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articles, buyers guide, car buying, consulting, news & articles, safe, selling cars

How to sell your car properly

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Selling your car can be a daunting task to say the least.  Whether the attachment is emotional or financial, your car isn’t going to market itself and finding a way to make it stand out from the crowd can be difficult.  We’ll cover some of the basics to help you get rid of the old so you can bring in the new.

  1. Take good, high quality pictures:  Too often you see blurry pictures that look like they were taken by a 5 year old on the world’s first cell phone camera.  This really puts sellers off and can downplay a car that is actually in great condition.  Make sure you snap pictures of both the interior and exterior, ensuring that the car has been cleaned thoroughly (both inside and out) and that all of your belongings are removed.
  2. Provide proof of service history:  If you haven’t been saving receipts for work done, you’re in a bit of a tough spot here.  But proof that the car has been maintained well goes a long way to easing potential new owners’ minds.  If you don’t have receipts, call shops or dealerships where you know it’s been serviced to see if they have any records they could send.
  3. Be descriptive:  Describe the condition of the car (accurately of course) in more than 2 words.  A short ad that says “runs great, new tires, no A/C” often turns off potential buyers.  Talk a little about the car (but don’t write a dissertation on it) to let the buyer know you cared about maintaining the car and know it well.
  4. Include a Carfax report:  A Carfax report for around $40 will give the buyer peace of mind that is has not been in an accident or experienced flood damage etc. – well worth your money.
  5. Do your research on value:  A car that isn’t priced well will likely either not sell or leave you with less cash than you should have gotten.  Check all of the usual valuation sites like www.kbb.com and www.nada.com to find out what your car is worth and list it accordingly.  Always be prepared to negotiate if you are motivated to sell.
  6. Prepare documents:  Make sure you have the title (or know exactly where/how to get it if you financed) and make up a Bill of Sale (easily found online) to make sure you cover all of your bases.
  7. Stay safe:  If you are planning on meeting potential buyers to have them inspect the car, meet during the day in a public place (parking lot of a restaurant, gas station etc.) to avoid any potential danger.   If you don’t feel safe, bring a friend with you.
  8. Minimize risk:  Only allow test drives to potential buyers who have cash or have proof of financing, that way you can avoid tire kickers.  A free joy ride is a quick way to damage the car and you could potentially be out even more money to repair it on your own dime.
  9. Where to list:  Craigslist is very popular because it is free, but Autotrader is a good option as well.  Ebaymotors will get your more visibility, but you encounter more out-of-area buyers and that can complicate things.

Don’t be afraid to attempt this on your own.  You can always trade the car into a dealership if you are unsuccessful selling it, but if you are able to sell it yourself, you could potentially gain thousands of dollars more than what a dealership would have offered you.

articles, driving, fun cars, new cars, news & articles, sports sedan, Uncategorized, used cars

What keeps a car interesting?

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For one reason or another, a vast majority of us will want a new car within a few years.  A combination of getting bored with the current ride and the allure of a fresh new set of wheels has the average consumer buying a new car every 6.5 years (actually, a dramatic increase as of late).  But out there right now is someone who has owned a car for decades and loved every minute of it, so what’s the magical combo that keeps a car interesting for that long?

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For many, it’s the aftermarket support.  Part of keeping a car for that long means that it’s always evolving – never truly finished, and that means LOTS of parts to be swapped in and out as tastes change.  Whether that’s an abundance of wheels to try or 23 different types of exhausts to fit, the availability of aftermarket parts to keep rides looking up-to-date has always been a big part of the “it’s almost done, honey” perpetual project car.

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A car that you always look back at when walking away, that’s when you know you’ve got something worth holding on to.  Whether it’s a 2017 or a 1987, a car with timeless looks can be the difference between trading up to the latest and greatest and holding on to your prized possession because “everything was better in the 80s”.  Of course, this is subjective, but a car that has captured your heart by way of your eyes is one that will usually be the object of your affection for quite some time.

What keeps you swooning over your car?  Is it the former or the latter?  If it’s one of the two, a combination of both, or something entirely different, leave your thoughts on what helps cars defy the odds and become un-sellable.

articles, buyers guide, car advice, car buying, full size SUV, new cars, news & articles, off road, reviews, Toyota, Uncategorized

The legend lives on: The 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

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The Toyota Land Cruiser name has always been synonymous with go-anywhere capability but only in the 1990’s did it begin to garner some respect as a luxury vehicle as well.  Well this trend continues with this mid-model refresh for 2016, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more capable luxury vehicle than this uber-posh off-roader.

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For 2016, the front fascia of the Land Cruiser gets a refresh, the most prominent new feature being the quad-projector LED headlights that light up the night like the 4th of July.  The revised grill has been accused of being too Highlander-esque but there’s no mistaking this for the Toyota cross-over with much less machismo.  From the A-pillars forward, we have all new sheet metal and the taillights get a slightly refreshed look, but overall, there aren’t very many significant changes to the exterior of the Land Cruiser for 2016, unless of course you count the multiple little “Land Cruiser” embellishments on the headlights and bottom of the rear doors.

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Inside is where you’ll notice the biggest changes.  2016 brings in a new era of gadgetry with a 9” touch screen shoe-horned into the center console.  In keeping with the Land Cruiser tradition, every feature is standard equipment, meaning you get Bluetooth, navigation, heated/cooled seats, 2 rear entertainment screens and a plethora of other luxury bits to keep you and your riders happy.  Quality materials are still used everywhere, and the new steering wheel not only looks and feels great, but also heats up for those cold winter days.  Legroom and headroom are still ample in both front and rear seats, but you do feel like you are in a bit of a cockpit with this latest generation having all manner of knobs and buttons very close to the driver.  Worth noting is that any surface, button or knob that gets used frequently exudes true quality.  The aforementioned knobs feel like solid metal, the switches most commonly used are like a well-oiled bolt-action rifle, simply perfection.  Additionally, the seats are very comfortable and would serve anyone well on long family expeditions.  Overall, a very nice place to be, especially with this author’s favorite, the optional Terra (brown) leather.

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Safety is still a Toyota priority and the Land Cruiser is no exception.  As standard equipment, you’ll find blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warnings, and radar guided cruise control that can brake the vehicle in case the driver isn’t paying attention.  Not only is this vehicle a great cross-country hauler, but these features add a new level of safety that comes standard. 

On the road, the Land Cruiser still feels as solid as ever.  Speed bumps simply flatten out in fear, potholes and road imperfections are coerced into submission, there is really no better riding full-size SUV on the planet.  Road noise is minimal with the huge amount of sound deadening used, and the only drawback to this latest Land Cruiser is the visibility.  With the newly designed hood that is about the same size as a soccer field, forward visibility is reduced a bit.  The same 5.7L V8 comes back unchanged for 2016 as it still puts out a hefty yet buttery smooth 381hp and 401 lb/ft of torque, but don’t expect this monster to win any drag races as it tips the scales at 5765 lbs, not exactly light.  The new 8 speed transmission does its best to help in these cases, but you’d be hard pressed to notice a difference from the last gearbox other than that it seems to shift a bit more frequently and perhaps it does so q bit more quickly and smoothly.  Overall it still has great manners on or off the road, but long distance drivers especially will appreciate just how stress-free piloting one of these behemoths has become.

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At roughly $85k, there’s no denying that this is not an inexpensive vehicle, but when you crunch the numbers on just how long these legends last with so few repairs required, things start to add up.  If you want the ultimate vehicle in luxury, capability, and reliability, look no further than the Toyota Land Cruiser.

mid size truck, off road, reviews, Tacoma, TRD

2016 Toyota Tacoma: A rugged off-roader gets a little quieter

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Well the new Tacoma is here, and it comes as no surprise that its unveiling has been extremely well covered by just about every major publication and website.  As the runaway favorite among mid-size pickup shoppers, a vast improvement in ride quality is certainly something to take note of.  We took one for a spin to see if the new Taco has lived up to the hype.

The most obvious changes to the Tacoma start on the exterior.  An all new front end presents a more aggressive grill and headlight configuration, coupled to new headlights that house projector headlights.  The new grill seems to sit higher and give the vehicle a better approach angle, adding to the overall truck-ier appearance of the Taco.  Couple that with an updated rear end and some new wheel options, and the little truck that could never looked better.

Thankfully, the biggest changes exist inside the cabin.  Toyota has been touting the additional sound deadening and new dash layout, claiming it drives more like a car than ever before.  A laminated windshield, better door seals and additional material in the headliner and floor all contribute to a quieter cab at speed according to the Japanese manufacturing giant.  First-hand experience showed us that it has indeed gotten quieter overall, and the new dash layout is very intuitive while still showcasing several new features previously unavailable.  Standard features now include Bluetooth and the Entune stereo system, signs that Toyota knows that it needs to up the interior game if it wants to stay on top of this market.

There are only a couple drawbacks, and they are mostly associated with interior dimensions.  In true Tacoma tradition, the cab is a little cramped and headroom isn’t exactly abundant if you’re over 6’ tall.  The rear seats leave a little to be desired and as with the front, the seating positions wouldn’t be ideal for longer journeys.  However, this is all coming in a package that is designed to get the job done and never let you down, so little issues such as these seem to be worth the overall reliability you get with the Toyota name.
The new Atkinson cycle 3.5L V6 is a smooth performer, if not a slightly talkative one, as there is still a little bit of noise when you put your foot down.  Torque is fairly accessible down low but the V6 doesn’t mind being revved out either.  The slick 6 speed transmission shifts well and overall the drivetrain is happy in almost any situation.  There is still a traditional manual transmission available for those with a strong left leg, but don’t expect to see many of those available at your local dealer.

This latest generation of one of the all-time favorite pickups represents a significant move by Toyota to keep increasingly picky buyers interested.  Not only would we bet money that this outlasts the competition from GMC/Chevy, but it will look good doing it!