Ford Recalls a Million Trucks, Vans and SUVs
(AP-12/06/07)
Ford announced it's recalling more than a million trucks, s-u-v's and vans. The automaker plans to fix an engine sensor problem in the vehicles that could cause them to stall and even crash. Ford says there have been 14 accidents linked to the problem, but no injuries have been reported.
The recalled vehicles are its 1997 to 2003 models with seven-point-three liter diesel engines. That includes the excursion full-size sport utility vehicle, the F-four-50 and F-five-50 super duty trucks and the E-series van.
Source: http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=7463486
How Can You Profit from The Lemon Law?
The Used Car Lemon Law: The Used Car Buyer's Best Friend
You've just bought yourself a used car. The car was cheap and you left the used car lot with the feeling that you managed to come out reasonably well. Then the car conks out - what happens now?
Under other circumstances, you would probably have no choice but live with your choice. Fortunately, there is a law that would help you. The used car lemon law is the most useful law for any person who buys a used car. The law provides a legal remedy for those buy or lease used cars that turn out to have outstanding mechanical difficulties, those which are better known as "lemons".
The law has used car dealers give their buyers a written warranty. The warrant requires dealers to repair any defects found in the car, free of charge. The dealer can also choose to reimburse the repair costs of the repairs to the buyer. It also notes that if the car isn't repaired after a number of attempts, the buyer is supposed to receive a full refund of the purchase.
For the law to cover your purchase, check your local state laws. Usually, these four conditions should be met for the lemon law to be invoked:
1) The car was purchased, transferred or leased after either a) eighteen thousand miles of use or b) two years from the original release; and
2) The purchase or lease price has the value of at least one thousand five hundred dollars; and
3) The car has been driven less than or equal to a hundred thousand miles at the time of lease or purchase; and
4) The car was used for non-commercial purposes i.e. personal use. This means the car should have been used for household or family purposes. This includes personal transportation to and from work and household errands. The car could have been used for a mix of business and personal use but it still should have been used predominantly for personal use.
The law can also be used to cover motorcycles; however some states exempt other vehicles from the used car law. Note that the transfer of ownership of a used car is also covered by the law; however a private purchase from a private individual is not protected by the law. You can choose to consult a lawyer to see what sort of action you may take.
Remember the law and check with your state before you buy a used car. If your state has such a law, you should feel safe about your purchase when you leave the used car lot.
How to Get a Good Deal on Auto Insurance
Let your fingers do the walking… Remember that Yellow Pages Ad Campaign? Excellent advice if you’re shopping for auto insurance. Shop around and do it yearly. Don’t just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Below are a few suggestions to help you get the best deal available on your automobile insurance policy.
Insurance agents really have a lot of leeway. They can price match and they can offer many discounts. There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will save you a bundle. For example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a $50 deductible to a $1000 deductible, you’re inline for a huge premium savings. If you don’t think you could come up with $1000 out of pocket, then change it to a $500 deductible; you’ll still save a sizable amount on your annual premium payment.
You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth $1000 or less, yet they continue to pay $250-$450 every six months (total $500 to $900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on their old vehicle.
However, if they have an accident and totaled their vehicle, the insurance company will only pay them the wholesale value of the vehicle. The amount they would receive could be $1000 or less. A vehicle that old just needs the insurance that protects the other person in case of an accident.
Another method to save more on your insurance is by combining your vehicles and other insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a multi-car discount (if yours doesn’t, it’s time to switch companies). Further, many will discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them.
There are a few other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious, but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums.
Don’t just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. Your insurance bill should be an automatic trigger for you to make a few phone calls to see if you can save even more money on your auto insurance premiums.
Online Car Auctions vs. Local Car Auctions
Car Auctions 101
Car auctions are a good place to get good a bargain on cars. But buying cars from auctions can be very complicated. This is particularly true for the uninitiated. Of course the cars in auctions are generally cheaper. But they are cheap because they lack the guarantees that come with cars bought from dealers. The rules in auctions are simple, you bid an item, you pay for it, and you own it.
What you’ll need if you’re planning to buy a car in an auction is a good eye, good observation skills and a willingness to learn the car auction process.
You can even make it a business by buying cars at auction and then selling them at a profit. There are several people who have made huge profits by buying and selling cars at auction.
There are basically two kinds of car auctions, local car auctions and online car auctions. Each of the auctions works differently. Each has a different set of rules so you must study them very carefully if you are planning to buy a car from either kind of auction.
If you want to buy a vehicle in a car auction you must first pre-register with the local auction you want to join. The pre-registration process won’t take much of your time and will provide you all the essential information that you will need in order to buy a car. An auction site will often have an auction staff who will explain to you the rules of their auction site and the procedures and instruction on how to participate and bid on the cars.
It is wise to inspect the cars before the actual bidding begins. Ask the auction organizer or staff if they can allow you to take a closer look at the cars before the start of the actual auction. Another wise decision is to set your payment limit before the actual sale. This way, you won’t fall victim to the trap of overbidding.
As in other auctions, it is very important that you signal your bids carefully to the car auctioneer to avoid confusion. Settle your transaction as soon as the auction ends. Look for the block clerk and settle your accounts with him. A car auction staff will usually be available to assist you when you are ready to pay for the vehicle you have won. He should also be able to guarantee you a good title for the vehicle.
You must also check the vehicle after you have won and settling your account. Take the vehicle for a test drive and make sure that it conforms to the guarantee and representation made during the auction.
Most auction sites would accept check or credit card if you cannot pay the car with cash. An auction staff will also usually give you a third party financing offer. It is advisable though to have your own finances ready before entering a car auction. Outside financing is usually cheaper than most in-house financing of auction sites.
Ask for an invoice copy from the auction staff. This will enable you to drive or ship your newly bought car to your location. Most car auction managers will give you good deals on shipping arrangements so inquire about this.
There really are no significant differences between a local auction and an online auction. Online car auctions work more or less the same way as local ones. The only disadvantage of online auction sites is that you won’t be able to inspect the car as you would in an actual car auction. In participating in online car auctions be sure that you will be provided with all the necessary information about the car upfront and that there is an actual photograph of the vehicle.
Cars bought from an online auction are usually shipped to the buyer for a minimal fee. Inspect the car immediately upon arrival at your location to minimize risks.
You are now ready for your first car auction. Happy bidding!
Lemon Law
The Used Car Lemon Law: The Used Car Buyer's Best Friend
You've just bought yourself a used car. The car was cheap and you left the used car lot with the feeling that you managed to come out reasonably well. Then the car conks out - what happens now?
Under other circumstances, you would probably have no choice but live with your choice. Fortunately, there is a law that would help you. The used car lemon law is the most useful law for any person who buys a used car. The law provides a legal remedy for those buy or lease used cars that turn out to have outstanding mechanical difficulties, those which are better known as "lemons".
The law has used car dealers give their buyers a written warranty. The warrant requires dealers to repair any defects found in the car, free of charge. The dealer can also choose to reimburse the repair costs of the repairs to the buyer. It also notes that if the car isn't repaired after a number of attempts, the buyer is supposed to receive a full refund of the purchase.
For the law to cover your purchase, check your local state laws. Usually, these four conditions should be met for the lemon law to be invoked:
1) The car was purchased, transferred or leased after either a) eighteen thousand miles of use or b) two years from the original release; and
2) The purchase or lease price has the value of at least one thousand five hundred dollars; and
3) The car has been driven less than or equal to a hundred thousand miles at the time of lease or purchase; and
4) The car was used for non-commercial purposes i.e. personal use. This means the car should have been used for household or family purposes. This includes personal transportation to and from work and household errands. The car could have been used for a mix of business and personal use but it still should have been used predominantly for personal use.
The law can also be used to cover motorcycles; however some states exempt other vehicles from the used car law. Note that the transfer of ownership of a used car is also covered by the law; however a private purchase from a private individual is not protected by the law. You can choose to consult a lawyer to see what sort of action you may take.
Remember the law and check with your state before you buy a used car. If your state has such a law, you should feel safe about your purchase when you leave the used car lot.
