Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Labels: Sports Cars, sports cars 2011
You may think that the Chevrolet Corvette can blow the doors off of anything on the road, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the luxury sports car could also lose its hatch in the event of an accident.
The root of the problem is the Corvette’s rear hatch hinges. USA Today explains, “Chevrolet is recalling 5,755 Corvette coupes from the 2011 and 2012 model years because the rear hatch hitches may not meet government safety standards, according to General Motors and the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”
The safety standard is vital to passenger safety because the rear hatch could separate in the event of a crash, thereby increasing the risk of injury. “One of the goals of that standard is to reduce the chance of an unbelted occupant being thrown from a vehicle during a crash,” writes The New York Times. “The company said the problem was discovered by a supplier during testing for a European safety standard. G.M. investigated and found the defective hinges all came from a single roll of heat-treated steel.”
The recall began on Oct. 7. GM will contact Corvette owners who are affected by the recall and dealers will replace both of the hinges free of charge. If you think your Corvette is included, you can contact Chevrolet directly at 1-800-630-2438.
Shopping for a luxury sports car? Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars. Then, look for a great deal on a new car by checking out this month’s best car deals. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
New or used, buying a car is expensive. In fact, it's the second-most expensive purchase that most consumers make next to a home. Strong research is the key to buying a car that doesn't make too big of a dent in your wallet. Here are 10 things to do before you head off to a dealer's lot.
10 car-buying tips
1. Determine your budget
2. Don't assume need to buy used
3. Research your car choices
4. Look at total cost of owning the car
5. Assess your insurance costs
6. Shop around for the best rate
7. Be cautious using financing
8. Know the invoice price
9. Research rebates and discounts
10. Look for dealer incentives
10 car-buying tips
1. Determine your budget
2. Don't assume need to buy used
3. Research your car choices
4. Look at total cost of owning the car
5. Assess your insurance costs
6. Shop around for the best rate
7. Be cautious using financing
8. Know the invoice price
9. Research rebates and discounts
10. Look for dealer incentives
Tip 1Determine your budget
Don't head to a dealer's lot until you've decided on a budget. Start by using the home budget calculator to find out how much you can really afford. In general, aim to spend no more than 20% of your monthly household income on all costs associated with all of the cars in your household. That would include the cost of monthly payments, insurance, repairs, maintenance and fuel.
Don't head to a dealer's lot until you've decided on a budget. Start by using the home budget calculator to find out how much you can really afford. In general, aim to spend no more than 20% of your monthly household income on all costs associated with all of the cars in your household. That would include the cost of monthly payments, insurance, repairs, maintenance and fuel.
Tip 2Don't assume you need to buy used
Thanks to strong demand for used cars, they are more expensive than ever and it's harder to get a good deal. In addition, there are now more inexpensive new cars coming to market than in the past. In fact, there are more than 20 different new cars that have an MSRP of $15,000 or less.
Since interest rates are higher on used cars, you'll spend more in the long run on interest for a used car than a similarly priced new car, so the new car may actually be the wiser financial choice. To help you decide, read Bankrate's story on buying a car with $15,000.
Tip 3Research your car choices
You've probably already spotted some cars on the road that interest you, but take some time and research all your car choices. You'll be logging a lot of "seat time" behind the wheel for the next several years, so don't rush into a decision. Use the automaker websites and third-party, vehicle information sites such as Edmunds.com, KBB.com and NADAguides.com to get pricing information and learn about available inventory in your area. Visit local dealerships only after you've completed the majority of your research and have just a couple of cars in mind.
Tip 4Look at the total cost of owning the car
Cars whose monthly payment represents your total monthly budget will automatically put you in the red financially because you'll be over your budget when you factor in ownership costs. Choose cars that are at least 5% less than your monthly budget to give yourself some room to cover costs, including fuel, car insurance, repairs and maintenance.
Tip 5Assess your actual insurance costs
Your actual cost of car insurance can vary widely, depending on your personal driving record as well as certain household situations such as whether you have a teen driver. Once you have a few cars in mind, ask your current car insurance agent for quotes on all the cars you are considering and factor those numbers into your overall budget. To get an accurate quote, be prepared to tell the car insurance agent the exact make, including model, engine size and type, and specific options.
While automakers tout 0% financing and other low interest rates in advertising, only those with the best credit -- about 10% of car buyers -- actually qualify.
So, don't visit a dealership until you've researched the best interest rate you can get.
Use Bankrate's rate search tool to see current interest rates and also check with local lenders, including credit unions, which are 1% to 2% lower on average than conventional banks on car loans. There are now many community credit unions open to anyone living in their area, eliminating the need to work at a certain company or in a specific industry to join. Use CULookup.com to find a credit union you can join.
Tip 7Be cautious using manufacturer financing
Manufacturers want your business and they would prefer to sell you a car and provide you the financing, but that may not be the most financially savvy choice unless you qualify for a 0% car loan. Even with a low-interest-rate loan, you may be better off taking the cash rebate and getting a car loan elsewhere. Once you've determined your best interest rate, use the car rebate versus low interest calculator to determine the best deal.
Thanks to strong demand for used cars, they are more expensive than ever and it's harder to get a good deal. In addition, there are now more inexpensive new cars coming to market than in the past. In fact, there are more than 20 different new cars that have an MSRP of $15,000 or less.
Since interest rates are higher on used cars, you'll spend more in the long run on interest for a used car than a similarly priced new car, so the new car may actually be the wiser financial choice. To help you decide, read Bankrate's story on buying a car with $15,000.
Tip 3Research your car choices
You've probably already spotted some cars on the road that interest you, but take some time and research all your car choices. You'll be logging a lot of "seat time" behind the wheel for the next several years, so don't rush into a decision. Use the automaker websites and third-party, vehicle information sites such as Edmunds.com, KBB.com and NADAguides.com to get pricing information and learn about available inventory in your area. Visit local dealerships only after you've completed the majority of your research and have just a couple of cars in mind.
Tip 4Look at the total cost of owning the car
Cars whose monthly payment represents your total monthly budget will automatically put you in the red financially because you'll be over your budget when you factor in ownership costs. Choose cars that are at least 5% less than your monthly budget to give yourself some room to cover costs, including fuel, car insurance, repairs and maintenance.
Tip 5Assess your actual insurance costs
Your actual cost of car insurance can vary widely, depending on your personal driving record as well as certain household situations such as whether you have a teen driver. Once you have a few cars in mind, ask your current car insurance agent for quotes on all the cars you are considering and factor those numbers into your overall budget. To get an accurate quote, be prepared to tell the car insurance agent the exact make, including model, engine size and type, and specific options.
While automakers tout 0% financing and other low interest rates in advertising, only those with the best credit -- about 10% of car buyers -- actually qualify.
So, don't visit a dealership until you've researched the best interest rate you can get.
Use Bankrate's rate search tool to see current interest rates and also check with local lenders, including credit unions, which are 1% to 2% lower on average than conventional banks on car loans. There are now many community credit unions open to anyone living in their area, eliminating the need to work at a certain company or in a specific industry to join. Use CULookup.com to find a credit union you can join.
Tip 7Be cautious using manufacturer financing
Manufacturers want your business and they would prefer to sell you a car and provide you the financing, but that may not be the most financially savvy choice unless you qualify for a 0% car loan. Even with a low-interest-rate loan, you may be better off taking the cash rebate and getting a car loan elsewhere. Once you've determined your best interest rate, use the car rebate versus low interest calculator to determine the best deal.
Tip 8: Know the invoice price
Your initial research as you narrowed down your car choices may have given you the invoice price, but if it didn't (or you didn't note it), do so before you visit the dealer's lot. Visit several third-party car information websites and print out the invoice price for the specific cars you're considering, including model, engine type and size, and options.
Your initial research as you narrowed down your car choices may have given you the invoice price, but if it didn't (or you didn't note it), do so before you visit the dealer's lot. Visit several third-party car information websites and print out the invoice price for the specific cars you're considering, including model, engine type and size, and options. Labels: 10 Tips For Buying a Car, cars news, reviews
Friday, October 7, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle Review
The new 2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle is not only sleek looking with that popular Fat Boy style, it is also one of the coolest motorcycles to hit the streets in years. Are you thinking about buying a 2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle? The following is a list of features offered on the 2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle plus review videos so you can see this machine in action. With such an expensive purchase like buying a brand new 2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle, you want to be well informed of the motorcycle you will be buying. The 2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle is a fantastic looking machine. If you buy one, I think you will be very happy with your purchase.
2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle
2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Motorcycle Features:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dimensions:
Length (mm) 2396 Seat Height (mm) 680 Rake at steering head (°)/Trail (mm) 31/147 Fuel Capacity (litres) 18.9 Dry Weight (kg) 313
Powertrain:
Engine Air-cooled, Twin Cam 103BTM Displacement (cu.cm) 1690 Bore x Stroke (mm) 98.4 x 111.1 Engine Torque 132 Nm/97.4 ft lbs @ 3250 rpm
Wheels:
Front: 17" Mirror Polished Chrome, Bullet Hole Disc Cast Aluminium Dunlop® D408F 140/75R17 Rear: 17" Mirror Polished Chrome, Bullet Hole Disc Cast Aluminium Dunlop® D407 200/55R17
Color Options:
Vivid Black; Chrome Yellow; Two-Tone Midnight Pearl / Brilliant Silver Pearl; Custom Tequila Sunrise / H-D Orange
2012 Harley Softail Fat Boy Video Reviews
Labels: Motorcycle, reviews
Friday, September 30, 2011
Labels: 2012, cars photo gallery, cars photos, Chevrolet
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)