As there has been spurt in prices of vehicles and people have to pay more money for second hand cars these days, it is very important to take proper precautions to make sure that the correct car is purchased at the lowest price and at the best possible terms.

It is, therefore, imperative for those who are trying to buy a car to meticulously inspect the car before purchasing, instead of taking needless risks and wasting their hard earned money, as many people tend to do these days.

Most of the people presume that they know how to inspect a vehicle and spend just 5 to 10 minutes having a cursory glance at the vehicle. If someone is purchasing from those in the automobile business, those car dealers would simply go along with whatever the buyer wants. The buyer will ultimately end up buying a vehicle without proper check up.

The vehicle dealers are happy because they can now get the price they would like the buyer to pay for it. This happens when someone purchases a vehicle without observing the apparent defects, which any earnest buyer would have noticed.

A person buying a vehicle without proper inspection will be at a great disadvantage as people buy cars only once in two or three years. It means that people need not take unnecessary risks and buy vehicles in a hurry without proper checks.

If someone is serious about buying a good car, he should first familiarize himself with the techniques of buying a vehicle from experts in this field, who normally guide their friends and family members in purchasing cars. They can guide properly on what checks should be exercised before buying a vehicle.

They can explain the importance of vehicle inspection and various steps involved in it. Based on their advice a comprehensive checklist, covering various parts or items that should be inspected, can be prepared.

This check list will be helpful for the current purchase or any future purchase of vehicles of any make and model. A Vehicle Inspection Checklist will indicate what parts that one should check and what is likely to go wrong in a particular make and model.

For example, vehicle inspection should cover checking the performance of the engine, the condition of the battery, the functioning of shock absorbers, oil leaks etc. With this knowledge, one can look for these items as part of vehicle inspection process.

In other words, vehicle inspection checklists are reference points for checking the condition of the vehicle so that one may not overlook any aspect relating to a car. Many times people tend to forget to check certain obvious aspects of the car.

For example, sometimes we forget to check under a car as part of inspection at the time of purchasing and realize later that the oil is leaking. Such mistakes usually occur when one does not check the car with reference to the itemized details provided in the vehicle checklist and instead make it a rush job.

Vehicle inspections are not really difficult when one is guided properly. One should have the vehicle checklists from those in the trade in order to know how to carry out inspection right from the beginning. With checklists on hand, one will be able to inspect a car just as any professional does.

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When buying a car you are faced with several options. One of them is to outright buy a new one; but another one which is also great is to buy a used car.

Used cars are available at a fraction of the price of the new one; but you have to carefully inspect it before finalizing one. Just by looking at the exterior of the car will not tell you its internal condition.

When you are buying a second hand vehicle, it should be looking great as well as running great; it is essential for your own well-being as an unsound car can be very dangerous. The task of buying a perfect used car fulfilling all required conditions is very difficult; if not rare.

However, if you know how to inspect a car, you can land yourself a pretty set of wheels at a bargain price. But if you don’t know much about car inspections, or cars in general; then you can definitely hire a mechanic to assist you. He will assess the car condition and health and will report back to you with any anomalies he finds. When you don’t have the skill and knowledge, invest some money and hire someone who does.

These car mechanics have been at their jobs for years and know every nook and cranny inside an automobile. They are experts in their field and we should rely on them for their opinions. Apart from that, they also have all the materials and equipment to uncover any existing or impending damage that might be hidden from plain sight.

Car mechanics also have a fair idea about the cars true value and the costs you would incur to get it fixed and restored. He will also be able to tell you how the previous owner had maintained the vehicle.

When you know how much money needed for its repair, you can then make a smart decision whether to buy it or not. There is no point taking on unnecessary risk purchasing the used car based on luck.

Before Buying A Used Car

You must ask for a test drive of the car from the owner and also be accompanied by the mechanic. The mechanic will then be able to check the performance of the car as well as look for telltale signs of a troubled vehicle.

Always enquire about all the documents and certificates about the car. Knowing the exact model number, date of manufacture, modifications made and the original purchaser are important and might be required in the future.

Make sure that the car has an ‘Auto Check Report’. This will ensure that the car you might be buying is legal on the streets and not smuggled or stolen. Make sure you give all the paperwork to the mechanic to assist him on his job.

The mechanic’s job is to inspect various aspects of the car such as suspension, wheel alignment, tires, engine, wheels, transmission, and signs of rust, scratches or any other anomalies. He will also ensure the cars performance by checking for steering, emissions and brakes.

It is always better to hire an expert mechanic to analyze a car before buying because he will save you thousands of dollars of future expenses on repairs and maintenance. He will give you an idea of the unresolved issues and existing problems on the car.

A car mechanics fee ranges from $100 – $200. Your investment is definitely worth it because it will save you from all the future troubles you might encounter. Furthermore, if you are a novice, then asking for expert advice and tips is always a good way to gather knowledge about automobile.

Among the several options for purchase of used cars, buying online is an easier choice. Many sites operate, offering the used cars for sale, and all that one has to do is to type the car of his choice and he would instantly find hundreds of such car ready for sales.

But what is not possible is to check the quality of the vehicle. Hence, before buying a used car online, the primary requirement is to verify the history of the vehicle.

The selling firms, who are too transparent in their dealings, would normally publish the Vehicle Identification Nmber (VIN). With the help of VIN, the prospective purchaser can pay an online service, seeking to send a history of the vehicle, of his preliminary choice.

This is a very cheap safeguard to avoid buying an inferior one. There are two types of histories which you have to distinguish before buying. The first one includes the car’s ownership, accident and finance history and the second one relates to service history. This is what one would need to verify.

A full fledged service history is a prime requirement, in order to decide the worth of a vehicle before buying. It is really unfortunate, that some sellers themselves fake the full service history of cars, adding all requisite details and with stamps and the dealer’s booklet.

In such circumstances, one of the safeguards while buying a used car online is, to demand and verify the receipts of previous services carried out periodically. Another relevant tip before going for a used car online is, to check the accelerator pedal. It should be checked whether the wear on the gas pedal is commensurate with what is shown by the odometer.

A well-worn pedal pad indicates that the car has travelled much more miles. While buying a used car online, another important tip one should be careful about is, to verify the condition of the car physically with the help of a mechanic, if the buyer has no technical knowledge.

This may end up in limiting your choice to a specific area, which would force you to abandon the idea of buying some cars you felt quite nice online. However, that would ultimately give a satisfaction that you finally bought a car that is thoroughly checked to your satisfaction.

Besides, if you have contacts in a wider area, you have the choice of arranging inspection of the used cars with their help too. Another important tip for buying a used car online is to choose a vehicle of lower mileage even if it is of an old model.

No doubt, such vehicles would be far superior in quality than many of the cars you were attracted to earlier. One cannot be certain on the real condition of a car with a high mileage, that was used as a company car also.

The car you go to buy should be within your paying capacity and you should approach with a realistic budget and documentation, apportioning funds for taxes and repairs. Repairs to a used car will always be the owner`s liability.

For a comparatively younger used vehicle, one can decide on an extended warranty, but sometimes the warranty condition may apply to certain mechanical parts only, that too, restricting the venue of repairs. Read and make sure everything from the fine print before you proceed.

It is easy to convert most of the fuel run vehicles into electrical ones, but there are a few cautions to be taken by a person, before going for such a change. The following are 3 things your chosen donor vehicle for your DIY electric car must be able to fulfil.

1) Donor car carrying capacity.

First of all, he has to look into, whether the vehicle proposed for conversion has adequate capacity to carry the battery system that will have to remain as a substitute for fuel, to provide required energy for the vehicle.

Here, there are two prime factors to consider before going for such a conversion. The first one is whether the vehicle’s suspension will be able to carry the weight of the batteries. This can be decided by bringing into use another type of battery, but everything will depend on your capacity to spend, as the most of the batteries producing higher density of energy, will be costing more.

2) Donor car space availability.

The next issue is whether the batteries you install will have enough space to fit into the vehicle meant for conversion. For a proper range and acceleration required for your electrical vehicle, you will have to acquire about 20 numbers of 12 volt lead acid batteries, which require adequate storing space in the vehicle, for being fitted in a safe manner.

It is for this reason that the light trucks are mostly preferred for electrical conversion and another ideal choice is the strong light sedans.

3) Donor car braking capacity.

Another point of consideration here is whether the vehicle’s braking system is able to handle the additional weight of the heavy batteries being installed.

This is a very crucial point for consideration because, if the brakes fail eventually, there will be a great risk for you and your family. Before going for installation of the batteries, the first thing you have to do is to calculate the net weight difference, after placing the battery sets, inside the vehicle.

To accomplish this successfully, you need to know the total number of deep cycle batteries you have to bring into use and the individual weight of each one of them. Normally the suppliers will be able to give you the average weight.

If you know the weight of the batteries and also the weight of the electric motor, these can be added and the weight of all the previously used gas components deducted from that total, to get the net weight.

The weight of a full tank of gas and that of the radiator fuel has also to be similarly added. If you deduct the gas vehicle component’s weight from the total weight of the battery and the motor, you will be able to ascertain the net increase in weight.

This way you will be able to decide what exactly will be the increase in the net weight and determine the quantum of impact that would have on the braking system. If the increase in the additional weight is substantial and over 500 pounds, it will be ideal to obtain the expert opinion of a brake specialist, in order to ensure that the braking system functions without problems.

The emphasis here is that before converting a gas vehicle into an electrical one, the suspension capacity and the impact on the braking system have to be examined. This will decide the comfort of your electrical vehicle ride and the safety of the travel.

According to the perception of those who are planning to buy used cars for their homemade electric car project, the vehicle with lower kilometers on odometer gives better performance. They never consider the cars which may be handled with care if those cars have traveled long miles.

Sometimes these cars have perfectly functioning engines than those with fewer miles on odometer. It is high time to realize the fact that vehicles with low mileage are not advisable to purchase.

The warranty provided by the car dealers may get expired in a couple of months as it is not a new car with full warranty. Despite of the assurance that the car is fully functioning, there are chances of maintenance and this will lead to extra expenditure.

The sellers can be dishonest. Due to the little usage or extended storage of these used cars, they may be suffering from critical problems. When it is said that low mileage cars have issues it is due to the following reasons.

Engines of the cars which are used for short trips say from home to church or nearby shop, do not warm up completely. As a result improper condensation of water in crankcase occurs from the humidity outside and it touches the frozen engine metal in the case of cars in northern states of US.

When the journey is to a fewer miles, the engine and oil are never completely warmed up due to which the water particles or moisture in oil do not properly evaporate. This result in improper lubrication of engines.

In frigid cold conditions, starting an engine is quiet a difficult job. This frozen climate can lead to the wear and tear of engine because it is not warmed even by an electric plug in block heater.

When car is used for short trips, owners may think that there isn’t much need of oil changes or maintenance. This is not the right way. If the owners fail to do that, oil in crankcase gets thicker during winter and thinner during summer. In both cases it is harmful to the engine. This is due to the high viscosity of the oil.

Another major demerit of buying used cars is that the uncertainty in repair bill and if dealer has worked the vehicle to make it attractive for the test drive. Less usage of cars can cause deterioration of its components. Rubber of the tires and seals of door frames is an example. Hence replacements of tubes have to be done.

Overall cost for all these can be considered as an extra expenditure. When the car is left out in sun, have a thorough look at the paint and polish of the vehicle. That will help you decide if the car needs a repaint.

Purchasing a used car can cause wastage of your money if you are unaware of the market value of car and the dealership details of various dealers. Always perform a research on car online before you go and see the car. Save your time and money by acting wisely.

During these tough times of spiraling cost and stagnant wages, everyone is trying to cut down on cost and they no longer want to spend their hard earned money on payment for a car. You, too, must be falling in the same line and like everyone else, must be contemplating to buy a used car.

Let me tell you, this is the “in” thing and the easiest and cheapest way to go about it is, online car sites and from a private individual. Get into the internet; browse through hundreds of listings from the comfort of your home; make a comparative analysis of the prices and email or call the seller to negotiate a deal.

Since this process is very convenient and you can actually strike a deal even before seeing the vehicle in person; however, do not overlook the dangers associated with this and try to follow the below 5 tips before taking a decision.

1) Be inquisitive and ask questions as to why he wants to sell off his vehicle. Listen to him carefully and gather full facts about the vehicle so that you do not have to repent at a later date.

2) Ask the seller about all the relevant details about his vehicle before you actually visit in person. It is understandable that he might forget some points to mention, but it is okay; at least you will have a fair idea about what you are dealing with.

3) A seller cannot be rigid on the price and before going make sure that he is open to negotiation. After all, this is not the only one available and only give in, if you feel that the car is exceptionally good.

4) Save your gasoline expenditure, since you need not travel miles to get your dream car. Unless the deal is unbelievably true, which in most cases are not, stick to your local market; you are bound to get a plethora of used cars to choose from.

5) Make it a point to see detailed pictures of the car that you intend to buy.

Sometimes it might happen that the seller is not techno savvy and find it difficult to use a digital camera and/or upload a picture on the website, but in most cases it had been seen that sellers who are reluctant to upload a photograph of their vehicle along with the advertisement, try to suppress some facts.

If you are really interested in an offer but do not find a picture of the vehicle; email or call the seller and ask him to send you some pictures. If he refuses or does not pay heed to your request, move on to the next seller.

It is always a gamble to buy a used car. Get the VIN number of the car that you are interested in and run a Carfax report to know about the vehicles history as well as the manner in which it had been taken care of; this way, you can increase your probability of securing a good deal.

Take a car mechanic along with you and get the car checked thoroughly before you decide to buy it. Once you buy it, the seller is not going to take it back; hence, protect yourself against any untoward incident.

There are other things too, that you should keep in mind. Make sure the title is under the seller’s name, which you can confirm from his ID and is filled out properly to avoid being hassled by DMV. If the car is being sold by his family member or friend, verify their identification. Also have the sale agreement documented on paper and have a Bill of Sale signed.

Negotiate reasonably and get the best deal for you. Follow these steps and make the process of buying a used car online, smooth and effective.

Buying a used vehicle makes a lot of sense when you see owning it as a need bringing about convenience in your day to day work rather than a status symbol. In US automobile market, in fact, out of the total sales of vehicles that include cars, SUVs or trucks, some 50 percent are by way of sale of used ones.

Arrival of internet has come about as a real boon when you do decide to go in for purchase of a used vehicle. Managing pressures of fast paced day to day professional life itself leaves hardly any time for the family; let alone hunting for a used car by visiting dealers!

You can use the web from the comfort of your home to literally examine a large number of used vehicles available for sale at different dealers; there is no need at this stage to actually try to find time to visit them in person. Of course, your first consideration needs to be the price range that your finances allow.

Thus, you may narrow down the choice to your affordable range; then short list the vehicles that prima facie suit your preference. There is hardly any purpose going into the details of high end features, like USB compatibility, navigation system or Bluetooth technology in case you are looking for an economical car.

This curtails the time spent on unnecessary search and the time saved can be utilized for making your selection more detailed from the available cars falling in your desired category. Currently, there is a demand for hybrid and fuel efficient cars; they are obviously carrying higher price tag. It also serves a good purpose if you ascertain cars with some specific features to be costlier because they are better suited to the local conditions.

Rural area scenario makes trucks costlier as they are used as a means of earning by using them for labor; posh cities have a higher demand for flashy sedans and fashionable convertibles. There is no dearth of online sites that are designed by dealerships to make them as customer friendly as possible.

The used cars available are found classified into categories with price range, make and models. You can start browsing the way it suits you – highest price downwards or the other way around. Engine and fuel type, safety features, interiors and color, all are found systematically arranged on such sites.

Reviews of a particular model, quality of services at a dealership as well as comparison of prices at different dealerships, are all available just with a click on your comp. You really can make best use of internet to select the best bargain. Coming to finalizing the deal, you must satisfy yourself that you are dealing with a well-established dealership.

You may sure ask for a test drive after narrowing down your selection in case the dealership is local. There is no doubt that if you go about the deal with the desired circumspection, the chances that you get utterly duped buying online are quite narrow; insisting on proper certificates about the condition of car exterior, interior, tires, battery and engine, will further reduce such a chance.

In case you decide to go in for purchasing a used car, it’s advisable to see, in particular, some of the parts/details besides the price. For knowing how long the car has been used, have a look at the registration papers.

Used cars that are over 5 years old or which have done over 20,000 km by the odometer need to have an extra scrutiny, preferably by a professional automobile assessor. In case such a car has been used and maintained well by the owner, it need not be a no-no bargain if you are getting an overall good deal.

Generally, you be should keep your short listing for cars that are within 5 years old. Engine sound when running gives a good idea of its condition; smooth running sound without jerks/noticeable noises is an apparent indication the car engine is OK.

If the car is to be used as the donor vehicle for your homemade electric car project, the condition of the engine may not be a factor since it will be replaced with an electric motor anyway.

Depending blindly on the odometer reading may at times put you in a problem as it could have been tampered! The depth of grooves on the tires is a tell tale indicator of their condition; you may easily gauge them with a key.

Some of the comparatively more important car components that need special attention before you finalize your deal are battery, bearings, electrical wiring, springs and shock absorbers, all the lights on the car body and inside its cabin.

If these are in good working condition, you will be able to start driving immediately on purchase and save you from a headache just to start with. Making a list of items and papers you are going to look for goes a long way in not missing out on any of the important points. This list should sure start with car model.

Salient features of different models can be found out from a search on the internet; so also any particular drawbacks. Reviews by actual users found on various sites should also give you an idea though the possibility of finding such reviews got planted by the manufactures/ dealerships to promote sales cannot be ruled out.

Be judicious in believing what all is said. Next, the year of manufacture needs to be checked from the registration papers.

Car battery is a vital component and in case it has done its life beyond warranty cover, you should keep a mental provision for replacement in your total budget. After warranty, the battery can give in any day; so don’t go by the fact that it is taking the load of start up.

Once the car gets started, the electric supply is taken over by the alternators which in models that are around currently are very powerful and can easily mislead you to a wrong conclusion about the battery condition. Also, see that the battery terminals do not have a white deposit on them and the battery doesn’t show acid leakage.

Worn out bearings and bushings make a typical noise; do look out for this. Some external features are easy to check; there should be no hesitation asking for a display of their working. Head lights, dippers, tail and reverse lights, cabin lighting and wipers if found in good working condition also gives you a fair idea about how well the owner has maintained the car.

Other than the above points, all related to the car condition, it is important that the payment terms too should suit you. In case you would want your purchase financed, approach the finance outlet with the required details to get their in principle approval.

In case you do not find dealers in used cars in your area, you may choose one online but ensure transport charges too are reasonable.

Such dealers also carry out necessary replacement of worn out parts and repairs; do have these done before the car is transported. It is always advisable to test drive before you seal the deal. It gives you a firsthand idea of what you are going to have. Now that you know what to look for when buying a second hand car, go ahead and start your vehicle shopping.

Volkswagen is known for its classical cars, the Volkswagen Beetle is another classical car which has been on roads for more than seven decades. It is a well-established icon in the car industry. Through proper search, it is possible to get a used VW Beetle that too in good condition of your electric car conversion project.

My personal preference has always been 20 years old VW Beetle as compared to a newer car. This brand become so popular that the company re-established the brand and Beetle is still available in the market.

The idea of manufacturing Beetle was initially given by Adolf Hitler, who wanted a car for masses which in actual terms can be considered people car. It was also a step to eradicate unemployment after World War 1. Hitler had two point agenda, one to give people a car which they can afford, and to generate employment for the people.

It was in 1930 that Hitler started a project to build a car for every citizen of Germany, so the birth of Volkswagen took place. In Germany Volkswagen word means “people’s car”. The original model of beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche, who became famous later for Porsche range of cars which are still being manufactured and marketed.

Porsche designed a car which had engine in the rear side, it had air cooled four cylinder engine, these specifications were given by Hitler, who thought these cars, would be quite inexpensive. He wanted that everyone should be able to afford this car and it should able to seat two adults and three children.

Over the rest of the century, Volkswagen became the most popular classical car and still is, it has created waves across the world due to its technology and pleasant drive. Thousands of cars were manufactured and marketed, because it offered the most inexpensive and simple motoring which lasted for ever.

Most of the German advertising promotional films shot were full of amazing Beetle, driving at top of a steep or in sand dunes, rolling and then running again. This was to show the toughness of Beetle; even now people can find and buy Beetle which is strong as ever.

There are many owners who have upgraded their VW to classical condition, this give them edge over other car owners as they are proud owners of Beetle. You can find car clubs which are based exclusively around VW Beetles, there are many frames and chassis built to other hand built on vehicles.

Some of the examples are many dune buggies built entirely on VW Beetles. If you are fond of cars Beetle can provide you with excellent choice. Market for Beetles is very strong but good news is that there are plenty of supplies also, that makes your choice more clear and you will not get disappointed. Sourcing the Beetle as your EV conversion donor car would be a pleasant experience.

Once you decide to be proud owner of Beetle, you can always boast to be proud owner of Beetle even though it is powered by an electric motor. Beetle today is the most popular brand of Volkswagen across the world. People who own it are really happy to enjoy the smooth driving of this car.

Do It Yourself Electric Car Conversion Manual

Do you want to know how to convert a conventional gas guzzler to a clean electric vehicle? If you do, check out the Convert2EV manual by Les and Jane Oke.

The Okes are true green enthusiasts and they drive a homemade electric car to keep their carbon footprint small. The ebook was written based on their experience retrofitting normal cars to run on electricity. Click on the link below to visit their web site right now.

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A car can always remain in its elegant look and condition, if the tips and techniques for maintenance are correctly followed. For this, you have to focus on polishing and buffing the vehicle, an ideal process to retain its paint and finish and to protect it from the wear and tear of time and the weather.

The step to step methods of polishing a vehicle, with the correct set of tools are outlined below, for easy reference.

Polishing & Waxing Your Car

Keep ready a soft woolen wash glove. Wool wash mitt is an ideal cleaning tool as it absorbs enough shampoo and water and leaves no scratch or abrasion on the body of the vehicle by its application.

Before starting your vehicle polishing process, keep ready two buckets of water, one for mixing the shampoo and the other for final rinsing. The first bucket has to be fitted with a plastic grate as a bucket guard that would not let the dirt sediments back to the cleaning surface, as the cleaning progresses.

Always use a high quality shampoo to obtain best results. Avoid direct sunlight while washing and drying. Proceed with rinsing the car once, so as to let out the dirt easily.

The cleaning has to be attempted from top to the bottom by applying wash mitt repeatedly on each portion, in order to rub out as much dirt as possible. After you start finishing each portion like this, go for the next step of rinsing, with an open flow of water that is not to be a jet.

The next step begins with drying the vehicle in a methodical manner, using two towels. Either PVA or microfiber towels are to be used for the purpose.

Rub lightly on the surface of the car with the first towel and squeeze it frequently to remove the absorbed surplus water. Use the second towel for drying up the remaining droplets s of water from the body of the vehicle. Once dry up is complete, the next step begins with polishing and waxing of the vehicle.

A nonabrasive polish has to be used for the purpose, preferably two different varieties to ensure a best finish. Polishing would normally help cover up the fading of the paint and give the vehicle a shining look.

Electrical polishers are ideal for car polishing, as it ensures uniform application on all parts, unlike the manual attempt. The polishing work has to start steadily on work zones of 2 x 2 foot, with slow and gradual movements from side to side, to effectively cover up the entire area.

Extreme care has to be taken not to apply uneven pressure on the side of the electric polisher pad that would otherwise harm the surface. Hence the work has to be finished by a side-to-side movement.

Waxing is the final phase that has to be done with meticulous care in a similar manner, as with the electric polisher. Bring into use a carnauba wax or a good synthetic for this purpose and perform the waxing yourself to attain a better result.

A vehicle can always be maintained with its elegant look and form, by a regular follow up of valeting in this manner.