| Trading in Grandpa’s Old Car |
27 Jun |
Though I was really sad when my grandfather passed away, he did leave me his most cherished possession - his car. Now, it wasn’t anything special, but it turned out to be my first car, and I took care of it as he would have wanted me to.
But, that was six years ago, and grandpa’s car is getting close to the end of its life. It is costing more and more for repairs and I want to get rid of it before it dies for good.
So, I tried last weekend to trade it in at some places that sold used cars in Weatherford. All of them didn’t want to touch my car as there was no resale value. They all tried to sell me on the cars that they did have in stock, but all I really wanted was to get some sort of trade in for my car, so I passed on their offers.
I am going to try to see if the car dealers in Fort Worth are a little more accommodating this weekend, and hopefully I will have a new car to drive to work on Monday. Otherwise, I guess I will just have to hope that his car can hold on long enough so that I can save up a little more money to buy another one.
read comments (0)| Profit Centers |
29 May |
A lot of people are wondering about the American auto industry these days. I thought I’d toss my two bits in. What are my credentials? Well, I have to admit that I’m not an expert of any kind; these are just observations of someone who keeps his eyes open and doesn’t have an agenda. The problem with a lot of news sources, including all the major ones, is that they have goals. Advertisers, interest groups, stockholders, they all have leverage. It takes some effort to try to filter out all that and take stock of things. Anyway, the way a lot of businesses work is by being competitive in some areas and then snagging their real profits in some other, sneakier way. Like convenience store groceries or the concession stand at movie theaters.
Anyway, car manufacturers make a lot of money by loaning people money. How? By letting them pay for their cars by the month instead of buying it outright. They also make money with the extras, whose price they don’t have to advertise on TV commercials. I like getting the stripped down, basic car, and then finding Toyota accessories or Toyota parts online. I usually go for the genuine Toyota parts, but there are cheaper kinds around too.
Posted by andik in Parts & Accessories on 05 29th, 2009
| Tips for Renting a Car in Cancun |
30 Apr |
When getting a Cancun rental car, be sure to ask about the license plate. If you park illegally in Mexico, the police will take the license plate. You will then have to go to the police station. In order to get the plate back, you will have to pay a fine. If you return the car to the rental company without a plate, the company will charge you a fee. The fee is to cover the cost of having to track the license plate down. If you see that your rental car does not have a license plate, ask the rental company about it before driving the car away. Some cars do not have plates but only a paper taped to the back window.
You should also be aware that the gas station scam is somewhat common in Mexico. Keep in mind, when getting rental cars in Cancun you will probably have to fill the gas tank at some point. Gas stations in Mexico have attendants. Some attendants will fill your car without clearing that last purchase from the pump first. When you pull up to the pump, quickly get out of the car and make sure that the pump is cleared to zero.
Posted by TopAutos in Manufacturers on 04 30th, 2009
| Make Your Truck As Tough As You Need it To Be! |
31 Mar |
Now depending on what you use your truck for, the conditions at your job, if you work or live in a remote or rugged area, you might want to add grill guards to your truck. Why would you want to add a grill guard to your truck? Well, for one thing, they help to protect your front grill, headlights and engine from front-end collisions. A grill guard is also a good add-on for your truck since parking and driving in urban areas can often be rough on trucks, too, especially if you’re in an area where you have to parallel park frequently, or that has a high number of traffic accidents involving collisions. If you need your truck for work, you might also want to consider installing a police-style grill guard with push bumpers so that you can assist other drivers when their trucks won’t start.
If you live in a really bad area for automotive accidents, then bull bars are a good choice, since they are incredibly tough and offer a higher degree of protection to the front end of your truck. Front-end accidents can be horribly expensive, so it only makes sense to protect the part of your car that contains the engine and electrical system. Front-end collisions and wrecks of all types happen more often than you might think!
Posted by andik in Parts & Accessories on 03 31st, 2009
| Always Get Genuine Toyota Parts |
15 Feb |
Everyone is trying to save money these days. Nobody can blame you for wanting to cut some corners. After all, the economy is weak and nobody wants to waste their savings without some financial stability to fall back on. Still, it’s important that we make sure to remember that sometimes you have to spend a buck to save a buck. In other words, it’s better to spend the money on making high quality purchases that will be long lasting than it is to get a “good deal” that ends up costing you more in the long run because the item you get doesn’t last over time.
It is for this reason that people who own Toyota cars and who need to purchase parts for those cars should strongly consider making sure that they get genuine Toyota parts instead of cheaper knock offs. It is possible to get cheap parts that will fit in a Toyota and make it run right but these cheap parts often end up needing their own repairs not too far down the line. The Toyota owner who invests in genuine parts is going to save money in the long run compared to the person who gets generic parts.
Of course, some Toyota parts are more expensive than others. For example, Toyota 4Runner parts may be more expensive than Toyota Camry parts. However, that’s something to think about at the time of car purchase, not at the time that you’re needing to replace parts on the vehicle.
Posted by TopAT in Parts & Accessories on 02 15th, 2009
| Truck Off Road Romping In Texas |
12 Feb |
I’m a big fan of taking the road less traveled. And by that I mean going where no roads exist at all! I just bought a Ford F150 Super Duty at a local Fort Worth Ford dealer. They had quite a few good packages to pick from but nothing I was really looking for. I wanted a premium off roading package. They said that they could tack on all of the extras but I decided against it. In any case, I found a truck that suit my needs for the most part and decided to do the rest of the upgrades myself.
I found a few places that offered OEM Ford parts and bought a few. They worked like a charm and saved me a few bucks in the process. I had it lifted at a local shop and purchased bigger tires. A roll cage is a given considering the type of romping I plan on doing. I also installed lightweight aluminum plates to the exposed parts of the undercarriage to protect it from boulders that my tires don’t clear. Now this bad boy is ready for anything that this big state can throw at him! Next time you see a sign saying, “Careful Falling Rocks,” look up, you’ll probably see me spinning my tires and flinging the mud, so I hope you have glass coverage on your insurance policy!
Posted by TopAutos in Parts & Accessories on 02 12th, 2009
| K9 Cop Truck |
25 Jan |
I have a buddy that is a police officer and he is part of the K9 unit. For the last couple of years he had a basic squad car, a crown Victoria, that had been only slightly modified to accommodate the dog in the back seat. He never complained about the car, and he even got to keep it at his house since it was specially marked as a K9 unit and since the dog lives with him.
Last month though, the police force stepped it up and bought him a brand new Ford Explorer. And let me tell you that this thing has all of the bells and whistles. When it comes to truck parts and accessories, they did more to this thing than slap some lights on top and stick a computer in the front seat. It has all kinds of special performance stuff like a fancy suspension and a Quadzilla performance tuner for the engine. And the dog gets a special crate that looks like it was custom made to fit into the back of the Explorer complete will all kinds of drawers for storage. Seriously, every inch of space in the back of his truck has been used with the special equipment. You know that he likes his new truck better than that old car.
Posted by TopAutos in Parts & Accessories on 01 25th, 2009
| Why do I need fender flares? |
20 Jan |
Alright, so it’s not the most common question that you’ve ever heard asked, but it something worth wondering about. If you are a truck owner, there are plenty of things that you can add to your truck that will make it a lot better. A truck tool box, for instance, will add a whole lot of class and style to your truck. Fender flares are similarly great for this purpose. So to answer the question, do you need them on your truck?
There are plenty of reasons why people choose to add these things to their vehicle, and not all of them are the same. If you talk to some truck owners, you will find that it’s all about the look. How do you set your truck apart from everyone else who happens to own one of these guys? The answer is really quite simple - you add a little something to it. Some other people like these things because they protect the actual fender of your car. It’s cheaper to replace a flare if you get into an accident than it is to actually replace the fender itself. Whatever the basis for this choice, it’s evident that people are popularizing these add-ons in a big way.
Posted by pattya in Parts & Accessories on 01 20th, 2009
| Cab Guard Investments Mean Money Well Spent |
12 Dec |
There are some products on the market that are added to a vehicle for nothing more than the look they offer. This is not the case for all truck owners, of course. Many of the people that purchase quality accessories are looking to add function to the vehicles they have so that they do not have to worry about them or get more from their truck. This is why so many people find cab guard investments valuable. The fact is, they really do add value to any vehicle that is driven and used in this way.
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with getting some great looks from your truck accessories either. And, there are items that are just must haves, like the tonneau cover on the market now. The key is to find the product that is going to provide you with the type of service you need or is going to enhance the way you use your vehicle. Of course, truck lovers definitely want the latest and greatest for their vehicle whenever it is possible to get this. From cab guards to other products, the key is to purchase quality so that you are never disappointed in what the vehicle can offer to you.
Posted by TopAutos in Parts & Accessories on 12 12th, 2008
| In The Market For A Mitsubishi |
19 Nov |
I am currently looking to get and own a new car and have heard much about Mitsubishi cars. I am looking all over the Fort Worth area and have come across some new cars Fort Worth, however I am having a hard time making up my mind as to what it is that I want. Do I want to release my inner child and get the sports cart I have always dreamt of, or do I need to become more practical and look in the direction of something economical and fuel-efficient. There are so many options and variables that I need to consider that it is very hard to make up my mind. It is almost like having an inner battle and not knowing to choose the wants or the needs.
Regardless of what decision I make there are many options for you to choose from whether it is a used or new vehicle in Fort Worth. However, know what you are getting into and how you will choose your Fort Worth auto. Narrow your own decision and have your mind made up before you go and negotiate so you will not be an easy target to pick from. Know your stuff and know what you want so you will leave happy.
Posted by TopAutos in Parts & Accessories on 11 19th, 2008
