Caveat emptor on close out autos
Car makers slim down their line ups
The auto sector is experiencing continuing tough economic conditions. The auto industry will have to come out the other side with a new look, and a new approach to doing business. The way autos are made and sold will never be the way it was. In reaction to this, many auto makers like GM and Honda are cutting low margin or poor selling models and lines to better define and strengthen their market positions. GM snuffed Pontiac, for instance. Honda stopped making the S2000 roadster, and other automakers are following suit with similar models.
Clearance Sales are not always Deals when it comes to Cars
Normally, retail clearance sales of discontinued items can be great buys. The discounts are good enough to justify the purchase. However, cars are a bit more complex in how they fit into the sales model. Cars have to retain residual value, or how much they are worth for future resale, to be good investments. Discontinued models or brands don't hold value because demand will be lower, and replacement parts and service, warranties and so forth are more scarce. Once the particular discontinued model is out of the mainstream, very few people are interested in buying an old model. Combined with difficulties in parts and service and you get very little market value.
How to tell a good deal from a bad one
The key to determining which discontinued models are the best deals is good solid research. There are several places one can look to find out what the analysts see as the car’s future value. KBB.com, U.S. News site for ranking cars and Edmunds.com are good starting points for information about a car's value. These sites give valuable information on quality and reliability which directly affect the car’s residual value. Residual value only matters if you intend to trade or sell the car at some point. If a person is planning on keeping the car for a long time, residual value might not be a factor. The car won't be worth a significant percentage of it's sale value, anyway.
Reselling or no reselling
The buyer has to have a plan in place before making the decision to buy a discontinued car model. If the plan is to keep the auto for 8 or 10 years or more, then residual value isn’t a consideration, but warranty and service are. Ask the dealer if the warranty will be honored if the model is ever discontinued. Also, ask if the warranty can be extended afterward. Some parts are universal for many cars, but one must ask themselves if the parts will be available years down the road. If the buyer’s plan is to get a bargain price and then re-sell or trade in the vehicle, residual value comes back into play. No matter what the plan, research plays a key role in providing reliable information the buyer can use to get the best deal possible.
2010 Honda Hybrid
All 2009 Civics present a new look to the world, with an all new bumper and grille for starters. Upgraded models feature new alloy wheel designs as well. Unlike a older used Honda Pilot the Hybrid was not offered. Honda purchasers who sit behind the steering wheel of a Honda Pilot will not feel instantly at home, like the new 2010 Honda hybrid, which has several great features, including the glowing background of the digital speedometer, which goes through a range of colors to your liking from extreme green to the unbelievable luster of indigo blue. Being comfortable when you drive is what I’m talking about, great control positioning and accommodating layout of gauges makes driving a blast.
The Honda Insight breaks from other hybrid options in a couple of different ways, however, unlike all of the hybrids, the Insight's navigation system doesn't have the usual hybrid graphics, nor does it have a backup system. Unable to obtain the best gas mileage in its league does not seem to bother Honda they seem to be more centered on producing a vehicle much more pleasurable to drive and economic. The new Honda Insight LX and EX both a 4 door, rear hatch with five seats inside a very inexpensive compact hybrid. If the Insight name sounds familiar, it is because Honda originally released a less tempting 2 door compact under the same name back in the late 1990s. This present 2010 Honda is an all new model. Comparisons to the Toyota Prius are almost inevitable, the 2010 Honda Insight can almost be dropped into the Prius cast, thanks to the fact that the body has the same high-tail fastback silhouette, surely devoted to being streamlined. Streamline design positively play a large part in putting together the 2010 Insight; this is one of the most aerodynamic shapes. The new models of Honda cars and SUVs offer the same promises that have made Honda famous in the car world. Honda's great selection of cars, trucks, and minivans appeal to any new car buyer working with a budget in mind.
Will Gas Prices Rise in 2010?
The cost of filling up your car's gas tank is rising again. Because crude oil prices are climbing fast, prices at the pump could exceed the highs of 2009.
Why are gasoline prices moving into record territory again? There are economic reasons of course like the falling surpluses and the falling dollar. Cold weather plays a big role as well.
If consumers got cheap energy in 2009, the trend for 2010 could be upwards.
How is the price of gas decided?
Crude oil is the first component. Add to that the taxes, refining costs, marketing and distribution of gasoline to get a final pump price.
Demand is growing worldwide, particularly in China and this has an effect on the prices of crude oil.
Political instability and bad weather can limit supply. So do other production disruptions like accidents at refineries.
In the long term, higher crude prices always lead to higher prices at the pump. But this takes some time because most oil is sold under long-term contracts, which are a bit different from the "spot" prices you see in the news.
Why can prices vary from state to state?
The biggest difference across states is the State tax. Some states, like California have a unique blend that can only be produced by a limited number of refiners. This makes the price more dependent on disruptions in supply or spikes in demand.
If you would correct the current record gasoline prices for inflation they would lose some of their drama. And compared to many other developed nations, prices in the United States are still very affordable. Maybe this is why American car manufacturers never felt the pressure to build fuel efficient engines.
Are the gas companies profiting?
Some consumers are always finger pointing at the big oil companies. Are they making illegal agreements amongst themselves to keep prices high? Over the years numerous government investigations have never found any evidence of this.
In a free economy prices are determined by the laws of supply and demand. But since demand is relatively insensitive to price changes, this mechanism does not work very well and gasoline prices are always very volatile. Even when gas is expensive, you still keep driving to work, don't you?
So what can you do?
You need to do some research when you are shopping for a new car. Gas mileage is a big issue nowadays and the effect on the cost of owning your car for many years can be quite impressive.
Author: Steven Blair is passionate about cars. He writes about car gas mileage comparisons and saving fuel on his blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Blair
Latest Mustang Shelby EBAY Auctions
Hey, check out these EBAY auctions:
 | US $2.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-17-2010 20:38:24 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Cool, arent they?
Some Info To Help You Change Your Car Battery
As it gets older you car battery can start to lose its charge. You'll need to get a midtronics battery tester to see where it's at. When you battery is weak it can cause your car turn over slower and make for harder starts. There may be times when you have to jump start your car because your battery just can't do it. This is very common when you only use your car for quick trips to the grocery or the weather gets bitterly cold. You could just buy a new battery but if you had a cheap battery charger things could be different. With a low priced battery charger you may be able to keep your battery going for a lot longer.
Just so you know, a battery charging system fault is brought to attention when the warning light on the dashboard goes on. As recharging will not work in this instance, the charging system must be immediately repaired. With a refillable battery, remove the caps and place a damp rag over the openings when you begin to recharge.
If you have sealed battery with a charge indication window on top of your battery you should only use a charger if the window shows green or black. IF there is nothing in the window (it's clear) or is is yellowish you need to change that battery out for another one.
You can use a low amp charger, often called a trickle charger to add life to your battery. Trickle chargers are cheap and will refresh your battery's power very slowly over an extended period of time. Your trickle charger will be equipped with two jaw type clips to connect to your battery posts and a plug-in cord that will draw power from a regular outlet. One of your alligator clips should be red (this is our positive clip) and the other will be green or black (this is your negative clip.)
Turn the ignition of the car off. This is the first step in the process and it is also the most important. The battery has two terminals, and the red clip must be attached to the positive terminal marked + or POS, with the other clip connected to the negative terminal marked - or Neg.
Once you have properly attached the battery charger to your battery terminals you will need to connect your charger to an electricity source via an ordinary outlet and switch it on. You will need to run the charger for a number of hours or overnight for good results. You should pay attention to the charger's meter. When it reads less than one amp your charge should be complete. When you have finished charging your battery you should switch off, unplug you charger and disconnect it from your battery.
Give some thought to a jump start for the engine if, after recharging, the battery fails to do its job. It is time to replace the bad battery if you are able to jump start the engine and the ammeter or charging system light shows that operation is normal.
Casey has written on other topics other than car batteries, check out his sites: midtronic battery tester and mud king tires.
Corvette Sucks 1 (per Jeremy Clarkson)
A C4 Corvette destroyed by Jeremy Clarkson (using a helicopter outfitted with a .50 cal gattling gun!) This just ain't right! The C4 is one of the most beautiful cars ever placed on the roads of the world.
