Used Car Comfort

Finding Comfortable Used Cars

Most people know to look for any mechanical problems when they are shopping in Reno for a used car, but few people actually put that much thought into the comfort of the vehicle until after they have made the purchase.

If you are going to be driving this vehicle a lot, you have to make sure it fits your body properly after you have adjusted it. This means that you should have enough room to sit up straight in the seat, and still see out the windshield without a problem.

The steering wheel should be at a comfortable position after you have adjusted it as much as you can. You also have to pay attention to whether or not the steering wheel blocks either the gauges or the windshield when you have it adjusted to the right spot for your personal comfort.

Finally you have to think about how comfortable the seat is. Minor problems such as a seat that is noticeably too hard, or a seat that doesn't support your back, can become major issues after driving for an extended period of time. Pay attention to how your body feels while you are sitting in the seat and you will know whether or not the vehicle is something you could be comfortable sitting in for a longer trip.

It's vital to find a car that is going to run well throughout the year, but a car that is comfortable is also very important, and you should be taking your time to make sure that you are getting something that you will actually enjoy driving. When you drive a car that actually fits your body it makes the experience much more enjoyable. You will be thankful that you took the time to assess the comfort of the vehicle, before making the decision to buy it.

Silent Walk Around?

Choose Cars Known for Being Undervalued

If you take your time and figure out which vehicles are really being undervalued in Las Vegas before making a used car purchase, you are going to save some serious money. There are always vehicles that aren't very popular with the general public, but that are still great cars. If you aren't worried about your public image, and you just want a great car, getting one of these less popular options can really pay off.

Look around online to see which cars have been listed for the longest period of time. You will see that some cars just aren't selling very well, and this changes depending on where you live at the time. If a car is priced affordably and people just aren't interested in it, it could be a good candidate for you.

Head over to your local used car dealership and see if they have any of those models hanging around the lot. If you have found the right car they are going to be eager to sell this vehicle to you. They will be willing to negotiate the price, and it will probably already be more affordable than the more popular options on the lot.

Rental Cars

Rental cars take a fair amount of abuse, but not nearly as much as the public perceives. Since most people won't go near these vehicles out of fear that they are going to fall apart, they tend to depreciate very quickly. Look for a lower mileage vehicle that is advertised as once being a rental car. If you find any of these vehicles available there is a good chance that you will get them cheaply. Go to the deal ready to bargain with them, and don’t offer any more than you think the vehicle is worth. The dealership may realize that they are pricing their ex-rental too highly and be willing to drop down the price when they are called out on it, but they won't drop that price down voluntarily.

By tapping into the beliefs, and desires of the used car market, you can find great vehicles that the general public just doesn’t want. Sure many of these cars may be ugly, but they will get you back and forth to work for years at half the price of something more popular, and that is where the true value lies for those who aren't concerned with aesthetic appeal.

Toyota Makes Zero (emissions)

The 2014 Toyota Rav4 EV

The new 2014 Toyota Rav4 EV was shown off at the Maker Faire, and it shows what exactly is possible with a lot of engineering and time to make things right.

This vehicle is oozing with commuting potential, and when you look under the hood it becomes apparent how efficient this little vehicle is when you are given access to the simplicity underneath, compared to a normal fuel-driven vehicle.

Benefits of the Rav4 EV

Toyota engineers had two years to retrofit an existing Rav4 with an all-electric system and they succeeded through the challenges creating a vehicle that comes with quite a few benefits. First of all it produces little to no pollution while running because it isn't burning fuel, sure it consumes electricity that is sometimes created by burning fuel, but it is more efficient which causes less emissions to be released into the atmosphere.

This vehicle is also much more affordable to operate because electricity is cheaper than gasoline is. You simply charge it up at home, or a charging station and then take the short trip around town while enjoying the fact that you didn't pay for a drop of gasoline to do it. Compared to other EV's on the market, the Rav4 is also quite spacious and it can easily cart around a family of 5 to their local destination.

The Downfalls

There are two major downfalls with this vehicle as well, and they are what will stop many people from picking them up. The first is that the range is 100 miles, which keeps many local destinations within reach, but you won't be taking a roadtrip in this EV anytime soon unless you are willing to track down charge stations and take significant breaks ever 100 miles. The other downfall is the charging process, which can take a few hours to complete. This is a major setback to the vehicle, but when used for local commuting it really isn't much of an issue.

Engineered for Distance

Even though the Rav4 is quite large it achieves its impressive range thanks to advanced engineering efforts. The shape of the vehicle, along with the long rear spoiler, and the special side-view mirrors cut the drag coefficient down to .30 which is lower than any other SUV in the world.

This vehicle will be an excellent option for those looking to lower commute costs, it will take some time before EV's are replacing fuel-driven vehicles for long-distance traveling.

2014 Lexus IS Review

2014 Lexus IS - New Features that Come Packed in

The new Lexus IS is coming standard with a bunch of new features, and $1,400 worth of old features that used to be optional. These features give you more control over the way the vehicle drives, additional multimedia options, as well as an enhanced climate control experience that make the vehicles more enjoyable to drive.

Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has ranked among the ten largest Japanese global brands in market value. Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Operational centers are located in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California, United States.

Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan project, code-named F1, which began in 1983 and culminated in the launch of the original Lexus LS in 1989. Subsequently, the division added sedan, coupé, convertible, and SUV models. In 2005, a hybrid version of the RX crossover debuted, and additional hybrid models later joined the division's lineup. In 2007, Lexus launched its own F marque performance division with the debut of the IS F sport sedan, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.

Weather and Traffic Updates

Lexus IS owners are going to be the first who are able to get free weather and traffic updates over an HD radio service that comes built into the vehicle. Both of these services are offered to the car owners anywhere where they can get a signal for the radio. These services would have cost the car owners before because they had to be purchased through Sirius XM satellite radio.

Improved Driver Control

The models come standard with HID headlamps, as well as LED daytime lights that are in an L-formation. You can shift the vehicle using a set of paddle shifters, and you will be able to select the drive mode that you want for the vehicle while you are cruising around. The drive mode gives you better access to the power when you want to go fast, and improves fuel economy when you are going on trips and you want to save some money on gas.

Advanced Climate Control

The dual climate control system features an advanced neural network artificial intelligence. This technology takes into account a bunch of different factors including the temperature inside the vehicle, settings that the driver has chosen, as well as the temperature outside of the vehicle, and it uses all of that information to make a decision on how to best alter the climate so that it is as comfortable as possible. Not only is the car worried about the actual temperature inside the cabin, but how that temperature feels within the cabin which can be very different from the temperature itself.

An Intuitive Display

The 7-inch VGA monitor is another revolutionary feature for Lexus IS owners because it gives you a lot of control over the information that you are looking up. First and foremost you can get navigation information. You can also look things up on the Internet if you want to, as long as you provide an Internet connection such as through a smartphone. Finally all the information that you are getting from this screen is controlled via an advanced voice recognition system that uses two different microphones to get the most accurate reading it can.

You can also control the radio, take a look at phone screens, and alter the climate control system. If you don't want to bother with the voice control, there is also a haptic joystick that lets you jump around on the screens flawlessly.

On top of adding all the advanced technology, the 2014 Lexus is also 2.1 percent cheaper than the 2013 model adding further to the overall value of the vehicle, and has a total of 10 different airbags making it one of the safest IS's yet. The car doesn't go on sale until later this year, but with all of the features that are coming standard this time around, this entry-level Lexus looks like a better deal than ever before. 

Qi Wireless Charging Technology

2014 Toyota Prius Supports Qi Wireless Charging Technology The next-gen Prius is coming with an optional next-gen feature that may excite gadget owners. The technology is known as Qi wireless charging, and you will be able to have a Qi pad put into your 2014 Prius at the time of ordering it. Not only will this feature make keeping your future devices topped up a snap, but it will reduce the overall clutter in your vehicle which is always a good thing. What is Qi Charging? Qi Wireless charging is a type of inductive charging that relies on a very small electromagnetic field to transfer energy. There are no wires involved with this charging process. Instead there is a simple pad, and there is a receiver in each device that you want to charge. The receiver will pick up on the energy that is being released by the pad, and slowly charge up your cellphone, without you having to worry about plugging a wire in. Why it is Beneficial? The Qi wireless charging standard is going to reduce the need to have a bunch of different chargers in your vehicle. Instead of needing a charger for your phone, your mp3 player, and the portable game systems that your children own, you just set them all on the same charging pad and they will charge up. This simplifies the charging process dramatically, and it will help cut down on the clutter in vehicles. How does it Work in the Prius? The 2014 Prius is going to have a Qi charging pad installed near the center of the vehicle in the middle console. This pad will hardly be noticeable, and you will be able to charge your devices simply by setting them in the center console. Most owners will probably get in the habit of setting their devices down in the center console when they get in the vehicle, and removing them again when they get back out to have their batteries charged up. This technology is only going to be installed in the new Priuses as an upgrade, but it is sure to be a technology that only grows in popularity as more devices become compatible with the Qi wireless charging system. If you choose to have the device installed into your vehicle, the installation will be handled by the dealership, and it will be ready to go in your vehicle before you drive it home for the first time. Compatible Devices Just to name a few of the devices that are already compatible with this system, there is the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC Droid DNA, and the Nokia Lumia 920. As new phones are released there is sure to be an increased list of devices that support the technology, and there is a large group of manufacturers who are now supporting the standard completely. Qi inductive technology is slowly becoming more popular, and eventually more Toyota vehicles are sure to offer this option as well, but for now the 2014 Prius is one of the first vehicles to offer a rather new feature that many technology enthusiasts will enjoy.

Used Car Inspection

Used cars can be much better deals than new cars in many cases. New cars depreciate much faster, and you lose out on money when you purchase one. Used cars on the other hand, have already depreciated a large amount, and will lose value much slower. However, the savings to your bank account is not going to do you any good if you buy a car that isn’t as reliable as it is made out to be. Learn how to inspect used vehicles to find out if they have problems and you can snatch those great deals without fear. 

Inspecting a Used Car

Park the Car on Level Ground

Start off by bringing the car somewhere level where you can inspect it. When you are on a level surface it is much easier to see if anything is sagging, or if there is an issue with one of the tires. 

Examine the Exterior

Take a very long look at the outside of the car before you even bother looking inside it. Examine all of the surfaces of the vehicle for any irregularities in the paint. If it looks thicker in some areas than others it probably has body filler on it. Place a magnet on the car in those spots to test that theory. A magnet should stick to the car body, while it will fall off filler. 

If you do find any spots that just don’t look natural make sure that you ask about them. There could be a mild reason for the filler, or it could have been crashed into a tree. 

Pop the Trunk

Open up the trunk and look in that secret compartment that holds the spare tire. If the trunk is in very bad shape there is a good chance the rest of the car is as well. Look for excessive wear and any rusting. 

Used Cars Reno

Pop the Hood

Lift up the hood and look around for any general issues that jump out at you. Look for rust spots under the hood, and look closely at the different hoses and belts. The hoses can’t be soft, and they shouldn’t be cracked either. 

Pull out the dipstick and look at the color of the oil on it. If it is black they probably don’t take care of the car very well. 

Make sure that you lift off the oil cap as well. Look under the cap to see if there are any oil chunks. Chunks of oil indicate sludge buildup and that means the oil is not changed nearly enough. You could also spot a white film which points to head gasket issues. 

Take a close look around the engine for any dark stains. Stains indicate fluid leaks that could be very bad problems potentially. You also want to look for any obvious changes that were made under the hood. If something doesn’t look right it is probably due to a repair made and you should ask about it. 

Before you drop the hood back into place pull out the transmission dipstick and take a close look at it. You want lighter colored fluids, and you definitely don’t want to smell a burnt smell. If you do, the transmission fluid has not been changed in a long time and you could have transmission problems. 

The Test Drive

The last stage of your inspection is the test drive.  Make sure that while you are driving the vehicle you get it up to a high speed. Although it may be difficult to get the car up to top speed in some areas of Reno Nevada, if you can get it up to at least 60 or 70 it will help you find out if there are any issues you didn’t notice before. Watch out for vibrations, or pulling in one direction or the other. 

Also make sure to step on the brakes in the vehicle quickly a few times. If it vibrates excessively during braking there may be a problem with the brake system that has to be addressed. 

When in Doubt Bring in an Expert

If you aren’t sure about a vehicle after inspecting it yourself, and you really want to give it a chance, ask if you can bring it to your mechanic so he can take a look. If they say no, then walk away from them without looking back. If they say yes, bring it into the shop and have your favorite mechanic take a look at it for you. He should be able to find most of the problems with the vehicle pretty quickly, and you will have a good idea if you are getting a good deal or not from him. 

The more thorough of an inspection you give any prospective vehicle, the better chance you are going to have at getting a good deal. There is nothing worse than buying a vehicle that fails less than a year later.