When choosing a used car, there are several important factors to consider. The perfect used car for you should demonstrate the optimal combination of price and efficiency, and should serve you well for the purpose you require. List all influences that are important to you before you make a decision.

Firstly, consider the price. Set a limit on how much you can afford and stick to it. Used car prices can range from several hundred to £50,000, and the cheapest is not always the best choice. An average-priced, popular model is often more reasonable than a cheaper, older model that would be expensive to both maintain and source spare parts.

Secondly, ask yourself for what you will mostly need the car. If you have a large family, a sedan or sport utility vehicle, such as a used Honda or Mazda, would be a good choice and would not break the family budget. If you require an economic car, consider a used Citroën or Ford for a good price and efficiency. For those safety-conscious drivers, the choice is a used Volvo. The best city car models in the UK are Mini, SEAT and Citroën, but BMW and Vauxhall are irreplaceable when it comes to corporate cars. Japanese manufacturers, such as Honda and Suzuki, provide various models at competitive prices.

Narrow down a selection and assess which makes and models are in your price range. Do not be tempted to buy a ten-year-old used BMW for sale just because it looks fancy and flashy, when in fact a four-year-old Peugeot would be more suitable for you. The used cars prices vary so much that you can always find your perfect car for the perfect price.

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The classic Volkswagen Beetle design is well loved and has students and enthusiasts scouring their local car shops, always on the lookout for those in good condition.

In 1994 a new Volkswagen Beetle was released with a more modern and sleek design that although had many critics, was generally well acclaimed. In the UK alone 68,000 have been sold and over a million worldwide. The cars are especially a popular choice for women and members of the gay community.

Now the Volkswagen Beetle is back! The new design is much closer to the look of the original and it has a whale-tail spoiler and expansive separate wings. When the car finds its way to car shops and showrooms everywhere early in 2012, customers will have the choice between a 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine or a 1.2 or 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine (a 2.0 litre petrol engine will then be released later in the year).

The dashboard has been redesigned to resemble the original car, including features like a flush fitted glove box on the facia and elastic straps instead of pockets on the doors. A new Volkswagen Beetle will be available for between £15,000 and £25,000 and has a top speed of around 140 MPH, with acceleration of 0 – 62 in 7.5 seconds.

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Vauxhall is a British car manufacturer that is owned by General Motors. Over the past twenty years Vauxhall has become the second most successful car brand in the UK. As a very popular make of car, Vauxhall cars can be easy to sell, even if the vehicle is just sold for parts.
How Can I Sell my Vauxhall?

There are a number of different ways to sell a Vauxhall. One of the most popular options is to use the internet. There are lots of different websites that offer classified ad services, both paid and free. The other option is to advertise in either a car magazine or newspaper.

How Can I Value my Vauxhall?

Setting a price is a very important step in the process. You should always expect the buyer to haggle down the asking price. For this reason, you should always set a higher price than you would like before you start to advertise the car.  It’s also a good idea to hire a valet to clean your car; this will make it look, feel and smell like new. First impressions are very important and could be the difference between selling and not selling. Having a clean and tidy car that looks great will also mean that the buyer won’t be able to find small reasons to try and knock off some money.

What’s my Vauxhall Worth?

Depending on the condition of the Vauxhall, you may want to consider a service. Minor repairs don’t always cost very much and could be the difference between a buyer being willing to pay extra cash or not. Even something as simple as touching up some of the paintwork, or fixing a dent could save you tens, or even hundreds, of pounds.

You should never sell any vehicle without having the cash prior to the purchase. If you receive a cheque then you should always wait until the money has cleared in your bank account before you hand over the keys. Cash for cars is generally considered to be the best option when selling cars, especially if the car is being sold to a private buyer.

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You will have to replace the brakes on your car at several points during your vehicle’s lifetime due to regular wear and tear.  Other reasons for replacing the rear discs and brake pads include corrosion; this is far more likely if you only use your car occasionally and keep it in a garage.

The friction caused by braking regularly causes brake pads to gradually wear down over time.  Ensuring that you have your car repaired or serviced regularly will help extend the life of your brake pads and discs but it will not stop them needing to be replaced. Driving slowly and keeping the recommended distance between your car and the vehicle ahead can also help to extend the life of your brake pads, as you will not need to regularly brake suddenly.

It is essential to regularly send your car in for maintenance, as faulty brake pads could cause a fatal accident. It is advisable to pay a professional to replace the brake pads rather than attempt this yourself; however, if you are confident in most basic car maintenance tasks, this is a relatively simple process. If you are driving and start to experience minor problems with braking, never attempt to continue. Immediately pull over and call an emergency breakdown service for further advice.

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Car insurance is a legal requirement for every motorist.  When a car owner taxes their car, they are required to produce car insurance certificates and cannot pay their car tax without the correct documents.  A motorist discovered to be driving a car without insurance can incur fines, points on their driving license, or even may even have their licensed revoked.  Any driver who purchases car insurance should see it as a way of protecting themselves and other motorists in the event of an accident, regardless of who was to blame.

There are three main types of car insurance.  The first, Third Party Insurance, is the most basic and cheapest.  It pays out in the event of damage to passengers and other drivers.  Theft, damage, or mechanical problems of the car itself are not covered.  The second type of policy is Third Party Fire and Theft Insurance.  This policy is the same as Third Party, but with added cover against fire damage, theft, and occasionally other types of accidental damage.  The third type of insurance is called Fully Comprehensive Insurance.  This covers all types of damage to passengers and other road users, as well as to the car and car owner.  It is usually rather expensive, but worth it for a motorist who wants to be covered for every eventuality.

Insurance premiums vary according to the car model and driver.  For example, young and new drivers generally will pay more; cars that have powerful engines will also increase premiums.  It is always worth shopping around to find the best policy as certain companies may specialise in car insurance for people of a particular demographic.

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Servicing your car means having a regularly scheduled check performed after a set amount of time or miles, and is essential to ensuring that your car is roadworthy and that you are not heading for serious and expensive problems in the near future.

If performed correctly, regular car servicing will extend the life of your car significantly.  It is important that you trust the dealership or mechanic you choose to complete the service, and that you choose one that is both thorough and reliable.

A car service should come with a set, flat fee, and this will vary from garage to garage.  If the mechanic finds any additional problems which are not covered by the service, you will have to pay for the parts and labour required to fix them.  It is recommended to get a written estimate, at least of the labour costs, so that the final bill will not come as too much of a shock.

A full service should cover the following:
•    Check all exterior lights.
•    Check the handbrake and ensure it is fit for purpose.
•    Check the horn.
•    Check the seatbelts.
•    Check the ABS warning lights to ensure they are working correctly.
•    Check the heater plug indicator.
•    Check that the clutch operates correctly.
•    Check the battery and top up if necessary.
•    Check brake pads, discs and fluid, and top up if required.
•    Check the condition of window wipers.
•    Check the operation of the window washer reservoir, and top up if necessary.
•    Check and top up the antifreeze and coolant.
•    Check the fan and fan belt, as well the alternator belt, and adjust if required.
•    Check and adjust the condition and tension of auxiliary drive belts.
•    Change the oil, and replace the oil filter.

All of the above listed items should be included in the price you are quoted for the service; if you are having your car serviced under warranty, it should not cost you anything.  As mentioned previously, should the mechanic discover any problems that require repair, you will be liable for the additional charges.

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It is a popular fact that around 80 per cent of the world’s millionaires drive used automatic cars. One might say this is how they became millionaires in the first place, but there is a general belief that cars can break the bank balance. Not used ones, though.

New cars lose 30 per cent of their value as soon as you drive them off the forecourt. The best deal you can get on the used-car market is a two to three-year-old vehicle. Someone else has already paid the big money and it has been ever so slightly used, but other than that, the car is great for another five years.

It is never a good idea to take a loan for a car, unless you are using it to make money. A car is not an asset, but something that requires money for fuel, maintenance and repairs. New cars often require extensive lend schemes and leasing. It is much better to buy a used car in cash.

Millionaires did not become rich because they were wasting their money. The sensible way to drive is to find a well-priced, reasonably used car.

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Filling your car with the wrong fuel is easy to do, and the fact that around 150,000 drivers a year put the wrong fuel in their car shows just how easy it is; that works out to around one every three and a half minutes.  With the recent growth in the popularity of diesel cars, the incidents of people ‘misfuelling’ seems to be on the rise; modern diesel cars are quieter than their older counterparts, and many people simply forget that they are actually driving a diesel when pulling up to the pump, particularly if they have a lot on their mind.

If you realize that you have put – or are putting – the wrong type of fuel in your car, the most important thing is to not start the engine or switch on the ignition, as this will simply circulate the incorrect fuel and cause what could amount to very expensive damage.

If you have put petrol in a diesel car and your car is still under warranty, check with your local franchised dealer to get advice on how to proceed; if you run the car with petrol in the tank, you run the risk of voiding your warranty, and could then have to pay for any car repairs you might need yourself.  If you have added more than five litres of petrol to a diesel car, you will need to drain the tank and refill it with the correct fuel.  If you have added less than five litres, in most cases you should be able to top your car up with diesel and run it normally, unless you get different advice from the manufacturer.

If you have put diesel in a petrol car, again, check with your dealer regarding the status of your warranty and ask for their advice.  The same ratios apply as for those who have put petrol in a diesel car – more than five litres and you will need the tank drained; less than five litres and you should be able to simply fill your car with petrol and proceed as normal.

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Selling a car can be a very stressful process if you are not entirely sure what you are doing. So many people intend on selling cars quickly, only to find that they don’t get any viewings, let alone an offer. There are basic rules that must be followed when selling a car in order to make a quick and cost-effective sale.

How Can I Sell my Car?

It’s important that the car is priced realistically. This means not too low and not too high. If the price of the car is too low, then most buyers will automatically assume that there will be problems or costly repairs in the future. Pricing too high is also a bad idea, especially if you are after a speedy sale. This isn’t such as issue if there is no rush to sell.

Honest advertising is also very important when selling a car. It’s important that the vehicles information is completely true. If the car is only good for parts, then it must be stated, or if the car requires a substantial service, then that should be mentioned too. Not being honest about the condition of the car will only slow down the selling process and waste time on both sides.

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One of the most common causes of car breakdowns is a problem with the battery, with the AA being called to more than 500,000 battery-related breakdowns in 2010 alone.  Batteries can die at any time of the year, not just in the winter as many people believe.  The worst time of year for battery problems, however, is during the colder months, as the cold temperature affects power output, the battery’s ability to accept and hold a charge, and also increases the electrical load on the battery.

Keeping your car serviced and in a good state of repair is the first step in avoiding battery problems, and the garage that services your car should check your battery as a matter routine.  If your battery is more than five years old and you are experiencing any problems getting your car to start, it is likely time to replace the battery, as it has reached the end of its effective life. 

When you park your car ensure that your headlamps and all other electrical accessories are switched off and that neither a door or the boot is left open, as even the small interior or boot lights can drain your battery more quickly than you might imagine. 

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