The Road to a Long-Lasting Automobile

Auto technicians say the key to keeping vehicles running well-today and down the road-is routine maintenance. Yet many drivers tend to stall when it comes to keeping up with some everyday auto-basics.

A recent survey by the Car Care Council found:

54 percent had low tire pressure
38 percent had low or dirty engine oil
28 percent had inadequate cooling protection
19 percent needed new belts
16 percent had dirty air filters
10 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid



The inspections include volunteers checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspections are complete, volunteers and motorists review any problems that may have been found and motorists receive information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair.

The inspections are usually held in parking lots at shopping malls, schools and businesses and they’re generally sponsored by area repair facilities and auto-shops, as well as other businesses, civic groups and radio stations.

Stress Management Works for Holidays and Automobiles

In domino fashion, failing to plan for maintenance can turn small problems into larger ones, putting a serious dent in your automotive budget. The penalties of procrastinating on vehicle maintenance range from a heater that runs cold to a battery that won't start the car.

Take care of your car's seasonal services immediately and make plans to get ahead of the game next year. An early visit to your repair facility provides the opportunity to budget for unanticipated repairs. The Car Care Council offers the following checklist:
Engine performance

A poorly maintained engine is hard to start in cold weather, if it starts at all. It may run rough and lose power. Have fuel, ignition and emission control systems checked, necessary components replaced and adjustments made.

Battery and electrical system

How old is your battery? If it's three or more years old, it should be tested and replaced if necessary. Even a strong battery that can deliver full power at 80 degrees F. will have dropped to 65 percent of its output at freezing temperature and only 40 percent at zero degrees.

Clean and tighten battery terminals, as loose or corroded connections can cause symptoms of a weak or dead battery.

Oil and filter

Change both as recommended in the owner's manual, generally at 3,000-mile intervals for severe conditions and cold weather operation, especially when most driving is stop-and-go traffic. Check the owner's manual for more information on severe service or refer to Car Care Council's Service Interval Schedule.

Visibility

Replace old wiper blades and be sure your washers are working. Carry spare washer solvent in your vehicle.

Cooling system

A vehicle's antifreeze should be change
d annually, or as recommended in the owner's manual. Flush the cooling system every 24 months. The recommended mixture is 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water. Have the system pressure tested for leaks and check hoses and drive belt(s) for tension and condition.

Tires

Inspect, balance, check inflation and rotate tires. Check inflation on the spare and make sure the jack is in place.

Lights

Check all lights and replace burned out bulbs

Exhaust System

Have the vehicle put on a lift for an inspection of the exhaust system. Leaking exhaust fumes can be deadly. www.carcare.org

Buying a used car can make a lot of sense. Travel to Bakersfield in Kern County, CA, and look at Superior Used Cars and trucks in Bakersfield. http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=32 You can purchase pre-owned vehicles @ http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=74 other wise known as a used car or truck. Kern County's Superior Used Cars @ 401 Oak Street, and 1600 24th Street will treat you right and if you need used car financing, they can help you there too!

Take the Fear Out of Buying a Used Car or Truck in Bakersfield

As painful as getting a new car from a dealer can be, buying a used car in Bakersfield is potentially fraught with even more pain, perils and pitfalls. Potentially. Aside from the dreaded (though largely stereotypical) used car salesman trying to rob you five ways 'till Sunday, you are buying someone else's problem, often with no warranty. But used cars offer a huge upside, namely price. For new cars start to depreciate the second they drive off the dealer's lot. And if you buy your used car from a private party there's no dealer whatsoever. Which might just be the very best part.



The first and most important thing you can do to ensure the used car buying process works for you is research. Become an expert on the used car you want to purchase. Not only will this help you determine if the asking price is fair or not (and hopefully a steal), but will allow you to stay away from lemons. Newer or "late model" used cars will often times still have part of the original manufacturer's warranty in effect, especially "certified pre-owned" cars. Which is great. However, if the used car in question likes to break down, all the warranty in the world won't keep it out of the shop.

Forums are a particularly great source of information for a specific make and model year. Just be prepared to filter out a lot of noise. Even with a lot of loud, oftentimes angry opinions, some of the people that hang out on car forums are truly experts. Best of all, they'll talk your ear off for free. Always remember, just because a car has a certain reputation doesn't necessarily make it true. Also look for recalls (via Google) and reviews by independent watchdog groups like Consumer Reports.

Now that you're armed with some general knowledge, get into your potential used car's nitty gritty. Ask to see all the service and repair records. If the car in question doesn't have any service or repair records be prepared to just walk away – even if you really like the car and/or price. The maxim, "if it seems too good to be true, it is" holds extra water in the world of used cars. Besides, odds are a better deal is just around the corner.

Once you've determined that the used car in question isn't a factory lemon and has been maintained and serviced properly, bring in an expert. If you have a mechanic you trust, show him/her the car. If you don't have a mechanic you trust, find one. Ask friends, family, "car guy" acquaintances – you need to find an uninterested third party that can spot probable trouble spots, such as slipshod repairs, cheap replacement parts, excessive wear as well as signs of impending failure.

If your mechanic discovers any signs of trouble, be sure to get a CARFAX Vehicle History Report (all you need is the car's VIN number). It's well worth the $30. In fact, a CARFAX report is worth the money even if your mechanic sees no red flags. As long as you go into the used car process full of knowledge and with your eyes wide open, the secondhand car of your dreams is right around the corner.

Another consideration is what is the best way to finance a used car or truck? Many used car dealerships offer financing but it is something that you will want to compare with your own bank or credit union in order to receive the best terms.

At the end of the day, buying a used car can make a lot of sense. Travel to Bakersfield in Kern County, CA, and look at Superior Used Cars and trucks in Bakersfield. http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=32 You can purchase pre-owned vehicles http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=74 other wise known as a used car or truck. Kern County's Superior Used Cars @ 401 Oak Street, and 1600 24th Street will treat you right and if you need used car financing, they can help you there too!

10 Tips For Buying a Used Car in Bakersfield

1. You should purchase your used car or truck at or around Christmas time because with everybody buying their Christmas presents, not many of them are looking to buy a pre-owned car, and it forces dealerships to up their sales strategies. Salesmen are more willing to haggle down to your prices to close the deal.

2. You can also get a good deal from July to October because that is the time of year when dealerships are trying to get rid of their inventory to make way for the new models.

3. Purchasing a car online is becoming a great way to get a used car. Just wait for good rebates and incentives online and shop around. Print out your information from the best quotes and bring it to the used car dealer that you are most willing to work with. Bringing in lower quotes from another company might be your best bet in getting a good deal.

4. You should visit Kelley Blue book online if you are hoping to find the right car prices. This site is the first place that you should go for great advice on buying a car.

5. A good place to start when going into a dealership is to bring a copy of your credit score with you. It can lower your interest rates on your car loan. Your car dealer should not know more about you than you do.

6. You can avoid a common scam that dealerships pull. You will often hear that your financing fell through and that you have to respond by paying more money on your loan. Don't believe it. It's another reason for you to get a copy of your credit score.

7. Another common scam by dealership salesmen is for them to tell you that they have found you a lower rate, but that they want you to re-sign your loan papers. Usually, that is a downright lie. Once they pull up your financing information, they have the upper hand if you don't know the details about your credit information. You can get a copy of your credit information online at http://www.equifax.com for about $10-$15.

8. Don't bring in a car for trade in if you still owe money on it. The dealership rarely pays the rest of the loan on time which will result in you having to pay a great deal of late fees to the bank. If you do decide to bring a car in that you owe money on, get it in writing from the dealership that they will pay the balance on the car within 10 days.

9. Sometimes a Bakersfield Used car dealership may not have all of your options but they are in the business of finding cars for their customers. Tell them what you need and let them search for the perfect used car or truck for you.

10. You should never buy a car when you are in desperate need for one because a dealer will see that and take advantage. You should never wait until an old car is dead before searching for a new one because you should give yourself time to shop around for one and get the best deal possible. Desperation often clouds your judgment.

About the author: George Dodge is the webmaster for 1st Choice Auto Parts that has been expanding to include all things related to automobiles, including, parts, accessories, apparel, books, posters, insurance, loans, and articles to name but a few. Additional articles can be found at Automotive Articles.

Buying a used car can make a lot of sense. Travel to Bakersfield in Kern County, CA, and look at Superior Used Cars and trucks in Bakersfield. http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=32 You can purchase pre-owned vehicles http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=74 other wise known as a used car or truck. Kern County's Superior Used Cars @ 401 Oak Street, and 1600 24th Street will treat you right and if you need used car financing, they can help you there too!

Buy a Used Car or Truck in Bakersfield

Do You want Some Tips On Buying A Pre-Owned Car or Truck in Bakersfield, CA?

The value of a new car is lowered dramatically the moment that you leave the dealership. So why not buy a used car or truck? They have already proven their abilities and durabilities. So the following are some tips to use when buying a pre-owned car or truck.



The main "ups" of buying a used car are the lower initial purchase price, as well as lower property taxes (where applicable) and insurance costs. The main "downs" of buying a used car are that it's a used car, not new -- so there's no new car warranty and you are more vulnerable to used car problems that could cost you money, as well as aggravation.

To reduce your risk of exposure when you buy a used car, there are a number of precautionary steps you can take when shopping for a used vehicle.
These Tips to Buy a Used Car Include:

Shop for newer used cars that still have at least a portion of their original manufacturer's warranty remaining: Most late model used cars have at least three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty coverage (and often longer "powertrain" coverage on the engine and transmission). This means you'll get at least a year or so of peace of mind if you buy a used car that is less than three years old. (Important: Be sure to confirm the used car warranty is fully transferable.)

Check into Certified, Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles: These are late model used cars and trucks that typically have less than 50,000 miles and have been given multipoint inspections -- with any needed service or upkeep taken care of before the used car is put on the lot. CPO programs are backed by the automakers (Ford, GM, Volvo, etc.) and the vehicles often include a no-cost extended warranty on major parts such as the engine and transmission. CPO used cars are usually clean and well-maintained -- the "cream puffs" of the used car market.

Do a "background check" for indications that the particular used car make/model you are considering might be a problem car: One with an unusual record of either recalls or consumer complaints. You can find information about recalls and safety-related defects at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site, and information about consumer satisfaction at JD Power & Associates. Consumer Reports is another good place to poke around. It's also a very good idea to do a simple Google or Yahoo! Web search; just type in the make and model of the vehicle and "lemon." You can bet if the car has a history of problems, there will be complaints all over the Internet.

Screen your candidate -- the specific used car you are looking at: Even if the make/model has a great reputation for quality and reliability, that particular used car may not have been well-maintained -- even abused. Have a third-party mechanic (not one working for the dealer) look the used car over as a condition of sale. If the dealer refuses to permit this, you should consider yourself well warned -- and walk away.

Ask to see the used cars' service records: If these are available, it's usually a good sign the car was well cared-for, and perhaps more importantly, proof (if the records are complete) that there weren't any unusual repairs or problems. If the used car records are not available, you should be suspicious. It doesn't necessarily mean the used car is a bad car, but you have to wonder why the seller would not have kept such a strong selling point as evidence of proper upkeep and maintenance. In such a case, it is doubly important to have a mechanic you trust give the used car a thorough once-over before you commit to buy.

Be sure it will pass both state safety and emissions tests (where applicable): In most states, this is a legal requirement, but don't assume it is. It can cost hundred of dollars (or more) to repair a used car that fails either state safety or vehicle emissions testing -- and in many cases, you can't legally register or drive that used car until it does pass.

Lastly, jot down the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): located on a stamped plate on the top of the used cars dashboard and run a CARFAX Vehicle History Report to check for information that could impact your decision about a used vehicle. Some types of information that a CARFAX Report may include are title problems, accidents, ownership and service history. A CARFAX Report costs less than $30, and is well worth the expense.

Come visit us - take a test drive and let us help
you as you look for just the right car!
Superior Used Cars - Bakersfield
401 Oak St
661-323-0011

Buying a used car can make a lot of sense. Travel to Bakersfield in Kern County, CA, and look at Superior Used Cars and trucks in Bakersfield. http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=32 You can purchase pre-owned vehicles http://www.superiorusedcars.biz/?cat=74 other wise known as a used car or truck. Kern County's Superior Used Cars @ 401 Oak Street, and 1600 24th Street will treat you right and if you need used car financing, they can help you there too!