Things to consider when buying a new car

When buying a new vehicle it's important to consider all aspects of driving that is of importance to you before you make your choice. Not only is how the car handles important, but you should also consider what you will use it for in terms of travel and transport. The below list will give you some idea of what you should think through before making your choice.

Firstly, figure out what type of car will suit your lifestyle. If you transport kids on a regular basis you probably need a different car to a couple who only use the car for their weekly shop.  Some people need lots of luggage space or space for their dog, while others might need a frugal diesel car as they use their car for long commutes. So it's important to sit down and think about your own lifestyle and make sure you get the right fit in terms of size and economy. Also make sure you decide on a budget and stick to it. Don't get lured in by a dealer who might be trying to up-sell you.

After you've located potential makes and models you like make sure the cars are as a good as they seem on paper. In addition to the buying costs you also have to look at how much a car costs to run in terms of insurance, road tax, fuel, servicing and repairs. You should also consider the car's resale value if you buy a car new. In general it will have lost around 40 percent of its value by the end of its first year but some popular car models might only lose about 10 percent.

Finally, make sure you test drive your chosen vehicle before you commit to anything. This will ensure you're comfortable and will enjoy driving the car. Take your time as the more you drive the car the more you discover about it and how it handles.

Then once you've test driven the car of your choice based on your current lifestyle and spending power, it's time to make the deal - whether it's for a new Seat Alhambra or a Ford Ka. Kent is one area where you should find dealerships happy to assist you in your next purchase.

List of Taxes on Car Insurance

In many countries you have to pay a range of taxes on all services and products. What you may not be aware of though, is that your car insurance is also subject to the same taxation.

Value added tax, better known as VAT, is one of the most recognisable taxes. This is applied to almost all products, apart from hand-picked essentials. Unfortunately for all drivers, car insurance is certainly not exempt.

This has seen many policy holders have to pay significantly more in the past year or so, particularly in the UK where the rate of VAT has increased from 17.5% TO 20%. Whilst in percentage terms this is a minimal jump, when you're already paying hundreds if not thousands for a policy for your vehicle, this can have a huge impact.

The second form of tax that is commonly applied to car insurance is the Insurance Premium Tax. This doesn't include a lot of long-term forms of cover, but for most drivers there is a 6% levy applied to all policies. Again, this isn't a huge amount, but when added to the VAT and other calculations that go into a quote, it can make a big difference.

Insurance Premium Tax is another area where there have been quiet increases in the recent past. Unsurprisingly it probably slipped under the radar of most, but in the UK it was increased from 5% in 2010 to 6% in 2011. This has added another few pounds to the running costs of a vehicle and has seen many premiums remain reasonably flat this year, with insurers having to pass on the costs to customers.

In the most part, these taxes are absorbed within the policy, which is why many drivers simply aren't aware that they exist. Any costs are applied to quotes after the initial risk assessment is carried out. Therefore when you apply and fill in all of your details and those of your vehicle, the insurer in question will approximate the cost based on these factors and their own algorithm.

The higher your supposed risk, the more you will be quoted. The knock on effect of this can be quite substantial, particularly in light of the aforementioned taxes and their respective increases. This is why it is important that all drivers are careful to preserve their no claims bonus and look to avoid unnecessary risk - such as parking on a street rather than on a secured driveway.

Taxes are an unavoidable part of life and most countries will have their own policy when it comes to applying them to car insurance. Therefore levels of taxation and the amount insurers charge is likely to vary quite considerably from province to province. VAT for instance is highly variable, with many governments imposing levels either side of the United Kingdom's current rate of 20%.

They are all subject to change of course. Perhaps not as frequently as your fuel duty, but as annual budgets roll around, so too does the possibility of an increase in your car insurance policy and the taxes therein. This is out of the hands of insurers of course, with their only input being how much the basic cost of a policy is, just like any other product or service.

So, to briefly summarise, the two main taxes that are applied to all car insurance policies in the UK are Insurance Premium Tax and Value Added Tax. The former of these is around 6%, whilst the latter currently sits at 20%. Both are variable and have seen significant changes within the last year or so.

Should I buy a used Toyota?

Throughout 2009 and 2010, Toyota were frequently in the news and not for the best reasons. Having recalled thousands of vehicles due to a variety of problems doesn't conjure much in the way of reliability and it could be suggested they change their advertising slogan from "The car on front is a Toyota" to "The car in front is being recalled".  Joking aside, British consumers have every right to be wary when buying a used Toyota, however in the cold light of day, they have little to worry about.

We all know that bad news travels fast but many don't realise that good news doesn't travel at all. Where were the media in 2009 when Toyota were awarded 10 quality awards? Surely Toyota being awarded more than any other car manufacturer is news?  Maybe not as there is no scandal, no mud to sling and therefore no interest in the British media.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's complaint data base, Toyota came 17th out of 20 car manufacturers putting Toyota comfortably near the bottom of the list for complaints. But again, this is good news and therefore not something widely reported on. In spite of the recent mud slinging in Toyota's direction, they remain one of the world's most reliable car manufacturers, and if you don't believe me, ask any Toyota driver.

Buying a used Toyota is exactly the same as buying any other used car. If you like the model, like the colour and like the price then take a closer look and kick the wheel (ensuring the vehicle is structurally sound!).  Check  the log book and MOT certificates for its history, and don't forget the mileage. On average a car will cover 10,000 miles a year, so a second hand car between 4-6 years old with 50,000 miles on the clock isn't out of the ordinary.

Have a good look around the car both inside and out and never view a used car at night as you want to check for scratches and possible rust on the body and for the cleanliness and quality of the upholstery and the interior. Ask about the service history of the car and why they are selling (if it's a private seller). If the car uses a remote key fob, make sure there is a spare and check they both work properly, as replacements can cost upwards of £70.

Check under the bonnet and look for any signs of leakage. If the engine looks impeccably clean it may have been pressure washed for a reason. Make sure you give the car a test drive, and test drive for at least 20 minutes. Don't just give it a quick run around the block and make sure you check under the bonnet again for signs of fluid leaks.

Regarding the service history and log book, if you are buying a used Toyota it won't take too much homework to find out if that model is one which would have been recalled. Evidence of the recall should be noted and if so, you have little to worry about. 

When it Does Not Make Sense to Fix Your Car

During these hard economic times, we are all trying to stretch a dollar. One way we are doing that is by keeping our cars longer. That of course means we now have to make repairs to a car that we may have simply replaced a few years ago. That puts many of us into the uncharted waters of car repair. So, when does repairing the car fall into the category of throwing good money after bad? The answer depends on a lot of things and is different for everyone.

Obviously, one major contributor to that decision is the cost of the repairs. If the cost of those repairs is more that the car is worth, is does not make much sense to fix it. If you do not know the value of your car, you can find out from the Kelly Blue Book. The Kelly Blue Book only goes back twenty years. If your car is older than that, you can find out its value from The NADA Guides classic car section.

If the costs of repairs are less than the value of the vehicle and you are fairly handy, you may be able to save the labor costs by doing the repairs yourself. If you cannot do the repairs yourself, there are many things to consider when deciding what to do with the car. If your car has high mileage, is very old, has been giving you a lot of trouble or is generally in poor condition, it simply may not be in your best interest to repair it. Ultimately, the decision will come down to you level of comfort with your car.

If you do decide to replace your car, you then have to figure out what to do with it. You can trade it in. However, most car buying guides suggest that you are likely to get a better deal without a trade in. Also, the car dealer will probably not give you much for it because it needs repairs. For the same reason, it may be hard to sell it privately. Most car buyers do not want to purchase a car that needs repair, particularly if it does not run.

You can sell it to a junk yard. They might give you a couple of hundred dollars for it. They will then sell all the workable parts from it for a lot more money than you received, then crush it and sell the scrap metal.

You can decide to dismantle your car and sell the parts yourself. That will cost you a lot of time along with some money for advertising. Then you have to decide what to do if someone claims the part you sold them does not work. You also have the problem of disposing of the left over parts and the carcass of the car. And, many communities will not allow you to have a dismantled car on your property.

Another alternative is to simply donate your car to charity. If you donate car, you will get a tax deduction of the greater of $500 or the amount the charity sells your car for.

Great city car options

If you're a city dweller looking to buy a new car what you want is something small a nimble that can get you out of tight spot and where you don't need much room to park it.

Popular choices are the Fiat 500 and the Audi A1. The reason people choose the Fiat 500 is generally for its quirky looks which have had celebrities buy it in bucket loads. If you get the TwinAir model it only emits just 94g/km of CO2 which means no road tax and the London Congestion Charge exemption. The Fiat 500 is also one of the safest superminis on the market with front, side, curtain and knee airbags. There are also a number of special edition Fiat 500s available for  those who are looking for a more unique car.

While the Fiat 500 costs around £10,000, the Audi A1 will set you back at least £13,420. But many will say the extra money is worth it as you get a superb car which will also prove a great ride on longer journeys.  Fuel economy is good and because it's a reliable car it won't cost the earth to service. The A1 is also an award winner, picking up the much sought after What Car? Car of the Year award 2011 at the What Car? Awards in January and the Reader Award in the 2010 awards.

Other small cars to look at are the Ford Ka and the Nissan Note. According to experts the Ford Ka is more fun to drive than the Fiat 500 although it doesn't have the same chic-factor. Starting price is just £8,545 though and for a test drive of the new Ford KA, Gravesend in Kent is one place to visit.

The Nissan Note is more spacious than the other cars mentioned here as it's practically a small MPV. For people who need a city car with the option to transport goods, animals or a buggy, this is probably a good option. The one drawback however, is poor resale value.

Compact city cars have become more popular as economy becomes a much more important factor when choosing a car; all in all there's plenty of choice out there if you're looking for a car for city driving. There are options for those who are concerned about how a car looks, about luggage space or about fuel economy.  The choice is endless and these are just a number of the cars available to buy today.

BMW "No Reverse" Transmission Problem

An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head.

Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You have become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW.

You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere!

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle.

By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW's is the failure of the D-G clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply.

The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem.

In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways.

We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum.

With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to "better than new" condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.