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Buying a used car can be a gamble, especially if you're someone who doesn't know what to look out for. It can take years of experience buying and selling cars to develop a keen eye, some used car managers can simply glance over a car and determine how well it was maintained and what reconditioning costs will be. But, what if you're not an experienced used car buyer? What do you do if you already bought a used car only to find out it's a beater? That's where project "Shift-box" comes in. Project "shift-box" is a 2000 Ford Focus Kona edition equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. The power plant is a 2.0L Zetec 4 cylinder engine that still has plenty of life left in her. This 1st Gen Focus is a special edition only released for 1 year and came with an optional bike rack and even a special Kona mountain bike specifically for the partnership with Ford Motor co. My goal for this car is to document how you can turn a cheap beater car that needs work into a reliable daily driver with minimal experience and some sweat equity. I'll be documenting the repairs and status on my podcast as well as through this blog.
Once I perform a complete safety inspection, I'll post a list of needed repairs and how much they costs in order to help people get a better idea of what it really takes to make a car "good". Be sure to follow the podcast and my website for more updates. I'm not the best writer, or mechanic, or blogger but I practice, a lot. I decided to add to my blog post about preventative maintenance and turn it into an Ebook. So be sure to check it out! The first go around is a freebie in .PDF Format. I'm working on getting it formatted for KDP, so stay tuned for that. I hope my Ebook provides some value or entertainment. Free direct download below. Thank you. AuthorWuilman Moran is an automotive technician and all around gear-head and car junkie.
Hello friends,
I have a podcast where I discuss everything car related. Similar to this website and my blog, I'll be discussing everything car related; sales, service, detailing, news, business and more! Click the link above, or search for Mr Wuilwide on the most popular podcast platforms. Anchor, Breaker, Google podcasts, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, and even Spotify! (I'm still in disbelief that this is all happening too!) Please do me a favor and click the subscribe button, rate and review the podcast, and follow me online. Lets buckle up and shift into gear, because it's time to roll out! Preventative maintenance (PM) is not sexy, which is why most people neglect to do it. Doing an oil change, tire rotation, or valve adjustment are things you need to do when owning a car or motorcycle. These PM jobs make a good vehicle dependable and keep you from breaking down, the problem is you can’t show off a tune-up like you can a shiny new set of wheels or stereo. We all seem to dislike doing preventative maintenance, PM just isn’t cool. You can’t share it on tha ‘Gram for likes. It makes people dread going to the shop or dealership, the fear being that there will be more work needed than originally anticipated. The unprepared customer goes in for an oil change and tire rotation, and is surprised that their tires need to be replaced, and the brakes squeak because they are worn down. When the estimate comes across the service advisor’s desk, you can almost hear the internal scream from sticker shock. “But Mr. Customer” the advisor says, “We recommended tires on your last service visit, and mentioned the brakes may need attention soon!” To most customers, the shop is merely trying to get more money from their pockets. To the service techs and the shop owner, they were just trying to keep the customer safe and on the road. If we would simply take the time to read the owner’s manual (RTFM), there would be no surprises. Cars, motorcycles, boats, and RV’s all have an owner’s manual with a section labeled “scheduled maintenance. This section of the manual tells you exactly what to expect when you service your vehicle, it tells you the mileage intervals for oil changes, it tells you how long you should wait before replacing the coolant, it even tells you when the big ticket items like timing belts need replacing.
We choose to ignore this section of the owner’s manual, because we would then need to plan ahead for these expenses. This is something most people avoid for whatever reason, a simple call to the dealer at 10,000 miles to get an estimate for a 30,000-mile service gives ample opportunity to plan ahead and save for these seemingly expensive services. The alternative is burying your head in the sand to avoid finding out the costs for the service and instead complaining when something breaks from negligence. A timing belt replacement can cost $1,200-$2,500 dollars to perform, something that sounds expenses if you don’t take into consideration how much a replacement engine will be. Instead of preparing for the 100,000 mile belt replacement, we ignore it in hopes that “my car is reliable and runs great now, WHY do I need a timing belt?” will keep the mechanical gremlins away. Well, that engine has an interference valve train that will bend and destroy valves and seals when the belt gives. Imagine pistons running into valves and chunks of metal flying around the combustion chamber, something we like to call “catastrophic damage”. Now you’re on the hook for a $5,000 engine replacement. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, open your owner’s manual, get familiar with the maintenance schedule, and call ahead to start saving up for your PM to avoid costly repairs. Get the ounce of prevention done, and you won’t end up needing a pound of cure, or an engine. The days of big, lumbering, V8 engines in American cars is coming to an end. Currently, the trend is to use less displacement and combine that with forced induction, hybrid power trains, or both to achieve the performance consumers are looking for. The average big sedan with a V8 is hard to find on a lot. The Ford Crown Vic was discontinued a few years ago, and the Mustang is potentially becoming an EV.
Even supercars are losing displacement and cylinders. The Ford GT makes more than 640 horespower from the 3.5L Eco-Boost V6. Meanwhile in Italy, Maserati is squeezing 620 Horsepower from an all aluminum 3.0L V6. Thanks to an electric hybrid power train, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the Acura NSX give a boost to their V8 and V6, respectively. And then there's Porsche and Aston Martin, who are following in Tesla's footsteps. Fully electric supercars will become more popular as the world begins transferring over from their dino-juice cars. In 2018 there were 5 million electric vehicles on the road globally, and according to a report released by the International Energy Agency, we are on track to having 250 million EVs on the road by 2030 based on their projections. Employees in the automotive world would benefit by preparing for what's in the pipeline. The electrification of cars, ridesharing, and last mile alternative transportation (e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorcycles) will make most older cars obsolete in dense metropolitan areas and the push in infrastructure will push it's way to rural parts of the world. This means there will be a large demand in the jobs market for various trades and employees that understand EVs. Electricians will need to install charging stations. Upgrading older electrical systems in buildings will create a boon for the construction trades. New wiring, larger panels, and switch gears, to newer style charging stations as technology improves will mean steady work for years to come. Top technicians will need to be prepared to perform in-depth electrical diagnostics using software and a laptop. Most modern cars have dozens of computers and miles of wiring. With electrification, these systems will only grow more complex necessitating advanced electrical training and even some software programming. Salespeople will need to be well versed in government subsidies and programs for electric car buyers and sellers. Parts houses will need prepare for a rise, and then decline in sales of gasoline powered car parts and accessories. Instead, they will need to learn EV maintenance and how to train their employees to serve those customers. Gas and service stations will become charging stations that connect your vehicle to a wireless network. Software updates for the power train, batteries, and info-tainment systems will happen while you wait for your battery to charge. Your car will schedule it's own service appointment, and even order the parts ahead of time all on it's own. All while you have coffee and enjoy the amenities at the local charging station. Wheel and tire shops will be the last to notice the change. EV's still need tires, brakes, and wheel alignments, Some EVs require special tools and software to disable adjustable suspension, or automatic brake systems. These technicians will also need training to work on these cars. Online learning will be the biggest tool employers should use to train their employees for the future. They would benefit by getting ahead of the change by adopting more incentives for self improvement and advanced education. Buying a used vehicle can be a daunting task, especially if you are not a savvy buyer. In 2019 the used car-to-new car sales ratio was 85 percent, in other words for every 100 new cars sold, 85 used cars were sold. Used cars are a large purchase, for most people it's the second largest purchase (after a house). Buying the wrong used car can lead to big headaches down the road. Breakdowns, big repairs, and sometimes even safety issues can make people shy away from buying a used car.
With these tips, even the most inexperienced buyer can land a sweet ride for not-much money. So, without further ado here are the tips (i'll expand on some of these tips in future episodes of the podcast) {wait, you didn't know I have a podcast? go check it out!} 1. Choose the right car that fits your needs. Write down everything you absolutely NEED in your next car. 2 doors vs 4 doors, Automatic vs manual transmission, 4x2 vs 4x4, etc. 2. Set your budget and stick to it. Easy enough right? you got cash, or, if you've been pre-approved for a used car loan, go look at cars in that price range (negotiating skillz not needed...yet. More on that later) 3. Due diligence, due diligence, due diligence. Get all the important info and do your own research. Is the car you're looking at a problem child? (recalls, known issues, open service bulletins) Is the price fair market value? Have you run the VIN to get a history report? How much will it cost to register and insure? All of these will help you avoid surprises later on. 4. Test drive and inspection. Take it around the block, let the engine warm up, check all the accessories, and check the VIN against the title. After you've checked it out, have your local shop go through it and give you a second opinion. If the seller already has an inspection report, give the shop that performed the inspection a call. 5. Paperwork. Get the title (or loan) in your name, get the registration taken care of, and insure that sweet new ride! Congrats, you just bought a used car. Now go for a drive and have some fun. |
AuthorHi, I'm Wuilman (Call me Will), Car guy extraordinaire, Jack of all trades, master of none. Follow me and laugh at a few jokes while gaining some car wisdom. Archives
September 2020
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