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Used Car Loans Interest Rates

Used car loans are very useful if you can not quite afford a brand new car, and are seeking finance for something more within your budget. Many used cars are excellent buys, particularly those less than a year old where depreciation on the new price has occurred, and you can secure yourself a next to new car for significantly less than the new price.

Finance available in the form of used car loans can be either unsecured or secured, although you will not generally get a secured loan without your car has been purchased from a dealer and is less than 5 years old. However, you can still get decent rates on unsecured loans, and if you use a car loan calculator to work out what your repayments will be, you will be able to determine what price you can pay for your car, based upon how much you can expense in monthly repayments.

When seeking a used car you should make sure that it is in good condition, particularly the bodywork. Engines and parts can be replaced but not the bodywork, and if that is rusted or holed, than it is going to be costly to maintain. Sooner or later you will have a lot of expensive welding work to pay for. Make sure you take the potential cost of maintenance and repairs into account when calculating your affordable payments.

Another aspect of owning a used car to take into account when considering a used car loan is that of insurance. Without your car is less than two or three years old it might not be worth going comprehensive, and the lower your insurance costs, the more you will be able to afford for your car loan. What you should do then, is to check out the used car that has caught your eye, find out how much it will cost to insure at the level you want, and make sure that it is not in immediate need of repair.

Then figure out your maximum monthly expenditure, deduct insurance and estimated repair costs and enter that into a car loan calculator long with the price of the car and the current rate of interest. That will tell you over how many months you will have to pay the loan.

What you do then is to find a lender that will lend you that amount of money over the period that you need to borrow it. If the stated interest rate is higher, then the period will be longer, and if the rate is lower, such as for a secured loan, then the period of repayment will be less.

It is a fact that unsecured loans demand a higher rate of interest, since secured loans have the car as security, which will be taken from you if you are unable to pay. An unsecured loan is more of a risk to the lender, although they have other ways of getting their money back. It does, however, demand a higher rate of interest, and it is of extreme importance that you can pay that plus the principal amount borrowed for your used car loan.

Here is the importance of using a car loan calculator to calculate the monthly payments you will have to make. However, you can also use it to find out the total cost of your loan. This could be useful if you have the cash to pay for the car, but would possibly just pay it up and keep your cash in your savings account building up interest. When you calculate how much the loan was costing as opposed to the interest you would earn keeping your money in the bank, it might shock you.

Knowing the total cost of borrowing is very useful, particularly for used car loans where you may be paying a higher interest rate than for a secured new car loan. However, if you make sure that the interest rate continues the same for the full term of the car loan, then you will not have any unbudgeted increases that can cause problems for some people. A fixed interest rate should be the # 1 item on your used car loan shopping list since it is the best security you have.

Your car loan company wants their security, so you make sure that you get yours! You may also be able to negotiate the frequency of repayments. If you get paid weekly it would likely suit you best to make weekly payments, since it is easy to forget to save the money for the loan for the end of each month.

Used car loans are available at good rates, but if you do your homework and calculate your payments using a car loan calculator, you will be able to avoid potential problems with your repayments being higher than you expected. Always enter into a used car loan agreement with your eyes wide open.

4 Car Diagnostic Tools You Need To Have

The modern cars are complex and require some expertise to know the problems that they are having. The cool thing is that there are many tools in the market that you can go with in order to identify the problems that your car has. These tools include:

Multimeter

A multimeter helps you to test the electrical current through your car. The sensors on your car convert the multimeter readings to voltages that the car computer can understand. Using the tool you will be able to check the sensor's output voltage in order to verify a faulty wiring system. You will also be able to know if your system has a bad part that is creating out-of-spec signals that might be problematic in the future.

Vacuum-pressure gauge

The tool helps you to identify a problem in your engine. When the engine has problems, the problem is usually due to fuel, air or spark. The tool covers the air department so that you are able to work through the maze of vacuum lines in order to identify a leak or cracked tube that might be causing problems.

Fuel pressure gauge

The unit helps you to know whether the engine is getting enough or too much fuel. This helps you to eliminate some of the problems that your engine might be having.

OBD code reader

If you own a car you know the panic that comes in when the "Check Engine" light comes on. The first thing that many car owners do is rush to the nearest garage to have the car inspected. With the OBD code reader, you no longer have to panic when the light comes on. All you need to do is connect the tool to your car and you will know the exact problem that your car is having. This saves you money as you do not have to hire someone to do it for you. You also avoid the guess work game that results in more problems.

There are many types of OBD code readers in the market that you can go for. You only need to choose the one that is ideal for you. If you want the most advanced tools, there are those that connect to your phone and send you all the details that you need to know about your car.

Conclusion

These are the diagnostic tools that you need to have to identify the problems in your car. For ideal results ensure that you properly use the tools.

Garage Door Repairs – Tips and Advice

Home ownership comes with one convenient thing; the garage. The garage is actually extra space which if used wisely can add a lot of value to the home. Garages are used to protect the cars and for many people; they are even used as offices. Let us look at a few uses of a garage.

One of the uses of a garage is the old-fashioned protection for your vehicles. When vehicles are inside the garage, they are protected from vandalism, weather elements and even theft. This becomes even more so the more expensive a vehicle is.

Another way you can use your garage is for storage. Sometimes the garage is large enough to allow one or two cars and then leave some space. This space can be used to store other clutter around the house such as the lawn mower, construction tools, cleaning material and even boxes containing heavy material that can not be left in the house

A garage can also be used for business purposes. There are people who choose not to park their cars inside the garage altogether and instead use that space to set up an office and work from home. This has especially become the rule with the advent of many home-based businesses.

Regardless of what the garage is being used for, we all agree that is needs to be protected and secure. The best way to do this is to ensure that there is a proper garage door that works as it should. One way of finding out whether your door is working well is to open it, pull it up and then release it. A good door should stay up. If it comes tumbling down in a loud crash, then it needs repairs.

Today's garage doors have evolve dramatically. In the past, garage doors used to be manually opened and closed. This meant that once one arrived home, they had to exit their vehicle, walk to the door and open it with a regular key and then pry it open (as heavy as it is). This was especially inconvenient if it was raining or snowing, or very hot.

Nowadays, it is not hard to see remote-controlled garage doors which are opened by a simple push of a button. One need not leave the vehicle. The door opens of itself and the car simply rolls in. The door is then set to automatically close when the car eases inside. Some have a laser mechanism that ensures that the door does not close if there is something underneath the door. This mechanism can come especially handy if there is a child under the door as children are accredited to doing.

Because garage doors are subject to constant opening and closing, they sometimes became damaged and need repairs. Do not attempt to repair a garage door yourself if you are not sure of what you are doing. Many garage doors have a repair guide that came with it and if you do not have it you can simply check the 800 number on the garage door and call for maintenance.

How a Credit Repair Can Help You Get a Car For Your Teenager

Every day some teenager somewhere gets their drivers license. Now, in order to be able to drive a car you have to have a car right? Well, with the way the economy is doing, buying a car is an extremely difficult thing to do just for you to be able to hold a job. It is even harder to have to get another car for another member of your family, someone who has just gotten their driver’s license, and be able to make steady payments on it.

Think about it, if you cannot even keep up-to-date payments on your own car, how do you expect to make up-to-date payments on another car? The simple solution to this long-term problem is to withdrawal an auto loan. Well, I am sorry to tell you, in order to get an auto loan you have to have a good credit score. How do you get a good credit score, you ask?

The answer is very simple, you get a credit repair. This solution is very simple because it permanently deletes anything negative on your credit report without you even having to pay it off afterward. Also, not only does it help you get your teenager in a car but it also helps you get a house, loan, or almost anything financially related. This service decreases the negative credit and increases the positive credit making your credit score higher than you have ever seen it in your lifetime.

Auto Repair: Know When to Repair a Windshield

When thinking of different things that keep us safe during a drive, we rarely even think about the windshield. But the truth is – the windshield of your vehicle is more important than you think. Anyone who has been driving for a long time would have come across this situation: a deferred or cracked windshield. Early drivers tend to ignore this because it does appear to be something that could cause any major damages to the vehicle or the driver. And you would postpone the repair until there is time and money to do this. But that time will never come. Getting your windshield fixed is an easy part of an auto repair. It is important and can be done even from home.

Cracked Windshield

The windshield is a two-layered laminated glass. This laminate is made of vinyl plastic which is very strong. The windshield accounts for nearly 20% of the strength of the car. It plays a major role in keeping you safe. With the advancement in technology, the process of placing the windshield has become a computer controlled process. It has been designed to work with the other safety devices in the car. For instance, the airbags need a sturdy bonded windshield in order to work correctly. Thus, it is important to get even a tiny crack on the windshield repaired. Ignoring it may put the life of the driver in danger.

AUTO REPAIR:

The costs for replacing the entire windshield costs $ 300 and repairing a crack or a chip in the windshield could cost around $ 100 or less. There are also many kits available for you to repair the windshield yourself. These kits can be purchased from Amazon and in large stores that sell auto parts such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Sears, and AutoZone. The kit will consist of the adhesive seal, windscreen repair resin, curing film, pedestal and a safety razor. Once you have the kit, park your car in your garage or somewhere indoors. Use a pain to clear out any broken glass from the windshield and leave it to dry. The instructions on how to use the kit will be available with the package. If the directions are unclear, the best option is to take the car to an auto repair workshop.

Another consideration is your car insurance. If you carry comprehensive coverage, then windshield repair can be included in your coverage. Be sure to check your deductibles as this will be required to be paid first. In some states, there is no deductible for windshield damage, as it is considered a safety related repair.

At the end of the day, the important thing is that any windshield repairs are fixed immediately and you are no longer vulnerable to any potential accidents.

How Advances in Technology Are Causing Obesity in Today's Children

There are times when I'm writing that I just stare out the window thinking. I have often observed young people walking down the sidewalk with ear buds in and text messaging. I get the feeling that this continues when the young person gets home.

Texting : I admit that I will text someone in the house with me rather than go and talk to them. That is usually because I am downstairs and they are upstairs. If I am doing that I'm pretty sure that kids are. Why get up and go to where a person is if you can text?

Too Busy : When my teachers cave assignments that they had to keep in mind that we would have to physically go to the library to get information for any reports or term papers. That was calculated into the amount of time given for the assignment to come due.

That is not needed anymore. In fact, schools are giving children as young as sixth grade iPads so they can finish their assignments faster. All the teachers think it's great because the children can learn more and faster. That's great … without your child has five teachers that want a four page (word processed) report with bibliography inside a week. When is the child supposed to get exercise?

Instant Gratification : If you want to know something there are pieces of technology all over most of our homes that will help you do so. If you want to watch something you do not have to go to a video store. There are quite a few companies that provide what you want to watch from the comfort of your living room. The same applies to many video games. If you want to buy something you do not have to go to the store.

All at Home : Technology is great but it has some drawbacks. When it's too much effort to get up and go talk to someone * in the same house * technology is creating part of our obesity problem, especially with our children.

Ford’s Story of Success and Pride

The headquarter of Ford is in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. This is the place where the ex-chief engineer of the Edison Illuminating Company, named Henry Ford founded the, “Ford Motor Company”, on June 16, 1903 with a capital amount of $28,000 along with twelve other investors. The famous scientist Thomas Alva Edison was a great friend of Henry Ford and he encouraged him to go ahead with his idea and dream of establishing an automobile company which will manufacture simple and affordable car for the Americans.

At the beginning only two to three workers worked on each car. On July 23, 1903 the company sold its first produced car, Ford Model A and Dr. Ernst Pfennig a dentist from Chicago, became the first owner. Other car manufacturers made cars for wealthy people but Ford developed a design and manufacturing method that reduced the price of the Model T, which made its debut in 1908 at a price of $825. In its first year a record sale of over 10,000 cars was reached. Four years later the price dropped to $575. By 1914 Ford claimed a share of 48% of the automobile market. The car was sold like hot cakes. With the rise in demand, Ford was able to reduce the assembly time of the Model T from 12.5 hours to less than 6 hours. Ford created history and became the change maker of the automobile market.

World War 1 came to be a turning point as it changed the course of automotive history. Henry Ford was able to draw a large profit at that time. Ford Model T cars were used by the several armies for war purpose. It not only served as ambulances but also as delivery trucks, staff cars and artillery movers. As soon as America joined the war, Ford started producing ambulances, trucks, vans, tanks and submarine chasers. Ford’s Trafford Park factory in Manchester supplied the British army with 30,000 Model Ts as ambulances and transporters of troops, water and munitions carriers.

When World War II started there was a boost in Ford’s economy as they were serving both the sides. They produced roughly around 2,82,352 war Jeeps in the years 1941-1945. Ford’s bomber plant at Willow Run, located in the Detroit suburbs manufactured automobiles for war and not for public transportation. Ford V3000 ambulances were used in World War II by the Germans. Ford of Germany built a total of 80,000 trucks for the German army during the war.

Ford did not limit itself in manufacturing only cars. They also manufactured trucks, vans and tractors. In 1925 they also manufactured airplanes. They also produced some important cars in the history of automobiles apart from the Ford Model T. Ford 150 Pickup remained a best seller for almost six decades. Ford Mustang is the first American “muscle car”. Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, Lincoln Continental, Ford Thunderbird, Ford Transit, Ford Capri, Ford Escort is some of the most popular Ford cars.

Engines play a vital role in car’s success. Ford produced 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 cylinder engines till date. Some of the important engines manufactured by Ford, are Ford Model T engine, Flathead V-8 engine, Cobra Jet engine, Boss engine, Ecoboost engine, etc. The 1.0 Ecoboost is a UK-designed 3-cylinder engine which has won awards from industry judges and experts. The Ecoboost engine is developed to be more fuel saving, more Eco friendly and less costly. Ford is not only famous for producing beautiful cars, but also for producing one of the best engines and creating history in the competitive automobile market.

The Ford family is a proud owner of the company for more that 100 years. It is one of the few notable brands in the world whose ownership stayed in the family of the founder for more than a century. They take pride in producing the first ever car for the common man by breaking the idea that a car is a rich man’s property. Ford always created examples in the automobile industry. “$5 day”, is an important day in the history of mankind because around 10,000 people gave line with a desire to get employed at Ford when there was a salary hike of $5 per day. It created an impact within the society as well as in the automobile industry as the production rate and quality of Ford cars got raised after the hike.

Today Ford factories are located in the USA, Britain, Germany, India, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Russia, Spain and many more. Henry Ford is considered to not only be a car manufacturer, but a change maker who changed the fate of the automobile industry.

Learn How To Buy A Car And Car Insurance Without Breaking Your Budget

Do you ever wonder why different cars cost you different amounts for auto insurance premiums? Why is it that a new Corvette may cost you $1,600 dollars a month in auto insurance and an older Buick Regal may only cost you $90 per month? The new car insurance cost versus the old car insurance cost is a subject that you must review before you buy any car. Review insurance costs before you buy and you will not get caught in a financial trap.

New cars cost more to insure than old cars for three reasons. First, an auto theft of a new and exotic car costs much more than the auto theft of an older and average style car. This is because of the large value difference of the new car versus old car. For example, a new Chevy Caprice is much more costly to insure than an older Chevy Caprice. It simply costs more money to replace a new, expensive car than an older, less expensive car.

Second, the cost to repair a new car is much more than the cost to repair an old car. As such, this fact shall also increase your insurance premium cost for a new car. For example, if a new Chevy Caprice is damaged in an accident, the auto repair shop will charge you much more money for repairs than if the subject car were a ten-year old Chevy Caprice. For this reason, your insurer will charge you much more insurance premiums on a new vehicle than an older vehicle because of such repair costs.

Third, the style and type of car also shall greatly affect the cost of automobile insurance premiums that your car insurance company will charge you. Insurance companies use actuarial statistic tables which show them the past loss experience on particular styles and types of cars. They use these tables, to help calculate what premiums to charge their customers in the future. Statistical tables show these insurance companies that owners of certain styles and types of cars, such as sports cars, engage in more risky driving behavior than owners of cars that are of average type and style.

For example, insurance company statistical tables show that the insurer has experienced more losses with sports cars than with average cars. It is because the owner of a Corvette will probably drive such car faster and riskier than the owner of a Toyota Camry. With such speed and risk also comes along more losses for the insurance companies. With such risk and loss increase, the insurance company must then increase their return and charge more for auto insurance premiums.

Another example of how the type and style of vehicle may present an insurance company with more risk is the off-road style vehicles such as the Hummer line of vehicles. These vehicles are designed to perform in the off-road type environment. They are raised up off the ground more than regular automobiles for under carriage clearance. Additionally, they also have four-wheel drive capability.

With such design capabilities, the statistical tables show that the insurance company has experienced more losses with these types of cars than regular cars. This is because the owners of such vehicles will engage in off-road driving which is both risky to the vehicle and driver. In fact, some insurance companies may bar recovery for such damages, when the owner of the insured vehicle was damaged while any engaging in risky, off-road driving. Again, with more risk, the insurance company will increase return and thus auto insurance premiums. Now that you know that certain styles and types of cars cost more to insure than others, you have to be smart about what kind of vehicle you are going to buy.

Rather than take a guess at what you believe a vehicle’s insurance costs are, call your car insurance company and ask your insurance agent for a free car insurance quote for the exact type of vehicle that you are interested in buying. You can get a definitive answer to your question of whether or not you can afford both the car and the insurance premiums required to cover your car against insured losses.

The time to make such assessment is not after you purchase a vehicle. At that point in time, it is too late. The time to make such assessment is way in advance of your purchasing an automobile. You definitely want to be able to make both car payments as well as insurance premium payments. Get a free auto insurance quote ahead of time and avoid financial problems.

Certified Pre-Owned Cars, Know Before You Buy

In the past, buying a used car was like a grab bag, you were not sure if you were getting something decent or just junk. Nowadays, you can find and purchase a used car with a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program, which offers you the benefits of a new car at a used-car price. Providing a CPO on used cars is one of the auto industry's hottest trends. It was created in the 1980s by Mercedes-Benz to insure consumers that the used cars in their lots were well-seasoned and durable. It is now available from most automakers.

The used car industry has soared with the use of the Internet. The use of the Internet also allows you to shop for a car you need now, or to browse websites sporadically to find a certain type of used car.

According to Autodata, Ford and Lincoln-Mercury had 15,740 certified sales in May 2006, up 19 percent from May 2005. Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep had 10,176 certified sales in May 2006, up 28.2 percent from May 2005. GM sold 38,471 Certified Used Vehicles in May 2006, up 15 percent from May 2005.

As cited in the July 1-14, 2006, issue of Auto Remaking magazine, Paul Pejza, manager of GM Certified Used Vehicles said, "Virtually all other major manufacturer-certified programs saw year-to-year increases in their certified sales in May , up 11% from May 2005. " Pejza continued, "Essentially, everyone's an online customer today. In fact, research by AutoTrader.com shows that certified searches this year are up more than 50% of the same period in 2005. The consumer now expects to see certified used vehicles with photos and details on price, color, and options, much like when they physically walk a dealer's lot. "

Mike Dennis, manager of sales, planning, and distribution for Ford, said, "We have our own http://www.fordcpo.com site, and we are please with the traffic. program and will also link them to dealer inventory. " He goes on to state, "We encourage dealers to post their cars and trucks on sites like Auto.Trader.com. More and more consumers are turning to Web-based sites to start their CPO shopping."

IntelliChoice researches each automaker's CPO program and rates them based on comprehensive warranty, inspection, title verification, financing, roadside assistance, and return policy. For 2005, in the luxury car category, Jaguar had the best overall CPO program. In the non-luxury category, Volkswagen had the best overall CPO program, followed by Honda, Mazda, Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep, then Ford and Mercury.

CPO is not backed by any legal standards in the auto industry. Each dealer or automaker has a different set of criteria for inspection and protection. As stated on Consumer Reports.org, for a vehicle to be certified, it must meet certain mileage and condition requirements, typically no more than five years old with less than 60-70,000 miles. They must also pass a checklist inspection – scratches, brake and tire wear, engine and transmission problems, etc.

Some certification programs are not offered by manufacturers but by the dealerships themselves. Dealer-certification programs are common for used-cars not affiliated with an automaker. In fact, you can find a multi-brand dealership with manufacturer certification on some vehicles and independent certification on other vehicles.

Keep in mind, however, that certification is not free. According to CNW Marketing Research, when a dealer certifies a vehicle, he pays the manufacturer a fee between $ 100 to over $ 1,500, whereas, factory certification adds $ 500 to $ 3,500 to the price of the vehicle. However, for the consumer, the added amount is well worth the price for an extended warranty or money-back guarantee.

What to Look for in a Full Coverage Car Insurance Quote in Maine

When you buy a new car in Maine, you’re likely going to want to show it off. One of the pleasures of owning a new vehicle is turning heads when you’re cruising down the street. Not only will you catch the eye of people who wish they had the same car, but you may also attract the attention of car thieves. Every day many cars are stolen and unless you have adequate car insurance coverage you may find yourself without a car or a way to replace it if it does indeed go missing.

A full coverage car insurance quote in Maine will include the required liability, uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage. However, it should also include some, if not all, of the optional types of insurance. An important aspect of any full coverage policy is collision and comprehensive coverage.

Most of us never consider the possibility that our car could actually be stolen. Many new cars are very appealing to thieves and if you don’t have an anti-theft device installed you may wake up one morning to find it gone. Comprehensive coverage will offer protection for theft. If you have this coverage in place, you can expect to pay a bit more for your insurance. However, a good way to offset the higher premiums is to take a higher deductible. This will lower the rate you’ll need to pay.

Collision coverage is also a fundamental part of a full coverage policy. Collision offers protection just in case you ever hit an object, like a tree, a signpost or another car. Anyone who drives a late model vehicle should invest in collision coverage. When you consider the cost of parts and labor to fix a new car, it’s easy to see why the premium for this coverage is well worth it.

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