Automarket Review

Volkswaten, with its fifth generation on GTI family, presents all the features of elegance and practical use on this model. Before there were Phaetons, before Passats were powered by W-8s, before engineers were distracted by electrically operated air vents and the intricacies of the W-12’s intake tract, Volkswagen happened on the formula for a lightweight, simple, practical sporty car, the GTI. It was quick, inexpensive, and roomy, handled splendidly, and looked well-built, and perhaps most important, it was definitely fun in a 55-mph world.

With time, the well-deserved GTI reputation softened as it went from being a truly special model in the lineup to a glorified trim package at the top of the Golf range. But the lean years weren’t without hope. The occasional VR6-powered rockets and the delightfully uncompromising 20th-anniversary special edition proved us there were still a few folks inside the company who knew what a GTI should be. So when we discovered that the fifth-generation GTI had resurrected the spirit of the first- and second-gen GTIs, we placed it on our 10Best list and added one to our long-term fleet.

Read more

Citroen offers now a brilliant Prius alternative – but this isn’t quite it. The C3 1.6 HDi might astound you with excellent fuel economy and impressively low emissions – and for many people, these are reasons enough to buy. In many ways, the Citroen C3 can be seen the French version of Volkswagen’s New Beetle, but better done.

You might also be seduced by lovely styling (still, after all these years); or revel in the sheer individuality of driving an offbeat French car. But this baby is now one of the very senior light-car offerings, reflected in the generally tight packaging, patchy interior presentation and dull driving experience. The price makes the C3 no steal either. We recommend stretching to the gorgeous C4 diesels, or hanging out for this car’s not-too-distant replacement instead.

Read more

Internet presents many options which are changing the way things normally run today. This is valid also for buying car online of course.

Buying cars via online auction sites such as eBay or any other auction site is becoming more popular. It sounds risky, but if you follow our usual precautions it should be little different from using more established channels. That said, the regular auction format throws up some particular problems. These are:

• Research used car prices on pricing guides. Look at completed sales listings on eBay to see how much similar cars went under the hammer for. So you can get a concrete idea about the car’s actual price.

• Reputable sellers usually take advantage of the extra space the web permits to give details on the car and display multiple photos. Study the listing thoroughly, and email the seller if you still have questions. Establishing personal contact helps buyer and sellers each other out too.

• Before you start bidding, set yourself a clear limit and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away with the excitement and pay over the odds for the car. Try to be a self controlling conscious buyer.

• If the car advertised is local, try to view it before you bid. This will give you a very concrete idea about the car.

• Always run an HPI check on the car. Don’t forget if you win, your offer is legally binding, so you need to make sure the car’s history is clean. eBay offers low-cost history checks for cars advertised on its website.

• Check the seller’s terms and conditions before you bid, and make sure you’re happy with them.

• Look at the feedback ratings for the seller. Do they have a good reputation with others? If the seller is not dependable, just move on.

• And finally, be very suspicious of anything that seems too good to be true – it probably is not.

We wish good luck on finding your car online.

You have a car yet you want to sell it, may be you want to buy a better and newer car, or you just need some hot cash. It is important to give your car away withouth any problems and with a reasonable deal. Below are some steps and tips for selling your car:

The avarage used car salesman is distinguished by his sharp tongue and distinctive lack of ethics. While there are many slippery hucksters on the market, the true sales people who profit the most from used cars sales employ slightly different tactics. They research the competition, price their cars correctly, and market them effectively. They just know how to play the game. Here are three proven tactics to help you sell your own used car.

1. Research the Market

Read more

For making the best and optimum deal for buying your car, first of you should know what your needs are and where you can get these specifications. Of course the place you buy your car will affect the type of car you buy, and the level of service that you receive.

First of all consider what you’re looking for, and the best place to find it. Ok, let’s start:

• Main dealers’ sticker prices – those you see on the windscreen – are probobly the most expensive ones, but you should be getting the best service. You’ll be quoted the highest prices but you can haggle a good discount.

Read more

If you want to buy a new car, you at least know that you can trust the company you are buying the car of. Yet if your purpose is to buy a used car,  you need to do some home work to do on your part so that you get a deal that is really worth the money you spend.

But do not get it wrong, it doesn’t mean the used car market is weak. It’s just that you should find yourself a good car, or a car that has been well maintained - with a decent history behind it. This is very important particular with so many cars being totaled by floods and accidents. There are many fraud or scams going on in the used car sale. Avoiding falling a victim to such scams is very important.

So, here are some important tips you should follow when looking to buy a used car:

First of all you need to determine the model of the car and its make and model you wish to buy. Get information on the best rates for your chosen make, model combination from sites like NADA.com. This way you get to know how much you would have to spend on the car of your choice.

Read more

This is an all-new, bigger and roomier model. 

The 2009 Toyota Corolla is a new car, the 10th generation of the world’s most popular passenger car. More than 30 million have been sold in more than 140 different countries. With five distinct models there is something for every choice; and those looking for a hatchback, wagon, or all-wheel-drive can check out the Toyota Matrix which shares many mechanical components.
Working from a concept developed for the first Corolla, the new one shows you can make a car inexpensive without it being cheap and losing quality. It feels more like a small car than an econobox, as much a smaller Camry as anything else. There is no hybrid version: 27/35 mpg is nothing to sneeze at, hybrid technology isn’t inexpensive, and the Prius has that covered.

Younger and older buyers alike appreciate low purchase and operating costs, and previously Corollas have proven reliable and not an expensive insurance proposition. First-time drivers will do well with straightforward controls, minimal distractions, and standard passive safety equipment, and many older drivers will appreciate the same things for different reasons. This is definitely a very handy model in terms of usability.

For the ultimate low-budget wheels you turn to the Corolla base model, but it has manual, wind-up windows and manual door locks. Upgrading to the Corolla LE includes power windows and door locks. If you fancy a fancier interior, the woodgrain trim in the Corolla XLE goes in that direction, although you can’t get leather. Finally, there are two sportier models, the Corolla S which looks the part and has some seat and chassis upgrades, and the Corolla XRS which brings a bigger engine, brakes, and tires to the party. You can choose for your own taste.

No matter the model, the Toyota Corolla is a hop-in-and-go kind of car. The control layout logic is multi-generational and quick to master. It’s so simple you can easily trade drivers over long distances, and so common you won’t be without a car for months if they damage your ride.

2009 Toyota Corolla in Summary

The all-new 2009 Toyota Corolla is an practical sedan that by way of its myriad configurations can be used for virtually any application. It keeps up with urban traffic, offers good maneuverability, delivers decent fuel economy, and makes a strong argument in any non-emotional automotive purchase.

It may be definitely the car of your dream and your daily life: Toyota Corolla

On todays shaky world, with gas prices soaring, plugging in has its appeal. But there are trade-offs: high costs and low speed with Electric Cars. We believe that they are going to shape the future yet.

The Tesla Roadster, which recently entered production, is probably the best known electric car in America. The company’s president has called it “the only production electric car for sale in the United States.”
There are several other electric car companies that would differ with him on that point, but those other vehicles are either limited to speeds below 25 miles per hour or have fewer than four wheels, making their status as “cars” somewhat debatable.

With a full set of wheels and a claimed top speed of 125 mph, there’s no question this two-seat convertible is a real car. Tesla also boasts an amazing 220-mile range on a full charge as measured in EPA fuel economy tests.

Meanwhile, the charging time claimed by Tesla is less than half that of other electric vehicles, thanks to advanced lithium-ion batteries — which do account for much of the car’s high cost.

But even gasoline-powered two-seat soft-tops are luxury toys, not daily drivers. Tesla promises it is working hard on a more moderately priced four-door model for driving’s other half.  Below is its chart:

Cost: $109,000
Charge time: 3.5 hours
Range: 220 miles
Top speed: 125 mph

The Auto Business is a big universe!

Even in the United States alone there exist over 25,000 new car dealerships and over 50,000 used car dealerships! That represents more then 50 million vehicles that are sold each year. Every vehicle is sold once as a new vehicle and at least 3 times as a used vehicle. Do you have doubts? Well just start by checking it out in your neighborhood! Just count the number of new and used car dealerships within a 50 km radius and then consider the number of cars on their lots. The average dealership turns over its inventory every 60 days!

Just think about it, there has really never been a better time to consider buying a used car instead of a new one. The record number of new cars and trucks sold by auto makers in recent years, fueled largely by extremely attractive rebates and low or no-interest financing, has created an overabundance of used cars. That gives the used-car shopper a lot of choice in vehicles. This flooded market also means depressed prices of used cars bad news for new-car buyers trading in their old models but good news for bargain-hunting used-car shoppers. Further, an increasing number of certified pre-owned car plans have cropped up in recent years to provide consumers with peace of mind when it comes to buying a used car.

Read more

You don’t need to buy new cars on the first visit to the dealership! So, be patient.

The salesperson at the dealership wants to sell you a new car that’s in stock… now, today! Of course this makes sense, but why?
If you buy today it means you won’t go elsewhere to buy your new car tomorrow. The greatest fear of any car salesperson is a potential sale leaving the lot to go to another dealership. Because you can see your other options.
If you buy on your first visit then you could seem desperate or hot to buy. This is an advantage to the salesperson because they know your decision to buy is mainly emotional which means you’re less likely to negotiate effectively. Just imagine yourself instead of his or her position.

Read more