STEPS IN SELLING YOUR CAR - phase II (advertising)

Now that you have done the phase I, let us go to the next stage. LOL. Now you have made your car looking great as well as running well, its time now to advertise it for sale. Well, you just need to choose the best media that will advertise better your car.

4. Where to Advertise Your Car

Yes, advertisement! With it, you can target a wide range of audience or buyers. You will be able to let other people know that are far from you that your car is for sale. Traditionally, people that sell cars advertise it in the classified ads of newspapers. Although kind of expensive nevertheless the result is good. Now online classified ads are becoming popular because of the technology we have now. It is predominantly effective for hard-to-find collector cars. Aside from it, it reaches a geographically wider area of buyers. Let me give you the main markets for advertising used cars:

· On-line classified ads such as those on Edmunds.com

· classified ads on daily newspapers

· Weekly "shoppers" and giveaway newspapers

· Bulletin boards at your office, a local supermarket or a college campus

· Word of mouth — like telling your friends, old acquaintances and family that you have a car for sale

· Put a "For Sale" sign in the car window

When it comes to advertising the thing that will come to play is your creativity. The most unusual place you put your ads the most result you will get. But do not think about skywriting…it is too expensive, you know. But if you opt to choose the expensive classified ad, just be sure that you are always present to take phone calls from possible buyers. Usually most of the callers (possible buyers in that case) would not leave a message for a return call. Just be polite in answering their call. The first step in getting buyers to come and see the car is by putting a good impression on them. A better suggestion is, you give your mobile phone number in the advertisement so you can answer any call wherever you may be.

5. Create Ads That Sell

Your eagerness to sell your car can be seen with the signs “FOR SALE” you created or those that you put in the classified ad in the paper. You show it through some abbreviations and phrases. And here are some of those:

· Must Sell! : This may sometimes mean that the seller is leaving town and needs to dump the car at a fire sale price.

· OBO "or best offer": it points out that you are willing to entertain offers below the stated price. This also means you are eager to sell the car.

· Asking price: This means that you are open to negotiation, but it is one notch below OBO on the eagerness scale.

· Firm: you are most interested in getting your price. It means that you not hurrying up to sell the car — simply put it this way, the word is used to rebuff attempts to negotiate.

Remember: Little words convey a lot. Like those given to you. Reflect on what you are telling people when you phrase your ad. By the way, your ad should also include the year, make, model and trim level of the car you are selling along with the mileage, color, condition and popular options.

Now those, two steps are all about how you would send your message (which is, that you are selling your beloved car) to the people. This phase is really crucial for here (in the advertisement) the buyers will depend on whether they will look at it personally or take your advertisement for granted. So go now, find the best options to advertise your car…the one that you think will make way for you to sell it.

STEPS IN SELLING YOUR CAR - phase I

Do you want a new car and tired of riding the same old vehicle? You want to feel a ride that is a lot more different from your car? Well, there is only one thing you can do with it. It is to sell it. Oh my, good bye old car. And you can buy a new one from the money you got from it…maybe you just need to add some money. It would depend on the model of your car...if its selling cost is lesser than the price of the car you are dreaming of.

Let me give you some tips on how to sell your used car (with the help of Philip Reed, a Senior Consumer Advice Editor…in his article in www.edmunds.com). There are actually ten steps that you need to think about and these will help you analyze on where, how, and when to sell your car. But let me give you the 3 steps first so you can take it one at a time (and you would not be pressured too since you are too excited to have a new one…LOL). These steps will have to do with the groundwork and preparations in selling cars. Here are the steps:

1. Know the Market

Look closely at your car…. Do you think your car is easy to sell? Do you think it qualifies as a hot commodity? Or do you think you need to drop your price and look for other possibilities to sell it? Well, there are things you can do about it. To answer those questions, there are few rules you have to recount.

§ For people who need basic and inexpensive transportation, family sedans are their option (this vehicle is boring for others).

§ Newer or older models of SUVs are very popular at present, considering the fact that they move quickly too.

§ Speaking of seasonal sales, these have something to do with convertibles and sports car. Sales are high during sunny weathers but slow on fall and winter months… I guess you know the reason…LOL.

§ Never undervalue trucks and vans used for works. They are steady sellers and command competitive prices.

§ With collector cars… selling may take time and are difficult to set a price. But they have unexpected values, so if you find the right buyer… your pocket will be too happy for it. LOL.

You know what you should do? Check the online classified ads to see what kind and type of cars people are looking for. There sites in the Internet that lets us search for a particular criteria. For example, select the year and trim level of your car and see how many similar cars are presently on the market. Give more attention to their condition, mileage, geographic location and selling price so you can list your car at a price that will sell it quickly.

2. Price Your Car Competitively

In pricing you should always follow your intuition for there are always several exceptions to the rules of pricing. Always make sure that you put a wiggle room or allowance in your asking price like asking for slightly…just slightly more money than you are actual selling price. Like pricing it with $500 more than your selling price. If you get it at that price, it would be great. However, lowering it at your actual selling price would not be a great loss.

Actually there is a lot of psychology in setting prices. If you have not noticed used car dealers prices often end in “995” like $12,995 but that car basically costs $13,000. See how creative they are? A thing that does not sell in $20 will be sold at $19.95. But for you, (so as not to look like a car dealer) you may take a very simple approach at a round figure like $12,750 or $12,500.

3. Give Your Car “Curb Appeal”

People make up their mind to buy cars based on their first look at the car even for just a few minutes checking it. So when people come to look at your car, make sure it already has the “curb appeal”. So therefore, before you advertise your car for sale, ensure that it looks clean and attractive as realistically as possible. Not just taking it to the car wash. So here are some things you have to do:

§ It should be waxed, washed and detailed.

§ It should be mechanically sound and free from scratches, dings and dents.

§ Selling it “as is” is a NO. Think about of having low-cost repairs to it.

§ Throw out all the trash inside it. When they go for test-drive, they should feel like it’s a very cozy room.

§ Clean the tires with a tire gloss product and wipe the wheel covers to remove dust.

§ Mirrored surfaces and windows should be cleaned inside and out.

§ Ashtrays should be emptied and clean the dashboard.

§ Make sure you are ready with its maintenance records to show your prospective buyers.

§ Make sure it has undergone servicing like oil change before putting it up for sale.

§ You can motivate your buyers with a report about its condition coming from a mechanic that checked your car.

§ Or you may also order a Carfax report to prove to the buyer that its title is clean and the odometer reading is accurate.

So what you should do now is take these first three steps slowly and surely. And if you already complied with these three steps, you may then take the next steps. Good luck for the preparations you will make!

GADGETS THAT YOU MAY NEED FOR YOUR CAR..II

My cousin’s wedding was good. All the members of our clan are there. It was good to see them after a long time. Anyway, here are the additional three from my latest post...

5. Flex-Fix Extendable Bike Rack

If you are the type of person that do not just ride vehicles but also bikes, this is the right one for you. It is a very creative device. It is actually a drawer that can be pulled out from the rear bumper of the Opel/Vaxhall Corsa. When not in use, it can be easily and smartly folded back to its special compartment. On this contraption are two-wheel-mount bike racks, an extra rear license plate, and additional brake lights. There are two major benefits of this device. One is convenient loading because the bicycles are not needed to be lifted high and the second is it is always available because it is an integral part of the vehicle. It is also capable of transporting loads of 40 kilograms and is suitable for standard bicycle tire sizes of 18 − 28 inches. Adding to that, the steel parts are therefore not only galvanized but are also primed via cataphoresis and protected by a resilient topcoat to withstand years of abuse from grit and road salt.

This FlexFix system will soon be seen in Opel Antara crossover. So this means that this thing from Europe is coming to U.S. with the Opel Antara. So we are looking forward now to this product.

6. ModooFree Bluetooth Parking Sensor

There is no need to problem of holding your cell phone while driving. This is one of the first Bluetooth parking sensors. It acts as a handsfree car kit that lets drivers to answer calls with their hands on the steering wheel. You can answer a call within the 10 meter range. Its mirror has a built-in external high sensitivity microphone while displaying the incoming phone number (12 digit caller ID). It has a loudspeaker. When reversing the mirror senses the distance from the right, left and rear. It indicates the distance with LCD digits and also by four successive warning signals or beep. It is a wirless device the uses the Bluetooth technology. It also features digital noise cancellation system, automatic reconnection, and integrated buttons for answering/ending calls and adjusting volumes. It uses simple operation and to set it up is so easy.

7. Tweel – Michelin’s Airless Tires

No air pressure? Amazing! For almost a hundred years, we are used to tires with air enclosed in rubber, which is called the pneumatic tire. But now here is the Tweel Airless Tire. It is a flexible spoke/wheel design that replaces the need for air pressure and deforms to absorb shocks. The name is a combination of tire and wheel for the reason that it does not the traditional wheel hub assembly. It is an unyielding inner hub mounted to the axle and is surrounded by polyurethane spokes arranged in a pattern of wedges. Across its spokes stretches a shear band and it is the one that touches the road. What replace the air pressure of the usual tire is the tension of the shear band on the spokes and also the potency of the spokes themselves. A tread is then attached to the shear band. LOL. It looks like a bicycle wheel, isn’t it?

With one of these gadgets or contraptions, it is certain that you will give your vehicle a more exciting appearance. Your comrades will sure envy you for having one of this. But, you should also look at your vehicle first if it does suits the appearance of it. Just make sure that it would perfectly uplift the appearance of your car (not to degrade). These are just few of the many gadgets and devices that are deluging the auto world.

GADGETS YOU MAY NEED FOR YOUR CAR

In this day and age, there are numerous car gadgets that are flooding the market. A number of companies are designing and working on electronic products to keep everyone in a car entertained and make cars a worthy place to stay and to look at. You may get dizzy picking up the one that fits your car and the one that suits your taste. Some helps in ensuring the safety of the driver, some are for styling purposes, some are for entertainment, some for communication functions and some are for the purpose of additional stuffs in the car…LOL. They differ in purpose, so I have come up with a list that might help you if you are need of such things. Thanks to TechBlog for helping me with this.

1. Alert Driver Bracelet

This good for those that usual sleeps while driving…LOL. This immense discovery makes sleepy drivers stay on the road by communicating with an RFID tag placed in the car. This device vibrates basing on the reaction time if the driver is experiencing fatigue. Sounds good, right? It is bendable to fit a driver’s wrist so that it can stay in position and will not fall off. For me, it looks like a wristwatch but does a different job.

2. Shotgun turret

“HAMMER” unmanned weapons system and H2X-40 turret for law enforcement/military use by “More Industries”. It is composed of a high-tech stainless steel 12-gage shotgun equipped for remote safety, aiming and actuation. It has features like electro-mechanical actuation, modular mounting system, weatherproof control module, remote aiming systems, and mechanical soldier activated safety interlock. Looks like this one fits to place with lots of terrorists…LOL. But if ever the situation calls for it, then you must have this one. This can be mounted on a regular vehicle especially on the roof of an SUV. This is important when a door or a gate needs to be breached, expose a hidden device, destroy a roadside bomb and more. Useful, but it should be used only on the said purposes.

3. Drive-e-mocion

This is a special car LED sign that displays messages and emocions like smileys and frowning places that is useful for drivers to communicate with other drivers. It is located at the rear car window and it attaches itself with a use of a power suction cup. Its remote control for the front of the car fixes to the front windscreen or optionally can be stowed in a front compartment (its fixing bracket can be removed). Pressing the buttons to make messages is very simple with the remote control fixed to the front screen. It is powered by 4 AA batteries that last for about 4 month’s depending on usage.

4. TruScene Camera

The ground-breaking TruScene Vehicle Accident Camera is an in-vehicle accident monitor. It is an exceptional device that allows Fleet owners and insurance companies to view accidents to find out liability easily and without argument that will:

· Dramatically reduce fleet self insurance pay outs

· Simplify insurance claims for your company

· Clarify who's to blame, reducing knock for knock settlements

· Provide legally accepted 'hard evidence'

· Protect your staff from false accident allegations

· Improve driver awareness and confidence

This one is good if you have experienced hit-and-run accident. It is hooked to the rear view mirror and films whatever is seen in front. If a sudden shake or bump is detected by it, it saves that 30 seconds into its internal memory so you can see the incident and those that happened after that.

Its complete name is TruScene TS-1L. It is a compact and self contained VOSA compliant camera unit. It is mounted on the inside of the windscreen and includes a drop-down LCD screen that also act as a viewfinder and playback the 30 second clips. It is power-driven by the vehicle’s battery and connected through the ignition. Aside from that, it also uses Global Positioning System (GPS) to register the exact location of a recorded incident, its time and date.

I have to cut first this list, I will give you the three other more in my next entry. My time is already running short for I have to go to a relative’s wedding. Jenny and the kids are already dressed up and I m the only one they are waiting for. I not yet dressed up. So till the next entry….

Night View system of Toyota Crown Hybrid – Beneficial for Drivers and Pedestrians

Traffic death rates are greater at night than during the day. According to the National Safety Council it is three times higher. Until now many of us are ignorant of night driving hazards or do not know any effective ways to deal with them.

The question here is - Why is night driving so dangerous? One evident answer is darkness. Taking a high percentage of a driver’s reaction depends on vision. That took as high as ninety percent. But our vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown. Adding to the factors are age and fatigue.

For me, I have some difficulties in driving at night. Sometimes I get easily blinded by the lights of oncoming vehicles. Often I cannot see at gloomy areas, even when I m not driving. Maybe these have to do with my eyes. But this is not the case of every driver. For drivers who want safety and a very comfortable ride…I have news for you.

But you need not to worry! The "Crown Hybrid" released in May 2008 by Toyota Motor Corp is equipped with the "Night View" system that shows the view of the road ahead at night.

In the earlier model of it, the sight of the road ahead is showed on the windshield. It is overlapped with the view right in front of the car. But the difference with the latest model is that it makes sure the view is seen clearer in front of the car by showing the view of the road ahead on the LCD meters, although the driver have to look back and forth between the front view and the meters.

This most recent Crown Hybrid utilizes a pattern recognition that identifies pedestrians. In it several sets of image data on the shapes of pedestrians have been readied then the shape of the image shot by the system is compared with the data. Yellow frames are displayed around the pedestrian as well as the entire image on the screen if the system found out that a pedestrian is nearby. This yellow frame in the LCD meter that encloses the image helps the driver know that a pedestrian is present.

By the way, the resolution of the LCD meter is 1280 x 480 dots and the size of the image indicated by the Night View system is 614 x 346 dots. However, this Night View system’s activation is affected by vehicle speed, brightness and weather. Therefore you should not drive at a very high speed if you want to make use of this system. According to Toyota, the mandatory vehicle speed is 15-60km/h for it is tricky to recognize pedestrians with the current processing circuit with speeds that exceeds 60km/h. this would not work too if it is too dark to turn on the low-beam light same with when the wipers operates in rain lowers the recognition accuracy.

Now due to a lot of demands, Toyota plans to consider including a feature identifying animals and bicycles aside from pedestrians. And for now, the cost of LCD meters has increased even if technically-wise it has developed. It is more expensive now than the existing meters as what a demonstrator from the company said. Toyota plans to trim down the price by increasing the number of models with an LCD meter and by providing greater variation in sizes.

So for those who are still thinking of what to car to buy, this may be the right one for you. You need not to worry of your safety with this. I m sure it has all the basic safety features that you can also see in other cars plus this Night View system that Toyota boasts of. Drivers are not the only one that will benefit from this but also the pedestrians.

So as soon the sun goes down you can observe driving safety with this system in the Crown Hybrid of Toyota. Remember that twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.

So enjoy your ride with the Crown Hybrid and have the benefits of using its Night View system!

DRIVING WHILE YAKKING - Cell Phones as Distraction to Driving

Right at this moment that I m making this entry, 10 million U.S. drivers are chatting on a handheld cell phones. It’s a fact that comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

It is a problem. Yes! And you know why it is considered as a problem in driving? These gadgets are known to be distractions that lead to a driver’s inattention to driving. They were verified by the NHTSA as a causative factor in as many as 25 percent of all police-reported traffic accidents. Thinking of those that are not reported… this number would be higher. This issue stirred the world, making numerous countries to ban the use of handheld phones while driving as well with U.S. cities and many municipalities including California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.

There were points given by wireless-phone proponents at the center of many legislative attempts over whether “drive while yakking” or DWY is unsafe. They say that talking on a cell phone is less distracting or just the same effect as changing a radio station, eating and controlling kids’ passengers. Of course, these three are not regulated. Because many states have already passed laws that ban distracted driving, they assert that prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones is like fining or stopping the technology instead of the behavior.

As you search in the internet, you can find studies about cell phone use and its supposed dangers. For example, a study in Japan pointed out that dialing or answering a call are related to majority of the cell phone-related crashes. A NHTSA study in 1997 suggested that holding a conversation is the culprit. Other studies also said that there is lesser percentage of accidents and losses with regards to phones than what is believed.

There were two studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on the result of the bans on handheld cell phone use in New York and Washington D.C. and found out that there was a high result to the initial cooperation with 2.5 percent reduced handheld phone use. But, with just a year using the said gadget resumed and in New York the level goes back as before the ban is implemented.

We know that this gadget offers us a lot of benefits. Like firstly you can communicate with your family and friends, you can conduct business on the road, and you even can let your boss know that you are running late. Road problems? You do not need to worry for you can call for medical help or roadside assistance. Reporting problems like a drunk driver, a stranded motorist and an obstacle on the road is just easy with it. But, facts has it that handheld cell phones pose a dangerous risk since it is a distraction from driving.

So for that reasons, here are some suggestions that will keep you safe with a handheld cell phone while driving.

• Get to know your phone and its features — if you can dial a number with one key instead of seven or 10, you're better off.
• Position your phone within easy reach — bending over to reach for it takes your eyes of the road and can cause you to swerve.
• Suspend calls in heavy traffic or in bad weather — you need to focus even more under hazardous conditions.
• Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving .
• Keep conversations short. Inform the person you're calling that you are in a car, and hang up as soon as possible.
• If possible, place calls when you are not moving. Pull over where possible.
• Ask a passenger to help. Have someone else make or take the call.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations
  

You may think that using a hands-free phone cannot necessarily mean that it can solve the problem. Users of it have their both hands on the wheel with headphone or earphone. Some of these devices have common volume problems and can be a source of distraction.

IIHS also reported that it is four times more dangerous when taking on phones, whether handheld or hands-free. A research also of the NHTSA researched whether hand held phones make difference. It found out that drivers actually prefer hands-free and voice-dialing options than holding a phone. Drivers also found these setups easier to use.

Now there are quite a few hands-free choices that seem more right, eliminating the need for a headphone by running voice calls through your car's speakers. In addition, there are lots of cell phones and vehicles are equipped with Bluetooth technology. Even though it is located anywhere inside a vehicle, you can still receive calls. You can hear the calls the calls through your car speaker and voice is transmitted through a built-in microphone. Bluetooth-enabled cars also equipped with voice recognition technology, enabling you to make or receive phone calls without touching anything inside your car. If Bluetooth is not available, you can get the same service with Verizon Wireless and the OnStar in-car communications system.

However, even with cell phones being used as hands-free there is still the risk of getting into an accident. They say that talking on the phone is the more hazardous distraction especially emotional conversations that greatly elevate the risk. So whether you use hands-free or handheld phone, there is an increased DWY risk.

NHTSA's impending study on wireless phone interfaces would make it clear whether hands-free driving is safer or not. Meanwhile, the agency stands for banning hand-held cell phones is not rightful. And still in states or localities where cell phones are banned, compliance has always been the big problem.

Yes we cannot deny the fact that wireless technology is wonderful. It doesn't mean you have to use it everywhere just because it appears to be everywhere. Using it may be the cause for you to miss the most important call of your life. Who knows?

source: www.edmunds.com

ALL ABOUT TIRES…

Maybe it was several days ago (I hope my memory serves me well) when my wife came to me with a serious face. I though she was to quarrel me or reprimand of something I did wrong. But to my surprise, none of the two that I mentioned happened… But she told me that maybe it is already the time to buy new tires for our car. She said that it is already old and there are already signs of wear.

It was the first time that my wife acted that way…being so concerned about our car and the most wonderful of that was when she told me that I should buy a new set of tires for her to stop worrying of what would happen to me when I’m on the road. Guys! She really loves me. (To my wife Jenny, thank you). So I said yes, I will buy new tires for our car.

It is usually my habit to consult first the Internet of the things I’m going to buy. Whether it is a home fixture, kids stuff and especially my car needs. So I did again research on what to consider in buying tires. Actually it is too confusing to buy new tires. With lots of brands and products out there in the market you could really think well of what is the best.

In buying tires, you need to know the right size, type and tread so that you will get the right tires. For the size, in case you do not know… consult your car’s manual or the label inside the glove box or on the door post. Overheating and overloading of the tire may happen if you put to your car an undersized tire and an oversized will rub parts of your car. For the type, performance tires are needed by performance cars, pickups and SUVs need light truck tire. It is so simple. And for tread, for normal driving you need standard highway treads. If you are in an area where there is heavy and frequent snowfall, you need snow tires. The mud and snow tires are all season tires that give good traction in snow, slush, rain, and mud.

So if you already have your new tires still you have to consider other things like the tire registration. Your new tires should be registered so that you can be reached if a safety defect is found. Ask for it to your tire dealer and they will be the one to send it back to the manufacturer. But there are other cases that the dealer will be the one to register the tires for you. When it came to it that you receive a defect notification letter, go to your dealer for inspection or free replacement of the tire. Its wonderful but it is too tiring…LOL

So there, you already have your tires. But it does not mean that you just have to put it to your car and then you would not mind about it anymore. Maintenance and proper driving is what you need to keep your tires always in good shape and for you to avoid investing again for new tires…LOL.. And of course for safety purposes too. You have to maintain your tires proper air pressure. You have to check pressure every week for routine driving. Also check pressure before taking any long trips. Lastly, measure the pressure when the tires are cold.

Keep your tires at the recommended inflation pressure. (This inflation is the only good inflation I know…LOL) In case you are ignorant about it (LOL) you can find it in your owner's manual or on the label either in the glove box or near the door latch on the driver's side. The maximum inflation pressure is shown on the side of the tire. Tires last longer and will less likely to fail if the recommended air pressure is followed. Also the car will use less fuel. Under inflation or overloading may lead to…OH my God!.. serious injury. So we should be cautious about these things…really.

In checking the tire pressure, ensure that there is enough tread on the tire to operate safely and that the tires are wearing normally. To know that it is wearing normally, look at the grooves. They should be visible and deep enough to at least touch the top of Lincoln's head on a penny. If you see already the treadwear warning bars across the tire, it's time to replace that tire. Remember that bald tires are unsafe. You could have mis-aligned wheels, worn shock absorbers, or other potential problems if some spots on the tire seem to be wearing faster than others. Make sure also your wheels are balanced and aligned properly. If possible, avoid "jack rabbit" starts and stops and fast, tire screeching turns. And take note, never overload your car. Your car and tires are designed to operate safely only up to their load limits.