Should You Buy a New or Used Car Imperial Select

You want to buy a new car, but you need to decide: new or used car? It can be a tough decision as there are great pros and cons for both new and used cars. This discussion of the pros and cons of new and used cars should help to clarify any questions you have.

First of all, lets look at buying a new car

The Pros:

When you buy a new car, you can be quite specific in what you want in terms of the colours, features, even the amount of doors (three or five door). You can have the vehicle personalised to suit the exact car you want. You are the first owner of the vehicle, so you wont have any questions about the vehicles history, or have to worry about it being a stolen car. A manufacturers warranty comes standard with all new cars, so any mechanical damage your car may suffer while under warranty will be taken care of. Finance deals, servicing deals and other perks like roadside assistance may be included in the buying price. You will also be exempt from having to take the car for an MOT test for the first three years, meaning you have one less thing to stress about in your busy life!

The Cons:

New cars are expensive. Theres no getting around it. Having the luxury of choosing the clour anf other features means you will pay for it. Also, the luxury of owning a never-before owned car means that as soon as you drive the car out of the dealership, a hefty amount will drop off the value of the car. The first year of ownership can decrease the value of the car greatly. You may also have to wait a while for a new car, as there can be waiting lists to receive your vehicle, especially if it is a new or popular model.

Now, lets take a look at buying a used car

The Pros:

The financial aspect of buying a used car is probably the main reason that people like to purchase second hand. When you buy a used car, the price is far lower than a new one, for obvious reasons. This doesnt mean that the car is not of good quality; in fact you can get some used vehicles that are almost brand new, at a far lesser cost of a new car. Also, unlike new cars, the value of your vehicle will not drop drastically as soon as you drive it, meaning that you will lose less money if you sell the car later on. In some cases, the deal can be made quickly, without a mass of paperwork. You get a far better choice of cars when you buy second hand, and you will be able to buy some models that you cannot buy new anymore.

The Cons:

When you buy a second hand car, your greatest enemy is what you do not know about the car or its history. It could have been stolen or may not have a full service history. The owner may not tell you about a major accident the car suffered. You are also less likely to get a Car Warranty on a second hand car, unless you buy it from a trustworthy dealership. You also dont have as much choice in terms of car specification as you do with buying a new car. You can choose the make and model but colour is generally not something that you can specify unless youre lucky.

Visit www.imperialselect.co.za for new and used cars for sale.

How To Finance A Car In 5 Easy Steps

If you’ve ever wondered how to finance car, there are really only a few simple steps you have to follow. Car financing is very common since the average person doesn’t have several thousand dollars lying around to spend on buying a car outright. The car buying process is very simple once you know the basic format. When you follow these steps, you’ll be able the get the financing you need for the car that you want to buy.

1.Become familiar with your credit score
This is one of the most important steps in how to finance a car. Before you even think about borrowing money you need to know your credit score. Your credit score will let your lenders know your history with borrowing money. Frequently, there are mistakes on a credit report that will negatively influence your ability to get financing. Check your credit score and your credit report and correct any errors before you try to borrow.

2.Save a down payment
Your ability to borrow the money to pay your car is increased greatly if you place a down payment on your car. If you can manage a 20% down payment, your chances of borrowing will be very high. Even a 15% or 10% down payment can help lenders see that you are willing to put forth money to invest in yourself. Pick out your ideal car and start saving for a down payment. You’ll be rewarded with a better rate and lower payments on your auto loan.

3.Get pre-approved
Many people try to go to the dealership first and then get financing, but this is doing it all backwards. It’s much easier to shop for a car when you know exactly what kind of car you can afford. It’s very disappointing to have your heart set on a certain car, only to be told by your bank that you can’t afford it. In order to avoid this problem, why not secure the financing first? Most banks and lending institutions will arrange for you to get pre-approved for a certain amount. With this pre-approval, you’ll be free to shop for the type of car that you can afford or compare rates from other institutions.

4.Shop around for your car loan
Once you get pre-approved, you can use this rate to accurately evaluate other rates from sources online or other financial services in your area. You can compare rates by using a service like www.bankrate.com or visit other banks in your area. Shopping around can give you a better idea of the best deal for you. You may be able to find a source that has a lower APR or lower monthly payments than you were initially offered.

5.Purchase your car
After all this preparation, you can finally start shopping for your car. When you purchase your car, you’ll know that you’ve done all that you can to find the best rate. The next time you need a car you’ll know exactly

Courier Drivers Jobs – Which Is Best A Car Or Van

Courier drivers jobs and the public view of the “white van man” seems to go hand in hand!! The truth is though you do not always need a van – it depends on which line of the courier business you are in.

You see what you really need if you are looking to specialize in a sub-niche is a reliable and fuel saving car. Something like a Corsa would be fine although there a numerous other vehicles which would be adequate.

If you are still keen to purchase your own van you could always trial this method before you commit. I know some couriers who just hired a van for a short period of time to see if they liked it. Just make sure, as with anything, that you read the small print. Costs mount up and also you would need to be very clear where you stood regarding insurance and any possible accidents and subsequent claims.

If you already own a van and are considering using that then do your maths!!! You see a large van is rather like a large house – the costs etc are always higher and these will eat into your profit margins. You might find that a smaller “parcel” car is more efficient.

If you take this example you can see how a van could be eating into your profit margin. Say for example the difference between a van and a car was 8 pence per mile. Multiply this with your average weekly mileage and you will be able to see the difference to your profits.

If you already own a car and are thinking of using that bear these factors in mind before making your mind up. How old is the vehicle? How reliable is it? Does it cost much to repair? What tax band is it in? A car that might be suitable for domestic use may not be right for business use.

You also need to bear in mind the following;

There are some companies that prefer vans to cars and you also need to take into account that you are competing with other, more established businesses. But don’t worry I found that I still was able to gain business using my car. However, my car did look professional not like something out of a “carry on film” so no baby seats, no fluffy rugs, no nodding dogs and no caravan club stickers aka 1966. You have to look professional and committed and if your car is covered in these adornments then you will just look like your on a day trip!!!!

The second biggest implication of going down the parcel car route is the dreaded tax. Yep that one thing we can never get away from.

If you are using a car and not a van then you need to check what tax implications this could pose for you. There are different taxes for different vehicles. Please double check this with either the tax office or a good accountant. Don’t just listen to heresay.

If you are still totally undecided how about taking a look at smaller vans such as Fiat or Peugoet. These I guess are more of a half way house and you get to deliver parcels without the hassle of a huge van parked outside your house.

Before you do decide carry out your research properly and please don’t think that just because you have a family car or large van that this will be suitable and profitable for your courier driving jobs.

New Car Stereo VS Old Car Stereo

People usually like to spend their leisure time in accordance with their choices. One of the most common pass times is listening to music. Thanks to the advancement in technology, one can now listen to his or her favorite music while driving the car. The car stereo system has made this dream come true.

A car stereo is a sound system that is fixed inside an automobile. Nowadays we do not have to buy and install a car stereo; most of the time it is pre-built inside a car. It includes a number of equipment like amplifiers, speakers, and CD or cassette player. The features include specially designed in built items to go with the design and components of the car.

The demand for car stereos is rising so much that manufacturers of home audio system are investing in this field. This resulted in tough competition that compelled the makers to update the technology and provide similar features at a much cheaper rate.

Before buying the audio system, one should consider some points. It is important to see whether the car stereo fits in the car or not. Car stereos are bought for great sounds, so checking the sound quality before buying is also a good idea.

People used to put their battery operated music system inside the car for the listening experience; however, it was before the invention of car stereo. The drawback was the inability to cope with the high temperature and the shake inside the car. The first car stereo speaker that came to the market was a radio fitted in the dashboard with two speakers in the front door.

Motorola was the first to bring this kind of car stereo to market. The battery of the old car stereo was not of superior quality and could not be played for longer hours. It could only play audiocassettes. Moreover, the sound quality was not up to the mark. The longevity of this old car stereo was poor too. Compared to new car stereo the old car stereo was quite big in size.

Other than the looks of the car stereo, the products are always valued for sound quality. The new car stereo has a DVD player and pop up display LCD screens. The LCD screens can be either slide out or folded, though that depends on the head unit. Nowadays, new car stereos can fit in traffic signal messages and has a memory card with huge space. Some of the new car stereos include MP3 players, CD system, etc.

An MP3 car stereo is a kind of stereo that can play audio CDs, MP3 files, etc. and that too for longer hours. One of the distinguishing features of this stereo is programmable track memory. The memory also comes with digital anti skip facility and digital standard headphones. In addition, they are endowed with AM/FM tuners where one can store FM and AM stations.

Loud car stereos are quite a craze among the young generation and can play music above 140 decibels. However, this kind of stereos can cause hearing problems. In fact, loud music inside the car can make one unaware of the surroundings that may cause severe accidents.

CD car stereos have become an essential car necessity. This new kind of car stereo is provided with radio. It is helpful in many ways because it allows the user to access or go through the latest updated news, information regarding travel, etc. They can also play MP3.

Presently, car stereos are not only entertainment equipment but, to some extent, they have become a status symbol also.

Car Leasing Secrets – How To Save Money On Your Next Car Lease!

Improve Your Negotiating Skills By Learning The Car Leasing Secrets

As with any major purchase or financial commitment, your ability to negotiate the car lease deal to your advantage could save you hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of pounds. For example, if you were able to reduce your lease rental by just 20 a month, you would actually save over 750 on a 3 year contract!

Dont get ripped off by unscrupulous dealers or brokers, who wont give you the full picture unless you ask the right questions!

Make Sure You Are Comparing Like-for-Like Quotes

The first thing to do is to decide exactly what you want and give the same specific information to each potential supplier from who you would like a quote. This is the only way you will be able to compare like-for-like quotes.

Secondly, make sure you find out exactly what is included in any quote you receive.

Most people will shop around in the hope of finding the best car leasing deals. However, this is not as easy as it appears. Some car leasing special offers look cheap at the outset but could turn out very expensive in the long run.

There are so many factors that affect the quotation you are given, which is why you must check it thoroughly when comparing it with others.

Things You Must Consider When Comparing Car Leasing Quotes

The main things to consider when comparing car leasing quotes are the type of contract you are being offered, the payment profile (i.e. the number of rentals required in advance and the contract term), and the annual permitted mileage.

In addition, it is important to find out if Maintenance, Road Tax, Breakdown Recovery and VAT are included in the price.

Finally, ask if there are any hidden charges or additional fees to be paid before your new lease car can be delivered.

Most of the above points have a significant bearing on the car lease rental that you are quoted, so you can see why it is vital to make sure you are comparing like-for-like with the quotations you receive.

When Is The Best Time For Leasing A Car?

In a nutshell, the best time to order your new lease car is when there are car leasing deals available, which is not necessarily at specific times of the year, but when certain situations arise in the marketplace.

Examples of this are when a current model is about to be replaced by a new one, when there is excess stock that dealers need to shift, or when manufacturers offer additional discounts or finance support to boost sales.

At times like these, you need to act quickly because such car leasing special offers do not last very long, as there is often very limited stock.

I hope these car leasing tips have been useful, and help you save money on your next car lease.

To find out more about Car Leasing, why not visit our Car Leasing Guide website where you will find lots of useful tips and information on leasing a car. You can also get a free copy of Car Leasing Secrets – How To Get The Best Deal Possible On Your Next Car Lease if you subscribe to our Blog.