Car Maintenance Mistakes

Compared to the family trucksters of a generation ago, modern cars require about as much maintenance as a toaster. This is a real liberation from the oil, lube and tune merry-go-round that ruled not so long ago.

Curiously, many people haven't adjusted their thinking to keep pace with new car maintenance schedules. The preoccupied still run their daily drivers without service until the dash warning lights burn out, while over-achievers fret about running synthetic oil more than 2,500 miles without a change.

Although maintenance intervals are now more widely spaced, even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives. Whether yours is the latest model or you paid it off years ago, the trick is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive.

Surprisingly, the answer to what maintenance is required is hiding no farther away than the glove box. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule — in the owner's manual or in a separate maintenance log book — that details that vehicle's needs.


Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation

Tires leak naturally and need the occasional check. Figuratively speaking, underinflated tires suck up gasoline. Under- or overinflated tires wear out sooner, and deliver the same emergency maneuver handling as marshmallows. You probably aren't going to check tire pressures monthly, but how about twice a year?

Furthermore, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Your owner's manual will have a recommendation on both pressure and rotation periods.


Tune-Up Anachronism

There are no more "tune-ups." Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no carburetors to fiddle with. About all that's left of the old tune-up drill are the spark plugs. These are often good for 100,000 miles, so don't change parts just to change parts. Instead, save up for those big 60,000- and 120,000-mile services when the timing belt, spark plug wires and coolant are due for replacement.


Oil Change Timing

Oil changes every 3,000 miles used to be required jobs, just like cleaning the accumulated fuzz from record player needles or defrosting freezers. Today, advances in engine design and lubricants make oil changes something to be done when the schedule calls for it, not when granddad says it's time. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile stints. Others have a variable timer. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.


Tired Tires

Tires wear out, but they also time out. The tire industry says tires are toast after five years, but they're selling tires. It all depends on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions. There's little argument from any pundits that after seven years those black donuts are dried and better off holding down a farmer's tarp than carrying your family around. If you're not sure how old your tires are, a tire shop can read the date code stamped into the sidewall.

Benefits of Buying Certified Pre-Owned Cars

Certified pre-owned cars (CPO for short) are certainly something that you may want to look into if you are out and about shopping for a new vehicle. Selling certified pre-owned cars has become quite popular at dealerships of late because of the demand that consumers have had for them. The good thing is that most dealerships have certified pre-owned vehicles that are made by their manufacturer. For example, a Toyota dealership would have certified pre-owned Toyota Corollas, Toyota Camry’s, etc. Having certified pre-owned cars on the lot that were made by their manufacturer allows the dealership to sell these cars at a little bit of a higher price. Along with the higher price comes things such as a warranty on the vehicle as well as the peace of mind that it was well inspected before it became certified.
So how does a pre-owned car become certified? Well, the answer is quite simple. In short, the vehicle is inspected, in and out, in an effort to detect if there is anything wrong with the car. If something is detected, it is promptly repaired by the dealership. One drawback to this is that there is no standard for certifying a pre-owned car. In other words, each dealership can have their own criteria when it comes to detecting, and repairing, any problems. Most of the time though, if a car is in poor condition mechanically or cosmetically, dealerships usually auction them off instead of certifying them. But in order to give yourself peace of mind it is a wise idea to ask the sales team questions. Make sure to inquire exactly what went into the process of certification. Also, you may want to ask if there were any problems with the vehicle at the time of the certification. Ask for a copy of CPO certification checklist the mechanic filled out! Be sure to get detailed information with your warranty too. Find out exactly how long the warranty will last in terms of miles and months, as well as what all it covers. Obviously, the more a warranty covers, and the longer it is good for, the better.
A big benefit of buying a certified pre-owned vehicle is that you may be able to get more bang for your buck. You may not be able to afford a brand new BMW 535 but you may be able to afford a certified pre-owned one that is just a few years old with low miles. Keep this in mind when shopping around. If you are willing to sacrifice a few years and miles then you may be able to get a car that you like in your price range. The tradeoff is that you get a car that looks and smells new for a reasonable price that is still backed by a warranty. Isn’t that what we are all after anyway?
The goal of the dealerships is to give the customer confidence and peace of mind and of course to make some money by betting on the fact that their CPO cars are still practically new and well-built and that nothing major will break on them that they will new to repair. By certifying the vehicle they are saying that they have inspected it and are willing to stand behind it with a warranty. If you buy a used car from a private party or a used car lot you will not be getting the assurance that the car has been well taken care of. That is why those cars are cheaper. Chances are if a person is willing to sell their Mazda 3 at a price that is well below market value then there may be something wrong with it.
If you are willing to take the chance on a few year old pre-owned automobile that is not certified then you could be playing with fire. There would be nothing worse than buying a new car and having it break down on you in a few months time. The money you spend fixing it would have easily been spent up-front on a car that is certified. Having peace of mind is worth the extra money. It is much easier to take a car that is under warranty back to the dealership to get fixed than it is to take it to a mechanic that is not familiar with the specific make and model.
A good certified pre-owned car can sometimes be hard to find. It is important to be patient and stay current with the inventory that is flowing into your local dealerships. If you develop a good relationship with a salesperson, and let them know exactly what you are looking for, they will notify you when they have something that fits your needs. Your job is to be ready to head up to the dealership and close the deal.

What Are Certified Used Vehicles?

According to a recent J.D. Power and Associates study, sales of certified used cars have increased 46 percent since 2000. For many people, certified used cars have become affordable alternatives to new cars. By "certified used" or "certified pre-owned," we mean used cars that are offered for sale by your local dealer and feature warranties that extend beyond the initial "when new" coverage.
To qualify for our definition of a "certified used" vehicle, the warranty must be backed by the original vehicle manufacturer. The original manufacturer of the vehicle is using its dealer network to inspect the car, determine if it is worth certifying and then offer support for the vehicle for a period of time beyond the original warranty. Not all used cars can qualify for certified pre-owned programs, and terms vary from one brand to the next, but any true certified pre-owned program will include at least a 100-point inspection of the car. If problems are found, the factory-trained technicians will fix it or disqualify the car from the program. The certified warranty protection typically takes effect when the original warranty expires and, like a new car warranty, offers coverage for a certain number of years or miles, whichever comes first.
Used cars sold with third-party warranties are sometimes advertised as "certified" but are not truly factory-certified because the authority and expertise of the vehicle's manufacturer is not standing behind the "warranty" in any way. In fact, the term "warranty" may be misleading, as third-party warranties are really just extended service contracts that the buyer must purchase at an additional cost. Extended service contracts can usually be purchased for any vehicle, and the vehicle's manufacturer is not involved in any coverage promised by the aftermarket service contract. A true warranty offers coverage that is included in the original purchase price.
The major downside to third-party service contracts is that they often obligate the customer to pay for needed repairs up front, and then wait for a reimbursement check; some require the payment of a deductible that can vary from $50 to $400. In addition, there is always the risk that the insurance company or other underwriter of the service contract will not be around to honor the warranty when a claim is made — this risk is much less when the responsible party is a vehicle manufacturer. Also, most extended service contracts do not require the rigorous inspection and repair procedures that a real certified program offers.
In many cases, a customer who purchases a certified used car will become eligible for benefits that a new car customer enjoys. Perks such as service loan cars, shuttle pick-up and drop-off service, roadside assistance, free maintenance and low-rate "incentive" loans are just a few of the reasons to choose a certified used car over a less expensive used car bought from a private party or used car lot. There's also the added benefit of having your car or truck serviced at your local dealer, which in most cases means a cleaner waiting room with little touches like fresh coffee and more comfortable chairs — it's not reason alone to choose a certain car, but it sure doesn't hurt. Even if a specific perk is not part of the official certified program, you can sometimes negotiate additional features with your local dealer — dealers selling certified used cars will, by and large, want to treat you the same way they treat their new car customers. Of course they're hoping to earn your new car business at some point, so they have more interest in building a relationship with you.
Some certified used programs offer the option of purchasing even more coverage, but the real value lies in the factory-provided coverage that is included in the purchase price of the car you're considering. Because some cars have a longer initial warranty when the car is purchased new, they represent a better candidate as a certified used car — in other cases, buying a certified used car will net the customer a longer warranty than if he or she bought that same car new. The attraction to certified used vehicles is clear — new car benefits at a used car price.
Many programs offer perks not directly related to the vehicle itself. For example, some certified programs offer services similar to what an auto club might offer. Services such as trip routing and trip interruption protection are often included as part of the certified program. Trip interruption protection is a feature that will reimburse the owner of a certified used car for incidental costs such as car rental, lodging, meals and out-of-town repair expenses should he or she become stranded due to a warranted mechanical breakdown when traveling out of town — usually an owner must be at least 100 miles from home in order to use the service. Some luxury brands will offer such services as trip planning or include a year's worth of subscription fees to in-car telematics services like Lexus Link or OnStar.
So the benefits of purchasing a certified pre-owned car versus a used car from a private party or used car lot are obvious. You have the factory standing behind the certified pre-owned car, plus you'll be buying a car that the original manufacturer has inspected to ensure that it is worthy of certification. The only downside to certified pre-owned cars is that they are generally more expensive than other used cars. But in this case, the benefits may outweigh the cost — for many buyers, the peace of mind alone is enough to justify the extra money.

Used Cars Have Slower Depriciation

Everyone knows that a new car goes down in value like a rock. Some new cars can depreciate anywhere from 10 percent to 30 percent as soon as you drive it off the dealer's lot. This quick depreciation, and the accelerated depreciation every year, can leave you owing much more on your car than it is worth.

Buying used cars can help keep the window of depreciation smaller than if you bought new. Whe you buy used cars, someone else has already taken that big hit on the depreciation. As a used car gets older, the depreciation is less every year.

Finding the Right Car for You

Here are a few other questions to keep in mind when you begin your car-buying process:

Do you want a manual or automatic transmission?
Do you really need four-wheel drive? Or all-wheel drive?
What safety features do you want?
Do you require a lot of cargo capacity?
Will you be doing any towing?
Do you have a bad back and need flexible seating positions?
Will the car easily fit in your garage or parking space?

Good reasons to buy a used car

• You'll save money on insurance.
• Bigger bargains are possible for the smart used car shopper.
• Used cars are more reliable today than ever before.
• Some used cars are still under the factory warranty.
• Most new carmakers now sell certified used cars, which include warranties.
• The history of a used car can easily be traced using the vehicle identification number (VIN).

Why not to buy used

Are there disadvantages to buying used? A few. Financing is generally more expensive for used cars (though this may be offset by cheaper insurance rates), and if you prefer to lease, a used car probably isn't a viable option. By buying a used car, you may be missing out on some of the latest-and-greatest safety and technical gadgets. And, of course, there's that new car smell. Let's face it: Having a new car is a great feeling.

In the end, all of these things have a price, often several thousand dollars. Is it worth it? That's up to you -- but if you're looking to stretch your car-buying dollar as far as possible, it's hard to argue against buying used.