www.kitcarstyle.com

Don’t we all dream of owning a sports car? Although buying a used vehicle does not come with a “new car smell,” owning a vintage sports car is a fantasy for a lot of us. Better yet, there are great advantages to buying a used sports car.

There is something special about buying an older model sports car. Many older sports cars are even collectibles and their classic style holds great value. Sports car enthusiasts recognize quality and seek to preserve it.

There is never a guarantee you are going to purchase a winner as opposed to a lemon, there are many things you can do to increase your chances of success. The two most important things you can do is research and investigation. Do your homework first, look into the type of sports car you would like to purchase first. Then, when looking at used cars make sure to really investigate the car before making an offer.

Start your conquest by researching the car of your choice. The first place you should look is Kelly Blue Book to determine the estimated value of the sports car you want to buy. Then ask around about the car, maybe a local mechanic, or a friend with sports car knowledge. The internet is an outstanding resource as well. What kind of problems does the car experience? Find out what you need to look for when inspecting the car for yourself and what kinds of questions you need to ask the salesman and a mechanic. It is also important to look at numerous resources to determine an appropriate price the make and model of the car you are researching.

Developing a notebook with questions and notes is a handy tool. This way you can bring your notebook when looking at used cars. You will know what questions to ask about the car and appear organized to the seller.

The next step is investigating the real live car. You have a good idea of what to expect and what to look for when looking at used sports cars, now it is time to put your research to work.

Ask the current owner for service records, or even invest in a vehicle history report on the internet if it is not provided. Ask lots of questions about the car you are looking at and find out everything you can possibly think of.

Now is the time to take a close look at the car itself. First check the condition of the car, inside and out. Look for problem areas that you wrote down in your research. If you are not a car expert, have the car checked by a trusted mechanic. Often they will give it a once over for free or minimal charge. This could save you a lot in the long run. Note areas that need fixing and about how much it is going to cost you. Consider this when looking at the price tag of the car.

Take the car for a test drive. Look for any issues with the transmission. Are there any other things you should be looking for indicated by earlier research? Beware of sellers that do not let you take the car for a test drive or to a mechanic for a check up, they are probably trying to hide something.

Finally, if you are happy with your inspection and all other reports show that the car is in good condition, it is time to make an offer. Consider any problems noted on the car and what needs to be repaired when making an offer on the sports car.

Once you decide on a fair price and the paper work is signed, it is your turn to drive off as a happy buyer, because you did the necessary research and investigation for a fun yet safe and reliable sports car of your dreams!

About the Author: Jake Newberry sells for NuStar Motors http://www.thatsnobull.com, a used car dealer in Sacramento CA, which specializes in lifted 4×4 trucks and fast cars such as Mustangs, Cameros, and Honda V-techs.

By Jake Newberry

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=85780&ca=Automotive

While thousands of sports car fans have put together notable collections there are three such collections that will inspire awe and demands the attention of any sports car enthusiast. These three are Toad Hall, LeMay’s collection and Ralph Lauren’s Collection.

Bill Putman’s collection, known as Toad Hall, will have sports car fans seeing red. All of the cars in this private collection are painted red. Putman’s collection features imported cars from Bentley to Datsun, with an emphasis on the British makes. There is a Lotus represented as well. Toad Hall’s name comes from the children’s book the Wind in the Willow.

The LeMay collection, over 3,000 strong, in Tacoma Washington is certified by the Guinness Book of World’s Records as the world’s largest collection of cars. The entire collections of sports cars cannot even be viewed in one visit. The LeMay collection was started in the 1940’s by a waste hauling tycoon who started searching the area for interesting vehicles. The exhibit also includes other American history items as well as ambulances and fire trucks.

American fashion mogul Ralph Lauren is also an avid car collector and has opened his stunning collection to the public. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts showed the Ralph Lauren’s exhibit and states that he started collecting in the 1960’s.

It can be said that Lauren’s is a connoisseur of fine cars and chose the automobiles in his collection, from Bugattis and a 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster based on their fashion appeal as well as speed. His newest addition is a speed demon’s dream, a 1996 McLaren F1, which can easily pass speeds of 225 mph.

Ralph Lauren has also collected car with celebrity ties. Included in his collection is the car James Dean was driving when he was killed, a Porche 500 Spider. On a happier note, the 1950 Jag mentioned earlier was driven by the Hollywood’s leading man Humphrey Bogart and his love, Lauren Becall.

While there are countless car collections from small time lots to museums, these three collections all offer something unique to the sports car fan. Toad Hall which emphasizes imports and red. The LeMay collection which is certifiably the largest and Ralph Lauren’s private collection which emphasizes speed and celebrity connections.

By Jackson Porter

About the Author: Jackson Porter is a staff writer at Automobile Enthusiast and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Environmental Central.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=89952&ca=Automotive

The kit car industry in the UK is massive the following is huge! Being a kit car fan myself and having built many kit cars in the past this is a market that I love!

The building of a kit cars is a lot of the fun in fact most people just enjoy building them. I built my first kit car at the young age of 18 and to be honest it was not that expensive really considering the end result.

When you are looking for a kit car you need to have a think to your self whether or not you just want the end product or whether you want the thrill and excitement of the build? Most people like the thrill of the build but then they get easily bored or frustrated.

If you want to build one from scratch go to a few kit car shows throughout the UK and there is normally one happening somewhere in the country every weekend throughout the summer. Walk round and see what takes your fancy.

Once you have an idea of what you are after then see what sort of money you realistically are going to spend. I normally ignore what the manufacturer of the kit says as they normally under estimate it by a lot. Ask the owners and the builders how much they have spent then you will get an idea of what sort of budget is likely.

The next thing I would do is surf the net looking for either part build kit cars or second hand kits that just simply have not been started. This can save you a hell of a lot of money, in fact you will save a more than half normally.

The only down side with buying a part built kit cars is that you will have to take on what someone else has started and fix what they have not done to your standard but this normally is no hard ship. The hardest part of building a kit car is getting enough money to finish it or finding a few hours a week to continue with it.

If you are looking for a kit car for sale take a look at Kit Cars For Sale where you will find many completed cars part built brand new kits all makes and models. Just take a look.

If you are looking for a kit car for sale take a look at Kit Cars For Sale where you will find many completed cars part built brand new kits all makes and models. Just take a look.

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