Buy A Car: Choosing The Right One

Buying a car, other than buying a house, is often the single most expensive purchases a person
can make in their life. How do you choose that car?
A car, SUV, truck, or minivan needs to basically do one thing: get you and your family from point
A to point B. What kind of car can do this most efficiently for you?

First of all, do you want a car? A minivan? An SUV? You need to consider what you will be
using the vehicle for. Just because you have two or three kids to taxi around does not always
mean you need a minivan. There are many larger sedan style cars, as well as station wagon
style cars, that car manufacturers are gearing towards the family on the go. Smaller minivans
can also work well for many families, while being more fuel efficient in these days of rising gas
and energy prices.
A Sports Utility Vehicle is a fun choice, and great for those who like to camp and go offroading.
Judging from the number of SUVs sold in North America, that seems like pretty much a third of
the population. SUVs may not be the best choice for many who don’t often camp or need a
SUV, because they are big and use a lot of gas.
A pickup truck with a crew cab can be a good choice for the driver who needs both the ability to
haul loads, and take their kids to hockey practice.
Do you want a hybrid car?
Hybrid cars are the newest form of car designed to be fuel efficient. They have two motors, one
gas and one electric. During braking, the electric motor generates electricity, which is stored and
used to run the car’s lights, etc. This can save gas, but not necessarily so much that you save
enough money in gas to make up for the higher price of the car. But for the environmentally
conscious, the commuter who has to drive a lot or far distances, or those who just like the look
of the car, a hybrid car can be great. The Toyota Prius, for example, can get up to 60 miles to
the gallon. This can work out to savings in the long run, depending on how long you keep the
car.

Electric cars
Electric cars run off of fuel cells, and are thus more environmentally friendly than gas powered
cars – no air pollution. These cars may not be the best choice for everyone. If you decide you
want an electric car, be sure and research the individual model you want.
Another important decision which you will need to make is whether to buy a new or used car.
This is a personal decision, based on a variety of factors, including comfort, financing, trade-ins,
and price.

Safety Or Savings? - Striking The Right Balance

Looking back on a previous TCIB post urging people to bin their renewal to save money on car insurance it seems consumer lethargy is still a huge problem for UK motor insurance customers.

Research from Tesco Finance has found that just under one in three motorists moved their car insurance to a new provider in the last 12 months.

Even more worrying was the statistic announcing that 10% of drivers had either never switched their car insurance premium or had stayed loyal to the same insurer for over 10 years.

Those who have switched put price as one of the most important factors when choosing a car insurance quote while those who had stayed with the same provider said price was less important compared to the features and level of cover offered by their policy.

These figures create a split market, those who are concerned with saving money and those who feel prepared to pay more for the safety of ‘knowing’ they have the right policy.

Both sides make very good points. After all a motor insurance policy is there to provide protection so obtaining the right cover is hugely important.

However with the huge range of insurers now offering policies the opportunity to make a saving on your premium should not be overlooked; especially in the current climate of rising mortgage repayments and utility bills.

In my opinion a mix of the two is the ideal mentality when shopping for car insurance.

Make sure your policy has all the features you need but don’t restrict yourself to one insurer and one quote.

Loyalty is rarely rewarded in today’s market and with comparison sites such as confused.com you can easily find motor insurance policies that match your needs on both policy features and price.

So, if you currently care more about price double check that your policy offers the protection you need; the consequences of not doing so could be potentially disastrous. AND, if you haven’t switched your car insurance for a while be sure to have a look at the options available, you can easily lower your premium without compromising on quality.

How To Choose The Right Body Shop

You don’t want to fool around when choosing a mechanic for your car. Keep an ear open for
recommendations and warnings when your friends and family have car troubles. If you know
beforehand of a body shop you feel comfortable with, you won’t need to make a rushed or
incomplete decision when you need one.
Ask friends and associates for their recommendations. I stay in touch with homeschooling
families. They’re often part of a larger group that can share recommendations for mechanics
they’ve felt were honest and reputable

Check with your local Better Business Bureau regarding the reputation of a particular body
shop. Ask about the number of complaints, if there were any, and how the complaints were
resolved. Don’t be too anxious if there were some complaints. No one pleases everybody, and
there are some people you can’t satisfy no matter what. But if you see a pattern of the same
kinds of problems, beware.
Next, pay a visit to the shop and ask if they handle your vehicle make and model. Check to see
how long they’ve been in business. What kind of feel do you get about the place? Are you
treated with courtesy? Does the staff behave professionally?
You don’t need to “white glove test” the place, but it should be neat, and organized. Also, times
are a’changin’, and modern equipment is an absolute must.
Sometimes, vehicle manufacturers recommend specific repair procedures and tools for the
repair of their vehicles. Ask if the shop is trained in these procedures and has the necessary
equipment.
Are there any civic and community service awards hanging on the walls? It’s a nice touch. Do
you see diplomas or certificates of competence? You want a technically competent staff.
Look around the place. What kinds of vehicles seem to be in the repair stage? Does everything
look like it’s being handled professionally? Don’t be shy about talking to folks in the waiting
room to see they’ve tried the shop before and how pleased they are with the service they’ve
received in the past.
My number one suggestion is to ask around and see where others have had satisfactory car
repair work done. Even if you’re feeling stressed and in a hurry, ask at least 15 people. That
way, you’re likely to get the same place mentioned more than once. A little time spent on the
basics can save you a load of trouble in the long run. And once you find mechanic you trust,
your car’s future looks a lot brighter.