Blog Layout
SHOULD I SELL MY CAR TO A DEALER?
American Pride Automotive • Jul 30, 2016
There are many reasons to sell a car and just as many ways to go about selling it. One option that’s become increasingly popular in recent years is selling the vehicle directly to a dealer, often for cash. It’s a similar alternative to the traditional auto trade-in but can help make the most of the seller’s time and money. Is this the path for you? Perhaps. Consider these thoughts before selling your car to a dealer.
- It’s important to shop around. You deserve the best cash return on your car, so don’t just go with the first dealer’s offer! Get a few appraisals and don’t be afraid to negotiate the figure.
- Be real about the condition of the vehicle. If your car is a clunker, it’s probably a good idea to let the dealer give you cash instead of trying to offer it as a trade-in. If the vehicle is newer, with lower mileage and in good condition, you may be better off trading it in for something you like better.
- Respect your own time. Selling a car to a private party is a lot of work. Between listing the vehicle on various websites, responding to potential buyers (some qualified…others not so much), meeting with those potential buyers, you’ve already lost a great deal of time and money.
- Safety first. Like we’ve written about before, selling a car to a private buyer can be risky. Listing directories like Craigslist have developed a bit of an unsafe reputation. If you are meeting potential buyers, we recommend bringing another person along and doing so in a public place.
So to answer your question, selling a car to a dealer for cash is often a great idea! The key is choosing an auto dealer that has your best interests at heart. American Pride Automotive will buy your car for cash and give you the best deal we can. Let us do the hard work for you. Schedule an appraisal today at your nearest location (Williamsburg, Newport News, or Toano).
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
Along with flat tires and low or faulty batteries, an overheating engine is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. An engine can overheat for many reasons, but coolant issues are often to blame.
ONCE I HAVE REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW LONG DO I HAVE BEFORE MY VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED?
There is no grace period. Once you have registered a vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state of Virginia, it must be inspected immediately.
Your vehicle's powertrain can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and minor repairs in most cases. Unfortunately, major, unexpected problems can happen in which your only option is a replacement of the engine or transmission.
Sometimes it's simply time to buy a new or used vehicle that you LOVE at the right price.
This increased risk makes driving while fatigued almost as dangerous as driving while tipsy.
Our cars and trucks carry us from point A to point B all year long and everyday use can create significant wear and tear that may not make itself obvious until a long road trip.
While most leaks are caused by damaged outer seams on the evaporator core, others are a result of corrosion inside the unit.
For July, August and September, $5.00 from every State Inspection performed was set aside for this quarter's community: star Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg.