Buying of new car

Buying your first car is not an easy task, when you are not aware of the thing which you have not used ever. The first car buying would always be an experience for every single person whether he is a teenager or adult mature person. There are some steps which you must follow up for buying your first car: do your homework, like plan up the budget that how much you  can spend on buying new car, list down the features you want to have in the car. You should not go for buying an expensive car when you are buying the car for the first time because it would not be a good idea.

Some tips for buying a new car

The next tip is to not assume that the sticker price or the price tag contains the fixed price or actual purchase price. You should rate the car by analyzing the dealer’s price which can be seen through websites. You need to negotiate one thing at one time, like if you are negotiating the particular feature of the car then don’t start discussion on any other thing for example the price of the car. Try to arrange the finances in advance for the car. And do not pay for the features which you do not want in your car.

Relevant things to buying a car

Every kind of personal vehicle is like the family member to him. Mostly the youngsters love their vehicles whether it would be car or motorcycle. The service of the car is not so easy and it should not be done by the car owner himself. As it is not an easy task to wash your car or motorcycle because there are many parts of the car which are not water proof and get spoiled. Now you must be thinking that how to wash the car while keeping such parts safe so I must tell you that you can use any shopping bag in which the water does not enter.  However these are the common statements which should be kept in mind while washing your car.

How to buy second hand car?

If you are going to buy the second hand car then you must look up for following things: The auto repair is also a part of service station and car showrooms, most of the service station provides you the auto repair as some time the cars get damage during the wash and do not get the ignition due to wetness so in such situation the auto repair staff is used for making the car good.  The scooter service is also done by the same service station as there are many service stations which are providing you the good services.

How to buy car for teenager?

If your teenager is going to buy his/her first car, then you must educate your teen. You should check the cars for quality. Share the costs of the car and get your car insured especially if it is for teenager. Go and look up for teen features, the features and applications of the car which are liked by teenagers and younger generation group.

Nadine Myrick is from Pass Certification. Let’s take advantage of Pass Certification self paced Microsoft Certifications  training and pass your IT exams on first try.

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Walking towards the Maserati GranTurismo S, I felt like a teenager trying not to stare at a Playmate’s breasts. While the “base” GranTurismo’s elegant lines, dignified proportions and powerful stance had captivated my attention, the S dared me not to look. I know; it’s stupid. At the ripe old age of near-50, I’m supposed to have left my spoiler infatuation with the pet rock slowly starving to death in the basement. And yet, somehow, the GranTurismo’s tail made the Maser’s design pop, blending pole position with pole dancing. Yes, well, I’d just driven the base Maserati GranTurismo and found the brakes, seats and handling wanting. So I was ready to be disappointed. If you’re jump aversive, here’s the bottom line: I was and I wasn’t.

Stylistically, well, I think you know where I stand (so to speak). Suffice it to say, Maserati’s blessed both GranTurismo versions with dopey-looking, hideously expensive, ready for curbing wheels. [NB: here's hoping the S' pun projectors don't fall flat; full size spare? Ha!] The only other external upgrade for the S: “integrated side skirts” (as opposed to?) and more attractive letterbox exhaust pipes. All of which isn’t very much. The S ain’t no AMG throwdown. Crunch time: the S had better offer something in the way of dynamic delights for that extra $10K or else why bother? Of course, that’s the exact same question afflicting the non-S GranTurismo, but there you go.

Fire-up the S and the resulting roooart indicates a much-needed power upgrade. Or at least less exhaust baffling. This iteration of the detuned Ferrari 4.7-liter V8 stumps up 433 hp (up 30 hp on the base model), and places 22 more lb·ft of twist (361 in total) underfoot. You’ve still got to wring the Maser’s bloody neck to get your wet sump adrenal system working—she redlines at 7600 rpm. But the GranTurismo S feels/sounds like a far more willing dance partner than its lesser-horsed sibling.

And it would be if it weren’t for the f’ing Ferrari F1-style cog swapper. Although the Maserati’s six-speed sequential robotic gearbox [their term] is smoother than the Quattroporte’s DuoSelect disaster, that’s like saying a hungry Rottweiler makes a better family pet than a deranged Doberman. Even in Sport mode, Mr. Roboto’s still significantly less capable and enjoyable than the DSG gearbox found in a $25K VW GTI. (Hence the news that Ferrari and Maserati are installing DSG in their models ASAP.) As for the Maserati GranTurismo S’ automatic mode, it might as well not have one. Clunk-a-chunk. I guess someone forgot what GT actually means . . .

OK, if I have to drive like my capelli’s on fire to get the best out of this beast, so be it. This time around, it all begins to make sense. First, and most foremost, the S’ Brembo brakes are firm friends. The anchors are powerful, controllable and dependable. If you’re in the market for a GranTurismo (did I just write that?), the Maser’s stoppers alone are worth the premium. Second, the S’ mechanical aria arrives unfiltered. Those of you partial to the sound of an Italian V8 (i.e. anyone with a pulse) should note that the GranTurismo S’ symphony of wailing, thrashing and screaming is as good as it gets. Short of a Ferrari. That shares the same engine. And offers more cachet.

Yes, there is that. It must also be said that Maserati’s porky two-plus-two is still more than slightly corner aversive. Long sweepers at stupid speeds? Andiamo! Rapid changes of direction? Boxster please. This despite the rumor that Maserati created the GranTurismo S—punishing gearbox and all—for track days. Seriously. The Italian brand has some major racing pedigree, and the stock GranTurismo would most assuredly die of one thing or another on a closed course. But the resulting GranTurismo S is neither fish nor fowl, neither balls-out sports car nor tennis-balls-in-the-trunk grand tourer.

Now, if they could fit the Maserati S with a proper autobox, you’d be looking at an entirely different proposition. A gorgeous, comfortable car that could lope as well as tear ass (albeit in a straight line). Needless to say, that’s exactly what Maserati’s doing with the next gen. Says so right on the box: Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic. Unfortunately, Maserati just can’t get their head ’round the whole luxury wafting thing. To wit: their recently unveiled “MC Sport Line.”

In short, the GranTurismo S demonstrates Fiat’s branding stragegy for Maserati. They’re positioning the storied marque as an “entry level” (a.k.a. budget) Ferrari, rather than a distinct, luxury-oriented brand. An Italian Mercedes, if you will. Given the GranTurismo S’ sheet-metal siren song, the aural appeal of its Fezza-derived V8 and the none-too-shabby urge, I’d say they’ve succeeded. Only one problem: that $100K 12K-mile Ferrari 360 sitting on the lot nearby. Which would you rather have? Well exactly.

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A good news for the environmentalists keen on taking a green approach and not that happy with their electric car, will get an option to recharge their car using solar energy and take a true green approach. Though lots of companies are trying their hand in electric technology, this comes up as a totally new concept. The idea is to conserve solar energy and use it in recharging your electric vehicle. Earlier either electric vehicles or solar vehicles were being developed, but this one is the latest; giving you both the options. Using electricity to recharge your vehicle does contribute to polluting the environment, as most of the time the electricity used for these vehicles is produced burning the fossil fuels. There was always search for a better solution and Ford is offering just that. It will save your electricity cost and prove to be beneficial for the environment as well.

Ford is coming up with its Focus electric Sedan that can be recharged using the solar energy. For this it has joined hands with SunPower, a renowned solar energy system provider. SunPower would sell its solar systems through Ford dealers in combination with the Focus electric Sedan; which hits the market in later this year.

SunPower is the best when it comes to solar energy system and this way they are going to broaden their sphere of customers as well. So it’s beneficial for both the big giants.

The solar panels mounted at the roof of the car owner’s house will store the solar energy and would not be directly recharging the owner’s car. They would have the facility to store the solar energy at day time and then recharge the car batteries at night.

These solar panels would be capable of storing enough solar energy, to drive 1000 miles every month by Focus electric sedan which is a new plug-in version of the new compact Sedan. Electric cars are mostly charged overnight so this seems to be a very good option for saving energy.

It is going to be an electric car, but you would get the feel of driving a solar powered car.

147 square feet roof panels are required to generate this much of solar energy by this solar powered system. The system would consist of 11 panels, 4 feet by 2 feet each.

This 2.5 KW system would have the capacity to produce about 3,000 Kilowatt hours of energy every year.

This deal will be offered through Ford dealers, mainly to focus on electric buyers and would cost $10,000 after tax credits; quite a pricey affair.

Ford already has a deal with Greek Squad to install home charges, and they can perform the solar system installation for this as well.

The price of the Focus electric sedan 2012 has not been decided yet and Ford has decided to bring it to the market of California and New York later this year, slowly launching it in the rest of the country till next spring.

Some people think that using an electric plug-in vehicle is not doing good to the environment as the electricity used for these vehicles is generated burning the fossil fuels at various power plants, which again pollutes the environment and isn’t a green approach. So this new concept can go very well with their thinking. As solar energy is a good source of energy and does not cost you anything, it can be considered a good replacement for petrol and diesel in the future.

This new concept widens Ford’s horizon and also gives SunPower its potential buyers. With this new technology a lot of people will get introduced to the solar energy reliably and this marketing strategy is going to benefit both the companies and can prove to be a benchmark for them.

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About the author: Alia Haley is a blogger who is fond of writing on tech help and luxury yacht. Beside this she is a very big buff of Motorcycles and writes a lot about racing bikes.

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It’s been a big month for Libya. First, convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was returned to the northern African nation by the new Scottish government because he’s dying of prostate cancer. Second, Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution (aka Muammar Gaddafi) designed a car. Called the Saroukh el-Jamahiriya (Libyan Rocket), Gaddafi’s car seats five, has a 230-hp V6 and the nose and tail of a rocket. While different, it’s not entirely terrible. Kinda like how the 2024 Honda Civic might look. Hey Muammar, quit your day job.

Launched at a conference called the Organization of African Unity and organized by Colonel Gaddafi, the Rocket is set to be be produced in Tripoli, Libya’s capital where a factory is set to be built next month. Why is Libya building a car, and why did Col. Gaddafi design it? Safety. In response to the high numbers of people killed and injured annually on Libya’s roads, Gaddafi had to act. Says a spokeshole, “The leader spent so many hours of his valuable time thinking of an effective solution. It is the safest car produced anywhere.”

How so safe? We’re not entirely sure, the Libyan Rocket does come with airbags, an “electronic defense system” (no idea) and collapsible bumpers that supposedly help out in a crash. Somehow we don’t think Volvo’s losing any sleep. However, the spokeshole goes on to say, “The invention of the safest car in the world is proof that the Libyan revolution is built on the happiness of man.” We were wondering. Hat tip to Peter

sources : www.autoblog.com

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Even though many modern cars come with a range of safety features you can still make modifications to just about any car to make it a safer car to drive. Some of them are more costly than others, but when you consider the value you get not only in terms of safety, but in terms of drive-ability, most of them are worth doing. Let’s take a look at some of them, and some may even improve your next car insurance quotes – check with your insurer.

Suspension. Modifying your suspension is relatively simple and can be done in a matter of hours. Good suspension will make your car ride much better and this will be particularly evident at higher speeds and in emergency situations. Standard suspension for cars is not the best you can have, and there are many suspension kits available on the market that will make radical improvements to your car.

Tyres. Tyres are the only point that you car should be touching the road, and there is reason to be spending good money on them. High performance tyres will do exactly that, perform well. We often don’t know how good our tyres are, or how bad they are until it is too late. If you don’t have the right tyres for your car, or your tyres are not in the right condition, you can be putting yourself and others to risk. Not to mention the legal ramifications of fines and negated car insurance.

Tinting. Tinting of you windows can have some very desirable effects. In Australia where the sun is extremely strong and glare is a very big issue, getting good tinting that blocks out harmful rays and allows you to see clearly is extremely important. Only top name car tinting should ever be used.

Extra break light. Having a break light up high on the rear window is already the norm for many new cars, and if you don’t have one on yours it can be an easy way to increase the safety of your car. They are cheap and very easy to install. Every car should have one of these high visibility break lights.

Bigger breaks. If you car does not have 4 wheel discs or you want to make sure you have the best, you can install them with money well spent. Break kits are available for most cars and increasing the size of your discs will have radical effect on the way your car comes to a stop. I have done this once, and I will do it with every car I own in the future. You will really appreciate it once you have done it.

Halogen. Headlights can become dimmer over time, and if you car does not come with halogen lights you should think of changing them. Slightly more expensive than standard headlights, the impact of changing to them is something that anyone who has to drive at night or in bad conditions, should be known. Another experience once you try, you will never want to go back from.

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Looking to hire your own personal army, or just big enough of a dick that you fear an assassination attempt? Ride in safety and style in the Hennessey VelociRaptor APV ($TBA). Based on the Ford Raptor Super Crew and able to withstand small arms fire, this Armored Performance Vehicle can also get you out of harm’s way — and fast — thanks to a supercharged 6.2L V8 pumping out 575 hp. Other optional features include seating for up to eight, satellite TV, high-speed internet, and the ability to be mistaken for a senator, president, drug lord, or some other person of great importance/power/wealth/mulletude.

sources : www.uncrate.com

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Young people always want their vehicles to looks fierce and sporty, they had to do a lot of modifications on their car such as the addition of accessories and make the settings so the performance of their cars increase. generally, modification can be separated by two part there is simple modification and total modification.

simple modification

simple modification is modification that limited to maximize the physical appearance of their vehicles like adding billet grills, adding bumper and spoiler, while total modifications are modifications that alter the overall weight of the car which include physical changes and changes in the engine.

total modification

so what type of modifications are you? make sure that matches your taste and style.

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Despite the fact that he died 20 years before Lamborghini was even founded, without Felix Guzman the car you are looking at would certainly not have been called Reventón. At the time of his untimely demise in 1943, Senor Guzman was a renowned bullfighter. Unfortunately he went into the ring one day feeling a little under par. The result was that he met his grisly end on the horns and under the hooves of a bull that failed to read the script. In bullfighting circles, the beast became a legend. Its name was Reventón.

I had to try quite hard not to think of that Reventón as I kept my exclusive appointment with this one. It is the most extreme, exotic and rare road car ever made by Lamborghini and, as a company with one of the greatest reputations in the world for making extreme, exotic and rare cars, that is indeed saying something. Just 21 will be built – the prototype I am to drive and 20 production cars, all of which have been offered to favoured Lamborghini collectors for a cool €1m before local taxes. At current rates, that works out at around £840,000 a pop. All, of course, were sold even before any of the owners’ probably rather well-padded backsides slid past the up-flipped scissor doors and down into the slim alcantara-lined seats.

It is a car unlike any other: rare enough to make the Bugatti Veyron look common, dramatic enough to make anything this side of a frontline fighter plane look bland. And that is no coincidence. When the good folk at Lamborghini decided they were going to build their most ambitious road car in the company’s 44-year history it was to Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor fighter that their attentions turned. They wanted a car that looked like no other ever conceived, one to capture the imagination and remove the breath of those it encounters, like the Lamborghini Miura did when it single-handedly invented the entire supercar genre back in 1966. And they have succeeded.

Like many of you, I have seen pictures of the Reventón before, most from its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, and I thought it looked interesting and attractive. I was wrong. In the flesh it is the most captivating road car I have seen in years, maybe ever. Forget the Alfa 8C, the Ferrari 599 GTB or the aforementioned Veyron. For sheer infarct-inducing presence it is unmatched by any other road car made today. People will look in their mirrors, see one of these approaching and crash their cars trying to get out of its way. Like the Raptor, it looks as if it was designed for full stealth capability. It’s all odd angles and short lines that continue for no great distance before flicking off at some new, crazy tangent. With its matt-finish paint and carbon fibre body it looks like it should have the radar signature of a paper clip.

Disappointingly, however, I am assured this would not give me immunity from the unwelcome attention of the local constabulary, and that as this is the only functioning Reventón on the planet I am to take good care of it. By contrast I’m only concerned it takes good care of me. And this is why.

It is so easy to be carried away by the unrivalled menace of the Reventón’s shape you can forget that deep within lurks a beast every bit as savage and potentially prejudicial to your welfare as its bovine namesake. It is Lamborghini’s most powerful engine ever, a 6.5 litre 650bhp V12 orgy of Italian engineering. This is not an engine derived from one found in an Audi saloon, like the V10 motor in the Gallardo.

Audi may now run Lamborghini and I am sure it had plenty to say about how the Reventón’s powerhouse should be tuned, but this is a pure Lamborghini motor whose origins can be traced back long before any Audi involvement to a time when the company was run by none other than Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. And it is a masterpiece.

To start it, you simply twist the key – no silly button pressing here. And as it fires, something remarkable happens: the hitherto entirely black and blank dashboard turns into what looks for all the world like the instrument panel of the fighter that inspired it. Diodes blink and glimmer, and as you blip the throttle two cantilevered electronic bars rise and fall like the rapidly beating wings of a pterodactyl. It takes a few seconds to work out this is in fact the rev counter, or to be strictly accurate two rev counters. Why two? Because they look cool.

Dead ahead is another readout in the shape of a grid with a little dot at its centre. When you accelerate, it rises; as you press the massive carbon ceramic brakes, so it falls. Aim the car into a corner and it heads off to one side in sympathy. Turns out this is a G-force metre that measures both longitudinal and lateral acceleration. I wouldn’t have been that surprised to discover I was also strapped into an ejector seat. If you are not already thoroughly scared by this stage in the process of acclimatisation with the Reventón there’s a career in the RAF waiting for you.

This car is fabulous to drive: for all its state of the art technology it feels like an old-school supercar of a type Ferrari stopped making when the last of the Testarossas died more than 10 years ago. Its width is as intimidating as its punch – and this is a car that will sling you to 62mph in 3.4sec and reach 211mph. It feels heavy in slow corners, ferocious on even short straights and – on those rare occasions you find enough space to let it do some proper work – addictively wonderful. It is a difficult car to drive well, which only means that when you master it the rewards are all the richer.

Of course you can’t see out of it properly in town, making every junction a heart-in-mouth challenge. It’s impossible to park and the nose is so low that you could easily land yourself with a bill big enough to buy a normal new car just by misjudging a speed bump. But the 20 owners who will have taken delivery of their Reventóns by this time next year will not be concerned by this. They’ll fawn over the fuel filler cap – a solid lump of milled aluminium – and dribble over the single exhaust pipe, big enough to pass the emissions of a small power station. As it is, it pumps out almost half a kilogram of CO2 for every kilometre you travel. Put another way, drive your Reventón to the south of France and back and the atmosphere will be a tonne of CO2 heavier for your efforts. Perhaps it’s best not to think about that too hard. Besides, Reventóns will be so scarce and so treasured you’re unlikely to see one even in the traditional playgrounds of the fabulously rich.

Ten of them are going straight to America where most will be spirited away into private collections, rarely if ever to be seen again, which leaves just 10 more for the rest of the planet. In years to come there’ll be more sightings of Lord Lucan than Reventóns. But the Reventón is not quite as exclusive as it might first appear.

By now you would be forgiven for thinking that, given its price and appearance, this car is a bespoke piece of engineering from end to end. But it’s not. In all important mechanical respects it’s a Murciélago LP640. Chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes – the lot – are carried over straight from Lamborghini’s long serving and ever excellent flagship. The only difference is Reventón engines offer (a rather paltry) 10 extra horsepower. Beyond that, all that’s changed are the bits you can see. And for those Lamborghini is asking over £600,000 more than the £197,460 purchase price of the Murciélago.

Personally I take my hat off to Lamborghini. It has identified 20 customers around the world who will willingly part with the thick end of a million quid for a rebodied version of a car costing a quarter of the price. To those that buy them, the sums involved will be an irrelevance – to Lamborghini they will likely prove useful. Me? I’ve adored the Murciélago since the day I first drove one and while I covet the Reventón even more my love is not so blind it can ignore the fact that I could have a Murciélago (which is just as fast and good to drive), a house, speedboat and helicopter for the price of a Reventón.

To me the price makes no sense at all. Buy a Bugatti Veyron for not a lot more money and you buy a car that is unique in every respect. On the other hand Reventón buyers will have so much money that a million euros, dollars or pounds are such inconsequential sums they could easily have both. And probably have. I don’t doubt that, to them, their exquisite-looking and impossibly rare Reventón will mean more than the money. I know my place and would stick with a modest little Murciélago. And the change, of course.

Vital statistics

Model Lamborghini Reventón
On sale All sold
Engine type 6496cc, 12 cylinders
Power/Torque 650bhp @ 8000rpm / 487 lb ft @ 6000rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel/CO2 13.7mpg / 495g/km
Performance 0-62mph: 3.4sec / Top speed: 211mph
Price £840,000 approx
Verdict The only thing more crazy than the car is the price
Rating

The opposition

Model
Bugatti Veyron
£923,000
For The ultimate supercar of this, or any other era
Against Huge weight blunts the driving experience

Model
Lamborghini Murciélago coupé
£197,460
For Great looks, performance, handling, sound
Against Poor outward visibility, poor ride, cheap cabin

Sources : www.timesonline.co.uk

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Buying a car is a big purchase, and Carsguide wants to help you have the best possible result. We also want to make sure you have all the information to arm you against a possible scam or fraud.

Scams and fraud

The biggest risks are from fraudulent ads or vehicles that are stolen or encumbered. To protect yourself:

• Don’t rush into your purchase. Remember : if it looks too good to be true it probably is.
• If you are suspicious the ad may be a scam, go to our information page for more help and tips.
• Never transfer money via your bank or any other company to a seller without viewing the car in person. If you are asked to transfer money ie via Western Union or MoneyGram DO NOT transfer this money and immediately call our customer service representatives on 1800 026 705 (Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.30pm).
• Carsguide.com.au will never ask you to transfer funds. If you are asked this please call our customer service on the number above.
• Approach very low priced vehicles with suspicion.
• Ensure you get the seller’s contact details including name, contact phone number and if possible adress or drivers licence number.
• Ring the seller and ask them questions about the vehicle.
• Always physically view the vehicle, preferably in daylight hours as it’s easier to see any damage.
• Before purchasing, check the vehicle is still listed on www.carsguide.com.au as we will remove fraudulent ads as soon as we find them.
• Where possible obtain a third party inspection of the vehicle.
• Always seek independent advice before purchase.
• Research the vehicle’s registration status, financial records and whether the vehicle is stolen. This can be done with your state/territory road traffic authority, see links below. Note: fees may apply
• Consider purchasing a REVS certificate from your state/territory road traffic authority that will give you the history of the vehicle, select from the state/territory below note: fees may apply

There are a few simple things to remember and steps to take, that will make the experience easier, and assist you in avoiding being ripped-off.

Set your budget

Work out how much you can afford to spend, and don’t forget to include registration, insurance and regular maintenance and running costs. Both for insurance, and if you’re going to get a loan, shop around to get the best rate.

Do your research

It’s important to have a thorough look at what’s out there before buying a used car. To get an idea of a model’s current market price, spend some time searching our used car ads online or in your local newspaper. Also check out our price guide to help you avoid paying too much.

Be wary if you find a used car where the price is much lower than the market suggests it should be. If you’re determined to take it further, have the car checked thoroughly. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Find the right car

Browse cars by body type, make or price to find out which make and model might suit you
Go window shopping by make and model, age, location… and all kinds of other helpful details
Read our expert reviews of the car you’re looking for
Check the latest car news to see if a new model is coming — which can reduce the price of previous models when it arrives.

Contact the seller

And when you do, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions…

- how long have they had the car
- why are they selling it
- has it ever been damaged
- what condition is it in
- will it meet a RWC
- does it have any `bad habits’

Looking at the car

If the seller is a private party rather than a dealer, always go to their home address. Don’t arrange to meet them somewhere. Check that the home address is the same as the one on the registration certificate. Take a printout or copy of the seller’s advertisement with you to check that details like the odometer numbers are accurate.

Checking the car

Make sure you have a thorough look over the car yourself, and best of all, have an independent mechanic or automotive centre check it out properly on a hoist. It could save you thousands by revealing mechanical problems and previous damage.

- always look at the car in full daylight, never in the dark or in rain that could conceal body marks, dents, rust and other defects
- check under the car, the bonnet and the interior carpet for rust and signs – such as welding marks — which may show the car has been in a crash
- under the bonnet, look for signs of oil leaks on top of the engine, and underneath. Use the dipstick to check the amount of oil. If the level is low, the owner hasn’t been looking after the car properly
- look around the oil filler cap for a white mayonnaise-like substance – this is an indication of a damaged head gasket which can be very expensive to put right
- take a look at the tyres to make sure they’re in good condition with plenty of tread
- get down in front of each front wheel and look along the length of the car. Both front wheels should be directly in front of the rear ones – if they’re not, it could mean the car has been in a crash and ended up with a slightly twisted or `crabbed’ chassis
- check the gaps between the body panels are equal – if they’re not, the car could have been refitted badly, or may have been in a crash
- inside the car, make sure the seatbelts work correctly, the steering wheel and dashboard are bolted on correctly, the front seats move properly and all switches work
- start the car with a cold engine, which will make is easier to reveal problems like poor starting or too much smoke

Test drive the car

- before you set off, turn the steering wheel from one lock to the other to make sure there is no screeching, banging, or knocking
- to test the handbrake, pull it on and then try to drive off very gently. It should hold the car back
- listen for strange noises from the engine, and don’t let the seller distract you by talking or turning up the radio
- drive on as many different roads surfaces as possible
- use all the gears, and check the gear change is slick and smooth
- make sure the clutch pedal ‘bites’ between the top and middle of the pedal’s travel

Negotiating the price

The price is the price, but there’s often leeway for bargaining.

- Make a list of any faults you found with the car, or any work that might need doing, and calculate how much this could add to the price.
- From this position, negotiate the price with the seller.
- Ask the seller what their best price is, make a lower offer and then say nothing. They can only either turn you down, accept your offer or name another price closer to yours.

Paperwork and payment

- Make sure all the paperwork is in order, and that you have original versions (never photocopies) everything … registration papers, service history and logbook
- If you’re making a payment or even just a deposit, get a receipt and make sure the seller’s full details are on it

Never give or send a seller money without seeing the car, or without getting a receipt with all the details.

Scammers may ask you to send money by Western Union or other moneygrams, or even through an address pretending to be Carsguide. Do not send them the money, and contact Carsguide immediately to report any seller you feel is a fraud. Carsguide does not act as an agent in handling buyer and sellers money, so any request to do this should be treated suspiciously.

Call our Customer Service 1800 026 705 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm) if you have doubts or are suspicious about any communication from a seller or another buyer.

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A forwarded email with photos of a new car that seats one person, gets 258 miles to the gallon, runs between 62 and 74 miles per hour and costs only $600 US. It says this car will be the most economical car on sale next year.

The Truth:
The Volkswagen (VW) L1 is a real car, seats 2 and if released would have a price tag $25,900.

Volkswagen has designed and built the L-1 with an eye toward better gas mileage and lower carbon emissions. It has not yet resulted in a production model to be released to the public, but Former VW chairman Dr Ferdinand Piëch actually drove the L1 to the VW shareholders’ meeting in Hamburg from his office in Wolfsburg which lies about 84 miles South of the German port. Piëch recorded 317.4mpg with an average speed of 43.5mph.

The two passenger car is equipped with a carbon fiber body, 299cc single-cylinder diesel engine, anti lock brakes, driver’s airbag and an electronic stability program. The L1′s price tag of $25,900 was much higher than what the German automotive company targeted for consumers.

The UK Telegraph followed the progress of the L1 over the years reported that the project had been scrapped and later restarted. The L1 has design challenges such as the passenger having to sit bobsled style with their legs around the drivers seat as well as excessive noise and vibration adding to passenger discomfort.

Piëch now heads VW’s supervisory board and is still working on fuel efficient vehicles for the German automaker. The L1 appeared to be a stepping stone and a learning tool to design more efficient vehicles. Piëch said, “We will never build a one-litre car, but it could give us the knowledge to build a two-litre car.”

The VW company also introduced a 3 liter vehicle, the Lupo, which seats four and goes about 78 miles to a gallon of fuel.

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