It Makes Sense to Maintain that New Automobile

So you have made the decision it is time to purchase that new model automobile, you’ve picked out the color and found the price range you’ve been looking for. You’ve got your down payment and you’ve gone over the financing options as well as what your budget can handle as far as the payment along with any insurance costs changes.

But one thing you may not have figured on when you’ve made the choice to purchase this new automobile is what the actual expenses will be to maintain and keep your vehicle in good running condition. People normally do not put this part in the equation of their finances when it comes to their decision to purchase a specific model. In a recent Consumer Reports estimate over the next five years, you will spend four percent of the total cost of your vehicle on such things as repair and maintenance on keeping your vehicle in good condition. Sure, right now it doesn’t seem like a lot but it will seem so when you have to deal with a large repair such as a blown transmission.

Another recent study shows that an average American household will spend a minimum of almost $5500.00 on gas and automobile expenses. If you stop to think about this it adds up to almost being like a second car payment.

This American average includes all different makes and models. This also depends on what make and model automobile that you have chosen to purchase. For example if you purchase a brand new Honda Accord over a British sports car of course that maintenance cost will be much lower. Remembering to purchase a warranty from the beginning and this will help you out early on when a repair is in order.

In today’s economy, many people are hanging on to their autos much longer and keeping them in better condition then they were in the past. Also today’s autos are built to be much more dependable, it is not unusual to see a car go past the 100,000 miles on the odometer. With people doing the basic routine maintenance although at times this can be expense it will be spread out over many years.

With a person taking good care of their automobile they will prevent expensive repairs and any serious problems as the miles accumulate on their vehicle. Just by changing the oil or rotating the tires will save a person thousands of dollars down the road. Always make sure to check your owner’s manual as to the recommended maintenance schedule for you vehicle and you will have that auto for many years to come.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! Manly Auto can also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto  and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Rosa-CA/Manly-Auto-Group/103413126362572? v=wall&__a=3& ; stop on over and visit us!

Vehicle Fall Check Up Season ~ Prepare for the Cold ahead

As summer draws to an end, you should think about your fall check up for you vehicle before the cold weather season begins. Just as you would get a yearly check up, your vehicle needs to be checked regularly especially if you live in an area of the country where you experience all four seasons.

Those who live in warmer climates have an added benefit of periodic maintenance to their vehicles which makes for a longer vehicle life, better gas mileage and the gives you the ability to spot and fix minor problems early and possibly avoid costly future repairs.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies automotive technicians offers this advice as you prepare you vehicle for the cold weather. 

Read your owner's manual and follow the manufacturers recommended service schedules.

Get problems such as hard starts, rough idling, stalling and diminished power corrected at a good repair shop. Cold weather will make existing problems worse. While there, ask the shop to replace all dirty filters.

If you live in a region where you experience extremes in cold try putting a bottle of fuel de-icier in your tank at least once a month, this will help keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line. Keep the gas tank filled to help prevent moisture from forming.

Change the oil and oil filter as specified in your manual, and more often and at least every 3,000 miles or so especially if you’re driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips.

The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended. At this time you should check the level, condition and concentration of the coolant. A certified auto technician also should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses.

Make sure the heater and de-froster system are both in good working condition.

When it comes to your routine battery care, make sure to scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections, clean all surfaces, and re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check fluid level monthly. Note that removal of cables can cause damage or loss of data on some newer vehicles, so check your manual. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves to avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid.

Have your vehicle's exhaust system examined for leaks and the trunk and floorboards inspected for small holes.

Examine the tires for remaining tread life and uneven wearing. Check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Remember to check the tire pressure once a month and rotate them as recommended. Don't forget to check the spare and make sure the jack is in good condition.  

By giving your vehicle the once over before the cold winter is here, you will ensure that your vehicle will not only last a lot longer but you will avoid any expensive repairs by having regular maintenance done early.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! Manly Auto  can also can be found on Twitter  and Facebook; stop on over and visit us! 

Speeding Tickets and your Car Insurance

If you are one of those people with a lead foot you more then likely will be caught speeding and receive a speeding ticket or some other sort of traffic violation. You may or may not realize how costly a speeding ticket could be for you.

If you have every received a citation for speeding or running a red light the fine may be one of the lease things you should be worried about, especially if you have received more then one ticket.

Although receiving a speeding ticket is not a fun experience it may carry with it something more substantial depending on where you were caught speeding and how far you were over the posted speed limit. In most states driving over 15 mph over the speed limit is an automatic fine increase or if you are caught speeding in a road construction work zone your fines may double the normal speeding fine.

However, there is more cost that could be heading your way and that is the increase in your monthly automobile insurance and this could add up to some serious money that you will be putting out over a long term period. Insurance companies have conducted surveys that have revealed that drivers with one speeding ticket have a higher rick of having an accident. Additional tickets more then double that risk of an accident. So to compensate, the insurance companies raise rates for those drivers that are an addition risk factor.

Depending on the exact conditions that will increase these rates, which do vary from one insurance company to another as well as varying from state to state will determine the increase in your monthly premium.

Speeding tickets along with other traffic citations are not easy to fight and are expensive so the best thing to do is to avoid them completely. You can avoid or decrease your chances of receiving a citation by following some simple rules.

Be aware of your speed limit in the areas that you do drive. It seems like such an obvious thing but time and time again people driving just simply do not pay attention to it. Speed limits especially in small towns can decrease quickly especially if you are crossing a state or county line or if you come across construction zones.

 

Stay in the right lane as much as possible and do not pass other cars that are already exceeding the speed limit. Police have radar and or laser devices which already know how fast those other cars are going and if they see a vehicle passing already marked cars that are over the limit your car will grab their attention.

The highway patrol nearly gives a certain degree of excessive speed over a limit but if your vehicle has other problems like a burnt out tail light gives an officer enough of a reason to pull you over not just for the tail light being out but for the speeding ticket as well. So, make sure you check you car regularly for and minor repairs such as a broken light, turn signals, license plate fixtures to name a few.

When you are driving the highway patrol officer is sitting there biding his time on the side of the highway and do so especially during a holiday season. Most of their vehicles are easy to spot and have distinct markings so be alert keep an eye out for those vehicles that stand out.

If they are legal in your state then purchase a radar detector this will provide you with the capability to detect may types of radar and laser speeds. The more you pay for the detector the better job it does.

Auto Insurance companies have different policies for how they handle traffic violations as well as their rate increases because of them. Some companies you will loss you good driver discount and be given a premium increase. If your company raises your rate excessively you might want to look for another insurance company with a better rate. But be honest about your traffic violations so you can receive a correct rate quote.

If you have too many speeding tickets you will have difficulty finding any insurance company that will be willing to insure you. You might be forced to have to get your insurance with a company that specializes in high risk drivers this will come with an extremely high premium rate

.

In general, drivers who receive a speeding ticket can expect fines and court costs and a state driving record that can lead to having your license being suspended as well as a higher insurance cost. It is easier said then done for most, but it is best to avoid a speeding ticket and other traffic violations altogether.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! http://www.manlyauto.com/  we also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Rosa-CA/Manly-Auto-Group/103413126362572?v=wall&__a=3& stop on over and visit us! 

Honda's Newest Hybrid The Fit

Honda Motor Company is going to be selling their new hybrid car for approximately $18,600.00 this will be the lowest vehicle price ever to date for gasoline electric vehicles that are sold in Japan.

Honda’s new Fit Compact car which is to be released in October will be $3,492.00 lower then the price tag for the least expensive model Insight hybrid which was put on the market in February of last year.

The New Fit will feature a 1.3 liter engine and electric motor has the fuel economy of 70.6 miles per gallon.

This news will drive the competition in their development and sale of environmentally friendly cars, especially between Honda and Toyota Motor Corporation who will be releasing their new hybrid next year which is expected to achieve 94 miles per gallon and have a list price tag of approximately $17,460.00.

Honda also is planning its fourth hybrid vehicle in the Japanese market after its Civic, Insight and CR-Z models. The Fit hybrid will be $3,492.00 dollars lower in list price then the top selling Toyota Prius hybrid. However, reports from Honda state that this model will be $4,657.00 dollars more then the existing Fit sub compact.

Honda’s intention is to increase the sales of their hybrid Fit vehicle in Japan after they received an uninspiring demand for their Insight hybrid over the past several months. Honda to date has only sold approximately, 26,000 of their Insight hybrid in Japan in the first six months which is about one tenth of the 204,882 Prius hybrids sold in the very same period.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! http://www.manlyauto.com/  we also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445954579&v=wall stop on over and visit us! 

Toyota’s Tries to Move Quickly

Toyota is moving quickly to cut their production costs for their Yaris and Corolla vehicles as the Japanese Yen reaches nearly a 15 high rate against the U.S. dollar. This rise in the yen could lead to a big lost in building their economy cars for shipments overseas.

Per Toyota’s Atsushi Niimi Toyotas executive vice president for their global manufacturing they are working extremely hard and as quickly as possible to keep up the appeal for their vehicles, however, given the current exchange rate it would not be possible for Toyota to export their Corolla’s or Yaris models.

Japanese car makers are struggling with this situation and are currently searching for ideas to bring their production shifts out of Japan especially with their small compact cars because those are the vehicles that are the most vulnerable amidst economic crises.  

Right now, Honda Motor Company is the highest seller for their North American built automobiles amongst all of the Asian automakers. Nissan Motor Company’s import sales have grown 19 percent since July which is now the second highest in volume.

So, for the moment Toyota will continue to focus on their productivity improvements as their Japanese plants try to compensate the exchange rate issues.

Currently, Toyota is producing their Corollas out of Canada and they export more of their compact cars to the United States from that location. Toyota recently closed their California join venture plant in April of this year. However, the Blue Springs, Mississippi plant that has been planned to open in September of 2011 will continue assembling the Corolla Model.

Toyota plans to start producing their Prius hybrid model in Thailand but at this time that strategy is still in the works per a Tokyo spokes person for Toyota.

Right now where the exchange rate stands the Japanese economy overall is having to come up with a production structure which supports 85 yen to the U.S. dollar and that is a sure sign for disaster.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! http://www.manlyauto.com/  We also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445954579&v=wall stop on over and visit us! 

Tips for Buying a Pre-Owned Vehicle

If you are thinking of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle it just might have some worth while advantages for you then choosing to purchase that brand new vehicle. You will more then likely be saving some significant about of money when you one that is pre-owned however, you also take some risks that you wouldn’t be taking when making a new car purchase.

Here are some tips for you to consider before choosing that vehicle - 

Most pre-owned vehicles will include the remainder of any of the original manufacturer warranty, as well as an extended warranty. They might differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. As an example one manufacturer might offer a 12 month 12,000 miles warranty with bumper to bumper coverage and another might offer a 5 year 100,000 mile power train warranty for its certified used vehicle. Those that are well maintained and in very good condition will be reflected in the price and it may be a bit higher than those that are not certified pre-owned.

When shopping for that pre-owned vehicle always think twice before purchasing one that is not certified pre-owned. If you purchase a pre-owned vehicle that is certified you will want to try to get some of the remainder of the manufacturer’s original warranty so that you can still take proper performance care of that vehicle. Newer vehicles usually have some years left on the basic warranty as well as they may even have some left on their power train warranty.

Always ask for the Car’s maintenance record information when you are purchasing a used vehicle. Check for any problems that may have shown up in the past. If someone is offering you a used vehicle and does not offer you the maintenance record, is more then likely means that there is something wrong with it or is just in really bad condition and you should think twice before you buy. Always have a mechanic check any vehicle that does not come with the maintenance record.

When you are looking at a pre-owned vehicle you should always have a third party mechanic inspect the car. The mechanic you choose will advise you of any issues or possible problems with the vehicle that you need to know about.  Also if that person trying to sell you the vehicle won’t allow a third party mechanic inspection then walk away.

Also something that not many people do is to do a little research on the VIN which is known as the Vehicle Identification number to obtain the vehicle’s history. Other’s may have it on the inside driver’s door jam or on the engine bay. You should then take that VIN to a reliable source such as Carfax to get a complete history on the vehicle. They will be able to tell you of any accidents, what maintenance was performed and who owned it prior to you.

Sometimes there is a bit more to purchasing a used vehicle then there is with a new one; however with a bit of research you will have peace of mind before signing on the dotted line.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! http://www.manlyauto.com/  We also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445954579&v=wall stop on over and visit us! 

How much can you afford to spend?

You might be already dreaming of a certain model vehicle that has your eye or maybe the features of a vehicle that would make your driving experience a more pleasurable one. Well, its time to come down to reality because the first thing you need to do before making that new car purchase is to estimate what the actual price range is that you can afford.

First thing you will need to do is to decide how much money you will be able to pay upfront in case and with a trade-in or even both. The monthly payment will be determined by how much money you will be borrowing and what the maximum payment is going to be that you can afford every month.

You may be lucky and find an auto loan that requires a low down payment of five percent but it is highly recommended that you put down as much money as you can afford and the preferred by most lenders is 20 percent. With a higher down payment this will reduce the amount of money you will need to borrow as well as reduces your monthly payment and also this will reduce the amount of interest you will be paying on the loan in the long run.

Keep in mind that your down payment doesn’t have to be in all cash, if you have a car already and there is any sort of trade in allowance the dealer may credit this back towards your down payment. If you sell the car yourself you will usually get more then you would if you were trading it in. You might consider this before you make the new car purchase.

Per Consumer Reports who are the financial experts, they recommend that your total debt payment be absolutely no more then 36 percent of your gross income. If you go by that rule, you will be able to determine how much you actually will be able to afford to spend every month.

In knowing what your down payment and monthly payment will be along with that a typical interest rate and the number of years you are going to be making the car payments for, you wll be able to calculate the price of the vehicle that you can afford and the loan amount that you will need to qualify for.

In addition to the vehicle price, you need to consider other costs, such as the Sales Tax, Registration Fees and Insurance premiums. The taxes and registration fees may have you reaching in your pocket as much as 10 percent or more and if driving a car that is worth more then your current income will cost you more to insure. Be sure to check with your insurance agent or get an insurance quote online to make sure you know what you are actually getting involved with prior to any new car purchase.

Let Manly Automotive Group help you in your new and previously owned vehicle choices today stop by our website today and drive away knowing that you made the right choice with us! http://www.manlyauto.com/  We also can be found on Twitter https://twitter.com/ManlyAuto and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445954579&v=wall stop on over and visit us!