The Used Car Blog
We want consumers everywhere to feel confident about their ability to engage in the used car process on their own terms. We’re going to be posting articles about every aspect of buying used cars, from giving you tips on how to judge the condition of a used car to knowing your way around financing options to what you should look for when test driving a vehicle.
Top 4 Reasons Not to Buy Used Cars Online
When you step back and look at how the Internet and mobile technologies have totally transformed life in the 21stcentury, it's pretty amazing. Besides the ability to quickly find information and connect with people all over the world, people today don't think twice about buying nearly anything online. Never before has it been so easy to find product information for comparison shopping and have your purchases delivered to your home in ever-shorter amounts of time. But there are still some things better purchased in-person, and we think used cars are among them. In fact, this article will give you 4 big reasons NOT to buy used cars online.
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Is It Better to Finance a Car Through a Dealer or my Credit Union?
When you're shopping for your next used car, it's all too easy to get totally wrapped up in finding the vehicle that's right for you. Your search might begin online to narrow down options, and then you'll visit various dealerships to check them out in person, take them out for test drives and so forth. What often slips off the radar screen, however, is the auto financing you probably need to make a car purchase. This part of the process tends to sneak up on you. But shopping around for the right car loan is every bit as important as finding the right car. This article will give you guidance on financing, including the debate about dealer financing vs credit unions when it comes to choosing a lender and loan.
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Top 5 Reasons to Buy Your Next Used Car from Auto City in San Diego
When it's time for you to start shopping for your next used car, how does that make you feel? No, this isn't a therapy session, although you may still be recovering from your last used car shopping experience if it didn't go well. If the idea of finding and buying the right used car fills you with dread, we want you to know there is a better way. At Auto City, we sat down years ago and looked at all the different "pain points" people hate about used car shopping. Needless to say, it was a depressingly long list! But then we did something totally radical. We fixed them to create a used car shopping experience people actually love. If this sounds too good to be true, you really need to experience it for yourself. Here are the top 5 reasons why you'll love buying your next used car from Auto City in San Diego:
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Are Fuel Additives Necessary?
Take a walk through any auto parts store or read any automotive magazine, and you're likely to see any number of fuel additives or oil additives touting to "improve fuel economy," "increase oil change intervals," and "save you money." Automakers, fuel distributors, and oil manufacturers are in the business of producing vehicles, fuels, and oils that work for hundreds of thousands of miles - millions of miles for over-the-road truckers. When you see oil additives marketed so, it makes one wonder if there something additive-manufacturers aren't sharing with them or if they're just marketing modern snake-oil.
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What's the Difference Between Conventional and Synthetic Oil?
Engine oil changes are perhaps one of the first things that come to a person's mind when they think of regular maintenance, and indeed it is the most-common maintenance item every single car needs,every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Aside from oil viscosity, usually specified by the automaker, another common question is often raised: "Conventional or synthetic oil?" What is the difference between conventional and synthetic oil? Are there any benefits one way or the other? Is it worth the extra cost? To start with, the difference between conventional and synthetic oil is all about origins.
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4 Questions for Buying Your Perfect Used Car
When's the last time you really thought about the kind of toothpaste you buy? There are literally only a few companies that make toothpaste, and yet there are dozens upon dozens of options lining the shelves of your favorite place to shop for personal care items. If standing there looking at toothpaste is overwhelming, how in the world can you ever figure out what kind of used car you should buy?
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Used Car Evaluation Checklist
When you're out shopping for your next used car purchase, it helps to know what to look for when you find one that interests you. To do a good evaluation of the car, there are so many things to consider and inspect that it's easy to lose track of important points. At Auto City, we're on a mission to help everyone be more successful at used car shopping, which is why we've put together this handy checklist to help you do a thorough assessment of any used car you might be looking at. We've grouped a total of 70 items together into four different categories that will help you decide what to do depending on what you find. It may be helpful todownload the PDF version of the Used Car Evaluation Checklistto have it handy when you start shopping for a used car. Here's to your success!
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Why is Auto Repair So Expensive?
May auto repair shops now charge north of $100 per hour. However, when it comes to counting the costs of driving, whether it's to work, school, or whatever you're doing this weekend, auto repair and regular maintenance are often the most forgotten. Even drivers who plan for maintenance may not plan for unexpected repairs, such as a check engine light or flat tire. While most drivers simply consider cost of gas, insurance and car payment as core cost of ownership, auto repair is often left out of this list.
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First-Time Car Buyers Beware! Watch Out for These Sneaky Tricks
Few things are as exciting as purchasing your first car. It's an important purchase as well, representing what will be the biggest purchase you make after your housing expense. This is one decision you want to get right, which raises the stakes enough that the process can become way more stressful than anyone needs or wants. To complicate things further, the dealerships and private owners selling cars don't always have your best interests in mind. In fact, some of them will try just about any dirty trick they can to make a sale or, even worse, scam you out of your money and leave you with no car or a piece of junk. First-time car buyers beware! Here are all the sneak tricks you need to watch out for:
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How Used Car Market Forces Affect YOU
In 2017, consumers purchased a record 39.2 million used vehicles, and 2018 saw that number rise to more than 40 million. Without a doubt, the used car market is hot! In fact, used cars represent a larger share of the overall vehicle market than brand-new cars. But this begs the question of why there has been such strong growth in the used car market. Why should you care? When it's time for you to purchase your next ride, knowing how used car market forces affect prices can help you get a great deal. This is the kind of insider perspective and analysis you won't find at most dealerships, but at Auto City we are all about helping everyone have a better used car shopping experience!
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