Tips and Advice
217 Articles
Helpful tips and advice for you and your car:
- Tips to Save Gas
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gas prices rising, gas-saving advice abounds: Drive more gently, don't carry extra stuff in your trunk, combine your shopping trips. This is all sound advice but the...
- Toyota Prius, Toyota Yaris and Saturn Outlook Rank Well
There is an old adage which goes something like this: "The cheap man always pays more in the long run." Consumer Reports magazine recently reached a similar conclusion when it announced the results...
- GPS Reviews
I've never owned a GPS unit or (prior to this test) even used one, so I thought it might be a good idea to test a bunch of them right out of the box. The kind folks over at Garmin, Magellan and Mio ag...
- Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester and More
Looking for a small SUV? Here's some good news: In the competitive affordable compact SUV class, it's easy to find the practicality and fuel economy you need and the nice styling you want. The under-$...
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket
Mel Leiding, an attorney from Anaheim, California and author of a 53-page guide titled "How to Fight Your Traffic Ticket and Win," says he would rather be mugged than get a traffic ticket. Why? Gettin...
- Resist New Car Dealer Rip-Offs
The only thing drivers despise more than rising fuel costs? Shrewd car dealers. They are among the country's least-trusted business providers. The 2007 Better Business Bureau/Gallup Trust in Busine...
- Vehicle History Reports
Old cars don't die, they just get resold. If you're buying a used car, whether from a dealer or someone who put an ad in the paper, you'll want to know as much about it as you can. Even without anyone...
- The Making of a Tire
Ever wonder what goes into the making of that round, black, rubber thing that holds air, we refer to as a tire? To the casual observer all tires look the same, but there's a lot more to it than meets...
- Shocks and Strut Replacement
I'm sure you've probably heard this before. "Your shocks and (or) struts are blown and need replacing." You are quoted some astronomical price and you immediately ask yourself, "How important are thes...
- Four Wheel Drive Systems
With the explosive growth of the light truck segment as well as the impending onslaught of winter, I thought it would be fitting to write about four-wheel drive systems. There are a few different type...
- The Mysteries of the Encryption on an Oil Can
Quite often the subject of motor oil comes up during my radio program. Questions such as: How often should I change the oil? What type of oil should I use? What kinds of oils are available? What do th...
- Synthetic Motor Oil
I've been getting a lot of mail regarding using synthetic motor oil in vehicles. Questions such as: Should I use synthetic oil? Does it work better in some cars than others?...
- Squeaks, Leaks, Rattles and Vibrations!
The headline of this article illustrates the feeling people get when they encounter small, annoying maladies in their vehicles. Squeaks, rattles, leaks, and vibrations are so irritating to motorists t...
- Is the 3,000-Mile Oil Change a Thing of the Past?
A few months ago I wrote and recorded a car care tip that aired on XM Satellite Radio. To the best of my recollection, the tip was an answer to a question addressed to me from a listener in California...
- Maintenance is the Key
An internal combustion engine relies on regular maintenance of various systems to continue running trouble free. I constantly run across people that brag about the fact that they have gone some ridicu...
- Avoid Problems With Proper Maintenance
Dear Tom, I have a '91 Chevy Lumina with about 95,000 miles. Twice last summer and once last week it stalled while driving. I took it to my mechanic who didn't fin...
- Air Conditioning 101
It's that time again, when you turn on the A/C to chill out from the summer heat and all you get is hot air! Ughhhh! How do you restore that refreshing, cool air to your vehicle's interior cabin so yo...
- Top 10 Collector Cars of the Future
Collecting cars is an expensive hobby. Here's a twist: Buy a new car today that will be worth a fortune as a collectible years from now. Best of all, you don't need to break the bank to buy a hot and...
- What Kind of a Shop Should I Use
For years people have asked me this question quite frequently ... what kind of shop should I use for automotive repairs, a dealership or an independent shop? I have shied away from answering it becaus...
- Build a Relationship with Your Repair Shop
After reading an article penned by a fellow automotive professional, I was inspired to share my thoughts on the value of developing a relationship with the people who take care of your vehicles. The a...
- ASE and I-CAR Certifications
I get this question all the time. Apparently, it's a monetary concern for many people. They are under the misconception that anyone who is "handy" and somewhat schooled can fix a car. So why pay more...
- Communication is Key
In today's hectic fast-paced world, it's easy to forget the importance of thorough communication in any transaction. There is evidence of this constantly in the auto repair business. A common part of...
- Finding a Good Repair Facility
For those of you who are schoolteachers, you will understand what I am about to relate. You lay out a lesson plan to teach a particular topic, for example, how to solve a basic algebraic equation. You...
- Brake Performance is Important
Your vehicle carries some pretty valuable cargo. Let's talk about a major safety aspect of your car, the braking system. Being "out of sight, out of mind," the braking systems on most people's cars go...
- Brakes - Everything you Need to Know About Brake Pads, Rotors and Brake Lines
Your vehicle carries some pretty valuable cargo. Let's talk about a major safety aspect of your car, the braking system. The braking system on most people's cars goes unnoticed since it is "out of sig...
- How Disc Brakes Work
With all the hoopla going on about the GM Brake Repair Litigation Settlement (on 1988 - 1993 Chevy Lumina, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix automobiles), I thought I'd d...
- Antilock Brakes
Most passenger vehicles are coming out with ABS, otherwise known as Antilock brakes. Let's take a look at their design and function. ABS uses wheel speed sensors, a hydraulic control unit, and a compu...
- Warranty and Aftermarket Parts
Recently, a listener called my radio show with this question: "If I install a supercharger and aftermarket ignition system on my Neon, will it void the warranty?" To which I responded: "Possibly."...
- Some Practical Advice About Car Warranties
"Isn't it covered under my warranty?" This question is asked thousands of times a day in dealership service departments around the country. Many people assume that a car warranty entitles them to repa...
- Extended Warranties, Are They Worth It?
People are always asking me if an extended warranty is worth buying, to which I respond, "Sure, providing you follow these tips." Make sure you know who is offering the warranty. Is it the c...
- New Car Warranties
During the past, thirty years in the automotive industry, it has been my experience that whenever the phrase "it's covered under warranty" is used in auto repair, it's music to the ears of the motoris...
- 5 Dumb Car Shopping Moves
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- If the annual model year change-over -- and all the sales that go with it -- have you in a car shopping mood, don't be lulled into paying more than you have to. The deep dis...
- 4 Tips to Properly Evaluate Your Car
As long as people have been making cars, other people have been figuring out ways to evaluate what they're worth. In the case of Kelley Blue Book, they've vehemently pursued vehicle values for over 80...
- Certified Used Car Programs
Big Al, the used car dealer with that small lot down on the corner, may be your mother's cousin, but that doesn't mean you'll get the best used car deal in town from him. He sells all brands of cars,...
- Cheapest Cars to Insure
Nobody wants eye-popping auto insurance premiums in addition to monthly car payments. So if you're considering purchasing a small sedan, not factoring in your personal driving records, the Honda Civic...
- Chrysler CEO: We're 'operationally' bankrupt
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Chrysler Corp., the troubled automaker bought by private equity just four months ago, is scrambling to sell assets amid indications of huge losses, as access to cash becomes...
- Minivan Fender-Benders Can Be Costly
WASHINGTON (Dec. 20) - A minor fender-bender in a minivan can rack up thousands of dollars in repair costs, according to new crash tests conducted by the insurance industry. Repairing damages to m...
- GM Hiking Prices by 1.5 Percent
DETROIT (Dec. 19) - General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it is raising prices on its 2008 model year vehicles by an average of 1.5 percent to help cover increasing steel and commodity costs. The incre...
- Tips to Buy Used Cars: What to Ask a Private Seller
Buying a brand new car with a complete, free, factory warranty is one thing. Buying a certified used car from a dealership is usually a worry-free proposition, too. But buying a used car from someone...
- Diesel Engines Aren't Dirty Anymore
Not too long ago, uttering the phrase "diesel engine" was enough to elicit a wince from car buyers whose memories of previous-generation diesels often consisted of knocking engine noise, that distinct...
- White Unseats Silver as Top Auto Color
After seven years leading the pack, silver has given up its title as the most popular vehicle color in North America, losing out by a small margin to white and pearl white, according to a study done b...
- Car Cleaning Tips
Between kids, pets, friends, and little ol' you, the sanctity of your car's interior is always in peril. So, how do you keep it clean when you've got kids spitting up and spilling, pets drooling and t...
- LoJack, Car Alarms, Extended Warranty
Okay, you've decided what model of car you want to buy. And you know, more or less, how much you want to spend -- or how much you can afford. You've kicked tires, talked to salesmen, taken a few shiny...
- New Car Buying Tips
We've noticed that our series of articles on new car buying tips for have kicked up heated debates in the discussion boards between salesmen and new car shoppers. The most hotly-contested points alway...
- Detroit Improves on Quality
There was a time when buying certain cars from Chrysler, GM or...
- Prepping Your Car for Sale
There probably aren't half as many articles out there about selling your vehicle as there are ones on how to tell you to buy one. Many of us aren't car salesman but all of us should know the basics of...
- Best Budget Rides
Have you heard the news? Small cars are cool again. Between dizzying increases in the price of gasoline, the desire to lessen the nation's dependence on foreign oil and increasing awareness about...
- Top Ten City Cars
In a city like Thermopolis, Wyoming (population 3172), any vehicle will do. Cities with a surfeit of population density and minimum of navigable surface area, however, present challenges. In New York...
- Most Dependable Brands 2007
The last few years have been rough ones for Detroit automakers, as they have seen their market share erode in the face of competition from their Asian and European rivals. Some of the reason is a more...
- Give Us Small Cars and Cheap Cars
High gas prices and concerns about the environment are sending American car and truck buyers toward a consumer psychology that has never found much traction in the United States: minimalism. But attit...
- Retirement Rides
You start a Chevy man, work up to an Oldsmobile, snag a managerial title and a ...
- Stylish Cars for First Time Buyers
One of the bigger difficulties any first-time buyer faces is purchasing a car that doesn't scream "first-time" to friends, relatives and co-workers, or indeed to the buyer each time they step into an...
- Oil Change Intervals
I have been in the auto repair industry since 1972 ... hummmm, a simple calculation of the math illustrates that I have been in car repair for, uh, well, let's not go there. It makes me depressed. You...
- Tires 101
You probably know tires are made of rubber, but how much more do you know? Here's a run-through of some important tire-related terminology. Aspect Ratio This technical-sounding term r...
- Car Title Loans a Problem
Cash advances are not a new concept in America's brand of capitalism. Many people have seen the commercials with some guy barking out, "Bad credit, no credit, no problem!" Or, "Don't worry about credi...
- Chinese Cars Are Coming
Get ready for the Chinese car companies. Before you know it you'll be trying to pronounce names like Chery (not Chevy), Geely Group, Zhongxing (also known as ZX), and Nanjing. Whether you can say the...
- How Car Dealers Are Run
Cars are a huge part of the lives of most Americans. Other than our homes, a car is the biggest, most expensive purchase most of us will ever make. So we've all spent our share of time at car dealers,...
- States with Highest Car Insurance Prices
For most drivers, the all-time most resented vehicle expense is not gas, oil changes or even those triple-digit transmission repairs, but auto insurance. Every six months to a year, drivers volunta...
- Small Cars Gaining Sales
DETROIT (AP) - Robynne Raye has a two-mile (three-kilometer) commute, a tiny garage and a tight budget, so when she was looking to buy the first new car she has ever owned, she wanted the smallest she...
- Resale and Trade-In Value
Is it time for you to buy a new car? Well, that usually means you'll also be selling your existing car -- or at least trading it in. If you've done everything right over the years that you've owned yo...
- Confessions of an Auto Mechanic
By the time we've reached the legal driving age, those who have gone before us usually instill at least three major lessons we should always put into practice. Number 1: Wear your seatbelt. Number 2:...
- Car Insurance
Many of us know the feeling of getting our car insurance bill and thinking, "Again!? Didn't I just pay this!?" Car insurance is one of those unavoidable (in most states) expenses. AOL Autos wanted to...
- Car Accidents
"It came out of nowhere." This is frequently heard from people involved in car accidents. Although it's not true in terms of where a driver came from, car accidents can seemingly come from nowhere and...
- How to Detail a Car
Part III: Interior We couldn't provide steps on how to detail a car without mentioning a few interior golden nuggets. We spend a lot of our time inside our cars. The da...
- Car Wash Tips
Part II: Washing and Drying Expert Tip: Never ever use the same bucket that you used for the tires and wheels to mix car wash soap for the body of your car. B...
- Car Tires and Wheels
Right up there with BBQ parties and baseball games, spending a nice Saturday afternoon washing and detailing your car is one of the best things about summer for car guys. To help you with that Saturda...
- Read a Police Officer's Mind
Most of us have been stopped by a police officer at some point, usually for a minor infraction like speeding or an expired registration. And of course, all of us have seen movie and TV depictions of t...
- U.S. Autoworker Faces a Changed Industry
WAYNE, Mich. (AP) - As he walks along a row of partially built sport utility vehicles, Curtis Giles is watching the overhead signs, hoping for green but looking for red letters that could spell troubl...
- Car Paint Colors
Color is emotional and very personal, especially when it comes to your car. Some color experts even say certain car paint colors match your personality like fiery red for outgoing types and warming be...
- Concept Cars of the Past
It is a good thing that auto engineers have ignored many of the "innovations" found in concept cars over the last half-century. Our lives just wouldn't be the same if even a fraction of the great misc...
- Quality of Domestic vs. Import Cars
We've seen it many times before in movies, TV, and even in real life. A driver reaches over to open his door and the handle falls off in his hand. Or picture a customer as he rolls his brand-new car o...
- Road Rage, Cellular Phones and Tailgaters
Doesn't life seem more dangerous when you don't check the optional insurance boxes on a rental car contract? Last week I watched in horror from the driver's seat of my totally uninsured, shoestring-bu...
- Most Patriotic Cars
Well-meaning patriots looking to boost the American economy with their next car purchase have an elusive task. Consider that the Che...
- Give Us Small Cars and Cheap Cars
High gas prices and concerns about the environment are sending American car and truck buyers toward a consumer psychology that has never found much traction in the United States: minimalism. But attit...
- Common Car Dealer Sales Tricks
You have a dilemma. You really want a new car but you absolutely despise being taken into that small room with a car salesman and subjected to common sales tactics. You dread the manipulation, being b...
- Does Gas Go Bad?
Does gasoline really go "bad" if you leave it unused for a period of time? Some people are convinced this is just another urban legend, and that people who worry about "old gas" and spend money on fue...
- What Not to Say to the Car Dealer
Apprehensive about shopping for a new car? Afraid you'll say the wrong thing to a car dealer that will give him the upper hand in the price battle? Shopping for a new car, or even a used one, doesn't...
- Rental Car Sales, Budget Used Cars
You've done your homework. You've navigated countless car dealerships at the end of the month and quarter, with internet quotes in hand so you know what's out there. You know about rebates and why inv...
- Confessions of an Auto Mechanic
By the time we've reached the legal driving age, those who have gone before us usually instill at least three major lessons we should always put into practice. Number 1: Wear your seatbelt. Number 2:...
- Speed Trap: What a Police Officer Uses to Catch You
Of course no one likes getting a speeding ticket, and who hasn't cried out, "You gotta be kidding me!" upon learning that a heavy foot just lightened your wallet by $150 or $200? But the sad truth is,...
- Is Your Car Financing Upside-Down?
We all know what it means to be upside-down in the physical sense. The blood rushes to your head and it's hard to breathe, all because it's not the natural state of the human body. In vehicular terms,...
- Best Used SUV Picks
The death of the minivan is upon us as more buyers migrate towards the ...
- Things to Consider When Buying Auto Insurance
According to Insure.com, the most dangerous food to consume while behind the wheel of a car is a cup of coffee. So does that mean you should deny indulging your caffeine monkey during your morning com...
- Best Used Trucks
You can tell a lot about a person by the used truck they drive. Don't think so?...
- CARFAX Report 101
Buying a used car can feel a bit like buying a lottery ticket: you never know if you're going to win big or just be out of some money. Investigating auto history reports like ...
- GPS, DVD Players, Keyless Entry
Features on cars are like fashion -- there's always something trendy and expensive to accessorize your ride. But which features are really worth paying for and which ones will you regret buying each t...
- 2007 Safest Cars
If you're going to get creamed in a car, might as well make it an Audi A4. That's because it's one of the safest cars on the road, according to data we consulted in forming this year's list of most...
- Tire Shopping Lessons
Let's face it. Tires are usually one of the most un-fun things to buy for a car. Most of us aren't too concerned about the process. We're just trying to buy a set of discount tires that turn out to be...
- Car Dealership Tactics
Three decades ago, renowned sales trainer Zig Ziglar walked into a Dallas car dealership to buy a Cadillac Sedan deVille. He was greeted by master car salesman Chuck Bellows. The occasion may represen...
- Automatic Car Wash Tips
Automatic/drive-through car washes are more popular than ever because they save time and hassle. And in winter, they also save you from the ordeal of trying to keep your car clean in freezing weather....
- Top 2007 Gas Guzzlers
When it comes to the market's least fuel efficient cars, what costs us cash at the pump also draws stares at the stoplight. Consider Ferrari's recently released 599 GTB Fiorano coupe, which is pri...
- Older Drivers Are Growing Problem
DALLAS -- As his 90-year-old neighbor struggled last May to set out on a morning drive to the store, David Prager began to worry. Elizabeth Grimes, a widow who had lived on Meaders Lane for 50 year...
- Get Your Car Ready for Summer
Summer weather and road trips go together, but is your car ready for the road -- and summertime heat? See whether your wheels can pass this pre-flight checklist: Lights and signals...
- Memorial Day Buying Tips
How can you not get excited when you see a 12-foot-tall yellow gorilla, arms raised in joyous celebration, promoting huge savings on a bevy of shiny new cars and trucks? Or how about the prospect of z...
- Car Specs Explained
As long as cars have been on the road, different car-related acronyms, terms and slang have followed. At best, it can all be confusing; at worst, it's a little intimidating. We hate to see you fake...
- Is $4 Gas Coming?
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gas prices near record highs, experts say $4-a-gallon gasoline is just around the corner. "I think it's going to happen," said Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst at...
- Choosing a Repair Shop
Recently, an elderly woman called my radio show. Her husband of 32 years had passed away and she was left to take care of the household responsibilities, which included the family car. Her question? "...
- Value-Losing Vehicles
The biggest cost of car ownership isn't gas, repairs or even adding that amazing sound system. Nope, it's depreciation, or the car's decrease in value over time. The autos that depreciate most are...
- How Recalls Work
Cars aren't perfect -- any guy who has spent a grueling winter dealing with various breakdowns can attest to that. Though there are usually seasonal problems to attend to, owning a car becomes a real...
- Car Conundrums and Facts
Those nagging "How" and "Why" questions about cars and all things related to cars abound. So how about a stab at some Q & A? Q: Why haven't any of the automakers built a diesel hybrid? After...
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket
You've probably read articles about fighting traffic tickets -- but the reality is many of us (probably most of us) just don't have the money to hire a lawyer -- or the time/expertise (let alone gumpt...
- Small Cars Making Big Waves
Fast-growing sales of the smallest cars are siphoning market share from compact sedans, auto industry experts say. Sub-subcompacts "are the new hot darlings of the market," says George Peterson of...
- Most Stolen Luxury Cars
After almost 10 years on the market, Cadillac's recently overhauled $56,000 ...
- Car-Buying Mistakes
Unless you're a high roller with a lot of money to burn, the decision to buy a car won't be a spontaneous one. It requires a lot of research and financial planning to find the right ride for your tast...
- Is Your Car Ready for Spring?
Time flies by quickly; it seems like only yesterday that I booked an appointment for my car's annual winter checkup and tire change. Well guess what? Springtime is right around the corner and it's tim...
- Is It Made in America?
Joe Luehrmann likes American cars, has owned a string of them and is considering buying another. But he faces a problem in trying to figure out what's American anymore. His brother just bought a ...
- Auto Ownership Cost Rise
(March 26) -- Even if gasoline prices dropped modestly, motorists still would face higher driving costs this year because of rising insurance, licensing and finance charges, travel organization AAA sa...
- Rental Car Price Craziness
It's getting more difficult for business travelers to find the best car rental rate. Using computer programs to monitor competitors' prices, as well as supply and demand, auto rental companies are...
- The Dirt On Rental Cars
Karen Moawad saw the numbers written in ink on the upholstery of a 2007 Mercury Montego she rented from Hertz last week and wasn't surprised. Moawad, the CEO of a management consulting company in B...
- Eight Great Auto Questions
Why do brakes squeal or squeak? Brake squeal is the result of a high-pitched vibration of the brake pads. This vibration occurs because the pads are not properly insulated from the calip...
- Number One Status
Ask consumers why Toyota may soon be the largest automaker in the world, and they will point to the ...
- Ten Best Luxury Dealer Experiences
Kirk Sladen sent one of his car sales associates nearly 100 miles away just to help customers set up the garage-door opener in their new Lexus. It's a task that might have been just as easily accompli...
- Dealing With Car Fires
Smoke and/or the acrid smell of burning wires -- these are not sensual assaults to be ignored when you're heading down the highway. Just like in Monopoly: Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Drive di...
- Air Conditioning Smells, Windshield Wiper Fluid Questions
Don't Substitute Window Cleaner for Windshield Washer Solution! Dear Tom, I would like to know if it's OK to use regular Windex glass cleaner to refill an empty windshield washer bottle...
- Your Car, Your Friend
WASHINGTON (Jan. 15) - Cheryl Hoffer leaves the world behind when she climbs into Breezy -- her Volkswagen GTI -- and drives the 31...
- Eight Traffic Ticket Tips
Nobody likes paying for tickets. But if you're a driver, they're a fact of life -- especially at the end of the month or around the holidays when cops scramble to fill their quotas. The odds are that...
- American Automakers Going Back to Future in Uphill Climb to Change
WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans have a bias against cars made by U.S. automakers, but an AP-AOL Autos poll found flickers of loyalty that could offer hope for an industry struggling to survive. The...
- Best States for Driving
In honor of our 25th 10Best issue, I've decided to rank the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to their attractiveness to drivers. Possessing a certain nerdy talent for spreadsheets and...
- Drivers by Sign
TORONTO, Dec 13 (Reuters Life!) - Never mind how careful you are behind the wheel or how long you've been driving, the signs of the zodiac may be bigger factors behind your ability to avoid car crashe...
- Quick Car Fixes
We've all heard that cars are complicated -- and that's true -- but that doesn't mean you're completely helpless when a problem arises. Some minor automotive hiccups can be dealt with even by people w...
- Car leasing
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Auto leasing is, once again, becoming popular. The number of car leases is up 21 percent compared to last year, according to data from the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. ...
- Winter Driving Tips
For many drivers, navigating on snow and ice is cause for alarm. Few are educated and practiced in how to drive in heavy rain or on slippery surfaces. And, much confusion prevails. So when the weather...
- Tools for the Trunk
If you've ever been stuck on the side of the road you know that having the right tools and patience are priceless. Often, a little of both will go a long way in getting you back on the road. The f...
- Expensive Parking
You've already paid for the plane tickets, the presents and the hotel -- but make sure to leave a few extra bills in your wallet for the airport parking. How much? That depends on which airport. ...
- Tough States for Tickets
Taking a road trip? Be sure to go easy on the gas pedal, particularly if your travels take you up or down the East Coast. According to the stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrat...
- Automobile Insurance Fraud
As gas prices continue to soar, the economy barely gets rolling, and all of those great deals we saw over the past few years for buying new cars begin to dwindle, Americans are calculating and refinan...
- Brand Loyalty
They say that it's a lot cheaper to keep the customers you have than it is to grab someone else's. No wonder, then, that Toyota, which makes more profit than any other automaker, tops J.D. Power's Cus...
- Million-Mile Car Donated to Museum
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- As a traveling salesman, Peter Gilbert has put a few miles on his car -- 1,001,385 miles, to be precise. It took the Glendale man 17 years to cross the million-mile mark with his...
- Preparing Your Car for Sale
Neil Sedaka once crooned (remember him?), breaking up is hard to do, but when it comes car ownership, nothing lasts forever. Sentimentality aside, you may be dying to get rid of that old beast a...
- Tips for Buying Used
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...
- Tips to Sell a Used Car
There's typically a 10-20 percent difference between what a dealer will give you for your used car or truck as a trade-in -- and what you could probably sell a used car for yourself. The downside,...
- Certification Eases Used-Car Buying
The number of certified "pre-owned" vehicles continues to grow as a market force, tempting shoppers who worry about potential problems with their used-car purchase. Used cars are a gamble. Certi...
- Auto Insurance: Factors Affecting Rates
Insurance premiums are also called insurance rates. Here are some of the major factors that affect insurance rates and what you can do to lower them: Increase your deductible. A ...
- Auto Insurance: Filing a Claim
You're likely to eventually be involved in a fender-bender or other accident that results in you filing a claim. A ...
- Auto Insurance: Coverage
Some of the major categories of auto insurance include: No-fault. No-fault insurance coverage pays for injuries or damages incurred by either you or the other party in an accident. It...
- Auto Insurance: Shopping for Insurance
Shopping for auto insurance means different things to different people, but the heart of your search is likely to focus on finding an insurer that charges affordable premiums. Premiums can vary wid...
- Auto Insurance: The Basics
Let's take a look at the basics of auto insurance. In exchange for an auto insurance policy that provides a specific amount of coverage, you pay an insurance company a ...
- Oil Change Options
I've been getting a lot of mail regarding using synthetic motor oil in vehicles. Questions such as: - Should I use synthetic oil? - Does it work better in some cars than others? - Doe...
- December Steals
Looking for a bargain? We've got 20. The following cars are our TMVﾮ (True Market Value) Deals of the Month, and they represent the best values we found in the marketplace. To determine these ran...
- Minivan Mavericks
There comes a time in every man's life when the little red sports car just isn't practical anymore. I know; it's hard to imagine life without the race-car pizzazz, but it will happen. Losing the sport...
- Mechanic Advice
A mechanic should possess the same qualities that you expect from your doctor and dentist; namely trust and reliability. No one wants to have a regular mechanic who takes advantage of him every chance...
- Shopping for Your Next Car Online: Rule Five
Web shoppers appreciate the vehicle configurator applications found on automaker and third-party sites, because they show all of the equipment combinations you can get in a car. Dealers seem to...
- Shopping for Your Next Car Online: Rule Four
Jupiter Research finds that many web shoppers ignore downstream aspects of automobile purchasing that still have a critical effect on cost and enjoyment. People don't do as much research on fi...
- Shopping for Your Next Car Online: Rule Three
One of the best things to happen for bargain-driving car shoppers in the past decade is the plethora of expert advice, pricing and specification data now available online. However, the wealth of...
- Shopping for Your Next Car Online: Rule Two
Another good way to engage dealers during the research process is to visit them to test-drive vehicles. The Internet can give you a good introduction to specific models and load you up with insi...
- Shopping for Your Next Car Online: Rule One
All of the MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) and invoice pricing now available online make purchase negotiations more transparent and less time-consuming than in years past. This tim...
- How Dealers Get You to Pay More
Anyone who has sold cars for a living will tell you that most buyers are payment shoppers. More than comparing vehicles, or looking for the best vehicle for their particular needs, they shop mon...
- Buying a New Car
Buying a new car doesn't have to be a stressful (or wallet-draining) experience. Just be sure you follow the rules: 1. Buy when you don't have to The best way to get a great deal on a...
- Five Ways to Avoid Sticker Shock
New cars are nice -- new car payments, not so nice. But while often you can't have one without the other, you can keep those payments reasonable. Here's how: 1. Buy what you need, not what th...
- Best Resale Value Cars
The average car loses about 65 percent of its value over five years, according to the automotive pricing firm Kelley Blue Book. That means a $30,000 car will get you about $10,500 if you sell it after...
- First Car Tips
Can't figure out what's the best type of vehicle to select for a new teenage driver? You know to avoid that backfiring rust bucket with space aliens in the trunk or that muscle car that would bury yo...
- Easy Car Care Tips
Most men aren't mechanics, and some men could care less about their car as long as it looks good and drives well. But a responsible driver should always take five minutes every other week or so to che...
- Extreme Marketing
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Greg is a 30-year-old regional manager for Rite-Aid, and he and his wife make about $60,000. They don't have any children, but they plan to soon. Greg shops at The Gap and T...
- Six Quick Fixes
Besides your normal kit of emergency and breakdown supplies (basic tool set, water, emergency food, blanket, jumper cables, tire pressure gauge, etc.), it's nice to know that you also have some handy...
- Driving a Lemon?
If your steak is undercooked (or just plain mangy) you can always send it back -- or at least get a refund. But if the new car or truck you just bought turns out to be a lemon, sending it back -- or j...
- Premium Savings
Now that the days of cheap gas are over, people are constantly looking for ways to save a few bucks on their car. Most people will look for ways to make their car more fuel efficient, but another way...
- Residual Rules
Whether you're seeking a new automobile or a secondhand model, awareness of residual values is crucial for selecting the best prospects. Used mainly by the leasing industry, residual values are...
- Halloween Car Cleanup Guide
Close the blinds, bar the doors and huddle together for safety. Its Halloween: the night for ghouls and ghosts to run free -- not to mention hooligans wholl see your brand new Lexus GS430 as...
- Detecting Drunk Drivers
According to the DWI detection guide put out by the U.S. Department of Transportation and its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are many common, telltale signs that can hel...
- Avoiding an Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been an average of 41,000 highway fatalities in the United States per year since 1993. Sadly, a great many of these...
- Most Expensive to Insure
Insurance companies set their rates according to how much they expect to shell out if you should wreck your car. They also factor in the probability that you actually will wreck your car, based on the...
- Shifting Gears
If you're new-car shopping and you know what you want, you might still be torn between getting an automatic or a stick. After automatics all but stamped out manuals for a few years, it seems like more...
- Small Fun for Fall
For auto manufacturers foreign and domestic, big is out this fall and small is in -- big time. The entry-level, small car market is still as petite as the vehicles that populate it, making up a mere 0...
- Used Cars for New Buyers
Maybe you're heading off to college in the fall, or perhaps you just graduated and are finally living on your own. Or maybe you just got that long-overdue raise. You're a guy just starting out and y...
- Ready for Sale
As Neil Sedaka once crooned (remember him?), breaking up is hard to do, but when it comes to car ownership, nothing lasts forever. Sentimentality aside, you may be dying to get rid of that old beast a...
- Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Last years hurricanes provided a valuable lesson in preparedness. Disasters can strike at any time and its important to ready your family and your primary mode of transportation for the worst. The...
- Warranty Woes
Capitalism is rooted in making a buck. Philosophically, the less one pays, the more one keeps. Trying to get a company to part with its money can be frustrating, even if you've parted with yours based...
- The Best Excuse
Driving fast has its consequences. Be obvious about it and you're getting pulled over - and forking over, more than likely. Or maybe you're a silver-tongued speeder and avoided your last ticket. Ev...
- Zero Percent Pitfalls
Nothing could be more enticing than free money, and that's what the current round of zero-percent finance deals seem to offer. Remember the adage, "There's no such thing as a free lunch?'' Well, free...
- How Much Down?
We all know that a new car loses a significant amount of its value when you drive it off the lot. That's where the down payment -- the amount of cash you bring to the purchase -- comes in. The dow...
- Important Financing Questions
Here are some questions that you must ask when discussing financing. Write them down or print them out before going to the dealer. Make sure you get answers to these questions that you fully understan...
- Credit Score Basics
In the olden days, if the store manager didn't like your face, the price of your lay-away might mysteriously go up. Today, you can be as good-looking as Brad Pitt and still pay through the nose for a...
- MPG vs. Money
The conventional wisdom about many things is often not very wise. Tips on how to battle high gas prices, for example, can sometimes end up costing you a fortune. Here are a few unconventional ways...
- Finding a Mechanic
Finding a good repair shop is one of the toughest tasks of car ownership, because there often isn't a good, clear choice. The key is, of course, to find a good, trustworthy mechanic before things go w...
- Finding a Mechanic
Finding a good repair shop is one of the toughest tasks of car ownership, because there often isn't a good, clear choice. The key is, of course, to find a good, trustworthy mechanic before things go w...
- Does It Hold Value?
Understanding depreciation rates -- how well or poorly a vehicle retains its value over time -- is key to making a smart buy because it will affect how much (or little) you'll recoup at trade-in time....
- Electrical Gremlins
Electric problems in cars can be among the most frustrating and expensive to diagnose and repair. But if you have access to a multimeter/voltmeter and rudimentary underhood knowledge, you might be abl...
- Future of Our Roads
If you depend on Interstate highways for your daily commute, you might find it a little hard to be optimistic about the future of the Interstate system. Congestion is becoming the all-day norm, and co...
- Sorry Officer
As you coast to a stop on the shoulder of the roadway, you know that sick feeling -- you've been busted. And now, it's time to pay. We thought it might be a good idea to share with you some advice...
- Dont Forget This
You've had the religion of regular oil changes pounded into you -- but other basic maintenance items are worthy of attention, too. Usually these upkeep items sneak up on you, affecting your car's perf...
- Domestic or Import?
If you drive an American-brand car, you probably (and quite reasonably) assume it was built here in the USA -- just as an import car would (you'd think) have been manufactured in a different country....
- Which Gas?
Don't be gulled by slick oil company marketing ploys about the benefits of premium fuel: few new cars really need it and those that don't won't run any better from using it. There's no mystery to...
- Road Rage Disorder
Editors note: Recently a study was done which provides evidence that road rage may be an inherent mental disorder. This is still debatable, but whatever the case road rage doesn't look like it is g...
- Raise the Gas Tax?
NEW YORK (FORTUNE) - Mike Jackson has a prescription for reining in energy usage that is simple, straightforward and guaranteed to be effective. The CEO of AutoNation, the largest chain of auto dealer...
- Is it Time to Sell?
People are keeping their cars much longer these days than they used to -- eight to 10 years and more being increasingly common. But when is it time to start thinking about a new car? The precise m...
- Junkyard Jewels
Last month I had occasioned to repair two rather old Toyota trucks. One was a 1987 Land Cruiser requiring a carburetor. This being a rather rare model I was surprised to find I could still buy a new c...
- Hidden Vehicle History
Title Washing & Curb Stoning Another scam detected by Carfax is called title washing. This occurs when "state X might not recognize titles from state Y," Fredericks said. "People who are...
- 2006 J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey
DETROIT (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. held onto its dominant position in annual vehicle quality rankings, which were revamped to highlight design and layout problems that can irritate consumers as much as...
- The Winner Is
(MONEY Magazine) - Name a car, and there's at least one award that its maker can brag about winning from the Automotive Award-Giving Institute, or some such entity. Even respected vehicle-rating firms...
- Windshield Woes
The scenario is all too common: You're driving along the Interstate minding your own business, a muddy gravel truck pulls in front of you and moments later a stone comes smacking against your windshie...
- Financing Tricks
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - New car buyers are taking out longer and longer loans to finance their vehicle purchases, according to data from the Consumer Bankers Association. More than half of new car l...
- Beware of Dumb Drivers
The tiny state of Rhode Island still ranks rock bottom in terms of driving knowledge, according to a national test conducted by GMAC Insurance. Oregon drivers answered the most questions correctly. ...
- Classic Car Collecting
If you're a car enthusiast like us, you've probably lusted after some special car for years. But you've hesitated because you don't want to make a mistake that could cost you thousands, and maybe even...
- Is This Better Than Used?
The Downside of CPO But there are drawbacks to CPO cars, as well. Manufacturers dont perform those detailed inspections and tack on a warranty out of the goodness of their hearts. Th...
- Gas-Saving Scams
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - It costs less than $40 and, according to its Web site marketing, it will raise your vehicle's fuel economy by 30 percent or more. Customers swear by it in testimonials. Wh...
- Power Hungry
NEW YORK -- Almost a quarter of car shoppers would be willing to sacrifice size, performance, prestige and even pay more money to buy a car that got five more miles per gallon, according to a survey c...
- Fluid Flush Fallacy
If you take your car to a shop for a routine oil change you have a high probability of being told your car needs one or more of its critical fluids flushed, changed or serviced. This started originall...
- Top 10 Tips for City Driving
Driving in the city is a sport unto itself. Clogged expressways, impossible parking, countless red lights, never-ending construct...
- Teach Your Teen
So you're going to have a new driver in the family. Standard driver's ed courses may have already taught your son or daughter the basics of how to drive, but they seldom teach teens what they really n...
- The Cost of Luxury
In July 2005, Jennifer Matthews of San Francisco was driving with her 85-pound pit bull, Chopper, in the backseat of her five-day-old 2005 Lexus RX 330. A deer jumped in front of the car, and Matthews...
- How the superrich go car shopping
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Here's a sales pitch I'll bet you'd never expect for a 20-foot-long $390,000 luxury sedan: "It makes a great gift." A great gift? Really, Joseph Horneman, the Maybach...
- Lemon Flavored
Has your car been trouble since day one? Feel like it's in for repairs more than it's in your driveway? If that's the case, lemon laws, meant to give you some legal leverage to seek a refund of the pu...
- Warranty Worries
With extended service intervals and, in general, higher levels of reliability and durability, today's cars spend a lot less time in the service bay. But on the downside, when something does go wrong,...
- Resale Value Winners
When choosing a new vehicle, its projected resale, or residual, value is one of the most important factors to consider. If you're leasing a new model, the residual value determines your monthly paymen...
- Car Spring Cleaning
Winter is the harshest time of year for cars. Those of you in the snow (rust) belt have it the worst. Corrosive road salt, loose stones and road debris from snow plows, traction sand, and repeated fre...
- Dodgy Dealings
In the market for a used car? With the improved reliability and longevity of newer vehicles -- and a flooded used car market -- buying used is a better value than ever. According to nationwide data fr...
- Resale Value Tips
Any car loses value over time. How much it loses is, to some extent, up to you. There are lots of things people commonly do, or don't do, that can pound down a car's eventual resale value much fa...
- Playing Race Driver
TORONTO Its not just a Ferrari driving school, its a Ferrari experience. Thats how Ferrari is pitching its first factory-backed driving school outside of Italy, located at the Mt. Tremb...
- Share the Joy
Three years ago, Torbin Fuller, a long-time classic car fan, quit his job in finance at Ford, moved from Dearborn, Mich., to San Francisco -- "because there's a lot of scenic driving there" -- and sta...
- 'Every 3K Miles'
Recommended oil and filter changeout intervals have increased significantly over the past 10 years or so -- to as infrequently as once every 8,000 (or even 10,000 miles or more) in the case of a few v...
- Be Nice to Your Car
Most people know not to stick their fingers through the bars at the zoo -- though some don't and get to learn from the experience. Likewise, there are things you should never do to your car or truck t...
- Traffic Laws to Watch
By Eric PetersThe law is the law - or so the judge will tell you when your day in traffic court arrives. But some traffic laws could stand to be bent a little in the interests of comm...
- The Repair Shop
By Edmunds.com Editors It's an inconvenience, but you really do have to maintain your car if you want it to work well, burn fuel efficiently and stay clear of costly repairs. But what kind o...
- Confessions of a Car Salesman
By Edmunds.com EditorsIntroductionWhat really goes on in the back rooms of car dealerships across America? What does the car salesman do when he leaves you sitting...
- Going... Going... Gone!
By Bengt Halvorson Heard the promises of $100 retired military Jeeps and $500 luxury cars confiscated in drug raids? You've likely seen the newspaper ads, flyers and infomercials tha...
- Beat Your Ticket
By Edmunds.com EditorsMy rearview mirror exploded with blue and white lights. I glanced down at my speedometer -- I was pushing 80 mph. But the cars around me were going about the sam...
- Should You Buy New, Used or Certified Pre-Owned?
By Jeff Zygmont "I wanted a brand-new, shiny car like the ones I saw in the showroom," says Faith Newman, 38, of her choice to lease a new Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan from the dealer...
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