If you want to make sure that you always have solid transportation and you do not want to go broke doing it, then you will want to check out a reputable extended auto warranty. Some people might think that it is just another way for their money to be taken by someone but really, it is no different than purchasing health insurance or car insurance. You really do not want to think that something bad is going to happen, but you pay for insurance coverage just in case something does happen.
A simple car repair could set you back several hundred dollars. A motor or transmission repair could cost you thousands of dollars. Since the extended auto warranty is just a few hundred dollars, and in some cases even less, isn’t it worth the investment? You invest in your security in so many other ways. Just think of all of the things you purchase to protect your family, yourself and your finances.
The key is to make sure that you are selecting a quality company and that you are purchasing the extended auto warranty online, instead of through your local car dealership. The car dealership can sell you a warranty, but it is going to cost you more than if you were to purchase it online on your own. This is simply because the car dealership wants their share of the money and they get that by rising the price on you.
Another thing that you want to do is to make sure that you are keeping up with standard maintenance on your car. This is to not only make sure that the warranty stays in tact but to prolong the overall life of your car. Do everything possible to keep your car in tip top shape and you will not regret it.
Also, make sure that your extended auto warranty comes with coverage for renting a car. If your car breaks down and it needs to be in the shop for a couple of days or even longer, you will need transportation. Getting to and from work, the grocery store or your child’s doctors appointments would be kind of hard without a vehicle. Generally, the extended auto warranty will help with reimbursements for a rental car for the length of the time that your car is in the shop. This alone saves you hundreds of dollars.
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There’s nothing quite like a brand new car. It’s perfect inside and out – no dings, no places where the paint was scratched by the garage door, it even smells new. Should you splurge and buy a car brand new from the dealership showroom, or is a used car a better deal? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each plan.
The obvious benefit to buying a used car is that the price tag is much nicer. In fact, a brand new car loses a significant percentage of its value the minute it’s driven off the car dealer’s lot. On the second day you own a new car, it’s still new. It still has a lot of use left, no scratches and it still smells new. But it’s no longer a brand new car to the next guy, and that alone is worth money. You would think that the value of a car would decline gradually over its useful life, but that isn’t so. It loses proportionately more value during its first months and years. Eventually, the price stabilizes and its value depends entirely on its condition – but it still has some value.
One of the biggest disadvantages to buying a used car is the unknown. Why did its old owner get rid of it? Is it a lemon? How well was it cared for? Did it get all recommended oil changes and maintenance? Has it been in an accident, or has it experienced water damage? Fortunately it’s much easier to determine the answer to these questions that it ever has been. Many used car dealers offer up a Carfax report, which tells you the car’s history. How many owners has it had? Has it been involved in any accidents? Cars can be tracked by their vin numbers and now that computer records have evolved, it’s much easier to compile this information.
The second disadvantage is that a used car will probably not last as long as a new car. It will need maintenance and repair sooner. This, of course, depends a great deal on the age of the used car. If a car is still relatively new, it may still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. In fact, many car dealers sell ‘certified vehicles’. This means that they have inspected the car, done any necessary maintenance and repairs, and determined that it meets certain quality guidelines. Certified vehicles usually come with a warranty, so you won’t have to worry about major repairs for a period of time. If a used car does not come with a warranty, the key is to have your mechanic look it over before you buy it. Compare the price tag to the condition. If you accept a car with some problems, you should get it for a lower price. Of course, there is a limit. A car that’s about to expire isn’t worth any money at all – except to the junkyard.
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In the UK there are over 34 million registered vehicles with 2 million new vehicles being registered each year. On average a vehicle will last 14 years and at the end of this period they are usually sent to be scrapped.
Car scrapping has been around for many decades however in the last ten years the way in which cars are scrapped has changed. Yards have become much more efficient at recycling parts and metals. This has been down to a change in culture. In today’s society people are much more wary of issues such as global warming and recycling.
The value of car recycling can be measured by its impact upon the environment and the availability of used car parts. If scrap yards did not exist then many vehicles would be abandoned and waste away. This would leave dangerous chemicals to seep out into the environment and cause potential health problems. Abandoned cars can also be used for anti social behaviour.
Car part recycling has become big business for scrap yards. This is because they can sell used car parts directly to the consumer. Consumers also benefit from this process as they are able to purchase parts much more cheaply.
Current regulations state that the disposal of vehicles must be carried out by authorised vehicle dismantlers. This requires that they recycle cars and parts in an environmentally friendly way. Vehicles must be de-polluted properly and current targets state that 80% of a vehicle must be reused or recycled. By 2015 the government hopes to achieve a target of 85%.
Rules for vehicle dismantling and recycling in the UK are set out by the DVLA and the environment agency. As the UK is part of the EU they have to comply with some of the rules set by them. In 2003 the EU introduced a directive that was designed to improve vehicle recycling and minimise the impact of vehicle disposal on the environment.
Car recycling processes continue to evolve as yards become more and more efficient. Governments are also keen to promote the use of car recycling yards as they form part of their carbon emissions programs. It’s something that benefits everyone and its use continues to grow year on year. In the next 10 years or so we expect to see further advancements in recycling as cars are likely to move to alternative fuel sources.
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If you are looking for an economic little hatchback or indeed just an economic little car, then there are plenty of different options on the busy used car market. If you want one that likes to have fun, and which has a sense of humour in the bargain, then the options begin to narrow. Economy, fun and silliness in one great package? Well, the only really option is to buy a used Smart car. This Mercedes-Benz owned company produce these brightly coloured cars with lots of variations and personalisation options, all of which are surprisingly good for the environment.
If you are convinced by the idea of buying a used Smart car, then you have a few options when it comes to the different models that the brand produce. They may now only make the ForTwo model, but on the used Smart market is the ForTwo, ForFour and Roadster options, each with their own set of specs and temptations to make people want to buy them. But which is perfect for you?
The ForTwo is the Smart ranges most popular model. As the name would suggest, this is a small car that only has two seats in it. This makes it pretty much perfect for busy city driving, where parking is gold and where people who commute get stuck in long tailbacks and problem traffic every morning. The exceptionally compact design means that this Smart car can be parked at right angle to the pavement without jutting out into the road, meaning that you can utilise much smaller spaces than most other cars on the market. Very convenient!
The ForFour also is pretty explicit in its name, seating four people and upgrading the smart brand into something that can actually be taken seriously by city driving people with a kid or lots of baggage! Thankfully Smart have raised the engine size to over a litre, as the 0.7 litre engine of the ForTwo would really struggle to move this bigger weight. As it is, this surreal looking car with big panoramic windows manages perfectly well to be just as nippy and suitable as its littler sibling.
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Some of the environmental issues that arise from paper production and disposal include the pollution of air and water, high energy use, large landfill requirements and deforestation. To keep the impact on the environment to a minimum we need to change the ways in which we view paper products and begin to reuse and recycle these produces more in an environmentally safe manner. Some of these ways include the use of reusable grocery bags, buying products made from recycled paper, and using cloth towels and napkins instead of paper versions.
In order to have a smaller environmental impact with paper products, we need to begin by reducing our use of them (obviously!) and reusing products whenever possible. Instead of reaching for the roll of paper towels to clean up a spill, why not use a dish towel? Or, instead of using a fresh piece of paper to write your grocery list, start using the back of a receipt or the back of and envelope that a piece of mail comes in. These all seem like minor things, but the impact of doing them all, or the impact that could be effected if we all did one of them, can be pretty profound.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, paper made up the largest share of municipal solid waste in 2006 at 34%. While about half of paper waste is recovered for recycling or compost, the other half ends up in landfills, where it does not readily decompose. Recycling alone is also not a cure-all; the recycling process as well as production from virgin pulp uses water, energy and chemicals. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), paper mills use 40% less energy to produce paper from recycled material than from fresh lumber, but may use more fossil fuels for recycled paper than for that made from virgin fiber. According to the EIA, recycling also uses fewer chemicals than ordinary paper production, and naturally does not pose the same threat to forests. While recycling paper that we can no longer reuse and purchasing recycled paper products can lighten our ecological footprint, reducing and reusing should not be forgotten. Investing in durable reusable bags can help us remember to avoid paper bags when shopping.
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