Why Leasing a Car Is The Perfect Choice

Auto

When it comes to getting yourself a new car there are many decisions which you will need to make. Before you begin looking at color charts, engine spec and car magazines however, you first need to decide on whether you will buy yourself that new car, or instead look to lease a car.

In my view, leasing is the ultimate choice when it comes to getting a new car, and for this there are many reasons which we will look at today. Without further ado then, here are just a few reasons why you should go to see a personal car leasing specialist the next time you are looking for a new auto.

Cost Control

When you lease a car, you will be in complete control of the varying costs which are incorporated. The cost of the lease, aside from the investment, is often calculated by the amount of time which you lease it for, and the amount of miles which you may rack up. Both of these factors are completely in your control which can help you to reduce how much you spend on your car.

Disposable

For most of us, there is little valid reason to actually own a car, at the end of the day these are pieces of machinery which we use to serve our needs, and then we get rid of them. Instead of tying up large sums of money in your new car, money which you’ll l so over time, lease a car and keep things as simple as they should be.

Outside The Market

When you lease a car, you are not susceptible to market conditions in the way that you would be if you were buying or selling. Equally, as aforementioned, cars lose value from the moment that you drive it away from the showroom, when you lease a car, you won’t have to worry about losing money or paying too much.

Monthly Freedom

The monthly cost of leasing a car will always bring you better value than paying for car finance. Manufacturers love the leasing side of their business and they use it very often to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. What this means for the consumer is that you will regularly see hot deals on various cars, which give you the chance to get a great car for a low monthly price.

Tax Deduction

The write off on a lease car is almost 6 times the value of the cost of the ownership. This makes a lease car absolutely perfect for those who own a business, or use their car for business dealings. To break it down in more detail, those using their cars for business use at the moment will receive 54 cents on the mile, assuming you do 10,000 per year, you can write off $5,400. Now, were you to have a lease car in the same situation, you can write off the full 10,000 miles with no payment.

Next time you are looking for a new car, why not go for a lease!

Continue Reading

Buying for These Things Will Boost Your Mood!

Auto Health & Fitness Shopping

Science has proven that shopping can lift up your spirits. In a recent survey by TNS Global on behalf of Ebates.com, around 52 percent of respondents said they’ve engaged in “retail therapy,” the act of shopping and spending to improve one’s mood. Shopping for many people can be like a mini-mental vacation, and this has been consistent for both men and women. So if you are feeling down, here are some purchases that can lift your mood:

Small Purchase – A Song Download

Music has positive physical and mental effects on our bodies. As we listen, music works on the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for controlling blood pressure and heartbeat, as well as the limbic system, which is responsible for feelings and emotions. A review of 23 studies in 2009 involving almost 1,500 people found music helped to reduce blood pressure, and anxiety in heart disease patients. Music can benefit psychological wellbeing, too. Research from the University of Missouri found that upbeat music can have a very positive effect on our wellbeing. And, you feel better even if you are listening to sad music. So for the price of a music download (less than 99 cents) you can feel great while singing along with your favorite song.

Medium Purchase – A Dog

Ask a dog owner, if having a dog is worth it, and you will almost always get a resounding yes. Ask them why, and you will hear that having them around makes the owner happy. The social support provided by pets is comparable to that from a fellow family member. One of the reasons for these happy feelings is that dogs fulfill the basic human need to touch. Even hardened criminals in prison have shown long-term changes in their behavior after interacting with dogs, many of them experiencing mutual affection for the first time. Stroking, hugging, or otherwise touching a loving animal can rapidly calm and soothe us when we’re stressed or anxious. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and most dogs are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can substantially boost your mood and ease depression. Dogs can instill a greater sense of self-worth and self-esteem in their owners. They make the perfect companion and lift your mood.

Big Purchase – A Car

Buying a car seems like a long way to go to improve your mood, but think of it as making a big purchase once to have mood lifter for many years. Driving is an awesome experience. Once you develop the automatic, intuitive way of switching indicator lights, interchanging clutch/brake/accelerator pedals so smoothly you barely notice it yourself; listening to the revs on the edge of your conscious to know when to switch gears; master the traffic rules and how to use them to your advantage and the way traffic flows; you become a part of a single organism that is the car with the driver, with your hands and legs becoming extensions of its gears and axles, making the complex mechanism fulfill its transportation task impeccably.

Your see hear and feel everything and fly along the road without a care in the world. This is the thrill you can get from driving a car and why it is so good at lifting your mood. The great part of it, is that you do not need to purchase a high-priced brand new Mercedes, you can buy a used Ford car and get these same feelings. So make the purchase and feel great about it.

So next time you are feeling down, don’t feel bad about wanting to spend your way out of it. Retail therapy purchases are overwhelmingly beneficial at leading to mood boosts with no regrets or guilt.

Continue Reading

Vehicular Vigor – Things to Get Excited about When Buying a New Car

Auto Shopping

So, you’re buying a car! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth time, buying a car is an extremely exciting time. It means independence, ticking of an adult life goal, as well as that brand new car smell! Read on to discover what things you should be excited about – and what you should be wary of – next time you purchase a car.

  1. First timers

After your home, a car is one of the best necessary, albeit expensive, big ticket items that you will spend money on. Therefore, it’s worth putting the adequate amount of research into what you’re going to buy. If it’s your first time buying a car, you will have a few other considerations to think about.

For example, what is your budget?

Plus, don’t forget to factor in registration and insurance! As well as this, you need to establish whether you can actually drive the vehicle you are going to purchase on your current license. Do you have a manual or automatic license, and how many passengers can you legally drive? Lastly, your first car should be a safe and easy to drive car, especially as you are just starting out in your car owning journey.

  1. New or used?

No matter what type of car you decide to buy – new, used or perhaps even demo – you need to ensure you enlist a reliable dealer, such as Cars and Co. Let’s dissect these types of car options one by one.

Firstly, one of the most appealing things about buying a brand new car is that you can choose exactly the make, colour and model that you want. There is no compromise. However, you are going to be paying more than with the other options.

Secondly, a used car makes a lot of sense, especially for first time car buyers.

This is because a second hand car will stretch your budget much further, meaning you will usually get a better quality car for the amount of money you spend. If you’re still undecided on whether to purchase a new or used car, perhaps you should consider purchasing a demonstrator. There is the potential to save a lot of money and value in a demo car, which is the car that customers take for test drives.

  1. The buying process

The buying process is certainly exciting, however it does need to be treated with the appropriate care. Firstly, you need to research the car options you’re after, gathering all appropriate knowledge you need. Next, you should create a list of the exact car you want, as well as all the accessories and add-ons that you deem necessary.

From this point, you need to compare this list with your actual budget to see what you can actually afford. Then, you’ll be able to investigate your financing options in order to get a realistic quote and have an idea of your car buying timeline.

  1. Important considerations

Just before you go throwing your hand earned cash down on a vehicle, it’s imperative that you remember a number of important considerations. For example, ensure that you compare all models of the car that you are keen on buying. Usually, they will vary in safety, luxury, reliability and running costs. No matter your preference, safety is the one aspect that you should not compromise on.

Always aim for a 5-star safety rating when buying a car.

Next, you’ll think about whether you want to buy an automatic or a manual car. This will depend on your license as well as personal preference.

Lastly, if you have the budget for it, you can consider some lifestyle features. For instance, do you need space for outdoors items such as sports equipment or camping gear? Perhaps a good sound system is paramount for you? Think about what lifestyle features you may want and, if you can afford them, talk to your car dealer about purchasing a model that incorporates these.

With some adequate planning, buying a car can be a relatively painless and seamless process. If you stick to these 4 tips, not only will you be excited about the right things when buying a car, but you will understand the important things you need to consider, also. Good luck!

Continue Reading

Top tips for keeping classic cars in mint condition 

Auto

If you are about to pick up your first classic car, you might be wondering how to keep it in good enough condition so that it can compete for first prize at the Show and Shine contests in your area.

By following a few cardinal rules that collectors like Robert Bassam swear by, you’ll be able to keep your roadster in tip-top condition for the foreseeable future.

1) Detail your car once per year

This is one of the most obvious steps, but it is also one of the most dreaded. Detailing your car is a very labor-intensive procedure, as it involves deep cleaning, vacuuming, washing and waxing the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

Neglect this important task, and your classic car will gradually accumulate dust, dirt, and grime, which are all things that will cause its good looks to fade.

Remember that you only have to do this once per year: put in one solid weekend afternoon of effort, and your car will look amazing for the rest of the year.

2) Keep your garage rodent-free

As much care as you put into the prior step, your effort will be for naught if your garage ends up becoming infested with mice and rats.

If they are allowed to invade its walls, they will eventually find their way inside, and they will end up chewing up the upholstery of your classic car.

While you may be certain that your garage and home does not contain rodents, it is it best to consult with a pest control expert, just to be sure.

3) Take it out / start it up once per month

If you’re like most collectors, you don’t acquire cars just so they can collect dust in your garage. You dream of being able to take them out during the summer and drive them down the main streets of your community. However, there are some times, especially during the cooler months of the year, where your car will sit dormant for extended periods.

Not starting the vehicle for a long time can be stressful on its systems, as moisture and condensation conspire to create leaks that can hasten the aging process.

By taking out your car at least once per month, you will be able to dry up any sources of moisture by heating up the vehicle.

If it is too cold outside, run the vehicle in your garage with the doors and windows open during the off-season.

4) Park them well away from other vehicles

There’s a reason why you rarely see any classic cars on the road after the first snow flies. It’s has nothing to do with with classic cars being out of style once summer is over, and everything to do with what is put on the roads once they begin to freeze.

Road salt is incredibly destructive to classic cars, so unless you have no choice but to move your vehicle, it is best to leave your baby parked in the garage until spring arrives.

Continue Reading

4 Means to Buying the Perfect Used Car

Auto

Are you in the mood for purchasing a used car?

If so, the most important thing you can do is take your time looking for one.

One of the things consumers (like yourself) need to avoid is rushing into buying a vehicle. When one does that, they could very well end up with a clunker, a clunker that costs them money and quite possibly their safety and the safety of those around them.

With that being the case, make sure you do your homework before agreeing to buy that used vehicle.

So, are you ready to start searching for the perfect used car?

Do Your Homework and Take Your Time

When it comes to locating the best used car out there for your needs, keep the following pointers in mind:

  1. Search – As mentioned a moment ago, avoid the impulse to just go out and buy anything on the spot. When purchasing a used vehicle, it is just that, used. As a result, you don’t know its history without asking questions and/or doing an online search to try and learn more. That said spending time on a license plate lookup is a good way to try and dig into a vehicle’s history. Find the best online resource tool to do just that, allowing you to uncover as many details as possible regarding the vehicle of interest. You should also check different online resources to see what used vehicles are typically going for these days in both the private market and from car dealers. Knowing the average price for your vehicle of interest is important so that you do not get taken for a ride financially (see more below);
  2. Money – One of the typical reasons many people opt for used cars over new ones is the idea of saving money. That said make sure you are getting what you pay for. Unfortunately, some will buy a vehicle out of their love for it (way it looks, way it drives etc.) without truly knowing what it is worth. In the end, they then realize that they overpaid for it. Go online and use the different resources available when it comes to pricing used vehicles. If the deal sounds too go to be true, it probably is.

Don’t Buy without Testing First

  1. Performance – Would you buy a new vehicle without taking it for a spin first? Given the answer is likely of course not, the same holds true (even more importance) when considering buying a used vehicle. With all that a used car could have been through over its lifetime, you want to not only drive it, but preferably have a mechanic check it out. Knowing that things such as the engine, brakes, transmission etc. are in good shape is key. If someone tries to sell used a vehicle without letting you try it out, you’re better off hitting the road and finding another opportunity;
  2. Safety – Finally, you should already know this, but be sure to never overlook the importance of safety when considering buying a used vehicle. You likely do not know if that car you’re considering has been in an accident or two. If it has, was it repaired properly? If not, you could potentially be buying something that will put you and others at risk. This is yet another reason why the vehicle needs to be checked out by a mechanic and an auto body expert wouldn’t hurt either.

If you have the itch to purchase a used car, now might be the perfect time for you to go ahead and do it.

Just remember to use commonsense when making such a purchase.

Make sure the vehicle is thoroughly checked out before you open up your wallet or purse and drive away.

Continue Reading