Cars on Contract

Car supermarkets are an alternative choice for buying new or used cars.  People go to car supermarkets for their ease, convenience and low prices.  A car supermarket can provide a different way to get the car someone is dreaming of.

A car supermarket is basically an auto superstore.  It is a large car retail outlet that usually sells a mixture of both used and new cars.  These cars will be from a variety of car manufacturers and will vary in age.  However, new to three-year-old cars are the most common.   

One thing that many consumers like about car supermarkets is that they typically employ a no haggling ideology.  Unlike a conventional car dealership, a car supermarket will usually try to not negotiate on the price.  This means that the price the buyer sees is the price they will pay.  They will not need to attempt to bargain with the dealer to drive down the price; at the same time, the dealer will not be trying to drive up the price.  For many consumers, this eliminates an unnecessary hassle associated with buying a car.

This does not mean that there is little selection available at car supermarkets.  In fact, car supermarkets such as Carcraft usually have hundreds or even thousands of vehicles available to choose from.  This means that consumers can get a huge selection and still need not worry about the hassle of negotiating.  Plus, car supermarkets often offer lower prices than dealerships.  With their high volume, they can offer discounted prices to consumers.

Every driver, at some time or another, will want to buy a car for convenience purposes and to use their expensively acquired driving skills, or sometimes just to enjoy the freedom of the road.

In the UK, 17 is the magical age when someone can apply for a provisional licence, which should lead to a full legal licence once the difficult national driving test has been successfully passed. Often the first place to search for a new car is a car magazine such as Auto Trader, or alternatively local newspapers and comparison websites will list a range of local car dealers.

When buying a car it is important to take along an experienced driver as they will be able to advise on any potential problems, and also be able to ask the vendor pertinent questions about the new motor.

The car’s service history should also be examined, and petrol consumption and the warranty period must be established. A newly bought car should not break down but it is reassuring to realise that most warranties will protect the driver and their new vehicle within a specified amount of time.

According to the Daily Telegraph, using figures from the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA), in 2010 there were 31 million registered cars in the UK. From Lancias to Landrovers, nearly every family in the country owns at least one car and most families have two.

Some of these cars are brand new, others second-hand or a part exchange car. Some drivers are choosing to go for car repairs rather than spend money on a new car given the challenging global economic conditions. Other motorists are exploring the Internet and social networking sites in order to share car purchase experiences before taking the plunge and visiting their local car dealer.

The government’s ‘scrappage’ scheme, rising Road Tax and the constant increase in fuel prices has led to changes in the way in which the public buy their cars. Many more families and individuals are looking for fuel economy and efficiency rather than a cool image. Motor manufacturers have risen to this challenge and there has been a growth in so called ‘super minis’ and ‘city cars’ which have been designed to beat the congestion charge, look good and also have economic fuel consumption.

There are many ways to make savings when buying a second hand car. This doesn’t mean you have to buy a vehicle that has serious problems, it does however mean you could consciously look for small issues that could be easily fixed, in exchange for money off the overall price.

Issues to look out for

The actual buying process is almost the same as if you were buying a brand new car, as you will have to figure out exactly what model and make you want prior to viewing. The only other thing you have to worry about is the wear and tear.

It’s important that you see the registration certificate before you put any money on the table, especially if you are buying a car privately. Without this essential document then it won’t be worth the risk. Some people prefer to buy from a dealer as the cars will generally be serviced and maintained before they are advertised.

Always take the car for a test drive. Listen out for strange noises, check the handling and make sure that all of the electronics are in working order. When stationary it’s always recommended that you check the tyre tread and exhaust. These components are very often overlooked, and if you spot a problem you could ask for a price reduction. Another simple way to save yourself some money is to check the registration number. If it is a model that is over five years old then you could try and haggle for a better price. More often than not dealers will have a certain amount of leeway as they expect buyers to barter.

Auctions can be a great way to find cheap cars at way below the price that you would pay when buying from a dealer or even from a private seller. Possible venues include auctions of repossessed cars, auction sites such as eBay and salvage cars. Finding the perfect Audi A3 for sale or used BMW has never been easier thanks to the internet.

Repossessed Cars

When a car is repossessed, it is often resold at a knock down price. If you would like to find out if there is an auction of repossessed cars in your area, first try looking up auction houses in the Yellow Pages or Thomson Local. Repossessed cars are sometimes also auctioned off by the banks, so check with your bank or financial institution.  Finally, your local paper may publish notices of forthcoming auctions.

Online Auctions

eBay is perhaps the longest established and most popular auction site on the web. It has a specialist motors section, with bids starting from as little as 99p. There is also a ‘new kid on the block’, Madbid.com, which is worth checking out. Auctions on this site are faster paced than eBay’s, but it can be more difficult to find exactly what you want. Nevertheless, it is possible to find cheap cars if you log on at the right time.

Salvage Car Auctions

If you know a little about car repairs, it might be possible to pick up crash-damaged cars really cheaply and do them up yourself. Bluecycle bills itself as “The Car Salvage Specialists” and members need to register in order to sell or buy, at a cost of £40 per year. Cars can be found incredibly cheaply, some for as little as £40.

Buying a new car can be like walking through a mine field if you are not knowledgeable on the subject. Firstly, there is all the technical jargon to understand, and even when a deal is made you still have the car finance to sort out. Car finance is usually done through one of several sources, two of the main ones being the car dealership where the car was purchased and a bank or credit union.

When financing a new car through a dealership, the rep will be working on commission so he will not necessarily be trying to sort out the best possible deal for you. The rep will try to get you to add clauses to the deal that you may or may not need, such as extended warranties, undercoating or an alarm system

As these extras are often where the dealer makes the most commission it is always good to do an internet search and find the best deals beforehand. Make a print out and show it to the finance officer (after he has made an offer) and ask if he can match it. More often than not he will do his level best to help you.

Getting your car finance through a bank or credit union can be a good idea as they usually offer competitive rates, a personal service and do not tend to give a sales pitch for extras. They can also give advice on how much you should be paying for a car and their loans often come with free life and/or disability insurance.

Though they are not quite as convenient as getting financing from a dealership as it cannot be done in the evening or on weekends, getting your finance from a bank is overall more advisable.

The used car market is large in the UK, and there are a large number of people looking for a bargain at any one time.  This means that depreciation does occur as people are of course looking for the lowest prices, but it also means that sellers have a certain amount of leverage.  For owners of VW cars, there is even more leverage – VW is a respected brand around the world, with a strong reputation for build quality and reliability.  VW owners will find that their car holds its value better than many other makers cars, so more money can go towards the next car.  Owners might be surprised to find that when they wonder “what’s my Volkswagen worth,” the amount may be higher than they thought.

The best way to sell a car these days is using online methods – the more people you can reach with your advertisement, the better chance you have of making a favourable deal, and the internet will help to reach more people than a local advertisement.  There are a few choices for selling online.  The first and easiest is to go through a car dealer, similarly to using a traditional dealership, many dealers sell used cars online these days.  This gets the car off your hands the quickest, though it does mean the dealer takes a small cut of the price.  An auction is another way to quickly sell a car – most have a time limit, so you know that at the end it is very likely several competing buyers will have stepped in.  Auctions lead to very fair prices.

The second hand car industry is huge business in the UK and there are many avenues one can take when one is either buying or selling a second hand car. A popular method of checking the market is by way of car newspapers like Auto Trader. Always crammed with vehicles, motors, motorbikes, commercial vehicles and plant machinery for sale, this is an ever popular method to see what is on offer and is great news for both buyers and sellers.

Another way to source second-hand car bargains is on the web. Most car giants and car supermarkets have informative and at times entertaining websites, which offer not only vehicles for sale but also give driving hints and tips, reviews, ‘green’ cars and ways to save on fuel. Another advantage to sourcing second-hand cars on the web is it makes price comparison so much easier and quicker.

Second-hand cars have come a long way from the stereotypical used car salesman caricature and there are often great bargains to be had either on the forecourt, the web or in the newspaper. Second-hand cars are now sold with service history, warranty and guarantee as standard and there are very often other incentives to purchase too. Established vehicle outlets that specialise in second-hand cars usually offer great choice ranging from nearly new cars to older models so the discerning buyer has plenty of choice.

The second-hand car market is one of the most improved businesses in recent years with more quality and choice offered to the customer, who is valued every bit as much as the new car buyer.

Professional servicing is essential for any vehicle. During a standard 12,000 mile service (approx 12 months), the following should be expected to be included in the car service:

•    Drain engine oil and replace.
•    Change oil filter.
•    Change air filter.
•    Check timing belt and advise if replacement is required.
•    Check radiator and radiator cap.
•    Check coolant auxiliaries e.g. hoses, clips etc.
•    Check fan, alternator and drive belts.
•    Check clutch for abnormalities and adjust.
•    Check drive shaft and propshaft.
•    Check all lights.
•    Check horn.
•    Check heater.
•    Check battery, steering, steering rack and suspension. Lubricate where necessary.
•    Check exhaust emissions and record.
•    Check handbrake, brake pads, brake discs and brake callipers.
•    Check hydraulics.
•    Check wheel cylinders.
•    Check tyres, condition, tread and pressure.
•    Reset wheel nut torque to manufacturer’s recommended setting if required.
•    Check wheel balance.
•    Check and top up all fluids.

By having this service carried out every year, drivers are ensuring their own safety and the longevity of the vehicle, as well as helping it to retain value.

Unlike the United States, where the majority of cars are automatic, most Britons still drive cars with manual transmissions. However, the market-share of automatic cars is growing, so perhaps you are considering switching to an automatic for your next car purchase. While this article is not an exhaustive guide, it aims to provide a brief overview of the pros and cons of automatic cars.

Advantages of Automatic Cars

Because there is no clutch and no need to fiddle with the gearstick, automatic cars are much simpler to drive than manual ones. You simply set the gearbox to the ‘drive’ setting and of you go. Automatic cars are also much better on hills than manual ones.

Disadvantages of Automatic Cars

Automatic gearboxes are much more expensive to repair than manual ones. Also, while automatics are great on long, straight American type roads, they give you less control on a narrow, winding British one. Therefore, unless you do the majority of your driving on the motorway, you might want to give this some thought before switching to an automatic.