Archive for the Automotive Category

How to Save Money with Lower Gas Prices in 2015

Gasoline has dropped about $1.50 a gallon According to AAA the national average price of gas is $2.17 (1/9/15) per gallon, for regular. Gas Buddy reports that the highest average price in 2014 was about 3.70 in April. This $1.53  per gallon drop can mean a few extra thousand dollars in your pocket this year. These… Read More »

Important Financial Articles from the Web – Nov

Important and Interesting Financial News and Articles from the Web Open enrollment for ACA Obamacare 11/15: If you didn’t sign up last time you can soon, already covered: renew/change, from the New York Times Retirees and real estate, decisions and planning implications, often overlooked but important, from Market Watch Financial planning data worth noting: Social… Read More »

How to Buy a Great Used Car for Under $5,000

Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Ripped Off On Cars A friend of mine was considering a used car, so they went around to several different used car lots. One in particular markets to people with low credit ratings, they show you a nice shiny looking car and quote a payment, and then push hard for the close. One… Read More »

Hyundai and Kia Fined Again for Nearly $300M For Overstated Gas Mileage

Lack of Corporate Integrity for Kia and Hyundai? The Impact to Personal Finances? Deja vu for Kia and Hyundia: It was almost 2 years ago to the date, of the announcement that Hyundai and Kia overstated gas mileage ratings for over 900,000 autos sold since late 2010 and into 2012. Today, on election eve November… Read More »

How to Buy a Car and Avoid Lemons

Besides the purchase of a home, automobiles are the second most significant purchase that consumers make. The wrong car buying decision can cost you thousands of dollars. Here are some tips for buying the right car for you so that the purchase doesn’t interfere with your accomplishing your other financial goals. Have you heard the jokes about Land… Read More »

Merits of Auto Clubs Roadside Assistance and Maintenance

Auto clubs like AAA, MCA and Better World Club, offer very useful benefits, such as roadside assistance and towing. Many of them today are offering much more, including car repairs. In addition to clubs, other competitors have entered that market place, including credit-card issuers, insurance companies, car manufacturers, and oil companies. So before you buy,… Read More »

The Insanity of Long-Term Car Loans

It has been reported that 7 and 8 year car loans are becoming the norm. This isn’t surprising, when you consider that the cost for a new mid-size family car, mini-van, hybrid, or small SUV can easily be $25,000, and it is not uncommon that if nice features are added they can easily cost $30,000… Read More »

Car Power Plants Reviewed: Electric, Hybrid, Gasoline and Others

Have you thought about buying an all-electric vehicle, or hybrid with the costs of gasoline being so high. Maybe you are ecologically minded, and think electric power is better for the environment. Before you run out and buy an alternative fuel car, I thought it would be good to cover the advantages and disadvantages of… Read More »

Time to Check Your Car’s Battery

Fall always seems to be the best time for me check my car’s battery. You might want to also, if you don’t want to get stuck somewhere without a good battery. This is especially true for folks driving through not-so-safe neighborhoods now that it is getting dark much earlier, or up north in our cold… Read More »

14 Ways to Save Gas

Gasoline prices have trickled down in the last few weeks, however they are still about double what they were 4 years ago, making it important to get the most mileage out of each gallon of gas as possible. Some of these tips come from “20 ways to save gas this summer” Popular Mechanics 7/2012 magazine. Here… Read More »