Cars on Contract

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.

What would I have to do if I wanted to sell my Nissan?  Follow some simple selling rules to ensure the best price in the current market.  First of all ask the question, who are you selling your Nissan to?  This may be a private buyer, a car dealership, or you might even be considering selling your Nissan for scrap.  Whatever you choose, the basic rules still apply.  Check out price comparison websites to see realistic prices for second hand or used Nissans, as these popular cars can often offer outstanding value for buyers.  Alternatively, take your car to a dealership or find an online Nissan dealer who will be able to give you the best price. 

Always start by offering your Nissan to the market in pristine condition, making sure it is spotlessly clean and devoid of personal effects.  Up to date paperwork is always a must, and be sure to include a service book detailing your Nissan’s service history if you have one.  Be truthful in adverts about the condition of the car, and do not make false claims to buyers.  Once you have ascertained an estimate to sell your Nissan for, be prepared to haggle with buyers if necessary, especially if the buyer is paying by cash for cars.  This will almost certainly gain you a quicker sale than if you rely on a fixed price.  Nissans represent an efficient and cost-effective choice in the used car market, so make sure your Nissan is presented at its best to make your sale.

Car people come in many guises and whether preference is given to looks, performance, economy or style, it is fully recognised now that with more drivers on the roads each year, the UK car market is still healthy despite recession. The simple facts are that people like cars but more importantly people rely on cars for so many reasons.

Back in the day those described as ‘car people’ would be without exception would have been young, male and with propensity towards mechanics, however the term car people could now be applied to most UK citizens. Recognising the new inclusivity of the market, car makers everywhere quickly adapted to meet the new demand resulting in cars designed with all types of car people in mind. Commonly found on TV are car adverts aimed at fashionable young women, young men, families, singles, pet-lovers, professionals, mature drivers, the list is endless.

There are also more opportunities to learn about cars now too. In addition to basic mechanic courses that have always proved very popular with car people, there are also a number of informative sites that help troubleshoot any problems, in addition to myriad customer reviews and blogs on every make and model of vehicle. Put this together with motoring programmes on TV and the popularity of road movies and it can easily be seen that the growing army of car people just had to be catered for.

While car people have come a long way from the teenager tinkering with an old scooter in dad’s garage, so too has the car industry evolved. The diversity of car designs available today then is a direct result of car people everywhere.

If you have your car serviced regularly you will be helping to maintain its roadworthiness and resale value. It will also make your car more efficient, which might save you money as well as improving your safety when driving.

Do not try to service your car yourself unless you are an experienced mechanic, as you could jeopardise your family’s safety and possibly invalidate your warranty. Modern cars rely on on-board computers so you are unlikely to have the right equipment to service your car at home. 

There are three kinds of car service; oil change, interim service and full service.

Oil Service

An oil service is optional and is sometimes carried out between main services. It should include a change of oil and oil filter, checks on tyres, battery, windscreen wipers and lights and topping up of brake fluid, power steering and washer fluid.

Interim Service

Depending on the car manufacturer’s recommendations, an interim car service should be carried out about every 6,000 miles or every six months.

Full Service

A full car service should be carried out at around 12,000 miles or at 12-months, whichever is sooner. The full service may reveal problems that can be repaired before they get worse and will save you money in the long run.

Really cheap cars can be found on the internet, local garage forecourts and in private ads in local newspapers or car magazines. Another option for buying very cheap cars is to attend a car auction and while it is possible to find a really good deal, you must remember that it would be bought as seen and with no warranty.

Depending on the price of the car you may be able to negotiate cheap car finance, which is a great way to go if you are a new driver looking to gain experience in an older second hand car and do not have too much cash available.

You can find very cheap cars on the internet and also in various car trade magazines that are published regularly, usually weekly. Used cars, in good condition, are much sought after and form a large part of the car sales market in the current economic climate. 

If you have passed your test in an automatic car or simply find them easier to drive, you may find that some garages offer relatively cheap automatic cars for sale on their forecourts.