If you are considering buying a car for the first time, you might not know where to begin. Making such a major purchase is most likely the first step in your financial life, so it is very important to take it seriously.

That’s the word from the experts at a national consumer education campaign called AWARE (Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics).

To help first-time auto buyers navigate the financing system, it has put together this pop quiz:

• Do you have a budget? If you don’t already have one, create one. It will help you determine how much car you can afford. Don’t forget vehicle-related costs outside of a new car payment, particularly insurance costs. Premiums for many young drivers can be as much as the monthly car payment. Don’t forget to include maintenance, gas and taxes.

• Have you pulled your credit report? Your credit history may affect your finance rate, so it’s a good idea to get a copy of your free credit report before heading to the dealer. Go to www.annualcredit report.com for yours.

• Have you shopped around? Do some homework before you decide which car to buy and where to buy it. Call your bank or credit union. Talk to dealerships. Print out all quotes and keep them in a folder that you bring with you when you shop for the car. Whether you finance through your dealer or elsewhere, there are typically no penalties to refinance if you’re not satisfied.

• Do you know how finance rates are determined? Vehicle financers use a number of factors to determine the finance rate they will offer you, including your credit score, the price of the vehicle you would like to purchase, manufacturer incentives, the amount of your down payment, your debt repayment options and the length of the finance contract. The rate offered to you may be negotiable.

• Is there someone you could ask to be a co-signer if needed? If you are under the age of 18, are currently not employed, do not have a credit history or your credit history is not good, you may need a responsible person to co-sign the finance contract for you.

• Do you know the difference between leasing and financing? Know what an APR is? Credit insurance? Guaranteed Auto Protection? You need to educate yourself on these terms and understand the value and price of aftermarket products. If you don’t want something, don’t sign for it.

According to Eric Hoffman of AWARE, if you answered “no” to one or more questions, go back and hit the books before you buy a car or truck. Said Hoffman, “Consumers, especially those at the beginning of their financial lives, need to be vigilant about understanding the vehicle-financing process. If you make mistakes along the way, they can follow you for years.”

Polishing your car could not only be beneficial for your car but also beneficial for you as well. Just think, with a car that has been polished until it looks like it just rolled off the assembly plant, people will think that you just have the luxury to purchase new cars all the time. Or people may also think that you just do know how to take good care of your car.

Most people do not bother polishing, much less even clean their cars, because it requires them to stretch their muscles and use up some sweat. However, for those who just do polishing on their cars, these people usually do know the feeling of seeing their cars gleam as something quite precious.

Of course, you do need some car polish to make your car shine. If you venture out to the market and try to find some car polish, you would be amazed by the huge selection of car polish that you would be offered. Some come in liquid form, some come in paste, while others come as kits that have two or more products to be used to make your car look new. Either way, just find the right car polish for your car. But be sure that you do read the labels first. There are some kinds of polish that would not be good for your car while there are also some that need a certain amount of temperature for it to work well.

Before you do polish your car, you should wash your car first. And when you have done so, it then would be time to start making your car shine. Make sure that you work on your polishing duties one section at a time to save you time and effort. Use a clean a dampened cotton terry cloth towel to apply the polish. When you put on the polish, rub it on using a circular motion.

After applying the polish, let it dry first. Then, use another towel of the same type to buff the polish and leave your car shining.

Just as people enjoy being pampered from time to time, cars are no different. They work hard every day, are on call 247 and they also deserve a little R&R. The best way to replenish your car and leave it feeling rejuvenated is to start with a complete wash, by hand of course, followed by a rinse and dry. Think of this process as an exfoliation to remove all of natures unwanted dirt and grime from your cars surface.

Next, polish your car in order to smooth the paints surface and eliminate certain contaminants, such as road salt, pollen or bird droppings. This will provide your car with the massage that it needs to relieve the stress of everyday life and leave its surface all shiny and bright.

The next step to pampering your car involves waxing. This is an essential step in keeping your car protected from the damaging effects of UV rays and acid rain. And not to mention, waxing leaves your car with an unbelievable showroom quality shine. Its important to get your automobile professionally waxed if its within your budget. Many people think that rain will clean their car but, in actuality, nothing could be further from the truth. Acid rain, which is common throughout North America, can actually cause erosion.

Once your car is looking great on the outside, its time to begin working on the interior. A thorough vacuuming of the carpet and interior seating can be done with a small handheld vacuum. In addition, window washing and shampooing will finish up the next phase of pampering your car.

The ideas in this article are ideal if you want to pamper your car for the day. If you want to pamper it for a lifetime, always be sure to follow the maintenance guidelines and schedule as recommended by the manufacturer. This information can generally be found in the owners manual, which should be located in the glove box. In addition to being the best way to keep your car operating at its peek performance, properly maintaining your car will also ensure that it remains covered under the manufacturers warranty should the need arise for its service.

Rounding out your cars luxury treatment is a professional scrubbing of the wheels and the engine. Its also a good idea to have the oil and other important areas of the car checked by a professional just to make sure that your car is in premium operating condition.

Volvo has been commented to be the disposable vehicle. It is for the very reason that if the Volvo car encounters a mishap, crash, accident, or collision, the vehicle could get totally wrecked. However, the very important thing is that inside the vehicle, the passengers and the driver remain unharmed. That is because Volvo sees to it that their vehicles are able to provide and support safety. This very reason has attached itself to Volvos reputation. And that makes Volvo vehicles stand out from the rest.

Today, Volvo is one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of transportation solutions for commercial use. Excellence in their products is certainly not overlooked. The company continues to pledge and provide their followers and enthusiasts the best possible automotive solutions to automobile problems.

One of the vehicles that has been sold and marketed under the Volvo brand is the Volvo 740. The Volvo 740 belongs to the Volvo 700 series. It is a range of rear wheel drive cars that was built and manufactured in the 1980s and the 1990s. This series was specially styled and designed so as to tickle and hold the interest of the American buyers. By doing such, the company, Volvo, was able then to expand its market and reach the United States. The 700 series made its public debut in 1983. This series held more rounded corners on its body as well as a somewhat better and more comfortable interior.

In the United States, the Volvo 740 made its way to the market as a 1985 model. Compared to its sibling, the Volvo 760, the Volvo 740 content less options. However, it was like a breath of fresh air for it was a midsize car that offered more style, performance as well as luxury compared to its mother companys other creations. It made its public debut holding four doors or five doors. The former was a sedan that was internally referred to as the 744 while the latter was a wagon that was internally known as the 745. This line of vehicles has certainly been crafted well enough to last for decades. Even after its production had ceased in the early 90s, there still are a couple of these vehicles running around the streets. It has been said that the newer Volvo 940 is actually a reskinned Volvo 740.

The Volvo 740 got its power from either the 986 cc OHC engine with four cylinders, or the 383 cc Turbo Diesel that held six cylinders in line two. It also held an overall length of 478.5 centimeters as well as a wheelbase of 277 centimeters. Transmissions for the Volvo 740 were a choice of a four-speed manual, a four-speed manual with electrical overdrive, a five speed manual, or a four-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle also holds hydraulic and round disc brakes.

Parts and accessories for Volvo vehicles like Volvo 740 parts are available at Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts. Customers and owners can go to their online site and choose which auto parts are compatible for their needs. The advantage of using Volvo parts and accessories is that these are especially designed to work well with all Volvo parts. Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts offers car and auto parts which are continuously being improved so as to ensure quality service and performance.

The Ford Mondeo sedan was for the European market. Travel to the lands of the United States and North American and you would find the Ford Contour. The Ford Contour would be the Ford Mondeos American counterpart. This sedan was actually sold by the Ford Motor Company starting from 1995 up until 2000. Fact is, this vehicle actually was the basis for building a version of this under the Mercury brand. And the result came to be the Mercury Mystique and later on became the Mercury Cougar. The Ford Contour was found in the Ford Motor Companys line up filling the niche between the Ford Escort and the Ford Taurus.

The Ford Contour has a DOHC V6 engine with 24 valves. It has an aluminum block and aluminum heads. This has a displacement of 155 cubic inches. It can produce some 170 units of bhp at 6250 rpm, and 165 pound feet at 4250 rpm. It has also been equipped with a five speed manual transmission system. The wheelbase of the Ford Contour measures 106.5 inches, 183.9 inches in length and has a curb weight of 2910 pounds.

From 1995 to 1996, the Ford Contour came to be body colored. The front seats were recessed to the back so as to improve rear seat leg room. This is compared to the first wave of Ford Contours that entered the American automobile market. After a year, changes were still done. Traction control no longer was given as an option. The remote fuel door release feature was deleted and the fuel door that this batch held had a flanged opening. Made available were an interior trunk light, a tilt steering wheel, and a power antenna. In 1997 to 1998, the Ford Contours that entered the streets sported front and rear end designs that were new. There were new alloy wheel designs. The sail panels on the rear door windows were now smooth and held the word Contour emblazoned on it.

As per the last years of the Ford Contour, it still continually received changes. In 1998 to 1999, the Ford Contour deleted one of its trim levels. There was a clock in radio available. There were also some color revisions. The rear window and the brake light designs had changed. For Canada, this was the last year of the Ford Contour. In the United States, 2000 was the last year for the vehicle.

They are an everyday occurrence on our streets, but the latest Toyota Corolla is aiming to be far from common. Since its introduction in 1968, the Corolla has gone through eight re-incarnations. This, the ninth, is certainly the most likable. Based on its reputation for excellent quality, reliability, and resale demand the 2006 Corolla offers good value at its price point of 13,780 to 17,555. However, the marketplace is now filled with excellent competitors including the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and the Nissan Sentra. As a result Toyota has been hard at work improving quality, design, and drivers appeal in both its core breadwinner such at the 2006 Corolla and the new Camry models. Bold new designs are laudable, but not if they fails to persuade mainstream buyers to reach for their wallets. The 2006 Corolla sedan is good enough to convince buyers to purchase the car out of desire rather than necessity.

Back in the early 90s, I test drove a Corolla. So it was great opportunity to drive the newest car. Gone are the bad styling cues, the sci-fi exhaust, and two-tone body works, but retained are the cars great ride and handling, the everyday usability which is the tangible Toyota factor. It all adds up to a practical, fun drive. Walk around the car, you cant help but notice the harmonious stylistic hints of the more expensive Lexus IS 300 sedan. The 2006 Corollas integrated front bumpers feature the dignified dual-bulb headlights giving it a sporty character, and the dapper side rockers give the car a sneaker-like feel. The tail of the car is consistent with the clean, crisp shape found in the front. This is certainly a more youthful car than its predecessor, but one that says functional adult, with its very own subtly refined elegance. Additionally, the 2006 Corolla boasts excellent aerodynamics and fuel efficiency for a non-hybrid, 32 mpg city; 40 mpg highway.

The harmonious interior of the 2006 Corolla communicates the notion that it is possible to live large on a small budget. The perfectly engineered and ergonomically designed interior is anything but cheap. The large three-spoke steering wheel is sporty and elegant to grip. The speedometer and rpm dials feature large font that is easy to read. The clean lines of the center console are well configured to house the radio and climate control buttons. The cabin also features formfitting, supportive seats both front and rear, with plenty of head room. You will not feel claustrophobic in this car seated in either the back or front seats. The driving position may be a bit awkward at first, but the crispness of the cabin easily makes up for it.

Money may not buy happiness, but the 2006 Corolla sedan will surely keep you smiling with your choice of four inside trims, and two efficient engines. The 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, 126 horsepower is standard in CE, LE, and S trims. Featuring the VVT-I race technology, the engine peaks at 6000 rpm generating a torque of 122 pound-feet at 4200 rpm, and the 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve antes up 170 horsepower at 7600 rpm, with 125 pound-feet of torque available at 4400 rpm. Put the car in gear youll find the handling responsive, the acceleration refined, and a supple ride. The 2006 Corolla is a high quality automobile with an uncompromising faith not uncommon to a more expensive automobile.

The 2006 Corolla is one of the safest cars on the road. Even in the 40 mph frontal offset collision test by the IIHS, the car received a good rating (the highest possible) and was named the best pick among smaller cars. It has also earned the full five-stars in NHTSAs crash test ratings, and comes equipped with multi-stage front airbags that deploy depending on severity of impact. However, side curtain airbags are still an option, and we recommend you add them to complement the cars high safety record. Stability control is also optional and may be good to have in wet or snowy areas. Combining safety with elegance, the 2006 Toyota Corolla gives you inner beauty as well as external refinements you can be proud of.

The 2006 Toyota Corolla is a subtly refined modern sedan you can happily fall in love with. Since its introduction in 1968, the Corolla has gone through eight re-incarnations. This, the ninth, is certainly the most likable. Based on its reputation for excellent quality, reliability and desirable resale demand, the 2006 Corolla offers a good value in its class. Now isnt that something to write home about?

As soon as a machine becomes more complicated than, say a mousetrap, it acquires character. The more components a system contains, the greater the scope for variable behavior. The result of uncompromised dedication to design and engineering has made the 2006 Toyota Corolla more intelligent to suit a modern lifestyle. The car contains many new components that enhance the joy of living.

Every once in a while, an invention comes along that gains so much popular attention that it may seem like it has been around forever. While the basic idea for the hybrid car has been around since 1917, the hybrids that we talk about on the market today have only really been around since the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius made their debuts in the 1990s. Since that time, other dealers have become involved in the hybrid trade, in part thanks to government initiatives such as the Clinton administrations agreement with Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles). What the growth in both popularity and diversity means is that several issues that have come up in the evolution of the hybrid car are being dealt with in the age old capitalist way of competition.

Hybrid cars have always lived up to their touted ability to save gas, but unless your soul is painted green this was not necessarily of any benefit to the average consumers. Most hybrid cars end up costing more than their standard engine counterparts over the long term, largely due to their initial cost. In addition, hybrid parts can be hard and expensive to obtain.

These are some of the key issues that need to be resolved from a consumers perspective in order to make the mass purchase of hybrids by the public a reality. It should come as no surprise that in terms of long term cost, the original manufacturer of the hybrid, Toyota, is far ahead of its competitors when it comes to addressing the purchasing needs of consumers. This is currently the only model that over time will actually save a consumer some pounds because of gas savings. Here are some other models of hybrid cars slated for debut in the next few years.

Toyota Prius: Still the gold standard for hybrids, the Prius 2007 model is now being advertised for sale and is in the lot of a dealership near you. The model brags an incredible 110 miles to a single gallon. It is also expected that Toyota will continue to set the standard when it comes to speed for the hybrid (which has been another knock on hybrid vehicles, although they can maintain a legal speed along with any other model of vehicle just fine) as the 2004 model was designed to reach speeds of up to 130 miles per hour. 20,875 US pounds.

Ford Escape: The 2005 is the latest model in the Ford hybrid line, and is great for both domestic car enthusiasts and those who insist on having a sports utility vehicle. The Escape offers 50 miles to the gallon (keep in mind that it is an SUV) and all the luxuries of a standard model car. 27,000 USD.

Honda also offers three models in hybrid version, and these are a few thousand pounds less than Toyota models. As for hybrid luxuries, they might be in the near future as well, with Lexus and Mercedes working on perfecting their own models.

Both the new and used cars have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is the mind set of the people who are purchasing the car. Some like to buy cars only for the sake of showing their buying capacity and their status symbol while some others would be obsessed with buying fancy new model cars as soon as they are launched in the car market. New cars are meant for people who have the buying capacity, who think of only quality of a product and not the quantity, who would like to enjoy sole ownership of the car and who do not want to get compromised with their comfort. Whereas used cars are bought by people who would like to enjoy the benefits of owning a car but cannot afford to buy a brand new car. Such people are very practical as they think that, when a used car is purchased in a good condition it will serve the purpose of the new car and also comes with a very less price tag. Used cars are purchased by people who know the value of money and save money by all means and methods.

Buying a new car is really exciting, but then buying a used car makes sense as lot of money is saved. A new car after purchase is no longer a new car and has to under go depreciation value. As the value of the new car decreases up to 40 percent within three years, a car is not considered as an investment. Whereas when a used car is purchased it benefits the purchaser with a lower value. Money is saved on insurance premium cost, registration cost, financing cost and licensing fees and the purchaser need not worry about the sales tax too.

A used car is considered to be less reliable, as the exact condition of the car is not known. Also when a used car is bought in auctions, the purchaser is not even given a chance to look or test-drives the car, which makes the purchase altogether very risky. There is no idea if the previous owner performed maintenance and repairs of the car regularly. Such cars even though bought at a very low price will end up costing more on repairs and maintenance after purchase.

When buying used cars detailed inspection of the interiors has to be made, as it will avoid any chances of replacement of any item as it costs more. The exterior of the used car also needs careful examination to find out if the car was involved in any accident or damaged in any natural calamities etc. The engine and the oil should be checked to avoid heavy expenses in replacing the car engine. Car should be test driven to see the performance of the car, suspension and to check the brake controls.

There are certain kinds of used cars which are maintained very well, handled and driven by a single owner and which even comes with a lifetime warranty. Such cars are off-leased and sold. The purchaser will be very lucky enough to buy such kind of well maintained, hassle free used cars.

New Car Purchase Answer You Have Been Looking For

Did you ever wonder why new vehicles have window stickers? Granted it was a great way to let your neighbors know you just bought a new car!!

Heres the real reason behind the sticker. In 1958, Senator Michael Monroney proposed a bill that would take the mystery out of new car prices. This bill required that every car manufacturer attach a label to the window that would show the suggested retail price (MSRP), transportation method, freight charges and accessory prices.

Prior to this, price tags did not tell the full story. Very often there was a large discrepancy between the showroom price and the actual price.

Now a customer could walk into a new car showroom and shop with confidence. The price of an accessory was no longer a secret. In fact, all hidden charges were now readily available to the customer. Car dealers were no longer able to inflate prices in order to show a higher trade in value. As a result, sales increased as consumer confidence increased.

Thats the way life is if you apply this principal to anything you are selling. Give the customer more than they expect and they will respond in a positive way. Even if they dont buy from you they will spread your gospel of truth to their friends and neighbors.

Did you like this? I know you did. Be happy and live long. Visit my site

The price for a specific new car will vary across state and international boundaries. The prices vary because of different local taxes and because of different manufacturer price structures in different markets.

Model specifications also vary from country to country. A GLS model in one country will come with different levels of equipment in different countries.

Customers in some markets may be willing to pay higher prices, mainly where the market is less competitive. The car manufacturers make more profit in these markets. Customers who live in high car price areas can and should consider purchasing in nearby, cheaper markets.

There may be import taxes to pay when customers import their vehicle as a personal import, but the overall price is still going to be lower.

New car prices also vary according to time of year. If a state or country has date specific car registrations, then there will be a massive upsurge in demand in whatever months the registration changes. An upsurge in demand means that dealers are less likely to give discounts.

Do your research before you go near a showroom. Have emailed quotes for specific models to show the sales staff in the showroom that you eventually do visit. You can use these to try to obtain an even lower price.

Dealers are given monthly sales targets. There are some months when dealers struggle to reach these targets and are normally much more willing to give discounts. They arrange for a finance company to buy the cars that they must sell to hit their targets and then sell these as “Demonstrators” or “Pre-registered” at a price thousands below the list price.

When you sell the car it will be classed as having had two owners and the price will be slightly lower than a one-owner vehicle, but hardly thousands less. These months are normally November and December, as well as the month immediately before any registration change.