The Benefits Of Buying Used Cars In Comparison To New Cars

As time goes on and car manufacturers continue to produce more stable and reliable vehicles, the question arises that is there any benefit in buying a new car when a used car has many benefits?

I can think of many occasions when friends and family have chosen to part exchange in their existing vehicle for a new one every year or two, but nowadays it seems as though you are no better off buying a new vehicle than you are by purchasing a used one, and I’ll try and explain why.

Anyone who has ever bought a new vehicle and has come to the point of selling it some years later, has probably been in the situation where they’ll ask “Is that all it’s worth, I paid X amount for it only two years ago”. This is because the value of a new vehicle falls dramatically as soon as it is driven out of the showroom.

Furthermore, if value is important to you, finding a bargain of a used car can be very satisfying, and also financially rewarding. There is sometimes the conception that buying a used vehicle can be risky and that it will end up with one problem or another, although, the skills of engineers over the past years has shown to produce cars that are more reliable and more maintenance-free than ever before.

Even though this is possibly the case, the importance of performing vehicle checks on used vehicles is high, as it can highlight any hidden past that a vehicle may have and also show any potential problems.

The potential for loss on a vehicle is also much less on a car that has had several previous owners in comparison to a vehicle that has had just one owner. As mentioned earlier, a large chunk of the vehicle value is lost once it has left the dealership, and continues to decrease steeply over the first few years. However there usually gets to a point when the vehicle levels out and doesn’t lose as high a percentage of its’ value year on year. This is where the money loss from buying the vehicle to when it is sold can be a lot less when choosing a used car.

However, this isn’t to say that brand new cars are not worth looking at should you wish to. You can have the peace of mind that you are buying a new car with no problems and rest assured that it is a vehicle without a hidden past, and it also may be important to you to drive a new vehicle. You can also of course purchase any upgrades available for your car and virtually have the car made to your specification, within reason.

In summary, due mainly to manufacturers and engineers, the durability and reliability of previously owned vehicles means that they are no less a value than a new car. As the price of new cars climbs, the popularity of used vehicles looks to continue to soar higher than ever. There are benefits to buying both types of vehicles, either new or used, but one thing for certain is that previously owned vehicles are more reliable than ever.

About the Author
Justin Brown is the owner of the site http://www.idealauto.co.uk where you can buy and sell any new or used car in the UK online, plus read a wealth of great vehicle information such as how to sell a used car advice.
Published At: www.Isnare.comPermanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=28797&ca=Automotive

Hybrid Cars: Do You Really Save With These Fuel Economy Cars?

At the time of this writing, there is a game being played. And in my opinion, the game is called, "confronting the US oil crisis". The major players are the car manufacturers, the government, maybe the EPA and have course the people being the unwitting spectators that are readily lured to the show.

And the game pieces are the fuel economy cars also known as hybrid cars.

I will begin by emphasizing the point that I don't know everything there is to know about this so called "impending oil crisis". And I'm not sure if there is anyone who knows everything there is to know about this impending oil crisis too. However, I am fairly certain that the hybrid cars wouldn't be a prospective solution to the problem; not at least for a few more years.

One would notice a massive influx of hybrid cars on the roads today and yet, did nothing to help put a dent in the oil problems; but instead made a quandary with regards to car-pooling. As early as January 2005, hybrids car owners were allowed to use car pool lanes, even when driving alone. Given the fact that thousands of hybrid cars have been sold since 1999, some of the car pool lanes are becoming more congested than the regular traffic lanes they're supposed to lighten.

According to a compiled report for the past eight years made by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the pervasive presence of the supposedly fuel economy cars have saved only a measly total of 5.5 million oil barrels. It's a rather distressing contrast against the approximate 8.5 million barrels a day to power the present usage of the light, private vehicles. But even then, researchers are very optimistic with regards to fuel economy cars. They have concluded that for fuel economy cars to have an impact, they have to at least cover more than 50% of the car population in the United States. And given the growing sales of these fuel economy cars, it's just a matter of time.

On a more personal note, can fuel economy cars help you cut back on gasoline consumption? Yes they could, depending on your driving habits. However, if you consider the initial cost of the hybrids, you may want to reconsider buying one. One of the biggest challenges of the fuel economy cars is that it takes so long to repay that extra expense of purchasing them. Even in the best-case scenario (as with one of the most popular hybrids, the Toyota Prius), five years time is already considered lucky. One could purchase a standard 4-cylinder Toyota for a much lower price and the fuel economy on these models are just outstanding. Again, this will all depend on you're driving habits. Personally, being a city driver, I get excellent mileage with my four cylinder.

So what is your reasoning to purchase a fuel economy car? Is it for the environmental aspects? Whatever it may be, personally I wouldn't purchase a hybrid car for purely economic reasons.

About the Author
Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Hybrid Cars Info Blog. For more great helpful information about hybrid cars visit The Hybrid Cars Info Blog
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Comparing Hydrogen Powered Cars To Electric Cars

With gas prices being so high, alternative fuel vehicles have become a popular topic. Two of the types of vehicles that tend to get a lot of press are the hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and electric powered vehicles. Both are lauded as the way of the future.
But which of these two options are really has the better chance of being the car your children drive.

Let’s look at hydrogen fuel cells first. When burned in an engine, the only emissions giving off is water, so a hydrogen powered vehicle is a zero emission vehicle. Hydrogen is also a better fuel than gasoline, it actually has the highest energy content per unit of weight of any known fuel.
Hydrogen is also a very abundant element. While current methods for making hydrogen are done by using fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil, American wouldn’t be dependent on foreign oil anymore. Also, hydrogen can be extracted from water, and we all know there’s a lot of water on this planet.

However, hydrogen is not without its share of drawbacks. Probably the biggest problem right now is that it would require an entire new infrastructure. While gas stations could be outfitted with hydrogen fueling stations that would take years. Also, the technology to store hydrogen efficiently is still not ready for prime time.

Then there’s the electric car. Electric cars can also be considered zero emission vehicles since they give off no emission when running. However, electric cars do require power from the electric grid, which does give off emissions. As the electric grid gets cleaner, though, so do electric cars, and electric powered cars are substantially less polluting than gasoline powered cars due to the fact that power plants are far cleaner and more efficient than an internal combustion engine in a vehicle.

The technology for mainstream electric cars is also not quite ready for all the major manufacturers to stop making gasoline powered cars, but it’s much closer than hydrogen currently is. The challenge with electric cars right now is the batteries. The batteries are both expensive and current models, like the Tesla Roadster, have a range of only 250 miles – great for commuting, but not so good for road trips. The other problem is the length of time these vehicles take to charge. It’s not simply a matter stopping at your local power station and plugging in for five minutes and leaving. A typical charging cycle for current prototypes is 4-5 hours – again, fine if you’re commuting, but impossible for a road trip. While technology is being developed to make charging your vehicle as quick as quick as filling up with gas, it has a ways to go before it’s ready, just like hydrogen fuel cells.

Fleets of electric cars will certainly be hitting the roads sooner hydrogen fuel cell cars, but which one ultimately ends up being the vehicle of choice for American drivers remains to be seen as both have plenty of challenges to overcome before people will readily give up their cheap gas powered cars in favor of these alternatives.

About the Author
Gary Ruplinger provides free gas saving advice on his site, FuelSavingZone.com. For more information on alternative fuel vehicles, check out the blog.
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Fast Cars, Sports Cars – British Performance

At the end of World War II there was a surge of high performance, fast and sporty cars that began to emerge. The soldiers who were returning home from war were instantly attracted to these fast sports cars, many which were exported by Britain. At that time the British were building high quality sports cars at a price many could afford. The British sports cars were superbly engineered and quickly began taking the sports car world by storm. Their sleek and sporty design made them highly desirable.

The fast and sporty British cars began to really take off when the Triumph came out with the TR2 in 1953. At the time Triumph produced some of the most sought after cars in the world. The United States fell in love with it and soon began seeking other British sports cars.

Taking A Look At The Cars

The Jaguar is probably the most popular fast, sport car the British offer. Many people see the Jaguar as the top of the line automobile. The brand new Portfolio which is being unveiled in March 2007 brags of a speed of 155 mph and can reach 60 mph in only 4.9 seconds. The Portfolio features a 4.2 liter engine and the car will be offered worldwide.

BMW is also offering a new coupe and convertible in their 3 series. These are supposed to be the most appealing BMW fast and sporty cars to date. These come with aerodynamic styling and lower suspension which offers a sportier look and ride. These sport modes are offered in Silver, Black, Blue, Graphite, White, and Red.

Aston Martin is announcing improvements to their famous Vanquish S. This automobile is famous for its luxury and unique style. It was also made famous by James Bond in the movie “Die Another Day”. The Vanquish S Ultimate Edition will showcase many of the features of the Vanquish s that many Britons love. With only 40 being built, these cars will be offered as a limited edition and predictions say they will all be sold in only a few weeks.

This edition will be produced in Ultimate Black and this will be the only car available in this color. The interior will be trimmed in leather and stylish black chrome. It will offer a top speed of 200 mph. This car is the result of customer research and request and contains the features most sought after by the public. It comes with a high price tag but will be considered an investment since the car will likely maintain or increase in value.

About the Author
Gavin Drake is a self confessed "Petrol Head" and loves fast cars. He races in a number of championships in the U.K and runs Fast Cars Info.Com where fellow petrol heads can come chat, share photo's and catch up on the latest automotive news.
Published At: www.Isnare.comPermanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=136788&ca=Automotive