I had a car a few years ago that seemed to always have one problem after another. Finally, I got tired of paying for repair after repair, knowing that I was just going to end up paying again in a month or so. I wanted to save up for a better car, but I couldn’t do it if I was always paying the mechanic. So the next time that my car started overheating, I decided to fix it myself. I bought some tools, checked some books on car repair out of the library, looked up answers to my questions online, and pulled parts from old cars at the junkyard. And eventually, I fixed it. You can fix your own car problems too. I started this website to help people who are trying to learn how to be their own mechanics. If I can do it, you can do it.
-
Three Tips For Safely Towing A Vehicle On A Car Hauler 22 January 2016
-
Two Techniques To Help Keep Your Tires Properly Aligned 4 January 2016
-
What To Have In Place Before Obtaining Vehicle Financing 15 December 2015
-
Storing Your RV 26 November 2015
-
Tips For Buying A Pick-Up Truck That Won't Guzzle Gas 8 November 2015
Radical Radiator Repair
How Has The Used Car Market Been Impacted By Cash For Clunkers?
Bobbie Jones
If you're in the market for a new-to-you vehicle but on a tight budget, you're likely investigating the used vehicles available in your area. During your search, you may have noticed that the number of vehicles available has diminished over the past few years, and those vehicles that are available are generally more expensive than in previous years. What has caused this shift, and what can you do if your budget won't support these vehicles? Read on to learn more about the Cash for Clunkers program and the options available to you in a post-Cash for Clunkers world.
How did the Cash for Clunkers program impact the number and types of used vehicles available?
In 2009, the Obama administration launched an effort to remove some of the older and less efficient vehicles from the roads while stimulating the economy by "purchasing" these vehicles from their owners. Called the "Car Allowance Rebate Program" (CARS) or "Cash for Clunkers," this program was effective in removing nearly 700,000 older vehicles from the used car inventory.
Due to increased demand for used cars, as well as such a huge hit in the supply of older vehicles, prices for many used vehicles have risen dramatically since 2009.
What should you do if your budget won't support a newer used vehicle?
If you're in need of another (or a different) vehicle but can't afford a new purchase or even any of the available used inventory, you still have a few options.
- Consider a trade-in
Many new auto dealerships receive low-mileage vehicles as trade-ins from customers who wish to upgrade to a new or newer vehicle. Because these vehicles are generally purchased by the dealership for a low price, they can also be sold at or below their actual value. Often, trade-ins below a certain value are sent off to auction -- so purchasing one of these vehicles can save the dealer the time, money, and hassle of shipping the vehicle to an auction house.
- Visit an auto auction
You can cut out the dealership and purchase a vehicle from an auto auction yourself. Some of these auctions are even available online. However, one downside of this method is that it can be difficult to determine whether the vehicle is in good mechanical condition prior to purchasing it. Although some auctions will allow you to inspect a vehicle prior to purchase, other auctions are performed "sight unseen." (For more information on junk car buyers, contact Ingram Auto Sales Inc)
Share