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.

Unfortunately for those who have owned a GTI, or any Volkswagen, for that matter, some of those flashbacks involve enigmatic pieces of goo-covered plastic sitting on the footwell and squeaks and rattles. In our car, the sunroof and a dash vent started making noise soon after the car was delivered. It’s a conundrum VW owners are quite familiar with: The interior materials might be first-rate, but does that matter if it sounds as if there were a baby tooth clattering around inside the dash? Volkswagen loyalists get used to these problems. Honda and Toyota fans would be appalled. To quell the racket, a new sliding-sunroof panel was ordered at our first service stop at 5000 miles; the dash rattle would magically heal itself whenever the GTI went in for service.

For the 2.0-liter turbo engine, Volkswagen suggests service stops at 5000 and 10,000 miles and, thereafter, every 10,000 miles. Its price is reasonable for many families.

In summary, GTI seems so much livelier than the old one, but the ride can be a bit jarring over pavement with lots of expansion joints. And it is probobly the best automatic car you can use in its class.

Enjoy your drive with Volkswagen GTI.

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.

 
Upside
Outstanding fuel economy, low emissions, torquey performance, great styling, eager handling, feel of individuality.
  
Downside
Feeling its age, patchy interior presentation, tight rear seat, expensive, no ESC stability control, feeling eco-car.

Warranty
Three years/100,000km

Citroen C3 Price Range
SX  $19.990 
Exclusive  $21.990 
Exclusive (a)  $23.990 
HDi  $23.990 
Pluriel Convertible (a)  $29.990  

Spreadsheet of Specifications:

Enjoy your drive with this fascination car: Citroen c3

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.

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

Think about the person who’s likely to buy it. An old compact car, for example, might sell well on a college campus. A muscle car is likely to sell better in rural areas, or near a military base. And a larger family car will find a market out in the suburbs. Try to qualify your target group before you begin the selling process. It will streamline your decision-making process further down the road. Just try to imagine yourself instead of the buyer, build your empaty.

2. Give a Reasonable Price for Your Car

Pricing your car accurately is a critical part of the sale. After all, people will be paying from their own pockets, not using an auto loan. Slap a sky-high price on your car, and no one will touch it. Price it too low, and you risk losing money.

To determine the best price, spend some time doing research. Your first stop should be the Internet. Visit the multitude of car buying sites, and comparison shop identical makes and models. Then, stop by the website of Kelly’s Blue Book (www.kbb.com), which features new and used prices on cars, all geared to the specific condition of the automobile. And in final, look at the classified ad section in your local newspaper. The market in your area may differ slightly from the information you find during your online research. Again just try to imagine yourself instead of your buyer.

3. Clean up your act

If you roll out a dirty used car filled with garbage, don’t count on a sale anytime soon. Put a little elbow grease into cleaning it up. If there are some scratches in the paint, find a local auto body repair specialist to do some spot touch-ups. Reach into your pocket, and fork out the money to have your car detailed. (A car detailing is an extensive cleaning process that includes a through washing and waxing of your automobile.) Once you have a pristine product, you’re ready to sell. The first impression is very important in selling your car.

Selling a used car requires a great deal of advanced preparation. Take the time to firmly establish your target market, do some digging to find an accurate price for your car, and have your car thoroughly cleaned. Then, you can begin marketing it, choosing advertising venues and messages that will appeal specifically to your target audience. With a solid product and a great promotional strategy, you should be able to sell your car faster than the most adept used car salesperson.

We wish the best deal for you…

Please read http://www.truthsifter.net/tips-for-buying-used-cars/ to get tips for buying used cars.

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.

• Brokers put you in touch with dealers offering competitive new car prices but you might have to travel to pick up the car. In addition to that, you are going to have little time to check everything up when compared to dealers.

• Internet companies allow you to quickly search and find the best prices on a wide range of cars. However, just because they’ve advertised a car, it doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to supply one quickly. Sometimes they sell used cars as well. Buying online is not for some people and this is a fact.

• Independent car supermarkets offer a huge number of cars covering the popular brands but, if you’re looking for something unusual, you may be disappointed. These are occasionally good places to pick up a nearly new car.

• Importers can often supply cars at lower prices than anyone else, depending on exchange rates. It might also be a route to securing a car with a waiting list in the UK - but make sure you’re buying a car with the correct specification. Of course make sure that there is no problem with legal issues.

• Smaller independents usually stock a wide range of used cars but might not have the largest choice in terms of specification and colour. They tend to sell the cars that are too old for franchised dealers but they are more expensive than buying privately. But keep in mind, they don’t need to have a good reputation on the market.

• Online auctions like eBay are becoming more popular. You could find a bargain through the internet like this, but there’s lots to bear in mind so take a look at our dedicated advice page.

• Car market auctions are also nice places to find the best deals for the cars. Of course it usually means waking up early and making your decision quickly.

Good luck on finding your car.

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.

The age of the car is also important.  Make sure that the car you select for purchase is not more than 3 to 5 years old and one that’s been well handled by the previous owner. Cars older than this are really not worth buying as they can run into quite a few problems. If you are buying a car older than that, make sure you get a very good deal on them to cover the cost of any unexpected problems.

Check out the different car dealers in your vicinity. References from family and friends are helpful at this point. Keep in mind that when buying a used car is that getting a car from a dealer is better than buying it privately, unless of course you know the seller personally. A better choice than a dealer is a rental agency like Enterprise Car Rentals because they maintain the car’s engine pretty well. They send out cars for sale just after one or two years of usage, so you can be sure to get a pretty decent car. The only issue here is that the rates offered for used cars from a rental is higher than the one you get from a private seller or a dealer.

Look for the car’s Vehicle identification Number or VIN in dashboard of the driver side of the vehicle. Other places to look at are the driver side door and the doorpost, where the door latches when it is closed. If you do not find it one any of the places, check under the car’s hood, it may be a sticker on the engine. Use the car’s VIN to get the Vehicle’s History Report from carfax. The history report will give you all details about how previous owner(s) used the car, and even nifty things like an odometer roll back can be traced by this report. This will save you from any scam.

If you don’t find the VIN on the car, ask the dealer. If the dealer is not telling it to you, forget this dealer and simply go to a better one. Check to see if the car you are looking at was actually a flooded one. You can do this by looking at the car’s door hinges, spare tires and crow bar to find out if it is rusted. Look under the car’s seat using a mirror. If you find metal holdings that are rusted, it is a sign that the car was submerged in water. You really need to do the check whether the car’s been flooded because too many cars have become totaled and turned into junk as a result of the devastation caused by hurricanes.

When you intend to buy a car directly from a seller, do not buy the car in situations where the seller is not allowing you to drive the car, is not committing to anything in writing and if the seller is not the owner of the car. If the seller does not accept your bringing in a trusted mechanic for inspection, wants cash immediately or tells you to pay today, but will give you the title tomorrow, simply move on.

Once you buy the used car, make sure to get an extended warranty. It is one of the most important things you can get after purchase, as it will help to reduce car repair costs. You can get an extended warranty from either a car’s retailer or manufacturer.

If the car dealer you are considering says ‘either buy the extended warranty from me or lose your chance to get a loan approval’, do never give in and just get moving to a better dealer. Why? There is really no such policy in place between the bank and the dealer. There have also been complaints about dealers who take money for the extended warranty but never actually send it to the auto warranty company.

Try to get gap insurance for the used car. In case you took the car out on a loan and if the car was totaled or stolen, gap insurance can be a real lifesaver. It will cover the gap between the value of the car at the current market rate and the amount due on the car.

One thing you need to know about used cars is that Lemon Laws do not apply to use cars. The only state you can see this applicable is New York. Even there, the used car lemon laws provide coverage only for non-leased cars, which are purchased directly from dealers.

You should also make a check on the car’s engine coolant. If you see a green color, then the engine’s fine. If you see something rusty inside, once again pass over the car. This is actually a very simple test to finding out about the car’s condition and if the car does not pass this one, you need to pass over the car!

Test-driving a used car is a must. You can find a whole lot of things in a test drive. If the car’s engine makes undue noise, or you find it unable to smoothly and easily steer across traffic, it’s an indication of mechanical problems, which means additional costs to you after you buy the car.
Only buy from car dealers who treat you professionally. If you find something amiss in the way you are treated, go on to finding a better dealer. It’s not just important to be well informed on the rates for a particular used model, it equally important to find the right people from whom you can purchase it.
In case you are thinking about taking a loan to get the used car, consider paying cash upfront instead, because you will be paying more on the loan amount than what is actually the car’s worth, since you will have to pay interest on the loan amount. If there is no other way and you have to take a lease, see to it that the lease period is only for a couple of months.

We hope these guidelines will help you in buying your new used car

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

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

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.

Benefits of Buying a Used Car

Increased Selection - The automotive market both new and used has been booming during the last decades. New vehicle sales totaled 16.6 million units in 2003, making it the fifth consecutive year above the 16.5 million mark. Between 1997 and 2003, more than 115 million new cars and light-duty trucks were sold. The used-car market was even more vibrant, setting a new record of 43.5 million sales in 2003, according to CNW Marketing Research. The result is a vast choice in used cars and attractive prices.

Improved Reliability - Although used vehicles typically don’t carry the same warranties as new ones, the original factory warranty on a new car is transferable to a second owner, usually at no charge. Buyers of certified pre-owned cars from an authorized dealer can purchase a late-model used car with the original warranty and then choose to add to it. The combination of a glut of late-model used vehicles, the greater reliability and durability of vehicles, and the availability of warranties make buying a used car less of a gamble.

Like new condition - : Another trend that makes buying used a better option is the proliferation of certified pre-owned programs. The idea started with luxury brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. Today, most manufacturers have instituted these programs. Sales of CPO cars have increased from 452,829 in 1997 to 1,375,000 in 2004, according to CNW.

If you’ve decided to buy a used car, you’ve already made a wise decision. You can get a car that’s almost as good as a brand-new one, without suffering the depreciation that wallops new car buyers as soon as they drive the car off the lot. Used cars even those that are only one year old are 20 to 30 percent cheaper than new cars. But there are other good reasons to buy a used car:

Buying a used car means you can afford a model with more luxury/performance.
You’ll save money on insurance.
The glut of cars coming off lease makes finding a near-new vehicle, or “cream puff,” easy.
Bigger bargains are possible for the smart used car shopper. Furthermore, the classic reasons to avoid used cars lack of reliability and the expense of repairs are less of an issue. Consider these related thoughts:

Used cars are more reliable today than ever before
Some used cars are still under the factory warranty
Most new car makers sell certified used cars, which include warranties.
The history of a used car can easily be traced using its VIN number.

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.

*In some geographic areas, we may not be able to connect you to a dealer carrying your desired vehicle.

Rule of Thumb: Shop Around & Save!  
   
New Car prices vary from dealer to dealer, so it pays to shop around. So please try to obtain at least three price quotes and even more if they’re trying to decide between multiple vehicles. It is possible to save thousands by using our FREE service to get a new car quote.

Do Dealers Really Compete?  

Remember, car dealers were born to compete against other dealers! They’re competing with dealers down the street, in nearby cities, and sometimes across statelines. Use this to your advantage! Most new car shoppers that use our free car quote service could be in contact with multiple local auto dealers. Use the free price quote to your advantage and find out which dealership can offer you the best price. Doing your homework and getting multiple quotes can only help you negotiate for the right price. Use our free service when dealing with all dealers to prepare you to negotiate for saving on your next new car!

Please Don’t Rush! 
  
Never hurry into the purchase of a New Car without doing some research. A salesperson can tell if you’re uninformed and can definitely tell if you’re in a hurry! Create a plan of attack for your new Car purchase and you can avoid getting ripped-off by the dealer.

Set-up financing to determine how much you can afford. Already having financing prior to entering the dealer gives you bargaining power.
Research features, benefits, and pricing on new car quotes for multiple vehicles. Have a back-up vehicle in mind to use as leverage in your negotiations.