Wednesday, we discussed three ways to save money when buying a certified Ford or other used vehicle. Here are a few more tips to help you get a great deal.

• Look for a Demo Model
Many dealers have used cars on their lots that have served as demos.  This means that the car has been taken for several test drives or maybe one of the sales associates used it for company errands. Either way, these cars typically have low mileage, but too much to be considered new. Beware of shady dealers, though. Some of them may try to pass off returned vehicles as demo models. Ask for a vehicle history report just to be safe.

• Go through a Broker
You’ve probably heard of ticket brokers who can get cheap tickets. A vehicle broker can do the same thing. For a small fee, they can find the best bargain by searching their networks of local dealers. They can also take care of the hassles of negotiation and many more stresses that go along with car buying. And because their business thrives on customer satisfaction and referrals, brokers will do their best to please you each time.

• Consider a Used Military Vehicle
Some dealers have trucks and other vehicles that the military used for various purposes. If you’re looking for something unusual yet inexpensive, purchasing one of these vehicles is the best way to get both these qualities.

When looking for a bargain on a new or used car, it’s always best to remember that the price should be fair for both parties. Dealers aren’t in the business to give cars away “at cost,” and they have to make a living, too. Keep this in mind and you can negotiate a price that satisfies both of you.

When you’re searching for a great deal on a certified Ford, there are several ways to find a bargain. You don’t need just to haggle with the salesman or settle for a lesser car. Follow today’s and Friday’s tips and you might be able to upgrade to a vehicle you never dreamed you could afford.

• Consider the Seasons
Price-wise, springtime is the best time to buy an SUV. Many car buyers are looking for SUVs for the winter months, not for the warmer months. Therefore, they are in lower demand during the spring. Conversely, you might get a better price on a convertible if you purchase it during the months of November, December, January or February.

• TaKe Advantage of Timing 
If you wait until a month or two before the automakers release their new models, you can often save thousands off sticker prices. Most companies release the following year’s models during the summer. For instance, many 2009 models arrive during the summer of 2008. Dealers need to make room for new vehicles and are more willing to negotiate during this time.

• Look for Rentals and Company Cars
Rental car companies often upgrade their fleets with newer models. Although the cars might have more mileage than non-commercial vehicles, they’ve also benefitted from much better maintenance. You might be able to find these at your local dealership, too.

Even if the word “haggle” makes butterflies flutter in your stomach, you can still use these tips to get a great price. You might just be surprised at how much you can save without even negotiating.

You’ve probably heard a lot about the electric car. Whether it’s the conspiracy theories that the oil companies have stifled the idea or the stories about how car manufacturers are getting closer to this goal, the electric car generates conversation. But individuals aren’t the only ones getting ready for this new phenomenon.

The utility companies are also jumping on board to prepare for electric cars. Many electric utility facilities are joining with car makers to develop “smart charging” technology for recharging an electric car. You probably thought you could just plug it in next to your toaster, didn’t you? Me too.

But it’s not going to be that simple. With more than 300 million people in the United States alone, we already use a huge amount of electricity on a day-to-day basis. But if a million (or even hundreds of thousands) of people had electric cars, that could put a strain on the grids. That’s why utility companies need to make changes in the infrastructure to accommodate the arrival of these vehicles.

These cars might be on the road sooner than you think, too. The state of California requires car companies to put nearly 60,000 of these on the state’s roads between 2012 and 2014. That’s less than ten years from now! And everybody knows that once California has done it, other states will follow suit very soon.

When it comes time to trade in your certified Ford, you might want to consider an electric hybrid vehicle. Because it has bigger batteries, it runs more on electricity and less on fuel. By the looks of things, gas prices will soon be about $20 a gallon and electric cars will look even more attractive than they do now.

Earlier this week, we posted a blog about a small black box that some car dealers are installing in vehicles. When a person doesn’t make timely payments, the black box disables the car until the owner finally pays the overdue installments..  And stories like these are the reason why.

A recent article in southern California’s The Press-Enterprise states that vehicle repossession has increased in recent months and years. The article blames the housing market and a failing economy. One expert said the number of repos has increased 15 percent over last year’s rate.

And that number continues to grow as more people are having trouble making payments on everything else as well. “There are cases where people say the lesser of the two evils is [to default on] the car,” stated Tom Kontos, VP of Adesa Analytical Services.

But there are several other factors that are causing more repossessions lately. Some analysts blame loan terms for the problem. As people buy new or used cars before paying off their current ones, their payments undoubtedly increase. At times, this can be a huge increase, too. More than one-quarter of all vehicles people are trading for upgrades are negative equity vehicles, meaning the owners owe more on them than what they’re worth.

As dealers lose an average of $7,000 every time they repossess a car, they don’t like to do it. But it’s a last resort that’s necessary to salvage any profit that they can still get from a quality car.

Think about this story when you’re considering buying a certified Ford. Don’t take on payments that you can’t afford and “hope for the best.” Find a car you can afford and make timely payments. It’s the right thing to do.

I’m not a big fan of smoking. I don’t like the smell, the effect it has on your health or the cost of a pack of cigarettes. But I’m also not a fan of telling people when and where they can’t smoke. And I’m definitely against telling people that they can’t smoke in their cars.

But when they’re smoking in cars with their kids, it poses a dilemma. On the one hand, we’re talking about people’s own kids, and it’s their decision to smoke in the cars with them. I mean, you can’t really tell parents how to raise their children. And once you ban smoking in cars because of children, where do the bans stop?

But in Australia, they’re doing just that. The Tobacco Control Officers from the Health Department are fining people who smoke in cars that also have kids in them. Some fines can cost well over $100.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about the message they’re trying to send. You really shouldn’t smoke in your vehicle if your kids are also in the car. But what’s next? Will they start issuing fines to parents who swear in front of their children? Or will they start imposing fines on parents who eat Twinkies in front of their children? After all, you could argue that both habits are just as bad for kids as secondhand smoke.

I’m assuming that new law will be coming to North America soon, too. That is, if it hasn’t already sneaked its way into some states. So if you drive your certified Ford around with your kids, be sure to put that cigarette out. Don’t do it out of fear of being fined.  Do it because it’s the right thing to do for your child’s health and your health.

Deadbeat car owners beware. The used car dealers are getting clever with those people who aren’t making their car payments.
The new feature to disable deadbeats is a small black box mounted underneath the dashboard. When the light starts blinking, you’re in trouble. Presumably, your car shuts off in a matter of minutes and you won’t be able to restart it until you make your payment.

So this is what it’s come to, eh? Although it’s not the worst thing in the world, it does seem a little cruel. I think the feature should give you more warning before shutting down the vehicle.

But on the other hand, I can understand the dealers’ point of view. They probably get stiffed on a regular basis by people who simply won’t make their payments. That’s why they need to hire repo men to retrieve those vehicles with overdue payments.  As long as the customers know what they’re getting into when they buy these vehicles with the box, it seems like a perfectly viable option to keep dealers from having to repossess cars.

But if you do business with a certified Ford dealer, you probably won’t face this hassle. These vehicles come straight from the dealer’s used car inventory, and they generally attract a more responsible clientele. Don’t mess around with subprime car dealers. Stick with the names and dealers you can trust.

Here is our last installment on how to insure your certified Ford without paying more than necessary.  Employ some of these techniques and you could save hundreds (or maybe even thousands) on your auto insurance each year.

1. Don’t go back and forth.  Tell agents up front that you’re only getting three insurance quotes and you’re going with the least expensive one. If they know you’ll go back and forth, they might tell you to come back if somebody gives you a better quote. That means they’re not giving you their best prices. Make them commit to their absolute lowest prices instead of falling for this trick.

2. Don’t glance at your policy.  It’s very important to understand you policy and the coverage you have before signing anything. Does it include everything you asked for or is it lacking some essential coverage? If you’re not sure, ask the agent. If he or she doesn’t want to take the time to explain it, consider another company.

These tips aren’t intended to imply that insurance agents are shysters or con artists. But insurance is a business, and agents typically work on a commission. If you’re polite and up-front, you can cut through the act and arrive at a price that’s fair for both. You might even get one of the good ones who is dedicated to helping you get the most enjoyment at a price you can afford.

Yesterday, we discussed three tips for saving money on car insurance for your certified Ford. As promised, here are three more tips to drive down those prices even further.

1. Don’t be rude.  Agents can pull some strings, make some phone calls and even do some extra work to get you a better price. But they won’t do that if you’re rude or unfriendly. Be polite and maybe crack a joke or two to get on their good sides. You might end up saving hundreds of dollars as a result.

2. Don’t appear eager to leave your current insurance provider.  If the new agent senses that you’re unhappy and want to leave your current insurance provider, you may get a higher quote. After all, if you’re very unhappy, you might be willing to pay more just to deal with a different company. Also, being hesitant about leaving your current company makes you appear loyal. And that’s an attribute that companies thrive on nowadays.

3. Don’t talk about your budget.  Simply try to get information on a quote without discussing how much you can afford. If agents know you can afford $150, some of them might charge you $149.99 for coverage that you don’t even need.

Tomorrow, we’ll have two more important tips you can use to save on your auto insurance. Come back and see how you can save even more money!

You just bought your certified Ford and you’re looking for insurance for it. You want to be certain you’re covered for every possible situation that could arise, but you can’t afford to pay hundreds of dollars in insurance each month. What do you do? Here are some steps to help you save money on your insurance premiums while still feeling secure about your coverage.
 

1. Get a few quotes in writing. Don’t assume that insurance prices are the same or even similar from company to company. In fact, the same type of coverage could differ by hundreds each year, depending on which company you choose. Shop around and get quotes in writing to help you when you begin comparing.
2. Don’t show other insurance providers your quotes. Insurance agents want to beat the competition, but they don’t want to go lower than necessary.  If, for instance, their lowest price for your needs is $800 a year and you show them a quote for $900 a year, they might give you a quote of $890. That way, it’s lower than the other company’s quote, but you’re still paying more than their lowest price.
3. Don’t flaunt your riches. If you look like a millionaire, you’re going to be treated like a millionaire. That could mean a higher rate or a quote for additional coverage that you don’t need. But don’t look like you’re homeless, either. That might give the impression that you’ll have trouble paying the premiums. Just act and dress normally so you can receive fair treatment and the best quotes for your needs.
Come back tomorrow for more tips!

Everything you can think of has its own day, week, or even month. For instance, did you know there was a National Pet Dental Health Month? Or how about a National Impotency Month? Heck, September is even Shameless Promotion Month. I wonder who thought of that one.

But one thing to celebrate during April is National Car Care Month. With spring around the corner, it’s the perfect time to treat your car to a good and thorough cleaning and a professional checkup. After all, it worked hard to get you through the wind and snow of the winter months. The least you can do is to take care of it. Here are some things to consider when getting your car checked for the warmer months:

• Inspect the belts and hoses for any breaks, cracks, or wear spots.
• Change the air filter.
• Check the spark plugs and battery to make sure they’re in proper working order.
• Flush and fill the cooling system.
• Check the air conditioning system. It’s better to do this in April instead of waiting until you really need it.
• Check all caps, including the radiator and gas caps, to ensure they are still snug.
• Rotate the tires and replace any heavily worn tires.
• Check the fluids and wiper blades.
• Change the oil.
• Clean the inside.

Preparing your certified Ford for the spring is as simple as that. And the best part is that it might only take an hour or two out of your day. But the benefits you get in return are priceless.