In fact, that’s the biggest mistake a new or prospective car buyer makes. You love that shiny paint job and great stereo – but what about the parts you can’t see? Are you prepared for the costs associated with having and owning your own car? I’m not even talking about the obvious things that you’re already thinking like gas. I’m talking, insurance, and maintenance and all the other hidden costs to having a car.

It’s important to weigh out the pros and cons before you make that decision to go and buy a car. Will it help solve a problem and improve your life in a substantial way? More to the point, is it a necessity?

For many people the answer is “yes” we live in a super fast society and many of us have to have reliable transportation of our own that can get us where we need to be. So when the time comes you’re going to want to have a checklist of things that you need in a car and shop around. Even if you “trust” a certain brand, make sure you look at some other choices and compare prices – and warranty plans as well. Don’t leave anything to chance.

If you’re buying used you’ll want to find a mechanic you trust and take the car to him to check it out before you buy. And get your insurance lined up FIRST before you buy. You’ll also want to learn what you can to make sure you avoid repair costs if you can. You don’t have to be a mechanical genius to keep yourself from getting scammed out of your hard earned money by a ruthless auto shop, but you need to have some understanding of how your car works. It will save you a lot of headaches and money in the long run.

Want more tips to keep your car on the road and out of the shop?? More Tips!

Nothing could be closer to the truth than when you’re keeping your car serviced and up to date on all maintenance. It’s a zero sum game. Simply keeping up your oil changes and filter on a regular schedule can help you to avoid a four or five thousand dollar engine overhaul, depending on what kind of car you have. It could even be more.

It’s all about friction and lubrication. All those moving metal parts inside your engine will ultimately suffer some wear and tear causing tiny microscopic pieces to come off into the engine case and grind against each other like tiny grains of sandpaper. Having good clean oil and a good filter at all times will keep this kind of damage from causing serious problems.

Like overheating. If you don’t change your oil regularly you’re in for the possibility of overheating your cars engine and causing parts to warp under the strain. Then it’s off to the shop or worse – engine replacement time.

Overheating that engine is not your friend in any circumstance.

Speaking of overheating, another top priority on your automobile maintenance list should be your cooling system, and I’m not talking about your air conditioner. Your car has a cooling system that originates with the radiator and goes through the whole engine system to make sure things keep cool. Keep your engines fluids on check and be sure to check for leaks of any kind that might pop up over time.

What’s the cheapest most common culprit for causing your car to overheat?
A worn out radiator cap. $5.99 or so at your local auto parts store. That’s a pretty cheap fix that beats the heck out of a whole new engine, don’t you agree?
Want more tips and tricks to keep your car running smoothly and your cash in your wallet? Check this out for more great info!

Have you ever taken it to a mechanic or auto repair business and come out feeling like you’d been “taken for a ride” with hundreds or even thousands of un-necessary “repairs”.

You’re not alone. The auto repair industry in the US is a whopping 40 billion dollar business that’s largely unregulated leaving consumers like you at the mercy of unscrupulous business owners. It’s a huge business. Consider this – there’s a car for every man woman and child in this country and sooner or later they’re all going to need some kind of maintenance. Unless you’re a mechanic in your spare time you’ll have to take it in.

Think it can’t happen to you? There are millions of things that can go wrong with your car. It’s a machine and just like every other machine, over time, things begin to wear out. Even if you do everything exactly right, every scheduled service, oil change, break job and tire rotation, at some point, something is going to break.

I mean, think about it, name 10 things that can go wrong with your car – I’ll help – there are brakes, wheel bearings, clutch assemblies, gearbox, constant velocity joints, shock absorbers, air conditioning system, electrical wirings, you name it… oh, and don’t forget that’s just for one single model. It’s like the mysteries of the universe.

If you’re like me you don’t have the time or the energy to become some kind of backyard expert in the inner workings of your automobile. You just want to be able to get in it and go. Every time. Sadly that’s exactly what some so called automotive businesses are banking on. Your lack of knowledge.

So what can you do?

You have to equip yourself with some knowledge. Just like you need to arm yourself before going to see the doctor for any kind of diagnosis, your car is no different.

I don’t mean that you have to read and memorize the shop manual for your car. But learning how to spot a scam from a genuine diagnosis could save you thousands of dollars on unnecessary repairs. What you need to know is the top list of most common problems. If that check engine light is on because of low fluid, or just a loose nut or if there’s really some more major problem.

Another thing to keep in mind, remember all that preventative maintenance I talked about? It’s your first line of defense. A simple regular oil change can avoid a full on piston replacement later. Where do you find out more about keeping your car in tip top shape and not be at the whim of your mechanic?

Go here to find out more: Scott Stephens, as he and his mechanics come out to expose the truth about auto repairs.

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Since you’re here you may want to dig around and see what’s up. We’ve got TONS of great info.

And while you’re at it… leave some comments and join in the conversation!

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