http://www.autoscoop.com/content/featured/thebasics.html This feed contains articles as found in AutoScoop.com's The Basics section. For more consumer car-buying advice and articles, please visit AutoScoop at http://www.autoscoop.com/ en-us bob.sawyer@cbsradio.com patrick.burke@cbsradio.com PHP RSS Feed Generator The steps you take before you go car shopping will determine whether or not you have a good shopping experience. And in most cases the advice is not what the so-called "experts" would say. Rather it's based on real world situations. You have got to deal with (1) your current vehicle, (2) your credit and income, and (3) then the vehicle you want to get. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/3stepsbeforeyoubuy.html 2007-09-13 12:34:56 91-11302007115814 Before you rush out to the local car lot to buy a car, take the time to carefully consider what you're looking for in a car. Following these ten steps will help ensure that you're happy with your purchase. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/selectingyourcar.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 1625-11302007115814 Find out more about the benefits and warranty packages for each certified program. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/compare-certified-programs.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 5835-11302007115814 Finding the value of a used car is not a guessing game and it will take some work. There are many ways to determine an approximate value of a used car. No one will ever be able to give you an exact value for your car. This is why it is important to get a quote on its value from several different places. Once you have a few figures, you can use them to determine what you should pay for a used car, or what price to put on your car when selling it. Don't over- or under-estimate the value of the car. Either way you will lose money. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/finding-value-of-used-cars.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 6124-11302007115814 There are only 3 things you can do to manage negative equity. Either (1) wait until you've paid off more of your loan, (2) use money - e.g. down payment or a rebate to satisfy the balance, or (3) add it to your next loan. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/how-to-manage-negative-equity.html 2007-10-07 00:00:00 634-11302007115814 Doing some quick math can tell you if you have negative equity. Compare the amount you owe on your loan (or lease) to the average trade in value of the vehicle. If you owe more than the vehicle is worth - then you have negative equity. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/do-you-have-negative-equity.html 2007-10-07 00:00:00 643-11302007115814 We've had quite a few listeners ask us to explain the difference between leasing and buying. We put this chart together to point out the major differences between the two. Of course, lease plans, like traditional loans, come in many different flavors with numerous options. Be sure to ask the dealership to fully explain your options to you when you're buying or leasing your car. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/leasing-different-from-buying.html 2007-10-10 00:00:00 6515-11302007115814 In general it is better to purchase a vehicle from the dealer's inventory; unless you are looking for a specific vehicle that is truly hard to find. Remember, time will hurt your negotiating strategy and incentives and interest rates change - and are beyond the control of the dealership to guarantee. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/factory-order-or-buy-off-lot.html 2007-10-31 00:00:00 6839-11302007115814 As soon as you start driving off the dealer's lot, your new car's value drops. If your vehicle gets into an accident or is stolen, your insurance company will only pay you what it's worth, not what you owe for it. Gap insurance can change that. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/what-is-gap-insurance.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 6919-11302007115814 Before you go out and buy your next vehicle, what should you know? What are the common mistakes people make when buying a car? Let this list serve as your guide in avoiding these ten common mistakes. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/ten-common-mistakes.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 8130-11302007115814 Once upon a time, buying a used car could be risky business; there was no telling what kind of wear and tear a vehicle had seen. The second-hand automobile didn't come with a warranty, let alone a manufacturer's seal of approval. And there certainly weren't any cut-rate financial incentives to entice the unfortunate used-car shopper. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/what-are-cpo-vehicles.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 8837-11302007115814 The term "negative equity" refers to the situation when you owe more on your current vehicle than it's worth. http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/what-is-negative-equity.html 2007-09-20 00:00:00 892-11302007115814 You're sitting in the dealership when the salesperson asks, "So, how are you going to finance your new car?" http://autoscoop.com/content/featured/paying-for-your-next-car.html 2007-10-18 00:00:00 9133-11302007115814