According to a recent J.D. Power and Associates study, the internet has surpassed all other shopping methods as the source for locating the vehicle a late-model used car buyer will ultimately purchase.

The 2007 ‘Used Autoshopper.com Study was released yesterday alongside information showing that internet vehicle locators like Text4Cars.com, Autotrader.com, CarMax.com and eBay Motors are working harder than ever, leading one in four shoppers to the vehicle that they actually decide to purchase. That’s a 44 percent increase over last year, the study says.

“This is just one indication that use of the Internet is now perhaps the most efficient source for shopping for and purchasing late-model used vehicles,” said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. “In the past, the majority of used-vehicle automotive Internet users relied on the traditional method of driving around to dealer lots to find the vehicle they ultimately bought.”

Another interesting trend discovered by the study deals with Consumer Generated Content, or CGC. Many owners are offering their own experiences and opinions on makes, models and dealerships, consumer reviews and ratings are the most common form of CGC.

J.D. Power says that over 70% of new and used car shoppers use CGC to some extent during their shopping and purchasing process.

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Everyone who’s bought a new or used car has a horror story to tell. This one is mine.

Flashback: I’m 22, a recent university graduate who’s been trying out the big city for the past four years. During this time, my ’88 Nissan Sentra SE (two-door hatchback that had only one previous owner, a military man) has sat at the folks’ place during the winters, waiting patiently for the summer months when I would return home to smother her with love and affection.

This September is different, though. I’m moving back to the big city permanently: got me a full-time job and a place to live complete with a sweet parking spot for my baby. I’m bringing her with me on this next phase of my city adventure!

So I’m on my way in my Nissan Sentra, her name is Goober by the way, and she’s filled to the roof with my belongings. Deciding to prolong this wonderful ride, I take the back roads through small towns and the countryside. Night is almost upon me and I’m about 150 kilometers away from my destination.

Suddenly, while going through one of those backcountry towns, she starts feeling funny. The clutch isn’t working! Panic starts in my throat, thoughts are whirling in my head and the realization sets in (quite quickly) that I’m going downhill!

By chance, there’s a little gas bar at mid-hill. I pull in fairly gracefully, if I do say so myself, and start talking to a few people. It’s a long weekend and so my chance of getting in touch with a mechanic is hopeless. I call a nearby towing company to help me finish the trip. The towing guy drags me and my broken baby into the city.

I got a deal on the tow, only $259.73. The real horror of the story starts here, though, when I bring Goober into the doc’s office. The mechanic told me it was the transmission. I bought the car when I was 17 (5 years earlier) for $1,800 from a used car dealer near my hometown. A great deal – especially considering that a new used Nissan transmission (plus labour) was priced at $1,500!

Student blood still running through my veins, I had no money for this! So, the mechanic, being a wonderful and kind man that he was, sends me into the direction of a credit lender. This was to be my first (and last) foray into the world of unconventional money lending – the one where you go when no one else wants to lend you money.

Because of my desperation and the fact that I was considered high-risk to conventional lenders, these guys were able to charge me 30% interest! I took on the challenge, planning to throw huge chunks of dough on top of the monthly payment. Well, it took me a year and a half to pay off that loan, and when it was all said and done, that foreign tranny cost me almost $3,000!

I loved Goober; she was good to me even though I mistreated her, ran her into the ground and learned to drive standard on her. But those foreign parts for used cars are killer on the pocketbook! Oh, the horror, the horror…

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The Worst Scariest Cars of All Time

In the spirit of Halloween, we wanted to treat you to a rickety rollercoaster through a graveyard of automotive ghosts. Be prepared to be transported back in time as this impressive video collage of metal chunks flash before your eyes.

Warning: you may experience shortness of breath, seizures, heart palpitations, facial twitching, and uncontrollable gasps of horror between short bursts of laughter.

Hold onto your seats, folks, whether it’s in a used car or a new vehicle in Canada, this is going to be a frightening and bumpy ride!

I can’t believe how much the 1984 Pontiac Fiero looks like my old ‘88 Nissan Sentra SE!

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Going to a Halloween party? Why not show up in style? In the spirit of Halloween, here are some famous, fantastical used vehicles from pop culture.

The Batmobile (Batman series) The Lamborghini of crime fighting vehicles, the Batmobile has progressed over the years with several different models. Features include grappling hooks, missiles and the ability to drive vertically up apartment buildings.

Ecto- 1 (Ghostbusters). Who can resist a classic Cadillac? This 1959 ambulance includes a step ladder to the roof, an ample supply of sirens and plenty of room to store your ghost sucking proton-packs.

1981 DeLorean (Back to the Future series). The ultimate time traveling ride, just make sure any of those 1950s babes you pick up aren’t your mom. Vertically opening doors are chick magnets.

Kit (Knight Rider). A talking car will certainly help fend off loneliness on those long trips home, and Kit isn’t nearly as snooty as that ONSTAR broad.

Flintstone Car (The Flintstones). While not actually a car per se, it is probably the only vehicle on the list you can make out of stuff from Home Depot.

General Lee (The Dukes of Hazard). This 1969 Dodge Charger is great for driving down alleys, outrunning the cops, jumping over streams and smashing through poorly made fences. Though that Confederate flag over the roof may be in poor taste…

1958 Plymouth Fury (Christine). Another classic car though it has a habit of possessing its owners and turning them evil. Looks great in red though.

Oscar-Myer Weiner Mobile (various advertisements). Complete with anti-lock brakes, six seats and a hotdog shaped instrument panel; the Weiner Mobile is a staple of Americana. The only downside to driving this delicious beast is that it is not as edible as it looks. Trust us, we’ve tried.

For more on some of these and other classic film and TV cars, check out The Hollywood Star Cars Museum. Happy Halloween!

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There is little doubt that private vehicles, especially older, used cars, are among the leading contributors to smog and the emission of greenhouse gases. Yet there are a few easy strategies car owners can take to improve their driving habits and reduce their environmental impact.

1. Plan ahead. Prepare your route, schedule and shopping list before hitting the road. It can reduce your travel time and allows you to avoid unnecessary trips to stores and businesses.
2. Measure your tire pressure once a month. Maintaining proper tire inflation could save you two weeks worth of gas a year and reduce harmful emissions, reports News Canada.
3. Avoid Idling. Try to limit your idle time to 30 seconds or less or just turn the engine off while you wait.
4. Avoid ‘stop and go’ driving. Be mindful of rush hour periods when planning your travel time, you can avoid both frustration and wasteful gas usage.
5. Open windows instead of using air-conditioning. This will take a load off your engine and improve your fuel economy.
6. Park in the shade. On hot days, gasoline will evaporate from the engine and gas tank, contributing to air pollution.
7. Carpool. This will take a few cars off the road while also allowing the use of carpool lanes, resulting in faster commutes. Yippee!
8. Avoid quick accelerations, revving and speeding. Smooth, constant control of the gas pedal will reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
9. Shed a few pounds. Carrying extra weight in your vehicle adds stress on your engine, causing it to emit more pollution.
10. Take care when refueling. Spilt gasoline evaporates into the air as pollution. Avoid overfilling your gas tank when you’re at the pump.

Well there you have it, 10 easy strategies any car owner can use to minimize their CO2 ‘footprint’. Happy travels.

For more info, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (pdf).

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Does it ever feel as if your car doesn’t have a gas tank? You know, when you go to fill up on gas, either with your car, a friends or one of your family member’s, and step outside the vehicle only to find that the gas tank’s on the other side of the car? Speaking from my own personal experience, I can say this has happened to me at least 20 times in the last 5 years.

So what if there was a built-in tool that reminded the driver which side the tank is on? One that didn’t require you stepping outside the car? Someone should really do something about that! Oh wait they already have! By they I mean every major car manufacturer on the planet. Ready for the most impressive auto secret ever?

Here it is: if you look at your gas gage, you will see a small icon of a gas pump. The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right (see photo below). It’s that simple!

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Wednesday’s Metro reported that Buzz Hargrove, President of Canadian Auto Workers union, announced North American automakers will be forced to lower prices on new vehicles in Canada to better reflect the greater buying power of the Canadian dollar.

The article also mentioned both Porsche and BMW recently reduced auto prices and is now offering new incentives to bring the costs of the high-end vehicles more in line with similar models in the U.S.

Interesting was the news that Canadian consumers aren’t necessarily being “ripped off” when imported car prices are 20% to 40% higher. Apparently many products sold now were bought months before the Canadian dollar rose to its current level.

So, what does this tell us? That’s it’s a great time to buy a new car in Canada AND to shop for new vehicles recently purchased by the dealer.

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Want to ferret out the weasels before wasting time to go view that vehicle for sale?

The following questions will not only allow you to weed out the cars that you know you don’t want, even before leaving the comfort of your own home, but also give you a chance to gauge the seller. Certain types of people take better care of their cars, for instance. And let’s not forget that some sellers just want to offload their car – no matter what.

Studies show that people give away verbal clues when lying. Listen for “ums” and “ahs”, stuttering, throat clearly, a lot of expanded contractions (`did not’ rather than `didn’t’) and an inordinate amount of adjectives.

Grab some paper, a pen, get on the phone, conduct this interview like you were George Stroumboulopoulos and pay particular attention what the car seller is not telling you:

1. Why are you selling the car? You’d be surprised as to how many people will flounder when asked this very simple question. It’s because they don’t want to say it’s a piece of rubble even if they truly believe it is. If they have an alternate reason or if they have enough wits about them to make up something believable, then you can almost be certain they had enough sense to maintain the vehicle.
2. I’d like to do a history check, what is the vehicle’s VIN#? By asking this question next, it lets the seller know, first, that you’re on the ball and second, that you’ll be verifying their answers.
3. How many kilometers/miles are there on the odometer? The more mileage on the vehicle, the more used it is and the less it’s worth. Check the current value of the vehicle in the Canadian Black Book or the Canadian Red Book. For utility vehicles and motorcycles, research values in the Canadian Blue Book.
4. What’s the condition of the vehicle? This open-ended question allows the seller to use their discretion. What does their answer tell you about them? Write it down and analyze it later. If they haven’t provided you a thorough enough answer, then be more specific and ask about its structural and mechanical condition.
5. As far as you know, does it need any repairs? This very pointed question confronts the seller who may have kept this important piece of information to him/herself with the last question. If you go so far as to test drive the vehicle and notice some obvious repairs are needed, then you may want to question the honesty of this owner.
6. Does it have any special features? A moon roof, leather seats, air conditioner, MP3 player, etc. will increase the perceived value of the vehicle for most people.
7. Are you the original owner? If they are, then you’ve hit a sweet deal. They will know everything about that car, what it’s been through and how well it’s been maintained.
8. Was the vehicle ever in an accident? Collisions devalue vehicles as they are more likely to have problems now or in the future. The history check should reveal the answer, even if this owner doesn’t know or isn’t telling.
9. Any recent work done on it? Do you have service records/receipts? Obviously a brand new motor will increase the value of the vehicle. If the owner has kept track of vehicle servicing and the receipts, then they most likely have kept good care of their car.
10. How much are you asking for it? The wording here indicates that you believe the price is negotiable. The quoted price here is what they want for it, not necessarily what they’re willing to get for it.

Take your gut feeling and the answers to these questions to evaluate whether or not you want to deal with this seller. If you do, then before going to see the car and test drive it, arrive to the meeting with some figures in mind. According to your budget, determine the most you’d pay for the best case scenario about this car.

Good luck in buying a car; and keep your eyes and ears open to those behavioural cues!

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Text4Cars.com is now listed in Technorati, the biggest blog search engine on the Internet.

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So you and the Mrs. finish a romantic dinner and go back to your parked car. But it’s not there! Some scum bag has stolen it! No problem, you simply report it stolen and an OnStar representative will work in tandem with the police. A few hours later, you have your car safe and sound in your garage, not even a nick in the paint.

The “Stolen Vehicle Slowdown” is a cool new tool developed by OnStar and General Motors. As the name suggests, it gradually slows down a stolen vehicle.

OnStar Advisors use GPS tracking technology to locate the stolen vehicle (which includes safety features to ensure they target the correct car); then they send a signal to the car to remotely slow it down by limiting fuel flow to the engine.

This recovery service is predicted to help reduce property damage and serious injuries or deaths resulting from high-speed police pursuits of stolen vehicles.

Approximately 1.6 million 2009 model year vehicles will be equipped with Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, with Chevrolet accounting for over two-thirds.

Will the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service persuade you to consider a GM when you go to buy a new car?

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