Cheap Cars

Many people treat cars like a status symbol. Everyone has heard of the celebrities with massive collections of expensive cars, or custom built garages to accommodate their cars in the heart of an expensive city like New York. But for some people cheap cars are the way to go. Cheap in price doesn’t have to mean cheap in quality. Less expensive can still be functional, and even fun.

One of the ways to obtain a quality car on the cheap is to purchase a used car. Even luxury models are much less expensive when purchased second hand. A new term has emerged over the last decade, pre-owned – to denote used cars that are of high quality. These pre-owned vehicles have even managed to pull some long time new car buyers into the used car market. Consider this with luxury cars. A Mercedes or Lexus is so well built that even 10 year old cars can still be in excellent condition. In fact, many people have generations of car buyers in their family who always purchase higher end models that are used. Remember the chauffeur in “Driving Miss Daisy”? He always bought Miss Daisy’s second hand, luxury cars.

Some cheap new cars are quite nice, too. Companies like Hyundai make excellent cars that can be purchased new for under $12,000. A car like the Honda Civic weighs in at about $15,000 for one of the best engineered cars in the world. They get great mileage, last a long time, and retain original value very well. These cars are also much cheaper to maintain than luxury cars that often require more expensive parts and even premium grades of gas.

Another area to look is cheaper, if not really cheap, luxury cars. Audi makes luxury cars that compete with Mercedes and Lexus, but generally at the lower end of the price spread for like models. Audi boasts the top engineered cars in the world, bar none. This includes the Audi TT which, while not exactly cheap, is a very nice sports car with a lot of power and speed.

Of course some people want cheap, cheaper, cheapest. They turn to the clunker, the hooptie, the late late model car that was probably old when their parents first bought a car. Teenagers often purchase such a car as their first vehicle. It’s a set of wheels, and it gives them practice for a life time of practical mechanical knowledge. But watch out, the age old adage “You get what you pay for” applies to cheap cars too. It may not seem like such a deal when it won’t start on a cold winter morning.

Honda Cars

Believe it or not, but Honda makes some of the best cars in the world. That’s why in many categories Honda cars are the most popular for consumers. These cars have some of the best engineering in the world, along with some of the best manufacturing standards. That’s even compared to more expensive cars in the same class. When a person buys a Honda automobile, they’re buying quality and reliability.

The Honda Civic is an excellent vehicle. With models from a sedan to a coupe and even a hybrid version, many people purchase and drive this model. The more basic models cost around $15,000, with the hybrid topping the price chart at around $23,000. This car is also one of the best when it comes to gas mileage. The coupes and sedans get around 36 miles per gallon on the highway, while the hybrid boasts 46 highway miles per gallon. Both will save money at the pump, but keep in mind that the hybrid mileage is offset by the extra cost and the cost of a replacement battery likely needed after 3-5 years.

The Honda Civic car also has one of the best resale values in the automotive industry. People who buy them new are often pleasantly surprised when it comes time to sell or trade in for a new model. If maintained in excellent condition it’s possible to purchase a new Civic every few years for only a few thousand dollars. For people who like driving new cars all the time, that’s a great deal.

But some people don’t want to sell. The same features that make resale value so high also make this car a good candidate for long term service. The key again is proper maintenance. If that’s done, then this car can last 10 or even 20 years. That’s a long time for a well running car. It gets to be your friend, not only your car. And there are a lot of other things to do with money other than buying or repairing vehicles.

Another nice Honda car is the Element. This small sized SUV is a real bargain. It has features that lend itself to the type of SUV adventurous people need. Most of the interior is rubber, along with cloth seats and a plastic dash. At first this seems to scream cheap, but there’s a method to the madness. The interior is designed to be easy to clean. Get sand in there from a trip to the beach, and it can be washed away with a hose. Yes, a hose, inside the car. Leather may seem nice until the car is actually put to use.

The popularity of Honda cars is well placed. Their quality creates that popularity. Whether looking for a new or used car, consider a vehicle from Honda.

Cheap Cars

Many people treat cars like a status symbol. Everyone has heard of the celebrities with massive collections of expensive cars, or custom built garages to accommodate their cars in the heart of an expensive city like New York. But for some people cheap cars are the way to go. Cheap in price doesn’t have to mean cheap in quality. Less expensive can still be functional, and even fun.

One of the ways to obtain a quality car on the cheap is to purchase a used car. Even luxury models are much less expensive when purchased second hand. A new term has emerged over the last decade, pre-owned – to denote used cars that are of high quality. These pre-owned vehicles have even managed to pull some long time new car buyers into the used car market. Consider this with luxury cars. A Mercedes or Lexus is so well built that even 10 year old cars can still be in excellent condition. In fact, many people have generations of car buyers in their family who always purchase higher end models that are used. Remember the chauffeur in “Driving Miss Daisy”? He always bought Miss Daisy’s second hand, luxury cars.

Some cheap new cars are quite nice, too. Companies like Hyundai make excellent cars that can be purchased new for under $12,000. A car like the Honda Civic weighs in at about $15,000 for one of the best engineered cars in the world. They get great mileage, last a long time, and retain original value very well. These cars are also much cheaper to maintain than luxury cars that often require more expensive parts and even premium grades of gas.

Another area to look is cheaper, if not really cheap, luxury cars. Audi makes luxury cars that compete with Mercedes and Lexus, but generally at the lower end of the price spread for like models. Audi boasts the top engineered cars in the world, bar none. This includes the Audi TT which, while not exactly cheap, is a very nice sports car with a lot of power and speed.

Of course some people want cheap, cheaper, cheapest. They turn to the clunker, the hooptie, the late late model car that was probably old when their parents first bought a car. Teenagers often purchase such a car as their first vehicle. It’s a set of wheels, and it gives them practice for a life time of practical mechanical knowledge. But watch out, the age old adage “You get what you pay for” applies to cheap cars too. It may not seem like such a deal when it won’t start on a cold winter morning.

National Car Rental

In 1947 24 independent rental car agents got together to form National car rental company. It began with 60 locations around the United States. That was considered pretty big by the standards of the time. But in the next 60 years National grew to the point that today it has over 2000 locations all over the world. That means whenever and wherever someone needs to rent a car, they can turn to National.

Renting a car is a necessity for many business travelers. When they get off the plane to work for a time in a new city or even country, it’s nice to have independent transportation without having to rely on others or on public transportation. That’s particularly true when travel has to be at night. People don’t want to ride a train or bus then.

National, like many other large rental car companies, has some incredible rates on rental cars. It’s possible to have a car for about $20 a day. During some special promotions it’s even lower. Try $1 a day for one way travel to certain cities at certain times of the year.

In addition to the specials many other car rental services offer, National offers last minute deals. It considers itself the last minute car rental specialist, and takes action to make that come true. People don’t always have notice for a trip that requires a rental car. It might be a funeral, or just a sick family member, or a last minute business trip to handle a problem client or situation. Whatever the issue National works hard to provide the best rates and service in that situation. Try some of these. A last minute rental of a full size car for only $170 a week, or an economy car for $19 a day. Those types of rates are a relief to people who have to make last minute plans.

Something not many people know is that National and Alamo rental car companies are owned by the same corporation. Since August of 2007 Enterprise owns both through an umbrella corporation. The reason the brands remain separate is that each has an associated niche. Whereas Enterprise is associated more with business rentals and corporate fleets, and Alamo has a reputation as a vacation car rental company, National maintains the image of the place to go for last second rentals.

That doesn’t mean someone can’t go to any of these companies for any reason. Compare prices of all the companies through a service like Expedia. Look around foar specials and coupon codes. And if they’re the best car rental deal, then by all means choose National car rental.

Honda Cars

Believe it or not, but Honda makes some of the best cars in the world. That’s why in many categories Honda cars are the most popular for consumers. These cars have some of the best engineering in the world, along with some of the best manufacturing standards. That’s even compared to more expensive cars in the same class. When a person buys a Honda automobile, they’re buying quality and reliability.

The Honda Civic is an excellent vehicle. With models from a sedan to a coupe and even a hybrid version, many people purchase and drive this model. The more basic models cost around $15,000, with the hybrid topping the price chart at around $23,000. This car is also one of the best when it comes to gas mileage. The coupes and sedans get around 36 miles per gallon on the highway, while the hybrid boasts 46 highway miles per gallon. Both will save money at the pump, but keep in mind that the hybrid mileage is offset by the extra cost and the cost of a replacement battery likely needed after 3-5 years.

The Honda Civic car also has one of the best resale values in the automotive industry. People who buy them new are often pleasantly surprised when it comes time to sell or trade in for a new model. If maintained in excellent condition it’s possible to purchase a new Civic every few years for only a few thousand dollars. For people who like driving new cars all the time, that’s a great deal.

But some people don’t want to sell. The same features that make resale value so high also make this car a good candidate for long term service. The key again is proper maintenance. If that’s done, then this car can last 10 or even 20 years. That’s a long time for a well running car. It gets to be your friend, not only your car. And there are a lot of other things to do with money other than buying or repairing vehicles.

Another nice Honda car is the Element. This small sized SUV is a real bargain. It has features that lend itself to the type of SUV adventurous people need. Most of the interior is rubber, along with cloth seats and a plastic dash. At first this seems to scream cheap, but there’s a method to the madness. The interior is designed to be easy to clean. Get sand in there from a trip to the beach, and it can be washed away with a hose. Yes, a hose, inside the car. Leather may seem nice until the car is actually put to use.

The popularity of Honda cars is well placed. Their quality creates that popularity. Whether looking for a new or used car, consider a vehicle from Honda.

National Car Rental

In 1947 24 independent rental car agents got together to form National car rental company. It began with 60 locations around the United States. That was considered pretty big by the standards of the time. But in the next 60 years National grew to the point that today it has over 2000 locations all over the world. That means whenever and wherever someone needs to rent a car, they can turn to National.

Renting a car is a necessity for many business travelers. When they get off the plane to work for a time in a new city or even country, it’s nice to have independent transportation without having to rely on others or on public transportation. That’s particularly true when travel has to be at night. People don’t want to ride a train or bus then.

National, like many other large rental car companies, has some incredible rates on rental cars. It’s possible to have a car for about $20 a day. During some special promotions it’s even lower. Try $1 a day for one way travel to certain cities at certain times of the year.

In addition to the specials many other car rental services offer, National offers last minute deals. It considers itself the last minute car rental specialist, and takes action to make that come true. People don’t always have notice for a trip that requires a rental car. It might be a funeral, or just a sick family member, or a last minute business trip to handle a problem client or situation. Whatever the issue National works hard to provide the best rates and service in that situation. Try some of these. A last minute rental of a full size car for only $170 a week, or an economy car for $19 a day. Those types of rates are a relief to people who have to make last minute plans.

Something not many people know is that National and Alamo rental car companies are owned by the same corporation. Since August of 2007 Enterprise owns both through an umbrella corporation. The reason the brands remain separate is that each has an associated niche. Whereas Enterprise is associated more with business rentals and corporate fleets, and Alamo has a reputation as a vacation car rental company, National maintains the image of the place to go for last second rentals.

That doesn’t mean someone can’t go to any of these companies for any reason. Compare prices of all the companies through a service like Expedia. Look around foar specials and coupon codes. And if they’re the best car rental deal, then by all means choose National car rental.

Impounded Cars For Sale

People love cars. And they’re always in search of great deals. Whether it be haggling with a dealership for new cars, or kicking the tires while talking down a used car salesman, people also love deals on cars. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. This is normally done via an auction. And if you play your cards right, you can end up with a steal (pun intended.)

Where do these cars come from? Often the police impound cars that belong to criminals or that were used in committing a crime. Laws are in place to allow authorities to take all the possessions away from drug dealers, for example. That means a lot of cars, often very fancy cars, in the hands of the city or state who wants to sell them for a profit. Cars can also be taken for traffic tickets or even parking tickets. If the owner doesn’t claim the vehicle, or if the fines accumulate to a certain point, the car will be up for sale.

Sometimes the cars are sold straight to dealerships who either sell them on the lot or auction them. Or auto auctions might buy them and then sell them in turn to the highest bidder. It really makes no difference. At some point the car is up for sale to the highest bidder and can become a whale of a deal for a savvy person. But beware of some pitfalls of purchasing cars via auction. As the saying goes it’s “buyer beware.”

The first thing to keep in mind is these cars are generally sold with no warranty. It’s a case of what you see is what you get. That is, in the auto industry, “as is.” The seller can even engage in puffery in most states. That’s making non specific positive claims about the car such as “it’s a great deal” or “you’d be foolish not to want to drive home in this beauty.” There are even some tricky words involved in puffery such as “clean” or “in great condition.” These sound like specific descriptions or even promises of a well working auto. However, on closer examination they really don’t mean too much other than “here’s a worm, grab the hook.”

The wise thing to do is go in with knowledge and expertise. Be ready to examine the cars closely. That means attending an auction with an automotive expert if you don’t know much about cars. Take advantage of the test drives most auctions offer. When it’s impounded cars for sale it can be a great deal. But remember that if it seems too good to be true it usually is.

Enterprise Car Rentals

Many people don’t have cars. It’s true, even in America there are still people who don’t have them. There are also people who have a car but travel to different cities where they’ll need a car. Whether it’s for a trip near home over the weekend, running errands that can’t be done via public transportation, or getting around while 1000 miles away from home, that’s where rental cars come into the picture. And one of the companies people choose most often is Enterprise. That’s because Enterprise car rentals are not overly pricey, they’re generally in good shape, and Enterprise will even pick up the renter from home, from the office, or from the airport.

Enterprise can be found in every major city, as well as in not so major cities and towns. They offer a variety of cars from sub compact all the way up to SUVs. In some locations there are even convertible sports cars available. Hey, if traveling away from home and in a sunny location, why not add some enjoyment to the trip? The prices are great too. A weekly rental for under $300 can be a great deal. Do the math on this one. A person can commute to work every day via public transportation. Save the errands such as trips to the store for weekends when cars can be rented for under $20 a day. For about $60 a week all the car needs are fulfilled. That’s under $3500 a year which is far less than most car owners spend on the car purchase, insurance, maintenance, storage, cleaning, registration and other expenses associated with a car.

Enterprise also offers fleet management services to small businesses. This includes any business that provides cars to employees such as sales businesses, or businesses with multiple locations where traveling supervisors or managers make visits. Managing all the details of a fleet of cars isn’t easy. The cars much be purchased, maintained, and all the legalities such as insurance and registration apply to fleet cars too. When a car becomes too worn for use it must be replaced. Businesses want to spend time on their core functions rather than on cars. That’s where Enterprise steps into the picture.

For people who want to own cars, Enterprise sells their cars used after they’ve served their time in a fleet or a rental role. One top feature of Enterprise used cars is they are well maintained. That goes counter to the impression of a car always driven by non-owners who really don’t care about it. Car renters do care about the cars because companies like Enterprise charge penalties for damage and misuse. And consider too that fleet or rental cars are maintained according to the book. Many private owners don’t do that, and those are the used cars that end up at most dealerships.

Who knew Enterprise car rentals could have so many different roles and uses?

Alamo Car Rental

An Alamo car rental is a smart way to get a car for short term use such as a vacation or driving around during a business trip. Renting a car for a long driving trip is also wise as it saves wear and tear on your own car. In some cases, such as during special rental programs for one way travel, a car rental can be had for only $1 per day. That’s a fantastic deal.

Alamo started way back in 1974 in Florida. Their primary business was for vacation rentals, as no other companies were serving that niche at the time. With so many vacationers coming to Florida for the sun and for Disney, it was a natural fit. Alamo pioneered some of the more common car rental concepts of today. One of these was unlimited mileage rental. Families on vacation don’t want to track miles or to pay extra when they go over a certain amount. Alamo was one of the first rental car companies to recognize this and come up with a solution.

Alamo was also one of the first to rent cars from a large plaza facility. Other car rental companies at the time – 1974, remember – mostly worked with corporate repeat clients. Although they had a lot of business, much of it was conducted over the phone, long before the traveler showed up to pick up the vehicle. But vacationers often showed up on the spot and in large numbers all at the same time. Alamo came up with the speedy, high volume car rental facility today seen at airports. This allowed them to process a lot of people and put them behind the wheel of their fun car.

Amongst other common car rental features Alamo pioneered are rental insurance and online car rentals. Alamo was the first rental company to provide low cost coverage for their cars, so people wouldn’t have to worry about accidents. And in 1995 Alamo provided the first opportunity renters had ever seen to book their rental on the Internet. That was a big deal at the time.

Those firsts really don’t matter to people looking to rent a car. Most major auto rental companies provide the same services. It comes down to quality vehicles at affordable prices. Alamo certainly has both. An economy car from Alamo can cost less than $20 per rental day. That’s competitive with other companies. Alamo has some of the best partnerships in the business so a savvy traveler can also earn airline miles and free hotel stays, as well as a lot of other perks by using an Alamo car rental.

Go back, way back, to 1974 when Alamo looked at the rental business to realize vacationers had few options. What a difference a few decades makes in the car rental world.

Impounded Cars For Sale

People love cars. And they’re always in search of great deals. Whether it be haggling with a dealership for new cars, or kicking the tires while talking down a used car salesman, people also love deals on cars. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. This is normally done via an auction. And if you play your cards right, you can end up with a steal (pun intended.)

Where do these cars come from? Often the police impound cars that belong to criminals or that were used in committing a crime. Laws are in place to allow authorities to take all the possessions away from drug dealers, for example. That means a lot of cars, often very fancy cars, in the hands of the city or state who wants to sell them for a profit. Cars can also be taken for traffic tickets or even parking tickets. If the owner doesn’t claim the vehicle, or if the fines accumulate to a certain point, the car will be up for sale.

Sometimes the cars are sold straight to dealerships who either sell them on the lot or auction them. Or auto auctions might buy them and then sell them in turn to the highest bidder. It really makes no difference. At some point the car is up for sale to the highest bidder and can become a whale of a deal for a savvy person. But beware of some pitfalls of purchasing cars via auction. As the saying goes it’s “buyer beware.”

The first thing to keep in mind is these cars are generally sold with no warranty. It’s a case of what you see is what you get. That is, in the auto industry, “as is.” The seller can even engage in puffery in most states. That’s making non specific positive claims about the car such as “it’s a great deal” or “you’d be foolish not to want to drive home in this beauty.” There are even some tricky words involved in puffery such as “clean” or “in great condition.” These sound like specific descriptions or even promises of a well working auto. However, on closer examination they really don’t mean too much other than “here’s a worm, grab the hook.”

The wise thing to do is go in with knowledge and expertise. Be ready to examine the cars closely. That means attending an auction with an automotive expert if you don’t know much about cars. Take advantage of the test drives most auctions offer. When it’s impounded cars for sale it can be a great deal. But remember that if it seems too good to be true it usually is.