In a time of recession it becomes very difficult to buy a new very cheap car. So what are the alternatives to that? Most people don’ realize that during a recession many hidden opportunities appear. One such opportunity is that every month many luxury cars get auctioned: this is a great chance to buy a normally very expensive car at only a fraction of its initial value.
Well my first inhibitions was that buying an auctioned car could be something very complicated. I couldn’t be more wrong. So I started searching the Internet to find any sites that provide information on how to purchase such cars. I’ve had a hard time to find a really good site that will provide such information but after several days of searching, I finally struck gold.
I signed myself are started immediately looking through the lists and oh boy was I surprised. I found cars that normally cost over $25,000 at prices of less than $4000. The surprise came when I found a nice Honda S2000 which normally sells for $22,000 at the staggering price of only $3000.
I have never, ever in my life grabbed my wallet that fast.
From that point on I realized that there was a business opportunity here. I proceeded buying several cars which I re-sold later for double and triple the initial price. The last six months only I have made more than $25,000 by just making three simple transactions. Total working time: less than four days.…
Many people find a Haynes or a Chilton manual to be a very helpful resource when doing their own work. Both manuals provide step-by-step instructions on how to do lots of different jobs, from the simplest to the more complicated. Depending on how much you plan on doing yourself, the manual will pay for itself very quickly.
You’ll also need to invest in some quality tools and safety equipment like a jack, jack stands and wheel chocks. It will take a little longer for these to pay for themselves, but it can be well worth it in the long run.
Changing your car’s oil is often inexpensive if you take it to a local shop or quick lube specialist. You can still save a little extra money if you do it yourself, but there’s a tradeoff. For many people the money saved isn’t enough to spend the time doing their own.
Some prefer to do their own service because they want to be sure it’s done properly. The dealer will tell you the best oil to use, and just about every parts store has a guide to help you select the proper filter. Sometimes you can save even more money by using coupons or store specials. Buy the stuff in advance if you need to, in order to take advantage of the deals.
Changing your air filter is another way to save money, and it’s possibly the easiest car care job you’ll do. On some cars you don’t have to use any tools. On others it might just take a screwdriver. Here again, the parts store will have a guide to show you which filter to get for your particular car.
Changing spark plug is a little more involved, and its difficulty varies from one car to another. But it’s usually done at the novice level with a few simple tools. It’s a job that rarely needs to be done, but there’s money to be saved if you’re willing to put some time into it. You’ll need a ratchet set and maybe an extension. You might need a special socket and many people like to use a torque wrench. Spark plug wires are also easy to change as well. Here again, the manual and parts store can be pretty helpful.
Changing your coolant can be more of a hassle, but it’s still another way you can save money. One of the most important things is to make sure you’re using the proper type of coolant. It used to be that all coolant was the same. That’s no longer the case and the wrong choice can result in damage to your engine. A call to the dealer can be pretty helpful, or simply buy the coolant from the dealer to avoid the possibility of trouble.…
If you own and operate an automobile, eventually, there will be a time in which you must shop around for auto parts. When shopping for these products, you will quickly discover that they can carry quite an expense! The expense can place quite a dent in the wallet if you are shopping for parts to replace faulty ones, or simply parts to enhance the overall performance of your vehicle. There are many different ways to save money when buying parts for your automobile. Here, you will learn about a few different strategies that I use when shopping for these products. When comparing the prices of new parts from local automobile stores to the prices that I have paid, I have saved thousands of dollars. Now, you can too!
One of the best methods that you can use when shopping for deals in auto parts is to check out all of your local junkyards and salvage yards. This type of business discounts the prices of these products drastically ? mostly because of the fact that the parts are used, and they have so many to offer to the consumer in need of them. Generally, you can elect to have the parts that you need pulled, or you can save a few extra bucks by pulling the items needed yourself. For example, at one point, my radiator cracked and I needed a new one. The local parts stores average price was right around $75.00. However, I went to a local junkyard, had them pull the part for me, and paid only $15.00. In addition to the radiator, the salvage yard also threw in the hoses. Now, how is that for savings?
The next method that I have used to acquire parts for less for my automobile is a bit more risky than shopping at a local junkyard, but I have never experienced any type of complication from making purchases in this fashion. This step involves using the internet. There are many different online resources that can be implemented when purchasing vehicle components online. For example, there are many online wholesalers that have massive amounts of parts that can be sold at much lower prices than automobile parts stores offer. In addition to this, there are online auction websites like ebay, as well as many classified advertisements that offer great deals on vehicle components.
Over the years, I learned another little handy trick that seems to help when it comes to saving money on parts for my car. You know all of those old “buy here, pay here” car lots? Well, if you run into one that is locally owned, you may get a little deal on any spare parts that they have laying around. Many times, these spare parts are just lying around and cannot be used for anything in the lot. The owners of these little side car dealerships love to make a fast buck and are often more than willing to part with a few vehicle parts to make some fast cash.
As you can see, there are quite a few ways that you can save a little cash when shopping for auto parts. Many times, you just have to get a little creative in your search for a great deal. You will be absolutely surprised at what you bargains you can find shopping around for auto parts.…
Government car auctions are a great way to save thousands off your next car. But, do you know how to maximize your savings even further when you get there? Go over these 3 tips that will give you the upper hand when while attending your next federal auction.
1. Get there early: Getting to the auction on time is essential when it comes to saving money. Not only will it give you enough time to fully inspect all of the cars that catch your eye, it will also give you the opportunity to spy on the competition. Meaning, that you’ll be able to see what cars are popular and discover just how attached other bidders are to them. So, if you see a car with a lot of interested buyers that keep coming back, just know that a bidding war is soon to occur. And that’s not the car you want to end up overpaying for. On the other hand, if you see a car that hardly anybody is interested in, know that you’re bound to save hundreds and even thousands off it’s Kelly’s Blue Book value.
2. CAR FAX is your friend: Although most car auction cars are in good condition, some have been in accidents, have had major repairs or even been in floods! So, bust out your smart phone and do a quick CAR FAX report on any car that you plan on buying… it can save you thousands in unwanted future repairs.
3. Stick to your budget: Having and sticking to a budget is one of the most important things you can do while attending a car auction. It’s all too easy to fall in love with a car, get sidetracked, end up in a bidding war and end up paying way more than you can actually afford.
So, stick to a budget, do a CAR FAX report and get there early and you’ll be sure to save at the next federal car auction you attend.…
Starting an auto repair shop can be very profitable, but a shiny complete shop full of new equipment can be out of the reach of most auto repair business entrepreneurs. The cost of a business startup can deter many of us from starting a new auto repair shop now.
However success is never easy and the first thing you need is determination! If you push though this financial obstacle then you will reap huge benefits and rewards. If you have the ability to repair vehicles then you are more than half way there. You can start an auto repair business as long as you can do the work yourself and you have the drive to do it. Here are 5 tips to start your auto repair business with little or no money!
1) Legalities. You will need to get an occupational license and open a business bank account. You will need to file a fictitious name request online to open a business bank account. You may also file for an occupational license online as well.
2) Type of business. You will need to adjust your niche. If you cannot afford a shop to bring customers to why not take the shop to the customers. Why not offer a mobile auto repair business until you can get a brick and mortar shop.
3) Business cards. If you can afford to you should go to a professional for your business cards such as Vista print they offer a onetime free offer for full color and quality business cards. Do not forget to utilize the back of your business cards. Do not leave the back of your cards blank. Think of the back of your business cards as a free billboard that you can use to offer discounts or referral fees to consumers who send customers your way.
4) Free ways to market. Marketing is the key to any businesses success or failure. You should utilize every social media site that you can such as Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. It may seem daunting at first but you can use to update all of your social media sites at once. You will need a website with your local keywords in the Meta tags. You must submit your website to as many search engines as you possibly can. You can start search engine submissions with . You will also need a keyword rich blog. You should use the services section of Craigslist to post your auto repair niche classified in for free. Do not post a plain old ad to Craigslist, go to Google and type in free Craigslist template and you will get an eye catching template for free. You should post your classified to as many free classified sites that you are able to. Post a free ad on Manta and post your business information on Google maps and places. This is by no means a complete list but these ideas will get you started on your path to owning a successful auto repair business.
5) Failure is not an option. If you really want a repair shop full of equipment that you own then you will need to make it happen. You will need to save 20% of the profit that you make and save it. If you can you should open an interest bearing account and keep adding 20% of your profits to your savings account and you will be on your way to owning the auto repair shop you have dreamed of.
Whatever you do make it count! Do not take no for an answer! Do not listen to nay Sayers! If everyone in history listened to the masses we would still believe the world was flat. 2012 can be the year you started on your road to success!…
The best auto insurance quote is usually the lowest one that you get. When you shop for coverage, it is important to save money. Here are seven tips for getting a lower premium payment.
1. Drop some of the coverage from your policy. If your car is getting older, you may not need expensive collision coverage. However, it is still a good idea to opt for comprehensive coverage. It will pay for things like fire and theft losses. It will also pay for accidents like a tree falling on your car. If you receive hail damage, comprehensive will pay for it. It is not an expensive option on your policy.
2. Check into extras like free auto club benefits. Some companies will give you free roadside assistance with your coverage. Others may offer it for a reduced rate. A good auto club can cost you in excess of $100 per year.
3. The type of car you drive, matters a great deal. Some cars are at higher risk for being stolen. Others are involved in more accidents than most cars. Check into the rates for different types of vehicles, before you buy one.
4. You can lower your annual driving mileage. You might consider car pooling with others, as this can save you money. Most companies offer lower rates for low mileage drivers.
5. Consider an alarm system for your car. Anti-theft devices can qualify for lower rates. Cars with alarms are less likely to be stolen. Any type of safety device like anti-lock brakes will also qualify.
6. Check into group discounts that are available. Certain companies and organizations may receive special rates. It may be your local credit union, or it might be your place of employment.
7. Make sure all of your cars are insured with the same company. You might have student drivers or adult children at home. This may earn you a multiple car discount, on your policy.…