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While buying a used car there is a lot to consider before purchase. Price is the major issue. Your first question is always- how much is the asking price? But if it fits your budget, there are so many other things that need a careful enquiry to avoid any loss. Here are a few tips that can help you to get genuine thing out of your money spent:

No. of previous owners: Larger the number of previous owners of the car more will be the wear and tear. You should have clear information of the number of the previous owners of the car. Ask if the seller the original owner? Also this data will reflect the problems that have caused this vehicle to be sold and bought so many times. So before purchasing a used car, ask about the no. of times the car have been sold earlier.

Accident information: There should be a need to know whether the car ever been passed an accident or is there any frame damage? Carefully check every corner and body lines of the car for any gaps or damage including any ripples or paint differences. Give a look to the paint. It should be even and proper.

Mileage of the tyre: Before buying the car, care should be taken about tyre mileage. You should ask for how many miles are on the tires. This will tell the condition of the tyres of the old vehicle. Ask how many miles the vehicle has on the odometer. 12,000 miles per year is standard.

Know your history: Get the proper information regarding the services the car has gone. If an owner has kept meticulous service records, the vehicle must be in tip top shape.  If not, get a report from Carfax and check things out yourself.  A Carfax report should disclose the following information:

• Flood Damage
• Odometer Rollbacks
• Junked Titles
• Totaled/Salvaged
• State Emissions Inspection Results
• Lemon History/Service and Repair
• Liens

A single Carfax report will set you back $24.99, but you can get 10 for $29.99 or unlimited for 30 days for $34.99 – definitely worth it when you’re shopping for a solid, used vehicle.

Recalls: Recall information should be checked before buying. Carfax also offers open recall information for a number of automobile manufacturers. For older recalls or other manufacturers not listed, online research can help you. Visit any number of recall sites and plug in the car information.  If the vehicle has been recalled, it is important to make certain the recall has been repaired.  This can be done by speaking to the service technician at the dealership, who can obtain the records for the vehicle.

Service Info: An Oil change, checking fluids and other vehicle maintenance is important to keep your vehicle running as good as possible. Enquire about the next service scheduled for the vehicle. A private seller who keeps good records should be able to tell you when the next scheduled service is due, while a dealership has probably recently serviced the vehicle before putting it on the lot. Service information can give a clear picture of the condition of the vehicle.

Research your questions: You should also research for the reliability and consumer opinion about the specific make and model year of the vehicle. Speak to a service technician and do research on line for the answers.

Accessories: ask for the accessories if any in the vehicle. Does it have air conditioning, power windows, a CD player? More importantly, do they work properly?

Reason for the Sale: what is the reason behind the sale of the car? Is the owner relocating out of the area, buying something new – or something else entirely? It should be asked to avoid the pitfalls of buying someone else’s problem,

Test drive: Ask for a test drive and possibly to a local service garage for a once over to get a closer look on the condition of the vehicle.

Happiness Factor: last but not the least; ask whether the owner is happy with the car? You can get the real answer in owner’s tone of the word. If you don’t felt the happiness factor, the vehicle may trouble you later.

Tags: Accessories, Accident, car, Car Service, Sale, Used Car

With a new welcome change, as opposed to the company, Wednesday saw the government launching a vehicle. Mrs. Sheila Dixit, this Wednesday, launched the new electronic battery driven Reva on which she announced a 29.5% discount and further subsidies on hybrid cars.

The Delhi chief minister, showing all her concerns towards the rapid deterioration of the air quality, announced that the government would try to the maximum to fight against the menace. Reva, the only car to get concession from the government is now priced at 2.99 lakhs as compared to its original price of 4.25 lakhs for the base model. The concession includes a 15 percent subsidy on the base price as well as the refund of the Vat which is claimed to be paid through the 25p cess over each litre of diesel that the state government had levied about three months ago out of which the state government has already made an incredible ten crores. This announcement comes as good news for the companies who have been planning to launch their hybrid vehicles in the near future which include Toyota, Mahindra and even Tata.

Deputy Chairman of the Reva Electric Car Company, Mr.Chetan Maini announced that the company plans to increase the production of the vehicle over the coming next three years targeting the launch of their new hybrid vehicle in various other metro cities as well as in Europe and South East Asia.

With the recent launch of India’s first hybrid car, the Honda people had put up requests to the government to reduce subsidies over the hybrid vehicles for a cleaner environment pertaining to the price of their launched vehicle not seeming to be in the budget of a major part of the country. With the recent announcement, a Honda spokesperson applauded the governments step and informed that they had already appraised the government with their technology.

Tags: car, Delhi, Electronic Car, Hybrid Car, India, Mahindra, New Car, Reva, Reva Electric, Tata, Toyota

India witnessed the launch of its first hybrid car, the modified sedan Civic, launched by the Japanese car major Honda Motors Co. this Wednesday, running on a petrol engine and electric battery, priced at a high Ex-showroom price of 21.5 lakhs (for Delhi).

Its major features include:

• 1.3 litre petrol engine (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control)
• 47% fuel efficient electric motor
• Integrated computer that controls consumption and helps battery charge itself up automatically

The first of its class was launched way back in the 1995, and has been introduced in 32 countries before this making India the 33rd launch country for the fuel efficient vehicle.

Honda Siel Car India president and CEO Masahiro Takedawa promised the introduction of more such new vehicles in the years to come and expressed his satisfaction over the good number of enquiries made across India explaining his aim not being the sale of a huge number but the introduction a fuel efficient and eco friendly vehicle system. He also added that he hopes that the Indian government, as like other countries, would lower its import duty for promoting eco-friendly cars among the masses and completely ruled out the possibility of the manufacture of the sedan in India or any other country outside Japan due to technical constraints. With a promise of a healthier environment, Honda sure burns a hole in the pocket. To this Mr. Masahiro blamed the India’s import duty system CBUs cars that impose 104% of import duty.

Against the huge price and keeping in mind its sale of 2,60,000 units across the world since 1995, the expectations are high, rest keeping to the selling statistics and user reviews in the months to come.

Tags: car, Eco, Environment, Honda, Hybrid Car, India, Petrol

Can you think of a car that consumes only one litre of petrol for every 250 kms? But it is true. It is reported that a team of seven students of a technical institute in Punjab have invented this new miraculous car. It is expected to be unveiled in the ‘World Super Mileage Competition’ in US, next month.

The student team of sixth semester mechanical engineering student leaded by Gaurav Aggarwal has made this 65 kilogram wonder car. Other members include Rahul Kumar, Bhavuk Makkar, Mayank Tyagi, Arun Salaria, Navneet Kumar and Ramandeep Singh.

“It is a rare solo car, which can generate a mileage of up to 250 km per litre. Our team of students have not only achieved this feat, but are going to showcase it at a world super-mileage competition in the United States next month,” Gurvinder Singh Bahra, vice chairman of the Rayat and Bahra group of institutes, told media persons.

As told by the young team, the car will cost almost Rs 5 lakhs and all safety and ergonomics features are considered before its manufacturing.

“We have modified the engine as per rules supplied by the competition organizers. The frame of the 65-kg car has been developed by using special grade aluminum. It has hydraulic disc brakes and a modified carburetor and fuel supply system. The car has a lightweight outer body shell with an aerodynamic structure.”

“All safety and ergonomics features have been taken into account. The car even has a self-designed battery re-charging system,” said Aggarwal.

If successful, the invention will definitely help to combat the fuel crisis and it must be appreciated by people. Let’s wait and watch!

Tags: Automobile, car, India, Petrol, US

British Car Company Ford Motors has confirmed to sale his two brands- Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) to Auto major Tata Motors Company. The deal is finalized at an estimate to be valued between $2-2.5 billion.

As told by the sources, the deal was signed last evening and formal announcement will be made in the evening today.

All the crucial issues are discussed and agreed by both the parties last week. The reason behind the delay in the announcement is that Jaguar workers were on leave. The deal has taken almost nine months to finalise as both Ford and Tata and their financiers sought to iron out issues seen as crucial to the future of the two British marques.

When contacted a Tata Motors spokesperson said the company would make an announcement at an “appropriate time”. Ford on the other hand has been insisting that they would make public the deal only after it has informed its employees.

Tags: , car, Ford, Jaguar, Rover, Tata, Tata Motors

sQuba, the swimming car came out of dreams!
Frank M Rinderknecht, the 52-year-old automobile visionary and boss of Swiss automaker Rinspeed manufactured the world’s first real submersible car that can ‘move like a fish underwater’. It can dive up to 32.8 feet (10 mt) below the surface of the water and can move at a sedate 1.8 miles per hour.

Rinspeed sQuba is the most exciting thing at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and is creating many a ripple.

The electric car is based on energy-saving LED lighting technology. Three electric motors propel the wonder car. This car is totally environmental friendly as it is declared a zero-emission car as documented by the rotating license plate in the rear. It produces no exhaust emissions.

The history of swimming cars included the first car named Quandt’s Amphibicar, built in 1968. Only 3,878 units of that were produced but not much successful attempt in water was recorded. Many are still being driven on roads. Then Gibbs Technologies came up with Gibbs Aquada in 2004 which Virgin boss Richard Branson used to break the speed record for crossing the English Channel.

These attempts are followed by the sQuba in 2008 which seems to be the most exciting of them all.

The sQuba is 3′785 mm long and 1”940 mm wide. Its height is 1′117 mm. It can be run with a maximum speed of 120 Km/h which changes to 6 Km/h under water. Its Power output is max. 54 kW at 4′500 /min

The sQuba is environment friendly and all factors are considered for safe drive also. It has an open cockpit for ’safety reasons’ so that people can get out easily anytime in case of an emergency. The occupants of the car have to breathe compressed air through built-in scuba masks.

The sQuba can be run on roads through a stainless coil-over suspension from KW automotive and large Pirelli tires mounted on custom-made forged light-weight wheels from AEZ with 17 and 18 inch diameters.’

Tags: Auto, car, Geneva Motor Show, sQuba, Swimming car