Buying a Used Car in Houston

It has been a year and half since I left Texas A&M, and started working in a car dealership in my hometown of Houston. I had to leave the university to support my family really. I was in the sports team, but my academic achievements were not as good as I wanted them to be. Plus I had incurred huge debts due to student loans and what not. Though I did not have any prior experience in selling cars, I quickly learned the ins and outs of the business. I was also surprised to see that a lot of the customers preferred used cars to new ones. So I will share the following tips that people can follow before buying used cars in Houston.

•          Go for newer models

It is preferable to look for a model that is still in sale. Although some buyers may purposefully set out to buy a vintage car, buying a car model that is still in sale can ensure that the customer doesn’t face problems while getting car repaired or finding spare parts.

•          Check that engine

Make sure that you check the engine of the car to evaluate its condition. You cannot judge the wear and tear incurred by the engine by seeing how many miles the car has travelled. If you aren’t sure of what to look for when inspecting the engine, take a mechanic along with you.

•          Check service history

Go through the car’s service log to see how well the previous owner took care of the car. Check the service log to determine the regularity with which the used car was serviced and to also see if the car’s been involved in any major accident or has displayed any serious mechanical fault in the past.

•          Verify documentation

When buying a used car in Houston, make sure that you check all necessary documents including the original registration papers and insurance papers.

•          Go for a test drive

Take the car for a test drive. It would help you ascertain if there are any problems with the suspension, brakes, gears, steering wheel and lights.

•          Dents and other damage

Inspect the used car thoroughly to insure that you make the best deal. Check for dents, inconsistencies in body paint and any other signs of physical damage to the car.

Buying a used car requires a keen eye and attention to the tiniest of details. Make sure that you pay a fair price for the car. If the deal sounds too good to be true, double-check the car’s service log, documentation and physical condition.

Planning to Sell My Truck

I am a 21 year old college student living in San Antonio. One fact about being a student pursuing higher education in USA is, you are going to drown in debts and student loans. And that is exactly why I have decided to sell my Chevrolet Silverado 1500. This truck belonged to my dad, which he “gifted” to me when I got into college. I am quite attached to it, though my situation was a dire one. Selling the truck was not my first idea. I had planned to start working part time in a local restaurant to pay my loans, even do a tuition or two. But soon I realized that no matter what I do, I could not collect enough money to pay all my debts. Finally, I discussed my plan to sell the truck, and he took the idea quite well.

I have decided to sell my truck to someone local from San Antonio, as it will help me buy it back once I manage to collect enough money. But the problem is, there are too many used trucks for sale in San Antonio. It will be hard for me to get a good deal, so I am going to post this blog online and hope that someone will contact me. I will list some cool facts about my truck, so that the buyers can get a general idea about the deal:

1)    The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers variety. The truck can be a good option for anyone. Buyers can choose between regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab styles with a short, standard, or long cargo box and rear-wheel or 4-wheel drive. Trim levels range from the basic WT (Work Truck) to the luxurious LTZ, with LS and LT models in between.  My truck is an LS model with a crew cab design.

2)    The Silverado is the only pickup truck offered with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain (excluding the GMC Sierra). The 2-mode hybrid powertrain pairs a 332-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 engine with Active Fuel Management technology to a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack and an electrically variable transmission. The Hybrid version can travel at speeds up to 30 mph on electricity alone, is estimated by the EPA to get 21 mpg in combined driving, and is rated to tow 6,100 pounds or carry up to 1,527 pounds of payload.

3)    The 1500 is equipped with standard stability control, trailer sway control, hill-start assist, and powertrain grade braking, which reduce brake rotor temperatures when descending long downhill grades. All models equipped with an automatic transmission also have a Tow/Haul mode, and an integrated trailer brake controller is optional for the Silverado 1500. Maximum trailering capacity is 10,700 pounds, when equipped with the optional Max Trailering package and its 403-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

I know that there are a lot of used trucks for sale in San Antonio, but my truck has gone through some recent maintenance, with new parts installed (from Texas, so relax). The documents are all in order, so people don’t have to worry about me being a curbstoner.

Running a Car Dealership Business in Austin Texas

I am running a car dealership business in Austin. It is kind of a family business really. My father used to run this business before me, his father before him. This business has been with us for more than 60 years now. And all this time, we have seen hundreds of car models come and go. My dad’s favorite was the Pontiac GTO. He owned that car for 16 years, taking cross country rides in it whenever he could. Sometimes he took me with him, sometimes he took mom, while I would be looking after the business. My grandpa passed away when I was a kid, so I don’t remembered much about him, other than the fact that he loved cars too, and that was why he got into the whole car dealership business.

 At the time, both car dealerships and car buyers were a rare sight in Austin. Owning a car was considered a thing of luxury. For 60 years, we have seen the rise of car prices, and car buyers. The tug and pull of the economy have not decreased people’s enthusiasm for cars.  

My dealership sells both new and used cars. And though I sell a lot of new cars, I get to sell more used cars than that. And I think that’s a good thing. Used cars are not half as bad as people make them out to be, and with proper maintenance, they can give a pretty good competition to new cars in term of performance. Many car buyers these days are kids, with new jobs, new houses, and a need for new cars. They don’t want much luxury, but they want tons of gadgets in their cars. 

Car dealership business has changed over the years, with some dealers integrating hi-tech digital systems in their shop so that customers can get the ultimate experience while buying new cars. And I have decided to bring some of those stuff to my shop.  

These days, with the rains and the floods, the car dealership business has taken a hit. But still, Austin’s car dealership business is going strong, my car dealership business is going strong, and I hope that this trend will continue.