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Monday, March 9, 2009
The Lamborghini Gallardo

To sell my Lamborghini is something I thought I would never have to do. My Lamborghini Gallardo was one of the dearest possessions I had, and the idea of parting with it was, quite simply, very disheartening. But life can be harder than we expect it to be. After my marriage last year, I had to take out a new personal loan and I was sure I could handle it: after all, my wife and I were in well paid careers.
Nonetheless, neither of us had thought that the current recession would be this daunting. I lost my job, in fact the management decided to pull down the shutters. That was four months ago, and despite a gruelling job search, I had not been able to find a job that suited my qualifications. Anyway, no point moaning about it. I made the decision that I had to sell my Lamborghini.
To sell my Lamborghini I found it was easier said than done. I had thought deciding to sell my Lamborghini would be the most difficult call, but as it turned out, the process of finding a suitable buyer proved even more difficult. I was just simply clueless about which direction I should go; after all a Lamborghini is a prestige car and needs a specialist buyer. I felt I needed a magic navigator to point me in the right direction. But there were no supernatural powers to guide me, so I had to undertake the research and find out how to sell my Lamborghini by myself. I have now completed the legwork, and have actually managed to sell my Lamborghini for a good price, and I would like to pen the process for others who are contemplating selling their car.
Considering all available options, it was the online route that appealed to me at first. With the online option there would be more enquiries, easier communication options and therefore better chances of getting the price I wanted to sell my Lamborghini for. Online advertisement option is also cheaper than the print option, and it is easier for buyers, as they can have a look in detail at all the photos of the car that have been uploaded.
The next step was figuring out a respectable channel for posting the advert. There were various specific motoring website that enable postings. I then had to select which one I wanted to sell my Lamborghini. The websites usually charge listing fees and other charges such as a commission fee, a fee for formatting, etc. The motoring websites also offer handy tips and suggestions which, help to place the advert successfully, and there are online tools to assist with the endeavour. While searching for a motoring website, do check the advert modification clauses and get an idea of the website's popularity and number of hits a day the website receives. Ensure that the advert includes detailed vehicle description, along with photographs, and if possible a video clip to support the advert.
However, while I was doing the research on how to sell my Lamborghini, I came across some very interesting websites, that basically did all the legwork for me. They were companies that specialised in buying and selling prestige cars and knew what they were talking about. They gave me a good quote over the phone, pending on the condition of the Lamborghini, when they collected my pride and joy from my home address. It was just a matter of deciding which company to go for.
Although selling a car through online advertising is a good option, I'm glad I decided to sell my Lamborghini with a prestige car buyer and seller, as they made the experience as painless and hassle free as possible.
David Barber wrote the Article 'When I Had to Sell my Lamborghini Here's What I Did' and recommends you visit http://www.iainmutch.co.uk if you need a Lamborghini buyer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Barber
Top 10 New Cars For 2009

Looking to buy a new car this year? You may have your heart set on a particular make or model and you might have explored the new and second hand car prices on the internet and have decided that you can afford to purchase the car of your dreams, but a question you have to ask yourself is can you afford to run it?
Previously you may have asked yourself this question in passing and not really given it any real thought, but with the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty in 2009 and spiraling fuel and maintenance costs, coupled with the Credit Crunch and the through of recession for the next few years then running costs become much more important, therefore compromising and picking a car that you not only like, but will save you money in the long run is a sensible thing to do.
What about the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty? Now cars are classed by how much Carbon Dioxide they emit, therefore more environmentally friendly cars will be charged less Vehicle Excise Duty than more polluting vehicles. At the time of writing the least polluting cars will be exempt from paying tax at all, where as the most polluting cars (class M) such as large, big engined 4x4 vehicles will have to pay £440 per year. Come 2010-11 then this cost increases further to £455 per year.
If you're looking to purchase a brand new car, then there will be another shock for your wallet and it has been dubbed the 'showroom tax.' If you're looking to drive that Class M car out of the showroom, you'll also have to face a bill for a one off 'showroom tax' payment of £950.
To help you pick the right car in this current environmental and financial climate we've compiled a top ten list of cars and car related schemes to consider that could save you money.
1. Buy a Small Family Hatchback. Small family hatchbacks are generally more economical to run and are usually big enough to meet most people's needs. For example the VW Polo Bluemotion 1.4 Tdi is an economical runabout which falls into the Group A tax band. Not only do you not have to pay any tax on this vehicle, you can also avoid paying the showroom tax as this diesel car is so economical it is exempt. This car also boasts around 70mpg which makes it super cheap to run.
2. Buy a Diesel. When it comes to economical cars, vehicles with diesel engines are first to spring to most people's minds. Whilst historically this was typically true, with the cost of diesel at the pump increasingly outstripping the cost of petrol, buying a diesel may not be the best way to save money. For drivers who typically need to drive a lot of miles each year then a diesel will still be more cost effective than its petrol equivalent. However if you do not drive many miles then this may not be true. You'll need to do the maths before you take the plunge in buying a diesel car. On the plus side, the miles to the gallon of a diesel vehicle is typically much higher than petrol cars, so you will at the very least be doing more for the environment. Diesel vehicles are also typically classed into a lower tax band saving money on Vehicle Excise Duty.
3. Bi-Fuel Cars. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a method of running a car or van is becoming a popular way of running a vehicle more environmentally friendly and economically. Although you can buy a bi-fuel car from new many people pay to convert their current car to support LPG. The cost to convert a car is typically around £1500 and a real saving of around 30% on fuel costs can be made with each fill up at the pumps. Finding a petrol station that sells LPG may be one of the more difficult aspects of owning a LPG vehicle, with at least 10% of forecourts now stocking this alternate fuel type.
4. Electric Cars. - For many years electric cars have been pitched as the salvation to spiralling fuel costs and saving the environment from car pollution. Unfortunately in reality the electric vehicle hasn't really lived up to the hype, with slow vehicles and short battery life limiting range. There are a few vehicles on the market which may be suitable depending on your circumstances. If you live in the centre of a large capital city such as London then a vehicle like the G-Wiz may be the right vehicle for you. Owning a G-Wiz in London could make perfect sense as they are exempt from paying parking charges in Westminster, do not have to pay the Central London Congestion Charge and are free from both road tax and petrol costs. However there are some catches. The G-Wiz is a tiny vehicle and feels very cramped inside. The car has a top speed of 50-60 miles per hour, which may not be the end of the world in a city where traffic barely moves faster than a snail pace. Another limiting factor is that the range of the vehicle is just 70 miles and it takes a while to recharge the batteries, which is not quite as simple as filling up at a petrol station! A less extreme version of the G-Wiz is the Toyota Prius, a hybrid electric vehicle which predominately runs off petrol, but uses electric power at low speeds and recharges the batteries at faster speeds. The Prius can do around 65 mpg making it an extremely economical car to drive.
5. Large Cars For the Family and Dog. If you're single and want to save money on your car running costs or do your bit for the environment then you have a lot more options than families who need a larger vehicle to fit everyone in. Whilst smaller cars are more likely to be economical there are some larger vehicles out there which have been designed with both space and economy in mind. Take the Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCI LX- a MPV which has been designed to give plenty of room inside. This is a five seat car which boasts a 1620 litre boot space and a top speed of 115mph. With fairly low emissions, helping to save money on Vehicle Excise Duty and decent economy with 58mpg this vehicle is a good bet for a family looking to save money.
6. Sports Performance in a 'Green Car'. Traditionally being green means that you also have to sacrifice something. However car manufacturers being aware of this have been trying to come up with a compromise- a car with good performance, yet can also give a decent MPG return. For example the Honda Accord 2.2 I-CTDI Sport is one of these cars with 52.3 MPG and a top speed of 129 miles per hour, a great combination of efficiency and performance that can meet all your expectations.
7. Buy a Classic Car. If you're scared that you'll loose a lot of money on the value of your car then buying a classic car may be the best option for you. Try to avoid fashion trends such as the one for VW Beetles and Camper Vans which inflate the cost of these vehicles short term for them to only crash at a later date. Instead pick a car that pure enthusiasts hanker after, as most classic cars tend to hold their value, or indeed increase over time as long as they are looked after. Maintenance costs are likely to be much higher with a classic vehicle and they may not be the most economical on the market, but for pure return on investment if you pick the right vehicle then you will likely get your money back when you come to sell the car.
8. Car Sharing Schemes. Those looking to save money on their everyday running costs of their cars could consider car sharing schemes. Basically car sharing schemes are set up for people to take turns when they drive, saving themselves money on fuel, plus gaining the benefit that they do not have to drive all the time! There are plenty of car sharing schemes out there, such as ones set up for parents doing the school run to a scheme for members of the Met Police Force in London. Explore the options in your local area and you may find that car sharing is a great way to save money. Perhaps if you want to get even more involved you could consider setting up your very own scheme.
9. Time Share Cars. You've heard all about time share villas in the Costa del Sol, but you don't necessary have to be scared of time share car schemes. These schemes can range from clubs where you get a share of a Ferrari or Bentley to drive at the weekend every so often, to pay-as-you-go car schemes where you can join a club, and simply book a run-around for as long as you want from an hour to a day. For those who tend to use public transport predominately and can't really justify owning a car then a pay-as-you-go scheme may be the perfect way of having access to a car without having to pay expensive rental costs. Live in a city and fancy a country jaunt once a month? No problem, book a car online and pick it up, swipe your membership card on the dashboard and you're away! Generally fuel costs (up to a point) are included and insurance is also taken car of.
10. Car Finance Packages. In the current economic climate taking out a car finance package makes perfect sense as you can split your payments over many months allowing you to fully budget for your vehicle. If you are considering buying a car in cash over a forecourt you may be concerned about the recession and redundancy. Having a nest egg in the bank can help provide comfort and piece of mind. Spending that nest egg in the current climate may not be the most sensible thing to do therefore buying a car on a car finance scheme can be the smart move. Also you will likely be able to afford a better car on finance than you might if you were to buy a car outright. The newer the car the more likely your maintenance costs will be reduced, again saving you money in the long run.
Julie is a freelance writer and loves to write on a wide variety of topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Samuel
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Greatest Car in the World?

Recently hailed as the best car in the world at the World Car of the Year Awards 2008, the Mazda2 excelled in every category to edge out the Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Starting with the exterior the Mazda2 puts other so-called 'hot-hatches' to shame. The sleek and stylish curves make this award winning Mazda youthful and dynamic. This is not surprising seeing as the chief designer was also in charge of the sporty Mazda RX-8. The contours and lines in the body shape suggest that the Mazda2 is ready for action; the sports version is even better with its 16 inch alloys and stylish body kit.
The interior keeps on form with the sporty theme and smart layout although it has been suggested that the plastic used for the dash could be better. The designers have made sure that there is plenty of space inside the 2 which is another plus with this supermini.
The new Mazda2 is light and agile which is great for fuel consumption and for lowering your CO2 emissions. Out of all the cars entered into the World Car of the Year awards the Mazda2 received the highest environment score of them all. This car is a great choice then if you are looking for a new engine that is friendly on the environment.
The Mazda may be light but safety is not compromised. The use of high-tensile steel is the reason behind this and has resulted in the Mazda2 being awarded a 5-star NCAP rating. The light-weight Mazda also means that it is easy to drive and is great for nipping around the town.
There are lots of different specifications to choose from which allows you to personalise the car to suit your own specific needs. You can choose from the 3door or the 5door and prices start at under 9000 GBP which is great considering you are getting yourself the "best car in the world."
Insurance costs are reasonable too which shows that the Mazda2 is a good investment economically. The Mazda also comes is a range of colours from the sporty 'brilliant black' to the bright 'spirited green metallic.' Oh, and then there is the special edition Mazda2 Tamura Special Edition to choose from which is even sportier with its sports bumper, grille and side skirts.
It is not surprising that the demand for the Mazda2 has been so high considering its impressive environmental credentials combined with its stylish looks. With motorists becoming more aware of environmental issues when choosing a car the Mazda2 is a great contender and compared with other 'environmentally friendly' cars on the market the Mazda2 wins on looks hands down.
Tony is an online marketer and writer. He is currently researching Mazda and the new Mazda2.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Hill