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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-19, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012. Classic Car Restoration Specialists We specialize in restoring classic cars from the ground up using original parts whenever possible to make your car look like new. Ask to see our portfolio. We offer a Full Line of Body Work & Collision Repair Services Vehicle Restoration & Repair I Auto Body Repair & Painting Frame & Unibody Restoration I Frame-Off & Partial Restorations Vintage Part Sourcing I Insurance Claims I Spray-in Truck Liners I Free Estimates 14 Orchard Lane, Brussels Need A Spring Tune Up? We repair cars, light trucks, lawn, garden equipment, motorcycles, ATVs, watercraft & marine, trailers, classic cars. • Electrical Diagnostics • Safety Inspections 40486 B-Line Road WINGHAM 519-357-1997 Fax: 519-357-9978 Prepare for trips with repairs and routine upkeep MS –The return of warm weather marks the return of road trips for millions of motorists across the country. Whether going to the beach or heading off to parts unknown, hitting the open road with the windows down is a time-honoured tradition for drivers of all ages. But such road trips can prove disastrous if drivers don’t take the right steps to prepare their vehicles for spring and summer travel. The following are a few ways motorists can ensure their car is ready to tackle the open road. • Tighten things up. Loose parts, such as exhaust clamps, licence plates and interior trim panels, can create rattles and cause parts to get damaged or fall off. What’s more, rattling sounds can be a noisy nuisance for drivers and passengers alike. • Wash your car. A newly washed car not only looks good, but it’s often much safer as well. Take your car to a car wash a few days before the trip and have the vehicle thoroughly cleaned. A thorough cleaning will remove dirt and grime from the vehicle’s undercarriage, not to mention unsightly bird droppings and water spots or salt stains leftover from winter. • Fix foggy headlight lenses. Many spring and summer road trippers travel at night so their days can be spent soaking up some sun at the beach or lake. Before heading off for parts unknown, motorists should inspect their headlight lenses to reduce risk of accident. If the lenses are yellowed and foggy, that's likely because salt, ozone and road debris has dulled them to a point where vision can be impaired, placing drivers and their passengers at risk. • Check the battery. Over time, battery terminals and cables will start to corrode. Such corrosion will eventually eat away at the battery’s parts, creating a bad connection that sooner or later will require the battery be replaced. Check the battery before your trip and remember to clean the battery periodically as part of routine vehicle maintenance. • Address windshield nicks and bullseyes. Nicks and chips in the windshields are a common problem regardless of the season. But such damage is most prevalent in the winter because of the extra debris that’s on the road. These nicks and cracks need to get fixed as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading and resulting in the need for a windshield replacement. NC –Across the country, the Victoria Day long-weekend tends to be the official launch of summer. It’s the time of year when everyone throws off their winter coats and quickly dons shorts and tees, even if Environment Canada warns of -5ºC with blowing snow. Regardless, Canadians everywhere are itching to get outside and get away. For a growing number of Canadians, that means hitting the road in a recreational vehicle. There’s a wide assortment to choose from these days – everything from expensive bus-like motor-homes, to towable travel trailers, to camper vans, to relatively inexpensive pop- up camping trailers. Recreational vehicles are growing in popularity mainly because they’re fun, and provide a greater sense of freedom and adventure compared to standard holiday trips. Although you don’t need a special licence to drive most recreational vehicles, it isn’t the same as driving the family car. Here’s some advice on driving a recreational vehicle if it’s new to you: • Be cautious and allow more time to brake, change lanes, turn and merge into traffic • Be sure your vehicle can handle the trailer you are towing. Most SUVs, light-duty trucks and full and mid-size family cars can pull an RV trailer, but be sure to check the maximum weight and factor in any of your belongings inside the trailer. • Use the right trailer hitch, connect brake and signal lights and make sure they are synchronized with your vehicle. • Be aware of the height of your vehicle. You wouldn’t want to ruin your vacation by getting your RV stuck or damaged by a tree branch or sign. • If you’ve never pulled a trailer before, you’ll probably find that backing up is the biggest challenge. If possible, get some practice with the help of someone experienced with trailers before heading out on your holiday. And always ask someone to stand outside the vehicle when reversing to avoid any obstacles not seen in your mirrors. RVs provide unique challenges MS –Selling a car is not always so easy. Vehicle owners are well aware that a new vehicle’s value is drastically diminished the moment it is driven off the dealership’s lot. As a result, sellers often don’t know where to begin when the time comes to sell their vehicles. Vehicle owners typically put a car up for sale because they feel they can get more for it from a private citizen than they will get from a dealership as a trade-in. But before listing a car or truck for sale, owners should consider a few factors. • Sale price:Vehicle owners typically emphasize sale price more than anything when they decide to sell their car. Though sale price bears considerable weight, guides such as the Kelley Blue Book, which sellers and buyers can access for free online, will likely dictate the sale price, even if the seller feels such guides undervalue their vehicle. Buyers know all about these guides, and will be reticent to pay more than what these guides suggest is the value of the car. But there is always room to negotiate. Sellers should, if the car is in pristine condition, set a sale price above the suggested value so, if buyers do want to bargain, the sale price ends up being closer to the suggested value and not substantially below. • Make the vehicle a better buy: Particularly in today’s economy, buyers are looking to get more and more for their money. This actually helps sellers, as buyers are now more inclined to buy a used vehicle because it might prove a better value than a brand new car that immediately diminishes in value the moment buyers sign on the dotted line. That said, there are numerous ways sellers can increase their vehicle’s curb appeal. First and foremost, sellers should always address any mechanical issues before putting a vehicle up for sale. For example, if the car is having transmission troubles or the brakes are wearing down, don't put the vehicle up for sale until those things are taken care of. If you don’t want to fix problems, then you must disclose this information to prospective buyers, which will certainly reduce the amount of money you will get for the car. When addressing what’s under the hood, change the oil, replace the air filter (which often improves the ride considerably), check tire pressure and inflate the tires as needed. Aside from mechanical issues, another big plus to potential buyers is a car that looks good. Home shoppers don’t want to buy a dilapidated shack, and car buyers don’t want to buy a car with a bad paint job and a cracked windshield. Such things suggest to prospective buyers that you didn’t care enough to maintain the vehicle, and they will certainly assume you neglected what’s under the hood as well. Get the vehicle detailed and wash it at least once a week until it’s sold. In addition to addressing the exterior, clean the interior as well. Vehicle owners tend to live in their cars and it shows. Clean coffee stains from cup holders and remove all trash from the vehicle, including anything that has accumulated under the seats, in the cushions and even in the trunk over the years. Remove all excess items from the trunk, as buyers are typically impressed by a spacious trunk. Once stains and trash have been removed, shampoo the carpets and seats and vacuum the car thor- oughly. It’s amazing how easily a vehicle’s interior can be transformed with a little elbow grease, and buyers are always impressed by a clean interior. And don’t forget to hang a pleasant – but not overbearing – air freshener from the rearview mirror. • Prove your maintenance record: Sellers who have diligently kept records of their vehicle’s maintenance should present these records to prospective buyers. This will indicate you were a responsible owner and give buyers a feeling of security about the purchase. If you did not keep records but strictly adhered to a maintenance schedule, contact the auto body shop where work was performed to see if they have any records. Most records are stored in a computer system, so this isn’t necessarily a long shot, especially if maintenance was performed at a dealership. Selling a car won’t necessarily be easy in the current economic climate, but sellers can employ a host of strategies to make their vehicle more appealing to prospective buyers. Borrmann’s Garage since 1983 Quality Vehicle Service - Auto, Truck & RV Complete Maintenance, Diagnostic & Repair Centre AC Delco Service-Trained Technicians 86924 Brussels Line, Bluevale 519-335-3857 Tips and tricks to sell a used car Get information on Huron County attractions on the Stops Along The Way section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca