pg 11-Cars Boats Spokes BW 022415.indd

Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Page 11 - Malvern Daily Record
“NOW YOU’RE GOING PLACES!”
A FEW HELPFUL HINTS FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
Things to consider before buying your next car
Buyers often find the
process of finding a new
car fun. Test driving vehicles and playing with all
of the gadgets that today's
increasingly tech-heavy vehicles have to offer can be
akin to kids visiting a candy
store and being given carte
blanche to fill up their baskets.
But as enjoyable as finding a new car can be, the
financial commitment that
such a purchase requires
can make the process somewhat nerve-wracking as
well. Buyers often assign
the most risk to preowned
vehicles, and rightfully so.
But some buyers even regret their purchases after
buying a new car, whether
the car does not suit their
lifestyle as much as they
had hoped or the vehicle
simply isn't living up to the
expectations drivers had for
it at the time of purchase.
Savvy buyers will consider
the following factors before
taking the keys to their next
new cars.
• Additional costs:
Many new car shoppers
plan to finance or lease
their vehicles, but the down
payment and monthly payment is not the only number
buyers must confirm before
buying a vehicle. After the
purchase price and monthly
payments have been figured
out, the two most significant costs buyers must consider are insurance and gas.
Some vehicles cost more to
insure than others, and the
cost of a policy will depend
on more than just a buyer's
personal driving history.
The vehicle's safety features, where a driver lives
and the type of vehicle, both
its make and model and the
category it fits into (i.e.,
sports car, luxury vehicle,
etc.), are all going to be
used to determine the cost
of an insurance policy.
Buyers also must consider how much a vehicle will
cost to fuel up before making a final decision. Many
a driver has grinned when
driving a brand new SUV
off a dealership lot, only
to frown on that first trip
to the filling station. Insurance companies typically
provide free estimates
to prospective customers, so do your
homework on the
different makes and
models you're considering, getting an
insurance quote for
each vehicle. In addition, consider the expected
fuel costs of each vehicle
before making a decision.
• Reputation: Thanks to
the Internet, today's vehicle
buyers have a valuable tool
at their disposal that those
of yesteryear rarely had:
their fellow drivers. When
considering certain makes
and models, go online to
see what fellow drivers and
professional reviewers have
to say about a given vehicle. Sites like Edmunds.
com and Safecar.gov offer
professional
assessments
of various makes and models, while various message
boards exist to allow drivers
to review the performance
of their vehicles. Such resources are invaluable and
can paint a realistic picture
of what it might be like to
own and drive a particular
automobile.
• Resale value: While
selling a car you don't even
own yet is probably not
foremost on your mind, it
is important to consider a
car's potential resale value
before buying it. The high
costs of new vehicles has
pushed many buyers out of
the new car market, making
preowned vehicles a more
affordable and attractive
Donating a car to charity
A few options arise when
drivers feel it is time to relinquish their current vehicles for new ones. When the
call of a new vehicle beckons, a person can choose
to sell his or her existing
car or truck and pocket the
profit to put toward a new
one, trade in the vehicle at
the dealership, or donate it
to charity.
A charitable donation
seems like a win-win situation for all involved. The
philanthropist is able to
unload an unwanted
vehicle and receive
a considerable tax
deduction, while the
charitable organization receives a car
that they can put to
use or sell to raise
some money. While
donating a car is a generous way to give, it is
important to keep in mind
there is some work involved.
First, consider that the
more people involved in the
transaction, the less money
the organization may receive. There are companies
that advertise their services
to help people who want to
donate their vehicles. Typically, these companies will
keep a percentage of the ve-
hicle sales price — which
means less money will go
to the charity. Depending
on the company, as much as
50 to 90 percent of the earnings could be kept by the
company instead of being
fully donated to the charity.
When looking for charities, choose one that can
accept vehicle donations.
If they cannot use a vehicle and don't have
the means of selling
one and keep-
i n g
the profit, do
the legwork for the charity
and then donate the cash instead.
In order for the person
donating the vehicle to receive a tax deduction, it
is essential to confirm the
charity is an IRS- or Canada
Revenue Agency-approved
charitable organization with
a tax-exempt status. Afterward, it is important to follow up with the charity to
find out the sales price they
received for the vehicle if
they did the sale on their
own. When filing taxes, it
will be necessary to provide
evidence of how much the
charity
received
for the car
or truck. The
only exemption to this is
if the charity keeps the vehicle or if the donation is
worth less than $500. Then
it is possible to simply report the fair market value of
the vehicle based on pricing
sources, such as Kelly Blue
Book.
Remember that any vehicle or boat donation will
require that ownership be
transferred over to the charity. This safeguards the
person doing the donating
from any violations the vehicle might incur after it is
no longer in possession of
the private owner. This may
include parking tickets. It is
adviseable to formally retitle the vehicle in the
charity's name.
To receive the
maximum
benefit from
the vehicle
donation,
individuals
must be diligent in keeping accurate
records and report the transfer to
the appropriate agency.
This protects donors from
losing out on a tax deduction or facing any legal
ramifications down the line.
It also helps the reputable
charity receive the most
benefit from the donation.
Charities can be vetted
through organizations such
as Charity Navigator and
the Better Business Bureau.
After which a donation of a
vehicle can benefit all parties involved.
option.
So
considering a
car's potential resale value
before buying it new is a
smart move that can pay dividends down the road when
you're back on the market
for a new vehicle. Kelley
Blue Book (kbb.com) is a
valuable resource to gauge
the resale value of vehicles,
and buyers can even calculate the resale value of a car
over its first five years. This
can help consumers determine which options to get
on their new cars and even
help to govern their driving
habits in an effort to keep
the vehicle's resale value as
high as possible.
When buying a new vehicle, it can be tempting to
buy the most visually stunning or gadget-heavy vehicle on the dealership lot.
But buyers should consider
more than just appearance
and accessories before buying their next new car.
Tony & Judy Ritter
501-337-0557
EZ
1546 Gardiner St.
Malvern, Ar. 72104
(behind Shell Station)
Tires • Oil Change
Mini Storage
AUTO
INSURANCE
INC.
501-332-4422
(Fax) 501-332-6683
Agents
Barbara Meador
Maranda Wilson
MALVERN TIRE
COMPANY, INC.
1303 S. Stanley St. • Malvern, AR 72104
Phone
Fax
501-332-3606
501-332-3667
Mon - Fri 8 am - 5 pm • Sat 8 am - 12 pm
SELLING
PRE-OWNED
VEHICLES
SINCE 1986
DARRYEL
MASSEY
PRESIDENT
MASSEY MOTORS, Inc.
571 MLK BLVD.
MALVERN, AR 72104
Ph. 501.332.3384
Cell: 501.732.0711
Fax: 501.332.5393
e-mail: [email protected]
SINCE 1906
SINCE 1906
NEW 2014 BUICK LACROSSE
V6
ALL POWER
$5,000
off MSRP
MSRP
Bonus Cash
$34,475
$5000 =
NOW
NEW 2014 FORD F150 SUPER CAB
NEW 2014 FORD F150
NEW 2013 BUICK ENCORE
stock #
275267
$29,475
$3,469
off MSRP
MSRP
Discount
$29,450
$3,469 =
NOW
stock #
82483
$25,981
XLT SERIES • XLT CONVENIENCE
PKG • PWR DRIVER SEAT
POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
SINGLE CD W/LCD/SYNC BASIC
SELECT SHIFT TRANSMISSION
SIRIUS XM RADIO • TAILGATE
STEP • INTEGRATED TRAILER
BRAKE CONT • STOCK# 35892
MSRP
$35,390
Smart Discount
$3,655
Retail Customer Cash $1,500
F150 Special Retail Cust Cash $1,750
Retail Trade-in Assist Bonus Ca
Cash
sh $1,500
Ford Credit Retail Bonus Cust Cash $1,000
MSRP
$30,340
Smart Discount
$3,105
Retail Customer Cash $1,000
F150 Special Retail Cust Cash
$250
F150 $TX Bonus Cust Cash
$500
Retail Trade-in Assist Bonus Ca
Cash
sh $1,500
Ford Credit Retail Bonus Cust Cash $1,000
$25,985
$22,985
STX SERIES
STX DECOR PKG • FOG LAMPS
TRAILER TOW PKG
SELECT SHIFT TRANS
COMMUNICATION PKG
SYNC VOICE ACTIVATED SYSTEM
SIRIUS XM RADIO
STOCK# 48161
NOTE: New car photos above are for illustration purposes only.
2600 S Rivercreek Dr. • Malvern, AR 72104
501-332-3631 • www.smartmalvern.com
1103 MLK Blvd. • Malvern, AR 72104 • 501-332-5414
www.smartfordmalvern.com
Page 12 - Malvern Daily Record
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
“NOW YOU’RE GOING PLACES!”
A FEW HELPFUL HINTS FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
Boating 101: tips for beginners
Boating 101
Learning to boat or sail
is similar to learning to
drive an automobile. Neither one happens overnight.
Learning to get around on
the water can be exciting,
but it can also be intimidating to take over the reins of
a boat for the first time.
Though beginners might
be apprehensive when they
first start to boat or sail,
there are some tips that
can make it a little easier
for those new to captaining
their own ship.
• Start small. Much like
teenagers learning to drive
are often more comfortable
learning behind the wheel
of a compact car, boating
beginners might be more
comfortable learning to sail
on a small boat. Smaller
boats are easier to maneuver, making even the most
nervous novice a little more
comfortable.
• Choose calm waters
in which to practice. According to the United States
Coast Guard, in 2010 there
were more than 4,600 recreational boating accidents
that involved 672 deaths.
Though boating accidents
in both the United States
and Canada, where the
Canadian government expected roughly 200 boaters
to die on the water in 2009,
have been on the decline,
accident statistics illustrate
just how dangerous it can
be even for fully licensed
and experienced sailors to
operate a boat. That said,
beginners should always
practice in calm waters that
don't boast big waves or
lots of fellow boaters. This
gives beginners the chance
to learn the feel of the boat
without the added pressure
of handling choppy waters
or traffic.
• Read the weather
reports. Veteran boaters
struggle with inclement
weather from time to time,
so beginners should expect
to struggle with adverse
conditions as well. But don't
be caught off guard by bad
weather. Always check the
weather reports before going out, and be sure to bring
along appropriate attire and
gear.
• Don't go it alone.
Boating and sailing come
with their own terminology, which beginners are
typically unfamiliar with.
Before heading out on the
water, learn as much of this
terminology as possible, be
it by studying manuals or
books, or even asking experienced friends for help.
When taking to the water,
bring those friends along.
• Respect other boaters.
Boating is a hobby enjoyed
by millions, and boaters
should always respect that
there are other people on
the water as well. Whether
you're out in the middle of
the ocean or relaxing at the
pier on your docked boat,
respect the other boaters
by keeping the music down
and always discarding of
trash in a responsible way.
Far too many boaters or
boat passengers dump their
garbage over the side of the
boat, so always be sure you
and your passengers are respectful of Mother Nature
and other boaters.
Learn how to tow cargo safely
Warm weather is on the
horizon, and people from
all over are preparing their
vehicles for another season
of road trips. In addition to
packing the interior cargo
areas full of equipment and
luggage, many road-trippers also haul gear and recreational accessories with
them.
There's more to towing
than hitching a trailer and
hitting the open road. A
number of factors come into
play when towing cargo or
another vehicle, including
the towing capacity of the
vehicle doing the hauling.
The following are some
safety tips for road trippers
hitting the road with trailer
in tow.
Tow vehicles
While many vehicles
have towing capabilities, not all of
those vehicles
are
necessarily
right
f o r
t h e
job.
Review
the
towing capacities of
various vehicles depending
on the type of trailer that
will be towed. A larger,
more powerful vehicle may
be necessary if you will be
towing something large and
heavy, such as a boat or a
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recreational vehicle. You may
need more horsepower to
maintain a safe driving
speed when towing especially heavy cargo.
Equipment
Different
manufacturers offer towing packages
equipped to work in concert
with your vehicle. Towing
packages may include certain types of hitches, batteries, flasher systems, extended-view side mirrors, and
even special axles and tires.
In many areas, a trailer with
a loaded weight of more
than 1,500 pounds requires a
separate braking system and
a breakaway switch located
on the tongue of the trailer
that activates the trailer
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RIVER PARK PLAZA
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brakes in the
event it separates
from the tow vehicle.
Having the right equipment can mean the difference between safely towing
cargo and getting in an accident.
Ability
Having a lot of power
and the right equipment is
not enough to safely tow
cargo. Recklessness on the
road, which includes driving over the speed limit,
is a recipe for an accident.
It typically takes time and
some practice for drivers to
grow accustomed to driving
while towing cargo. Driving
while towing cargo requires
that drivers maneuver their
vehicles differently than
they would in
more typical conditions, and that they drive at
slower speeds while leaving
room for a larger turning
radius. In addition, drivers
must accommodate for the
extra weight when braking.
Vehicle check
Verifying that the trailer
hitch is secure is not the only
inspection drivers must conduct before hitting the open
road. The vehicle doing the
towing should be serviced,
and any repairs should be
made. Check fluid levels,
particularly the transmission fluid. In addition, make
sure
the water level in the battery is acceptable and
have the motor oil changed
if it is nearing its mileage
limit. It's also a good idea
to replace the air filter, examine the tires for adequate
tread and test the brakes.
When the trip begins,
give your vehicle and the
hitch a once-over to doublecheck that everything is in
working order. This can be
done during service station
stops along the trip.
Spring is a season of recreational fun and long road
trips, but it pays to play it
safe when towing gear and
other cargo.
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