Car Insurance

EVERY time Vassor-Johnson, a Philadelphia-based film/video producer, drives between Los Angeles and Philadelphia she makes sure, before getting on the road, that her car will survive the journey.

Vassor-Johnson took the 3,000-mile trip three times in three years in compact cars that were 10 to 15 years old. She usually stops in to see a mechanic before the trip to get the tire pressure checked and to change the oil, oil filters and air filters. If needed, she gets a tune-up, new belts installed and the brake pads changed.

“When you drive cross country, it pays to do this before you leave,” she says. She occasionally has her tires, oil, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels checked again when she stops at service stations along the way. She gets the oil changed again when she reaches her destination.

The newlywed says it’s also a good idea to belong to a motor club and to travel with a cell phone in case of emergencies on the road.

Automotive professionals agree that Vassor-Johnson’s trip precautions are a good idea.

Cleveland Johnson, owner of an automotive and auto body shop on the South Side of Chicago, says drivers shoed also have their cooling systems flushed and a thermostat installed if they haven’t done so in the past two years or up to 50,000 miles, according to what the car’s owner’s manual calls for. “If they don’t do this, the ear could overheat,” Johnson says. “The thermostat triggers everything.”

Johnson doesn’t recommend mixing water with antifreeze, although some mechanics say to use a 50-50 mixture. “The car gets a little hotter with water in the cooling system, but if you want the cooling system to run normally, you should use all antifreeze,” he says.

J.T. Berkley, who’s worked on cars for 30 years and is a product development engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Livonia, Mich., says that even if the coolant looks green, it should be changed within two years. Rust inhibitors break down over time and are needed to protect the engine.

Hoses connecting the radiator to the engine need to be checked as well. If they feel spongy, it’s time to change them.

The grade of motor oil needs to be changed in the summer to 10W40 from 10W30, which is used in the winter, Johnson says. Heavier oil doesn’t break down and makes the motor run cooler. However, the grade of 5W30 can be used all year and saves gas, Berkley adds.

Antifreeze, hoses and oil help the car run properly, and so does the car’s electronic system. If the car needs a tune-up, it can run hot and perform badly, Johnson says.

The car’s belts should be checked routinely even though some belts last up to 70,000 miles. Manufacturers recommend changing them around 50,000 miles or every two years, Johnson says. Berkley recommends having belts checked before the start of summer to see if they are cracked or glazed.. “If belts are making noise, that’s a sign to have them changed,” he says. “A broken belt can damage the water pump and affect the power steering.” It could cost $300 to have a timing belt changed during scheduled maintenance or $3,000 if the valves are bent and the belt breaks because it stayed on too long, Berkley says.

Tires keep everything on the road. Drivers should use all-terrain tires, which can be used year-round, Berkley says. “Snow tires get removed after winter because they are made for lower temperatures,” he says. “The rubber can break down and blow out in summer weather.” But any type of tire wears unevenly when it isn’t aligned properly. This is an especially dangerous problem if the car is already pulling to one side and the driver’s attention is affected by fatigue. The vehicle can drift into the next lane or off the roadway, Berkley says.

Tire wear and pressure should be checked before and during a trip. Having the proper amount of air can save up to 10 percent of gas with the added weight of passengers and luggage. Low air pressure makes the car take longer to stop and can cause a blowout.

Brake fluid is also needed to slow down or stop properly. Experts say it should be changed every couple of years. It works best when it’s the color of honey or beer. If it’s a copper color or reddish brown, then it has taken in moisture that can go down to the wheel cylinder. If it’s not changed, corrosion goes into the brakes. Corrosion in the brakes will make them lock and affect the driver’s ability to steer properly, he says.

Keep the windshield wiper fluid container under the hood, filled and an extra bottle in the trunk. Good windshield wipers will keep the window free of streaks and won’t scrape the glass. Drivers who live in a dry climate should check their wipers regularly because they could have gotten hard and dry-rotted from sitting in the sun. If the wipers look old or worn, change them before leaving home because it can be difficult to get the right size wipers for your car on the road.

Drivers should also check headlights and taillights to make sure they are bright enough to help the driver see and be seen.

Don’t forget the battery. Most car batteries remain maintenance-free for about three years if they haven’t been overworked, for example, by leaving the lights on for hours when the car is off. Make sure battery cables are free of corrosion. But if the car is hard to start when it’s cold and the lights aren’t bright when the engine is off, the battery may be old and might die soon, Berkley says.

All automobile professionals say motorists shouldn’t wait until they have a problem or are going on vacation to cheek vehicle’s parts and fluid levels. These automobile professionals recommend taking ears in for regular maintenance and especially before driving on vacation.

“It is easier and less expensive to change parts during a regular maintenance check than on the road,” Berkley says. “It won’t take time from your trip. Out-of-town motorists pay a premium because they don’t have time to shop for the best deal. They can’t schedule service visits and they may not have time to wait for a part to be delivered.” A motorist could end up staying in a hotel longer than he planned while waiting for his car to be repaired or have the unexpected added expense of buying last-minute airline tickets to fly home and back to get his car.

Vassor-Johnson, who only had the companionship of her two cats on two of her bicoastal trips, will make the trip from Philadelphia to Los Angeles again this fall. This time she’ll use a full-size car that’s undergone the necessary checks to make sure it’s roadworthy, and she’ll travel with her husband and father.

If you’ve bought a new car lately, you may have had an old- fashioned deflating experience that stays with you. Adriena Masi had one 16 years ago.

She visited a showroom with three small children in tow; her husband had died six months earlier. I asked a salesman for help, she recounts. He said, ‘Lady, why don’t you go home and bring your husband?’ I sat down and cried. Then she went to another dealership and bought a car.

A few years later, Masi was job hunting and ended up selling cars. Today she’s a client adviser at Hassel BMW in Freeport, one of three women in a sales force of 12, and says, I’m here to see that what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.

But she knows it happens at some other dealerships because women customers sometimes share those bad experiences with her. And although I heard about terrific saleswomen when I asked women in my professional and personal networks about their car-buying experiences, the negative anecdotes were plentiful and much like Masi’s.

I guess we haven’t come too far, baby, wrote Gloria Glowacki of the Small Business Development Center at Stony Brook, recalling her own experience only two months previous. The guy kept me waiting a ridiculous amount of time while he waited on ‘real customers.’ He actually said, ‘Don’t you want to call your husband and check?’

Noreen Carro, vice president of LMN Printing in Valley Stream, reported a whole series of brand-new gender misadventures leasing a new car. Dealer 1 addressed most of the answers to my significant other, Larry. When I asked if there was anything they could do on the monthly payments, they were kind of stern. When he [Larry] asked, there was a $50 decrease. I got the fish handshake, he got the firm handshake.

Salesman at Dealer 2 talked to her, but when it came to closing the deal, Larry was asked how it would be paid for. Dealer 3: Carro posed all the questions, but he had no time for me at all. I was invisible. Larry called attention to the fact that Carro would be paying for her own car. He still gave an answer indicating Larry was more knowledgeable. Strike 3.

Dealer 4: the salesman directed all his responses to Carro, understood her specific concerns, was straightforward about price ranges and had them both drive the car. She took the deal. The kicker: When I went back to pick the car up, he asked me out on a date.

Car dealers and manufacturers take note - each time Carro moved on, she switched brands, not just dealerships.

What makes this same-old, same-old so amazing is that it’s widely publicized that women make more than 50 percent of the car-buying decisions these days. Ford Motor Co. says it may be closer to 80 percent. And the saleswomen I talked to confirmed that once trust is established (yes, a relationship!), female customers are notably loyal, returning to the same salesperson regularly for new vehicles.

So if you’re not in the market for a car right now, does it matter that the promised land of gender equity may not apply? Well, some of my respondents told stories about buying boats, getting cars repaired, getting anything repaired and dealing with contractors. And how about dealing with male investment advisers? Male doctors?

Most remarkably, almost every anecdote I was told ended with, So I walked out. Why do we so rarely speak up when we are patronized and insulted, even though we’re holding the economic power?

That’s pretty complicated. So for the moment, let’s settle for a few ideas on how to respond.

Adriena Masi: Ask at the desk for another salesperson. You just have to say ‘I’m not comfortable, can I talk to someone else?’

Norman Orenstein, who operates the Auto Buying Service in Merrick and has many women clients, said, I’d say, ‘Hey listen, I’m not going to buy the car from you, and this is the reason and why are you approaching me this way?’

Dr. Janice Grackin, Department of Psychology at Stony Brook, said she looks for a woman to buy from for the same reason she prefers female doctors: I feel more comfortable and able to be assertive with another woman. My own increased self-confidence leads to being treated differently.

Barbara Boccio of Boccio Design Group said surprise them. She noticed how much attention her husband got during car shopping by digging around in the engine and looking underneath. He actually requested it be put up on a lift - another idea for the checklist and one that should flip the sales guys out.

Gloria Glowacki: I should have asked the salesman if he needed to call his wife before completing the deal.

Reality check: Psychologist Susan Dowell believes women should take more responsibility for the success of their interactions. The way people communicate is 50 percent of the game. Be aware of the stances you take. Do you expect to be treated a certain way? That will come across through body language, attentiveness in approaching certain domains. Go in with a stance of expecting service, just like when you ask for a raise. Getting it depends on your expectations.

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Are you in the market for a car? If so, here are three good reasons to buy a used vehicle:

(1) you can’t afford a new one;
(2) you want the better value intrinsic in buying a used car, since new cars greatly

depreciate in value in the first few years;
(3) you get more car for the money–an old luxury car can cost as little as a new economy

car.

The good news is that there are plenty of great used cars out there. Because new cars last

longer and remain more reliable, there is a better selection of used cars available. The bad

news is that buying one can get complicated. You will need to set a budget, determine what

types of cars are acceptable, decide where to buy, find the right car, have it inspected for

quality and then negotiate price–before you hit the gas.

Of course, the more money you have, the better your selection. The most reliable used cars

are the newer ones. Since so many new cars are leased rather than purchased these days,

there are plenty of fairly new machines on the market. That means well-maintained two- and

three-year-old cars are common. For the ultimate in buyer confidence, many new car dealers

offer a factory-backed “Certified Used Car” program. This gives you a car with a warranty

similar to what you’d get if you bought a new car. The downside is that this is also the

most expensive way to buy a used car.

Regardless of where you buy it, however, a new car may still have some of the original

warranty left. New car warranties today are commonly three years or 36,000 miles, whichever

comes first. Some luxury brands extend that another year. The important thing is to verify

any promises made by the seller. The previous owner must have completed specified

maintenance items to keep a warranty intact. This is just one reason why complete service

records for a car add to its value.

USED CAR SOURCES

There are three places to buy a used car: new car dealers, used car dealers and private

parties. New car dealers have the best access to factory service and get first pick of

off-lease cars of the same brand they sell new. You’ll pay more to get this assurance of a

quality vehicle. The independent used car dealer usually buys cars at an auction without

having the opportunity to do a complete mechanical inspection. Although some of these

dealers have been in business for a long time and are reputable, be aware that such

businesses are less likely to provide the best customer service. Check them out carefully

with consumer organizations and the Better Business Bureau. If there’s a problem, each state

has its own laws about recourse, so it’s a good idea to know the local rules ahead of time.

Most used car purchases are deals between private parties. This is the way to get the lowest

price. The downside is that you can’t expect the seller to be around if you have problems.

You must do all your footwork before you hand over the cash.

If you’re buying from a friend or relative, you will likely get an honest appraisal of the

vehicle. If a car has problems, most people won’t want to stick their friends with it. But

before you turn a good friend into an enemy, make sure you know what you’re buying anyway

and accept that the car is being sold “as is.”

The one seller you want to avoid is called a “curbstone” dealer. This is a person who buys

and resells cars frequently as a business, but who poses as a private party. This person

will meet you in a parking lot or come to your house, but will not meet you at his or her

own residence. The ownership title of the vehicle will not be in his or her name. Because

these are the least scrupulous sellers, they often cover over problems that a car might

have. Check the documentation, including the ownership papers, of any used car before you

buy it.

HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED

In any private transaction, regardless of the documentation, you should always have a car

properly inspected. Even if the car is new enough to still have time left on the original

warranty, an inspection is crucial. A car could have been damaged and then repaired. But if

the repair was done improperly, or the damage was too severe, the warranty may have been

invalidated.

When you have found the car you want to buy, go to a professional mechanic who is familiar

with inspections. The best mechanics will give you a list of items that are checked and will

go over the car with you after the inspection. After carefully examining engine, suspension,

electrical, brake and other components, you will have a much better idea of whether the car

is in good and properly maintained condition. A simple look at the oil–is it clean or black

and dirty?–will tell you if it has been changed recently. The $50 to $100 expense of a

thorough inspection can sometimes buy you as much peace of mind as paying $1,000 or $2,000

more at a dealership. If the seller isn’t willing to have the car checked out, be extremely

wary. There could be something seriously wrong with the vehicle. If you can’t take the car

off the premises for an inspection, bring your mechanic to the car. When it comes to a used

vehicle purchase, you’re in the driver’s seat.

Finding out how much a used car is worth can be difficult. You should start with a published

guidebook, such as the NADA Official Used Car Guide or the Kelley Blue Book, often available

at your local library. There are also Websites with this information. Often you will get

values for trade-in, wholesale and retail. Prices are revised weekly. The retail figure is

the one the dealership hopes to get. It’s a high value for even the best used car. The

wholesale price is generally a reasonable figure for a transaction between private parties

if the vehicle is in good shape. If you plan on trading in another vehicle when you make a

purchase, don’t tell the seller about it until after you have a firm deal. Then bring up the

subject of a trade-in to find out how much you’re really being offered.

The most important thing to realize when you’re buying an older car is that it’s going to need maintenance and repair work. Allow for that in your budget. That aging but still useful BMW may look like a great deal now, but remember, it’s going to cost a lot more to keep running than a newer and less luxurious Toyota. Luxury cars have more expensive features to maintain, and they remain expensive to maintain as they age. Keep the costs for parts and service in mind before you use up your entire budget on the initial purchase price. Buying a classic car is a different matter. But unless you’re an expert mechanic ready to take on a challenge, avoid that “fixer-upper” car. It could cost you more than its purchase price before it’s in good shape. Unless you can supply the labor, it’s nearly always cheaper to buy a good car than to fix up a marginal one.