You Have Rights if Your Car is a Lemon

August 30, 2009

Lemon law rights were established in 1990 in order to protect and guide you in the event you are the owner of a lemon. These rights extend beyond automobiles. In fact, these rights and laws include many consumer products including puppies. These laws can vary to some degree in every state. They also can be found on the warranty card that you get with your product. Additionally, You may have more rights than what the dealer or manufacturer lists on the warranty card. If you should be unlucky enough to receive a lemon product, you can use your lemon law rights to sue the manufacturer and to reclaim proper compensation for your defective product.

The first thing you have to do if you think that you have a lemon is to identify whether your product will qualify as a lemon under your state’s laws. Lemon law rights apply not only to new cars, but also to used cars and items bought on a lease under the warranty period. An example of what would be considered a lemon in most states is as follows; You bought a new vehicle. The vehicle has required several repairs during the warranty period. Even if the manufacturer is unable to fix the problem before the warranty period expires and is not ready to replace your product with a new one, you have the lemon law rights to protect you. A product can also be defined as a lemon if it does not perform as claimed by the manufacturer prior to your purchase of the product.

If you think that you may have purchased a lemon product, you must first contact the manufacturer and try to resolve the problem with them. If the manufacturer is not able to repair your product or if they are not willing to accept your claim, then you should have your lemon law rights work for you. You can either represent yourself in small claims court (where applicable) or you can hire an attorney whom specializes in the lemon law.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells the full line of Budge Car Covers, Truck Covers, SUV Covers, Van Covers, Station Wagon Covers and Limo Covers at discounted prices.


Should you Purchase a Repossessed Vehicle?

August 28, 2009

If you are in the market for a used car you should consider buying a repossessed vehicle from the bank. You will almost always get a better price on the same vehicle if purchased at a car dealership. Additionally, there is less pressure during the negotiation of a repossessed vehicle if you are able to buy direct from the bank, however most repossessed cars get sold at auctions. Banks will generally offer you their bottom line price and you can either accept, reject or offer a lower price and see what they say. If you go to auction, you may bid any price over the established minimum and stop bidding if you think the price is getting too high. You will not have the gamesmanship that a traditional used car dealership will present you.

If you are willing to consider buying a repossessed car, you should go to an auction, without the intent to purchase and see how the whole process works. Once you are comfortable with the process, it might be a good idea to purchase a pocket Kelley Blue Book guide or similar to take with you. That way if you find a car that you want to buy during the preview stage, you can look up the value before the auction starts

One of the downsides to buying a car at auction is that they are almost always sold “As Is” without a warranty. You should start the car up, listen to the engine, try all of the accessories, etc. to determine what kind of shape the car is in. Also, if you have a friend whom is a mechanic, you may ask them to come along with you.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com, sells Vehicle Covers. The above information is intended to make you aware of this venue for used car purchases. As always, you should do as much due diligence as possible before purchasing a used car at auction, through a car dealership or private party.


5 Useful Tips for Passing Your Driver’s Test

August 26, 2009

When you are preparing to take your driving portion of your driver’s license test you will undoubtedly be logging a lot of hours behind the wheel. For the written exam portion, you can study a handout booklet from the governing body that does the licensing in your state. All of the answers for the test will be in those books. For the road test, it is your skill level that is being tested. To increase your chances of passing the road test follow the tips listed below;

1) Try not to brake hard. Try and anticipate when you will be stopping at a light or stop sign so that you can slowly decelerate and then apply the brake to make the stop nice and smooth.
2) When you are stopped at a traffic signal, make sure that all of the cross traffic has cleared before proceeding when the light turns green.
3) Make sure that before you take your test that you are aware of what every control knob and switch in the vehicle you will be taking the test in does
4) When you need to execute a lane change, do not slow down your vehicle in order to change lanes. You want to maintain your speed as the same speed as the other cars in order to keep the flow of traffic going smoothly and not cut anyone off or impede traffic.
5) Try to appear confident. Don’t look at the steering wheel, but rather look at the road ahead, check your mirrors when appropriate and do not rely strictly on your mirrors when changing lanes. Don’t look at the examiner to see his/her reactions to your maneuvers. Trust in what you practiced and you will do fine.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells the entire Budge Industries line of car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers at discount prices.


Plastic Cars; Who Could Have Predicted It?

August 25, 2009

Can you remember when cars used to be made out of mostly steel and metals? Today and for many years now most of our cars are made out of other materials. A perfect example is that bumpers used to be made of chromed steel are now plastic. Plastic bumpers are cheaper than steel or alloy.

You can now find some plastic parts inside of transmissions, some brake components, engines, radiators and fuel tanks. Manufacturers are even including plastic in structural parts of the frame as well as just about every part of the automobile.

Plastic composites are stronger, cheaper, weigh less and are just a better choice of materials to use. The whole idea of using plastic on automobiles came about to lighten vehicles in order to achieve higher miles per gallon numbers.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car, truck, suv, van, station wagon and limousine covers.


How to Get Rid of the Cigarette Smoke Smell in Your Car

August 24, 2009

If you are considering buying a used car that was previously owned by a smoker, you may be wondering if there is a way to get rid of the smell that cigarette smoke leaves. Air fresheners only mask the smell and are not a long term solution. Nicotine sticks to everything inside a car’s interior. To get rid of the smell you have got to use a few unconventional methods.

This first method is used by car dealers. Place a scented clothes dryer anti static or fabric softener sheet under every seat of your vehicle. Make sure that all of the windows are rolled up; turn the heat on high, and the vent option to recirculation. Start up your car and then get out and close the door. Let the vehicle run for about 20 minutes. Turn the auto off after 20 minutes and let your car sit overnight. When you come out in the morning the smell should be gone. In extreme cases you may need to do this twice. An alternative method is to sit the car out in the heat of summer for a few hours instead of using your cars heater. .

The second method is to use dry upholstery cleaner on every part of the interior that is cloth including the headliner. Allow to completely dry before using a shop vacuum cleaner to vacuum all of the interior surfaces of the vehicle. You will also need to use a carpet cleaner on all the carpeted areas of your car. Next, you will also need to clean the dashboard and other leather, simulated leather or vinyl parts with a mild detergent before applying armor all or leather conditioner to same.

No matter which of the above methods that you use, you will want to change the cabin filter for the car or truck.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com, an internet retailer of Budge car, truck, suv, van, station wagon and limousine covers at discount prices.


How to Cut Down on the Expense of Car Ownership

August 22, 2009

As anyone whom owns one knows, owning a car is a major expense. It begins with the cost to buy a car and insure it. Car insurance can be very expensive depending on if you live in a metropolitan city or not and how much driving you do. If that isn’t bad enough, then you then have to spend money on gas and money to maintain it so that it is kept in good working order.
Yes, owning a car is a major expense, and if you are on a tight budget, this is one expense you should try to reduce. There are several ways to reduce this expense but we are going to examine two of the easiest ways o lower this expense.

The first is alternative forms of transportation. If you use your car less by walking, riding a bicycle, or using public transportation whenever possible you will lower your car expenses. Another benefit of walking or riding a bike is you will be in better physical shape after a while.

The second alternative is Car Pooling. See if a friend works near you and alternate between you and he/she driving. If none of your friends work near you check with your co-workers to see if any of them live relatively close to you and you can car pool with them.

As a result of using your car less, you will save money on maintenance expenses due to less wear and tear, which means your car will last you longer and need fewer repairs.

While your car is parked it is a good idea to use a car cover to protect it from the sun and other elements.


Not So Obvious Fuel Efficiency Tip for Your Car

August 21, 2009

Now that gas prices on the rise again, drivers are looking for ways to get the most mileage out of every tank of gas. Performing routine vehicle maintenance and developing efficient driving habits can help, however, there is another option to combine with these strategies. Low rolling resistance tires. Low rolling resistance tires are engineered to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted as the tire spins. Cars without these tires spend a lot of energy overcoming rolling resistance and your gas mileage suffers as a result. By switching to these tires you will accomplish two things; reducing oil consumption and saving money.

For Driver’s who are concerned about the safety and wear ability of Low Rolling Resistance tires, understand that tire manufacturers must abide by the same federal standards used to control the quality of every other type of tire. That means that traction, tread wear, and temperature resistance are all guaranteed to be acceptable. They provide the same performance as any other aftermarket tire. Low Rolling Resistance tires have become a popular upgrade for eco-conscious as well as budget conscious drivers. Vehicle manufacturers whom are looking to meet CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards are choosing to add LRR tires to their autos.

If you are concerned with getting better gas mileage, then low rolling resistance tires is a smart move. If you combine these tires with other fuel-efficient strategies, these tires will give you great performance and improved gas mileage of up to 5-10%! These tires are so good at conserving fuel that some experts estimate that if all vehicles were outfitted with LRR tires, we could save up to 4.5% of our total worldwide fuel consumption. Some of the most highly rated tires in this category (according to Consumer Reports) are the Michelin X Radial, Michelin Agility Touring, Michelin Harmony, Toyo 800 Ultra, Sumitomo HTR T4, Michelin Energy MXV4 Plu and the Continental Conti Premier Contact H, among others.

While your car, truck or SUV is parked a good way to protect your new LRR tires from the harmful UV rays of the sun is to cover it.


Caring For Your Car

August 20, 2009

If you have been looking for a way to protect your car from scratches, theft, and damaging UV rays from the sun, you have probably looked into purchasing a car cover. Car Covers are simple to put on and typically only take 5 minutes to attach to your car. Most people are a little lost about how to care for the car cover after it has been used for a period of time. While people realize that these covers protect their cars, they’re not sure how to get the most wear out of the covers.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve purchased Budge car covers or any other brand of auto cover. They are generally very easy to clean. The first thing you want to remember is to use a commercial washer with a mild soap. If possible, you should use the delicate cycle or the closest thing to it. The most important thing to remember is to not use a dryer to dry it. You want to hang the cover over a clothes line or something that will allow air to get to both sides of the cover.  Using a clothes dryer will cause it to shrink.


Buying New or Previously Owned Cars?

August 18, 2009

With the economy in a recession, car sales have really slowed down. If you are in the market to buy a car or truck it is a great time to do it because the interest rates are low and the car dealers are willing to negotiate their pricing. Buying a new car is usually preferred by consumers but not always the best option due to cost.. A used car or truck might be the best route for those that can not afford to purchase a new auto at this time.

Fuel efficient cars are more popular due to rising gas prices. Sales of trucks and sports utility vehicles are stagnant. The manufacturers offered rebates to reduce some of the inventory on both new and used trucks and SUVs. The only people purchasing the large trucks it seems are those that need a truck for their work. This trend seems to have taken the manufacturers by surprise as well.

Previously owned cars and trucks cost less and many of them have low mileage. Many Dealer’s offer Certified Used Vehicle for sale. To be certified they have been inspected and have passed that inspection. Sometimes Certified Used Vehicles come with a 90 day return policy. You should always ask if the vehicle has been in a wreck. A report on the vehicle’s repair history is often available, but is not necessarily required by different states. Whenever possible you should check the Kelley Blue Book for the car or trucks value and check to see if there are any safety recalls.

After purchasing a car, truck or SUV it is a good idea to purchase a car cover or truck cover to protect your investment.


Helpful Tips for Saving Money on a New Car Purchase

August 16, 2009

One of the most important things that a car buyer must have in order to get the best price when purchasing a car is patience. By taking your time and not being impulsive you can save huge sums of money. There are three things you can spend some time on that should result in saving you money.

Research the pricing of the vehicle you want before you even go to the dealership to look at cars. You should know what the dealers cost is on the vehicle you want with all of the equipment you want. A couple of ways you can find out the dealer’s cost is through the Auto Club or Edmunds website. Once you know what the dealer’s cost is on the specific vehicle you want you can then know if you are getting a good deal or not by the price you are negotiating.

Visit several Dealers while doing your shopping to get a feel for which one is dealing. You should never buy a car at the first dealer you visit. When negotiating a price with a salesman, you should offer a price so low that they will never agree to it. They will counter any price you offer. Do not say anything after you make your offer until they speak. That is the only way to get close to their bottom price. Wait for them to give the lowest price they are willing to sell at. Always try to get the offer in writing and then tell them you want to think about it. When you go to the next dealer, you can use that written offer to try and negotiate a better price. If they won’t go any lower go to another dealer and try again. If you get two or three dealers tell you they can’t sell it any lower that is probably the best price that you are going to get.

Buy your vehicle the last weekend or final day of the month. All manufacturers offer their dealers sales incentives. Most of these incentives kick in after they have sold X number of vehicles in a month. Usually most dealers are not close or have not reached these incentive levels until the end of the month. Because of the incentives they can afford to sell you your car for less due to making additional money in incentives.

Once you have purchased your vehicle, you should protect your investment with a car cover or truck cover.