That old RV taking up space in your driveway? You remember why you bought it–you wanted to escape your daily life and take off down the road, headed to destinations uncertain. Of course, that was before you realized that you didn’t have the time or the money to afford it. Now, you’ve let it gather rust spots. Perhaps it’s time for a change. Perhaps it’s time to sell.
Of course, you could always put an ad in your local paper and hope that the prices offered are good enough, but why deal with all the guess work? Why not, instead, do the sensible thing and use a RV Blue Book? Not only will you know how much to sell your old RV for, but you’ll also be able to find proper venues to sell it.
Don’t be too hasty with which RV Blue Book you choose, however. There are many available and some of them are less than helpful. What you need is to decide what is best for you and your RV. Things a proper RV Blue Book will have you consider:
1. What was your RV worth when you first purchased it?
A RV Blue Book has a wide selection of RV’s available and their original prices. Of course, you cannot expect to get the same amount of money, but this will help you know what you paid and try to work getting as much of that back as possible. It should be noted: if you bought your RV through an ad or from a friend, rather than a dealer, the cost will be different. Still, work from the book.
2. What is today’s wholesale value?
RV Blue Book’s will be able to compare your RV over the years and discover its trade-in value.
3. What is today’s retail value?
Again, a RV Blue Book will show how much you will you could get at the highest selling price. This isn’t usual for many cases, of course. Few people will want to pay the highest available price, but the numbers are still there to give you the proper idea.
4. What’s the average price most users receive?
RV Blue Book’s give out the handy knowledge of the median profits, letting you make easy decisions on your offers. If an offer is lower than the average, you’ll know to skip it for something higher. This eliminates the doubt of selling.
5. How can the condition of your RV effect the price?
A major aspect of how much money you will receive is the condition of your product. RV Blue Book’s make this very clear: if your RV is in bad shape (too many miles, parts that don’t work, rust, etc), the value will go down. This is just common sense and the Blue Book will let you know. Of course, as a seller, you have to be honest about the condition of your RV.
The Blue Book only works for those who don’t slant the descriptions. If there are problems, you have to tell about them–will the price go down, yes, but it will save you trouble later.
Whether you are a buyer or seller (possibly both, if your’e looking to get rid of your old RV for a new one), you will need a reliable Blue Book. Could you work without one? Yes, but why would you want to? The numbers are all available for your use; this is to help you. Why pass on it?
As a seller, it allows you the knowledge to make informed decisions. You won’t run the risk of overpricing or, worse, asking too little. As a buyer, you can see what the fair amount is for whatever type of vehicle you are looking into and make the right calls.
A RV Blue Book is worth the purchase and can help you with yours. Want an online resource? Check out nadaguides.
Mark Sturge is the webmaster at http://www.rv-getaway.com A site where visitors can find information on rv resorts as well as useful hints and tips for rv enthusiasts.
If your auto has been damaged by hail or has a some pressure dents you no doubt have been shocked by the smash repairers quote.
“What? $5000.00! But it’s only a little bit of hail”, you say.
“Yes, but we have to cut back the paint on the roof, the hood and give it a complete respray, including baking and also redo the clear coat. It’s the only way we can do it”
Well not any more!
One of the best ways to handle hail damage is paintless dent removal.
Usually repairs can be completed on the same day. There is no paint matching necessary and the factory finish remains intact.
Specially trained operators with a few tools can straighten out doors, fenders, the roof so you wouldn’t even know there was a ding.
There is know drilling, putty or painting required. It can be used on dents, creases, protrusions and even difficult to get at areas.
And the great thing is the cost. Because it’s mostly labour, you are not paying for materials. Costs are usually 1/3 to 1/2 the
price of traditional methods.
Make sure you go with a provider that will give you a warranty on their work.
Summary
So if you are thinking about fixing dents - think paintless dent removal - as an alternative to the traditional smash repair
shop.
Graeme Sprigge is an automotive writer and webmaster of Sell My Car For Cash.com. You canvisit http://www.sellmycarforcash.com for more articles and resources on selling your car for more, car finance and insurance tips.
Would you buy a used car–with cash–from someone you just met in the bar, and who walked you down a dark alley to show you the car? Not likely. How about from a well-dressed, friendly, middle-aged man or woman, who placed a classified ad in your local newspaper, and who meets you midday at a restaurant of your choice?
Oops! You may be more likely to be cheated by seller number two. That’s the story of Jennifer Warwa, who bought a minivan and had her mechanic examine it. The mechanic later said how shocked he was that Jennifer had been scammed:
“Because I met the gentleman who was selling the vehicle. Very clean cut. In his fifties. Very soft spoken…. And he went with her to get it inspected. There was just no sign that was the kind of person he was” the mechanic told CBC’s Marketplace.
A few months later, Jennifer got a phone call from the police. They said she had purchased a stolen minivan, and they were coming to seize it. She was so upset, she tried to hide the van from the police. Eventually they caught up with her and she ended up paying for a year and a half for a $5,000 bank loan on a van she could not drive. Ouch!
Jennifer was just one victim in the chain that included the original owner, the insurance company, other consumers whose insurance rates keep rising, and the police, who spend thousands of hours tracking thefts. According to the FBI, a vehicle is stolen about every 25 seconds in the USA, amounting to an $8 billion yearly problem.
Here’s how these scams often work. Thieves target particular cars: for their value, their ease of resale as a whole or in parts, or because they are easier to steal. Years ago, most cars were stripped for parts, including unusual parts such as airbags. But today some thieves are so brash they sell cars through newspapers.
This newer scam is called “VIN cloning”, because the Vehicle Identification Number is stolen from another car. Criminals obtain VINs by copying them from the dash of cars in parking lots–even at dealerships. Some even physically remove the VIN plate from vehicles in auto salvage yards that allow customers to “pick your own parts.” (They do not mean that literally!) The number is used to falsely obtain new ownership documents, or documents are forged. Either way, a cloned VIN allows them to transform stolen cars into pseudo-legal vehicles that can be officially titled and sold. Many thieves work across state lines: cars may be stolen in the East, registered in the Mid-West, then sold in California. Scary!
Here’s what you can do to avoid buying a stolen car:
** Check the VIN on the dash against the VIN in the driver’s door jamb, under the hood, and on the paperwork
** Use the VIN to get the car’s history at carfax.com for about $20
** Ensure title and registration documents match the name and address of the seller
** Is the car from out of state?
** Be suspicious if you must meet a private seller in a parking lot. Better to see that they live at the address where the car is registered
** Has the vehicle recently been transferred?
** Does the seller use a home or work phone number, or just a cell?
** Is the selling price oddly low?
** Be warned that some used car dealers are getting scammed, too
** Pay by certified cheque or money order, not cash.
Keep in mind that most private sellers are not thieves, but rather honest, regular folks like you. And prices do tend to be lower with private sales. So if you follow my advice, you can greatly improve your chances of driving away with a “genuine” used car.
Will YOU get scammed on your next car purchase? Michael Trusthold teaches people how to save money when they buy a used car or sell a car or used truck, and has done so for profit for many years. For more scam prevention TIPS and handy checklists for used car buying and selling, visit UsedCars.biz.
It’s been a while since the sub-compact car market has garnered such attention in
North America. Our friends in Europe have always known the virtues of small cars.
But here in North America, SUV’s have dominated parking lots at the local Pier 1 for
more than a decade. However as current gas prices inch forward and with future
prices looking uncertain (and by uncertain I mean they’re certainly going to be
higher than today) more people are buying small, fuel-efficient cars. We’ve seen a
lot of activity in the segment recently. Toyota has introduced the Yaris, Hyundai has
significantly revised the Accent, Kia has updated the Rio, Honda has just introduced
the Fit, and Nissan will introduce the Versa in May of this year. And let’s not forget
Scion with the xA and xB.
Having a car in the sub-compact market makes sense for a variety of reasons. First,
it introduces new, young buyers to the brand. If their experience is good they’ll stick
with the brand as they grow up and move to a larger vehicle. Toyota, Honda,
Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mazda and others all got their start in the sub-
compact car market. Secondly, it provides a safety net during economic downturns.
If gas prices rise unexpectedly, the knee-jerk reaction is to get a small, more fuel-
efficient vehicle. And these cars are fuel-efficient. The new Honda Fit for example,
gets an estimated 33 miles per gallon in the city, 38 mpg on the highway.
But these are no one-show ponies. Beyond fuel efficiency they offer respectable
performance. The Toyota Yaris has 106 horsepower which may not sound like
much, but tipping the scales at only 2315 lbs, it has a power-to-weight ratio close
to that of the 220 horsepower Hummer H3. And these cars can carry just about
anything. With the rear seats up, the Honda Fit can swallow 21.3 cubic feet of gear.
A Ford Crown Victoria by comparison can hold 20.6 cubic feet worth of cargo in the
trunk.
The domestics haven’t invested much in this class recently, if ever. The Chevrolet
Aveo is essentially a re-badged Daewoo and doesn’t offer the level of refinement as
the others. The Ford Focus is larger and more expensive, as is the new for ‘06
Dodge Caliber. But with the uncertainty of gas prices and growing competition in
the segment, GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler would be wise to offer competitive
offering in this segment and introduce first time buyers to their respective brands.
For most manufacturers, having competitive sub-compact cars has grown the
business and created brand loyalty, something the folks in Detroit have been trying
to do for a while now.
Peter Johnson is the chief writer for http://www.all-about-car-selection.com
The Volkswagen Jetta, or the VW Jetta is a car that is made by the Volkswagen Company and is basically a sedan variation of the Volkswagen Golf. The name ‘VW Jetta’ was used only in South Africa and North America until 2005. Volkswagen used the names ‘Vento’ and then ‘Bora’ in Europe. The VW Jetta was made because the marketing people at Volkswagen were astute enough to realize that the people in the United States preferred to drive sedan model cars as opposed to hatchback models like VW’s Golf car. South Africa shows similar preferences and so marketing for both America and South Africa remains almost identical. Volkswagen’s marketing team proved that they made advantageous observations as the Jetta eventually became the best selling European car in the United States.
The Jetta first made its debut in North America in 1980. It was available as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan. This model had a different version called the Volkswagen Fox that was sold only in South Africa. The original US VW Jetta model was manufactured and sold from 1980 though 1984.
The next generation of VW Jettas proved to be the most successful for Volkswagen and remained in production from 1985 through 1992. In the United States alone, the VW Jetta outsold the VW Golf by almost half. This is the time when the Jetta saw its peak sales and was named the best-selling European car in America. This version of the VW Jetta was also one of the first Volkswagen cars to be made in China. The difference between the first generation of VW Jettas and the second generation was in the body design as the car featured changes with added large, body-colored bumper covers, low side skirts and side-clad and grille alterations.
From 1991 through 1998, the third generation of VW Jetta was dubbed the “poor man’s BMW” as it was loaded with trim features. The exterior of third generation VW Jettas were considered to be ‘boxy’ and had subtle body changes like a new grille, assorted wheel covers and body-colored rub strips. The VW Jetta from this time period was available in the GL, which is the basic trim, and the GLS, which is the luxury model trimmed with leather interior and power windows, locks and sunroof as well as many other features.
The fourth generation of the VW Jetta came out late in 1998 and continued production until 2005. This Jetta shared some of the same styling marks as the larger VW Passat. The body of the fourth generation VW Jetta includes a rounder shape and arched rooflines. This VW Jetta was made in a variety of trim levels as well as in a wagon version. The fourth generation VW Jetta was made in a few different models with the GL being the base model, the GLS a slightly higher model and the GLX being the luxury model.
The fifth generation of the VW Jetta was unveiled at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show. The latest generation of the VW Jetta is larger than the previous generation with luxury styling and a roomy interior. This model of the VW Jetta is also the first to feature an independent rear suspension system and a new 5 cylinder engine.
Automotive journalist Steven Johnson writes for publications such as www.vw-jetta-performance.com.
There are exhaust systems and then there are exhaust systems.
Your vehicle’s exhaust system does everything that it needs to
do to keep your car performing properly as well as to protect
the environment safe from harmful pollutants. When it is working
properly, that is. Not every owner is satisfied with stock
exhaust systems, particularly the hobbyist or recreationalist
who uses his or her vehicle for leisurely pursuits. If you are a
hobbyist and you want a system that performs well beyond what a
stock exhaust system has to offer, then please read on for some
important information.
So, what is your sound preference? Say, what?! Yes, one of the
attributes of a high quality performance exhaust system is
finding one that brings out the sound that you want it to make.
Generally, there are three types of exhaust systems sounds you
can choose from. Gibson Exhaust, a popular manufacturer of
performance exhaust systems breaks it down as follows:
High: Produces a sound of high volume and intensity.
Expect resonance with the cab.
Moderate: “Big Block” powerful exhaust tone with minimal
resonance inside of the cab.
Low: Produces a mellow tone while it maintains a stock
sound within the cabin.
Are you not sure which type of system that you want? Then,
simply stop by the Gibson Exhaust site for sample sounds of the
exhaust system for your truck or SUV.
Beyond sound, there are several other characteristics of any
performance exhaust system that should be noted. They include:
More power. Stock mufflers can restrict engine power by
as much as one third. With a properly specified and fitted
performance muffler in place, air flow restriction can be
reduced significantly. The result will be borne out every time
you pull something or when you climb a hill as torque is freed
up to bring out additional power.
Improved fuel economy. An efficiently working engine
burns less fuel. With a performance exhaust system in place,
your engine has a friend and not a foe that works in conjunction
with the engine to achieve higher fuel mileage.
Longer lasting. What good is paying extra money for a
performance exhaust system if it doesn’t last longer? Made from
aircraft quality stainless steel, your performance exhaust
system can easily outlast the life of your vehicle. Depending on
the manufacturer you choose, warranties as long as one million
miles can assure that the exhaust system you place on your
vehicle not only avoids corrosion but is also the last one it
will ever need.
Certainly, performance exhaust systems can cost a lot more than
stock systems. For the hobbyist who enjoys the throatier sound,
stronger torque, and improved fuel economy, a performance
exhaust system makes perfect sense.
When you are so busy dealing with the day-to-day activities of business, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we all operate in a global economy. Our principle concerns are often immediate and local, but when you read the following information about China and its Tire Industry plans, you begin to realise that we need to think globally and we need to start now…
Earlier this year I came across a report from a company out of Europe. They offer market research and data and their stream of press releases had me sitting up and taking notes - here are some of those notes:
— China’s Tire Industry
The remarkable progress of China’s automotive industry has culminated in the development of a significant tires sub sector. Following China’s accession to the WTO in late 2001, the growth rates for both sectors accelerated.
To fulfill its ambition to become the main base of operations for leading foreign auto companies, it is imperative that China develop a world-class tires industry. In doing so, the country would become more attractive to leading automakers.
Ready access to high quality tires would enable these companies to streamline their supply chains and purchasing operations while avoiding costly tires imports.
— US$6 Billion in 2002
With an estimated value of nearly US$6 billion in 2002, China’s tires industry is large and poised for further high growth, bolstered by the rising fortunes of automobile manufacturers there. This industry is still largely driven by the multinational tire companies (eg. Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Yokohama) and their joint-venture partners, with Michelin alone accounting for 30% of the replacement tires market.
Domestic players are relatively less skill-intensive, use simpler production techniques and have somewhat inconsistent quality standards. These domestic tire companies are also financially weak which explains their relatively lower investment in research and development facilities.
— Fragmented…for now
Although a considerable segment of the tires industry is concentrated in the Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai and Shenyang area, the domestic tires industry is still largely scattered across the country. This has resulted in a lack of cooperative synergies.
Foreign multinationals, on the other hand, are more prone to cooperation in areas such as purchasing and research and development activities. For instance, Goodyear tires by purchasing a minor stake in Sumitomo tires, has taken steps to form a strategic alliance with its Japanese counterpart to share their marketing and purchasing operations.
The domestic companies owing to their lower investment in research and development also produced relatively obsolete products. Their production volumes also lagged that of their multinational counterparts.
— China’s Domestic Tire Output
The average annual tire output of China’s domestic players in 2003 is approximately 410,000, considerably behind the 2.70 million produced by foreign tire companies in China.
To become a leading player in the global tire industry, it is imperative that domestic tire companies rectify these weaknesses by developing more sophisticated production techniques.
China has also taken up steps to produce products that are higher up the value chain. For instance, the country is now encouraging the production of radial tires1 by promising the waiver of the 10% excise tax for radial tire products.
Many domestic companies are also forming strategic alliances with multinationals to acquire greater expertise in production, distribution and marketing.
— Summary
As you can see, China’s tire market is evolving. Maybe today the Chinese marketplace is not a threat to your business, but historically when China sets its mind to something they usually see it through to conclusion. And if their plans include the eventual manufacture and export of tires, it will ultimately change the tire industry landscape over here in the west.
Definitely something to keep an eye on - wouldn’t you agree?
Sources: Information for this article was drawn from the public Internet and news feeds.
Author: http://www.JamesBurchill.com - James is a freelance writer and consultant.
