Tips
Collection of Tips

Tips Collection

Tips for better fuel economy

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Ensure accurate tyre pressure
It is important to maintain optimum tyre pressure and check it regularly at least once a week. Tyres can add upto 10% to your fuel bill if they are under-inflated. Low tyre pressure makes the tyre flex excessively, which means more power exertion for less distance travelled.
Drive in the appropriate gear
Driving in lower gear than what is expected for a particular speed range makes your car consume more fuel. For fuel efficient driving, the first rule is to drive in the correct gear.
Avoid frequent gear changes, acceleration and braking
Moving the vehicle from a static position to a sudden speed requires a lot of power and fuel. Conversely, sudden braking causes the power developed by the engine to dissipate. Try to accelerate or decelerate smoothly by judging the speed of the traffic from a distance. The fuel economy may get affected by the frequency of changing gears, acceleration and braking.
Avoid running your engine needlessly
Do not keep the engine running while waiting for somebody, loading or unloading luggage or while stopping in congested city traffic. You lose around one kilometer of traffic for every three minutes of idling on an average.
Do not press the clutch pedal unnecessarily
Avoid driving with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. This will cause clutch slippage, resulting in more fuel consumption and premature clutch wear or damage. Also avoid driving with half clutch to get better mileage and to avoid sooner wear and tear of the clutch pedal.
Use the air conditioner only when essential
Though the air conditioner gives comfort, it adds considerably to your fuel bill. Depending upon the car size, driving speed, traffic conditions and ambient temperature, over 20% more fuel is consumed when the air conditioner is switched on. Judicious use of the AC can result in considerable fuel saving.
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Why to Buy Used Car

Buying a used car has its own advantages. Some of the most important benefits are:

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You get an advanced variant at the price of a new car from the lower variant.
If you are planning to buy a new hatchback in the range of five to six lakh then you can plan to buy a sedan at the same price range in the used car segment.
Depreciation of a used car is less than the depreciation of a new car.
The rate of depreciation reduces with the number of years and kilometers run. Insurance cost of a used car is less than that of a new car as insurance companies discount the depreciation from the premium.
The possibility of aggressive negotiations is also high
You can also save the cost of adding accessories like music systems.
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How to buy a used car

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Decide your budget
The first step to buying a used car is to decide your budget. Figure out exactly how much you are willing to spend on the car and also plan for a budget in terms of immediate repairs or upgrades that you will require such as new tyres. Once your budget in fixed, survey the market and see what is on offer.
Market Analysis
When looking for a used car, it’s a good idea to survey the market first. Buying a used car means you can afford a bigger car at the price of a new small car; however, you should have an idea of what you can afford within your set budget. There are company owned used car outlets, smaller used car dealers as well as private owners who are looking at selling their car through the classifieds. Another great option is to get online and visit websites that offer a platform to buy and sell used cars.
Searching the right used car
Narrow down on a car that suits your needs. Remember that if you choose a big car, it might come cheap to buy, but ownership will involve costs that are associated with big cars. While buying a used car it’s also a good idea to include other options. For e.g.: if you are looking for a Hyundai Verna, you can also look at the Volkswagen Vento, or Renault Scala. These were built for the same market but you can find them at lower prices.
Survey your prospective used car
A desirable step in getting a good used car deal is to get the history report of the car. It is also a good idea to take along a reliable mechanic to check the car out. Items that you should definitely look for are any signs of a major accident ( usually a keen eye can spot major paint work done on a vehicle), unusual wear and tear on tyres and suspension Another element to look out for in a car is the paperwork. Make sure the vehicle’s papers are complete and up to date. This will be helpful when transferring the car to your name and you do not want to get stuck with a car that cannot be registered in your name. Only if you are completely satisfied with the car should you continue pursuing it.
Negotiating the price
Whether you're dealing with a private party or a dealer, make sure you let them know that you’re ready to strike the deal on the spot, but need to negotiate the price. You need to have a valid argument about why the price is too high at the same time putting up an acceptable offer. Walk out in case you’re not comfortable with the deal and avoid falling for offers such as Teflon coating or accessories such as mudflaps which the dealer might mention to distract you.
Seal the deal
Once the deal is closed you still have to go through the finance and insurance steps. Make sure all the processes regarding the transfer of ownership are completed and that the car is still insured before you drive away.
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How to sell used car

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Decide on a selling price of your car
Picking the right asking price can mean the difference between getting multiple calls right off the bat and having your phone not ring at all. In order to come up with an effective asking price, you'll first need to find out what the car is worth.
Post ads of your car
Use the commonly used sites, where you can list your car for free. It's also common these days to use Facebook or Twitter to let your friends know you are selling your car. When you post your ad online, make sure you upload plenty of photos of the car. You can also upload a video of the car to YouTube so potential buyers can do a virtual walk-around of the car.
Show you car
If you've done all the previous steps, you should receive a number of calls about the car. Now someone wants to see it in person. Bear in mind that when you sell your car, people will not only be evaluating the car, but also the person who owns it. Buyers will feel more comfortable if they know you took good care of the car and answer their questions openly. Make sure the car has been washed and that you've removed all your belongings from the inside. It is also a good idea to have your maintenance records ready to show interested parties.
Potential buyers will want to test-drive the car
Ride along with them so you can answer questions. Some buyers will want a mechanic to inspect your car. If you have a report from your mechanic, this might put their doubts to rest. But they may still want your car to be inspected by their mechanic and that is a reasonable request.
Price negotiation
It's not uncommon for people to ask you for your "best price" or try to negotiate before they've seen the car in person. If you give out a number first, they may try to lower the price even further once they've seen the car. Try to avoid these situations by letting shoppers know you would rather negotiate after they've seen the car

When a person test-drives your car and likes it, you can expect him to make an offer. If the offer is well below your asking price, you will want to either hold firm with your asking price or make a counteroffer. An easy counteroffer is to meet the would-be buyer halfway or slightly increase the offer made to you. Give the negotiation process a thought ahead of time so you won't be caught unprepared when the time comes.

In some cases, the buyer might want to have an agreement that is contingent on you performing repair work. This can lead to misunderstandings down the line, so avoid such deals if you can. The best thing to do is discount the car so the buyer can handle the repairs on his own.
Seal the deal
The RTO laws on the sale of motor vehicles may vary from state to state. Check with the RTO in your state. Most of this information may be available online. When selling your car, it's important to limit your liability. Ensure all paper work is done as early as possible to keep yourself safe from any legal issues.
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Car Care Tips

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Check and change the oil.
No single step will help an engine last more than regular oil and filter changes will. Conversely, nothing will destroy an engine faster than neglecting oil-level checks or fresh-oil changes.
Flush the cooling system and change coolant once a year.
A 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water will keep the cooling system in good shape and prevent corrosion and deposits from building up inside the cooling system.
Change out transmission and differential oils.
While not requiring frequent service, these fluids must be changed according to service intervals. Always use transmission fluid or gear oil of the recommended type and viscositys.
Keep it clean.
While washing the outside of the vehicle is obvious, most everything the vehicle ran over can also get stuck to the underside. Hosing off winter salt and road grime is a good idea.
Everything with moving parts needs grease to survive
Everything with moving parts needs grease to survive.
Nothing keeps paint looking good and protected like a coat of quality wax.
Apply wax at least every six months.
Driveline components such as u-joints also require regular lubrication.
The driveline may have to be removed to access the zerk grease fitting.
Protect the interior plastic.
Protect the interior plastic by parking the vehicle in the shade, using a window deflector screen, and applying a UV protectant to prevent the plastic and vinyl from drying out.
Inspect, clean, and repack wheel bearings
Inspect, clean, and repack wheel bearings with wheel bearing grease according to service intervals. Wheel bearings and grease are inexpensive compared to spindle and hub replacement, or liberated wheels rolling down the road ahead of you.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic.
This means it is adept at attracting moisture. Moisture causes components to corrode and fail. Replace fluid and bleed system once a year. Brake fluid is cheap. Calipers, hoses, and sensors are expensive.
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