Buying Used Cars

The demand for cars has dramatically increased over the past few years. Everyone needs a car, but most people cannot afford to purchase a brand new car.

If you are also tight on budget, then buying a used car will not be a bad deal. A used car is more economical than a new car. If you are planning to buy a used car, then you will have to do a lot of research. Otherwise you might be sold a defective or faulty car. There are car dealers who sell used cars that are in a good condition. You can also take along a mechanic or a used car expert with you when you are going to see the used car that is up for sale. The mechanic will tell you the condition of the car and whether it is a good idea to buy the car or not. He will also be able to find out any hidden damages or faults in the car.
You can get a good used car for the smallest amount of money.

Private sellers often advertise their cars in newspapers. You can check your newspaper to find a used car on sale in your locality. You might even be able to find a used car in a really good condition for a reasonable price. You can also approach a used car dealer, who thoroughly assesses the car before putting it for sale. Still, it is advisable to check the reputation of the car dealer before making a deal. You can also browse the Internet and find cheap used cars online. Though you cannot touch or see the cars online, you can compare and examine the cars. The best part is that you don't have to go anywhere for the purpose. There are many websites displaying used cars for sale.

You can also buy a used car through a public auction. Usually, these car auctions are arranged by the police or government institutions and are the ones that they had seized through repossession or confiscation. They sell cars that were seized from car owners who were unable to repay their loan amounts.
People tend to buy the cheapest used car, and end up paying out more on the repairs. Nowadays, most car dealers conduct thorough tests on the used car before putting it for sale. These dealers also offer warranty to assure the quality of the used car. These warranties may range from a period of 6 months to one year. The condition of the used cars depends on the usage of the car and its maintenance by its previous owner. You must look for the used car that is best used by its previous owner.

Used cars rarely come with the warranty of the original manufacturer. So, used cars certified by car dealers are a good option. By buying a certified used car, you can be satisfied that the car you are buying has been thoroughly inspected and is in condition to be given an extended warranty. These certified used cars also come with benefits like low loan rate, roadside assistance, free maintenance like oil changes and shuttle services.

You can also buy a used car from a used car sale. In these sales, you have a variety of used cars that are up n display. You can find different models of cars, compare them and consider their prices. You also get a chance to examine the condition of the car in these sale centres.

What to Look For When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can be tricky as you will have to consider lots of factors - it is therefore imperative that you know what you're looking for.

Trust is often a big issue when buying a used car, especially if you are buying privately. When viewing a car you will need to ensure that you check the vehicle over thoroughly. Here are a few tips to help make sure you buy a used car that won't give you too many problems.

1. Before viewing a car you should do some background research so you know the current 'going rate' of that particular car - you don't want to pay too much. You should also remember that when buying from a motor trader you have more rights than you do when you buy privately. It is therefore essential that you follow the tips outlined below.

2. If the car you are looking to buy is under three years old then it should have done around 25,000-30,000 miles, anything with a lower mileage is a good buy.
If it has done more miles then you know that the car has been driven hard which may have an adverse affect on the engine.

3. It is important that you inspect the bodywork to spot any blemishes. It is therefore a good idea to do this is daylight. You should look out for signs of rust as this indicated corrosion - rust is more likely to occur on cars over 5 years old. If you spot rust along the lower door sills, front wing or the bottom of the door alarm bells should ring. Rust shows that the metal is weakened and will require a lot of welding attention to put right. You should also look for signs of crash repairs - this is often shown by ripples in the paintwork.

4. Never buy a car without test driving it yourself. Make sure you are insured to drive it and then take it out on a drive.

If possible take it along a motorway, somewhere with twisting roads...and make sure you check reverse. This will give you a good feel of how the car drives. You will also be able to see whether the gears are sticky, the car pulls to one side or whether the clutch is stiff.

5. Finally, check that the mileage corresponds to the general wear and tear of the car. Also have a quick check of the condition of the engine - a dirty engine suggests that the car hasn't been looked after properly!

Private Seller Or Used Car Dealer Is Better To Purchase 2nd Hand Cars?

Having your own car is fairly joyable, however how to buy one is not easy. Although the reccession is basically over, its fallout still remains to some extent. Having considered this, a lot of people have decided to buy a second hand from either a private seller or used car dealer instead of a brand new car.

But therein lies the choice for many people - do you go for the used car dealer or the private seller?

This article discusses some of the issues that might come up when making this decision. Both have certain advantages and disadvantages, and carefully looking at these will help you come to a conclusion about which to go for.When you roll up to a used car dealer you are often confronted with a wide range of cars to choose from.

And that's one of the main advantages to buying from a used car dealer - the fact that you can find a wide range of vehicles in one place. This also means you can seek the advice of the salesperson in order to determine more clearly if a given car meets your requirements and those of your family members.

Many people choose a used car dealer because they can sometimes provide some attractive offers - such as free roadside assistance services and similar attractive offers. But one of the main reasons car buyers opt for a used car dealer is the fact that they provide a warranty of some kind. This can be the clincher for many people.

Compare the warranty situation with what people get when they buy from a private seller - there is invariably no warranty. Any spoken agreement as regards the quality of the car and how the seller would accept a return are of course very difficult to prove - often impossible.

But on the plus side, private sellers often sell their cars for a lower price than their used car dealer counterparts.

This is because, in most cases, the private seller will have lower overheads than the used car dealer. It may also be because they wish to make a fast sale - which can be good and can be bad (for example if the car is of lower quality than they suggest).

There are clear pros and cons to both second hand car buying options - and it is worth taking your time when deciding which to go for.

Carnation Auto first certified pre-owned car outlet launched in Kochi

Carnation Auto formally launched its multi-brand certified pre-owned cars outlet in Kochi, with the exciting promise of providing both sellers and buyers the best possible return on investment. In addition to the unique business proposition, the launch of the first certified pre-owned car program in Kochi is another step towards Carnation’s overall aim of providing its customers a complete one-stop-shop for all their auto needs.

Purchasing a certified pre-owned car from Carnation comes with the added benefit of purchasing a car that has undergone 160 stringent quality checks and comes with up to 1 year warranty and 3 free services honorable in 12 Carnation-hubs across India. Carnation ensures transparency in all its dealings whether purchasing or selling a vehicle and additionally provides customers a value add of complete paperwork in place and also offers convenient finance and insurance options. Sellers to Carnation can always be assured that an honest assessment and fair pricing is a key driver for success in the certified pre-owned car program.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagdish Khattar, chairman and managing director, Carnation Auto said, “Our Auto Solution Hubs have aimed at providing customers everything a car owner would need to maximize his car ownership experience under one roof. At Carnation it is our attempt to ensure transparency, honesty and truth are an integral part of a customers’ experience and we attempt at delivering this experience consistently. Today with the launch of the certified pre-owned car program, we have moved yet another step closer to our vision of creating ‘experience destinations’ for all.”

Pre-owned Cars will now be available in Mumbai and Kochi with Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Bangalore soon to follow. Carnation Auto already has 12 Auto Solutions Hubs operational across India in Amritsar, Chennai (2), Gurgaon, Noida (2), Mumbai (3), Hyderabad (2) and Kochi – and is in the process of opening around 30 by end of the year.

An initiative by Jagdish Khattar, Carnation Auto is setting up a state-of-the-art network of integrated multi-brand auto sales, services and related solutions hubs across the country – an industry consolidator seeking to bring automobile service providers under a standardized business model. These dedicated outlets within the Carnation network will ensure its partners higher revenues through cross-selling across business lines (new cars, servicing, certified pre-owned cars, accessories, financial and insurance products, auto leasing).

Ann Street Auto Sales to sell India's Mahindra diesel vehicles

Most shoppers go to Ann Street Auto Sales searching for late-model used cars. But by next spring, the 50-year-old dealership at 1970 Alpine Ave. NW turns a corner, becoming the region's first new-car source for three diesel-powered vehicles from India.



Mahindra & Mahindra, better known among agricultural circles for its line of farm tractors, is on the brink of selling its Scorpio seven-passenger SUV and two models of utilitarian pickups as early as March, said David Brock, the dealer's general manager. He's heading the expansion into new car sales at Ann Street Auto, and saw the Mahindra line in Atlanta last fall.





"Their main SUV, the Scorpio, is a seven-passenger comparable to the Explorer, or a little bigger," Brock said. "They'll all come with direct-injection diesels, so they're very, very clean for the environment, and a lot higher on gas mileage." How high? In the 32 to 35 mpg range, Brock said. "It's almost double anything out there right now," he said. Mahindra's U.S. distributor, Global Vehicles, is based in Alpharetta, Ga.

But the India automaker already plans to bring pickup assembly to an Ohio plant as soon as next year, Brock said. He expects the Scorpio to sell in the $24,000 range, with the two yet-unnamed trucks in the $20,000 range. The biggest market may be in the farm community, where Mahindra tractors are the No. 3 seller in the U.S. Brock initially investigated a Romanian automaker, but that deal fell through. He is less enthused about the prospect of autos from China.

"I don't think they'll be here for a while," Brock said. "There's a lot of cars out there that are a lot cheaper in other nations. But by the time you add the expense of making them work in the U.S. market -- anti-rollover, air bags, ABS brakes -- I just don't see it happening down the road."



Newcomers to the U.S. car market face fierce odds, especially when they try to set up a dealership network. That's the biggest challenge for Chenfang, Mahindra or any other automaker not yet stateside, auto analyst Grand Rapids Erich Merkle said.

Although a car from China could sell for less than $10,000 here, Merkle said, Toyota Motor Co. already has the small Yaris in place to compete with it. The Yaris starts at $12,000, but it has a big advantage over Chenfang: a big dealer network. "Buyers know Toyota is going to be here. They brought the Yaris over here as a defensive move against any Chinese automaker coming into the market," Merkle said.

The Mahindra SUV and basic pickups might appeal to a niche crowd, Merkle said.



"The vehicles are a little on the crude side; they don't have all the comfort and convenience features," said Merkle, a Crowe Chizek analyst.

"They look more like a piece of farm equipment than anything else." The tractor business is the key to the new line's success, Brock said. Mahindra already has two tractor plants in the U.S. and has been in the market for 10 years. "I really believe they're growing at the grassroots," he said.

As for reliability, Brock said, he realized Kia and Hyundai first imported lower-quality cars "until they got their act together." But Mahindra won't go that route. "They're not going to bring over an inferior product," Brock said.

Used Car Industry: Dr Car Expands Its Business Horizon

Dr Car one of the largest used car organized retailer in India, with a physical presence has now expanded its business services to meet the requirements of today's online customers.

Dr.Car brings to customers the finest car buying and selling experience at the best possible value by connecting buyers and sellers in the most convenient way with the largest inventory of used cars in a single location in India. With its physical presence and its website www.DrCar.co.in, it has gained a lot of trust as the best service provider for the past few years in Used Cars market.

The used car market in India presently is growing at the rate of almost 30% per annum. Fiscal year 2007-08 touched an approx 14.2 lacs of used car sales as compared to 8.8 lacs car sale in the year 2005-06. Nearly 1 Million cars change hands annually, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. With Used Car market getting more organized, Indian Automobile Industry is experiencing a new shift in the business model.

As happening in any other industry, even the used car market is shifting its prominence from physical presence to online presence. The web is the first source for most of the customers looking to buy or sell a car. Today's customers wants the things to be done so quickly, even if it selling a car. The Used car portals provide a great source to meet this pace of customers. Customers along with pace also wants to sell their cars at the best possible price and customers who want to buy used cars wants the best value cars from dealers who are reliable as well in the most convenient way.

To meet these convenience needs of the customers, Dr.Car.co.in has completely revamped its site. The new DrCar.co.in portal provides seamless integration of the online world with our physical locations. This helps us to bring customers the best of both online and the traditional brick-and-mortar showrooms.

Dr.Car.co.in brings together a gamut of features to offer to its customers like Best Quotes, Used car valuation services and more. A buyer of used cars can visit Dr.Car portal and with the help of advanced search functionality can find the car of his choice. The buyer can find the cars available through Dr.Car based on make, model, price, year and location. Once he finds a car which meets his preferences, he can submit a quote. He can also visit the Dr.Car yard and have a detailed look and know all the details of the car. If the seller of the car is happy with your quote, you can drive away your car. If you are a seller of a car, you simply need to create a free account and upload your car details. Your car details will be listed in the site and you will start receiving quotes from prospective buyers, you are at your will to choose the best quote.

Dr.Car also provides lot of information about New Cars. The Finance and Insurance sections in the site provides you detailed info and guides you how to best use them. The research section provides a lot of information about used cars, new cars and the industry news as well.
Dr Car Pvt Ltd is in the process of making its physical presence Pan India by opening its yard facility in other locations in India too.

Old car or new?

This is totally dependent on your mentality. And of course, there is a price differential. So, it is better that you identify your needs first and then take a call on the one that suits your purposes.

For instance, if you are someone who is looking for a regular upgrade in say, every two-three years, then a second-hand car makes sense. Moreover, if this is your first car and you are trying to learn driving on it, a second-hand car definitely makes much more sense. On the other hand, if you are someone who is happy using the same vehicle for a number of years, then a new car is definitely recommended.

Of course, there are other important parameters like your negotiating skills and the previous owner. For instance, a Parsi owned car commands higher value as Parsis are known to maintain their cars very well. As a Parsi friend confesses, We do not believe in repair? we replace.? Whereas even the latest model in the hands of a Young Turk (a la Schumacher) would create imageries of burning tyres and engine on an overdrive.

Before buying any car, here are a few things you need to consider:

1. What is your budget for the car?

2. What is your monthly budget for the car?

3. How do you intend to use it? Within the city or even outside the city? (Heavy weight age towards the latter means that you need a MUV or multi-utility vehicle like Tata Sumo, Mahindra Bolero etc.)

4. How long do you intend to keep the vehicle?

Now that you have answered the above, you know whether you want a new or an old car. But before you go for that old car, get yourself a cool car mechanic that is, a trustworthy one who will check the car for you. Ask him to check all the parameters like tyres, suspension, cooling etc.