The Truth About Car Repair Costs, How Much Should You Be Paying?

Repairing your car, truck, suv, or van, is a necessity. And, unfortunately, things break. So, the bottom line is at some point in time, unless you are a mechanic or body man, you are going to have to pay to have your vehicle repaired.


There are some things you can do to keep those costs down. For starters, when it comes to mechanical items, the obvious thing is to keep your vehicle maintained. I can't preach enough about how important it is to keep you car in good mechanical health. Things like changing the oil, maintaining your brakes and keeping the engine tuned up are just no brainers in this economy.


Let's look at brakes for starters. Brake pads wear out. They are manufactured to do this. They are also necessary. Ask anyone who has abruptly met the owner of the vehicle in front of them because they didn't pay attention to the "squeak" that was coming from the brake pads. A change of those pads might very well have saved them the cost of the accident, the cost of the ticket, the cost of a lawyer, if one was necessary, and the list goes on and on. AFTER the accident is too late! Brake pads are not expensive. In fact, if you change them regularly, you can purchase a set of good brake pads from a parts supplier like Advance Auto Parts, that has a "lifetime warranty"! Yup, simply put, you can buy ONE SET OF BRAKE PADS and NEVER PAY FOR ANOTHER SET AGAIN! EVER! Now, you will have to pay for the labor to install them, but, the next thing we're going to talk about here is how to save on that cost too.





Many people wait till their vehicle is down and then start searching the Internet for places to fix it. They make 20 phone calls, tell their story 20 times and come up with the best price and then drive to the "winning" shop and get the repair work done. I suppose this might work for some people, but, why go thru all that work when you can save yourself the phone time AND have your vehicle repaired cost effectively by choosing a shop BEFORE you need the work done.







When you are putting together your preventive maintenance items is the time to choose your shop. NOT when your vehicle is down on the side of the road and you're in a panic to find someone to fix it. Having a car repair shop phone number ready to call is the way to go. Most shops welcome your maintenance business. If you consistently go to the same shop to have your work done, you'll build a relationship with the shop. They cherish your business and will go the extra nine yards to make sure they take care of their "regular" customers. Many shops will even give a discount to those that are regulars. When you're on the side of the road and your car is broken down or in an accident, it's comforting to know that the repair guy knows you and will go out of his way to ensure that you are taken care of right away.


So, let's get back to how to build that relationship. Start by checking out the shops closest to you. Talk to the owner. Find out if they have a preventive maintenance plan that you can purchase. If not, put together a list of the items you want to have completed and see if you can get a "deal" on having all the services provided at the same time. Most shops will work with you on this. Find the best price at a shop you are comfortable with and stay with them. After going there a few times and showing your loyalty, the rest will follow.

Putting together your list of maintenance items really depends on the type of vehicle you're dealing with. Check your owner's manual for manufacturer's suggested time frames on the usual items like changing your oil, tuning up the vehicle, belt replacement, and so on. If your manual doesn't list these items, call a dealer and find out the recommended times.


If your vehicle hasn't been maintained for some time, you'll want to start with the obvious. Change the oil. If you want to save yourself some gas money, add a tune up to the list. Changing the plugs and wires will gain you some added mileage and ensure that your engine is running smoothly and efficiently. Most cars will go a year on a tune up with no problem. The next thing to put on the list is brakes. Have them checked at first. Have the mechanic tell you what kind of mileage he thinks are left on your pads and make a decision as to whether you should change them now or wait. Keeping these items together is important too, so, if the pads are worn at all, it's a good idea to have them done the first time to get everything done at one time and start your maintenance routine properly. Choose a good quality brake pad with a lifetime warranty and keep the receipt. When the pads wear down, go back to your supplier and simply get a new set. It's a one time fee that will save you a ton of money over the course of your vehicle's lifetime.


Have your mechanic check the belts. Belts are one thing that will definitely put your vehicle on the side of the road if they break, so keeping them in good condition is one of the most important aspects of a good preventive maintenance plan. If you have a serpentine belt, and most newer vehicle's do, it is well worth the cost of the belt to replace it. That one belt controls many items in your vehicle including the water pump and power steering pump. To get a good start on your maintenance program, include replacing this belt.


Lastly, have your hoses and any pulleys checked for wear. Replace any worn hoses or noisy bearings and pulleys.


The first time you have your preventive maintenance work done should include everything possible. This way, you can insure that you have covered all of the things that could come up and give you a good starting point to schedule the rest of your maintenance on. All of the items we have mentioned here include items surrounding or included with the systems that they are associated with. For instance, when changing the brake pads, your technician will get a good look at your suspension and alert you to anything you should be aware of there. When changing the serpentine, many of the components associated with that system will be checked at the same time, like the water pump and power steering pump and so on.


Now that you've gotten your vehicle maintained, the key is to keep it that way. You will have accomplished two things here. You can drive your vehicle worry free, knowing that the usual suspects are new and ready to keep your vehicle running. And 2., you have established a relationship with a shop that will serve you well for a long time to come.


Create a maintenance schedule and stick with it. The result will be worry free driving for you and your family and a vehicle that will run well and be worth more when it comes time to sell it. Both of which are well worth the cost of maintaining the second largest investment most of us own, second to our homes.


Happy motoring!


Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body
ldjautobody@yahoo.com
(813) 644-4497

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When Purchasing a Used Vehicle, Do Your Homework or Have Someone Else Do It For You!

Purchasing a vehicle is these economic times can be rough. Money is tight and we all need to spend wisely. When thinking about purchasing a veheicle, the first thing to determine is whether to buy new or used. Purchasing a new vehicle allows you to take advantage of all the great buying deals that the dealers have to offer right now and there are many great new vehicle deals available. Always research those deals to find the best price and deal before signiong the dotted line. However, this article is dedicated to purchasing used vehicles.

In these times, when money is tight, purchasing a used vehicle is often the only option to many people. Credit scores and a meriod of other variables may be the reason for that. However, one thing is certain, and, that is the fact that you can purchase a used vehicle and get more for your money in the way of options and in most cases, it's the only way some people can purchase the vehicle they really want.

The biggest problem most people face when purchasing a used vehicle is determining the value of the vehicle they're looking at. Most times, unless you're purchasing the vehicle from someone you know, the biggest obstacle is that you don't know how the vehicle was operated, how it was maintained, and, if there are any problems with the vehicle. If you purchase a used vehicle from a dealer, most dealers will give you some sort of warranty on the vehicle, but, depending on it's age and mileage, the warranty will be short lived compared to the length of time you will own the vehilce. If you purchase the vehicle from a private party, there will most likely be no warranty. So choosing a used vehicle should be done carefully.

One way to check on a vehicle's background when the owner may not have kept as good of records as you'd like, is to use an independent vehicle reporting service.  We prefer AutoCheck.  AutoCheck is an independent vehicle report backed by Experian, a finanancial leader in the automotive industry used by over 15,000 dealers nationwide.  Check out the video below for some great information on AutoCheck. 

Not onlyNot only will you get information like the number of reported owners, but, you can also do comparison shopping with a list of similar vehicles listed right there for you in the report. And, if that's not enough, AutoCheck will buy the vehicle back from you if it doesn't live up to the reports you were provided with! Yup, it doesn't get any better than that. AutoCheck's "Buy Back Program" does exactly that. They will purchase the vehilce back from you. Check out AutoCheck today, before you buy that special used vehicle you've been thinking about!

Now, we've determined that it is key that you check into the vehicle's background. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always ask for the vehicle's service record. I preach all the time about keeping a good service record on your vehicles and for good reason. When selling your vehicle, it becomes much easier to negotiate a good price when you are able to substantiate that the vehicle was maintained. This requires keep all service records including oil chang and tune-up receipts along with any parts changes that were made. If you replaced the transmission on your 2008 vehicle and you have the receipt to show that this was done, it shows that you are willing to share with the buyer everything that happened to the vehicle including the things that were wrong. Likewise, when purchasing a used vehicle, take note of what things were serviced. If you have all the records in front of you, you can determine the things that might possible be comming up that you'll have to spend money on and either use that as a bargaining chip or at least, insure that you have the money to replace those items that are comming due based on the vehicle's milage.

One way to save some real money when purchasing used is to go through an auction. Auctions are a great way to purchase when you use a well established auction house. Auction houses do the homework for you. Iron Planet Motors is a great, well established auction house that is great for first time auction buyers. They send someone out to physically inspect every item that is sold through them. A report is made on the vehicle which summarizes everything you need to know about the car, truck, suv, van, or even motorcycle that you're interested in. Buying at auction also increases the area in which you'll be able to buy from. Because you don't physically have to drive to the location where the vehicle is, you can purchase a car located in a state which might be hundreds of miles away. But, by increasing the area in which you're able to shop, you can also increase the number of vehicles you have to choose from.

When you sign up for information from an auction house like Iron Planet Motors, you will receive all the information you need to determine which vehicles you're interested in. You'll see pictures of the vehicle, have a report from an independent researcher who actually went to see the vehicle, drive it, and give it a rating based on Iron Planet Motors rating scales. What could be easier?

Now, not all auctions work the same.  I suggest going with an auction house that has a very good overall rating. I recommend Iron Planet beause I have used them myself and they not only have the highest of ratings from users like ourselves, but they cater to first time auction buyers.  

They will walk you through the buying process. You can participate in the auction online from the comfort of your own home. Yup, watch the whole thing unfold right there on your laptop. And, they'll even help you out with financing and transportation of your vehicle after you've made your purchase.

Auctioned vehicle pricing depends on the number of buyers. They have a starting price so you know what the lowest bids will be. And, you'll know ahead of time exactly what you're getting into. Things like transmission noises, rod knocks, sticking valves and anything else that was found in the inspection will be right there in front of you on your report. These reports are done by people that are experts in determining the value of a vehicle. They are experienced car buyers that KNOW what to look for and can usually spot things that the ameteur will overlook, so you already have the upper hand before you make the purchase. Many great deals have been had at auctions.

So before you go out and buy your next used vehicle, why not check out Iron Planet Motors. Use one of their links on this page to sign up and get some information. Signing up for the info is free and gives you all the information you need.

The only thing left to do after you look over the information in you welcome packet is to become a registered bidder at the auction. This does require giving some personal information which is another reason we recommend Iron Planet. These guys are legitimate and will treat your personal information with the utmost care. Something to be very careful of in these days of identity theft and fraudulent activity. Be very careful of the places you register to bid at. Make sure you check out their credentials and ensure that they are legitimate before giving up any of your personal information.

So, whether you're looking for a car, truck, suv, van, motorcycle, or other fun toys, check out he information on this page to find some alternatives to driving around and possibly making a huge finanacial mistake.  Take the precautions to ensure you spend your money wisely by either getting a good vehicle history report......

Or get some information from one of the best auction houses around......

Till next time, have fun, and let us know what you bought and how you bought it. We love to hear your comments, auction stories, and any other great information we can share with our readers when it comes to buying cars, trucks, and motorcycles!

Larry and Dee
LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical
ldjautobody@yahoo.com

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LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop

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Great Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Sites We Love and Want to Share

I love what I do!  Yup, as a woman in the auto repair industry, I genuinely love writing about cars and trucks and neat stuff to help and inform our readers about stuff that is either interesting, helpful, or, informative about cars, trucks, motorcycles and just about anything else that rocks, rolls, stops or goes!  In doing research, I have my favorite sites to check with and I thought it would be nice to pass along some of those sites to you, my Car and Motorcycle Maintenance readers!

Now, I have a bunch of favorite places on the net that I visit regularly and the list is huge, so I'm not going to try and list them all at one time.  Instead, I thought I'd start a new regular feature here and bring them to you once a week.  They are all great sites and each one has it's own special charm that keeps me comming back.

One such site is www.Jalopnik.com.  The writers at Jalopnik offer great all around content.  You'll never be disappointed here, whether you are looking for reviews of cars, trucks, motorcycles and what have you.  Not only are the articles packed full of great information, but, you will always find funny and interesting things here that you won't find anywhere else.  One of the features I love at Jalopnik.com is the "10 Best" series of articles found here regularly.  A consistent list of the "10 Best" of whatever the flavor of the day might be!  Yesterday's "10 Best" featured "Ten Things Every Non-Gearhead Needs To Know About Their Car".   Here's a perfect example of the great writing you'll find at this site. 

Now, those of you who know me are already laughing and thinking, yup, she would pick something that revolves around here favorite subject.....maintenance!  OK, I know I do tend to preach a lot about my favorite topic, but, for the most part, I try and bring your attention to those things that might not be as much fun as you'd like, but, somebody has to do it, and, I've always been kind of the "motherly" type!  This sites "10 Best", however, will not only keep you laughing, but, also has some realistic concepts and info that will teach you something too. 

See the little arrow???

For instance, No. 10 on the list taught me that that little arrow on your fuel gauge points to the side that your fuel door is on!  Now how handy is that little tidbit!?  Something that, as a professional in this industry, I should have already known....but, learned here today. 

There is also the lesson to be learned in No. 8.  Knowing whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or, all-wheel-drive is key!  How embarrasing would it be to be caught on video putting your snow chains on the wrong set of wheels?  Of course, here in sunny Florida, we don't worry about things like that, and, when we do, we simply put one on the front and one on the rear to make sure.....(Yup, you might be a red-neck!)  But, check out the video anyway, it's good for a chuckle or two!  And, for all our "towing company" owner readers, that video was shot in Seattle, WA, where you just might want to open the new branch of your towing company!

If it weren't for the signage, I'd suspect this was done right here in Gibosnton!

No. 7 is a perfect example of why I preach over and over again about making sure you know exactly where your spare tire and jack are located.....  Now, what I really want to know is how one of our good ol' southern boys made it all the way to Japan, (take note of the signage), to help this guy get that truck up on those "homemade, red-neck style" jack stands?  Someone needs to let Jeff Foxworthy know about this one and I'll let him do the honors!

More than just a pretty cluster!

No. 6 is just good sense.  Knowing what all the lights and doo-dads on your dash are for is necessary!  They are there for a reason.  But, as the writers at Jalopnik have dually noted, they can be confusing!  So follow those great suggestions and get out the manual for your vehicle and learn what they mean.  There will be a "pop-quiz" on Friday!

No. 5 makes me feel better about all my preaching about preventative maintenance and how important stuff like that is!  Although I might have put it a little higher up on my list, jumper cables and how to use them is definitely something that we should be teaching our kids, right after we get done reading the "how to" instructions located....here!  (Always a good idea to brush up on something before we go teaching someone else how to do it, right?)

No. 4 has me loving the great writers at Jalopnik even more!  Here they go again with making me feel proud about my obsession with maintenance and learning things about keeping your car safe!  See, I'm not the only one who knows that this stuff is important and will come in handy one day!  We, as vehicle owners, need to know this stuff!  So read this one and use the info to keep you and your family safe.  By the way, this really is a good way to check the tread on your tires.  Let's just thank our lucky starts that good 'ol Abe had a full head of hair when they decided to snap that picture that's made him so famous!

No. 3 here is related to No. 4 as it has to do with tires.  And, yet again, I get to have that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that my PM info is thought to be useful by yet another author of vehicular knowledge! Making sure your tire pressure is accurate can save you money! And, now that I've got your attention by lighting up your sense of financial security....it's also necessary to keep you safe!  Tire pressure has everything to do with keeping as much of the tire surface connected to the road which is what keeps you in control.  So, take note of the info here and use it!  You'll save money at the pump and ensure your vehicle has every bit of needed traction when you need it!

No. 2. is pretty self explanatory.  But, remember the name of the article?  Not everyone knows about this key to keeping your car running smoothly!  So, follow the information here to check your oil regularly.  You can thank me later for my preaching! 

Schedule that maintenance appointment now!  We miss ya!

No. 1!  So, by this time, most of you have figured out that I've taken the time here to drive home, once again, the importance of keeping your car, truck, or motorcycle healthy!  Yes, I snuck it in by disguising this as a fun, humor filled article to give you a couple laughs, and, drive home the point, once again, that a well maintained car is a healthy car!  Follow these instructions and we probably won't be seeing much of each other!  But, it's not that we don't want to see you, we love talking with our customers. It's just that we really do care and want to see you have fun with your vehicles and not be spending money for no reason!  Parts need to be changed at one time or another just because they wear out!  So, we'll be seeing each other regardless!  I just like seeing our customers save money where possible.....take this last point to heart then.  Schedule your maintenance when it's recommended.  Those guys at the manufacturer's don't just write those manuals for fun, ike I do!  There is a reason for them.

Well, here's a big THANK YOU to the writers at www.Jalopnik.com!  To all our regualr readers, you need to subscribe to this great site!  You'll love the articles, news, reviews and much more.  It's one of my personal, regular reads and I want to share it with you.  So sign up now, you won't be disappointed.

Now, whether you do your maintenance yourself, or, you come and see us, I want you to save as much money as possible while maintaining your car.  Use the link here to find the absolute best prices on everything you'll need to keep your vehicle healthy!  I've told you time and time again, I'll do the homework for you when it comes to finding the best prices on parts!  Advance Auto Parts always has great deals to save you money when repairing or maintaining your car, truck, suv, van, or motorcycle!  By going to our online parts directory, you'll fnd coupons, deals and more to help you get everything you need.  Use the search box on our page to look up exactly what you need.




Don't forget, our local customers here at LDJ Auto can use our "labor only" specials and supply the parts yourself to save money on your maintenance and repairs.  We love giving our customers the best deals we can and cutting out the middle man in the parts category is a great way to start saving.

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The Best of Our Custom Paint Jobs Go Really Fast!

What Happens After We Do The Custom Paint Job?

Here's A Couple of Our Customers Doing What THEY Do Best!

Good Morning and Happy Easter to all of our readers!  

I was working in the office yesterday morning and catching up on some seriously overdue paperwork when the phone rang.  "Well hello there stranger, how the heck are ya?" was the answer to my greeting.  The voice sounded sooooo familiar, but, I guess age really is catching up with me because, embarrassed that I couldn't put a face to the voice, I answered, "I'm fine, who's this?"  A belly low, but obviously very real belly laugh was the response along with, "Well, I guess it didn't take long for you to forget your favorite customer!  This is Hollis!  I was just thinking about you guys and thought I'd call and wish you a Happy Easter!"  "Hollis Jones!", I replied with an enormous smile on my face that immediately took over for the previously confused look I must have had.  "It's great to hear from you! Happy Easter and what's new with you?"  His answer and the conversation that followed got me thinking and reminiscing about all the wonderful people we've worked with in the past and led to the writing of this article.

Larry and I have been in this great business for over 37 years now and we have met and had the opportunity to work with thousands of people.  Many of those people have gone on to fame and fortune with the cars, trucks, and motorcycles that Larry has painted or worked on and we're very proud of all of them and the work we've done to help them along the way.  So, I've decided to look up some of those great people and share their accomplishments with you here and since his phone call was my inspiration to do this, the first one I will tell you about is none other than Hollis Jones!

Hollis, a long time friend of mine and Larry's and one of our very first customers loves cars and racing.  His love of cars and racing led him to start his business, City Suburban Auto Parts in Joliet, IL, some 30 odd years ago and turn it into one of the largest used auto parts suppliers in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.  In our recent conversation, he told me he had since sold the business and was now dedicating his time to his real passion, drag racing.  He went on to tell me that he has taken the 1966 SS Nova, that was one of the first custom paint jobs to come out of our shop, from a backyard project to a low 6 second semi-pro nationals winner!  Yes, at 63 years young, Hollis is living his dream and driving that same vehicle at speeds around 250 mph and loving every minute of it!

I jumped for joy when he told me I could find some videos of that very same car on YouTube and gave me permission to include them in this article!  Hollis Jones' 1966 SS Nova is an ongoing "labor of love" that we're sure, with his determination and skill, will bring him straight to the top!  When we first had the car in the shop back in the '80's, Hollis had just begun her transformation from an original '66 SS Nova with very minor modifications to the semi-pro Nationals winning car she is now.  And it all started with a "pure white pearlized" paint job that is still on the car today!  Of course, Larry had repainted the car a few times, but, always the same "pure white pearl" that has become Hollis's trademark with everything he owns.  Not a complex paint job, to say the least, but, perfect in every way.  Both Larry and Hollis's wife tried to get him to add some "color" to the car, but, Hollis stuck to his guns and insisted that it remain pure as the driven snow and as you can see in the videos, he still hasn't changed his mind!

What HAS changed on the car is the engine!  We've watched Hollis and his love for the 1/4 mile track go from 8 second passes in the 1980's to the unbelievably low 6 seconds and 250 mph passes she makes now!  So, without further ado, here's some video footage of this great car.

Here she is as we last saw the car.  Shown here in a bye run that took only 7 seconds!



Wow, sounding great and looking even better!  Now, Hollis Jones loves to go fast.  Back around that time, while he was tuning and working on the performance of this great car, I can remember the "promises" to his wife and his family, that once he reached 7 seconds in the quarter mile, he would hang up his fire suit and that would be that!  Hmmm, I guess that wasn't the case......in this next video, I think you'll see a few differences in the car!  The huge, stainless steel blower hanging out of the hood is one of those differences! LOL

Speaking of blowers, check out Vivid Racing's great prices on everything "race ready"!  The below link will take you to a page chock full of blowers and blower accessories at some dynamite prices!  AND, you can speak live to a customer representative right here! to find out more about exactly what you'll need to improve YOUR car's performance.  Just click on the "Chat Live Now" link to speak directly to one of Vivid Racing's professional technicians.










Back in the '80's, when Larry first started working on Hollis's car, I can remember the two of them enjoying a cold one while trying to figure out how to fit the car for the huge racing slicks that were necessesary to keep him "glued" to the pavement!  Larry is quite the magician when it comes to modification of these cars and after some thought and "Blackman" engineering, he tubbed the quarters and they modified the chassis to hold the slicks.  It was a job that Larry is proud of to this day.  As anyone who has seen a '66 Nova knows, the body lines are beautiful, but, very intricate.  The line that travels down the lower portion of the body of the vhicle is a double indentation with a raised point above and below the indent.  In asking Larry how he managed to duplicate that line in the portion of the quarter that he had to fabricate, his answer was....."I found somethin that worked....".  We also fabricated from scratch, the hood scoop to house the huge blower that then took up residence above the engine block.  That particular 1966 Nova had become one of the first "Larry Blackman originals"!  As usual, Larry's experience and engineering skills paid off and the rear slicks fit perfectly and the hood modifications were flawless.

Once again the vehicle was repainted, but, this time, the car was stripped down to bare metal and an absolutely flawless, pure white, pearlized paint job was put on the car.  Hollis Jones is one of the only people that Larry has allowed to help out with the paint job.  Larry's almost fanatical obsession with perfection usually does not allow for any type of assistance.  But, Hollis insisted and Larry agreed and the two set out as a team to produce one of the finest paint jobs ever to speed down the 1/4 mile strip. 

Hollis Jones' car is just one of many that we have on the drag strip or circle track.  Check back often for more success stories!

More about → The Best of Our Custom Paint Jobs Go Really Fast!

Supersized Southern

What a great day for a ride. A little warm by the time this afternoon rolled around but the morning was near perfect riding weather. As is my usual choice when I want a decent ride I headed off this morning to the border ranges area with no firm route in mind. Lovely quick run down the M1, not much traffic at all. People still tell me they cannot stand to ride down the M1 but to put it quite

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Buying and Selling - The True Value of Vehicles

QUESTION!

What's the second largest investmet you own?

OK, if your answer was "your wife", well, I suppose it might be a close second, but, let's assume you don't "own" your wife.  That said, then, truly, the answer is "your vehicle"!  Yuppers, that 4-wheeled beauty in the driveway IS, for most of us, the second largest investment we own second only to our homes. 

So, when it's time to buy or sell a vehicle, just how do you determine it's value?  If you're thinking, look at the "sticker price" on the window, well, yes, that does have some meaning, but, if we evaluate the vehicle, what is it's "true" value?

Any good sales person or marketing pro will tell you, the value of "anything" you're trying to sell is simply, "what the market will bare".  In other words, you can ask or put a price on anything, but, when push comes to shove, you're only going to be able to collect what someone else is willing to pay for it!  So when purchasing a vehicle, we need to evaluate exactly what we're paying for!

Some vehicles hold their value more than others.  For example, a Mercedes, Audi, BMW, and Volvo are higher end vehicles that will hold their value much longer than some others.  This list is just an example and I've shortened it to keep it short and simple here, so pleaseeeeee, don't hang me out to dry if your favorite vehicle is not in that list! LOL  The point I'm trying to make here, is that, some vehicles, for various reasons, are able to hold their value for a longer time.  Therefore, suffice it to say, when you're purchasing a vehicle, it's very important to remember this and do your homework before you go out and invest your hard earned money!  I used the word, invest, here for a very good reason.  Buying a vehicle is, for all intents and purposes, an investment.  Play your cards right here, and, when it comes time to sell that investment, you'll get the money you need to invest in another vehicle and keep your money working for you.

Condition is everything!  A vehicle, like anything else, including us, gets older and things wear out.  But, unlike people, an older vehicle can be just as reliable and road worthy as it's newer counterpart if it has been properly maintained!  That little word, if, is the key to that sentence.  When purhasing a vehicle, ask for proof of maintenance!  Looks can be very deceiving when it comes to vehicles.  But the proof is in the pudding!  Look at the vehicle's maintenance record and you will have a wealth of information.  A vehicle that has had it's oil changed and fluids checked and kept in top running condition will undoutedly be a better investment.  It is also worth more than one that wasn't!  My regualr readers are shaking their heads and muttering, "here she goes again" with the preventative maintenance argument.  And, yes, you're right.  But, in all seriousness, seeing is believing.  A stack of receipts showing what's been done and what's been replaced not only shows you the obvious, but, also let's you know that the owner is serious about the vehicle and took the time and money to keep it up.  This is great info to have.....knowing that you won't have to replace certain items that have already been replaced will give you the confidence of possibly knowing there won't be a significant repair bill in your immediate future. 

Now, a few other things certainly rank high up there in the list.  One of those is milage.  A vehicle's milage is it's finger print of actual age.  Low milage is good. No milage does not necessarily mean that the vehicle is better!  How so?  Cars are meant to be driven.  Running an engine is what lubricates it's parts.  A car that has little or no milage also has NOT been lubricated on a regular basis.  Lack of lubrication means little or no protection of it's inner parts from corrosion or rust!  Lubrication protects the inner workings from these nasty things so unless the car was started and run for some time this is a red flag!

Lastly, looking at the vehicle's interior and exterior will tell you a lot about the way the car was maintained also.  Although, this visual representation is not always the best indicator of a vehicle's condition, it's certainly the first thing anyone sees.  Here in Florida, the hot sun and moist weather conditions will quickly deteriorate the finish of any vehicle.  Keeping the paint waxed and UV protected is essential here.  Now, suffice it to say that just because someone didn't keep the car waxed doesn't mean they didn't take care of it mechanically.  What it does tell you, is two things.  One, the owner might have been a little on the "lazy" side...LOL  But, more importantly, if you are big on looks, you're going to be investing some money to get the vehicle looking up to your standards.  It's a good bargaining chip if nothing else!  AND, certainly something to keep in mind if you're going to be selling a vehicle.  Looks sell.  Point made.

The interior of any vehicle is where you'll spend the most time.  If it's a total disaster, you're not going to enjoy the ride!  Here's another indicator of an owner who just didn't care.  Not the worst thing in the world, but, something to keep in mind.  If they didn't care enough to clean it out, what are the chances that they changed the oil?  Hmmmm, no receipts to show?.....there's your answer!  Don't worry, I'm not gonna repeat myself again....LOL.  I know you got my point!

So, now that you know what you're looking for, go out there and find it!  Auctions are a great place to find that special vehicle.  Choose a good auction house that will give you a solid report of the vehicle's condition and you'r on your way to finding that "special" one!  Iron Planet Motors is good place to start!  These guys do ALL the work for you.  Check them out by clicking on the link below.  Not only will the give you a full vehicle report, they'll also help you out with transportation and financing.  All in one convenient location.

Happy Shopping!  See ya next time!

More about → Buying and Selling - The True Value of Vehicles

Proof That Vehicle Maintenance Provides Longevity to ANY Vehicle.

Well, here it is!  The proof I've been waiting for.  I really hate using the words, "I told you so", but, sometimes, even I have to make exceptions.  And, this morning, while going through my mail, I came across an article that I just had to share with you. 

(photo credit, Rachel Veitch)

You all know I preach about vehicle maintenance all the time.  I know I sometimes sound like a "mother hen" and I bet a lot of you feel sympathy for my kids because you know that owning a vehicle in my presence would be a constant nagging voice asking over and over again, "have you checked your oil recently" or the "by the way, when was the last time you had your brake pads changed"?  AND, you're probably right.  Having a mom and dad who fix cars for a living is a constant barage of maintenance goodies that is never ending.  But, all this "hype" about taking care of your vehicle does pay off!  Take Rachel Veitch, for example.  This 93-year old woman from Florida, just retired her 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente with 576,000 mile on it!  Yup, you read it right and there's no "typo" in that last sentence.  576,000 miles is a lot of miles!  And, she credits the incredible longevity of her car to, you guessed it, preventative maintenance.

According to Veitch, she purchased her car in 1964, for a total of $3,289 dollars.  And, now, 58 years later, she has retired her "chariot", as she put it.  You can read the full article, "93-year-old Florida Woman Retires Her ’64 Mercury after 576,000 Miles on the Road",  which was posted by "FoxNews.com", and written by Eric Pfeiffer.  Now, the only reason Veitch is retiring the vehicle is because she is now legally blind and she feels that it is time for her to stop driving. 

"I am legally blind, so I can no longer drive my lovely Chariot," Veitch told FoxNews.com. "They don't have to take it away, I would not dream of driving that car again." The car itself is fine, but Veitch has macular degeneration in both her eyes, making her legally blind. After running a red light in March, she decided to voluntarily give up the vehicle she's been driving since Lyndon Johnson occupied the White House.

"I have taken it in stride," she said. "I don't have cancer, I don't have Lou Gehrig's disease. I am lucky."

She ran a red light and the 93-year old, who obviously has all her faculties in tact, made the wise decision to hang up her car keys.  We all get old, it's a fact we all have to deal with, and Rachel, I commend you for your decision. 

But, getting back to my "I told you so" comment, "She credits the longevity to a "near-obsessive" approach to the car's maintenance. "I've never been a destructive person and I've just taken care of everything, except my husbands," she told FoxNews."  So, there it is, plain and simple and comming from the mouth of a woman who just appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" for racking up over a half a million miles on her car!  And, the 93-year old Veitch is now offering her car for sale to Jay Leno!  Kudos to you, Rachel, you are not only smart in my eyes for taking care of your car, but you are also a "financial wizard"!  There was no mention of how much Mr. Leno, a huge car afficianado, was willing to pay for the vehicle, but, my guess is, it's more than $3,289 dollars! 

So, here you have it, ladies and gentlemen.  Take care of your car and it will take care of you!  Not only did Rachel Veitch make sure she did her maintenance, but, she also kept record of it.  According to the article, "Even without the world record, Vietch is fond of noting that the car has outlasted three marriages. Mechanically, it's worn through three sets of shocks, 18 batteries and eight mufflers."  Now, that really is commendable!  How many times have I told you that keeping track of your vehicle's maintenace and service will get you top dollar when you go to sell it!  See, "I told you so.....AGAIN!" LOL

So, the moral of this story is....preventative maintenance is important.  Making sure the little things your car needs are taken care of insures that you will get much enjoyment our of your vehicle, and it will give you lot's more years of safe and enjoyable service!  It's just that simple.

Preventative maintenance is not that expensive.  And the money you spend on maintaining your vehicle is definitely less than the money you'd spend repairing major problems that could have been avoided.  So, listen to this "mother hen" and....get out there and change the oil, check your brakes, check the fluids, lube your car, check the tire inflation, and maybe even tune it up!  Ask Rachel Veitch when she gets back from depositing that check from Jay Leno, about what she thinks of preventative maintenance?  I bet she'll agree with me!

And now, to get you started....check out these great deals from Advance Auto Parts.  You'll find some great savings to get you started on all your preventative maintenanace needs.  They have great prices on all your auto parts and accessories.  You can also go to our ONLINE PARTS STORE, to look up all the parts you'll need.  You'll find more great savings and coupons there too!  Remember, April is National Car Care Month!  There's no better time than now to start getting your car ready for the Summer Season.

Happy Motoring (or maintenancing?) Ok, I know, that was really bad! LOL

More about → Proof That Vehicle Maintenance Provides Longevity to ANY Vehicle.