or garage does the repairs. In many instances, if you use an unauthorized car repair garage, your warranty won’t be valid even here in the United States. Before spending more money on an international vehicle warranty, you might ask whether there are authorized mechanical service areas in the country where you will be shipping your car.

But, if your question is simply will your warranty be valid if you ship your car overseas, the answer is not if you repair your car overseas at an unauthorized dealer or repair shop. There are many expenses involved in shipping a car overseas. One of them is getting an international vehicle warranty. The reason why so many people choose to ship their car overseas is because the cost of buying a car overseas is astounding when compared to the cost of buying a car in the United States. Even with shipping costs and additional auto warranties, it is cheaper to buy a car in the United States than overseas.

Vehicle warranties when used appropriately can make what appears to be a costly repair situation an almost pleasant experience. There are parts of any auto that would cost thousands out of your pocket if they should need repairs. Auto warranties take that burden off of your shoulders or shall we say, your pocket book.

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Source by Millie Borris

A Peep Into the Future Tech Innovations at CES 2017

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Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held every year in January at Las Vegas is a premier electronic convention held annually for showcasing exceptional technological advancements in the consumer electronics industry. This year, the 4-day event held from January 5 through January 8, 2017, marked its 50th anniversary with 3,886 exhibitors showing off myriad revolutionary tech trends and avant-garde gadgets that will drive the future of technology globally.

It goes without saying that Amazon’s Artificial Intelligence voice assistant ‘Alexa’ has been the star of the show as several Alexa-enabled next-generation devices including voice-controlled smart-home gadgets, cars, and robots were displayed at the event. Alexa, which has outperformed Google Assistant and Siri can be programmed to perform multiple functions such as starting your car, locking doors, adjusting thermostats, controlling lights, and finding locations.

Now let’s throw light on the futuristic innovations witnessed at CES 2017 that will have a major impact in the coming years.

1. Tech innovations in Smartphones: Qualcomm unveiled its latest processor named Snapdragon 835 for revolutionizing mobile technology. Snapdragon 835 aims to bring High Dynamic Range to smartphones besides facilitating better virtual experience by enhancing sight and sound for mobile Virtual Reality. The new processor will also enable smartphones to produce high-resolution photos even in poor lighting conditions. It will also facilitate faster connection by paving the way towards 5G network. Moreover, the chip also guarantees longer battery life as it consumes 50% less power compared to Snapdragon 801. Additionally, biometric sensors embedded in the 835 promises better security to smartphone users.

World’s first smartphone with molecular-sensors “H2” was also unveiled at CES. This 6-inch Android phone can scan any object to provide you with instant feedback on its chemical composition, be it food items or medicines.

2. A Glimpse Into the 5G future: Qualcomm demonstrated the various ways its technology is going to empower the 5G future. At CES, the CEO of Qualcomm Stephen Mollenkopf asserted that 5g will be a ground-breaking network that will support a wide array of devices with exceptional speed and scale. Moreover, it will have a significant impact on world economy.

At the convention, American technology company Intel too launched its 5G Modem which can deliver 5G in both mmWave spectrum and 6GHz bands. Besides this, Intel also unveiled its new automotive 5G platform named Intel Go to support automated driving.

3. Cloud-Based Innovations: CES 2017 also witnessed numerous cloud-based announcements. Nvidia grabbed the attention of PC gamers by launching its cloud program ‘GeForce Now’ for PC and Mac that will enable gamers to transform their PC into a sophisticated gaming rig to stream and play the latest games of their choice.

Besides this, world’s first cloud-based keyboard ‘the 5Q’ also made its debut at the event. The special function of this keyboard is that it will be connected to the cloud and display color-coded email notifications, sports updates, and stock quotes on the keys of the keyboard.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stole the Show: AI undoubtedly took centre stage throughout CES 2017. AI has been featured as an integral part of almost everything- from smart jeans that show directions, and smart pet collars to feel your pet’s emotions, to smart gloves for stroke victims and smart vehicles. These computerized brains are empowering humans to replicate virtual worlds besides endowing computers with the intelligence to comprehend the real world.

· AI-powered Cars: Automobile companies are focusing on AI-powered vehicles as the day is not far when customers will seek self-driving cars. Smart car manufacturers will soon come up with AI-powered cars that can generate their own emotions because soon customers will opt for cars with which they can establish the best emotional relationship. CES 2017 saw the launch of many AI-powered emotional cars including Honda’s NeuV that features HANA (Honda’s Automated Network Assistant) to personalize the driver’s experience. HANA’s face recognition technology and heart-rate monitor assist the electric car to understand your happy and melancholic moods. It can also suggest music based on your mood besides remembering your favorite places such as cafe’s, parks, etc.

Toyota too released its futuristic car the “Concept-I”, powered by AI technology that can comprehend the need of the driver as well as passengers. Likewise, Nvidia introduced its self-driving car system named Drive PX designed to comprehend the driver’s mood, the car’s environment and figure out what is going on in the interior of the car.

· AI-powered Health-tech Devices: In order to incorporate advanced technology and new-age thinking to the workout routine of fitness freaks, fitness technology companies unveiled a range of sophisticated fitness wearable devices at the CES. For example,Boltt, a Mumbai-based fitness tech company unveiled AI-packed fitness trackers, smart shoes embedded with stride sensor, and a virtual health assistant named “B” that provides users with real-time feedback and voice coaching on health and fitness.

The show also displayed digestive trackers to help users determine the type of diet that is ideal for their body, and a smart hairbrush embedded with sensors that can detect how you brush your hair so that it can train you to correctly brush your hair by sending data to your connected smartphone.

The world’s first smart toothbrush Kolibree Ara was also launched at the show. It features deep machine learning algorithms to understand and provide feedback about your brushing habits even if it is not connected to your smartphone. What’s more, CES 2017 also saw the launch of Sleep Number 360 bed which has been designed to prevent snoring.

5. Humanoid Robots: CES 2017 also introduced the world to the mind-blowing capabilities of human-like robots. At the event, LG unveiled three robots- to mow your lawn, to take care of your daily chores, and to welcome you at the airport. Besides this, quite a few educational robots were also displayed at the event for children. Additionally, there were a lot of humanoid robots designed for making your coffee, folding clothes, pouring candy, singing lullabies to your kids and taking photos of your pet when you are away. World’s first robotic suitcase Cowarobot also stole the limelight as this four-wheel suitcase with a laser and a camera can follow its owner like a puppy.

So these are some of the futuristic trends witnessed at the CES 2017. This year the CES focused mainly on digital interactivity. This is evident from the fact that a majority of exhibitors at the show were looking to leverage the concept of interactivity for financial gain.

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Source by Monalisa Biswas

Top Causes of Car Accidents

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Experts state that the major causes of car accidents are driver distractions. Dangerous distractions that can lead to an accident include cell phones and other gadgets that drivers use as they drive. Cell phones, laptops, electric razors, etc. causes drivers to take their eyes off the road for seconds at a time with the potential to cause a serious, if not deadly, accident. In response to this, some states in the US have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while people are driving. The alternative is to use a hands free ear bud that is lightweight and comfortable, and allows a driver to carry on a conversation without diversions.

Another dangerous distraction is when a driver who has been drinking and then attempts to drive. The effects of alcohol can and does raise havoc behind the while. Anyone with a blood alcohol level of .01 is considered unfit to drive. The effects of driving while intoxicated include drowsiness, loss of focus and the inability to judge distances and reaction times.

Rubbernecking and tailgating are other potentially dangerous habits that many practice while driving. Rubbernecking occurs when drivers slow down to look at another accident on the road or anything that looks unusual on the highway. When a driver slows a car down too quickly, the driver in the car behind often times doesn’t have enough time to slow down or stop and runs into the back of the vehicle in the lead. Rear end collisions can lead to serious injuries. The same applies for tailgating in that a driver who is following a car too closely may not have enough distance to stop suddenly, and the potential for a serious accident is eminent.

A driver’s behavior causes many accidents; still others are caused by mechanical failure or road conditions. There are technical solutions that are available to help with these problems and have contributed to a decline in the death rates caused by automobile accidents. They include proximity monitors that let a driver know how close they are to the vehicle ahead; sobriety detectors, that measure the amount of alcohol that a driver has consumed and drifting monitors that alert a driver when his or her car drifts too far to one side of the road or the other.

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Source by Eric Morris

Car Buying Tips – Watch Out for the Curb Stoners

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Chances are you have never heard the term curb stoner. However, you might have met one and not even known it. A curb stoner is a “professional” used car seller who poses as a private individual selling his or her own car. You can find curb stoner’s cars everywhere; parking lots, people’s front yard, parked in a parking lot with a for sale sign on it. These types are especially menacing to the average car buyer.

Not to say that buying a car from an individual is bad. However when you run into people who are posing to be something that they are not (telling you that they are selling their personal car when it is just a car that they bought at auction), that is when the problems begin.

There are two surefire ways to beat the curb stoners at their own game. First make sure that you get a CarFax report on the car before you even think about giving them your money. This is simple and costs about $30. It will be the best $30 that you will spend for this purchase. Simply go to the CarFax website and enter the car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). You will receive a report that will tell about the odometer history, any wrecks or title abnormalities and a host of information about the car that you are looking to buy. You will have to ask the seller to give you the VIN. A sure sign that there might be something fishy with the seller is if they refuse to let you have the VIN number. At that point, I would just walk away.

Second, make sure that when you are buying a car from an individual (or used car from a dealer for that matter) you have it checked out by a certified mechanic. Like the CarFax report, it will be the best money that you could spend. There might be hidden problems that will not show themselves for several months after you bought the car.

As with all used car purchases, just be aware of any red flags that pop-up along the way. And just remember you can always say, “no I don’t want to buy the car”.

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Source by Jeff McKinstry

Don’t Buy a Car From a Tote The Note Dealership

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I have been all around the car business for years and I hate to see people make mistakes that hurt them in the end. Simply buying a car from a tote the note dealership is a terrible waist of money, it is always overpriced and does nothing but damage your credit report. The reality is that there are ways to get a car with the same qualifications that a tote the note lot wants you to have. The difference is it will be reported to all the major credit bureaus and usually has a warrantee to give you a piece of mind.

This is how a tote the note lot works, they shop used car auctions and buy cars that major dealers don’t want, usually for under $3000. Most of the time they don’t even dive them if the seller (another used dealer) says that it is good. Then they put it on their lot for $5999, yes that much profit. The reason is simple your down payment is usually about half or all of what they have spent on the car. Then your payments for the next 4-5 years are mostly, or all profit for them, but does nothing for you. In the next four or five years if you have a car problem you are just stuck in a bind. If you call the lot they say it is not their problem, or they say they will have their shady-tree mechanic fix it. Then extend your note so they can make some more money from you. If you can’t afford to fix it you still have to pay or they will repo it, and most times report it onto your credit report. That’s the problem they only report if you default on your credit report. They don’t report all the payments on time you made. They don’t want your credit to get any better so that you and others have to come back and buy cars from them. Then they take that same car and sell it to somebody else, and guess what, this time it is all profit. There is a better way.

There are some major dealerships (Dodge Chevy Ford) that have special finance programs that work especially with people with poor credit, or even no credit and even without a cosigner. The way this works is a car is traded in, and the dealership has their service station inspect it. They load the info like miles, condition, make and model into a program and the special finance lender determines the price. That way you can’t get overcharged. The reason is that the lender does not want to repo the car and have to resale it. That’s why they will usually give you a 2-3 year payment around 250 mo so that you can pay it off quick. Usually they like to cover it with a warrantee for special finance customers. Just incase your car breaks down you will be able to have it fixed and continue your payments.

Here is the best part, a special finance company will report to the bureaus every month of your on time payments, that will start to raise your credit score. All you need is six months to a year of on time payments on your report, and then a regular lender will give you a shot. A major dealership wants your credit to get better so you can comeback and buy again.

“But I went to a major dealership and they embarrassed me about my credit.” you say, not all major dealerships deal with special finance. There is an even easier way; you can apply for your financing online, with special finance lenders. Then you never have to worry about the public rejection of the dealership, and they never see your credit. Most companies will approve you instantly or in 24 hours. You can print your approval out and go and shop like everybody else.

If you need some special finance lenders I have a few listed on my free do it yourself credit repair site [http://www.bankmortgagerelief.com/gettingstarted.htm]

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Source by Jeered Ward

How I Leased a $60,000 Car For Only $111 a Month and Why I Think Dealer Leasing is Dumb

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The rational behind leasing a car is simple; you basically rent the car for a period of time then drop it off when the lease expires without any obligation (generally if the car is clean) or further costs.

What you are doing is paying for the depreciation of the vehicle during the lease. So, if a car is new and worth $50,000 today and in 3 years it’s expected to be worth $30,000 then you as the lessee basically pay the depreciation of the car over the 3 years to the lessor and get a new car every 3 years.

Seems simple and smart, right? Wrong, I am going to show you a better way drive cars if you can raise a lump sum of money. For me it was obvious, I am in the business of raising lump sums of money to settle debt.

So a BMW M3 Cabriolet (convertible) is a gorgeous car, it’s a driver’s machine and is truly sublime. A few years ago, and after several years of very frugal living and driving cheap cars my accountant talked me into spending some money. And that was tough for him to do; after all he is the guy that told me cars are a colossal waste of money.

It was 2006 and I was looking for a 2003-4 M3. These cars were selling for $80,000+ brand new. I always buy used and private; for 3 reasons:

1) Let someone else pay the depreciation in the first couple of years

2) Dealers usually lie and just tick me off

3) You can usually negotiate a better price with private sellers.

In 2006 used M3 Cabs were selling for $50,000 – $60,000. A 2003 Imola red M3 Cab for $46,000, with low miles really caught my eye. It was cheaper then the rest and red was a rare colour on these cars; it looked stunning.

So I checked it out, drove it and was really impressed. It was my first real experience in a premium German car and I was sold hook, line and sinker.

There was a catch. It was a US car. No big deal right? Wrong, the car hadn’t sold for a reason. It scared buyers. The owner had imported it as a “salvage title” meaning it had been written off in the US. But he had paperwork (albeit dodgy looking but, I verified it) to show that in the State of New Jersey when are car is stolen and written off, and the vehicle later recovered it gets a “salvage title” because the owner was already paid out by the insurance company.

In other states a salvage title means the car was written off in an accident. Salvage titles can’t be sold in the US again. So it wasn’t in an accident like most people would normally believe and everything including the VIN checked out on the Carfax report. In fact the car was in flawless shape and found by authorities in a shipping crate ready to go across the Atlantic. It was sold at an auction by the insurance company to my seller.

So the next step was to negotiate a final price. I knew the car was up for sale for almost 6 weeks because I was following the used car ads. That told me the seller was having a difficult time unloading the car because of its history. So I told him, “regardless of the asking price, this car would be very tough for me to unload when I needed to get out of it”, and he knew it was true. I offered him $38,000 and after some negotiating we settled on $40,000.

I got a car everyone else was selling for $60,000 or more with lower miles (only 35,000 miles when I got it) for considerably less.

I enjoyed the car for about 36 months, put on another 30,000 miles and sold it for $36,000 (I fully disclosed the history to the buyer), my cost to carry the car for 3 years was only about $111/m in depreciation to drive a premium German automobile.

Comparable used cars were leasing for about $900/m with $5,000 down at the time I bought mine.

That’s how I like to buy cars. It’s easy and don’t be afraid of private sellers and cheap car ads, check them out; sometimes there is a good reason behind it and nothing really to worry about if you do a little homework and dig deeper.

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Source by Richard G Cooper