If you've been following our "E-Letter" each month, you know about our trivia question and the prizes you can win.
This months question was...
"Before the introduction of the hair dryer in 1920, what common household appliance was promoted for its hair drying ability?"
The answer is...
"The vacuum cleaner."
It could be converted into a hair dryer by attaching a hose to the exhaust port.
Keep trying and if you are not a receiving our E-Letter monthly and would like to, send us an email at...
m-ajayne@carlottacredit.us
CarLotta, http://www.carlottacredit.com/
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
How To Change A Flat Tire
It is good to know how to change a flat or damaged tire.Like everything, with a bit of instruction, when faced with a flat tire you should be prepared.
* The first thing you need to do it identify which tire is flat, could be bulging from the low air pressure and look flat compared to the others. However if you have trouble you could use a digital tire pressure gauge to tell you which tire is losing air.
* The second thing you'll need to do is get the required tools, in new cars the tools will most definitely be with the spare tire or in the trunk somewhere. Older cars may not have these tools as the previous owner may have kept them or lost them. (a tire iron /socket wrench and car jack) are all there in case you need them.
There should be a specific point on the body work of the car that is designed for the jack to attach to, using the tools, find the point and ensure the jack stays in place. You should be careful to make sure you don't use the jack in the wrong place as this can damage the bodywork or trim. Before raising the car you will need to loosen the nuts on the wheel you are replacing, this is because the wheel will simply spin round if you try to loosen the nuts once elevated. Be sure you are on level ground and base of the jack is solid and not wobbly.
Make sure you loosen or tighten nuts in opposite pairs; this is the safest way to use wheel nuts according to mechanics.
* Once the wheel nuts are loose, begin raising the car up on the jack, only raise the car as much as is needed, any more and you could make the car unstable and it could fall off the jack. It is always safest to use a jack on a clear flat surface so it doesn't slip, if you have stopped on gravel you could place a piece of strong flat wood underneath the jack to secure it.
Once that car is raised on the jack remove the wheel nuts completely and lift the wheel away from the car, you need to store this wheel in your car. Next you need to bring out the spare tire and place it on the car, attaching the wheel nuts again. Once they are as tight as you can get them, lower the car off the jack and tighten up the nuts again with the tire iron or wrench.
* Your car should now be safe to drive, however depending on the vehicle, your spare tire may not be suitable to drive on indefinitely so it is advisable to drive to your nearest garage or tire store to get your main wheel repaired. It is also important to remember that some spare wheels are only designed to be used at low speeds so consider this if you are traveling on a highway.
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
200,000 Miles And Beyond, More Reliable And Long Lasting Cars
This is a blog post I came across that talks about the increased quality of cars well over 100,000....all the way up to 200,000 miles by Gary Hoffman. Good article.
Not so long ago, people counted themselves lucky if their car made it 100,000 miles before it gave out. As late as the 1980s and 1990s, many odometers didn’t even carry enough digits to handle 100k.
But to echo the hopeful baby boomer assertion that 60 is the new 40, one could say that 200,000 miles is the new 100,000 – thanks primarily to improvements in quality.
Consumers are embracing the idea if the statistical studies and the growing number of “high mileage” car clubs around the country are any indication.
One of the groups, the Allpar 200,000 Club, boasts 4,000 members. They consider it a point of pride to be able drive Mopar / Chrysler products with more than 200,000 miles on them.
Last year, the “Cash for Clunkers” program, designed to boost auto sales and get gas-guzzling vehicles off the road, showed just how high the age of cars, trucks and SUVs has risen.
The typical vehicle turned in under the program last year was 14 years old and averaged 160,000 miles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Since it took a bonus of $3,500 to $4,500 to persuade owners to turn these vehicles in, thousands of them would likely still be on the road and accumulating mileage if they hadn’t been scrapped.
Outside the bonus program, the average age of scrapped vehicles lately has been nearly as high as the “clunkers’” -- about 13 years, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
To some extent, tough economic conditions are leading consumers to hang onto their cars longer, said Lonnie Miller, vice president for marketing and industry analysis at R. L. Polk & Co., a publisher of automotive data. “People are cooling their jets on buying new vehicles.”
But the trend was underway well before the last downturn. Average vehicle age has climbed steadily for a decade, Miller notes, going from 8.8 years in 1999 to 10.6 years late last year.
He believes longer warranties and financing contracts are two key factors behind the trend, along with the higher vehicle quality.
The longer life spans could be just the beginning. Many of the “clunkers” turned in for scrapping last year were manufactured in the mid-1990s. Experts expect longer life spans from the technologically advanced cars sold today.
Studies by J.D. Power & Associates, a consumer and product research firm, do suggest that cars are being built to last longer, Miller noted. In its latest dependability report, the firm said that overall performance of vehicles after three years of ownership was “at an all-time high.”
Between 2003 and 2010, average number of problems per 100 vehicles plummeted from 355 to 155 industry-wide, according to the company. Twenty-five of the 36 brands in the study showed improvement.
“I have a hard time criticizing any company that builds or sells a car in this country,” said Matt Keegan, publisher of two automotive web sites “The quality is so much higher than it used to be.”
In many cases, quality no longer varies substantially from one car brand to another either, said Erich Merkle, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based auto analyst and publisher of the autoconomy newsletter.
“The Detroit 3 have improved to the point of taking that differentiator away from the Hondas and the Toyotas.” Owners have to be conscientious about maintenance, of course. In return, they get the chance to bring their future costs under control. With longer warranties to reduce their financial risks, Miller said consumers are poised to “steer their own automotive destinies.”
“If you are presented with good products, you have the opportunity to get some of your money back after your purchase. A car today can really last if you take care of it.”
Richard Kahn, the publisher of a Subaru website, The Subaru High Mileage Club and owner of a New Hampshire landscaping company, pushed a ‘93 Subaru to 282,000 miles.
He changed engine oil every 5,000 miles, usually with synthetic oil. “I don't ignore little noises. I have them addressed right away.
"It helps to have a solidly built vehicle to begin with. But if it is properly maintained even an unreliable vehicle can probably do better than a solidly built vehicle if you neglect the maintenance."
After 13 years on the road, his Legacy was a bit rusty but it still ran. Kahn was able to trade it in on a new Subaru Impreza WRX. "If I had known that I could have bought replacement body panels, I probably would still have it."
"I don't believe in letting things die," he said. "Quite frankly, I don't like the whole new-car car buying process" Kahn launched subaruhighmileageclub.com in 2000. He says nearly 1,000 Subaru owners use the site, which includes a forum where they can trade tips on keeping their cars running.
Most owners would rather not drive their vehicles into oblivion, of course. The average driver keeps a new vehicle nearly 6 years -- up from about four and one-half years in 2002, according to R.L. Polk figures. Then it is sold once or twice, on average, over its lifetime.
Even if owners aren’t out to set mileage records, careful adherence to maintenance schedules pays off in a higher resale value.
“If you do the recommended maintenance, you will be selling a car that should still be in good condition after 100,000 miles or higher,” Keegan said.
The trend toward greater vehicle longevity is not hopeful sign to everyone. Efforts to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions could falter if consumers hang onto cars with older technology for years.
And the auto industry naturally would like to see people tire of repairing their vehicles.
In 2009, consumers stayed away from dealerships in droves, with consequences that were disastrous to the industry and communities dependent on it. New car sales fell to less than 9 million units a year, compared to more than 17 million in its heyday.
Merkle said it may take several years to reach 16 million units a year or more. But he expects automakers to rely on new technologies and designs to lure owners out of their aging sheet metal.
“Many people don’t buy new vehicles because they need to,” Merkle said. “They buy them because they want to.”
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
Is 200,000 Miles The New 100,000?
Some Owners Push The Limits Of Their Odometers
Gary Hoffman, Correspondent, AOL Autos
The dream of putting 200,000 miles on your vehicle – once restricted to an assortment of auto buffs and non-conformists willing to spend a small fortune on repairs -- is fast becoming a real possibility for millions of drivers..Not so long ago, people counted themselves lucky if their car made it 100,000 miles before it gave out. As late as the 1980s and 1990s, many odometers didn’t even carry enough digits to handle 100k.
But to echo the hopeful baby boomer assertion that 60 is the new 40, one could say that 200,000 miles is the new 100,000 – thanks primarily to improvements in quality.
Consumers are embracing the idea if the statistical studies and the growing number of “high mileage” car clubs around the country are any indication.
One of the groups, the Allpar 200,000 Club, boasts 4,000 members. They consider it a point of pride to be able drive Mopar / Chrysler products with more than 200,000 miles on them.
The typical vehicle turned in under the program last year was 14 years old and averaged 160,000 miles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Since it took a bonus of $3,500 to $4,500 to persuade owners to turn these vehicles in, thousands of them would likely still be on the road and accumulating mileage if they hadn’t been scrapped.
Outside the bonus program, the average age of scrapped vehicles lately has been nearly as high as the “clunkers’” -- about 13 years, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
To some extent, tough economic conditions are leading consumers to hang onto their cars longer, said Lonnie Miller, vice president for marketing and industry analysis at R. L. Polk & Co., a publisher of automotive data. “People are cooling their jets on buying new vehicles.”
But the trend was underway well before the last downturn. Average vehicle age has climbed steadily for a decade, Miller notes, going from 8.8 years in 1999 to 10.6 years late last year.
He believes longer warranties and financing contracts are two key factors behind the trend, along with the higher vehicle quality.
Studies by J.D. Power & Associates, a consumer and product research firm, do suggest that cars are being built to last longer, Miller noted. In its latest dependability report, the firm said that overall performance of vehicles after three years of ownership was “at an all-time high.”
Between 2003 and 2010, average number of problems per 100 vehicles plummeted from 355 to 155 industry-wide, according to the company. Twenty-five of the 36 brands in the study showed improvement.
“I have a hard time criticizing any company that builds or sells a car in this country,” said Matt Keegan, publisher of two automotive web sites “The quality is so much higher than it used to be.”
In many cases, quality no longer varies substantially from one car brand to another either, said Erich Merkle, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based auto analyst and publisher of the autoconomy newsletter.
“The Detroit 3 have improved to the point of taking that differentiator away from the Hondas and the Toyotas.” Owners have to be conscientious about maintenance, of course. In return, they get the chance to bring their future costs under control. With longer warranties to reduce their financial risks, Miller said consumers are poised to “steer their own automotive destinies.”
“If you are presented with good products, you have the opportunity to get some of your money back after your purchase. A car today can really last if you take care of it.”
Richard Kahn, the publisher of a Subaru website, The Subaru High Mileage Club and owner of a New Hampshire landscaping company, pushed a ‘93 Subaru to 282,000 miles.
He changed engine oil every 5,000 miles, usually with synthetic oil. “I don't ignore little noises. I have them addressed right away.
"It helps to have a solidly built vehicle to begin with. But if it is properly maintained even an unreliable vehicle can probably do better than a solidly built vehicle if you neglect the maintenance."
After 13 years on the road, his Legacy was a bit rusty but it still ran. Kahn was able to trade it in on a new Subaru Impreza WRX. "If I had known that I could have bought replacement body panels, I probably would still have it."
"I don't believe in letting things die," he said. "Quite frankly, I don't like the whole new-car car buying process" Kahn launched subaruhighmileageclub.com in 2000. He says nearly 1,000 Subaru owners use the site, which includes a forum where they can trade tips on keeping their cars running.
Most owners would rather not drive their vehicles into oblivion, of course. The average driver keeps a new vehicle nearly 6 years -- up from about four and one-half years in 2002, according to R.L. Polk figures. Then it is sold once or twice, on average, over its lifetime.
Even if owners aren’t out to set mileage records, careful adherence to maintenance schedules pays off in a higher resale value.
“If you do the recommended maintenance, you will be selling a car that should still be in good condition after 100,000 miles or higher,” Keegan said.
The trend toward greater vehicle longevity is not hopeful sign to everyone. Efforts to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions could falter if consumers hang onto cars with older technology for years.
And the auto industry naturally would like to see people tire of repairing their vehicles.
In 2009, consumers stayed away from dealerships in droves, with consequences that were disastrous to the industry and communities dependent on it. New car sales fell to less than 9 million units a year, compared to more than 17 million in its heyday.
Merkle said it may take several years to reach 16 million units a year or more. But he expects automakers to rely on new technologies and designs to lure owners out of their aging sheet metal.
“Many people don’t buy new vehicles because they need to,” Merkle said. “They buy them because they want to.”
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What Do I Do If I Have A Service Problem With My CarLotta Car?
Well, that depends.
* If you are IN the warranty period for your car give us a call so we can schedule an appointment to diagnose and repair your car. Keep in mind, you may have to pay a deductible before the work is done by us. Most deductibles are $106 ($100 deductible and $6 sales tax).
* If you are OUTSIDE the warranty period, or if it is not a covered repair....give us a call first anyway. We may be able to diagnose and repair the vehicle for less than you can get it repaired elsewhere annnnnnnd
we may be able to finance part of the repairs to keep you and your car driving and on the road. This option is available as long as your account is up to date.
Keep in mind, we invest over $1000 per car in reconditioning cost and repairs before we put it on our lot for sale to you. We do our best, but once in a while, we may miss something. If you think that has happened, please give us a call and let us check it out. We want you to be happy with your vehicle.
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
* If you are IN the warranty period for your car give us a call so we can schedule an appointment to diagnose and repair your car. Keep in mind, you may have to pay a deductible before the work is done by us. Most deductibles are $106 ($100 deductible and $6 sales tax).
* If you are OUTSIDE the warranty period, or if it is not a covered repair....give us a call first anyway. We may be able to diagnose and repair the vehicle for less than you can get it repaired elsewhere annnnnnnd
we may be able to finance part of the repairs to keep you and your car driving and on the road. This option is available as long as your account is up to date.
Keep in mind, we invest over $1000 per car in reconditioning cost and repairs before we put it on our lot for sale to you. We do our best, but once in a while, we may miss something. If you think that has happened, please give us a call and let us check it out. We want you to be happy with your vehicle.
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
Thursday, June 10, 2010
If I Don't Have My Down Payment Now, Will You Hold The Car I Want Until I Do?
Well, the short answer is no, we will not hold it for you. But...there really is no reason, as we have new inventory arriving 3 times each week. In addition, we have trade ins, and we buy cars from people that just want to sell them also.
We stock over 100 cars per month at our 3 locations. If we don't have it at this moment, it is sure to be on its way in. If you don't see it on our lots, ask, it may be in service or in our clean up / recon areas where we wash, wax and shampoo the interiors of all our cars.
Keep in mind, on average we put $1000 of repairs and / or reconditioning costs into each one of our cars BEFORE it is sold to you. It takes time to do this and the cars are not put on the lot until they are ready.
If you see a car on our lot and don't have your down payment yet, stop in and see us. We will surely have another very soon if not right now at another location. In any case, if you are looking for a particular vehicle, we either have it now or will soon.
Stop in, email or call...we will be able to help you.
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
We stock over 100 cars per month at our 3 locations. If we don't have it at this moment, it is sure to be on its way in. If you don't see it on our lots, ask, it may be in service or in our clean up / recon areas where we wash, wax and shampoo the interiors of all our cars.
Keep in mind, on average we put $1000 of repairs and / or reconditioning costs into each one of our cars BEFORE it is sold to you. It takes time to do this and the cars are not put on the lot until they are ready.
If you see a car on our lot and don't have your down payment yet, stop in and see us. We will surely have another very soon if not right now at another location. In any case, if you are looking for a particular vehicle, we either have it now or will soon.
Stop in, email or call...we will be able to help you.
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
Friday, June 4, 2010
What Is A "Co-Signer" On A Car Loan?
This is not the legal definition of a co-signer, so please get advice on your own if have additional questions...but these are the basics of the responsibilities of a co-signer at CarLotta Credit.
* A co-signer is responsible for paying the loan back IF the person they co-signed for defaults (does not make their payments). This could mean that you are responsible for the entire balance of the loan, even if you are not in actual possesion of the vehicle.
* You will be asked to supply some credit information in order for a loan decison to be made.
* If you did not make those payments, it could affect your credit rating as well.
Some guidelines for co-signers....
* Make sure that you can afford the car if the buyer does default.
* Be sure you have a long term relationship with the buyer, to make it worth your while to take on this responsibility.
* Ask the loan company to contact you and keep you posted as to the progress and timeliness of the buyers payments to prevent surprises.
There are good reasons to co-sign a loan for someone, just make sure you understand the responsibility.
CarLotta, http://www.carlottacredit.com/
* A co-signer is responsible for paying the loan back IF the person they co-signed for defaults (does not make their payments). This could mean that you are responsible for the entire balance of the loan, even if you are not in actual possesion of the vehicle.
* You will be asked to supply some credit information in order for a loan decison to be made.
* If you did not make those payments, it could affect your credit rating as well.
Some guidelines for co-signers....
* Make sure that you can afford the car if the buyer does default.
* Be sure you have a long term relationship with the buyer, to make it worth your while to take on this responsibility.
* Ask the loan company to contact you and keep you posted as to the progress and timeliness of the buyers payments to prevent surprises.
There are good reasons to co-sign a loan for someone, just make sure you understand the responsibility.
CarLotta, http://www.carlottacredit.com/
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Some Differences Between CarLotta Credit And Other Car Dealerships
Here are a few differences between CarLotta Credit and other car dealerships....
* We know and assume that you have credit issues when you stop by, call or email us. We great you with a smile and a hearty handshake and appreciate your business. We understand that good people can and do have credit problems. At some dealerships, when you tell them you have credit issues, they may not be very happy about it or helpful.
* Nothing you tell us is going to surprise us, or embarress you. For over 24 years we have helped people just like you. Anything you have to tell us, will be handled professionally and held in confidence. Selling and financing cars to people with credit issues is our only business, this is what we do.
* Most dealerships are trying to make as much money as possible on every customer they sell...at CarLotta Credit our #1 goal is to make sure the car is affordable to you and fits in your budget. We want you to be able to afford your payments and pay your loan. Its better for you, and us.
* We report your on time payments to the credit bureaus on a regular basis, this can improve your credit score over time. Most other dealers do not do this.
* Most of our payments are set as weekly. This helps you judge your budget and stay current with your payments.
This is just a few of the things that make us different. Stop in, call, or email us and let us actually show you!
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
* We know and assume that you have credit issues when you stop by, call or email us. We great you with a smile and a hearty handshake and appreciate your business. We understand that good people can and do have credit problems. At some dealerships, when you tell them you have credit issues, they may not be very happy about it or helpful.
* Nothing you tell us is going to surprise us, or embarress you. For over 24 years we have helped people just like you. Anything you have to tell us, will be handled professionally and held in confidence. Selling and financing cars to people with credit issues is our only business, this is what we do.
* Most dealerships are trying to make as much money as possible on every customer they sell...at CarLotta Credit our #1 goal is to make sure the car is affordable to you and fits in your budget. We want you to be able to afford your payments and pay your loan. Its better for you, and us.
* We report your on time payments to the credit bureaus on a regular basis, this can improve your credit score over time. Most other dealers do not do this.
* Most of our payments are set as weekly. This helps you judge your budget and stay current with your payments.
This is just a few of the things that make us different. Stop in, call, or email us and let us actually show you!
CarLotta, www.carlottacredit.com
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