5 Car Hacks Every Driver Must Know

Driving becomes a lot easier if you are aware of some tips and tricks. Driving the right way not only ensures your safety on the road, but also helps prolong the life of your vehicle. In addition to knowing the traffic rules and balancing your car, there are many other driving tips that ensure a great time behind the wheel. In this post, we have discussed five awesome car hacks that every driver should know, especially the beginners. Take a look.

1. Remove small dents by using a plunger

If your vehicle’s door, bonnet or any other part is dented, there is an easy hack to remove it. Push the plunger against the dent so that it covers the dent entirely. Pull it back and see if the dent is gone. It works better for small dents.

2. Use Nail polish to prevent a windshield crack from spreading

Driving with a cracked windshield is unsafe. If the crack on your vehicle’s windshield is spreading, apply clear nail polish on both ends of the crack. Let it dry in the sun for a while. It will stop the crack from spreading, allowing you to drive short distance without endangering yours and other’s life.

3. Easy way to Know which side of the car has the fuel tank

If you are driving an unfamiliar car and don’t know which side of the car has the fuel tank, there is a trick to know it. There is an arrow on the gas gauge on the dashboard which points to the side of the fuel tank. Next time you stop at a gas station, you will not be confused!

4. Hang a tennis ball from the garage roof

There is a simple trick to know when to stop while parking your vehicle in the garage. Hang a tennis ball from the garage ceiling in a way that you must stop reversing your car whenever the ball touches the rear windshield.

5. The right way to adjust side mirrors

It may seem very trivial task, but it is important to adjust the side mirrors before driving the vehicle. Safety experts suggest positioning vehicle’s side mirrors in a way that no part of your vehicle is visible in them. Position the side mirrors in a way that the view overlaps a little with the view of the rear mirror in the center.

Wrapping Up

In addition, a skilled driver understands the importance of holding the steering wheel with both hands. It helps ensure safety on the road, in case there is a need to suddenly swerve the car. Hope these five car hacks help you improve your driving experience. If you are yet to purchase a car, but your budget is keeping you from buying a brand new one, go for a repairable salvage car. Salvage cars available at online car auctions are a good option if you want a good deal on vehicles without crossing your budget. Lastly, if you have more such car and driving hacks in mind, feel free to share in the comments.

All that you Need to Know About Vehicle History Reports

You are looking for cars for sale at an auction and come across a used Chevrolet that is only 3 years old being sold at a real great price. Before making any decision, it is important that you try to figure out the main reason behind the low price of the vehicle. It is necessary to know whether the car has a major problem, if it was previously owned by someone else or if the vehicle met with an accident in the past. Whether you plan to buy a Chevrolet or Audi Salvage Car for Sale, it is necessary to check the history before buying the vehicle to avoid any problems in the future.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number?

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of a car reveals a lot about its past and there are a number of companies that provide the entire history of the vehicle through VIN. Most of the vehicle history reports providers charge only a few dollars. It may, however, be difficult to decide which company you need to trust. Let’s take a look at some of the leading vehicle history providers:

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) represents 88 percent of the US DMV data and provides title information of the vehicles fetched from the state motor vehicle registries. It is the only publicly available system in the US and many salvage yards, insurance companies and automobile recyclers refer to it for collecting vehicle information.

AutoCheck and Carfax

AutoCheck and Carfax provide more detailed reports about the vehicle. The moment the VIN number of the vehicle is provided on the website, the history of the vehicle is provided immediately. Some of the companies provide single report for free and charge certain amount to limited time subscription for multiple reports.

The vehicle history report reveals the title of the vehicle, overall evaluation of the vehicle, registration details in different states, accident information, number of owners and odometer reading. The information in the report may vary from one company to another. AutoCheck, for instance, provides vehicle score to show how the particular vehicle stands against other similar cars built in the same year.

An important information provided in the history report is the mileage verification, wherein, the mileage of the vehicle is recorded every time it undergoes a smog check or there’s a change in the registration of the vehicle. If the mileage recordings get higher each time, it means the owner might have rolled back the odometer.

A Few Last Words

Vehicle history reports inform the buyers about the hidden problems in the used cars, which could eventually help them in saving time and money. It is recommended that buyers subscribe to a car report service once they decide to buy a used car. Get the history of the vehicle before calling the owner, specifically when you would be driving across the town to meet the seller.

Staff Pick: Top Four Convertibles of All Time

Some would say a convertible is the ultimate sign of luxury and we’re not here to disagree with them. We have made our own picks for the best convertibles known for their design, ingenuity, engine capabilities, power, brand value, and sheer appeal. Here we go.

Nissan 370Z

The first thing that’d drive you to like the Nissan 370Z is the pure looks. Nissan is not necessarily a manufacturer known to make the most stylish cars, but this one is definitely an exception. As far as power goes, the 370Z boasts of a six cylinder, seven-speed automatic gearbox with overdrive (VQ 3.7L). It has all the luxury features such as four-wheel anti-lock brakes, side seat mounted airbags, electronic stability, traction control, and 18-inch aluminum wheels to top it all off.

FIAT 500C

FIAT, the veteran Italian manufacturer, known for making chic, European-looking cars hit all the checkboxes when they launched this mini convertible. A fuel-economic, low-power car that has just enough power to get you from point A to point B on time, enough style to make heads turn, and the classic appeal of Fiat in a modern avatar. The 500C engine generates a mere 100 HP the car has all the safety and comfort features you hope for such as overhead bags, airbag occupancy, automatic AC, 15” aluminum wheels and cruise control.

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

The discussion about Convertibles is incomplete without mentioning one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. The car boasts of all the essential features that make a convertible, a high-end convertible. Some of its unique features are 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, side seat mounted airbags, cruise control, active handling electronic stability, six-way power driver seat, 18” aluminum wheels and Airbus occupancy sensors.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Convertibles from the house of Mercedes bring a whole different level of charm to the table and they certainly did not hold back while designing and engineering this particular one. Perfect matte finish, ‘tearing into the horizon’ looks, a 7-speed automatic transmission system, integrated navigation system, side seat mounted airbags, first row overhead airbags, occupancy sensor, automatic A/C, cruise control are some of its unique features.

Most high-end convertibles are priced well outside the budget of a common man, but they could always hope to score one from a salvage yard or auction cars for sale online. These auction sites enable you to buy luxury as well as classic vehicles at an affordable price. It is, however, essential to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the process before you place your bid.

Get the Subaru Outback you Always Wanted to Own

Ask any Subaru owner, as I asked one of my friends, and they will readily affirm that this brand is the epitome of class and safe driving; the name is a much-loved one in the world of cars! The recently concluded Austin Auto Show presented some of the best Subaru series that were appreciated by visitors. The Legacy 2.5i Premium, Outback, 2.5i Limited Impreza and the 2.0i Sport Premium were among the highlights of the brand at the annual auto show.

A brand new sparkling car gives immense joy to the owner; however like me, most people cannot afford this luxury. The sluggish economy and rising cost of living keeps millions of Americans away from buying a new car. What then is the way out? Buying a used car could be one way to own a decent vehicle at a price that is affordable.

For all those who have been looking around to find a used car, help is close by. In fact, it’s closer than you would have ever thought, right at your fingertips! You can find a fairly good used vehicle using the internet, all from the comfort of your home or office.

A growing trend among those interested in buying used vehicles is to participate in online auto auctions. It was very exciting for me when I discovered this. At such auctions, one can buy used vehicles at low prices, with little time and effort involved. Earlier, only car dealers could be a part of such auctions, but now they are open to everyone.

I recently purchased a used Subaru outback at an online salvage car auction. The sheer ease of searching and buying the car online made my complete experience a very satisfying one. To begin, I simply registered online for free on an auction website. Next, I searched for a suitable vehicle and found a damaged 2008 Subaru Outback listed. The clear images and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listed on the website helped me decide that it suited my needs and my pocket too!

I placed a security deposit online and then placed my bid after using the final price calculator that was featured on the website.  At $5,780, it was priced much lower than I had expected.  Of course, I knew that the car would require some re-work, but at this price, it was still good!

I received an email that I had won the preliminary bid. Later, the auction website represented my bid at a live auction and finally, I received an email that they had won my Subaru! The email also listed all the relevant information about the payments, documentation and shipping. In an effortless manner, the vehicle was shipped to me within about ten days!

The best thing about my online experience was that I bought a car of my choice in the most convenient manner. The fact that I had to bid on it and competed with online bidders from all over the world only added to the thrill! Moreover, by saving thousands on the purchase, I can afford a lot of expensive accessories for my used Subaru outback.

 

Tips For Buying A Nissan Car On Auction

Easy internet access motivates more and more people to participate in auto auctions. An online auto auction is a marketplace where you find reliable rides at 20-50 percent of the price of a new vehicle. Online auto auctions cater to a wide audience from different corners of the world. Innumerable brands, different models, the countdown and smart deals are worth bidding for. People looking for Salvage Nissan Cars can find a plethora of options.

Nissan Motor Company Ltd, one of the leading automakers in the world has carved a niche in the automobile industry. Known for state-of-the-art technology, unique designs and brilliant innovations, Nissan Cars are popular among many. Online auto auctions offer dashing models from Nissan at rock bottom prices. However, these vehicles are either damaged by collision or affected by natural calamity, such as a flood. There are various NISSAN models such as the Pathfinder, Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Murano, Maxima, Versa and Xterra that are available on auction. Salvage Nissan auto auction offers a wide range of options for NISSAN lovers.

Tips to Bid and Win Salvage Car

With thousands of people vying for the same vehicle models, winning a bid requires skill and smart strategy. Given below are some of the useful tips to bid and come out with flying colors.

1. The bid always starts at a very low price. Track the change in bidding amount and act accordingly. There is a possibility that some bidders may try to pump up the prices.
2. Go through the auction policies carefully, as mentioned on the website of the auction company.
3. Go for inspection to get an idea about the damage type and estimate the amount to be spent on repair
4. Use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to know about the history of a car.

These tips will help you win salvage Nissan car at a cheap price.