Phaeton Options

German automaker Volkswagen distributes cars in the United States and Europe, including the Volkswagen Phaeton. The Phaeton is a luxury full-size sedan that debuted at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. If you are looking for options to add to your new Phaeton, the manufacturer offers a variety of interior and exterior selections.

Wheels

The Volkswagen Phaeton V6 and Phaeton V6 LWB come standard with 17-inch Impression alloy wheels. The standard wheels for the Volkswagen W12 LWB are the 18-inch Innovation alloy wheels. However, Volkswagen offers eight different options, ranging from 18- to 19-inch wheels on the Volkswagen Phaeton V6 and Phaeton V6 LWB. For the Phaeton W12 LWB, Volkswagen offers four different alloy wheel options: the 18-inch Aristoteles, 18-inch Experience, 18-inch Performance and the 19-inch Serres.

Electronics

All three Volkswagen Phaeton models come with a combined radio and navigation system. The system features an 8-inch color screen, touch-screen satellite and voice controls. All Volkswagen Phaetons also have the option of keyless entry and keyless start.

Vehicle Protection

For added safety, all Volkswagen Phaetons offer the side scan lane change assistance feature. The vehicle warns you if any obstacles are in your blind spot by displaying a light near the door mirror. There is also a rear-view camera option that can show you anything behind the car via the car's audio system window.

Responsibilities of Auto Lease Co-Signers

Co-signing for a car is just like buying or leasing a car for yourself. Co-signers share the same responsibilities car buyers or those who lease have, but co-signing is probably even more risky than buying or leasing a car for yourself. There are various points to take into consideration before you put that pen to paper and co-sign an auto lease.

Mileage

Most leases have mileage restrictions associated with them. For example, some leases only allow 12,000-15,000 miles per year to be put on the car. If the person leasing the vehicle goes over the allowed mileage, there's usually a fee associated with that, which must be paid at the end of the lease. Co-signers are responsible for mileage, as well. If the person leasing the vehicle doesn't pay the additional mileage costs, the co-signer will be responsible for paying them.

Default

If the person leasing the vehicle defaults on the lease, he's responsible for paying what's still owed on it. This is very similar to purchasing a car. If the borrow defaults on the loan, he's still responsible for paying the balance. This is also the case for co-signers. If the person leasing the vehicle defaults, the co-signer will become responsible for paying the balance on the lease as well as any additional fees owed. Defaulting on a lease will affect the borrower's and co-signer's credit rating.

Liability

Co-signers on leases are also liable in the event that the person leasing the vehicle gets into an auto collision. If that person gets sued, the co-signer will most likely be sued as well because he's listed on the lease. Anything that happens to the vehicle is the shared responsibility between the person leasing the vehicle and the person who's co-signed the lease.

Maintenance

Both those leasing a vehicle and those who've co-signed the lease are responsible for the vehicle's maintenance. In addition, both parties are responsible for returning the vehicle in excellent condition. If the vehicle is returned after the lease and something is found to be wrong with it, either mechanically or cosmetically, the person leasing and the co-signer will be responsible for paying for repairs. This shouldn't be a problem for the co-signer, as long as the person leasing the vehicle acknowledges responsibility and pays the costs. However, if the person leasing the car doesn't pay for repairs, it's up to the co-signer to do so.

How to Get the Best Deal on a New Jeep

Few things are more rewarding than getting a good deal on a new vehicle. According to the University of California Berkeley International Office, researching or becoming educated about all that's required in purchasing a vehicle will help you save a lot of money. Getting the best deal on a new Jeep is possible thanks to the many rebates and discounts offered by Jeep dealerships.

Instructions

1

Shop around at different Jeep dealerships to compare prices. Let each dealership know that you're checking multiple Jeep dealerships, as they may offer you an even lower price if they know they have competition from rival dealerships. Bring a friend or family member along who's knowledgeable about evaluating and purchasing Jeeps.

2

Set a strict budget of what you're willing to spend. If a dealership is not willing to meet your budget, walk away and try a different Jeep dealership.

3

Negotiate with the salesperson and offer a lower price for the Jeep. According to Philip Reed of the Wartburg College Student Life and Pathways Center, when dealing with the standard salesperson, he or she will always try to start the negotiations at a high price with the expectation of being negotiated down.

4

Ask for special discounts or rebates. Many Jeep dealerships offer special incentives, customer cash allowances, low financing options and discounts and rebates to serious customers. Check with the dealership on-site and online at official Jeep and Chrysler websites to determine which rebates and incentives are currently offered.

5

Pay the full cost of the Jeep upfront in cash. According to the University of California Berkeley International Office, you can often get the best price for a new vehicle by offering to pay the full amount in "cash," cashier's check or traveler's checks.

6

Lease the Jeep if you can't pay upfront for the vehicle. Leasing helps lower monthly payment and can save an individual money on taxes.

How to Check a Vehicle's Safety

Before you go to the dealership and fall in love with a new model car, you should know the safety rating of the car. After all, no one plans to be in an accident, but if you are, you want the car you're in to protect you as much as possible. So whether you are in the market for a new car, or just want to check the safety rating on your existing car, the websites below will tell you exactly how to check a vehicle's safety.

Instructions

How to Check a Vehicle's Safety

1

Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Not only will it provide valuable pricing information about the new car you're thinking of purchasing, but Kelly Blue Book also provides the safety ratings for the vehicle and a five-star rating system for each safety component of the car.

2

Edmunds.com (www.Edmunds.com)
This site provides you with literally everything you need to know about the car, including new car buying information, safety information, recalls and forums where people can review the cars they own. Edmunds provides you with not only the statistical safety ratings, but also the "real life" experiences of owners.

3

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.com)
This organization is the main rating agency for vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a five-star rating system for most late model vehicles in the United States. Anytime that you see car's ratings listed anywhere, odds are good that they came from this agency.

4

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.IIHS.com)
This organization does much of the same work as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration except that The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates cars specifically for the insurance industry. You definitely need to visit this site, because the ratings here are what will affect the insurance premiums on a new car.

5

CrashTest.com (www.crashtest.com)
The Crash Test site compiles safety ratings and information from around the world, which means that not only will you see safety ratings from the United States, but you can see how the same car rates in Europe and Australia.

How to Check a VIN for any Automobile

Buying a used car can save you a lot of money, since new cars immediately lose value as soon as they are driven off the lot. However, you do run the risk of getting stuck with costly vehicle repair bills if something goes wrong with the used car you buy. There is a way to cut down on the odds of getting stuck with a lemon, and find out if a car is at risk of needing heavy-duty repairs.

Instructions

1

Log on to MyUsedCarPrices.com or a similar website and browse to the VIN check page.

2

Enter the VIN from the vehicle you want to check in the VIN check box.

3

Agree to any terms and conditions for your free VIN check. Most websites require an agreement to use the information in the VIN check for a certain range of purposes (i.e. personal information, to check the car's history). You may not use the information gathered in that VIN search for any other purposes than the ones stated in the terms.

4

Hit enter and send your VIN to the VIN check company. The report will be pulled from the server and delivered to you through email, or it will be made available on your computer screen.

5

Review the report and note all the information it gives you. If you are interested in more information, a simple vehicle history report can be purchased. This gives more detailed information about the car's maintenance and other important factors that might come into play when you make a decision to buy the car.

How to Find the Dealer Cost on a New Car

Buying a new car is one of the biggest and most important purchases you're likely to make. You should know as much about the process as you can to save yourself money. Even saving a few percentage points on the cost of your car can save you hundreds of dollars. One of the most important things to do when buying a car is to negotiate the price with the dealer. Car prices are rarely firm, and negotiation is an important part of almost every sale for a dealer. To this end, you'll be able to negotiate the best deal if you know as much as possible about how much the dealer has paid for the car.

Instructions

1

Find the dealer invoice price by consulting a reputable car buying guide. (See Reference 1 and Reference 2). This gives you the cost that the dealer initially paid to the manufacturer to have the car shipped to the dealership, which is usually substantially ($2,000 to $3,000) less than the sticker price, termed the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

2

Calculate the "holdback" of the vehicle according to its manufacturer. The holdback is a manufacturer's discount to the dealer that is usually invisible to the customer, because it is invisibly added to the dealer's invoice price and then refunded to the dealer by the manufacturer at a later date, allowing the dealer to make money on the car even if you manage to haggle the price down to the "invoice price." The exact percentage of this holdback for each manufacturer is available in most new car buying guides, and is calculated as a percentage of the MSRP.

3

Calculate the cost of the percentage of the holdback based on the MSRP of the car. Then subtract that number from the invoice price to get nearer to the actual value of the car. Add to that number the cost of the options you want, as stated on the invoice. For example, the holdback cost of a Chevrolet with an MSRP price of $20,000 would be $600, since Chevrolet dealerships have a 3% holdback, according to Edmunds.com. (See Reference 1.) The invoice price quoted by the dealer might be $18,000, so subtract $600 from $18,000 to get a $17,400 actual dealer price for the new car (though don't forget to add the cost of any other options).

Negotiating Tips for Buying a Used Car

There is a remarkable difference in strategy between purchasing a new versus a used vehicle. The negotiation process of new car pricing is fairly straightforward because the information can be readily found on the Internet. Used vehicle purchases are more complicated for several reasons: you do not know what the dealership paid for the car, you may not know the exact value of the car and you do not know--at least initially--if the vehicle has any problems or not.

Know the Dealer's Cost

This step is rarely taken in the auto industry. In fact, do not be surprised if the salesperson gives you a funny look when you ask. He may try to wiggle his way out of this request, but hold firm and explain that you understand that the dealer needs to make a profit, but you just need to know how much the car was purchased for. Once the request is honored, make a reasonable offer based on the dealer's cost. What constitutes a reasonable profit depends on current market conditions, but most dealers will usually take a deal with $500 to $800 profit on a used vehicle.

Research the Trade Allowance

There are subtle ways to approach this. The simplest method is to ask the dealer for the phone number of the customer who traded the vehicle in. Most states have privacy laws that would require the dealership to get permission from the customer beforehand; always honor this process. Once you get the previous owner's information, contact him and tell him you are interested in purchasing the vehicle he traded in. Use this opportunity to ask him how much the dealer paid him for the vehicle.

Be a Firm Negotiator

When the salesperson leaves you alone to go talk to the manager, they will collaborate on ways to raise your offer price. Do not be afraid to walk out the door if they do not take your offer--but walk slowly. Sometimes just the threat of you leaving is enough for them to cave in. Automotive salespeople and managers often spend 60 to 70 hours a week at the dealership. They usually either get paid very little or nothing at all if they do not sell cars. The salespeople would much rather take a short profit deal than nothing at all.

How to Buy a Used Honda Civic

Buying a used Honda Civic can be a smart choice if you are looking for a long-lasting car with good gas mileage. Honda Civics can get from 28 to over 34 miles per gallon, depending on the year and engine.

Instructions

1

Have a mechanic or a trusted friend knowledgeable about cars go with you to look at the Civic. If no one is available you will have to look for possible problem areas yourself. Open the hood to look at the engine and other parts. Check the oil and make sure it looks clear and not black, which is a sign of internal problems in the engine. Look under the car and make sure there is no oil leaking. Check the transmission fluid and make sure it is also clear and not red, which is a sign of damaged gears.

2

Open the trunk and lift the carpet liner on the floor area that covers the spare tire. This area is known to leak in some older Civics and may have standing water or rust below the spare tire. A sign of leaking water in the trunk is a musty smell when the trunk is opened.

3

Test-drive the car. During the drive, check to see that the lights, brakes, turn signals, cruise control, and all radio and temperature controls are in working order. Some models that were made in Canada were not equipped with air conditioning. Make sure to check for this if you want air conditioning, even if you are purchasing the car during a cold season. Paying to have an air conditioning system put into a car can be very expensive and often not worth the cost for a used car.

4

Look around in the front of the car under the dash, in the center console or directly under the radio controls for a cigarette lighter if you want one in the car. Many Honda Civics did not come with cigarette lighters.

5

Inspect and rate the car according to Kelley Blue Book standards. See what condition the paint and body is in, what condition the interior is in, how the car runs and what the overall condition of the car is.

6

Search Kelley Blue Book and input the car's information and condition to get a fair value. Offer the seller this value or lower for the car. The seller may have valid reasons to raise the price, like a new CD player, custom wheels or an alarm system, but the price should remain close to the Kelley Blue Book value. If the seller refuses to come to a reasonable price, look for another car. Honda Civics are very popular and used models are easy to find.

How to Buy a Car With a Lien on It

Many drivers finance the purchase of their vehicles, but the associated lien on the car can create some hurdles if an owner decides to sell before the loan is paid off. It is possible to purchase a car with a lien on it, though, and the process is surprisingly easy.

Instructions

1

Identify the lien holder. Finding out who holds the lien is usually as simple as asking the seller who holds the financing for the vehicle, though some sellers may not know. If the seller does not know who holds the lien on the car, he may have to consult his payment book or financing documentation to determine what company actually services the car loan.

2

Approach the lien holder to determine how the transfer of ownership should take place. If you will be paying cash for the vehicle, the process may be quite simple, though transferring the title to a new lien holder may have to occur if you will also be financing the purchase.

3

Pay for the car. If you will be paying cash for the car, you can simply pay the lien holder the loan payoff amount and pay the balance to the seller. If you will be financing the purchase, the financial institution that funds your loan will handle the payoff of the institution and transfer of the lien to its company holding.

4

Register the car, but wait for the title. When you pay off the seller's loan, the lien holder may need some time to process the payment and send you the title (in some cases, this process can take up to a few weeks). For interim registration purposes, the seller should provide a bill of sale with lien holder contact information; your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will use this information to verify the transfer of ownership and register your new vehicle.

How to Locate a Vehicle's Manufacture Date

Sometimes it may be necessary to find the date a vehicle was manufactured. Here is how to locate on a car or truck the month and year it was made.

Instructions

1




On most vehicles, the date of manufacture is found on a sticker attached to the car frame and is visible when the driver's side door is open.

2

Open the door, and look for stickers on the car frame near the door latch post (U-shaped bolt). There probably will be more than one.

3




(Click on photo to enlarge) The sticker with a bar code and the vehicle's VIN number is the Safety Standard Certification Label. It contains the month and year of manufacture. In this case, it was made in 7/'97, or July, 1997. Look at the end of the top line for this information.

This label is attached vertically on the car frame underneath the latch post. Photo is horizontal for easier viewing.

How to Compare Second Hand Cars

While you may dream of owning a new car, your budget may dictate that you purchase a secondhand vehicle. Consumer Reports says used vehicles offer great value and notes this: "Not only is the price lower than a comparable new car, but ownership expenses such as collision insurance and taxes are lower, and a used vehicle has already taken its biggest hit in depreciation." When shopping, there are guidelines you should follow when comparing used cars.

Safety Ratings

The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs crash tests on vehicles and rates them based on the results. Search its database to find safety assessments of cars dating back as far as the 1990s. The government's five-star safety rating website also offers historical data.

Gas Mileage

Find out how far a used vehicle will travel per gallon of gas by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy's fuel economy website. You can find fuel economy ratings for vehicles built as early as 1984.

Reviews

Find out which used vehicles are rated best and worst by Consumer Reports when you subscribe to its website. You'll also get access to ratings that measure the reliability of used cars in 17 areas over 10 model years.

Options and Costs

When you've narrowed your search to a few models, check the inventories of dealerships in your area online. This will allow you to see the mileage and features available on similar models, as well as the dealer's asking price. Don't forget to look for private-party listings in your local newspaper and online classified ads.

Certified Vehicles

You aren't likely to get a warranty if you buy a car from a private seller, but some dealerships offer "certified preowned" vehicles that come with warranty coverage.

Chevy Astro Transmission Problems

Produced in a two-decade run that encompassed the 1985 to 2005 model years, the Chevrolet Astro is a mid-sized van from the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Unlike those of its first decade of production, the model-year entries of its later decade have a reputations for certain common transmission problems.

Most Common Problem

The failure of the transmission valve body---the central component of the vehicle's automatic gearbox---is the most common transmission problem with the Chevy Astro. The 1998 and 1999 Astros are more likely than other model years to have this problem.

Other Common Transmission Problems

Other common transmission problems with the Chevy Astro include the failures of the transmission's fluid pressure (TFP) switch, reaction sun shell and transfer case shift motor. The 1995 to 1999 and 2000 to 2003 Astros suffer from one or more of these issues.

Repair Costs

As of September 2010, the reaction sun shell, at around $921, is the costliest to repair out of all of Chevy Astro's main problems. Repairing the transmission valve body, transfer case shift motor and TFP switch, costs about $596, $549 and $155, respectively.

Ford Fusion Hybrid Options

The Ford Fusion Hybrid, introduced for the first time for the 2010 model, received almost immediate accolades, winning the prize for North American Car of the Year at the 2010 Detroit auto show. The Ford Fusion Hybrid uses a new hybrid powertrain designed with smaller, lighter batteries and streamlined gas-electric operation. While many features, such as voice-activated integrated mobile phone service, come standard, several custom options can be added with feature packages.

Moon and Tune Package

The Moon and Tune package refers to the Ford Fusion Hybrid options for an improved sound system, which includes 12 Sony speakers in 5.1 Dolby surround sound, as well as the in-dash six-disc CD changer with the capability to play MP3 audio that comes standard in the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Driver's Vision Package

The Drivers Vision package includes several components designed to enhance the safety of operating the Ford Fusion Hybrid, with the blind spot information system that alerts the driver if cars are approaching from up to 65 feet away on either side of the car with an indicator light in the corresponding outer mirror when signaling. The package also includes the cross-traffic alert, which beeps if it detects oncoming traffic when the car is in reverse. Finally, also when in reverse, a rearview camera displays in the rearview mirror or the navigation screen to show what is directly behind the car.

Voice-Activated Navigation

The navigation system option includes an 8-inch touch screen that displays three-dimensional maps, gives real-time traffic reports and displays nearby gas stations when the gas tank is low. The navigation system also includes a 10 GB hard drive that stores up to 2,400 songs for voice-activated listening. The navigation option was not available in Alaska or Hawaii for the initial 2010 run of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Leather-Trimmed Seats

The Ford Fusion Hybrid options for leather seats include leather in the front and back seats, with the front seats heated. The drivers seat is a power seat adjustable eight ways, while the front passenger power seat can be adjusted six ways.

Hybrid-Convenience Package

The Hybrid-Convenience Package is one of the manufacturers sets of custom options, and it automatically adds both the Moon and Tune package and the Drivers Vision package to the standard options. The package was priced at an additional cost of $2,250 for the 2010 model.

Hybrid-Luxury Package

The Hybrid-Luxury Package is another set of Ford Fusion Hybrid options, including the Moon and Tune package, the Drivers Vision package, voice-activated navigation and leather seats in addition to the standard vehicle features. The luxury package set is priced at $5,215 for the 2010 model.

How to Lease a Chrysler Town & Country

Leasing your new Chrysler Town & Country has never been easier. With tons of information readily available at your fingertips, becoming an informed and savvy consumer has never been easier. And with car brokers, leasing companies, Internet and fleet managers, and manufacturers all fighting to get you in the door, getting a great deal has never been so effortless.

Instructions

1

Choose the options, trim level and color combinations for your new Chrysler Town & Country. Picking up a brochure at your local dealer or customizing your Town & Country on chrysler.com will help you understand all available options.

2

Learn about all current incentives, rebates, money factors and residual values available for the Town & Country. Websites such as edmunds.com will help you get the vehicle's MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price), invoice (what the dealer buys the vehicle for), and other pertinent information to help you make an informed lease buy. Write down all of this information so that when you are dealing with the salesperson, you will have it handy while negotiating your lease price.

3

Email several dealers for quotes for your new Town & Country lease. Be as specific as possible, telling them how many miles per year you drive, how many months you would like to lease, how much money down you are comfortable with putting toward the lease and which options you want on your new car. Also, include the current money factor and residual values to let the salesperson know that you are a savvy buyer and that you are trying to quickly and easily work through the negotiation process.

4

Gather up all of the emails you've received from the different dealers and compare them. Choose the dealership that was the easiest and most up front to work with. If two or three dealers are all coming in within $10 of one another with the final lease number, pick the salesperson that gave you the least amount of hassle.

5

Have your salesperson get all of the paperwork and your new Chrysler Town & Country ready for you before you arrive at the dealership. Ask to fax over a filled out and signed credit application, along with your driver's license and a current insurance card, so that the finance manager can get your approval from the bank, minimizing your time spent at the dealership.

Ford Contour Transmission Problems

Produced from 1995 to 2000, the Ford Contour--a compact four-door sedan--has a host of problems with its model-year entries. Among its main problematic components is its transmission.

Main Transmission Problem

The most common problem with the Ford Contour's transmission is the failure of the flex plate on the four-speed automatic transmission. Such a defect may prevent the car from starting, and it mostly affects the 1998, 1999 and 2000 model year Contours.

Other Transmission Problems

Other transmission problems with the Ford Contour transmission--reported by owners on various websites--include faulty manual lever position sensors, transmission leaks, and transmission noise on the five-speed manual gearboxes due to gear clash.

Cost

As of September 2010, the cost to repair a Ford Contour flex plate was estimated at $110 for parts. An additional $650 was needed for labor.

How to Find a 1950-1970 Chevy Pickup Truck

Finding a 1950 to 1970 Chevrolet pickup truck is a relatively easy task. 1950- to 1960-model Chevy trucks are highly sought among collectors and can be expensive, yet are readily available in most parts of North America. 1961 to 1970 Chevy pickups are more plentiful and cheaper to purchase. These trucks, however, don't necessarily have the nostalgic appeal of the earlier models but can be more practical daily drivers.

Instructions

1

Narrow your search to a specific style and model year range of Chevy pickup. Establish your criteria: model-year range, daily or weekend driver, how much you plan to spend and how far are you willing to travel to buy it.

2

Log on to an automotive-selling website. Avoid websites specializing in new or used cars and trucks. You will find few vintage 1950 to 1965 Chevy trucks and probably only a handful of late 1960s models. There are several websites that specialize in vintage trucks and cars.

3

Fill in the text fields of the website to select the type of Chevrolet truck you desire. Consider that half-trucks are more plentiful than larger 1- and 2-ton models because many half-ton models were used for light work and were more practical for daily, recreational driving. Larger trucks were workhorses and often retired to the junkyard when they outlived their usefulness.

4

Enter the model year range in the text field: 1950 to about 1955 for bulbous postwar styling; late 1950s to early 1960s for the more squared, masculine look; mid-1960s to 1970 for more streamlined and contemporary styling. Enter the price range. A restored 1950 Chevy five-window short bed 3100 Series truck can command a price tag upwards of $20,000 or more. A similar-vintage truck that needs total refurbishing may cost $3,000. A 1969 half-ton model with an engine, interior and body in good driving condition may sell for about $5,000.

5

Enter your zip code or city in the website text field and how many miles you are willing to travel to negotiate a sale. The farther you are willing to travel, the more vehicle choices you will have. Narrow your search to your own city and you likely will find just a few trucks.

6

Try to avoid trucks for sale in parts of North America that have snowy winters. The roads are salted and the vehicles are likely to have rust problems. Search for trucks in dry climates like the American Southwest.

7

Subscribe to truck club magazines and read the classified sections,. Generally, these vehicles are treated well because the owners are enthusiasts. Visit local car shows. Collectible Chevy trucks are almost always for sale.