Killeen Auto Repair

The 1995 Honda Civic is stolen more often than any other car in America, according to the NICB. The popular 1995 Honda Civic continues to be the top pick among thieves, holding onto that position for the 2007 calendar year, according to the “Hot Wheels” report released in July 2008 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). And while the types of vehicles being stolen remain consistent from year to year, overall car theft in the U.S. declined almost nine percent in 2007. “The continuing national decrease in vehicle theft is a positive sign that the fight against vehicle theft by law enforcement, the insurance industry and the NICB continues to be effective,” said Robert M. Bryant, NICB’s president and chief executive officer. The most recent NICB report listed the 1991 Honda Accord as the second-most-stolen vehicle, followed by the 1989 Toyota Camry ... read more

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, chances are you’re like most people and want to find something that’s reliable and affordable. When it comes to making the final purchase, used cars can have a great advantage over vehicles that have just rolled onto the showroom floor. Whether you’re looking for a car or truck for yourself, a new driver in your family, or another loved one, consider how a pre-owned vehicle can benefit you in the short and long-term. One major advantage to choosing from a selection of used cars is lower pricing. Pre-owned vehicles are less expensive than their new counterparts. Most consumers are aware of the fact that as soon as your new car is purchased and hits the streets, it depreciates in value; this trend continues, dropping as much as 30% over the course of one to two years. Without taking into perspective the big picture, examine your monthly payments and interest paid over time on a pre-owned vehicle versus a new one. Le ... read more

Today’s automobile customers are not just satisfied with what the manufacturers offer for the general public but would like to want more from their cars and hence rely on different aftermarket products to not only further enhance the look of their car but also the engine performance and fuel efficiency with the available technology and products in the market. The performance chips for cars are one such product that are designed to increase the overall power and fuel economy of the engine by improving its efficiency which is possible by retuning the factory engine control module (ECM) monitors. However before installing the performance chips for cars check out the reliability of the company offering these products for best experience and avoiding any void of warranty of the dealers. So by installing this product it shall start interfacing with the car factory ECM through the OBD II port that is underneath the dashboard by sending continuous signals to retune the fact ... read more

Americans are noted for purchasing the latest models of cars and look for the best price. Since cars lose their attraction once it goes out vogue, it may be necessary to do some research when you wish to sell your car. Depending on the make and model you should be able to quote the best price and receive cash for cars. It is advisable to do some homework before you ask for your price. The best way to do is to scour the classifieds. Compare different vehicles and the prices quoted or check out websites for used cars. You will get a fair idea of the price that can be expected for your car model. Make a note of the prices for the year and make and then consider the following: What is the mileage that you get? What is the condition of the car? Are there any special features that you would like to mention? There are other considerations that you have to factor in when trying to sell your vehicle. One is the weather as this de ... read more

Walking onto a car lot can feel like a train wreck in slow motion: At every turn you get a little more derailed, until finally you’re off the tracks entirely and the dealership has what it wants: your entire bank account. Part of the problem is the sheer number of variables involved in negotiating the sale: the price, the options, the financing, the monthly payment, maybe a trade-in. You should methodically research and consider every conceivable scenario before setting foot on a dealer’s lot. Otherwise, dealers will do everything they can to tilt the transaction in their favor. “They’re looking at making money off you in stages,” says Jeff Bartlett, deputy online editor for autos at Consumer Reports, “so ... read more

A New Dimension of Freedom! Its here, the flying car. Can you believe it. Starting at $274,000. I has all the controls of a small aircraft and when you land, just drive it right off the airport landing pad to the house! It is called the Terrafugia. Comes equipped with everything a normal car has such as steering wheel, turning signals, gas petal and breaks. But then has everything that a airplane would have with all flight controls. “We have been dreaming about flying cars since the turn of the 20th century.  The Transition® street-legal airplane is the first step on the road to the practical flying car.  Terrafugia’s vision for the future is the TF-X™: a bold concept intended to lead the creation of a new industry and bring personal aviation into the mainstream.  We’re starting with proven technology and our product roadmap is designed to make personal aviation progressively safer and more accessible to a broader segment of the population ... read more

If you’re bringing your classic car to a car show its best to keep an eye on it or have someone keep an eye on it at all times. If possible try and put a rope up around it so people can just look and not touch. After the thousands of dollars and countless hours of work put in to your car make sure that your protecting it. Yes and then there are the kids with their handprints, often eating snow cones and cotton candy at car shows. And not to be outdone, mom is usually wearing lots of jewelry, much of it metallic, and that too will scratch. A perfectly flawless paint job is hard to come by, especially if the car is a daily driver, or is driven around once in a while on the weekends. After all, it only takes one door ding or one shopping cart to put a small crease in the side, on that once perfect paint job. The first thing I recommend you do when you take your car to a classic car show is to put a sign on an easel with all the information and digital picture ... read more

Students Buying a Car Cars have become pricey. Most people find it difficult to invest in a brand new car even if they have well-paid jobs. That’s because of the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities. Students who apply for auto loans face rejections. Most of these rejections are made by traditional banks and other similar organizations. This does not imply that you will lose hope and feel disappointed. There is no point in complaining; find an effective remedy instead. Here is some advice on how to get approved even if you are a student. Keep your DTI down which stands for Debt to Income ratio. This shows the car lenders that you are able to make your payments on time if you don’t have a lot of debt. Best to keep this number below 40% Make sure that you have a regular source of income. Since you are a ... read more

Buying a New Car Car shopping is fun. You get the opportunity to browse a dealership’s inventory, do a little fantasy car “shopping” and go out on fun test drives. In the end, you get to negotiate a (hopefully) good price with the dealership’s salesperson. Once all of this is over, though, you should not content yourself with signing the paperwork. Relaxing will be a big problem at this point, because unless you are paying cash for your new car, you will be soliciting lenders for a car loan. You should always try and get the lowest rates you can. Don’t take the first offer that they give. Try and push for a better deal and remind them there are several out there. Dealer Financing After you and the salesperson have picked out your car you will be directed to the finance office. They will try and upsell you with fancy add-ons. Sometimes they are perfect for you but most the time they can be an unnecessary expense. Large Banks ... read more

Several auto insurance providers now allow customers to lower their insurance rates based on how they drive. Called “pay as you go” car insurance plans, the policies are underwritten the same way conventional plans are done but provide people with the chance to reduce their rates by up to 30 percent based on how, when and where they drive. This type of car insurance has been preferred by environmentalist groups believing that saving money will encourage people to drive less. Another attraction to pay-as-you-go car insurance is that the market can be better segmented; thereby enabling those who drive less and less dangerously save on car insurance. Companies could market to these drivers and attract them with lower rates. These types of drivers often include students who don’t drive as much as commuters and are often unable to pay high rates. Of course, when people drive less, there also are fewer accidents, and a 2005 study conducted by the Brook ... read more