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Do you know that there are 3 very basic but extremely efficient buying new car tips that will help you big time when it comes to negotiating car purchase?

OK. Here’s how it goes. Usually.

You’ve decided that you want a new car.

You’ve surfed the Internet a bit so you can get an idea about what type of car is right for your needs. In the process your attention was grabbed by the models you can’t afford. Anyhow, in the end you’ve come up with a half of an idea about the car you’re willing to spend your hard earned dollars on.

Now you go to a dealer.

And buy a totally different car.

And yes, it doesn’t fit all your needs. And, yes, the monthly payments are a little bit higher than what you’ve intended to pay. But, hey, that was the best deal ever!

You go home with a big smile all over your face… totally unaware that you’ve just been ripped off… (You get that afterwards when it’s too late.)

Now, What can you do to prevent such a scenario?

Let me assure you one thing: you are not stupid.

You’re just a human.

What you need to understand is that as being a human your emotions play big role in your decision making behavior. That is something every car dealer knows.

And abuses. You’ve been manipulated.

The 3 main emotional triggers that car dealers use are fear of loss, prestige and value.

The first thing a car dealer will try to figure out about you is which model you’re interested in and what makes you excited. Then he will make you believe that there’re only a few models left. Your fear of loss will do the charm – you’re on the road to make a hasty decision.

The second emotional trigger is all about prestige. A car dealer will make you feel like a million bucks when driving the vehicle. They’ll even ask questions like “Will this fit into your garage?” which assumes mental ownership because now you can picture the vehicle in your garage.

The third thing is to make you believe that in case you want to resell the vehicle it has great value. This is an absolute nonsense because almost every car loses an average of 25% the first year.

OK. Now, when you know a few car dealers secrets let me tell you how you can help yourself.

There are 3 buying new car tips that you can use to gain a competitive advantage:

1. Before you even think to go to a car dealer you need to make a pretty firm decision what make and model you’re interested in. Gather as much information as possible about it. Make your choice in advance. This will prevent a car dealer to talk you into something that doesn’t fit your needs.

2. Call the dealership before going to test drive. Most dealerships have an Internet Department and will sell their vehicles for less than by just walking in. Contact this department first.

3. Don’t negotiate payments, just total amount of purchase. Most buyers fall into the trap of monthly payments and do not look at the total overall cost of their purchase.

There you have it – three basic but very powerful buying new car tips. Use them.

Although the most interesting method to save on car operating costs came from my chemistry teacher in high school (Buy your gasoline in the early morning or at night when it is cold outside. Gas becomes denser in cooler temperatures. Since gas pumps only measure the volume of fuel – not the density – you’ll get better overall gas mileage for your money by purchasing fuel when it’s cool outside rather than in the heat of the day), the moment that will determine the true amount you can save on your car costs comes before you even buy a car. The simple fact is that the type of car you decide to purchase will have the largest impact on the expenses you incur during the lifetime of it.

Even if a large sports utility vehicle is your dream car, it’s probably a lot more than you really need. Taking some time to make a list of the things you’ll use the car for will help determine the difference between your true needs and your wants. It’s important to remember that each additional want you add above what you really need will cost you not only at the time of purchase, but in most cases well down the road with an increase in maintenance and operating costs.

The size of the car you decide to purchase will have a direct effect on its operating costs. Purchasing the smallest car possible for your driving needs will save you a tremendous amount in gasoline charges. Small cars weigh about half as much as larger cars which results in about half as much fuel being used.

Once you have decided on the size of car, it’s worthwhile taking the time to research the safety ratings of the different cars in that size range. Not only will this improve your chances of staying alive in an accident, it will likely reduce your car insurance costs. A quick call to your car insurance company will tell you the tale. Remember, if you keep your car for 7 years, a $25 a month difference in insurance costs adds up to over $2,100 over the lifetime of the car.

Once you have a car, taking some simple steps can reduce your operating costs by hundreds of dollars. For example, if you reduce your gas consumption by $20 a week, it will save you over $1,000 a year. Most people can easily save this amount (and often much more) by simply changing their driving habits and paying a little more attention to their cars.

By far the best way to reduce your car expenses is to use your car only when necessary. Cars are extremely convenient and this causes people to use them much more often than they really need to. By simply asking yourself, “Is this trip really necessary?” you can greatly decrease the amount you drive.

For short trips close to home, try walking or riding your bicycle. Not only will you save money on your car expenses,you’ll also get some healthy exercise. When you go shopping or run errands, take a little time to plan and combine them all into one outing instead of several. Of course, car pooling and using mass transportation systems when possible are always excellent ways to reduce car expenses. If you can find a different way to commute to work rather than by your car, there is a good chance that this will result in a discount in your car insurance.

There are also a number of steps you can take to reduce your driving expenses while using you car. Here’s a quick list of some actions you may want to consider while driving.

*** Take the time to check your car’s tire pressure each month. Under inflated tires reduce fuel efficiency by 2% for every pound they are under inflated. Under inflation also causes premature tire wear giving your tires a shorter use life.

*** Drive at the speed limit. Cars use about 20% more fuel driving at 70 miles per hour than they do at 55 miles per hour.

*** Avoid driving fast in low gears. Driving at high speeds in the improper gear can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 40%.

*** Avoid using air conditioning whenever possible. Air conditioning reduces fuel economy by 10% to 20%.

*** Don’t open windows when traveling at high speeds. Open windows on the highway can reduce fuel efficiency by 10%. It is much better to use the ventilation system. Also remember to remove car racks and other items which make your car less aerodynamic when they’re not being used. Use cruise control to maintain a steady pace on the highway to increase fuel economy.

*** Avoid rough roads. Driving on roads made of dirt or gravel can reduce fuel economy by up to 30%.

*** Don’t let your car idle. Even on cold mornings, there’s no need to let your car idle for more than 30 seconds. Newer cars are designed to be driven almost immediately and letting your car idle longer is a waste of gas. In addition, it’s more efficient to turn off your car and turn it on again than to let it idle for more than 45 seconds while waiting.

*** Remove all excess weight from your car. Many people use their car trunk as a storage space adding unneeded pounds to the car’s weight. This unnecessary weight reduces the car’s fuel efficiency.

*** Try to accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid stops when driving. Gunning engines, quickly accelerating, and abrupt stops all waste fuel. Try to avoid driving during rush hour periods when you know traffic will be stop and go. If you do find yourself in stop and go traffic, try to maintain a crawl. When approaching hills or steep slopes, accelerate before the hill. Accelerating once on the slope will consume much more gas.

*** Service your car regularly while paying special attention to oil and filters. Blocked air flow from clogged air filters will increase fuel waste. Also check your car’s alignment since this can cause engine drag which will also increase gas waste.

*** Periodically calculate your car’s fuel efficiency. A loss in fuel efficiency is an indication of possible mechanical problems.

To really see how much you can save by using the above information, don’t change your driving habits this week, but take note of the number of miles your drive and calculate your car’s current fuel economy. The following week begin initiating any of the above ideas which you aren’t currently utilizing. You are sure to be surprised by how much you can save over your regular driving habits, and you’ll be able to enjoy some extra money jingling in your pockets.

Airbags were invented and patented in the 1950s to cushion the impact and prevent or lessen injuries sustained in auto accidents. Studies show that thousands of lives have been saved by air bags, with fatalities reduced by up to 46 percent in airbag-equipped vehicles, but it is difficult to determine an exact number.
Airbags help prevent an occupant’s head from striking some part of the inside of the vehicle, and help distribute crash forces more evenly across the victim’s body. However, their rapid deployment can cause injuries or death.
An airbag is a flexible bag inflated by a gas in less than 1/20 of a second after an impact. The first crash-sensing detector was introduced in the late 1960s, leading to airbag systems where the sensor or accelerometer triggers ignition of a gas generator to rapidly inflate the bag. The bag then absorbs some of the deceleration forces experienced when the occupant collides with and collapses it while the gas escapes through small vent holes during the next 3/10 of a second.
In the 1970s, Ford, GM and Chrysler offered airbags in select cars as a seatbelt replacement, and they became more common in the 1980s. In 1984, the U.S. government required all cars produced after April 1, 1989 to have driver’s side air bags, and in 1998, dual front airbags were mandated (1999 for light trucks). De-powered, second-generation airbags were required, because first-generation airbags designed for occupants not wearing seatbelts were causing injuries. Advances continue to improve airbag performance.
Today, many cars have additional airbags designed to protect occupants’ heads, protect from side impact, and protect passengers in the back seat. Various manufacturers have called their products Supplementary/Secondary Restraint Systems (SRS), Air Cushion Restraint Systems (ACRS) or Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR).
Why wear a safety belt?
It’s important to wear a safety belt, even when in a vehicle equipped with air bags. Those not wearing seatbelts may slide or be thrown forward against the airbag module, and be seriously injured or killed if the airbag deploys. Most air bags only inflate once, and do not provide protection past an initial impact. Standard front-impact air bags do not deploy for side or rear impact crashes, or rollovers.

Seat belts reduce risk in many types of crashes, keep occupants in the position where they receive the most benefit from the air bag, and protect against multiple collisions, or collisions where the air bags are not triggered.
What other airbag safety factors exist?
Injuries and deaths associated with airbag deployment follow several trends. First is the presence of first-generation airbags. Later-generation, multi-stage bags deploy more slowly, and with less force, and better respond to crash forces and occupant size. Improved technology and education helped reduce airbag-related fatalities from 1996 to 2000 by more than 90 percent for children and by 60 percent for adults.
Still, people suffer abrasions, hearing damage from the explosive deployment, head injuries, eye damage (while wearing glasses), and broken noses, fingers, hands or arms. Anything in the mouth: a pipe, cigarette, toothpick, etc. can cause additional injury, as can anything loose in the car in contact with the airbag module.
Airbags can present a serious danger to infants, small children and small adults. All adult drivers and passengers should move their seat back as far as possible, with drivers still at a comfortable distance to safely operate the vehicle. They should also sit back in their seat, keeping at least 10 inches between the breastbone and the airbag module.
Additionally, those with asthma should be aware that powders (cornstarch or talcum powder) used to lubricate the airbag as it deploys may trigger an asthma attack. Seek treatment after an accident involving airbag deployment.
Infants and children under 12 should never ride in the front passenger seat, even in a child safety seat or booster chair. Manufacturers of pickup trucks and other vehicles with no back seat have begun including a switch to allow drivers to disable the passenger air bag when a child must ride in the passenger seat.
For vehicles without such switches, they can be installed to accommodate people with medical conditions or who can’t sit far enough back to stay 10 inches away from the airbag, or for those who need to transport infants or children and have no back seat or a back seat too small to fit a child seat.
Even after an accident when the airbags have not deployed, victims and rescue personnel must be cautious. Airbags can deploy some time after the initial impact, causing injury and death.
Most car manufacturers recommended airbags, if never deployed due to an accident, be replaced as their cars age, to ensure proper performance in the case of an accident. Timing varies, but a 14-year life for an un-deployed airbag is typical. Airbags typically run a self-test when the vehicle is started, and a dashboard indicator lights up when there is a problem.
If you have suffered injury from improper airbag deployment or a car crash, you may wish to consult with an experienced auto accident or personal injury attorney about your case. Your personal injury attorney may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and/or future medical care.