Thursday, April 23, 2015
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Bumper-to-Bumper
Regular car maintenance is like money in your pocket Regular car maintenance done on a systematic basis will prolong the life of your car. It is a proven fact. Even better, it represents dollars when the time comes to resell your vehicle. A wellmaintained vehicle is unquestionably more valuable, however if you don’t keep track of regular maintenance, you’ll find it difficult to capitalize on your car’s good state of repair. That is why it is so important to record all the work carried out on your vehicle. When purchasing a second hand car, people look for a reliable product that will last long enough for them to have a return on their investment. If you don’t have a maintenance notebook for the vehicle you wish to sell, you’ll find it difficult to ask for more than its market value. Conversely, with supporting evidence the buyer will be ready to spend a bit more,
knowing that the vehicle has been properly cared for. A maintenance notebook will help you remember some elements that may otherwise slip your mind during routine maintenance checks. By meticulously filling in the notebook, you’ll be sure that everything is done that needs to be done. Your notes should include the odometer reading at the time of each routine checkup or major repair job. Also, it would be to your advantage to include a short description of the work done. This will facilitate finding and solving any future problems that may arise. For example, if the engine isn’t turning over properly and your notebook indicates that the spark plugs haven’t been changed yet, you or your mechanic will know where to look first for the cause.
Air filters: for your vehicle’s health as well as your own One important element is often forgotten during do-it-yourself car maintenance: air filters. Not to be neglected, changing them regularly improves the health of your vehicle as well as your own.
For your vehicle
Your car engine needs fresh, clean air. That is why its engine is equipped with a filter specifically designed to prevent different particles from entering the combustion chamber. To be able to function properly, an engine needs the right mix of air and fuel. Dirty air will alter the efficiency of the engine and could cause damage. In addition, dirty air filters increase gas consumption. Check your owner’s manual to find out when this filter should be changed. If you usually drive in heavy traffic or on dusty roads, it would be to your advantage to have it checked very often. 113134
For your health
The importance of having a
clean car cabin air filter cannot be stressed enough. The air coming into the area where you sit can be up to six times more polluted than outside air. The filter that needs to be checked is usually located behind the glove box and only takes a few minutes of your time to replace. Once again, you should refer to the owner’s manual to learn how to proceed. Experts recommend that this filter be replaced at least once a year to prevent it from becoming clogged. As well as improving air quality inside your car, your air conditioning and ventilation systems will operate much more efficiently.
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
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Bumper-to-Bumper
How to protect your car’s resale value Few drivers start thinking about resale value when driving a new car off of the dealership lot for the first time. Still enamored with that new car smell, drivers can be excused for not thinking of resale value as they put the pedal to the metal and speed off in their brand new ride. But it’s never too early to start protecting a vehicle’s resale value, especially if you hope to recoup as much of your vehicle investment as possible when the time comes to sell your car or trade it in for a newer model. The following are some ways motorists can protect the resale value of their vehicles from the moment the dealer tosses them the keys. • Keep all maintenance records. New cars typically do not require much maintenance. But drivers should keep records of all work and maintenance done on their vehicles, even if that work does not extend beyond routine tuneups or oil changes. Keeping maintenance
records shows prospective buyers you prioritized taking care of the vehicle over the years, and that makes the car or truck more attractive to preowned vehicle buyers who want to avoid buying a lemon or a car that has not been taken care of. • Don’t overlook looks. Looks can be deceiving, but new car buyers who eventually plan to sell their vehicles should do all they can to keep the car looking as new as it did the day it was first driven off the dealership lot. Much like homeowners benefit when selling a home with curb appeal, a car that looks good gives buyers the impression that it was well taken care of. But a dirty car or one with lots of dings and dents is a red flag to preowned car buyers. • Keep a clean interior. New car owners typically maintain some strict rules with regard to food and beverages in their vehicles. After all, no one wants their brand new car to succumb to stains or spills.
But the longer drivers have a car the more lax they tend to become with regard to allowing food and drinks into their cars, and that can ultimately hurt the resale value of the vehicle. Maintain a clean interior whether you just bought the car or have driven it for a few years. Much like an impressive exterior leaves a lasting impression, a clean interior that has not succumb to coffee stains or muddy boots is more likely to impress buyers than a car with an interior that has seen better, cleaner days. • Drive defensively. It’s not just what you do to a car but how you drive the car that can affect its resale value. Driving defensively reduces your risk of accident, and an accident-free preowned vehicle is a top priority for potential buyers. But driving defensively also reduces wear and tear on your vehicle, as over time constant stopand-go, aggressive driving takes its toll on vehicle engines and other
components. • Periodically examine the vehicle history report. Today’s preowned car buyers know to ask for a vehicle history report before buying a car. If your vehicle history report contains any suspicious or inaccurate information, you may be forced to sell the car for less than it’s worth or delay selling until you can have any issues corrected. That won’t necessarily happen overnight, but you can avoid dealing with a host of issues all at once by periodically examining the vehicle history report. Any discrepancies on the report can be brought to the attention of your insurance company, who can then work with you to correct the issues and restore your vehicle’s reputation. Resale value may not be foremost on the minds of new car owners, but the earlier buyers begin to factor resale value into their car-care routines, the more they will benefit down the road.
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Bumper-to-Bumper
Factors to consider when looking for a new car Spring is a season of rebirth, and this rejuvenating time of year can be a great time for motorists to reexamine their vehicles and start looking for new rides. With spring road trips and summer vacations on the not-too-distant horizon, drivers who have been eyeing a new vehicle may feel the time has never been more right to sell or trade-in their current vehicles for ones more suited to their current needs. Once drivers have made the decision to get a new car, they must then decide which car is right for them. Such a decision not only requires a careful consideration of budget, but also a thorough examination of what you want out of your next vehicle. The following are some factors prospective car buyers may want to consider as they begin to look for new cars.
Passengers
Parents who drive have different needs than drivers who don’t have
children. When shopping around for your next vehicle, consider how many passengers you typically have in the car. Parents who drive the kids to and from a full slate of extracurricular activities may not only want a car with enough room to accommodate their brood, but also one that’s fuel-efficient so all those trips to the soccer fields and dance recitals won’t break the bank. Singles who don’t often have passengers and don’t have a driveway or assigned parking space may benefit from a small vehicle that’s fuel-efficient and easy to park. Whatever your needs, try to avoid buying more or less car than you really need.
Driving habits
Your personal driving habits are another factor to consider before buying your next car. When driving, are you traversing the nation’s highways or sticking mainly to city streets? Stop-and-go city driving can be taxing on vehicles, and
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What else is in the driveway?
Parents or couples buying a new car together should consider what their significant other has sitting in the driveway. If one parent already has an SUV or minivan, then a Local climate second such vehicle may not be Drivers should consider their necessary, and buying a new car local climate as they try to decide may be an opportunity to purchase what their next vehicle will be. If a smaller vehicle that still fits the you live in a region where ice and whole family but won’t need to snow is common, then four-wheel carry athletic equipment or drive or all-wheel drive is a feature chauffeur the middle school that will likely prove worth the basketball team. The same investment if not a necessity, while principle can be applied to couples drivers who live in warm areas without children. Such couples may where the temperatures remain want to keep one sports car in the mild year-round can likely skip the driveway and have a more practical four-wheel drive option. When vehicle that can better handle road buying a new car, envision the trips or weekend getaways. weather that car will eventually Buying a new car is a fun process encounter. A flashy sports car may that’s made even more fun when be fun to drive and surely looks drivers consider their needs and great in the garage, but if safety target vehicles that best meet those concerns force you to leave it in the needs. garage for several months a year,
Caring for the leather in your car
Formerly a luxury for only the richest car owners, leather is becoming much more common in car interiors today. The quality of leather seat coverings and other leather trims differ greatly from one model to another, but their upkeep is fairly standardized. Here are a few useful tips.
Leather is the most delicate surface inside a car. Two crucial and inseparable steps are required to keep it well maintained and ensure its durability: cleaning and polishing.
Cleaning leather requires using a special product specifically designed for the task. If the surfaces are very dirty you could always clean them first with mild soap and water. Incidentally, water does not damage car-quality leather.
If the leather is light colored, clean
it more frequently, perhaps every month or two, depending on how quickly it tends to get dirty. Two or three cleanings every year should be sufficient for darker leathers. Other than that, your car’s leather surfaces would benefit from being wiped down as often as possible with a damp cloth in order to get rid of any residues that could wear it out prematurely. These residues fall into two categories: dirt, including dust, small pebbles, and sand, which can eventually penetrate and damage the leather; and sweat, whose oils can dry and crack leather over time.
Once the leather has been thoroughly cleaned, apply a protective cream to return the leather to its original softness and suppleness. Keep in mind that the dryer the climate in which you live, the more often the cleaning and polishing
NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
5-A
Bumper-to-Bumper
How to detect odometer fraud Preowned car buyers looking to buy from private sellers rather than dealerships typically understand that such an approach can be risky. When buying from a private seller, such purchases are typically as-is, and rarely are buyers protected with extended warranties that may be offered by dealers who specialize in preowned vehicles. Buying from private sellers may also leave buyers more susceptible to fraud. Odometer fraud is one type of fraud that buyers must be especially wary of when buying a preowned vehicle from a private seller, and the following are a handful of ways buyers can determine if a car’s odometer has been tampered with. • Examine the vehicle’s service history. Before buying a preowned vehicle, buyers should always request to see documentation of the vehicle’s service history. This can shed light on how well (or how poorly) the vehicle was taken care of, and it also can serve as a clue
as to the authenticity of the number on the vehicle’s odometer. Vehicle mileage is often included on repair orders or receipts provided by auto repair shops, so such reports should give you a picture of how many miles the car was driven at given times throughout its history. If the numbers on the reports don’t match up with the figure on the odometer, then the odometer has likely been tampered with. • Inspect the dashboard. A damaged dashboard is not always indicative of odometer fraud, but it should be enough to arouse your suspicions. Loose or missing screws on a dashboard or scrapes or scarring along the dashboard often occur when sellers attempt to reset their vehicles’ odometers. Again, such damage is not necessarily indicative of odometer fraud, but if you were already suspicious of the seller, then these additional signs should be enough to compel you to walk away and continue your vehicle search
elsewhere. • Ask to take the car to your own mechanic for an inspection. When buying a preowned car, prospective buyers should insist that they be allowed to take the car to their own mechanic to determine if it is worth buying. This protects sellers from buying a lemon and can help them determine if odometer fraud has occurred. An experienced mechanic can examine a car and determine how much wear and tear it has. If that wear and tear is more than the odometer suggests it should have, then the odometer has likely been tampered with. • Insist on a vehicle history report. Whether buying from a dealership or private seller, buyers of preowned vehicles should always insist on seeing a vehicle history report. Mileage is always documented whenever a vehicle is registered with the state and whenever it undergoes statemandated safety or emissions inspections. A vehicle history report
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from an agency like CarFax can provide buyers with a record of these registrations and inspections, and buyers can use that information to determine if the odometer on a given vehicle has been tampered with. If a seller refuses to provide a vehicle history report, walk away and continue your search until you find a buyer willing to provide the report. Odometer fraud is employed by sellers who want to make their cars seem more attractive to prospective buyers. But buyers of preowned vehicles can employ several strategies to detect if a given vehicle’s odometer has been tampered with.
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Bumper-to-Bumper
Paint versus car wrap options Over time a car’s exterior can fade or suffer some dings and dents. Before owners sell or trade in their rides for something new, investing in a new color may be all that’s necessary to revitalize the look of the vehicle. Changing the color of a car is not something every driver should try on their own. Such a task can be time-consuming, and it requires a good deal of skill to turn out looking good. Furthermore, painting a car involves a variety of different tools and equipment, from a spray gun, sander and buffer to specific types of enamel or acrylic paints. After considering the work involved and the expense of investing in the equipment to get the job done right, many vehicle owners opt to hire a professional to change the color of their vehicles. Many service centers offer two options to change the look of a car or truck: painting
and car wraps.
Paint job
A professional paint job will yield an impressive result. A skilled auto painter can recommend the right type of automotive paint for your make and model and guide you in color selections. While there are hundreds of different color choices available, professionals also may be able to mix colors to create the custom look you desire. Paint work may be done to match the existing color of the vehicle after accident repairs have been made. Or you may be tired with the color of your car and simply desire a change. Experienced service shops can offer these services and more. Other shops may specialize in custom paint jobs that may entail graphics, detail work or the blending of multiple colors to give the vehicle an airbrushed effect.
Custom painters are artists, and their work may be very detailed. Painting may demand your vehicle be off the road for a week or more, so it’s best to have an alternative travel plan. Also, be sure to investigate how painting will affect the value of the vehicle. A paint job may end up depreciating the value of a resale because it’s changing the original vehicle permanently.
Car wrap
Car wraps are typically made of high-quality vinyls that come in a bevy of different colors and styles. Wraps also can be used for custom graphics or to advertise businesses. The vinyl wrap completely covers the paint of the vehicle. But because car wraps can be
removed, they do not permanently change the vehicle and are therefore unlikely to affect its resale value. Car wrapping can take less time than a labor-intensive paint job. Some jobs can be completed in only two or three days. Car wraps also may be the less expensive option if you’re not selecting a complicated, custom design. Many car wraps will last between five to seven years, which is on par with the life span of a professional paint job, which lasts five to 10 years. Changing the look of a vehicle may be as simple as choosing a new exterior color. Professional paint services and vinyl car wraps make it easy to switch up the style of a car or truck.
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
7-A
Bumper-to-Bumper
The first steps toward financing your next vehicle When purchasing a new car, many buyers decide to finance rather than buying the car outright. Financing allows drivers the opportunity to drive a new car after making an initial down payment and then making monthly payments until the loan has been paid in full. Without the option to finance, many drivers may not be able to afford a brand new car or even a preowned car with relatively few miles that’s more reliable than an older used car with a considerable amount of miles. But before prospective buyers visit the financing departments of any dealerships, it’s best to first take some steps to ensure they get the best financing deal possible. • Address your credit score. Your credit score will go a long way toward determining both your eligibility to finance a car as well as the interest rate on the loan should you be approved. Get a copy of your credit report from a credit reporting agency and scour it to determine if there are any discrepancies or blemishes that need to be addressed. If your credit
score is low, try to delay buying a new car until you can take steps to improve your score. Such steps may include paying down existing debt, establishing a history of paying on time and making certain that any inaccuracies are removed. • Determine how much you can afford. It might be your dream to tool around town in an imported sports car, but if you need to finance your next car, chances are the high-end imports or luxury automobiles are more than you can afford. The greater the down payment you make, the less your monthly payment will be. So if you have a substantial amount of money in your savings, you may want to put more down at signing so your budget is more flexible month-to-month. Calculate the cost of all of your monthly expenses to determine how much you can afford to pay for a car each month. And don’t forget that insurance costs on a brand new vehicle will be more than the costs of insuring a preowned car or truck. • Seek preapproval for a loan.
Much like you might get preapproved for a mortgage, you can do the same with regard to an automotive loan. Walking into a dealership preapproved for a loan can make the process less of a hassle, and it also might compel a dealer to make a more attractive offer than the lender who preapproved you. • Don’t pressure yourself. Many buyers are their own worst enemies when it comes to buying a new car. If you were preapproved for an auto loan, you might feel like you need to
go out and buy a new car immediately. While a preapproval may mandate that you buy a car within a certain amount of days before you have to reapply, that still gives you a considerable amount of time to find a car. Be patient when shopping for the best deal, and you’re more likely to find it. Financing is a great way to get behind the wheel of your next vehicle. Some careful planning before visiting the dealership can make a financing deal even better.
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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Bumper-to-Bumper
Fun amenities to consider for your next vehicle Today’s automobiles come with more gadgets than ever before. New car buyers can now choose from a host of amenities geared toward making roads easier to navigate and long trips more comfortable. Whereas nonessential amenities once cost buyers a substantial amount of money, nowadays many auto manufacturers include options once considered luxuries in their standard packages, meaning more drivers have the chance to enjoy their new vehicles in style. While not all amenities are free, and some may still cost drivers a considerable amount of money, the following are a handful of features drivers may find too irresistible to ignore. • Satellite radio: Satellite radio has been around for awhile, but only recently did it begin to become a standard offering in new vehicles. Drivers who buy a new car may find a deal where their initial satellite radio subscription, whether
it’s a few months or a full year, is included in the cost of the vehicle, while others may need to foot the fill for their subscriptions from jump street. But many new cars are satellite-compatible, which is good news to drivers who want to expand their musical horizons beyond the offerings of their local terrestrial stations. • Television: The vehicles of today often mimic mobile entertainment systems, and no such system is complete without television. Built-in televisions are nothing new, and many a parent has expressed gratitude that in-car televisions and DVD players can serve as mobile babysitters when taking the kids on long road trips. But some auto manufacturers have begun to offer broadcast television in their vehicles, which is made possible by a built-in television antenna that is capable of picking up nearby channels. • Massaging seats: Heated seats have a reputation of being a luxury
Did you know?
Insuring multiple vehicles and/or drivers on an auto insurance policy may prove cheaper than having each of those drivers and vehicles insured separately on multiple policies. That’s because insurers typically offer bulk rates to policy holders willing to insure several vehicles and/or drivers on a single policy. But such discounts typically adhere to guidelines that dictate eligibility. For example, if the head of a family wants to insure his or her children on the same auto insurance policy he or she has, then those children typically must list their parents’ home as their legal residence. Blood relations also may influence eligibility for multiple driver policy discounts. In general, only blood relatives or relatives by marriage can benefit from multiple driver discounts. However, non-related motorists who jointly own a vehicle may be eligible for discounts.
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well worth the extra investment when buying a new car. But motorists with some extra cash to spend may want to consider massaging seats. Such seats are typically limited to the backseats, but they work in similar fashion to massaging armchairs. Passengers or even drivers taking a break on a long road tip can jump into the back of their cars, recline the backseat and then enjoy a massage to iron out all those aches and pains that developed over the last several hours traversing the highways. • Adaptive lights: If you’re the type of driver who prefers his or her amenities be more about function than luxury, then adaptive lights might be the perfect feature for you. Adaptive lights may swivel
as an automobile turns a corner, making it easier for drivers to see. Some adaptive headlights also can sense darkness, protecting drivers who may be distracted by the amenities inside their vehicles and forget to turn their lights on the moment twilight arrives or the sun sets. Today’s automobiles are a testament to innovation, and drivers may find that certain amenities make driving more enjoyable than ever before.
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