Category: Automotive

Signs of a Seized Engine

Failure of even minor parts of a engine can eventually lead to severe problems. One of the major issues that can arise is a seized engine, which can lead to major repairs and expenses. Let us look at the various signs and symptoms of a seized engine to recognize and rectify this situation in time.

Seized Engine Meaning

A smoothly running car engine is a synchronized movement of various components. Even if one small component malfunctions, or functions out of sync, the engine may get heavily damaged over time. Usually when an engine seizes, the internal components freeze or lock up to such an extent that, the crankshaft is unable to turn in the bearings. This happens because the internal parts such as pistons, rod bearings, piston rings, etc., overheat and weld together. Such conditions may require you to change the entire engine, and this can be terribly expensive. Hence, it is very important for car owners to recognize warning signs, and rectify the problem before it is too late. Let us now look at the causes and warning signs of a seized engine.

Seized Engine Causes

• The most common cause for an engine to seize up is insufficient engine oil, which causes overheating, melting, and amalgamation of the engine parts.
• Lack of engine oil also results in lowered lubrication, which results in damage of the bearings. Ordinarily, you will need to replace the engine in such a situation.
• Accumulation of water inside the engine can cause it to seize, as water is not compressible like gasoline.
• Accumulation of rust due to the car remaining unused for a long period of time can also cause the engine to seize up.
• In rare cases, faulty components can fail or break and cause the engine to seize.

Introduction

An engine can seize due to running on low/no oil, overheating or succumbing to a broken timing belt. These conditions eventually stop your engine in its tracks and a professional technician will be required to restore function. However, if an engine seizes due to rusted cylinder walls, you can restart the engine without professional help.

This is how rusted cylinder walls develop: When a vehicle sits for an extended period of time without running, the lubricant coating the cylinder walls thins and drains away due to gravity. Shutting down a vehicle always leaves some of the intake valves open on some of the cylinders. This allows moisture-laden air from the environment to circulate through the engine’s air intake, progress through to the cylinder head, and cause condensation on the cylinder walls, piston surface and rings.

Left long enough, that condensation causes rust that can freeze the pistons in place, causing a seized engine. If you suspect that this is the case for your vehicle, this is how to fix a seized engine.

Seized car engine symptoms:

• Loud cranking/clunking sounds: this is because the starter is hitting the flywheel because there is insufficient lubrication.

• Piston visible: when looking at the engine, the piston may be visible because the loose components will lodge into another part of the engine with enough force.

• Fumes/smoke: since the engine can’t turn over, fumes, smoke, and even fire can happen – all of which are a sure sign of an engine seizure.

• Nothing: the most tell-tale sign of a seized engine is when nothing happens. When your car won’t start no matter how hard you try.

It’s important to note that it is incredibly unlikely to have an engine seized without warning. There are almost always signs that can indicate potential seizing or failure such as: knocking noises, poor engine performance, oil light is on, and more. At the end of the day, most engine failure is because of poor maintenance, specifically a lack of oil in your engine. At this time, there is debate as to whether you should use conventional or synthetic oil in your car.

Can You Prevent Your Engine from Seizing?

You can take the following steps to minimize the chances of your engine locking up:

• Follow your manufacturer’s schedule on checking and changing the engine oil and coolant.
• Check the timing belt. Some manufacturers provide a service schedule for checking or replacing the timing belt, for example, every five years. A timing chain will usually last for the life of the vehicle. Still, if your engine has logged many miles, you may want to check the condition of the timing chain.
• Pay attention to engine noises and diagnose their source.
• Take a look under the hood once in a while and make a quick visual inspection. Pay special attention to oil and coolant levels.

How to fix and diagnose a seized engine

If you get your car checked before something significant happens, you may be in luck and may need to only replace a few parts, such as the gasket if it has failed due to overheating. If there is a broken part, the expense of getting it fixed may be higher. Depending on your problem, a repair can range from $500 to $1500 and even more if an engine replacement is necessary.

If there is a sign of water getting into your engine that can cost from $150 to $500, depending on your mechanic and car; nonetheless, repairing a seized engine is quite expensive which is why it is better to get your car checked routinely for any oddities.

Here are a few steps to take when you think that your engine is seized up.

1. Pull the crankshaft with a socket and a wrench

Take a wrench with a socket and try to rotate the crankshaft to see if the engine is really seized and to make sure there is not a problem with your starter. If you can turn the crankshaft easily, it’s most likely a problem with your starter. If the engine is seized, go to the next step.

2. Remove the starter

Sometimes a seized up starter can cause the engine to get locked up. You want to remove the starter to make sure that it’s not that thing which is causing the problem. After you have removed the starter, check the crankshaft with the wrench again.

3. Remove the serpentine belt

The first step you should take when your engine is seized is to remove the serpentine belt. In some cases, the alternator, ac compressor or another part driven by that can cause the engine to lock up. If the engine gets released after you remove the serpentine belt, check all these parts.

4. Check the timing belt & camshafts

Often when the timing belt or chain have failed, you can expect the valves to hit the pistons which causes the engine to seize up. Remove the covers in front and make sure there is no damage to the timing belt. If everything looks okay – You can remove the timing belt and rotate the camshaft if you know how to put the timing belt back correctly. With this method, you can find out if it’s the crankshaft or the camshafts that are seized up.

5. Release the glow plugs or spark plugs

If the engine is seized up, it could be caused by a large amount of oil or water in one or several cylinders; this is called a hydro-lock. You can release the spark plugs or the glow plugs to check this and make sure that there is oil or water in the cylinders. If the engine is turning over after you released the plugs, it’s most likely a hydro-lock, and you have to find the cause of the hydro-lock. This can often be caused by a failed turbocharger or a failed head gasket.

6. Remove the oil pan

If the crankshaft is seized up and you can’t find any signs of water or oil in the cylinders and if the camshafts are moving freely, you have to remove the oil pan and inspect the crankshaft bearings and any damage on the pistons or the rods.

5 Car Dealer Scams That Should Be on Every Consumer’s Radar

Everyone loves shopping for a new car. Actually, no one does. It’s right up there with looking for an apartment in the cold of winter or pricing caskets. The only part that’s fun is test-driving a car you know you would never buy. But that’s not really shopping. That’s borrowing someone’s car for a joy ride.

When it comes to comparing model specs, looking for discounts, factoring in finance terms, understanding fuel economy quotes, and looking at resale value (matching pre-owned versus new models), there is little to love about the car buying process. It only gets worse when an unethical auto dealer is trying to put one over on you. Then it’s anarchy. Here’s a look at the scams you should be ready to avoid.

The lost financing scam

Signing a deal for a new car is foolish if you don’t have loan terms locked in already. Leaving the dealership in a new car with on-the-spot financing leaves you open to this scam. After a few weeks, you learn from the dealer that your loan application was rejected. Now you have to accept a higher annual percentage rate (APR) on the dealer’s new loan because the original rate is no longer available.

The ‘your credit sucks’ scam

In this scam, dealers suggest your credit has seen better days, downgrading it by a hundred or so points. That gives them the right to give you a worse financing deal and pick up some extra cash on the loan. Of course, this scam is easily avoidable if you check your credit before you head into a dealership. When the dealer says he wanted you to get a better deal but your credit score was 640, you can call him out on the lie. Before you left the cozy confines of your home, your saw your credit rating was higher.

Car dealer never pays off trade-in loan

Trading in a car with a loan balance opens you up to some risks. CarBuyingTips.com shows where it’s most dangerous: when a car dealer “forgets” to pay off the loan and you are stuck with the balance because you never got the paperwork. A car ought to be paid off in full if you are trading it in or otherwise be sold to a buyer on the open market. Dealers would be especially shady if they tried this scam, but it has been done in the past.

The co-signer scam

Let’s say you are having trouble getting a loan for your car, for whatever reason. A dealer might suggest you just get a co-signer to obtain approval and head down the road. That solution might sound appealing until you realize that the co-signer with good credit ended up being the only one with the loan. It’s a scam because you wouldn’t have gotten the car without that loan and wouldn’t have gotten the loan without someone else’s credit. Catch this one before it’s too late by reading paperwork carefully. The co-signer is the one at risk.

The ‘online lenders are deadbeats’ scam

If you roll into the dealership with a pre-approval and blank check from an online lender, you should be on your merry way once you choose the right automobile. Unfortunately, you may find your dealer refusing to accept the check because he claims online lenders are deadbeats who always bounce them. Then he will hit you with a loan package at a higher APR. His scam is convincing you other people are trying to scam him. It’s creative, but you can blow up the scam by walking out on the deal.

Scams Used By Devious Car Dealers — And How To Avoid Them

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

The Scam: The majority of car salesmen I interacted with have lied about small things: That color is not available; there are only three left state-wide; the price is good only for today; someone else is interested in the car, better decide quickly, etc.

What To Do: Take your time and be patient when shopping for a car. Don’t rush into anything, especially based on what a salesman tells you. Just treat salesmen fairly and take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Shell Games

The Scam: The salesperson finds out what your hot buttons are and exploits them. If you have a trade-in, and they know you want a certain price for it, they will offer you what you want, but at the same time will raise the price of the new car.

If they know you want a certain monthly payment, they’ll make sure you get that, but they will extend the loan term so you end up paying more over the long-term. There are all kinds of shell games that happen at dealerships.

What To Do: Negotiate each portion of your car purchase separately. Shop your trade-in to multiple dealers, shop for an auto loan among multiple lenders, compare new car prices with multiple dealers. Don’t let them bundle everything into one big deal.

Bait and Switch

The Scam: The dealer advertises a car with a great price, but when you show up at the dealership, they say it’s already been sold. They then try to get you to buy a more expensive vehicle. The whole point of a bait-and-switch ad is to get you to the showroom.

What To Do: Call the dealership just prior to visiting to confirm they still have the vehicle in stock. If so, ask them to email or fax you a signed statement indicating that the vehicle is still in stock and available for sale.

Try to avoid spending all day at the dealership.

Buying a new car is a big financial decision. It’s also an emotional one.

People spend a lot of time in their cars. It becomes emotional because it becomes part of our identity.”This works against you in the car dealership, and salespeople know it. You forget that you can get up and walk away at any moment.

Less scrupulous car salespeople will “lose” the keys to your trade-in. They’ll claim they have to get the car you want from an offsite lot. Or they might be detailing the car they want to show you The longer you stay at the dealership, the more likely you are to get tired and hungry. You just want to go home. If they wear you down enough, you’ll say yes to everything. That’s when you are susceptible to an upsell you might regret later.

If you want to make a good financial decision, leave your emotions out of it. Don’t be afraid to walk away and come back later, no matter how much you like the car.

Loading Payments

One of the most classic tricks that dealerships try to pull on you is “loading” your payments. By quoting you with an APR higher than what you’ll actually end up with, you can end up paying extra without even knowing it! An excellent way to avoid this happening to you is by arming yourself with information and knowledge. Arriving at a Harker Heights car dealership with pricing information on the vehicles you’re interested in will allow you to stay a step ahead. However, if you do let a dealer find out you can be conned by this scam, they’ll keep trying to add on more and more fees until you’re paying an arm and a leg. An educated consumer is one that leaves satisfied, which is why you should always come prepared and stand your ground when searching for used cars for sale near you.

Dealer Prep Fee

A common thing many shoppers also tend to encounter when it comes to scams is an auto dealer prep fee. Most manufacturers pay dealers right off the bat for prep fees on a vehicle, which makes them seem quite suspicious. If you’re not interested in having to pay thousands more for unnecessary fees, make sure that you pay attention to each charge on the final contract. Although this is primarily something to worry about with new car dealerships, McLeod wants everyone to make sure they never get taken for a ride when buying or financing!

7 STEPS TO PREVENT YOUR NEXT CAR DEALER SCAM

“CAR DEALER JAILED 7 YEARS FOR SCAM INVOLVING S$3.2M”

The number of scams involving car dealers has been on a steady rise in Singapore. Even if they don’t make the headlines, it is a well-known fact that dealing with a car dealer automatically incurs a premium. I mean, how else are these people expected to make a living for themselves? Dealers are not the only one to blame. We, as consumers, should also take the responsibility of knowing what the precautionary steps needed when dealing with a car dealer are. Don’t know how to deal with car dealer? Below are some simple steps to always remember whenever you come face to face with a car dealer.

1) ALWAYS OBTAIN A LOG CARD

This is one mistake many people always make. They don’t ask for the log card after they have completed the transaction of their cars. The purpose of the log card is to ensure that YOU are the owner of the car as the log card states clearly who the owner of the car is. If you didn’t manage to get the log card from the dealer, you can simply log into one.motoring and use your SingPass to check. If you don’t see your name under the car in a week, you better start calling as something might be up. Transfers usually take place within a week!

2) ALWAYS HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK ON HAND

Here is a list of things you should always have wirh you, although this is by no means extensive

• Sales and Purchase Agreement (shows that you bought the particular car unit)
• Payment Receipt (containing the number of transfer and the detailed car mileage)

These two points will affect the future resale value of your car so make sure that the car you get after your paper work is finally processed does not get modified. You do not want an additional transfer costs or mileage added to your car

3) CHECK ALL DOCUMENTS

Have a checklist of documents you need to sign or take note of. Any additional document that you sign can be used as leverage against you, so never never never sign documents under pressure. Don’t overlook it.  Also, a good habit would be to photocopy every document you sign or return to the dealer.

4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Don’t we all hate that small little font at the bottom of the page? However, don’t overlook it. Look out for any penalties imposed, or any additional “admin fees or loopholes.

5) OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE LOAN AMOUNT

Make sure that you request for the loan application form. If you don’t, you might be applying for a loan higher than you would otherwise have been willing to and eventually have to spend a longer time and more money trying to repay your loan.

6) HAND OVER FORM

Ensure that there is proper handover of liability. The dates, time and name must be accurately detailed on the form.

7. WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, CALL CARRO TO ASK OUR CAR SPECIALIST FOR ADVICE.

At Carro, our core principle is transparency. We help customers by guiding them through buying or selling process.

The choice of winter tires

Like every responsible driver, you’re probably wondering how to figure out which winter tires to choose. Here’s a tip: ignore your friends and family. Your brother-in-law may brag that he found some amazing winter tires, but that doesn’t mean his tires are right for your vehicle. We can’t say it enough—it’s absolutely vital to consider your vehicle type and driving habits when choosing your tires

Know your tire size

First and foremost, make sure you know the size of your tires—it’s one of the first questions you’ll be asked in store. Your winter tires and your summer tires must be the same size

Know the types of roads you drive on

This is crucial when choosing winter tires. Do you drive mainly on city roads, side roads, or highways? If you drive a lot, make sure you invest in high-quality tires. This is especially important if you drive a compact car, which is more likely to skid in poor conditions.

Look at the tires

It might seem obvious, but take the time to go to the store. You can visually compare the quality of the different tires available, especially the grooves, flexibility, and lateral stiffness

Ask the right questions

A good sales rep will know the right questions to ask to help you pick your winter tires. Beyond the routine use of your vehicle, they’ll ask about your annual mileage, where you live, and, most importantly, your budget.

What are the Best Truck Tires for Towing?

When you hit you the road for a weekend of adventure and making memories with the fam, the last thing you want to worry about is your tires. You are a conscientious driver that already knows your tire choice matters. If you’re towing a camper, boat, or any other type of hobby trailer the tires on your truck matter even more. So, what are the best truck tires for towing?

A truck is already a more heavy-duty vehicle designed to take on extra challenges. There are already so many choices. From the Toyota Tacoma to the Ford F-350, trucks come in all different sizes with varying tow capacities

Making your decision

When determining which truck tires are best for towing, it’s important to consider all the variables that are unique to your specific adventure. Are you hauling horses? Are you towing a loaded down camper? Are you in a light truck or a dually? Does your rig have a bumper hitch or a gooseneck setup? All of these factors come into play

Where are you towing?

Tire options are difficult to narrow down. One way to determine which tires are the best for your truck and trailer is to select tires designed for the terrain and climate. Tires that excel in the cold and snow don’t perform as well in a hot climate. Likewise, a tire that is engineered for summer driving won’t be your best bet for towing in winter

hat truck tires are the best for towing?

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S all-season radial tire is a great place to start. There is also the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac all-season radial tire, which is great for towing a load with off-road potential.

CHOOSING RIGHT COMMERCIAL TIRE FOR YOUR SEMI TRUCK

Nowadays choosing a commercial tire for your semi-truck got very complicated with a variety of name brands there is. Often, the cheapest tire is not the most cost-effective. In this article we wanted to help the end user, does not matter if it is an owner of a semi-truck or large fleet, choose the right tire that fits your needs and budget. That is why we prepared a number of things to consider when purchasing new commercial tires.

First of all, pay attention or shoot a picture of the tires that you currently have, (check the tires for the uneven wear). Very often the way your tires look at the end of its life speaks for itself. Just by looking at it you can tell if there is anything wrong with your truck suspension or parts and fix the problem before you invest in a new set of tires which usually ranging anywhere from 1900- 5000$.

Taking into consideration all of this tire specs you have to understand that commercial tires have Tiers classifications, and the higher Tire Tier is – the higher tire specs would be, better life, durability and warranty the higher cost you pay.

After you finally make a decision as far as tire brand and specs that fit your needs try to search online for some additional info and other user feedback also check with your local trusted tire dealer for possible experience as mistakes could be costly and harmful for your budget.

Find truck and bus tyres

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Save money with Goodyear Dunlop Retreading Solutions. Get the efficiency you need with application specific tread designs that offer like-new performance at a lower cost.

Tyre performance is now rated in a similar manner to energy ratings found on household appliances. The EU Tyre Label will help you to make an informed choice when choosing your tyres.

More information is available in our truck tyre technical data book and brochures

Choosing the right truck tire for the right application

Tires are increasingly being made to fit specific applications, and fleet managers should take notice when spec’ing new tires––there’s a lot to take in

This is good news for fleets with specialized applications or those who want to squeeze more efficiency out of their truck tires, but it does mean that you will have to do more research before choosing a truck tire to make sure the application matches the tire.

“But it gets much more granular,” he goes on, going through a list of questions the fleet needs to ask itself: “What percentage of the time is the tire going off road and what type of off-road conditions is it facing? Is it on a vehicle hauling grain out of a farm and dealing with sticky mud? Or is it dealing with sharp rocks on an aggregates site, or nasty metal objects on a construction site? Will the tire be operating almost exclusively on the open highway, or also spending time in the city with tight turns and damaging curbs?

“Tire manufacturers such as Triangle Tire are putting increased efforts into designing tires for regional and local haul fleets. 17.5-, 19.5-, 9R22.5-, and 10R22.5-in. size tires (in both rib and traction tread designs) for smaller delivery vehicles are being developed to offer more miles, better fuel economy and repeated retreadability,”

Rolling resistance and fuel efficiency

One such example of an application-specific tire innovation is low rolling resistance (LRR) tires, which have become a popular source of improved fuel economy in many long-haul fleets.

How to Choose the Best Car Dealer?

When shopping for a used car, you as a consumer will probably encounter many car dealers, financing companies, and insurance agents. The simple part is choosing the financing company (if finding it yourself), and the insurance agency. But, the big question is, how do you choose the best dealer, or at least one that will make you feel comfortable on the long run. To chose such a dealer, this article will have you equipped with the knowledge, that will help you make this decision yourself.

It is very important that you deal with a dealership that has salespeople you feel comfortable dealing with. Whether you already did, or are soon to be telephonicly speaking, and electronically mailing sales people, going for test drives, requesting on line quotes. How do you chose between all of them.

You will need to analyze their dependability by evaluating the speed your phone calls and e-mails were returned. Furthermore, once they did replay, how clear of an answer did you get, and did he or she try to steer you from the main subject. I never suggest dealing with salespeople that are not straight forward, it is just not right. Please don’t be deceived by the pushy salespeople, drive what you want, not what they make more money of. Furthermore, how interested were they in helping you, in other words, how specific were the questions they asked you, and were they really trying to understand what you are looking for, or did they just want to get you into the dealership.

Important Things To Consider When Choosing A Car Dealer

Owning a car is something you have always wanted; after months and months of saving, you are now ready to hit one of the car dealers in town for your dream car. However, the whole process being something you have never done before, just like any other first-time buyer, you are excited and confused all at the same time. You practically don’t know where to start. To help you find the best deal in town, here are top tips to consider when choosing a car dealer.

What is that you want?

As when you are making any other big purchase, it will make a lot of sense if you know what you want before you see a car dealer. Do a little bit of research on the model of cars you have in mind and get a clear picture of what the cars currently cost. Thankfully, there are some ways you can pull this off. Other than talking to friends who already own cars, there are tons of websites that you can get useful information about cars. Take you PC and take a quick look at these sites for the amount of information you can net will simply blow off your mind. In other cases, knowing the type of car you want to buy can also determine the type of dealer to go for; For example, there are dealers that specialize only on top of the range cars, and they are those that deal with smaller and cheaper cars. So the amount of money you are willing to spend on your car will dictate where to go to.

Experience and reputation of the car dealer

How long has the dealer been in operation? The longer the time the dealer has been in business, the better. An experienced car dealer knows so much about cars, and you can be sure you will get the best. An experienced dealer will be able to advise on which options are best for you. It does not even stop there; buying a car is huge, and a small mishap could cost you a lot of money. For this reason, it will make sense if you know the type of dealer you are doing business with. Reputation is king, and you may want to check their track record before you buy the car. What are some of their previous customers saying? In the end, make sure you go to a reputable car dealer in town if you don’t want to get into problems later on. It is as simple as that.

BUYER’S GUIDE: CHOOSING A CAR DEALERSHIP

There are many decisions to be made when the time rolls around to buy your next car or truck. You’ll need to determine kind you want, which options you need, and how much you can afford. You also have to figure out where you’re going to buy that car, and this means choosing a dealership

A good dealer can make the difference between a satisfying experience and an exhausting process  with lots of time spent dickering over price. It’s stressful, and the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable with the dealership, their processes, and the people in charge of finalizing the transaction.

Read dealer reviews

Online reviews are a critical part of a dealership’s marketing today. According to one study at Search Engine Land, 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as they do personal recommendations. The internet makes it possible to do in-depth research on a dealership before you decide to walk through the showroom doors.

Be careful, however, of crossing a dealership off your list because of one or two bad reviews. Most of us have favorite businesses, whether they’re plumbers, clothing stores, or restaurants. Most of us have also had the experience of recommending a business only to have someone else say they had a terrible experience there and would never give them any business.

Ask your friends

Word of mouth is a powerful sales tool, which is why dealers work hard to create a positive experience for every customer. Ask around for the experiences of others. Check with friends, family, and co-workers and find out what kind of experiences they’ve had at local dealerships over the years. Sometimes they’ll even have the name of a specific salesman who was particularly good.

How to Buy a Car – Essential Tips to Get the Best Deal

I loathe the process of having to buy a new car. Dealing with pushy, overbearing car salesmen can be extremely frustrating. As a result, I do whatever I can to avoid buying a car. I perform all recommended DIY car maintenance checks, I keep my vehicle for as long as I can, and I consolidate my trips both to save on gas and decrease wear and tear on my car.

Do Your Research

The most important thing to know before you buy a car is that knowledge is power. It’s a mistake to arrive at a car lot without first researching the car you want to buy. You can find out just about anything you want to know about a car online. Edmunds.com, Consumer Reports, and Kelley Blue Book are great places to start researching cars in your price range.

Look into Pre-financing Options

Many people obtain financing from the car dealership, but this isn’t fiscally responsible. Dealership interest rates are typically much higher than loan rates obtained from banks and credit unions. Your bank or credit union is one of the best places to start researching car loan rates, and you can obtain “relationship discounts” that you won’t find anywhere else.

Shop Around

Unless there is an emergency situation, shop around before you buy a car. I have an established rule in place whenever I shop for a car: I always make sure that I walk out of at least one dealership. This way, I always know their rock-bottom price, often given to me just before I leave. It might also make sense to explore out-of-town car dealerships. Dealerships price their vehicles differently depending upon their location.

Buy a Car You Can Afford

If you are considering buying another car before your current vehicle is paid off, you need to seriously reassess whether or not you can really afford to buy another car. You don’t want to be saddled with an upside down car loan. A much better option is to wait until your current vehicle is paid off. Then set aside the money that used to pay for your monthly car payment in an interest-bearing account for one year, while continuing to drive your old car.

Steps to Finding the Right Car for You

If you’re new to car buying or haven’t made a purchase in many years, it can be hard to know where to begin. How do you find the car that will exactly suit your needs for years to come? It just takes a little research and planning. When you know the kind of car you want, you can then decide whether you want to buy a new car, lease a new car, or buy a used car.

Assess Your Needs

The “right car” depends on who you are and what you expect from a car. Some of us like to make a statement with our cars (“I’m rich and hip” or “I’m earth-loving and retro”). Some like to go for spirited drives on weekends (“Give me more horsepower and a loud engine”). In those cases, practicality tends to take a back seat to how the car makes you feel.

Set Your Budget

Unless you’re paying cash for your car, you’ll need to think about financing your purchase or lease. How much can you really afford to allocate toward a car payment each month? The general rule is that your monthly new-car payment should not exceed 15 percent of your monthly take-home pay. A used car will be less expensive, but the same rule should apply. If you’re looking to lease, aim for a monthly payment that’s less than 10 percent of your take-home pay. You’ll also want to factor in an additional 7 percent of your monthly income to cover fuel and insurance costs. Knowing your budget beforehand will help you when negotiating your next car or truck.

Decide If You Want to Lease or Buy

Leasing and buying each have pros and cons, and how you feel about these may help guide your decision on which route to take. For example, a lease requires little or no money down and offers lower monthly payments. But when the lease ends, you have no car and will need to go shopping again. On the other hand, buying a car is more expensive initially, and the monthly payments are higher. But when you pay off the loan, you will own a car that you can drive for as long as it runs.

Consider Other Cars in the Class

Do you have your mind (or heart) set on a specific car? Many shoppers do. But in today’s ever-changing marketplace, new cars are always hitting the showrooms, and one that you’ve never even considered could be right for you. Edmunds lets you research and compare similar cars to find the one that truly fits you best.