Cars & Bikes News

Just like buying a new car, buying a used car is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Before you even begin shopping for a used car you need to do some homework to keep from paying too much and to keep from buying a vehicle fraught with problems. Consider what you will be using the car for, how much it will be used, and what your budget is.

You will want to research different models, options, repair records, safety tests, and gas mileage. Research and be sure there aren’t excessive recalls as well. Consumer reports will help you with some of these items. Use the internet; it is an unbeatable resource for all kinds of information. This is what I do, you can find all the information you need.

Thoroughly examine the car you intend to buy whether from a dealer or individual using an inspection checklist. You can find these online at used car websites. If the car passes your inspection I would still recommend taking it to your local mechanic. Many times they will look one over for free and if they do charge anything it will be nominal.

Test drive the car you like under different road conditions. Drive it on the highway and in stop and go traffic. Check the brakes, the steering, and the alignment. Ask for the car’s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop.

When it comes to paying for the car most people don’t realize that there are methods of financing their car that they may not even realize. You may have capital in your home that can be used at a much cheaper rate than an auto loan would be.

Use the equity that you have in your home by taking out a home equity loan. A loan like this can be used for anything that you desire. Home equity loans can be used for any purpose such as a new car, home improvements, credit card debt, and debt consolidation. One of the other great benefits is that the interest rates are tax deductible.

If you don’t have equity that you can use in your home or are not a home owner then you need to check with your bank or credit union. In any case you want to have your financing arranged prior to going to the dealership or buying from an individual. Don’t set yourself up to get taken by the dealership if purchasing from one.

The Aston Martin Bulldog, styled by William Towns, was a one-off testbed vehicle produced by Aston Martin in 1979. Originally, it had been intended to be a limited run of about 25. This aston martin Bulldog powered by a twin Garrett Air Research turbocharged 5.3 litre V8 originally with Bosch Fuel Injection. Power output on the test bed reached in excess of 700 bhp, although installed in the car this would have been in the region of 650 bhp. Whilst designed to exceed 200 mph, at the time, a maximum speed of 192 mph was recorded.

During the 1970′s and early 1980′s James Bond 007 had been denied the use of an Aston Martin. Whilst a Lotus Esprit is British, it will never be a sufficient alternative to an Aston Martin. But for the 1987 film, ‘The Living Daylights’, the producers renewed their relationship with the Tickford St. factory, allowing Bond the opportunity to sample the delights, for the first and last time, of a Newport Pagnell V8. Now it depends how you look at it – he either had one or two cars and this has caused confusion. So, at the start of the film, we see our hero, played for the first time by Timothy Dalton, driving ‘B549 WUU’ a V8 Volante with Cumberland Grey coachwork and upholstered in black leather. This car was in fact the personal transport of Victor Gauntlett, the Chairman of AML. This car, even without visiting Q branch, was a bit special as it was fitted with a Vantage engine, prior to it being offered as a production car. I eventually saw this particular V8 at the AMOC Horsfall race meeting in 2007, participating in the 007 track parade. During the film, and whilst in Volante form, the V8 did not display any particular ‘special features’. A little later, we again see the Volante, this time in Q’s workshop, where it appears to be receiving a hardtop. The script describes the car as being ‘winterised’. The result is a V8 saloon; an Oscar India car that you are expected to believe is the Volante with a closed roof – this is of course impossible – but hey, it’s only a film. In reality, the factory used a pair of second-hand V8′s which were refurbished and modified for filming the stunt work in the mountains of Austria although much of the plot was set in Czechoslovakia. They do have visible ‘Vantage’ badges, but these I guess were fitted as they would have been seen on the Volante; to all intents and purposes, the car was an ‘Oscar India’ V8. The V8 coupe is still, I believe jointly owned by AM and Eon Productions, and is occasionally displayed at public events. I have been able to photograph the car at 1986 British Motor Show, Coys Historic Festival, Silverstone, 1998 and the AMOC St.

The Aston Martin Project Vantage sports car is a prototype car that combines power, performance and elegance. It is powered by a 6-ltr V-12 engine. It was designed by Ian Callum and developed with the help of Ford Motor Co’s Advanced Vehicle Technology department and Cosworth Engineering.