The Best 6 Tips For Buying A Used Car

When buying a used vehicle, there are many things that you can do to prevent yourself from purchasing a lemon.  If you do the research, know all the tricks, and play the game properly, you will almost always come out on top. I have bought and sold 20+ of my own personal cars and helped friends and family buy and sell many others. I think I have it nailed down pretty well.  Today we are talking about buying cars, but these tips can be flipped around to help sell your vehicle if necessary.

1 – Know the vehicle:

More important than other any clever tip or trick that I can share, is to know the vehicle that you want to buy. Look around for a while and decide what that special year, make, and model is. Once you decide what you want, go out and test drive several of them to make sure you definitely enjoy driving it. There are plenty of people out there that have bought “the car of their dreams,” before realizing that it is not at all what they wanted. At this point they are stuck with their unwanted “dream car” because they can’t get back what they paid for it, and don’t want to lose money on it.

2 – Research:

Do some research online to find out all the common problems of that year, make, and model, along with its suggested maintenance intervals. All vehicles have their own common problems; no make or model is perfect. If you are looking at a vehicle that just happens to be a few miles shy of a major maintenance interval (timing belt, transmission service, brakes), be sure to account for that in the cost of the vehicle. Those services can get very costly, and will undoubtedly be passed on to the new buyer. If the services have already been done, ask the vehicle’s seller if the receipts are available to show it.  Don’t take their word for it, you want solid evidence if possible.

3 – Carfax:

Carfax reports are a great idea, and they will help assure you that you don’t end up with another person’s problem. Used car dealers will typically give Carfax reports for free if you want one for a vehicle on their lot. If the used car dealer cannot provide one, or if it is a private sale, just ask the seller if they mind that you write down the VIN number to get a Carfax report for yourself. At that point the seller may be more likely to give you the real history, if any, before you find it out on your own. Carfax reports will (in most, but not all cases) show you if the car was ever in an accident, fire, flood, or if it was a rental (a.k.a. “Fleet”) vehicle. Typically most people stay away from ex-rental cars because they are notorious for being abused.

4 – Viewing the vehicle:

More important than any of the physical aspects of the car, be sure that it has a clean title, not a salvaged one. Salvage title cars are obviously worth far less than cars with clean titles, for good reason. If the title is clean, that is the first sign that it is a clean vehicle. Once you know the paperwork is clean, it is time to check out the vehicle itself. If it is raining or dark outside, it is not a good time to go used car shopping. It sounds like a no-brainer, but anxious car-buyers still do it. Both conditions will make the car look far better than it really is, hiding dents, scratches, and poor bodywork. Adverse weather conditions will usually hide oil leak spots on the driveway where the vehicle resides. These stains on the driveway could be from a damaged oil pan, loose oil filter, or one of several other components, depending on the vehicle. When looking at a used vehicle, you need to be an automotive detective. Be sure to check the mileage, and look for the oil change sticker on the windshield. If the seller just cleaned up their abused car that they are trying to unload, the oil change sticker is often forgotten. Therefore you can see when the oil was changed last (sneeeaky huh?). Check the tire treads to see if it is even across all tires. If a tire is worn out unevenly, it is a sign of an alignment or suspension problem. Open the hood, look for extra wires that don’t belong there, duct tape, oil leaks, or anything out of the ordinary. Under the car, look for a solid, factory looking exhaust system without rot or holes of any kind. Check that it has a catalytic converter, because the vehicle will definitely fail an emissions test without one. Make sure the body panels line up and all of the paint matches. If the door and fender are two slightly different shades of the same color, you know that one of them has been repaired and repainted at some point. Check the headlights and tail lights to make sure they aren’t full of condensation or cracked. Absolutely don’t be afraid to ask questions, you could potentially be giving the seller a large portion of your hard earned money. Find out why the seller is selling the car; it may clue you in to the condition of it. Also ask the seller how long he has owned the vehicle, because the longer he has owned it, the more history he can tell you about it. If a five year old car has had 7 different owners, there just might be a reason for it.

5 – Test Drive:

The test drive can obviously tell you the most about the car. Once the vehicle is easily started, the first thing to notice is the shifting of the transmission. It should be smooth acceleration, no clunking or banging into gears. Don’t forget to make sure it smoothly shifts into reverse as well. While driving forward, hold the steering wheel loosely to make sure the vehicle tracks straight down the road. The brake pedal should be firm, not squishy. Squishy means that there is a problem. The car should not pull in any direction when decelerating or coming to a stop. Turn on the heat and air conditioning to make sure they both work. If either of them does not work, they could potentially be expensive things to fix. Test the window switches to make sure the window regulators and motors properly move the door glass up and down. If the vehicle is equipped with key fobs (buttons on the keychain to lock / unlock doors), ask how many the seller has. These key fobs can be anywhere from $20-350 dollars new, and it is a nice bonus if the vehicle has a working set of them. If you don’t feel comfortable checking all of these things on your own, you can always have a local mechanic check the vehicle out for a nominal fee. That fee is far less than the headaches of purchasing a lemon.

6 – Negotiate the price:

Once you have found the car that you can no longer live without, it is time to negotiate a price. Most car sellers know that the vehicle will end up selling for less than what they list it for. Don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If they accept it, congratulations! If they don’t accept it, tell them that you will think about it some more and get back to them. That way the seller can stew on your lower offer for a few days. Call them back after a few days and nicely ask if they are ready to accept your lower offer. Chances are good that they will, because selling a car can be a hassle, and they don’t want to lose your guaranteed sale. Don’t forget that sometimes sellers can be attached to their cars. If so, make them realize that the car is going to a good home where you will take care of it like they have. Tell them that they can visit it periodically if they need to, it will help them ease the pain of losing an automotive friend.

14′ Starcraft Jonboat – tilt trailer – almost new motor

• City: Morganton
• Telephone: 8284494005
• State: International
• Country: United States
• Listed: 29/12/2010 12:15 AM

his is a 14 foot Starcraft Jonboat, two folding seats.  Great little fishing boat or for duck hunting! Trailer is a tilt trailer capable of carrying a little larger boat if needed.  9.9 Force motor with stand, motor has hardly been used at all, and kept in covered storage when not being used.

$950.00 OBO

Call 828-449-4005 or 828-390-6696

http://tuffclassified.com/14-starcraft-jonboat-tilt-trailer-almost-new-motor/

Choosing the boat that is right for you

What type of boat is best for my lifestyle?
Maybe you are an avid fisherman who spends endless summer days searching for that fish that will give you ultimate bragging rights, or want to spend summer afternoons slowly cruising with a group of friends on your pontoon, or possibly have a fascination for speed and water sports. Whatever your passion, there is a boat out there that is made specifically for your needs and desires. However it isn’t always easy to know exactly which boat you should choose. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the enormous variety of boat types and models. There are several different boat choices based on what they would be used for.

What will I use the boat for?
You should first decide what you anticipate using the boat for. There are boats for fishing, water sports, cruising, sailing, entertaining, or taking long trips. Some are designed for multiple purposes.

Once you know what you want to do with it, decide who you are going to be taking with you? You may not want a pontoon boat the fits 12 people if you are only going to be fishing with a buddy. You also don’t want to overload your boat because of safety.
Consider where you will be enjoying your boat; up and down the calm river, on a sheltered lake, or an open ocean with high waves and rough seas. If you will be taking trips you will want your boat to have a cabin.

Choosing the right engine for my boat:
Now consider the propulsion needed when deciding on an engine type. The horsepower and weight are very important factors in the performance of your boat. An engine that is not powerful enough will cause your boat to work harder than it should and lead to a great deal of maintenance and excess use of fuel. You need to consider the size and weight of your boat, including gear and passengers. There are six different propulsion types with varying factors to consider when choosing a system for your boat.

Outboard Motors (2 types)
Outboard motors are detachable and mounted on the stern of the boat, with horsepower ranging from 1HP to over 300HP. These engines can be used in all types of water. The 2 types of outboard motors are 2 stroke and 4 stroke.
2 Stroke: better acceleration, no need to change oil, better fuel efficiency, lower priced, weighs less, quieter
4 Stroke: lower emissions, excellent fuel economy, electronic ignition systems, good acceleration, oil added to engine not fuel

Diesel Inboard Engines
These engines range in size and horsepower, and rely on compression for power. They are designed for boats over 35ft because they produce torque and weigh more than gas engines.
No carbon monoxide in cabins or back, non-explosive fuel, low running cost, excellent torque, long life expectancy

Gas Inboard Engines
These engines are used for a variety of different sizes and types of boats, and range in horsepower from 90HP to 1000HP. It is located in the middle of the boat with the drive running through the bottom of the boat to the propeller. The rudder is separate for steering.
Simple drive system, quite, hidden, lower maintenance, low running costs

Jet Propulsion
These systems do not include a propeller, which make it safer for water sports. They are inboard engines that take in water which flows through a pump that is powered by an impeller. The high pressure caused by this, propels the boat forward. However, steering is only possible when power is being applied. Things can also be sucked into the water intake, and shouldn’t be used in shallow water.

Stern Drive
This is often called an Inboard/Outboard and consists of an engine and drive connected through the transom of the boat. The engine is inside and the propulsion is outside of the boat. This drive can be trimmed up or down. There are many different types of functions depending on what they will be used for. They can be used with one or two propellers, as well as two drives on one boat with one or two propellers.
Low maintenance, ease of control and steering, used on gas or diesel engines, quiet

Choose the right boat for your favorite activity:
There are different types of boats for a variety of activities and intended use. Below are examples of what boats are used for with lists of boat types best suited for that activity. You will find that there are several boats that are intended for more that one activity. For example, if you like fishing, water skiing, and plan to sleep on board; you can choose between a Stern Drive Cruiser and Cuddy Cabin.

Different types of boats
Fishing
Inboard Cruisers, Houseboats, Sedan Bridge, Sportsfishing Boats, Center Console, Fish and Ski, Flat Boats, Bass Boats, Fishing Boats, Jon Boat, Deck Boat, Multi-Hull Cruiser, Multi-Hull Power Boat, Closed Bow Runabouts, Walkaround, Bowriders, Cuddy Cabins,
Water Sports
Fishing Boats, Fish and Ski Boats, Bass Boats, Stern Drive Cruisers, Bowriders, Closed Bow Runabouts, Cuddy Cabins, Deck boats, Inboard Ski Boats, Inboard Wakeboard Boats, Jet Boats
Entertainment
Pontoon, Deck Boats, Motor Yachts, Inboard Cruiser
Cruising/Trips
Cuddy Cabins, Motor Yachts, Sedan Bridge, Inboard Cruiser, Sportfishing Boats, Stern Drive Cruisers, Trawlers, Cruising Sailboats, Multi-Hull Cruising Sailboats

How to Charge a Battery on a Jon Boat

Note After decoding the active wing nut, "+" or "arrangement" of the battery. Remove nuts from the rear wing and lift off the positive battery cable does not touch the metal after the end of the battery cable connectors.

Excellence wing nut under Article negative, "-" or "NEG" batteries. Remove nuts from the rear wing and lift off the negative battery cable does not touch the metal after the end of the battery cable connectors.

Battery with the ship carrying the battery off. Phones and batteries, and battery charger.

Connect positive end of the folder, or red, wire, battery charger, battery last positive. Connect the black part of the negative, negative cable, battery charger for the transit lines against the black cable, and similar use to start the car. Connect the other end of the black jumper cable to another battery negative.

Connect the power cord to the battery charger to the electrical outlet. If the shipper "rate" dial-up, is set to 2 amp current. If the shipper and described a row of buttons "low", "medium" or "high", set it to "low". This setting will reduce the impact of your home electrical system. Group "V" to control the battery charger 12. It will be shipping off when finished. When fully charged, unplug the charger from the outlet charger cable. Remove the cable crossing from the battery, you can go back to the battery your boat. Reconnect to your boat battery power from your system.


note=
If you charge the battery in a closed area, such as your garage, post "No Smoking" signs in the space of all doors and access.

Steam explosion Rechargeable Batteries. Sparks, open flames should be excluded or lit cigarettes, from this area, and you charge the battery.

Facebook CityVille Tips and Hacks

CityVille Tips and Hacks:

To the avid followers of this gaming blog , i will share to you what i have learned regarding the tips and tricks in playing CityVille hacks. The following list of tips and tricks will be updated as soon as possible if i will find some other tricks and tips worthy to be added in my list.

1. Ask a Friend. In the early stage of your city in CityVille, you will certainly need some batteries. If you have many friends in Facebook playing the same game, you can ask them to send you batteries as gift for you. In that way you can sustain the most critical part in establishing your city.
2. Have More Neighbors. All Zynga games are designed so that if you have more neighbors, you can receive plenty of advantages in the game. Adding more neighbors in CityVille is an easy trick to do. Just used your convicing power to invite more friends to make an account in CityVille then inviting them to be one of your neighbors. Your neighbor can help you in time of crisis.
3. Balance. Balance your economy with a strategic business and having more crops.
4. Time Management. The time management i’m referring here are the length of time your crop will take before it can be harvested. If you have enough time to play, like in FarmTown and FarmVille, do plant crops that can be harvested with the least time, therefore giving you more experience. But if you are planning to go offline for a day. Plant a crop that be harvested within a day. Don’t waste your money for crops that were left unattended.
5. Gain Experiences and Coins. Experiences and coins in CityVille can be acquired by building house or stores. Out of those houses and stores, you can also receive payments per hour. You can receive foods, experiences and coins by harvesting crops.
6. Establish Connection. You can do this trick by building train stations to your neighbor cities so that the flow of goods and services will be easy. Through this, you can receive gifts and stuffs.
7.Community Buildings. Build community buildings so you can keep on building houses in CityVille. Community buildings in this game is designed to make the population limit of your city higher.
8. Creativity. Maximize the use of decorations. Be creative in making decorations because they will attract more money or products. Like in the real world a creative city will attract more tourists thereby boosting their economy in terms of investment.
9. Helping Hands. You can help your neighbor by visiting them. You can do this tip or tricks by sending tourist buses and other task that you can offer to them. This trick will give you good amount of experiences and reputation from them.
10. Unlocking Stuff. To unlock new stuff in CityVille, the trick is to build more stores and buildings.
11. Unlocking Harbor. By unlocking harbor, you can build ships. Some players choose to unlock the the harbor in the early part of the game so that they can generate tremendous amount of money. But be careful about the limits of your harbor – the number of ships it can hold at time.
12. Good Number of Population. Yes, people are the most important resources you need in CityVille. You can have a good number of population by seeing to it that you have enough resources (money) and houses for them.

If you have some more CityVille tips and tricks to share, you can do so by leaving comment in my comment box. In doing so, i can update this list.

How to Tame the Annoying Caps Lock Key in Windows

Do you sometimes find yourself suddenly typing in all upper case because you accidentally hit the Caps Lock key?  Do you ever wonder if that key couldn’t be used for something else? If you are one of the many people who are as annoyed by Caps Lock as I am, this tip is for you.  I know there are a lot of you because I recently did a Google search for the phrase “hate Caps Lock” and got 142,000 hits.
In Windows XP, Vista, and 7, the keyboard functions can be changed in the Registry. In this tip, I’ll provide the REG files that will do the job on Caps Lock. The registry key that is involved is

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

The value that has to be edited is “Scancode Map” but it is a somewhat complicated binary entry and using a REG file is the best procedure. I’ll offer scripts for two ways to go—-disable Caps Lock entirely or change it to a Shift key.
Disable Caps Lock
If you apply this fix, the Caps Lock key will no longer do anything. Download the zipped file from the link Disable “Caps Lock” that is at this site. The file is listed in the section REG files for editing the Windows Registry.   Then do the following:

1. Back up your Registry or create a System Restore point
2. Unzip the downloaded file
3. Right-click the unzipped file , which is called “disable-capslock.reg”
4. In the right-click menu, select “Merge”. Windows Vista/7 will give UAC warnings
5. Answer the UAC challenge if you are using Windows Vista or 7
6. The file will be merged into the Registry. However, there will be no message to tell you that it has happened
7. You have to log off and back on before you see the change

Depending on your system settings, you may also be able to do a normal left double-click on the Reg file instead of the right-click in step #3. That will take you to step #5.
Change Caps Lock to Shift
Go to the same page mentioned above but download from the entry called Change Caps Lock key to Shift . The procedure is the same as above except that the file in step 3 is called CapsToShift.reg
How to change everything back
If you don’t like the results of changing the Caps Lock function, download the file from the link Restore Caps Lock on the same page as before and follow the same procedure as above.
Remapping other keys
In the next tip, I  mention some software for remapping the keyboard in a more general way. In the meantime, enjoy typing without worrying about the Caps Lock key.
Get your own favorite tip published!  Know a neat tech tip or trick?  Then why not have it published here and receive full credit?  Click here to tell us your tip.

Trick Tip: Frontside Nosepress With Ted Borland

SNOWBOARDER is bringing you a series of how-to snowboard videos to help fill up that bag of tricks, and help you learn how to ride that snowboard a little better.

For this trick tip Ted Borland explains how to do a Frontside nosepress on a down rail at Park City. In case you are deaf, the steps are listed below. Good luck.

1. Start out small with noes manuals and on boxes to get the feel of keeping your tail lifted.
2. Go up to the rail and don’t pop too much to get on top.
3. Catch the rail on the inside.
4. Get your weight straight over the rail.
5. Keep leaning forward throughout the whole rail.
6. Nollie out.