Category: Audi

Choose Car Leasing And Beat The Credit Crunch

You can’t hide from it – it’s all over the news here in the UK… The Credit Crunch! House prices are falling but no one has the money to buy, all our house hold bills are rising but our wages are not matching the rise and to top it all off petrol prices have gone through the roof.

The final blow came earlier this month when EurotaxGlasses, the industry’s premier vehicle valuation specialists stated that they expected used vehicle values to drop by up to 12 % between now and the end of the year. Meanwhile 4×4 operators could experience depreciative hits on their vehicles of nearer the 20% mark.

With less money to lend, Banks and Finance companies are proving to be more difficult to borrow money from and when considering a major expenditure such as a new company vehicle – why would any business use valuable capital to buy a depreciating asset.

Contract hire, which provides off balance sheet funding, improves a company’s gearing and can improve liquidity. In addition a VAT registered business can reclaim 50% of the VAT on the finance rental and 100% of the maintenance rental on a new car. In comparison no VAT is recoverable when a new car is purchased using cash, cheque or hire purchase.

The Benefits Of Contact Hire & Cheap Car Leasing:

1. Vehicles are supplied at a fixed monthly cost which will help with budgeting.
2. The agreement can include maintenance which reduces administration and helps with ‘Duty Of Care’ legislation.
3. Off Balance sheet funding improves gearing and opens up additional funding routes. This will help improve cash flow.
4. There are significant VAT and tax savings.
5. The company removes residual value risk in the future.
6. Advice on low Co2 vehicles helping with both the drivers Benefit In Kind and the company’s Class 1 contributions.
7. Access to improved manufacturer discounts on purchase and maintenance.

While the ‘Credit Crunch’ brings many obstacles and challenges to your business, it also provides the opportunity for you to review your current business arrangements, helping you save money and reducing risk in the future.

As you can see simply by taking out a good cheap car leasing deal, you are saving yourself and your company money in the long run and actually getting one up on this credit crunch that’s hit the UK.

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Best Car Finder – Supplying The Best cheap car leasing and Audi Leasing Deals

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Never get tricked by used car dealers again

Here are more car dealer tactics to watch out for when you’re buying your new or used car. Remember, you are in control of the situation, you have the say in the final decision. After all, you’re the one with the money, and you intend to spend it as wisely as possible.

Car Dealer Tactic #7
Some car dealers pursue a potential customer until they wear them down to buy.
Now if you don’t want to be pursued by a car dealer, just don’t give a phone number. Say ‘it’s a silent number’, ‘…don’t have a mobile’, ‘can’t leave a work number’, or at the test drive ‘accidentally’ give the wrong phone number.

Even after continual phoning, and when you end up buying from a different dealer, the sales person (who has missed out on the deal) will then give you the bad news. When you tell them you bought elsewhere (at a very good price of $34,550) they will say, ‘Oh no, you shouldn’t have paid any more than $32,000 for it!’ This is designed to make you feel as bad as the salesperson, who lost out too.

Car Dealer Tactic #7
The End-of-the-Month trick
This trick deserves serious consideration. It is the most elaborate trick of this type. Manufacturers know that companies often buy around this time of year for accounting purposes. They therefore rarely offer any factory discounts, and they sometimes increase their retail prices to take advantage.

No matter when, where or which car dealership you may stroll into, there is always a reason to feel ‘lucky’, according to the keen sales person. Early in the month, they might say they missed their target last month and are desperate to make it up. During the middle of the month, ‘the boss has told me to push out more cars or I’ll never reach my target this month either’.

The time of month may matter to some dealers sometimes, though; it never matters to a car broker. Beware of this because you may end up paying more than you expected. Don’t fall for tactics like this that appeal to your feelings, such as compassion and guilt or regret. Remember when buying a car, you have to keep a steady head and not let your emotions rule over.

Where to look for good used cars with good prices? Go online to consumer.vic.gov.au and find out the information you need before rushing headlong into the ‘big end of financial year deal’. Or log on to OzFreeOnline.com, Australia’s largest car classifieds site, offering people a good venue to transact any business related to cars.

About the Author

OzFree Online Cars offers free Registration as Individual or Dealer,Sale cars Classifieds used automobile services and car auction services- Visit Oz Free Cars at http://cars.ozfreeonline.com

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Should I lease or buy my new Audi?

Now this is a question that a lot of business owners ask themselves and some personal car owners too, in this day and age there are so many different options when it comes to getting yourself a new Audi! From car contract hire, to business car leasing or personal car leasing and even personal car purchasing, it’s not surprising so many people are confused whether to buy or lease their new Audi.

Well if you are running your own business, or working for a company that is willing to give you a budget for a car then it’s worth looking into some sort of cheap car leasing. Leasing through a business has a lot of advantages from a financial / tax point of view, but not only that it has a great advantage from a personal point of view in that you can more or less choose the brand new car of your dreams!

A great advantage to leasing over buying a new car is how easy it is to find your perfect car. When buying you have to take the time to go and visit the car, look round it, and check everything is in order including MOT, Tax or that the car hasn’t been accident repaired. Just by taking the choice to lease your car you are cutting out all the time wasting having to go and view the cars, this alone is saying you money in time and fuel from travelling up and down the country.

Most good car leasing and car contract hire companies will let you choose all the finer details for your new leased car, from the exact colour to everything from internal specifications to technical specifications. On some vehicles you can even choose to have custom accessories fitted, as this vehicle is coming directly from the manufacturer you also have full knowledge that everything will be fitted correctly and you’ll have a warranty from the manufacturer.

Of course the main reason for choosing leasing over buying is you can easily afford to have a brand new vehicle, and not have to settle for a second hand car that you have no idea about the history (Only what the seller is telling you). Certain perks come with having a new vehicle, you don’t have to worry about MOT for the first 3 years and some leasing companies will throw in the first 3 years tax as well! Without a doubt the biggest advantages with leasing a new vehicle is ability to be able to afford it in the first place and the manufacturer’s warranty, you can have total peace of mind that throughout your contract knowing that if there is any kind of mechanical failure you won’t be left to pick up the bill!

If you do decide to take out an Audi on contract hire or a business lease, then you need to be aware of a few bits of jargon and abbreviations that you will find throughout the car leasing and contract hire websites.

MRP – This is the manufacturer’s recommended price residual value.

P11D Value – This is used by the Inland Revenue for tax purposes and relates to the value of the vehicle after the cost of extras.

PCP – Personal contract purchase (also known as personal contract plans). A PCP agreement you have an option to pay a final sum to the leasing / contract hire company and own the vehicle instead of giving it back.

Residual value – The residual value is the manufacturers predicted value of the vehicle at the end of the lease / contract term, the higher the residual value the lower the monthly payments will be.

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Best Car Finder – The number one cheap car leasing and Audi Leasing specialists

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

About the Audi A3

Vorsprung durch Technik- this is the principle behind every Audi vehicle. The phrase means ‘advance through technology’ which is evident in the lineup of vehicle that the company present to the automotive world. Among the manifestations of the good work of a German company known as Audi is the A3 which was produced in 1996. This is a compact luxury vehicle that was created based on the platform of Volkswagen A and other models like Volkswagen Golf, Audi TT, Caddy, Touran, SEAT Leon, and Skoda Octavia. Two generations of this model was launched into public.

The Audi A3 does not resemble the look of any other Audi models nor does it look like Volkswagen GTI and Rabbit which is its distant relative. The first generation came around 1996 up to 2003 which is presented with three-door hatchback body and it employs five valves with four-cylinder configuration. To go with the demand of the generation, it was redesigned during 1999 into a 5-door car. The engine had also undergone tweaking for better performance.

During 2003, the second generation of Audi A3 was created with better design and stylish contours that will surely capture the heart of every vehicle enthusiast and aficionados. Mounted with new light cluster, enhanced interior and additional five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox, it is expected to make a name in the industry. And as expected, it was renowned by the public therefore making Audi A3 one of the best models there is. Also, it features Direct-Shift Gearbox or DSG that enables quick changing of gears for better driving experience and at the same time cost-effective fuel consumption.

But the rise of the second generation did not stop the company of improving this model because in 2006, a new generation was designed which is an exact carry-over of the 2003 model apart from a few changes and improvements it employs. Performance is well assured with its 4-cylinder turbo-charged engine that can create up to 200 horsepower. It is also mounted with renowned McPherson suspension that provides stability as well as perk up its cornering aptitude.

Indeed, the Acura A3 is the thinking person’s performance car since it is very fast and very talented, as well as space- and fuel-efficient. Although small, it is also packed with all the safety features required in a vehicle like the standard airbags that work well for frontal and side impact that offers padding for the occupant’s chest and abdomen. The door on the driver’s side gives support to its aperture, which keep the body shell structurally sound.

The door is made up of an aluminum beam that interlocks with the sill therefore extending its efficient height while the door’s contour against the occupant remains just about vertical in case an accident occurs. Furthermore, it won’t be bothering to ride a child with you since the rear seat belts possess automatic locks for use with child restraints, although no instruction label was given on the belts. A little problem though, the belt buckle for grown up slightly interfere with the guide slot on the suggested child control as a result, it prevents the belt from being appropriately tightened.

This model had proven that even small cars can do wonders! It is packed with technologically advanced features that will make each ride as pleasurable as ever. Comfort is given because of its amenities like radio, cd player, mp3 player and a lot more. You will definitely not feel bored all throughout your ride so you can take your love one with you for a long ride and never even be bothered with the distance! There is only one major problem; the Acura A3 comes extremely expensive!

About the Author

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services by John Eva Audi Contract Hire – Audi A3 Lease Hire

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Buying a Used Audi A3 – Then Research Beforehand

As when buying any new car when considering buying a used Audi A3 you should do as much research as possible beforehand. This means learning about the model you are interested in purchasing and could include things that are known to go wrong with the car and recalls which the manufacturer made. This information can all be found online. One of the best places to begin learning about the model is of course with Audi themselves.

Of course there are also some basic requirements that you have to consider as there is when buying any second hand car. These are for your safety to ensure you do not get “ripped-off” and can also help you to get the best deal. You should take advantage of having a car data check made as this will tell you if the car is what the seller says it is. It can tell you if the car has been reported stolen, the year it was made, if it has debt owing on it and if the car has been involved in an accident and it was scraped by the insurance company. Always make your own check, never take the word of the seller that they have made a check on the car, even if they show you the results as they could have been modified.

Along with checking out the car you would also be wise to check out the seller of the used Audi A3 you are looking at buying. While the majority of used cars sold online only come with the sellers mobile number you should also get their landline number. When going to view the car always ensure that you are able to view the car at the home address of the seller. Always be very wary if the seller insists that you meet them somewhere to look over the car. This could mean they have something to hide and if there are problems with the car you would have no way of finding the seller again.

The seller should of course have all the relevant documentation for the car and it should be up to date. Check that the MOT has been done where it says is has and also check out the history when it comes to the servicing and repairs made to the car. It goes without saying that you should take the car on an extensive road test before handing over your money. Try to be as varied as possible when testing the car and look for how the card handles and its response, try to test it on clear stretches of road such as the motorway and in the city streets.

You also have to be aware of specific problems that could be related just to the Audi A3. If you are worried about any recalls then you can check these out on the Audi site where they are listed along with the models and dates of the faults. Of course if any of these apply to the specific model you are considering buying then check that the faults were rectified by the owner of the car and they have the documentation to support it.

About the Author

Louis Rix is a Director of NetCars, one of the UK’s leading motoring websites. First established in January 2000, it provides car finance, loans and insurance. We also provide an online car search for Used Audi Cars.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Rix

http://EzineArticles.com/?Buying-a-Used-Audi-A3—Then-Research-Beforehand&id=1126713

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Look Online For Advice If Wanting To Buy A Used Audi

The internet is a very valuable tool in regards to resources for you to use when considering buying a used Audi. You might have already got a specific model in mind, but then you might not have had the chance to consider the different types of Audi. You also need to be aware of safety measures you need to take when buying second hand, particularly if buying from a private dealer. Along with this thought has to be given to the financing of the car and how much it would cost to insure it. All of this information can easily and quickly be found by going online.

Unless you have the luxury of a pocket full of spare cash then you are going to need to take a loan to cover the cost of the car. If buying a used Audi privately then almost certainly you will have to take the loan yourself with a lender. Buying from a dealership and you will be offered finance; however it is not always the cheapest way of borrowing to pay for the car. You still could be better off looking for the loan yourself and then going with the cash in hand to the dealership.

Before looking for the loan you should find out on average how much the model you have decided on costs. Make use of a used car search tool which can be tailored right down to the age of the car and even colour and you will be presented with a range of prices on average. You can then tell if the car is within your budget before going any further.

The next step should be finding out how much you could expect to pay to insure and put the car on the road. Again comparing quotes with a specialist that allows you to search with many insurance brokers on the same page is the easiest way to go. It can be easy to snap up a bargain car and then go on to find after the deal has gone through that the insurance is sky high, so do not make this mistake.

Once you have chosen the model and checked it is within your budget, have checked insurance costs and figured out which type of finance is the best option then you can go about looking for the car. The easiest way to do this is online. A search engine will list cars with dealers and private buyers based on your criteria. Narrow down your search a few cars that match your needs and then find the contact information.

When going to look over the used Audi of your choice always be sure that you meet the seller at their residence rather than meeting them somewhere. You should also have their landline number not just mobile and of course they should be able to show you the relevant paperwork for the car. Make sure you take your time going over the car both the exterior and interior and if the car is a convertible make sure you see the roof retract. Use the information gained from the internet when inspecting every inch of the car. The test drive should consist of motorways and town streets so that you can get a good idea of the handling when travelling at different speeds and on different surfaces.

About the Author

Louis Rix is a Director of NetCars, one of the UK’s leading motoring websites. First established in January 2000, it provides car finance, loans and insurance. We also provide an online car search for Used Audi Cars.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Rix

http://EzineArticles.com/?Look-Online-For-Advice-If-Wanting-To-Buy-A-Used-Audi&id=1128667

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Audi S6 Saloon

The Audi S6 is meant to be the high-performance version of the A6 and has some external differences that help refine the performance over the A6. It has four exhausts at the rear as opposed to the standard two for the A6 and it sits lower to the ground.

The transmission is a six-speed Tiptronic automatic with a 5.2-litre V-10 engine producing 435bhp at 6800 ps/rpm with 398lb ft of torque at around 3000 rpm. The S6 acceleration from 0-60 is around 5.1 seconds and has a quarter-mile time of around 13.8 seconds. The engine is a tuned down version used in the Lamborghini Gallardo but it doesn’t feel as if it has been restricted as it still achieves a maximum speed of 155 mph.

The safety and security features included as standard with the Audi S6 are Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability, driver and passenger airbags along with front side airbags. On top of this, there is an alarm, an immobolizer and central locking. Rear parking sensors are an optional extra but useful if reversing into those tight parking spaces.

As expected, the S6 has a lot of comfort features fitted as standard including power steering and climate control along with front and rear electric windows. An electric sunroof is optional as well as the choice of metallic paint although alloy wheels are included as standard. A satellite navigation system is also included.

The interior of the S6 is spacious with plenty of room for two adult passengers in the back. The front seats are quite firm as is customary with most Audi designs but the Alcantara leather seats are comfortable and enable great driver visibility.

The dashboard is well laid out with the Audi symbol prominently displayed on the steering wheel. All the necessary dials are legible with current speed being prominently displayed so you don’t get carried away with how smooth the power distribution feels.

The S6, like most cars in the same class is not ideally suited to fuel efficiency with 14.9 mpg in the city and 21.7 mpg for combined urban and rural journeys. However, it is comfortable to drive over long distances and has a trunk space suitable for packing most items you would ever need to take on long trips.

About the Author

Carguy is a car enthusiast with a taste for expensive motors, but not the pocket depth to match his taste. Check out more Audi reviews or browse through reviews and information on other cars of interest.

Feb 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post