5 Things Smart Used Car Shoppers Look For

Finding the perfect used vehicle can be a difficult task. We put together a list of things to look out for when searching for your next used car.

The Test Drive
It can be easy to make a quick decision to buy a vehicle, once you are sitting in the driver’s seat. However, buying a used car on a gut feeling can really hurt you in the long run. We have created a test drive checklist to ensure you are buying a reliable used vehicle.

Before the drive

• Inspect tread of tires
• Inspect underneath all floor mats and carpet
• Examine all lights (headlights, brake lights, turn signals)
• Check A/C, heater, radio
• Open and close all doors and trunk
• Check for rust around edges/hinges of car doors

During the drive

• Watch for pulling to one side or the other
• Ensure the transmission shifts smoothly
• Inspect the vehicle’s brakes and ensure the pedal is not squishy
• Listen for any strange noises the vehicle may be making
• Feel for any shaking, vibrating of the used car

After the drive

The car salesman will most likely try to bring you back to the office at the dealership to start negotiating a deal.  We recommend you take at least 12 hours to make your decision.

Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
Pre-Owned vehicles have many benefits. What qualifies vehicles as certified pre-owned is that they have been through an extensive safety and performance inspection, have been repaired to nearly new car standards and have an extended warranty.

Certified pre-owned vehicles tend to be a little more expensive, but if you shop around for the best prices you can easily find a good deal in a certification program.

Find the VIN
The vehicles VIN number allows you to get a full history report of the car. The history report will tell you the following information:

• Reports on how many owners the used car has had
• If it has ever been classified as a “lemon”
• If it is a stolen car
• If the used car has ever been in a major accident
• If the odometer has ever been rolled back

As you can tell, the information that you obtain from checking the vehicle’s VIN number is very valuable and essential when purchasing a used vehicle.

Look Under the Hood
Inspect underneath the hood for any damage.

Check for:

• Any fluid leaks (oil, water or other leaks around the engine)
• Check all fluid levels
• Inspect battery terminals to ensure the battery is rust-free and in good condition
• Make sure car’s VIN is same as logged in the logbook

Reliability:
Be sure and check online, third party reviews for the used car you are looking to buy.  Check for problem areas and general reliability.

You never want to purchase a vehicle with high mileage level on it. So how many miles is too many miles for a used vehicle? Well the answer is not necessarily the same for all vehicles. We suggest you do some research on the vehicle you want to buy and make a decision from there.

Northtowne Auto Group Car Dealerships provides you a wide range of used cars for sale in Kansas City & its nearby area at reasonable prices.

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Lease or Finance a New Car which is Better

There are many advantages and disadvantages to both situations. Whether you want to lease or finance your new vehicle depends on your lifestyle and your preferences. Below we have outlined some of the pros and cons of both leasing and buying your car.

Advantages of Leasing

• Lower monthly payments
• Lower repair costs
• New cars every two or three years
• Vehicle has newest safety features
• Pay tax only on portion you finance

When you lease a car the monthly payments are lower because you are not paying to finance the entire cost of a vehicle. The monthly payment is calculated by taking the vehicle’s transaction price and what the car is estimated to be worth at the end of the lease term. Leasing a vehicle is more suitable for car buyers who like the newest features and like to have a new vehicle every few years.

Advantages of Buying/Car Financing

• Gain equity on vehicle
• Can change paint color
• Add new audio system
• Upgrade wheels and tires
• No mileage restrictions

If you plan on driving the same vehicle for a long period of time it is smarter to purchase instead of lease.  When you make payments on the vehicle, you gain equity. Once you have the car title, you can make as many alterations as you wish. Another benefit of buying is that there are no mileage restrictions. If you are on the road for business trips or just like to travel, buying will probably be your best option. 

Disadvantages of Leasing

• Mileage restrictions per year
• Not able to make any major alterations to the vehicle
• May only qualify with good credit
• Not building any equity

Leasing contracts limit the number of miles you can drive per year. Before committing to a lease, you need to estimate how many miles you drive per year to determine how many miles per purchase. If you underestimate the miles spent, there are expensive overage charges at the end of the lease.

Disadvantages of Buying/Car Financing

• Unknown resale value
• Hefty down payment
• Higher monthly payments
• Risk of upside down loan

Unless you tend to pay up cash up front, you will have to finance your car. Lenders often ask for a sizeable down payment when taking out a car loan, depending on your credit score. Higher monthly payments are also more likely. Lower monthly payments will make the term of the loan longer, in turn making you pay more money in the long run.

Take a substantial amount of time to determine whether leasing or purchasing a car is right for you.  Take into consideration key factors such as your budget, credit history and driving needs. Decide what is best for you and your lifestyle.

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The top 5 reasons why social media is essential for collision repair marketing

By: Stratosphere Studio

With the many marketing avenues available to business owners these days, you might feel a little overwhelmed. This is an issue that comes up over and over again for our collision repair clients. They want to know specifically whether social media marketing is necessary and how it might be important to the overall success of their auto body shops. These are great questions and we’ve dedicated loads of our time here at Stratosphere Studio towards getting to the bottom of it all.

In one word, the answer to the question “Is social media important for my body shop?” is a resounding YES. Social networking is essential to practically every business out there that sells products or services. Don’t believe me? Here are five reasons why social media is so crucial:

You need to be where your customers are.
When marketing your body shop services, you need to meet your potential customers where they are. And guess where they are. Yes, social networks! Now, of course not every single person out there is on Facebook, but how many people do you know who aren’t?

Social networking allows for customer engagement.
One of the best things you can do to promote your business is to engage with your customers. I’m not talking about general, sweeping statements about your business, but real, personalized engagement. Use social networks to address questions, receive feedback (gracefully, of course), and start a dialogue about collision repair and paint work. These conversations can do so much more for your customer retention than a random print ad ever could.

You can get really creative with social media marketing. With the many social networking platforms available, you can promote your body shop services very creatively. On Pinterest, for instance, you could start a board dedicated to custom paint work that you’ve done. On Twitter, you could start a conversation about PDR techniques. On Facebook, you could hold a contest and offer a free service to the winner. The only limit is your own imagination.

Information spreads like wildfire on social networks.
If you want to get the word out fast about a special your shop is offering, an event you’re holding, or anything else, social media is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Encourage your fans to “like” or share your posts with their friends and watch how quickly this information spreads.

Social media allows you to have an active presence.
Many times, people only think about your business when they really need you. With social media, however, you can remain an active presence in the life of your customer. Being careful not to bombard people with too much information, you can stay relevant through helpful tweets, Facebook posts, YouTube videos, and more.

Do you have questions about social media for your collision repair marketing plan?
At Stratosphere Studio, we’ve done extensive research into what marketing techniques work specifically for businesses in the automotive industry, including auto body shops, auto repair shops, and auto dealerships. We would love to help you next!

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Resource: 
The top 5 reasons why social media is essential for collision repair marketing

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