Everyone's Blog Posts - Car345

I want to learn more about cars...

2009-06-17T10:49:10.239Z

I want to learn more about cars so I thought i would join some social networks to learn.

Car Auction TIps

2009-05-29T06:45:41.265Z

For more info about car auctions, events, and tips, feel free to visit: http://www.acauction.com/blog

Car : Asset or liability

2008-10-30T03:29:12.636Z

In financial world, all objects are viewed weather they are assets or liabilities.

Types of Assets : Real estate, stocks, commodities(metals, grains etc), cash, bonds , mutual funds and so on

Types of liabilities : debt, insurance premiums, maintainance expenses and so on...

Where does your car goes? It goes into Assets and it is treated as depreciating asset (unless in it is one of those vintage cars).

So what does this mean? both assets and liabilities are either appreciating or depreciating.

It is nice to have appreciating assets. As we all know new car depreciates at very fast rate, it may not be great choice to have that car unles you intend to keep for more than 5 years. If maintainance of old car takes an average 5 hours extra per month and if 5 hours of your time is valid more, then it is better to go for new car.

Cars and debt

2008-10-02T01:46:03.211Z

Most financial problems are related to mismanagement of income and Incorrect financial decisions. Lot of people tend to buy cars with $300/m payments for 5 yr they but don't opt to buy a fully paid $10000.00.

Buying car with debt is not a good choice in most cases. Paying double digit interest is scary stuff while dealing with depreciating asset.

Listening to Dave Ramsey's podcasts, most of people go for cars that are too expensive relative to their income. It is often a good idea to drive a $1000 car, save up money to buy a car and then buy it. New cars require more maintainance, extra insurance and they depreciate faster (percentage wise).

It is always great to have fewer monthly payments and excellent to have no payments.

Tips to deal wiht Car while cleaning up debt:

1. Find out total cost of the car per month (payment +insurance+ gas + average maint cost )

2. Can a fully paid cheaper car solve the problem? If so, sell the car even at a loss and opt for cheaper car.

3. drive the cheaper car for 6 months or a year and save up for fully paid car.

4. use all the car savings to pay off the debt.

hope this helps.

Latest Auto videos

2008-07-11T04:04:31.841Z

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Tata NANO.

2008-05-22T20:22:55.107Z

TATA's prestigious NANO model car (A car for USD$2500 or 100,000 rupees) was unveiled at the 9th annual Auto Expo on January 10 2008 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.

It is dream to buy a car for majority of middle class Indians and as Nano is very well priced, middle class Indians have a chance to buy it.

TATA NANO is "People's Car" for Indians like Volkswagen's Beatle is "People's Car" for Germans and Rest of Europeans.

Hats off to the Ratan Tata (Chief of TATA group).

Ratan Tata, during an interview few years ago was asked by a group of journalists in India if he would deliver a reasonably priced car that is cheaper than Maruti 800. RATAN Tata took it as challenge and he made it. Until then, Maruti's 800 is the reasonable and cheapest car for Indians.

TATA NANO has much roomier than Maruti 800 inside. It striking looks really attracts buyers and it available in various colors. The base price is $2500 and depending on models the price may vary. The TATA NANO may be produce to third world countries. Here you will find the TATA NANO photos. Don't forget to leave a comment. See Ya.

I Love My Nissan Pathfinder

2008-05-20T07:02:31.731Z

My Nissan Pathfinder is now fifteen years old and is a bit of a gas guzzler. I don't drive it to work anymore. It's feeling its age and makes funny creaky noises when I'm driving. However, it has served me well going from A to B.

So why do I love my Nissan Pathfinder? Well, it gets me where I want to go. And it’s been quite a workhorse.

Despite the tire in the back, I love the way I can just throw my hockey equipment bag into the back in the winter time, leaving room for my hockey sticks. And in the summer, that's where I dump my golf bag or my tent and camping gear.

It has carried its fair share of loads - a large TV set, long mirrors, book cases, five passengers.

I’ve taken it on some short trips like going to Whistler to ski or nearby for camping. It’s high enough that I don’t get the glare from the headlights of other cars on the highway. I can drive it to airports and leave it in the parking lot for a week. And if it happens to be snowing when I come back, I just shift into 4x4 and away I go. I love how it performs in the snow.

Through it all, I am surprised my Pathfinder has lasted this long.

Would I buy another? Despite high gas prices and all the enticing exotic cars I see at auto shows, I would not hesitate to buy another Pathfinder.

Lease buyback Smart or Dumb?

2008-05-19T16:55:05.199Z

Buying back your car at the end of the lease! Is it smart of dumb?

If you got into lease of a vehicle for whatever the reason may be, Is it smarter to buy back the car at the end of your lease period?

In most cases it is smart choice but lets see when it is smart to buy it back?

Most cars are priced at 50% or less of the original price at the end of the lease. A decently maintained car can last 12 years and 250K miles and may be more. Depending on the usage, you have used only 20% of car usage and giving it for 50% of the price? How about buying back and driving for another 5 years? This is where most of financial experts stress to buy a used car which just came out of lease and have very few miles on it. Why? It is barely used and heavily discounted. There is perfect value in that situation and you have nothing to loose unless the car or series is known for lot of repairs.

Now you know the complete history of the car since you drove, Were there big accidents? Regular problems? huge maintainance? how was gas mileage? These factors help you determine weather to buy it back or walk away from the lease.

Prepare a list of what is required for the car in next 24 months and estimate the costs. Usual maintainance cost for a car are approximately $1500 per year. Now add that to your buyback price or so called "purchase option price". This cost will solve your auto needs for next 24 to 36 months. If you can drive any longer without major expenses, you got a great deal there.

Also do a little research on how much difference is your buy back price and cost of similar car in the market. Even it it is same, you have advantage with your car as you know the history.

When it is better to walkaway form the lease:

If the cost of repairs and required maintainance exceeds $4000 for next two years and car is at or over allowable miles and car has been breaking down lately, then it is time to move on and leave this car to auto mechanic experts. At this point you are really buying problems and going to spend huge amount on repairs. Labour costs in excess of $100/hr.

Also consider to go towards most fuel efficient vehicle if there is one available in the market that might save you over 2000 dollars per year.

It is smart to buy the car at the end of lease if the car is maintained well, has fewer than allowable miles and the auto is with excellent fuel economic features in the class. It is dumb to buy a car at the end of the lease if you drove almost 100K miles, needs over $3000 in repairs in next 24 months and car needs more than regular maintainance.

First car memories

2008-05-18T02:22:59.190Z

I remember the joy of buying my first car. I was 15, had a learners permit in my purse and $200 babysitting money saved up. I bought the first car I found for $200 that actually ran. It was a red 1972 Pontiac Catalina. Red is my favorite color and the rust spots almost matched the paint. My friends called it "The Beast" but they enjoyed my 16th birthday almost as much as I did. We had wheels! I really put that car to the test. I can't even count all the things that I banged into. My first winter of driving, we had an ice storm and I decided it couldn't be any worse than the snow I was used to driving in. I guess some of us have to learn the hard way. I was only going 15 mph when the small car in front of me started to slide. I hit my brakes and went into a spin. I spun around 3 times and slammed into the side of the other car every time I circled. When we finally managed to stop our cars we discovered that her driver's side was completely smashed in and she had to climb out the passenger side. Neither of us were hurt thank goodness, but her car was in desperate need of repair. Other than a few paint smudges, you couldn't even tell that my Catalina had been in an accident. That car was built like a tank. I drove my '72 Pontiac for at least two years until lack of maintenance sent it to the boneyard. I hope that when my kids get their licenses I can find a good solid car like that for them to learn in.

Get Better gas mileage: two minutes can save you up to $500 per year

2008-05-11T11:25:17.019Z

Tips to get better gas mileage for your car. Consider these tips to save money on gas bills. What could be better time to have these tips while gas prices are soaring up towards $4 per gallon.

Tire pressure: Check the tire pressure regularly. Underflated tirescan cause upto 15% more fuel. Also keep in mind that tires loose about a pound of air per month.

Air filters Change them frequently as suggested in manufacturers guidelines. Make sure Oil change service is maintained frequently.

Idle Free for more mileage Don't idle more than a minute and be green friendly. Turn off the car if your wating dring pickups and drop offs. It usually is more than a minute.

Warm up No more than a minute. People leave the engine on for more than 3 minutes for warmup. It costs more and overheated car is not better either for mileage.

Cruise for low gas bill: Constant speed at posted speed limits on highways gives maximum bang for the buck. Avoid breaking too much.

Speed Travelling at excess speed consumes more gas and requires lot of brake usage. This is very expensive.

Tidy up Check if you are carrying ski stuff or cargo holder ll the time. Move them to garage if you don't need for the specific trip. Remove as much ice as possible during windr months. Less weight means more savings.

A/C Usage Use only when required. turnit off as much as possible. Avoid using it during small trips to local corner store etc.

Carpool Check if there are any peers living closeto your house. Consider car pooling. This immediately cuts the gas bill be 50%

Shop Smart: Calculate cost per mile for your car. Ususally it is around 45 cents per mile. Now look at buying a nice gift for $50.00 at outletmall which is approximately 50 miles from your home. Total trip causes 100 miles means $45 for gas expenses. How about shopping in online ? Even if you pay 10 bucks for shipping, it may still cost you less.

Consider Hybrid See your annual usage interms of miles per year. Consider buying a hybrid car. More mileage and newer car.

Consider Renting a hybridIf buying hybrid car is not an option, consider renting it for long trips. One week driving with 3000 miles may pay off car rent expense with hybrid. Most insurance companies cover rental car means less expense renting a car. No depereciation on your car and no additional maintainance.

An Interesting Motorsport Website

2008-04-29T21:59:55.630Z

I surf around and vist a lot of automotive and motorsport sites. One that I do not see on everyones list is RacingViews.com It's not a site that is updated everyday, or one that these days offers a lot of opinions, but it is interesting in that the webmaster has searched and found some very interesting motorsport videos and has presented them along with some interesting extra information.

Looking through the site a few that caught my attentions were:
Mark Blundell tries out the Williams F1 Simulator - an indepth video of former F1 driver Mark Blundell using the state of the art Williams F1 simulator.
When Men Were Men - a look at the some of the 60's titans of F1 battling their way around the fearsome Nurburgring
Will Jenson Button make Formula One - an interview with a very young Jensen Button way back when he was still in karting, talking about his F1 aspirations.

In all RacingViews.com is one of those rare hidden gems of a site, serving up some of the more unusual video clips and motorsport news.

Audi unveils facelifted Audi A3

2008-04-29T00:31:32.236Z

Audi has unveiled a facelifted version of the Audi A3 for the 2009 model year. It receives an updated front end, with the headlamps getting the new LED running lights for the S line trim. The back end has also been updated with a new bumper and new tail lights. The tail lamps use fibre optic rods arranged in a flat, continuous strip for lighting.

The new more prominent front end with the large single frame grille and LED running lights make the new A3 seem even more front-heavy than before, looking like it could possibly do a stoppie during heavy beaking. These bumper modifications result in the 3-door A3 being 25mm longer than before, but keeps the same wheelbase. The 5-door A3 keeps the same length as before.

The new Audi A3 facelift will be unveiled in the UK market with 7 different engines - a 102 horsepower 1.6 liter, a 125 horsepower 1.4 TSI, a 160 horsepower 1.8 TFSI, a 200 horsepower 2.0 liter TFSI, a 105 horsepower 1.9 liter TDI, turbodiesel, and a 140 horsepower 2.0 liter TDI turbodiesel. A third TDI turbodiesel variant putting out 170 horsepower from 2.0 liters of displacement will come later.

All engines are mated to a 7-speed dry clutch S-tronic DSG except for the 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI versions, which use the 6-speed wet clutch S-Tronic. The models are mainly front wheel drive, but Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive is available for the 2.0 liter TFSI and the upcoming 170 horsepower 2.0 liter TDI models.

The top of the range models are the 3-door Audi S3 and a new 5-door Audi S3 Sportback, equipped with a 265 horsepower version of the 2.0 liter TFSI engine, with 350Nm of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm. 0 to 100km/h takes 5.7 seconds in the 3-door, with an additional 0.1 seconds for the 5-door. Shifting is via a 6-speed manual.

More photos of the facelifted A3/S3 after the jump.

Galze for $7,500?

2008-04-26T15:38:09.558Z

I was browsing Amazon for few things and I came across this Zymol Royale Glaze. I was about to move to the next item before I saw the price tag, It is over 7000 USD to be exact $7583.00 and thats after a dsicount of $1916.00 from its original price. Hmmm, I would have never thought about a glaze with that price tag. According to the description, "It was originally formulated to protect the finish of the Bugatti Royale, a rare late 1920's ultra-luxury car". This seems something for highend luxury cars.
Further Looking at reviews reveled this glaze comes with lifetime refills. It might make sense for someone who uses lot of glaze!! May be best for car repair professionals dealing with exterior repairs. I still think it is quite expensive Zymol Glaze

What amazed me was a section in Amazon that says "People who brought this also brought:". I would have expected few car magazines, nuts and bolts but no, Silk thongs!!!

Where is the Lancer Ralliart?

2008-04-26T00:55:12.546Z

Canadians were promised the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, a vehicle that had the outward appearance of a regular Lancer but with a de-tuned engine from the Evolution X. We still don't have it.... but I want it.

Shopping for a new car : Tips and Tricks

2008-04-24T12:11:31.466Z

New car is second biggest purchase beside home for many people. On average, People change a car every 5 years and there are lot of hassles buying a new car. Here are some tips on saving some money while buying a new car.

1. Choose the season: December and January are very slow months for car dealers. Very few people walking into the showroom other than employees while business expenses are piling up everyday. Every one is busy with Christmas in November , December and paying bills in January. Car dealers often give great discounts in these three months and particularly towards the end of the month. Timing is on your side when you walk in to the showroom.

2. Know the dealer price: There are web sites offering dealer price of the vehicle for a minimal price. This is handy for bargaining for a new car. Dealers will still get more discounts on those wholesale prices.

3. Previous Buyer Records: It would be great if you have access to all previous buyers of same vehicle, so You can ask for the one who paid the least, But I bet you that there are no dealers providing all those records to you. Another way to get that information, Go thru lease takeover web sites and look for same model car purchased in last 12-24 months. Going through these records gives you pretty good idea how much bargain was offered compared to MSRP.

4. Cash Payment at the dealer This may not be an options for most but consider doing this either by adding more savings to down payment or arranging thru short term financing options like Line of Credit. Better choice would be wait for few months and save enough to do a down payment. Why? Most dealers make money on financing and car service. When you go the showroom and discuss with salesman, It is plain simple. You have money and want to buy it with a certified cheque. No more numbers games about monthly payments. You would be amazed to see how great the bargain will be.

5. Lifetime Value Considering lifetime value while choosing your new car. List all possible expenses for the car over four years using todays costs, Add them to the price. Now find out residual value of the car after 4 years. Deduct this residual value from Total cost giving you life time cost for this car. Get the number for all the cars in similar class and then decide.

Luxury car comparision (Excel file to see comparisions: Luxury Car Compare.xls)

2008 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak Sedan
MSRP : $35,350.00
Insurance costs ( 4 years): $12,000.00
Govt/ Manufacturer rebates : $0.00
Four year Maintainence costs*: $0.00
Auto club cost for 4 years (Like AAA): $0.00
Gas expense for 80,000 KM ++ $6,048.00
Manufacturers buyback price. $(17,500.00)

Total net cost over four years is $35,898.00 for 4 year use of the vehicle.

Total cost per month $747.88
Cost per KM $0.45
Highway Fuel economy (L/KM) 6.3L/100KM

Now lets see the same for Mercedes

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 W

MSRP : $41,000.00
Insurance costs ( 4 years): $11,520.00
Govt/ Manufacturer rebates : $0.00
Four year Maintainence costs*: $0.00
Auto club cost for 4 years (Like AAA): $0.00
Gas expense for 80,000 KM ++ $7,392.00
Manufacturers buyback price. $(23,000.00)

Total cost over four years : $36,912.00 for 4 year use of the vehicle.

Total cost per month $769.00
Cost per KM $0.46
Highway Fuel economy (L/KM) 7.7L/100KM

Now Time for numbers on Lexus
2008 Lexus ES 350

MSRP : $39,900.00
Insurance costs ( 4 years): $13,440.00
Govt/ Manufacturer rebates : $0.00
Four year Maintainence costs*: $4800.00
Auto club cost for 4 years (Like AAA): $0.00
Gas expense for 80,000 KM ++ $6,912.00
Manufacturers buyback price. $(15,162.00)

Total cost over four years : $49,800.00 for 4 year use of the vehicle.

Total cost per month $1039.00
Cost per KM $0.62
Highway Fuel economy (L/KM) 7.2L/100KM

As you can see from numbers, Lexus costs almost twice as much as compare to similar luxury vehicles.

++ Based on today's fuel cost and all highway driving.
* Approximate. Most Luxury cars come with no charge meaintainence for 4 years
* All these prices are canadian prices as of 10/Apr/08

6. Look for Recall notices on the model. You don't want to get into those if there are lot of recall notices in last few months.

8 Things to check before buying a used car.

2008-04-25T22:38:05.300Z

1. Vehicle history Use VIN tracking services. This gives a good history of and previous mileage numbers and most services are often comes with a warranty for accuracy.

2. Service Records Try to get all the previous service records. Focus on last 12 month service records. Look at the recommendations and see if they are fixed or not. Get an estimate about the costs to do those fixes. You really don't want to buy problems.

3. Professional Vehicle inspection Most of small repair shops do this service for less than100 bucks and within 30 minute inspection. Their eyes can usually spot all the repairs and paints. Prefer to get a specialist for the car make you are looking for.

4. Blue book prices Check the blue book prices and see how much it is worth for the car based on mileage and year of the make.

5. Recall notices Check number of recall notices on that make, model and year from reputed sources. See if the car you are buying has been taken care of these or not.

6. Too Good Don't ever fall into Too good to be true trap. If it is worth 10,000 bucks, there is no reason for any one to sell it to you for less than 9,000 or so. Dealers and professionals know if it is stolen or if there are major problems with the car. Don't fall in trap for those great deal trap. Sooner or later you will end up paying more.

7. Reason for sale Better you know this if you are buying from a person directly. The answer often reveals hidden problems if there any.

8. Beware of curb siders Curb siders are " imposters who pose as private individuals, but are actually in the business of selling stolen, rebuilt or odometer-tampered vehicles". Stay far away from these people. Most ofen these deals seems too good to be true.

Tahoe2008: HYBRID option for Truck Lovers

2008-04-24T11:20:31.546Z

Chevy's Tahoe, two-mode Hybrid from GM's Chevrolet is good competition for hybrid version of Toyota's Highlander. According to GM, Fuel savings can be up to 25% means less CO2 emissions thus making environment friendly.

Prices and Stats for Tahoe:

Price : 2WD is $66,125 and 4WD is $69,125
Engine: 332 hp 6.0L Vortec V8 Engine with Active Fuel Management
Model: Two-mode hybrid electric propulsion system and regenerative transmission braking
4-speed automatic transmission
Capacity: 2812 kg (6200 lb.) maximum towing capacity (2WD)

Other features include Heated, leather-appointed front bucket seats, Rearview camera system, Universal Home Remote,Nine-speaker Premium Bose® sound system with subwoofer,Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist,
DVD navigation with voice recognition and hybrid power flow display.

As many of you know, Going green is not cheaper to begin with. For example, 4WD hybrid version costs $69,125 versus similar non-hybrid 4WD Tahoe LT3 costs only $58,920. There are some differences between them for example non-hybrid is not fully loaded but still $11,000 difference is hard to overlook. Another capacity issue might be few, non-hybrid with a capacity of 3720 Kg vs 2812 Kg for Hybrid.

This hybrid vehicle uses electric/gas engine switching between the engines based on load conditions. When stopped at stoplights, Gas engine is totally shut off leaving electric engine running until vehicle goes to a reasonable speed.

GM's Active fuel management system may also help with some savings on gas bill. This system deactivates four of its cylinders when cruising on highway.

Simple run to nearby grocery store may fully use electric system means Green friendly with no emissions at all.

No wonder Tahoe won Green car of the year from Greencar.com, A journal about Green cars.

20 tips to get cheap auto insurance.

2008-03-31T00:10:20.187Z

There are several costs that on into owning a car and auto insurance has to be one of the most expensive, albeit necessary costs involved. Want to lower your auto insurance premium to a more affordable level? Check out these useful tips!

1. Don't Drive a New Car
Brand new cars can oftentimes carry higher premiums, possibly because replacement parts will almost always be new. A vehicle that is a few years older, on the other hand, can get its parts sourced from the local auto wrecker, reducing costs for the insurance company and thus, reducing costs for you.

2. Drive a Boring Sedan
High-profile cars are more likely to be victims of theft, vandalism, and other crime. Moreover, sports cars are typically more popular among those who get into high-speed accidents and these can get very pricey. You'd be surprised at how much of a difference in insurance premiums can be enjoyed by opting for the sedan instead of the coupe.

3. Reduce or Eliminate Coverage
For older vehicles, it may be worth your while to reduce or even eliminate your collision and comprehensive coverage. The extra amount of money you pay each year could work out to be more than how much the car is worth to repair or replace. Be sure to maintain your third-party coverage, however, as this covers damage to other cars and people.

4. Raise Your Deductible
Raising your deductible will lower your insurance premium considerably, especially if you are going from a $300 deductible to a $1000 deductible. This difference is even more pronounced if you are lower on the safe driving discount scale.

5. Bundle Your Insurance
Buying your auto insurance from the same company that you buy your home and life insurance can save you money, because these insurance companies may offer discounts for "bundling", just as certain service providers provide discounts for bundling your home phone, cell phone, and television services.

6. Avoid Accidents and Claims
Your insurance premium will only go up if you get into an accident or file an at-fault claim. If you are a safe driver, you will accumulate a discount for your years of accident-free driving.

7. Slow Down
Speeding tickets can not only affect your driving record but they can affect your auto insurance rates as well. Habitual speeders are more likely to get into accidents, after all.

8. Adjust Your Usage Patterns
Do you drive your car to work every day? Have you considered taking transit or riding a bike instead? Not only will you save on gas and maintenance, but your auto insurance premiums can be reduced by switching to "pleasure only" status.

9. Move Out of the Big City
Insurance premiums are based on several factors and physical location is one of these factors. There are more accidents in large cities and there is also more theft, breaking in, and vandalism. If your permanent residence is in a small town, your auto insurance will probably be cheaper.

10. Pay All At Once
There is a certain level of convenience to be enjoyed with a monthly payment plan, but it works out cheaper to just it all at once if you can afford it.

11. Install a Car Alarm
A car alarm can not only reduce theft, it can reduce your insurance premiums. It's even better if your alarm has an engine immobilizer as well.

12. Use the Club
For a cheaper alternative, consider simple anti-theft devices like the Club. Some insurers will offer discounts for this as well.

13. Opt Out of Unnecessary Extras
If you don't rent cars, there's no need for you to take on the unnecessary extra of pre-paying for car rental insurance. Opt out of roadside assistance and other services too if you don't need them.

14. Get Older
Age plays a major role in determining your insurance premium, because most drivers get into at least one accident within the first three years of getting their driver's license.

15. Impose Restrictions on Use
Look into discounts for restricting use on your car. An example would be not allowing anyone with less than 10 years of driving experience drive your car.

16. Ask About Multi-Vehicle Discounts
If you own more than one car, it is probably in your best interest to insure them all under one carrier. Most companies have multi-vehicle discounts.

17. Don't File Small Claims
Don't bother going through your insurance company for a small windshield chip, because the increase in your premium may be more than how much it costs to repair the damage out of pocket.

18. Driver Education Discounts
Young drivers can get an insurance discount if they complete an approved driver education program.

19. Shorter Distances to Work
The distance that you travel each day can have a bearing on your insurance premium. This is because you would spend less time on the road if you drove a shorter distance to work or school. Be sure your insurance company knows about this.

20. Shop Around
While coverage may be fairly standard across the different insurance companies, the prices that they offer may not be the same. Get quotes from several companies, especially for optional insurance premiums. This step is where people can save 500 or more in 30 minutes or less. What do you goota loose? Get the quote from as many companies as you can.

Donate your used car for charity

2008-03-30T23:49:21.330Z

Charitable donations. All of us could probably afford to give a little more to charity and as it turns out, the process of donating a used car to charity is a very easy and straightforward process. If you have an older car, it might even work out in your favor financially to donate the car rather than try to sell it yourself, largely because of the benefits associated with a charitable donation.

Most charities that accept car donations are willing to take care of all the costs involved. For example, if you were to try and sell your car privately, there is a good chance that you would have to keep the vehicle insured during the process and then if the car is not in perfect working condition, it's perfectly possible that you may incur some rather heavy costs rated to towing and delivery. Tow trucks don't come cheap and these costs can easily build up to a bill of several hundred dollars! After you factor in all the forms and costs involved, you might even lose money by trying to sell your old car.

When you donate to charity, the organization will usually offer free pickup, making the process as seamless and painless as possible for you. Better still, you don't have to deal with the hassle associated with selling a car. No phone calls, no test drives.

And there are significant tax benefits! Donating a car with a fair market value of $2000 results in the exact same tax deduction as providing an equal cash donation. This is assuming that the car is worth at least $500. Typically, charities will take your car and then offer it up for auction. If the final price paid for your car, truck, van, or SUV at the auction is over $500, the receiving charity is obligated to provide you with a tax receipt for this full amount. The tax receipt will include your name and the vehicle's identification number (VIN). It will also note that the donation was at "arm's length", meaning that you are not related whatsoever to the receiving charity.

For any car that sells for less than $500, it will then be up to you to determine what is fair market value. In Canada, they have the Canadian Black Book. In the United States, they have Kelley's Blue Book. These are both good resources to get a ballpark figure, but also look around in the classifieds -- both online and offline -- to get a better sense of what the car is worth. The tax receipt you receive from the charity will not indicate the value of the car if it sold at auction for less than $500. Just be sure you can justify your declared value to the taxman.

There are numerous charities that are willing to accept used cars and trucks as donations. Some of the better known charities include certain Girl Scouts organizations, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the YWCA, and several research-focused organizations.

Perhaps the greatest reason why you should donate your car to charity is the fact that you'll feel good about what you're doing. You've contributed something very significant to your community and that's something to be very proud of.

Owning a car : Finance vs Lease vs Buy it outright

2008-03-30T23:51:54.056Z

Buying a car is probably one of the biggest purchases that you will ever make in your life. At the same time, one of the biggest decisions that you will have to make is how you will go about paying for that automobile. In a nutshell, there are three primary options for you to consider: financing, leasing, or cash purchase. Which is the best for you?

FINANCING

Financing is one of the most popular ways to buy a car, because it lets you spread out the cost of the car over the course of several months. Financing is exactly the same as taking out a bank loan to pay for your car, so this means that there is interest involved. This may or may not necessarily be a bad thing!

On the plus side, the cost of the car can be spread out over the course of several years. This is ideal for customers who don't have the full amount of money available at the time of purchase, but want to step into a car that's a little more expensive. Instead of paying $30,000 up front, your monthly payment might only be $500. That sounds a lot more affordable, doesn't it? Furthermore, there are essentially no restrictions on how you use your car and you completely own it when the term is over.

On the downside, you will be paying more for the car through financing than if you were to purchase it outright from the beginning. What's more, the interest rate offered by car financing companies may not be the best available; it might be a better option to get your own line of credit from the bank.

LEASING

Leasing is ideal for people who want to change cars on a regular basis. The monthly payments are typically smaller than financing and when the lease term is over, the two parties -- the dealership and the customer -- can go their separate ways with no strings attached. Maintenance and warranty repairs are oftentimes included as well. This provides exceptional peace of mind.

On the downside, you do not own the car while you are leasing it. There will likely be stringent usage restrictions -- like the number of miles you're allowed to put on it -- and they may not allow you to perform any aftermarket modifications. At the end of the lease term, you do not own the car. You can buy out the lease, but the net total will be more than if you were to finance.

CASH PURCHASE

A cash purchase is when you pay for the total price of the car up front. There are no restrictions, no lease terms, and no interest rates to consider. For people who have the extra money, a cash purchase offers the greatest freedom of the three options, because there is no loan or lease agreement hanging over your head.

On the downside, you are spending a large sum of money up front, and you effectively lose out on the opportunity cost for that money. What if you suddenly come into a situation where you need money? What if you wanted to use that cash to invest? This is really the only downside to a cash purchase.

In the end, a cash purchase is probably the best solution if you can afford it. The amount of money you'd earn by investing is probably less than the interest rate charged for financing. Furthermore, you don't have the usage restrictions of a lease agreement. Buying a decent used car could be an even better solution, because it offers the flexibility of a cash purchase. Automobiles depreciate the fastest in their first couple of years, so you can probably find a good deal on a late model car too.

Four Top concept cars for 2008

2008-03-13T22:34:04.217Z

Here are four top concept cars for 2008:

The concept cars tells next generation of the cars is hybrid. Go Green

4. Toyota Hybrid X Concept

3. Ford Airstream Concept

2. Pontiac Solstice SD 290
It is single seat racer with 290 HP.

1. Mazda Furai

Welcome

2008-02-29T18:49:00.410Z

Welcome everyone to Car345.com - The cool car lovers club.

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