Is It A Good Deal ?

Financing your next car can really help you to get into the car you want. Not many people these days can afford to purchase a car outright and so they rely upon alternative methods of financing. However with so many different financing options available to you, just how do you know which ones are the best for you? Are there ways in which you can lower your financing costs and if so how?

Lowering Your Car Financing Costs
If you are looking to lower your car financing costs then there are a number of things that you can do. It all depends upon what type of finance you are applying for. If for example you are applying for a hire purchase agreement, you could lower the monthly repayments by paying a larger deposit.

This is also the case for many other types of car financing. The more money that you can pay up front, the lower the loan costs will be. Also by understanding the different options open to you, you can then make a more knowledgeable decision about which method would be the cheapest for you. If you choose a hire purchase agreement it will be secured upon your car. This means that if you fail to meet repayments, your car will be taken away from you. For this reason dealers will often offer you a lower repayment fee than an unsecured loan would for example. So by making the right finance choice, you could save money.

Another factor that will determine which type of finance you choose for your car includes how long you will be keeping the vehicle. If you like to change your car regularly then you would be better off taking advantage of a personal contract purchase agreement. That way you lease the car for up to three years and then you choose another one. If on the other hand you want to keep your car for as long as possible, you should choose one which will last you for years.

You should ideally look around at the different options for car financing. You can get finance from dealers, banks and brokers. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages and it is important to be aware of these before you apply for any type of finance. Shop around for the best deals and that way you will not get ripped off.

Overall you do have a large number of options when it comes to car financing. That is why you really do need to do your research to find out which option would be better suited to you. Once you know what you are looking for, it is then that you can start to look for the best deals to suit your needs.

Are you thinking about selling your car? If so then there are a number of things that you need to consider. How much will you sell the car for? Where will you advertise? What form of payment should you accept? You also have to be aware of the possibility that your car could be stolen by thieves who pose as potential buyers. Selling a car is definitely not always as straight forward as it should be! Here you will find out everything you need to know to make a successful sale.

Things To Consider

The main things that you need to think about when selling your car include how much you will sell for, what documents you need and where abouts you will advertise your car. Generally you have two main options as to where you can place an advertisement.
Firstly you have local newspapers and car trade magazines. These are usually the best option as they are browsed by thousands of local people. Your other option is to sell online. As time has gone on, more and more people have realized the benefits of selling through auctions websites such as EBay. I’d also recommend listing your car on Autotrader.com. As well as these two options, you can also place a “For Sale” sign in your car. You never know who might see your car out on the streets, never hurts to try.
The main problem that you will have when selling your car is who you sell to. What you may not realize is that there are many people out there who want to take advantage of you. Thieves in particular often target used cars. They pose as potential buyers and then they steal your car right from under your nose. To prevent this from occurring you should never leave the keys in the ignition and you should never leave potential buyers unsupervised with the car. Also do not accept checks or cashier’s checks whenever possible as they can bounce. If you do take a check, try to come to an agreement where the buyer does not get the car until the check has cleared.

As well as checking that you are selling to the right person, you yourself have to have certain documents to hand. You should have the title for the car to show the buyer. Without a title you might not even be able to sell the car. Also make sure any liens on your car have been removed before selling.

Overall selling a car can be hard work. However if you are careful and if you do plenty of research to determine how much to sell the car for then you should end up having a smooth transaction. Also if you need to sell really quickly and just want to get it off your hands two great options are a free listing on Craigslist.org or selling to Carmax. Remember selling to Carmax probably won’t give you as much as you’d like to get, but it’s a process that takes about 30-60 minutes to sell your car. If you have trouble selling your car, don’t know how much to sell for or where to list it for sale… always remember you can e-mail us at So@IsItaGoodDeal.com for free advice.

IsItaGoodDeal.com has just launched our first video in a series of ongoing videos in all subjects related to buying or selling your next car.

The first video will walk you through all the steps required to sell your car on Craigslist. Watch it below!

Carmax recently reported a fourth quarter 48% drop in profits. Carmax also estimates an average profit of $2500/car, which means if you do some work you can find a car for cheaper than what Carmax is selling it for. Trust me I’ve been in the car business for many, many years and I know the margins on cars and Carmax is definitely on the top end.

So if you’re looking for your next car and need some help, click on the free advice link above and e-mail me for free car advice.

I’ve been in the car business a long time and I can tell you that is definitely a better vehicle history report service than Carfax reports. is owned by Experian, which you may know as the credit reporting agency.

I just had a few people asking for pricing on cars so I did a quick search on the usual websites like Cars.com, Autotrader.com and Craigslist.org. I compared the prices I found from reputable dealers to those of the same model, year and mileage vehicle that Carmax was selling. Here is what I found:

Carmax: 2002 BMW 325i with 36k miles $18,998

Other Dealers: Not only were other dealers listing 2002 325i’s with 30-39k miles for thousands cheaper, but you could find a 2003 with the same mileage for under $18,998.

Moral of the story: Shop around, because Carmax can be severely overpriced sometimes.

If you’re thinking of selling your car to Carmax and would like a second opinion on the price they quoted you or just a general idea of how much you should be selling your car for… e-mail us at the “Free Advice” link at the top of the page and we’ll e-mail you back with free advice.

Don’t let Carmax rip you off!

Just because Carmax claims they do a 125 point inspection on every car they sell, it doesn’t mean every car they sell will be reliable and without problems.

Read the following story about a guy and his problems with Carmax: Read It Here

Consumer Reports has named four new models to its Top Picks list for 2008-the Hyundai Elantra SE and Hyundai Santa Fe as top choices for small sedans and midsized SUVs, respectively; the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado as the top choice for pickup truck; and the Lexus LS 460L as the best luxury sedan.

Here, by category, are the issue’s best performers. Changes from last year’s Top Picks list are noted:

• SMALL SEDAN: Hyundai Elantra SE. The Hyundai Elantra SE ($18,000) is a well-rounded small car that provides good fuel economy, a comfortable ride, and an interior that’s quiet, roomy, and well-equipped. The SE also has standard electronic stability control, a proven safety feature that’s absent on many other small cars. The Honda Civic EX and Mazda3 scored almost as well and are more fun to drive, but lack ESC on more affordable versions. (Last year’s Top Pick for Small Sedan was the Honda Civic.)

• MIDSIZED SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe. Redesigned for 2007, the much-improved Santa Fe ($22,000 to $31,000) edged out the Honda Pilot in CR’s tests. It provides a quiet and roomy interior, excellent fit and finish, a refined powertrain, a relatively good ride, and an optional third-row seat. Standard ESC helps provide secure handling. (Last year’s Top Pick for Midsized SUV was the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.)

• PICKUP TRUCK: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab. The redesigned Silverado ($27,000 to $39,000)
is considerably improved. It achieves a nice balance between work attributes and livability, including a
generous payload rating, a comfortable ride, improved interior quality and steering feel, and easy access. ESC
is standard on all crew-cab models. The GMC Sierra is virtually identical to the Silverado. The redesigned
Toyota Tundra outscored the Silverado in CR’s tests, but first-year reliability of the 4WD, V8 version was
below average.

• LUXURY SEDAN: Lexus LS 460L. With a score of 99 out of 100 in CR’s road test, the LS 460L ($77,000)
is CR’s highest-rated vehicle. It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled
with an isolating quietness. It also delivers quick acceleration and relatively good fuel economy. While it’s
brimming with electronic amenities, its controls are easy to use. (Last year’s Top Pick for Luxury Sedan was
the Infiniti M35.)

• FAMILY SEDAN: Honda Accord. The Accord ($22,000 to $31,000), redesigned for 2008, is a well-
rounded roomy sedan with a comfortable ride, agile handling, and smooth, refined powertrains. Electronic
stability control is standard on all models, and crash-test results are impressive. Although the Nissan Altima
edged out the Accord in CR’s ratings, most affordable versions of the Altima lack ESC, a requirement to be a
Top Pick. (This is the sixth consecutive year that the Accord was named a Top Pick for Family Sedan.)

• UPSCALE SEDAN: Infiniti G35. The G35 ($33,000 to $35,000) successfully blends sportiness and luxury.
Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, it has an exuberant powertrain, agile handling, and a well-crafted
interior. (This is the second consecutive year the G35 was named Top Pick for Upscale Sedan.)

• FUN TO DRIVE: Mazda MX-5 Miata. The MX-5 ($27,000) won drivers over with its balanced handling,
quick and precise steering, and crisp-shifting six-speed manual transmission. It virtually tied the Porsche
Boxster in CR’s test scoring, but it’s roughly half the price. The manual top can be lowered and raised with
one hand from the driver’s seat, making open motoring a snap. (Unchanged from last year.)

• SMALL SUV: Toyota RAV4. The impressive RAV4 ($23,000 to $30,000) is versatile, comfortable, and
roomy enough for a small third-row seat. The spirited V6 version accelerates quickly (the same as a Mazda
Miata from 0 to 60 mph), yet delivers an excellent 22 mpg overall. The four-cylinder version gets 23 mpg, the
best of any nonhybrid SUV CR has tested. (Unchanged from last year.)

• MINIVAN: Toyota Sienna. The Sienna ($24,000 to $37,000) is CR’s pick for the second year in a row. Its
spacious, quiet, and refined interior is on par with some luxury sedans and its V6 engine is powerful and fuel
efficient. It is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, is
more agile and fun to drive.

• GREEN CAR: Toyota Prius. The gas/electric Prius hybrid ($24,000) retains its lock on this category for the
fifth straight year. Despite a wave of new hybrid models, the Prius’ 44 mpg overall is still the best CR has
measured in any five-passenger car. The interior is roomy and versatile, and the Prius has been very reliable.

Information and articles from the magazine can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org

I was researching the Carmax website for selling my 2004 truck. They claim to use the Kelly Book in order to get a ballpark figure. I asked the salesman how accurate the Kelly book figures are and he said they aren’t off by much but that they really don’t go by those figures, just the “MARKET VALUE” of the truck. I told him that using the Kelly book sounds like a way to get people into the store if they don’t use those figures. He agreed with me and wondered why himself. When I got the appraisal results after waiting 45 minutes, their figures were $5700.00 less than the book value. Thanks Carmax for making me drive 95 miles one way for nothing!

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