Archive for May, 2011
Classic Car Trader
If you’re into classic cars and you want to buy one being a “classic car trader” is going to help you get the best leg up so that you get the best deal possible. Here are some things to know when it comes to being a classic car trader.
Before you start
Before you start determine of course what kind of car you want. Using the make model and year use the Kelley blue book to determine what the market value of the car is depending on its condition. This will give you a base figure to work with when it comes to deciding what you should pay for a car.
Next decide what you are going to use the car for. If you’re going to use the car every day just for transportation you probably don’t need one in mint condition and you’ll be able to pay less. In addition if part of the reason you’re buying the car is so that you can work on it and bring it back to its original condition and restore it that’s another reason you won’t need a perfect car. If you simply collect cars or you just want one that’s in mint condition and you don’t have any intention of trying to fix it up yourself then you’ll pay significantly more for a “good” to “mint condition” car.
Know what the problem areas are going to be
Just about every make model and year of car has specific problems particular to it. In other words there’s just about no car model out there that gets away scotfree. So research the car model you want and make sure you know what problems you should be expecting. This will help you determine not just how expensive a car is going to be to buy but how expensive it will be to keep. Again this isn’t necessarily going to be something you’re particularly worried about if you want the car for itself as a showpiece and not for daily use but it’s still something you should know. It also may affect how much you pay for the car.
Classic car trader clubs
There are lots of clubs available based upon specific classic cars for people who have owned the type of vehicle you want. Joining one of these clubs many of which exist online now will help you know what you can buy and what you should stay away from.
Once you find the car you think you want
Remember that just as with any type of car purchase previous owners can “pretty up” cars so that they look much better than they really are. Have a car appraiser look at the car before you buy. They’ll probably be able to tell you whether or not the car’s been in an accident whether the engine is in good shape whether the transmission is shot and so on. If any of these things are true this will lessen the value of the vehicle and therefore the price you pay. And of course you may not want the vehicle at all once you find these things out.
Pull a used vehicle history report
You should be able to pull a used vehicle history report using the car’s vehicle identification number to determine whether or not anything is wrong with it other than what you have been told. It will also tell you whether or not the car has been stolen which happens sometimes and how many people have owned it previously.
Knowing your way around the classic car trader environment will help you get the perfect classic car you want based upon what you want to use it for. You shouldn’t have to pay more for the car you want than it’s worth; armed with a few simple facts you won’t have to.
About the writer: Fred R runs several online auction based web sites.
Classic Cars Karmann Ghia
The Karmann Ghia was essentially a VW Beetle with a different body shell attached yet it is considered an elegant sports car. So what constitutes a sports car? For the Karmann Ghia it was all about styling.
In the years following World War II VW had been successfully producing small and efficient automobiles like the Beetle with a reputation for outstanding reliability. But as time wore on consumers began demanding vehicles with style and elegance reflecting the changing attitudes at the time. This call was answered by the Karmann Ghia.
The end result however was a car which appealed to 2 very different groups. There were those who wanted a Porsche on a VW budget and those who wanted a beautiful European touring car that was durable. This was achieved because VW chose to stick to its reliable Beetle chassis yet covered that Chassis with a shell that was hand built to perfection using methods not seen anywhere else but on the worlds finest cars.
Then end result was a car which could not reach 100mph unlike its rivals but this could easily be overlooked thanks to its beautiful styling and knowing it wouldnt let you down whilst out on the road. During its 18 year production run around half a million people considered these points more important than thoroughbred racing performance.
It is worth noting that VW emphasised all of the above facts in its advertising. They made it a point to openly declare that it was mechanically identical to the Beetle and had slogans such as “The 1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Slower but Prettier Than Any Porsche!”. This was an honest advertising campaign and captured the attention of the public. Unfortunately due to high import duties at the time relatively few made it over to the UK but this didnt stop the car being a huge success at the time and going on to become a classic car.
Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker and conduct a car insurance Comparison online to find the best insurance quotes
About the writer: Amateur journalist
Classic Cars In Qatar
The more I research about cars in Qatar which got initiated with the three am phone call I mentioned in my earlier article the more it amazes me how much the interest in classic and custom cars has escalated in Qatar and the neighboring countries. The research has lead me to believing that the trend starts in Dubai then soon later moves to surrounding countries especially Qatar.
Certainly the economic situation is currently in a booming mode and that has a positive reflection on the money being injected into the car market. The demand has lead to establishing a car show that is held in Dubai every other year Middle East International Motor Show. The year 2005 saw the show as the largest international automotive event in the Middle East. The show occupies 11 exhibition halls at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
The question that came to my mind was how much influence did the show have on the increased demand? The show attendees were from every GCC state royal family members top ranking government officials VIPs were amongst the many visitors drawn to the show. Having lived in the GCC region I have experienced the fact that new trends tend to find it easy to dominate the market or at least attracting attention at a very rapid speed. To bring the article facts together Qatar and Dubai are currently witnessing the highest per capita incomes in the world. This allows for the citizen that has an income slightly above average simply for prestigious reasons to follow a trend or a fashion that is done by VIPS simply for
The research journey has not stopped rather the more research I make the more I am interested to learn about the differences in tastes and markets. I will dedicate an article for the amazing finding in the market differences. To get uptodate research results visit the section I dedicated to Qatar classic cars
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp; Copyright 2007 Khalid R. Mustaffa
The owner of http://www.carsinhouston.com The website is dedicated to linking used cars buyers and sellers in Houston and educating the public on cars and how to avoid mistakes and achieve success when purchasing cars. The Website dedicates a section to support the article Qatar classic cars