Just Cars Club

With oil prices steadily climbing up, it seems logical to start considering fuel economy among the many criteria that consumers use for buying their next vehicle. Wise consumers are now eyeing at the most fuel efficient cars that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comes up with every year. This list pertains to cars that are capable of attaining the best gas mileage due to their specific features and engine performance.

Here is a list of the five most fuel efficient cars that are available in the market today.

Honda Civic GX

One of the main reasons why this particular Honda model has made it to the list of most fuel efficient cars is that it uses compressed natural gas unlike other vehicles. It has a fuel economy rating of 28 miles per gallon (of compressed natural gas). It comes with an at-home pump that you can use to tap into your home gas line to fill it up before you leave your home. However, since compressed natural gas isn’t likely to be available in all gasoline stations everywhere, you will want to carefully plan your trips if you’re going to use Civic GX. It may be one of the most efficient cars but it can only travel 170 miles on a single fill-up.

Toyota Prius

Prius has always made it at the top of the list for the most fuel efficient cars from EPA. It has an overall fuel economy rating of 46 mpg, one of the lowest in the market these days. The mid-sized sedan features a spacious interior which has made it a crowd favorite as well. As one of the most efficient cars in the market, Prius has an estimated annual fuel cost of $1019.

Honda Civic Hybrid

The Civic Hybrid features electric motors that maximize the potential of its small 1.3-liter engine. It is another one of Toyota Prius’ direct competitors when it comes to rankings for the most fuel efficient cars. With an overall fuel economy rating of 42 mpg, one can easily surmise how it came to figure on the list for most fuel efficient.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Camry Hybrid has a fuel economy rating of 34 mpg which barely made it to the list of most fuel efficient cars today. Its battery pack, while a bit bulky compared with other models, is one of the main features that have made it figure in this roster of the most fuel efficient . It also features a fuel economy gauge that lets the driver know when its average mileage rises.

Nissan Altima Hybrid

The Altima Hybrid uses practically the same technology that the Toyota Camry Hybrid has but with a couple of different features. It also has an overall fuel economy rating of 34 mpg making it another one of the most efficient cars among compact sedans. Altima is great to use for city driving. According to estimates, it fares better in the city when it comes to best mileage than when used on the highway. But with its superb engine performance, it has managed to maintain its place among the most fuel efficient cars available today.

Most people think that they know everything they need to know about BMW when they go to the dealership, read about BMW in Consumer Reports or Car & Driver magazine or go online and do some “research”. You can’t go wrong by doing any of those things. But the truth is my friend, there is so much more to the BMW experience than just the usual brochures and information.

When you own a BMW you’re not just buying a luxury car. You’re buying a tradition of quality and excellence. And to show you what I mean, let me tell you about some “little known” insider information about BMW. This is going to be like a trip through your family tree. And just like you are the way you are because of all members of your family that came before you, the same is true of BMW.

Why should you care about any of this?

First, just like you, every BMW has its own special personality that started almost a century ago in 1913. Even then the obsessive need to create great mechanical machines was born. And like most true stories of “greatness”, BMW has its roots in failure. Karl Rapp started the company as an aircraft engine manufacturer. With a gleam in his eye and a dream in his heart, his watched as his aircraft engines struggled to overcome vibration problems. But all would not end well for Karl.

In about three years the dreams of Karl Rapp were dead.

The financial problems of the company were just like a bullet through his heart. And there was no way he could survive this massive trauma. So in 1916 he sells out to Franz -Josef Popp and Max Fritz. For the next four years the company does well with the aircraft engine business. But it was not enough.

As the old saying goes, the only thing that stays the same is “change”.

Secondly, BMW started building motorcycles in 1921. And the reason this is important to you dear reader is because this was another turning point for the company. During the next six years the company has great success with its R32 and R37 motorcycles. In fact from 1924 to 1929 all German championships in the 500 ccm category were won by BMW. Can the vehicle you drive today boast of such an inspiring heritage?

1928 was a very good year. This was the year in which all descendants of every BMW model in existence today began to take shape. For like all visionaries, the owners of the company knew they had to find other markets for their engines because the world economy was changing. And they needed to change with it.

Why is the factory at Eisenach/Thuringia important to you?

Because, and this is the third thing you don’t know about BMW, this was the first factory the company owned that was licensed to build small cars. It’s sort of like saying what hospital you were born in and on what date. Do you feel the connection?

The fourth thing you don’t know about BMW is that 1932 was the first year the company entirely developed the first model BMW called the AM4. With this car BMW wins the Concours d’Elegance in Baden-Baden. Not a bad start for a car that would become a legend—-right?

And finally, the fifth thing you don’t know about BMW is that in 1933 BMW introduced the 303 saloon. This was the first inline-six cylinder engine produced by the company. This configuration is still in use in many more recent models.

Now you can no longer say that there are, “5 Things You Don’t Know About BMW”.

At present, the price of gasoline continues to rise, for this reason a lot of motorists are finding more ways to save on fuel, some opted for alternative diesel while others choose to buy hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid vehicles are operated through a combination of electricity-run motor, a gasoline engine and powered batteries. The powered battery functions as the one responsible in giving off energy for the electric motor and also recharges when energy was brought up once lost when a car is decreasing its acceleration or while coasting.

Apart from being battery powered, the Hybrid car is also operated electrically and is able to cope up and function well at any motor speed. This is completely dissimilar to the standard gas-powered engines producing less power in low revolutions. Cars have transmissions in order to run at full range even if the speed is being lessened; this does not particularly suitable for the hybrid cars.

The motor of a hybrid car was designed to have resistance on the drive train slowing down the wheels in the process. The electric motor functions as generator and converting the energy produced into electricity. Afterwards, the energy is stored in the battery and is now ready to be of use by the electric motor.

When you tend to use hybrid vehicles, you will notice that they cost more than the regular cars since most of these types of cars are not often available in the market. Another reason why hybrid cars are expensive is due to its complicated battery pack and makes use of an electric motor to operate. Also, when it comes to the maintenance of hybrid cars, the parts are a bit rare and so an owner would have to shell out a large amount of money to spend on checkups and fix-its.

One of the main points of hybrid cars is the feature called “regenerative braking”. It can function both as electric power and fuel power. Each can function by itself yet it all depends on which powers stronger when used. To put simply, the two power functions of hybrid cars complement each other and do not provide any destructive cause to the car.

The fact that hybrid cars are part battery powered, this car does not create huge holes on the pocket as compared to users of traditional cars who particularly feel the increase of oil prices in the world market. Japan made hybrid cars are considered more compact and lightweight. These hybrid cars are said to be easier to maneuver on the road making them more convenient to use.

People nowadays are very much in particular when it comes to taking care of the environment. Hybrid cars can contribute to this quest of a free pollution world; however, its impact may not be seen at present but as the year goes by and when all people are aware of how hybrid works fairly well, then this new innovation will definitely mark in the history of automobile.

There are also people who are not so much into hybrid cars for its expensive price yet, this car is worth the price because of its good effect to man and to the nature in general. Even insurance companies are advocates of Hybrid cars. They are offering incentives and encouragement among hybrid drivers as their way of helping the environment. Even though it would seem that these insurance companies are only offering these perks due to the fact that hybrid drivers are less likely to file claims, this is not their main concern. Insurance companies offering incentives are only helping in promoting smart environmental decisions among car consumers.

If you’re looking into buying a 2008 hybrid car or truck, make sure you don’t get fooled into thinking that “hybrid” automatically means more fuel efficiency. It’s not sufficient that your hybrid car or truck gives off fewer emissions, it also has to be fuel-efficient or you’re not helping the environment anywhere near as much as you think you are. And, since you’ll pay more for a hybrid and gas is running over $3 a gallon, that’s an important consideration.

Often US automobile manufacturers focus too much on performance at the expense of fuel efficiency. As an example, the 2008 Toyota Prius gets up to 48 mpg and gives off 4 tons a year of carbon dioxide, while the Chevy Tahoe gets a whole 20 mpg and gives off 9.2 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Quite a difference! Particularly for people considering buying a hybrid for environmental reasons.

When considering buying a 2008 hybrid car, remember to take several things into consideration.

One factor is that they tend to be more expensive, but don’t necessarily hold their resale value. It depends on the model. If you’re buying a hybrid, don’t plan on its paying for the difference in price by the savings in fuel.

Another is that your favorite mechanic might not be able to work on hybrids, beyond the basics such as oil changes, leaving you stuck with having to use a dealership, which also tends to be more expensive.

Also be clear on what you want from a hybrid car. Smaller hybrids get far better mileage than larger vehicles. Larger hybrid cars get better acceleration but at a cost in mileage. Also, consider how you plan to use your hybrid car…long trips, trips around town, hauling things…as all these need to be factored into what hybrid car is best for you and your family.

Definitely make sure you read the reviews of the various 2008 hybrid cars you’re interested in. Consumer Reports obviously is an excellent resource, as is Car and Driver (caranddriver.com). And, when possible, check out owner reviews as well.

For example, the Car and Driver editors’ rating for the 2008 Honda Civic hybrid was a 7/10. However, users rated it as a 9/10, and the only complaint from owner reviews was road noise. This type of review, in combination with those of professionals, can help you decide which 2008 hybrid car is best for you.

The Audi Cabriolet is one of the more stylish cars that come with amazing safety and performance features. One of the most sought after models is the A4 Cabriolet which comes fitted as standard with some amazing features often only found on models in the higher price range.

The A4 Audi Cabriolet model features Servotronic speed dependent power steering; this is plugged as a user friendly steering system which balances the amount of help given. As the name suggests it responds to how fast you are travelling and alters to different environments. Which for example, helps in different measures when travelling around town in traffic, or if you have a large stretch of motorway in front of you? The dynamic suspension on the car compliments this making it a smooth and bump free ride on even the smallest of country roads. If you go for the 7 speed multitronics gearbox, you get the best of both worlds. You have the ease of automatic transmission while also still being economical on the fuel.

The roof of course as you would expect is fully automatic at just the touch of a button. Audi claim that you could open the roof when travelling at speeds of as much as 18 MPH. Whereby the steel roof slides and folds effortlessly and quietly. Even the basic 1.8 standard 5 speed is packed with stylish features both on the interior and exterior. The interior features the driver’s information system or DIS as Audi like to call it.

The interior of the car is based on sleek styles, with angled line which go towards deflecting the light. This is just as well and pays compliment to the dark leather seating and aluminium. With style being one of the top priorities of the car, all aspects of it are taken into account. This is right down to the single grille in chrome and blue glow coming from the tubular headlights which focus on increasing visibility. These set the car in a class of it`s own, and use gas not electric. The steering wheel is not left out in the fashion stakes along with being fully adjustable it is extremely comfortable and responsive, clad in black leather.

The Audi Cabriolet is designed to meet every conceivable safety situation possible. Active and passive safety features have been specially adapted by Audi, which is claimed to be one of the most secure environments possible. This is helped by not only features on the inside of the car but also the outer. The front passengers along with the driver are given protection by way of full sized airbags which are governed by two stage sensors. This takes into account the speed you are travelling and the type of accident you should be involved in. If the impact comes from the side then protection is in place by way of an energy absorbing brace. A good braking system is of course a huge bonus when it comes to safety measures. The model is not let down with poor braking as it offers a braking system to contend with the cars powerful V6 engine. EPS comes as standard which is an enhanced stability programme which goes towards ensuring that the car stops smoothly and quickly in any situation.

Buying a vehicle can be difficult. Buying a vehicle that both functions properly and affordable is even more difficult. When many consider buying a pre-owned car or truck, they rarely think about buying a repossessed vehicle. Buying a repossessed vehicle from an auction is an affordable way to get the car you’ve always wanted at a price you can afford. But heed this warning, not being prepared can cost you. Below are 7 tips to buying repossessed vehicles for sale without regret.

1. Do research on the vehicles you are considering buying at the auction. Find out what problems a particular make or model are consistently having. Do your homework before you even think about going to the auction. This can save you time and lots of money because you will know the most common problems to identify. You can do this by:

2. Searching online using the terms “(car model) common problems”. More than often you will find a list of problems a particular make or model has. Then you know exactly what to search for when buying a repossessed vehicle.

3. Know a mechanic or know something about mechanics. This can also save you big at the auction. Use the buddy system to help identify possible vehicles you may be interested in.

4. Use an online database to help you find which cars are at which auctions. There are many vehicle auction websites that can search for just about any car on and their asking price. See below for more information.

5. Have a plan and a spending limit in mind when going to a repossessed vehicle auction. When you budget, you mentally prepare youself using the parameters you have in mind. This can save you a ton and keep you in check when bidding.

6. Have money set aside for repairs and maintenance. By doing this you can buy with confidence that you won’t be up the river without a paddle when it comes time for repairs. Planning ahead is never a bad idea when it comes to purchasing cars, truck and sports utility vehicles.

7. Go with your gut. Yes, it sounds cliche, but all to often people get a bad feeling about a purchase only to find that they were right in the first place. Heed your own feelings and the feelings of others. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the excitement, but it all too often ends up in a pool of buyers remorse.

Buying repossessed vehicles for sale is a great way to get a wonderful vehicle and save big. When doing so it is more important than ever to stay alert, be prepared and buy in confidence. You’ll be happy you do.

Let’s compare leasing a car versus buying the same kind of car. Lets state the advantages and disadvantages of leasing using several different categories, in that way this might be a helpful guide for some drivers who are trying to make that decision. Most of the people who prefer leasing appreciate driving around in a new or nearly new car, do not drive their car for many miles during the year, and take good care of the car during that time. Leasing is often a better option for those people who truly prefer driving the current year model, or at least a very recent model. It is also an option for those people who want to drive a car whose full sticker price is somewhat beyond their current price range.

One of the major advantages of buying a car as opposed to leasing is that you actually are paying money and will have something at the end of that time. At the end of the lease term the vehicle must be returned in good condition, unless the option is chosen to buy it. At the end of the lease term, it is necessary to either lease another vehicle or finance the purchase of some vehicle.

The costs that one pays initially typically include the first month’s payment, a refundable security deposit, taxes, registration, and various lease fees. Some lease agreements ask for payment of the a vehicle down payment also at this time, but that depends upon the lease. Monthly payments for a lease are calculated to cover the depreciation of the vehicle’s worth over the term of that lease. For example, if the car’s value at the end of the lease term is $12,000 less than at the beginning of the lease term, and the lease is a two-year agreement, then the car has an average depreciation of $500 per month over the cost of the term. Typically, a monthly lease payment is not as expensive as a monthly loan payment were you buying the same car.

One major aspect of a lease agreement is that the term of the lease is fixed. This means that, if for any reason, the lease must be terminated early, there is typically a significant charge added on to the cost of the lease. When considering leasing a car make sure that any conditions, like early termination conditions, are read over carefully and totally understood. At the end of the lease the person that has taken the lease generally returns the vehicle in good condition, and pays any end of lease costs that were initially put in the contract. Again, the contract should be read carefully in order to see what these are, if any. Be aware that there can be a significant charge if too many miles have been put on the vehicle during the lease.

The two most common costs for someone leasing a vehicle are additional charges for excessive mileage or for excessive wear. It is important that a person leasing the car keeps to the number of miles specified in the lease, or negotiates for a different number of miles in the contract when it is drawn up and signed. Also, it should be made very clear exactly what the company will consider excessive wear when the car is returned, and they should be clearly described in the contract.

Hopefully, this introduction has given some indication of who might be a good candidates for a car lease, and which people would be better off in purchasing a car.

Salvage cars are very popular nowadays due to many reasons such as; they are cheaper, the whole process does not involve as much time as buying a used car, or cost as much as buying new cars.

Of course, as with any other thing on the market, there are several difficulties, and in this case, there can be found many more downs than ups. Yet, for example, if you have enough money put aside and need to buy a car fast, and you do not worry that much about possible quality problems, then salvage car auctions are the thing for you.

For example, let us assume that you want to buy a car for your son, since he has not got that much experience as a driver it may be safer if in the beginning he would own a cheaper car and learn how to deal with small possible problems that may appear.

Of course, a salvage car can be great if you want to buy a second car for your or your family, because you can get it cheap and fast, because everybody needs at some point a new car for their family.

As mentioned before, the biggest advantage with salvage cars (and obviously, salvage cars auctions is that they are very cheap). Most of the times these cars are very cheap because they need to be sold right away and the buyer is more willing to offer a smaller price than bargain for a huge price.

This way, at auctions, in some cases, the final price might meet the ideal price for the seller, but most of the times, it will be under his price. Therefore, if you are low on money and need a car fast, if you can find a salvage car auction somewhere near you, it would be a great idea to take advantage of the situation.

The second great thing about these salvage car auctions is that because of the buyer’s rush to sell the car; it will not take anybody’s time. Practically, it is only a matter of days after you were announced the winner of the auction until you will actually have the car in your hands to drive it with all the papers written.

Of course, with salvage cars it is more difficult to tell if they are real quality, meaning that while at an used car dealer you can spot many faults in the car’s system by discussing with the dealer, driving the car, carefully examining it on your time. It is harder to do that at an auction because there will be many people there trying to do that, and everybody seems to want to find something out, and get in your way.

Yet, there is a solution to people who are too afraid to a buy from these kind of auctions - they can buy the car for body parts. Repo vehicles can be used as spare parts for your own car, and this way save a lot of money with possible purchases.

You have all the parts you need now. Of course, it is a matter of luck and opportunity, and sometimes you may not find a model just like yours, or something similar. However, if you do, you can consider your car saved!

Everyday, used cars repos auctions are held all over US. This is because there is a constant influx of vehicles repossessed by banks and government agencies everyday. Nobody knows the actual number but it is estimated that close to one hundred vehicles are repossessed everyday across the country. These automobiles are then auctioned off in used cars repos auctions at prices anywhere between 90 to as low as 10% of their market value. In order to truly benefit from this source of buying cars at low cost, there are a few things to note with regards to used cars repos auctions.

How Do These Auctions Work?

Typically these auctions are held in the same locations within a period of time and may move from place to place within the states. The mandate of the auctioneers is to sell off the cars within the shortest time at the highest price due to the costs involve in storing and maintaining the vehicles. Most of the time, not only cars are auctioned, but other properties like real estates as well.

Minimum age to participate is 18 and the bidder has to have a driving license to bid on automobiles.

Some of these auctions are open only to car dealers but majority of them are open to the public for bidding.

Most auctions offer a preview lasting about 2 days to allow bidders to take a look at the automobiles and check their conditions. Usually you won’t be allowed to drive them out but may start the cars for inspection purpose.

What To Expect In These Auctions?

Be prepared for competition from car dealers in these used cars repos auctions. Cars that are popular and in good condition will naturally draw more attention and hence higher bids. Try to set a budget for yourself on a particular car and that should prevent you from over bidding. The older cars that are in less-than-perfect condition may not be so popular and may prove to be good deals you can go for. A little refurbishing may just restore these vehicles to their original condition.

You will be required to pay on the spot upon successful bidding. Therefore, you should get your pre-approved used car loan or credit union ready before the auction just in case. Credit cards, money orders, certified checks, and traveler’s checks are usually accepted while personal checks may not be.

How To Locate These Used Cars Repos Auctions?

There are 2 ways to locate them.

These auctions can be found advertised on newspapers. You can also call up the auctioneers if you know who and find out when and where they are holding their next auction.

The other method is to go for online listing of used cars repos auctions. Although these services costs around $50 but entitles you to unlimited access to updated information on repossessed vehicle inventory and where these automobiles are sold or auctioned. It saves time and is a small price to pay for the potential huge savings you can get.

Used cars can prove to be great investments provided potential clients conduct sufficient research prior to finalizing a deal. This is a prerequisite or else the gamble could prove to be costly. The demand for used cars is increasing for the simple reason that showroom prices could be exorbitant. This has proportionately increased the number of fraudsters who tend to trade dubious and faulty used cars by categorizing them as ?affordable and best used cars?. Prior to finalizing a used car deal, clients may choose to indulge in comparison-shopping to find the best used car brands.

When manufacturers launch new models, market trends and consumer demands decide their fate. The best-used cars are likely to be those that are seen most on the roads. This is the simplest method clients can use when selecting from the ten best-used cars. The Internet can help locate reliable best-used car sources. They offer a wide range of used car types along with their price tags. This includes compact cars, entry mid-sized cars, luxury cars, full-sized cars, coupes, and different sports utility vehicles (SUV). Apart from the type of vehicle, clients may choose to be selective about the manufacturers.

Brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Porsche are well reputed. In case clients choose to buy used vehicles from individuals, the outcome may or may not be guaranteed. This is because they may choose to hide important facts. It is advisable to consult with experienced mechanics to determine the value and effectiveness of a used car. When clients choose from ten best-used cars it gives them a wider range of options and allows people to find an affordable vehicle that fits in an individual?s budget. The logical explanation behind selecting from the ten-best used cars is to save money and avoid being involved in long-term auto loans.