Archive for June, 2005
Posted on June 29, 2005 at 12:03 am by Jeff
Car Leasing - Top 5 Myths About Car Leasing
By Al Hearn
It’s amazing. I operate a web site that provides objective consumer information about car leasing and I’m frequently amazed at the misconceptions or, should I say, uninformed conclusions that many people have about leasing. Let’s look at some of them now.
1) Leasing is a scam by dealers - Not true. Car dealers didn’t invent leasing. Leasing is a valid method of financing capital equipment that has been used for over a hundred years in business. However, it has only been within the last 25 years that leasing has become popular with automotive consumers. Since it is not well understood by most consumers, dealers oftentimes encourage leasing when it isn’t the right option in a particular situation. The key lesson here is that, if you don’t understand leasing, stay away from it.
2) You make payments for the life of a lease and have nothing to show for it at the end - That’s right. But the payments are lower and only pay for the depreciation that all cars experience, even those purchased with a loan, which is money you never see again in either case. Plus, you pay finance charges either way, which you also never see again.
3) Dealers make money by charging you extra fees in the beginning of a lease - Not true. The only fee that is specifically associated with leasing at the beginning of a lease is the “acquisition fee” which is charged by the lease company, not the dealer. There may be a security deposit requirement, which you get back at lease-end. All other charges and fees are the same as those for a purchased car.
4) Dealers make money by charging you extra fees at the end of a lease - Not true. Lease companies charge lease-end fees, not dealers. Lease-end fees could be for excessive mileage, which is simply a way of compensating the lease company for the extra depeciation in resale value you created by driving more miles than you originally agreed to. Furthermore, if you damaged the car, or didn’t replace tires when they needed to be replaced, you can be charged. Fair enough.
5) Leases are like renting and work the same way - Wrong. Leasing is not at all like renting. You can’t end a lease any time you choose. You can’t swap vehicles in the middle of a lease. A down payment is not a security deposit. The first month’s payment is not a down payment. A security deposit is refundable and not a fee.
Al Hearn is owner and operator of LeaseGuide.com, a popular web site for automotive consumers interested in leasing. It has served many thousands of visitors since 1995.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Posted on June 29, 2005 at 12:02 am by Jeff
How To Get A Free Car
By Clyde Dennis
This is one of those things that to a lot of people will sound too good to be true, but if you do your homework and follow my advice you really can get a brand new car for free. Or get paid to drive the car you currently own.
Yes you read it right.
There is no catch and there are no hidden costs.
Very large sponsor companies such as eBay, Yahoo, Coca Cola and many more really will let you drive their new cars free, or pay you to drive your own car just for decorating the car with their advertising message.
You only pay for gas and insurance in these types of advertising sponsorship arrangements.
It’s a pretty simple concept really. One we had to know was coming sooner or later.
It’s here now, and in a big way.
This is advertising placed on moving vehicles such as cars or trucks. Apparently some advertisers have realized this is a way to promote their product or service at a substantially lower cost than billboard, television or radio advertising.
Advertisers with these free cars are willing to allow qualified program participants to drive them as a trade off for helping them advertise.
As with any service you have to be careful which one of the free car services you choose to use. There are quite a few sites offering information online about how to get yourself into a free car.
Since each of the services does charge a one time set up fee of around $40.00, I recommend you select one of the services that offers a no questions asked, 100% money-back guarantee for up to atleast 90 days. That way you can actually try their services for 3 months [90 days] and if you’re not happy with the results, they will refund your money. No questions asked.
Generally to qualify for one of these programs you must be 18 years or older, have a valid drivers license, and completely fill out an application.
There are also some restrictions based on which country you reside in, but if you live in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France or Spain you will have no problems qualifying.
Selection depend on considerations such as driving records, driving habits, location, etc. Most companies require a minimum driving and a clean driving record. That means no violations within the past 12 months.
After joining a program, and applying to several of their resources, you can expect to be placed on several waiting lists. Your position in the waiting line is determined by your location, and your average daily mileage. For example, if you live in Los Angeles and drive 50 miles every day, or sit on a busy freeway for several hours per day, you will be much more likely to receive a car quicker than a person who lives in a small town and only drives 10 miles per day on rural roads.
If you can commit to driving 800-1,000 miles per month and you live in or near a city of over 100,000 people, you have an excellent chance of getting a free car quickly. And, if you would rather put an advertisement on your own car, the more miles you can drive, the more you will get paid.
For more information on this great opportunity to drive a free car go to http://www.easyhow-to.com/Get-A-Free-Car.html
Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. “Mr. How-To”, is Editor at EASYHow-To Publications and has been contributing articles that help people make their lives better since 1999. At his web site, The “How To” Library, you’ll find a collection of the latest How To Articles, Tips and Tools to help you get things done.
For more information visit The How To Library @ EASYHow-To.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Posted on June 29, 2005 at 12:00 am by Jeff
2006 Honda Civic Si: Automotive Innovation at Its Best
By Jenny McLane
Designed as an “Advanced Personal Compact,” the next-generation Si will incorporate flowing bodywork, a steeply angled windshield, and wide stance to suggest stability and forward motion. The new Si will be the fastest and most powerful Civic offered in its twenty-year history.
The 2006 Civic lineup, launching this fall, will include a 4-door Sedan, a 2-door Coupe and Si Coupe, an even more fuel efficient Civic Hybrid and a natural-gas powered Civic GX.
The Civic Si Concept builds on its performance heritage with a 200-horsepower, 16-valve, and DOHC i-VTEC engine with an 8,000-rpm red line, mated to a close ratio 6-speed manual transmission. Helping to put all that power to the ground is a helical-type limited slip differential for improved launch traction and cornering performance.
A 200-horsepower 16-valve i-VTEC engine powers the 2006 Si. Honda sources indicate that next-generation i-VTEC technology will have significant gains in performance and fuel economy. A six-speed transmission will give drivers manual control of shift points up to the engine’s redline of 8000 rpm, and a helical-type limited-slip differential will enhance traction and cornering ability.
The Si Concept includes performance features such as 18-inch cast aluminum wheels with 225/40R high performance tires, and 4-wheel disc brakes with large cross-drilled brake rotors. “The 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be the most powerful, fastest and fun-to-drive Si we’ve ever put on the street, and the Civic Si Concept sets the direction in terms of its styling, package and performance,” said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda. “It’s part of a new family of Civic vehicles that build on the already class-leading values of the Civic in terms of safety, styling, performance and fuel efficiency.”
This new production Civic Si Coupe will serve as the performance leader for the 2006 Civic model lineup, which will be completely redesigned. The 2006 Civic will feature more emotional styling, enhanced performance, and the latest generation of “intelligent” i-VTEC engine technology.
One of the leading Honda Parts suppliers is Parts Train. They offer high quality aftermarket Honda auto parts at guaranteed lowest prices. Simply browse at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/HONDA and you have access to one of the largest Honda auto parts wholesalers in the United States. Parts Train offers a variety of aftermarket and replacement Honda car parts including radiators, fog lights, tail lights, air filter, Honda engine parts and many other Honda replacement parts. Parts Train’s very friendly and efficient customer service staff will be waiting for your enquiries.
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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