Craigslist, eBay, car classifieds, and used car search engines like cargiant.co.uk make finding used cars for sale so much easier than ever before. But you have to be careful-there’s bound to be a few lemons out there that will leave you with more than just a sour taste in your mouth. Making a major purchase like a car-even if, or perhaps especially if, it’s a cheap used car-requires that you do all of your homework. Remain in control and no one will be able to pull the wool over your eyes!

Here are the top ten questions you should ask a used car seller before you sign on the dotted line:

1. Can you tell me why you’re selling this car? Used car dealerships might not know (but they may know why the last owner sold it to them), but all private sellers you might find through Craigslist, eBay, or car classifieds ought to answer. If possible, watch their facial expressions when they answer, too, in case they’re not being entirely truthful. If they’re moving or can no longer afford payments for the car, the car is more likely to be of higher quality. If it’s because it’s very old or has required many repairs, make sure you know if the price is fair and understand what you’re getting into.
2. What is the car’s mileage? Car mileage plays a large part in determining the used car’s value. And remember that used car odometers can be tampered with, which is why you should ask…
3. Will you allow a test drive? Any used car dealership should have no problem letting you test drive their used cars for sale around town. Private sellers might be more reticent, but assure them you’ll allow them to accompany you on the trip. Test drives are essential for noticing problems with the car as well as for making sure that the car is the right fit for you. You’ll also be able to notice if the odometer appears to be “stuck” or has problems.
4. Will you allow me to make my own inspection? If they’re reputable, both used car dealers and private sellers should have no problem with you bringing the car to a trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection.
5. Is there a warranty on the car? If you’re buying from a used car dealership, go for the certified used cars. A lot of used car dealerships offer 112-point inspections and two-year/20,000 miles warranties on low- to average-mileage used cars. Some used cars for sale may come with existing factory warranties. When buying from a used car for sale by owner, unless there’s an existing factory warranty, the car is typically sold as-is.
6. Has this car ever been refurbished or been in an accident? If the used BMW car that’s caught your eye was once in an accident, there might be more damage underneath that freshly-painted coat than meets the eye.
7. What is the vehicle’s history? Certified used cars and other used cars for sale at used car dealerships ought to come with vehicle history reports. (Oftentimes these are even available when you search for used cars online.) Used cars for sale by owner might have official vehicle history reports, but if they don’t, you should be able to purchase them online at sites like Carfax or Autocheck using the VIN# of the car.
8. Are you the original owner of this car? If you want quality, it’s best to choose used cars for sale by the original owner-unless each owner of the car used it for a short period of time. This actually isn’t a moot question for a used car dealer, either; it’s possible that car was for sale just a few years ago as a brand-new car and never got off the lot.
9. What are the car’s special features? If CD player, navigation or GPS system, leather seats, or anything else that’s “extra” is important to you, ask if they’re available in the used car that you’re considering-and if they’re still in good, working condition.
10. Do you have service or maintenance records for the car? If the owner has kept good records and has followed the manufacturer’s suggestions for scheduled maintenance like changing oil every so many miles, that would be a good indication of how well the car was taken care of.

Fortunately, today’s car buyers live in a completely different market. In many ways, new car pricing is in the hands of the buyer. With the invention of the Internet, and the incredible access it gives modern shoppers to information, today’s car buyer should be as informed as the local dealer when it comes to cost, hold-backs, incentives, financing, and dealer profit margin. There is no reason a buyer should test drive a new car without already knowing the absolute best price they can get.

So, is this online new car information accurate? Are online car prices legitimate? Can a buyer trust the information so freely served up on hundreds of car shopping websites around the country? The answer: Possibly.

The truth is, about 95 percent of all online car shopping sites are really just lead aggregators. Modern web technology makes it simple to build a car buying site that is loaded with model specifications, new car builders, and fairly accurate pricing data. The trouble is, they pull the consumer in with all the fancy gadgets only to collect personal information, submit it to their lead aggregation database, and then resell their visitors’ personal info to hundreds of advertising and marketing firms, or to the major car buying sites.

So how does a modern car buyer find accurate information and pricing without sacrificing their privacy, or worse, ending up in the databases of hundreds of advertising agencies? The answer is really simple. Stay with the trusted sources. Do not enter your personal data into a form on a car shopping site unless it is known to be a trusted authority in the auto industry.

There are many trusted authority sites in the auto industry. All of these can be classified into two categories: Dealer Lead Suppliers or Consumer Negotiation Advocates. Dealer lead suppliers include sites from the automakers themselves, dealership websites, and sites such as Autobytel.com, KBB.com, Edmunds.com, NewCars.com, etc. Consumer Negotiation Advocates include sites like CarsDirect.com, AutoSeek.com, and others. Of course there are major differences between these two types of sites.

Dealer Lead Suppliers serve up a lot of information for car shoppers. Sites like Edmunds.com and KBB.com are jam packed with model specifications, trim and color options, and much more. TrueCar.com goes as far as showing visitors real-time car deal data from dealerships throughout the country. By tracking vehicle registration information, they publish extremely accurate new car pricing information. However, by serving up this wealth of “inside” information that used to be reserved for auto industry insiders, they are in actuality trying to compel you to do the one thing that generates them cash: complete an online purchase request form.

By giving car buyers unprecedented access to new car information, Dealer Lead Suppliers are able to entice millions of visitors to complete online new car price request forms. The data collected by these forms, predominately the visitor’s contact information and buying preferences, is then sold to local new car dealerships, automakers, and auto finance companies. After completing the form, the car shopper should expect several phone calls from regional salespeople. Therefore, Purchase Request Form equals Calls from Regional Salespeople.

Consumer Negotiation Advocates have an entirely different business model. On the front-end they appear almost identical to Dealer Lead Suppliers. Like the other types of sites, they serve up unprecedented new car information. They give model specifications, trim and color options, and exceptionally accurate new car pricing data. And, like their competitors, they too want to compel the visitor to complete a new car price request form.

However, the Consumer Negotiation Advocates have a different use for the data collected by the forms on their sites. Instead of selling this data to car dealerships or manufacturers, they want to either keep the data or sell it to regional car brokers. The majority of these types of sites sell the data collected by their forms to brokers. Car brokers then contact local dealerships and negotiate on behalf of the car buyer. Many car brokers are long-time industry insiders and have tools at their disposal to help them drive down sales prices, increase trade-in values, and reduce finance costs. As their name suggests, they work as advocates for buyers throughout the deal process. The sites that do not sell data collected by their forms conduct the car broker services themselves.

For the most part, new car prices online are accurate. In many ways, they are more accurate and more informed than pricing sources that existed prior to the creation of the Web. In exchange for publishing access to better information, sites that tout new car prices online hope to gather personal contact information and buying preferences from their visitors. Their primary source of revenue is either the sales of data collected by forms on their sites, or car broker services.

Therefore, before a visitor completes an online Purchase Request or New Car Price form, they should consider the ensuing result. Do they want calls from local dealer salespeople? Do they want to haggle with the dealership themselves? Or, do they want a person with extensive industry knowledge and experience to act on their behalf throughout the process? The best deals, by a slight margin, are the result of the negotiating skills of Consumer Negotiation Advocates. Either way, a well informed, modern car shopper will get a better deal and more accurate new car pricing than buyers of the past.

Used cars

There are two reasons why buying car that are second hand are cheaper. The first is that cars once purchased and driven off a lot immediately depreciate. Annually, these cars lose about 20% in value making it easy for you to buy a second hand car almost at half the original price.

Another reason is that it is hard buying car and pay the full payment up front. By acquiring the services of a financial institution such as a bank, a person can pay off the loan through monthly installments. Unfortunately, some people have failed to honor that commitment which leaves the financial institutions no choice but to have the car repossessed.

For the bank to avoid storing the many cars that have been repossessed and make up for the lost money, these cars are auctioned off immediately which make it easy for some lucky people to buy fairly new cars and prevent being taken advantage of by car dealers.

Before buying car, it is best to think about the kind of car you are willing to spend for and the options that come with it. By doing some research and checking out various dealers, you will be able to pick the right car and get the best deal.

You should also check the history of the used car. This can be checked by going online and typing in the vehicle identification number or VIN. This can help verify the accidents the car has been in, if the car was reported stolen and the previous owner of the vehicle. It can also check if the mileage was rolled back.

Most cars have a maintenance record. The buyer must ask the dealer to see it and if it is not available, then you should contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done.

The car should also be test driven on the road at various conditions and checked by a trusted and reputable mechanic just to be safe that the car you will buy is road worthy.

Most important of all, you should ask about the warranty. If there are some things not covered by it, it is best to get a service contract to be safe.

To find your next car, visit Cargiant.co.uk where their are thousands of used cars available and ready to drive away.

Ford Fiesta Finally 2 Seconds Quicker

This years Ford Fiesta cars selection is actually looking remarkable and the fact that it is fairly easy to pick up an affordable used Ford Fiesta that is less than a year old is defiantly something to consider if you are thinking of purchasing a used car.

Autotrader car reviews for the ford fiesta appears to be positive also, which probably looks like this particular car may be the best used car you could potentially get right now.

The Ford Fiesta is inexpensive to purchase and run, safe, roomy and also eco-friendly. Even though we love hot hatches in Great britain, the unspeakable truth is, apart from Germany and Switzerland, few other nations understand their appeal. And in a time of economic crisis, there were absolutely no way Ford could produce a hot hatch to replace the much-loved ST.

As a result Mountune Performance stepped forward to develop a tuning pack for a 1.6 Ford Fiesta Zetec-S as well as Titanium models to provide them a tad bit more oomph.

There are plenty of companies who’ll try this, however the unusual thing about the Mountune pack is it can also be fitted by Ford dealers, doesn’t invalidate the car’s guarantee plus the aftermarket parts tend to be guaranteed for 12 months/12,000 miles.

Of course, if you have already got a standard car, Ford retailers can even retro-fit it for you; either way road tax is unchanged since the kit is installed after registration.

Two seconds quicker to 62

The £1,299 pack contains a high-flow induction system, a stainless steel exhaust with high-flow catalytic converter and tubular manifold and an ECU remap which along with the various other alterations takes power from 118bhp to 138bhp along with torque from 112lb/ft to 125lb/ft.

That might not really appear to be much of an increase, nevertheless it is enough to shave 2 seconds from the -62mph time, shedding it to 7.9 seconds. Plus the reality it’s been honed on the Nürburgring adds pub bragging rights.

Along with giving the Fiesta a badly-needed hit of speed, this Mountune bits really feel as if they assist the car to take in air much more freely, and it’s an actual pleasure to wind the vehicle to the redline. Its mid-range feels more powerful, plus it genuinely comes alive over 4,000rpm. The extra power means it is easy to enjoy the vehicle on the limit, plus the loud exhaust increases the feeling of occasion.

Loud and proud

In more than 600 miles, your boomy exhaust – that finish in a set of Mountune-logo’d tailpipes – never became tedious while even on the motorway, coasting below partial throttle, it is hardly ever more than a throaty background sound. Push the accelerator, and it’s a different story and becomes a car shrinking violets should steer clear of.

Chassis-wise the Mountune’d Zetec-S tested was standardized, so it had excellent poise helped by firm suspensions. Titanium models will be somewhat softer. The steering is delicate and accurate and makes the car a joy to pilot along turning lanes.

Mountune also provides a new styling pack for the Fiesta, that consists of some lairy decals, as well as lightweight alloys with a colored lip. The modern wheels and tyres help save 2 kilograms per corner, improving performance and handling.

The £1,299 kit does not include fitting, and Mountune claims it’ll take a Ford dealership around 4 hours to setup.

Mountune’s kit has altered the common Zetec-S from the great car right into a wonderful machine. It is the best hot Fiesta yet.

Key facts

• Model: Ford Fiesta Zetec-S Mountune
• Price range: £9,995 – £15,294

If you are looking at investing in a Ford Fiesta, why don’t you visit Used Fords at Cargiant http://www.cargiant.co.uk to get the best price in the UK.

In 1996 we got out first sight of the second generation of the viper the only real difference in the second generation to the first was the power of the engine the second generation had a slightly more powerful engine which is what you would expect really because to look at the cars look exactly the same really.

1997 the car made a name for its self by when winning the drivers and team championship in GT2 and from then on the car only became more successful in motorsport winning championships from 1997 up to 2008 all in all the Dodge viper has won 52 different championships which is a remarkable effort .

What do you think of the Dodge viper?

The Hillman Imp in 1976 its was one of the cars of the future and now the name is becoming more and more of a ghost so many people have forgotten that name and all of it’s history. In 1963 to 1976 440,032 Hillman Imp’s were made as the years went on Hillman developed and improved the car.

When the Imp was released its biggest rival was the BMC mini and over the years the competed head to head on and off the racetrack. The Imp was fitted with a 875 cc engine in the back and by today’s standards that is a common thing for the engine to be in the back but not back then. These days almost everything has been forgotten about Hillman and all of the cars the made not everyone knows that Hillman changed there name years ago to Chrysler and since then have been manufacturing more and more cars to compete with all of the biggest manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche.

The racing heritage in 1964 the Imp was introduced in the rallying scene and a special Imp was made for this which was fitted with a bigger 998 cc engine and was named the rally Imp and in 1965 won it’s first rally. The Imp was success full in both club and international rallying and other various types of motorsport so as you can imagine the Imp won quite a few titles in its unfortunately short life.

Do you remember the Hillman Imp?

In recent year Audi have designed and developed extravagant cars that are easy on the eye. I personally have always preferred an Audi to any other car I believe they design truly beautiful cars Audi always seem to be able to get beauty and performance into all their cars like the S6 that has a 5.2 V10 but I’m a little disappointed with this car it looks good I believe they have got design and style right but for a V10 to only have.

•    435 BHP

•    540 lb ft torque

•    Max speed 155

•    0-62 MPH 5.2 seconds

Some of the statistics are impressive but if you compare the engine performance to the new Audi RS5 which has a V8 but produces an impressive.

•    450 BHP

•    430 NM of Torque

There really isn’t a lot of difference between these two cars.

I will still recommend that anyone should buy an Audi I know if I had one I wouldn’t like to have to try and get it insured I think it will be very expensive for a big V10 like that. Car insurance costs enough right now but telling your insurance company that your car is Audi S6 5.2 V10 has got to be very bad idea and I don’t believe that V10 will be very economical either especially when it only does 15.3 miles to the gallon.

I think that insuring this car could be as hard as finding the money to keep filling it up with fuel it might be an almost impossible task.

What do you think on the Audi S6 you think it will be hard to insure?

This is what I thought recently until I went to the MAP Autograss up in Stratford Upon Avon, where I got to see for myself how a Fiat Sceicento can wheelie off the start line, with so much power that unless you’ve got full control over the vehicle you’ll end up flipping it over at the first bend.

To watch these cars race around the track is one thing, but as you can see from the video on my blog at bloggingsocial.co.uk to spend thousands on a car without car insurance is something else.

These Fiat’s usually have twin 1000cc motorbike engines in them at the back of the car, with only a space frame at the front, so have little to no weight ratio frontend. They are rear wheel drive so all the power comes from behind the drivers seat and basically catapults the car every time the driver puts his or her foot on the accelerator.

Both companies have cars in all different types of motorsport for BMW they’ve the BMW 320si E90 racing in the British touring car championship which is being used by 2 different teams.

Audi also has racing history from the days of the Quattro rally car which soon became very popular with rally teams over the years as it took over the rallying world. The Quattro ended up being dominant within rallying winning the manufactures title twice and also winning numerous driver championships. This Audi acquired many victories through the years.

Unfortunately for BMW they have not won any major trophies in years however they are still a force to reckon with within the racing industry.

BMW have recently introduced the newest 5 series with several different types to select from there must be something for you. The most powerful model has to be the 550i SE with 407bhp and with a 0-62mph time of 5 seconds. But that model only comes as petrol and the miles per gallon is 27.2. However, if I had my choice mainly due to fuel costs and insurance costs nowadays I’d go for the 530d SE not quite as power full as the petrol only 245bhp and a 0-62 time of 6.3 but for mpg which is 44.8 it surpasses the 550 hands down.

BMW has always been the company to go for to get the executive look along with style they have always been among the first to use new gadgets on there car and introduce the newest designs and technology. But I still find myself drawn towards the Audi’s they have a lot more style and very sleek designs there perhaps not on track with BMW for technology but for all round design and overall performance I will have to choose Audi.

What would you choose BMW or Audi?

Checkout http://www.cargiant.co.uk to see the choice of quality used cars

Now this can often be true on the subject of a used BMW 3 series, but what is it which makes the BMW a really liked car among lots of men?

• Is it all the gizmos inside

• Maybe it’s all the spaciousness inside the car

• Or would it be the sheer power underneath the bonnet?

Either way, the BMW 3 Series appears to continue improving the power because it has 184bhp on the 320d SE Saloon, compared to the 134bhp of the Audi A4 2. TDle SE Saloon, which pound for pound, a Audi is not going to even come close, even though fuel consumption (MPG) is really even pegging.

There are some terminologies for which BMW represents, although due to this weblog being for any age range, its far better I do not go down this dialogue route.

Offered a choice of a Audi A4, or a BMW 3 Series, what design would you pick?

The 3 Series seems to have everything you desire in a car, such as; electric powered windows and mirrors, ABS with traction control, although in my opinion, the interior appears somewhat standard for the money. And that’s even for the M Sport version.

If you’re a lover of those, then you should tell me your ideas if you were likely to advise another person to go get hold of a used BMW car.