Selling a car is not an art form yet for many people it can be a mine field. With not knowing what to include, having a limited number of characters to use in the advert and making it stand out above competing cars, how do you know what to include in your advert?

This should provide you with a guide on making a good advert and hopefully getting your car sold.

Always include the make and model of the car. This might sound obvious but some people just don’t do it. People need to know what they are looking at as they will already have an idea of what they want.

Include mileage, condition of the car and how much tax is left. These are the things that people will want to know. It will give them an idea of how much the car is worth and whether you are asking a realistic price for it. The condition of the car is also important, people won’t want to travel far if it is a rusty old banger. Tax on the car is also good as people think that if it is 6 months tax they will have time to save for it.

Include the price. Many adverts choose not to do this and instead put POE (Price On Enquiry) which can put many people off if they have to phone up and enquire and put up with someone spouting sales spiel to them over the phone.

Be up front about any problems. Don’t make this the forefront of the advert but mention it if they ask about something that doesn’t work properly. If they find out you lied they will think twice about buying the car as they will be unsure about what else you might be hiding.

Include a picture. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not include one and let the car do the talking. As long as the car hasn’t been in an accident or looks ridiculous from over enthusiastic car modifications then there shouldn’t be a problem.

Think about bolding the text of the ad. Remember that your advert will be among hundreds of others, how will you make yours stand out? Making it a little different could mean a sale right away – consider the extra cost!

With the increase of population and prosperity, there has been a distinct increase of car users and thus traffic. The winter can be particularly grueling for commuters as not only are parents dropping kids off at school or driving to work, they are completing their Christmas shopping on top of this, increasing the amount of car usage and the traffic towards the town centre. For many frustrated drivers, this can cause a bout of road rage, which often results in dangerous maneuvers, impolite driving and rude gestures. Road rage is often a vehicle for dangerous driving, making it a threat to you and others. Here’s a few ways to calm your road rage.

Road rage is often caused by feeling stressed about getting to a place on time. Think how you can limit this stress practically, such as leaving earlier or taking a different route. If traffic is expected, leave enough time to make sure you are not late, or leave before the traffic gets heavy or consider a different route if you normally use a very busy road.

Often used by sufferers of stress and anxiety, breathing exercises can help a stressed out driver to calm down and to cool down their road rage. Breathing exercises help you oxygenate your blood, making sure enough oxygen is in the body. With any panic, stress or anxiety, your body responds by constricting air flow and in turn oxygen – this often causes that light headed feeling and induces more panic. Concentrating on your breathing will also take you attention away from inward stressors, enabling you to overcome any feelings of stress and instead feel calmer.

Alter your mood by playing calming or upbeat happy music on your car audio system. Music alters a person’s perceptions, in turn altering how they experience the event. Thus calming or happy music on your car audio system will make your driving experience a happier and less stressful one, enabling you to get less anxious about traffic jams or other people’s driving etiquette.
Lastly, try to take traffic light heartedly. All drivers are bound to do something stupid on the road at some point, which will often incur road rage and feelings of stress from other drivers. If you laugh about someone’s error or stupidity (you can still take the event seriously), you are more likely to be able to calm the stress you feel at that person’s driving mistake.

Using these techniques, you can curb road rage and in turn long term problems associated with long term stress, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety and depression.

The popularity of the iPhone and other mobile devices in conjunction with an ever-growing catalogue of appealing apps for users is fueling a trend towards apps for cars. This article explores five great apps for your car that could allow you to plug into various mobile technologies while maintaining a high standard of safety when you’re on the road.

1. Many of us depend on our GPS systems to direct us from point A to point B. With a traffic app, you could get real-time traffic information to alert you to delays due to accidents or construction along your commute and to help find alternative routes if necessary. Just imagine the time this would save you. This app could also potentially help to decrease incidents of road rage plaguing our roadways.

2. Car manufacturers are now building more technology-connected vehicles because consumer demand is high. Various car models will features apps that have voice-controlled wireless internet that will allow you to connect to the internet to check your twitter and email messages, and even get RSS Feed updates in your car. Know what is happening within your social networks even as you travel. Still other apps will allow drivers to check battery power, tire pressure, schedule oil changes, be reminded when to perform routine maintenance tasks, and much more. You get more gas mileage when your car is in good working order and such an app can help you keep your vehicle running smooth.

3. Satellite radio apps that provide access to this rich media format through headsets allows you to connect with news, weather, music, and more while you keep your eyes on the road. Distracted driving is a leading cause in most accidents. Reducing distractions inside your car is important for your safety as well as for other drivers on the road.

4. An app that can enhance your safety when backing up, making turns, changing lanes, and parking is a 360-view camera app that eliminates blind spots. From a dashboard screen, you get an all around snapshot of what or who is next to your vehicle to help you avoid accidents with other cars and from striking objects and children and adults not paying attention to traffic. It is plausible to assume insurance companies may offer discounts to drivers that have safety apps like this installed in their cars.

5. If you’ve ever had to start your car on a cold winter morning, you could appreciate an app that allows you to start your car remotely from the warmth of indoors. The capability to lock and unlock car doors and your trunk remotely is another feature of such apps. Many of us may find the convenience and added security remote apps can offer appealing.

Most of these apps for cars will also sync with your other mobile devices to broaden their usage and popularity. In all likelihood, we are a year or so out from these great car apps becoming mainstream and widely available. It’s certain that other apps will emerge as well to help make the driving experience more pleasurable. Imagine being productive or just keeping up with breaking news from around the world while stuck in traffic. These car apps could transform the daily commute from a grind to time well spent in your car. Wouldn’t it be great if someone would invent an app for cars that can sense when a car is dirty, then wash, and wax itself? Make it a green app by powering it using solar energy. All apps start with an idea so maybe one day there will be a wash and wax app for cars.

Auto detailing is one of those things that people think is easy to do. It isn’t. In fact, a proper auto detail can add hundreds of dollars to the value of your vehicle. We’re not talking a quick window clean and carpet vacuum, either. We’re talking the whole package: interior shampoo, vacuum, upholstery treatment, exterior cut, wax, wash, and polish. This is the difference between having a bath in a lake versus having a shower, washing and conditioning your hair, shaving your beard, and exfoliating your skin.

For your car, it’s automotive nirvana, and it’s your responsibility as a good vehicle owner to treat your car to a pampering every now and again.

What Makes an Auto Detailer Worth Your Hard-Earned Scratch

A good auto detailer doesn’t look at your car or truck as a dollar sign, but rather as a canvass by which they can exact their brand of art. With that in mind, it can be nearly impossible for the untrained eye to identify a passionate auto detailer from one who’s just looking to separate you from your wallet.

Keep your eyes open for a few indicators that the detailing shop performs quality work, such as:

Plenty of other vehicles being worked on, finished, or awaiting their appointment. While this is less of an indicator than others, especially in seasonal markets (such as the northern USA and pretty much all of Canada), it’s always a good sign to see other people using the same shop you’re considering using. Samples of previous work, testimonials, or photographs of vehicles the detailer has worked on. Every automotive enthusiast worth their weight in car parts will gladly write their detailer a testimonial if the work performed was high-quality. Always ask for before/after photos, testimonials, or samples of work that shop has performed in the past. Look online for positive reviews. This one is a no-brainer, and also the easiest to do prior to choosing a shop.
What to Expect from a Good Auto Detailer

Aside from using high-grade components and compounds on your car, you should expect your auto detailer to take great care of your vehicle while it is in their possession. As well, you can expect to leave your vehicle with the detailer anywhere from a few hours (if only getting an exterior or interior job) to a day or more (for a complete interior/exterior detail).

More importantly, you should be able to develop a level of trust with your detailer that is reflective of the service that they offer you. Don’t be afraid to point out imperfections if you feel that the service you requested should have taken care of it. Most good detailers will appreciate your feedback and will correct their oversight.

Car subwoofers – Is it important where you place them? Over the years, car audio experts have heard this question millions of times – and the answer is ‘yes’, it is vital to the quality of output where you place a car subwoofer.

Since the space in a car is not the optimum place for perfect and clear sound, unlike a room in your house, subwoofers have to be carefully placed in order to produce the best sound possible. Unlike home stereo systems, car audio system have the advantage that they handle bass far better due to the fact the space if far smaller than a room, making them easier to place for optimum bass.

Commonly subwoofers are placed in the boot of the car; this is because if done correctly you can get the effect of surround sound in your car, where you cannot localize the sound at all. ‘Up Front Bass’ as it is known simply pressurizes all the air, so that you can’t distinguish the place it originates from. If done correctly using the appropriate crossovers, you can get this effect. On the other hand, if it fails, you will instead be able to hear localized mid-range sounds rather than the low sounds of bass.

An alternative to Up Front Bass is Corner Loading, where the woofer is positioned in the far corners of the car. Corner Loading is the optimum place for sound levels, as the further away the speaker is the louder it is likely to be.

Of course, each vehicle due to variation in size and shape reacts differently to subwoofer placement, often meaning it is best to experiment with subwoofer placement to get the possible sound. It is well known by car audio enthusiasts that Hatchback cars due to the shape at the back produce far better sound (that’s why you hear pounding bass often coming from Hatchback cars). When the subwoofer is placed in the rear hatch area, the sound is amplifies as it moves from the rear hatch through to the rest of the car.

To get optimum bass and sound, experiment with subwoofer positioning. It may take some time to decide which position is best, but it’s worth it for good bass.