Posts Tagged ‘Bumpers’
For the average individual who knows little about cars or mechanics, buying a used car can be a worrying experience. Buying a car is often one of the biggest purchases we make in our lives and the nagging doubt of whether or not you are about to buy a lemon always makes buying a used car difficult. So how do you go about choosing a car that is unlikely to be a lemon?
If you have found a ?bargain? or a car you like the look of go check it out. At this stage it is always useful to take someone who knows something about cars with you if you can. If you haven’t got anyone whose opinion you can trust then you are going to have to use your own instincts.
Check for obvious accident damage. Accident damaged cars can be spotted by little tell tail signs. Look for signs of overspray to panels, bumpers and fittings, look for areas of paintwork that are inconsistent with the general condition of the car (these may indicate filled dents, filled rotten patches) and check that all the tyres are wearing evenly (uneven wear may indicate the car isn’t running straight and true as a result of a crash or poorly executed accident repair).
If you are happy there are no obvious clues to suggest accident damage check the general condition of the car for wear. Is the amount of wear consistent with the mileage of the car? Worn foot mats, shiny steering wheels and worn/damaged driver seats are not what you would expect to find on a low mileage car.
Does the car have missing interior fittings or scratched paint work? Would you expect a car you owned from new for a number of years to have accrued a similar amount of damage? Make a mental note of the amount of wear for bargaining purposes should you decide to buy the car.
Check the vehicle for rot in the doorways and wheel arches. A little rot can become a serious costly problem after as little as one year. A lot of rot, especially to structural areas of the car where panels and sections of the car come together could indicate the car is not safe to drive.
Once you have established the car looks to be cosmetically genuine and that the condition is as you would expect for the cars age start to look at the mechanics of the car. Check the oil on the dipstick. Are there bubbles in the oil? If there are bubbles this is a sure sign of water in the oil and likely to result in expensive repair. Check the water filler. Is there a white residue on the cap or visible in the filler area. This is an expensive sign of oil in the water. Check the oil filter (easy to spot, generally looks like a brightly painted tin can sticking out of the side of the engine) does it look to be recently fitted or like it has been on for some time. This is a standard part that is replaced at service and can indicate how the owner has been treating the car.
Start the motor up. Does the engine rattle or have a pronounced ticking noise or does it sound healthy? Is the exhaust loud or well silenced you don’t need to be paying for a new exhaust system. Once the engine has warmed go look at the exhaust. Are there large quantities of smoke, black or white being omitted? Both can indicate expensive faults. At this stage check to make sure headlamps, indicator and brake lights work.
If all seems fine the next step is a test drive. Check the steering. Is it light or vague, neither is a good sign. Does the wheel have a large amount of play in it? Steering is important for clear safety reasons. The steering should be responsive and direct. Neither to heavy nor light.
Check the brakes. Do they inspire confidence? They should pull the car firmly to a stop in a straight line without fading or feeling as if they are about to run out. Find a car park or space where you can turn the car on full lock in both directions. Do the front wheels grind or shriek? This could indicate expensive wheel bearing problems.
If you do not come across these problems then it is fair to say you have a solid used car that is unlikely to be a lemon. Now if you can recall all the little details you spotted you can use these points to bargain a good price and buy the used car with the confidence that you have avoided a lemon.
About the Author:
John Rodgers writes for Used Car San Antonio at http://www.usedcar-sanantonio.com
Get More Assignments by Covering Events
By David Geer
I attended a presentation 50 miles away. The speaker was an executive in the technology space, which is my primary beat. Days before, I started pitching ideas for coverage. I landed one assignment just before going, and another after.
While I’m waiting to hear about other pitches, I’m writing more. I can re-use my research and call the keynoter for additional interviews or follow-up questions. I expect to get several assignments. Many magazines have long lead times and will be happy to hear about the angles I can offer.
Get Announcements; Get Invited.
In my case, a PR Representative invited me. Though I’m not sure how I was found, I can tell you how I make sure I can be found. First, I get my listing up at sites where PR reps look. ProfNet – http://www.ProfNet.com and Media Personnel – http://www.mediapersonnel.com are two examples.
I also seek out PR reps. Go to http://www.google.com and search for [fill in your beat] “news release”. I might search for technology “news release”, for example. Click a release and select the PR rep’s e-mail link. Introduce yourself and ask to be put on their e-mail list. You can also search by company or organization and ask to receive event notices.
Skip the Press Pass.
1) Make arrangements through the PR rep who knows you.
2) Instead of asking if you’ll need a press pass, simply ask how they will know you.
3) Print out invitations, e-mail notifications and anything else to verify your expected arrival.
4) Get names of the people who will know you are coming.
5) If you pick up assignments beforehand, tell the PR rep to pass it on.
6) Carry business cards and clips; look the part, too.
7) If all this isn’t enough, try to get a press pass through a publication you’ve written for, or start out covering events within easy driving distance.
How to interest editors with the offer of event coverage:
1) Let them know you’re definitely going.
2) Make a list of reasons why (a) live coverage, (b) of this event, (c) by you, make your pitch more appealing than others.
3) Factor in the event coverage, a live topical interview or interviews, the topic presented and photos you might take.
4) Explain how interviewing in person makes for better interviews as it involves non-verbal communication, a personal touch and more trust on the part of the interviewee.
5) Know that personal interviewing demonstrates a relationship or better access, making you the better person for the job.
6) By investing in the project you are making a commitment to write a great piece.
What else should you do to reap the most assignments from events?
1) Get known as an expert reporter on the particular beat for events you’re looking for.
2) Make contact from time to time with the PR reps to ask what is coming up in your area. Your extra effort will often return an extra effort by the PR rep to notify you of something they may not have listed.
3) Learn as much as you can about the event speakers, topics, other happenings there, available interviews, related news and how other writers are taking advantage of the event, or whether you might have the only in-person coverage.
4) Make it clear to editors that you will be gathering a broad range of information that should be applicable to their publication. Even if they can’t respond before you attend, they will feel confident in giving you the assignment afterwards.
5) Make it clear that you will be able to get follow-up questions.
6) If an editor writes you declining because it is “too late”, share with them why it isn’t, if you believe they might still be interested.
7) Cement relationships made at events so you can leverage future invitations and interviews.
About the Author
David Geer writes for national and international publications like Computerworld, certain IEEE Computer Society publications and dozens more. E-mail him at David@GeerCom.com, call him at 440-964-9832 or visit his Web site at www.GeerCom.com.
When you are in the market for a used car, it is often hard to know exactly what to look for. Most people spend plenty of time in their cars, but very few us know very much about them, other than how to put gas into them. Here are seven tips you need to know when you go to buy a used car:
1. Look underneath the car and see if there is rust. If there is a considerable amount, talk it over with the salesperson. Rust should get you a price break.
2. Look at the ends of the car. Is the car straight? Are there cracks or bends? If so, talk it over. But these things should be cause for concern.
3. While you are at the ends of the car, look at the bumpers and make sure they are well attached and in good shape.
4. Is the muffler attached to the car? What kind of shape is it in?
5. This one is a little weird, but worthwhile: while the car is off (and cool, meaning that the engine has not run for awhile), feel around inside the tailpipe. If you find that it is greasy there is likely an engine compression problem. Have this looked into or find another car.
6. If you are looking at an SUV or other car where the back window comes down or pops out, make sure that it does what it is intended to do.
There you have it. Six simple used car buying tips that anyone can benefit from. You will still need to do your homework on the price you pay for your used car. But these tips will help you on your way to finding a good, dependable used car.
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