The easiest way to purchase a used car is to head down to a local auto dealership. However, if you prefer you can also take a look at the loal newspaper and check out the classifieds. Personally I much prefer surfing on-line since I’m on the lazy side. Many dealerships have their inventory available on-line for you to check out. You can also find good deals on sites like Craigslist.  It’s not just third parties who advertise on classified websites, many dealers advertise their stock on these sites as well.

The most important thing to remember is to always have an independent mechanic check the car out before you buy anything. Buying a car is a significant decision and you want to ensure that you’re not getting some lemon that’s going to fall apart any time soon.  Used Cars Mendota Heights aka Used Cars Golden Valley has great deals on pre-owned suv’s, Volkswagen, Sentra, Toyota, Mazda and Impala cars.

Always find out if the auto is sold “as is” or if it comes with a warranty. The seller is not responsible if the vehicle breaks down or needs repairs if the car is sold “as is”. If it is covered under warranty, find out exactly which parts and services are covered and the duration thereof.

If you aren’t on a tight budget and have some money to spare then you might want to consider going the certified pre-owned route.  These autos usually have been much better cared for than other regular used cars and tend to be late models.  These cars are usually pricier but have passed stringent inspection procedures.

Running a Carfax report is important if you want all the nitty gritty details of your potential ride. This report will give you a detailed breakdown of the vehicle’s history including the number of previous owners, accidents, maintenance, possible flooding exposure and much more.

When it comes to financing you can either pay cash, finance it through a third party institution or through the dealership. You are not obligated to finance with the dealership and in many cases you will be able to obtain lower interest rates through a credit union or your bank.

Lupient Motors is a Used Cars Minneapolis and Used Cars Eden Prairie dealer with a large selection of used cars in Minnesota, also known as MN. We serve the cities of of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Richfield MN, Rosemount, Savage, St Louis Park, St Paul. Please stop by our Bloomington Used Car Showroom at 9301 Lyndale Ave. South, Bloomington, MN 55420 and we will show you Why Lupient Motor Cars is the best place for used cars in Bloomington, MN.

However, the Japan Tsunami has forced the auto maker to close its doors until March 23. Honda isn’t the only Japanese company affected; numerous other companies including Toyota and Mazda have all ceased production temporarily. One main reason is due to aftershocks; the area is still being hit with hundreds of aftershocks and the plants close down automatically after they are hit with a quake greater than 5.0. Logistics will prove to be another major hurdle since streets are filled with debris, highways are closed and ports destroyed. This makes transporting goods near impossible.

Eight of Honda’s factories will be closed until March 23, 2011 while others are expected to stay closed until May. The cars which will be affected most are the fuel efficient ones; primarily the Insight and Fit. Consumers have been quickly picking them up in the States because gas is getting pricey and many people cannot afford to drive big cars that consume immense amounts of gasoline.

One of the cars to be affected is the Fit; American consumers have been quite receptive to this car due to its low price, functionality and great gas efficiency. It’s a small car and competes in the small car segment which includes vehicles such as the the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta.  For Ford cars in Dallas check out Ford F-150 Dallas and Ford Mustang Dallas.  There are three trims available the base, sport and sport with a system that provides directions from point A to point B. Step inside and you’ll be surrounded by a sweet looking interior with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel and ample of seating.  It is powered by a 1.5 Liter four cylinder engine with 117 hp. Mileage stands at 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the freeway. The more expensive Fit Sport model gets you get USB compatibility and the ability to enter without a key. If you are in the Los Angeles area, check out Los Angeles Honda dealer Galpin for great deals on the Fit.

The other Honda car which may suffer as a result of the crisis is the Insight; a hybrid car. As mentioned earlier, hybrids will be the most affected since they are in high demand. A short while ago customers were able to buy Hybrids at low prices and in many cases even receive cool discounts and savings but not anymore. Dealers are selling them at sticker price and are refusing to sell below sticker price. Mileage is at 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the freeway.  Every time you press the brakes the engine automatically gets charged. An Ecco Assist system is also in place; this function lets you know if you’re driving efficiently and encourages you to drive in a manner which conserves fuel.  The base model is priced at around eighteen thousand dollars. View the new inventory of Honda Los Angeles and Honda San Fernando Valley here.

Honda has generously donated $3.75 million dollars towards relief efforts in Japan and plans to re-open their plants as soon as possible.

Galpin is a Los Angeles honda dealer serving the cities of North Hills, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and Sylmar. We are proud to be your Sylmar Honda dealer and offer Honda Accord Los Angeles deals.  Galpin Honda is located at 11151 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91340

Minivans aren’t supposed to be flashy or glamorous; they are supposed to be durable and work under pressure which may include transporting a boatload of passengers and keeping them entertained on long road trips and the 2010 Odyssey delivers on every aspect.  This efficient minivan has seating for eight and offers excellent gas mileage.  Four trims are available for this auto; the LX, EX, EX-L and the Touring version.

As mentioned earlier, the Odyssey’s engine is the most powerful in its class.  It puts out 244 hp and 240 lb feet of torque via a V6 3.5 Liter. It won’t win any street races but this is more than ample power in order to merge on the freeway and to drive around town. Gas mileage is quite good at vehicle gets 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the freeway.  This minivan handles exceptionally well, it drives and feels just like a regular car out on the road.

What’s noticeable when driving this minivan is the fact that it stays relatively quiet even at fast speeds.  The fully powered driver’s seat can be adjusted in many ways in order for your comfort. If  you choose to select Honda’s satellite linked navigation system, you also get a super cool feature called “Song By Voice” which allows you to change switch songs and change albums by easy to use voice commands.

Safety has been thoroughly emphasized with the inclusion of features such as the ABS braking mechanism functions with the electronic brake distribution system in order to help to maintain control when the brakes are suddenly pressed. The neck area is protected in case of an accident via the active head restraints. Vehicle Stability Assist corrects understeer and oversteer.  There is even an optional camera available which is very helpful when you’re trying to back out of a space or parallel park in a tight spot. Since tires are a crucial element to safety, a tire pressure monitoring is in place which lets you know when your tire pressure isn’t normal.

The 2010 Odyssey is a leader in its class due to its function, efficiency and price, which is within reach for most families at $24k. This minivan handles almost like a car and its gas efficiency is excellent considering its size and seating capacity. If you have been thinking about purchasing a minivan, definitely check out the Odyssey.

If you are interested in purchasing an Odyssey, visit Atlanta Honda Dealer for a large selection of Used Cars Marietta.

If you lead an active lifestyle and need a vehicle that will accommodate all your gear and is a cinch to clean then the 2010 Honda Element might be a great fit. It’s a very unique looking vehicle due to its square shape and it definitely stands out on the streets.  . Unloading cargo is effortless thanks to the wide doors.  This vehicle competes in the affordable compact SUV niche with cars such as the Soul from Kia, Mazda 5 and the Xb from Scion.

The Honda Element is not a hot rod by any stretch of the imagination but offers more than sufficient power for every day driving. The engine is a 2.4 Liter four cylinder which puts out 166 hp and uses a sixteen valve DOHC i-Vtec . It takes ten seconds for this car to travel from zero to sixty.  Gas mileage stands at 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the freeway for the front-wheel-drive model. The vehicle is a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at around 3,500 and towing capacity for this vehicle is up to 1500 lbs.  Handling is excellent and the ride feels on the firm side.

A very special offering that the Element brings to the table is the optional Dog Friendly Package. This includes a kennel placed in the back, a soft bed for your dog to sleep on, a spill proof drinking bowl, a stowable ramp, seat covers adorned with dog patterns, and a fan to keep your pet cooled during the hot summer months. Now it’s easier than ever to take your dog along when you go for a run, go hiking or to the beach.  There are three different trim selections to choose from; the basic LX, EX and SC. The EX trims includes satellite radio, sixteen inch alloy wheels, audio controls on the steering wheel and vanity mirrors. An optional navigation system and a USB interface can be added at an additional price.

The cabin is spacious, seating is very comfortable and ample with enough room to seat four adults. The trunk space is massive with seventy five cubic feet available (with the rear seats removed) in order to store everything you need. Innovative storage solutions allow you to fold or even remove the back seats as required. The cabin is spacious and constructed for functionality and practicality.

A plethora of safety features in place including an advanced air bag system and side-impact door beams.  Vehicle Stability Assist is in place which helps to maintain control of the car as required. The Anti Lock Brake System allows for better control when the brakes are applied hard. The IIHS awarded the Element as the top safety pick for the year of 2010.

Due to the fact that it’s easy to clean and offers a huge trunk space, this car is geared towards consumers with active lifestyles. However, you don’t have to be super active in order to appreciate the Element; if you need a functional compact SUV that offers a ton of room the Element may be just right for you. Pricing starts at $20,525 for the LX base model.

To see more of the 2010 Honda Element, visit Galpin Honda, your Los Angeles Honda dealer.

Mugen has installed a tuned suspension that was tested at the famed Twin-Ring Motegi race track in Japan. This suspension consists of a stiffer set of lowering springs that brings the car’s center of gravity down for better handling, stiffened the shocks to cope with the lowered ride height, tuned dampers, lightweight Mugen 18×7.5 forged aluminum rims, and high performance tires.

Pop the hood and you will lay eyes on the 4-cylinder, 197-hp engine mated to a six-speed transmission with a limited slip differential.  The exhaust has been swapped out for a Mugen issued cat-back piece that sounds pissed off.

Mugen also gave the exterior a minor makeover.  While most Civics are overdone with huge body kits made from fiberglass; Mugen has added some nice urethane pieces.  The aero pieces include a front spoiler and grill, side skirts, a rear diffuser spoiler, and a cool rear wing.  And of course each limited-edition Mugen Civic comes covered in Fuji Blue.

Mugen Civic sports an interior that is upgraded with some limited edition pieces.  There is a nice Mugen Plaque that marks this as a limited edition car, a nifty aluminum shift knob, and pedal covers.

Only 1,000 Mugen Civic SI vehicles will be on sale in the U.S. which will definitely cement its status as a limited Edition Car!  The estimated retail price will be about $30,000, and this car will come with a full Factory Warranty from Honda.

See a full line-up of Honda Cars at Palm Springs Honda.  Source:  Cool New Cars

1. Ignition/Push Start Buttons – The first car to my knowledge to come standard with this feature was the Honda S2000. Although you still need to put a key into the ignition, the push button start was a great idea that caught on with manufacturers everywhere. BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus wasted no time in adding this to their line-up. But now this feature is even better; you don’t even need to put the key into any ignition, just have the key in your pocket and the car will start right up with the push of a button!
2. Navigation Systems – With the popularity of Magellan, Tom Tom, and other road map systems, it was only a matter of time before the in-dash navigation system would make its way onto current cars. I look forward to the day when I can afford a new car with the in-dash nav/DVD system.
3. Gas/Electric Hybrids – This has been the future of automobiles for years. Toyota and Honda know this, but it was just this year that U.S. automakers got their act together and started producing hybrid vehicles. Soon all cars will be hybrids, then electric, then gas will be dead forever!
4. Cylinder Cut-Off systems – This is by far my favorite new wave in the car industry. Cylinder Deactivation essentially turns a V-8 engine into a 4-cylinder by cutting fuel to half of the cylinder banks. This is a great way for big V-8 trucks and SUV’s to get reasonable gas mileage.
5. Paddle Shifters – We go from my favorite invention to my least favorite. In fact I hate the idea of paddle shifters on everyday cars. I feel they should be reserved for million dollar Ferrari’s that need millisecond shifts. Now cars as lowly as the Mitsubishi Lancer will get high tech paddle shifters. This marks the beginning of the end for clutch operated, hand shifted cars. I shed a tear.
6. Rear view Cameras – This option grew out of necessity. Supercars like the McLaren F1 which has the tiniest of rear windows relied on a camera to see what’s behind. Then big trucks and SUV’s like the Infiniti FX have caught onto the trend. Now many luxury cars offer this system. It makes reversing much safer and will definitely help in the area of parking.
7. Turbochargers and Smaller Engines – Again auto manufacturers like Volkswagen have used turbocharged 4-cylinder engines to produce as much horsepower as a V-8 while getting incredible gas mileage. I have always been a big fan of turbos’, which used the wasted exhaust gasses to power up.
8. Small Cars/Spacious Interiors – Again it is the Japanese sub-compact industry that sparked the rise of these cars in America. Hatchbacks have been around for years, and the folding rear seats allow for a ton of cubic space in a hatchback style car.
9. Capless Fuel Systems – Gas can evaporate! Yup this is news to me but very true. Ford is on the leading edge with their GT Supercar which features a capless fuel system. This internal sealing feature will be a trend we see on new cars in the future.
10. Information Systems – The Ford Sync provides real time traffic reports, an On-Star like feature that alerts authorities in the event of an accident, and a vehicle diagnostic system.

With these new features appearing on more new cars, the race is on for car manufacturers to provide the consumers with the newest technology.