Category Archives: Buying a Used Car

Cars and Solar Power

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Solar powered cars are already making their way into business plans of many automakers.

A couple benefits from solar-powered vehicles are that they aren’t as loud as a general engine would be because it runs on the sun’s light. They also do not emit greenhouse gases, which can help decrease pollution.

So how does a solar-powered car work exactly?

Energy From The Sun

We see many solar panels sitting out in the sun, and wonder how they are using the sun’s light to create energy.

Photovoltaic cells are used by solar cars to convert sunlight into energy.

  • These solar panels harness energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. As these solar panels are connected to cars, whether placed on top or built into the roof, the power collected can be directed straight to the electric motor of a car, fueling the battery.
  • Within these solar panels, silicon semiconductors absorb the sunlight, freeing and flowing electrons to generate electricity.

Now imagine you have a day or two off of work and you plan on staying home. If you have a solar powered car, you can leave it outside to charge up in the sun during the day. It will be ready to go when you are off to run errands or planning to have a date night.

Though automakers have not made a wide availability of solar panel cars to the public yet for purchase or lease. There is plenty of great hybrid cars available for lease to the public. For more information on finding the best car lease deals or to learn how you can have a successful car lease trade, visit Swapalease.com or contact them at 866-SWAPNOW.

Sunroof, Moonroof, or Panoramic?

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So you have decided that your next car needs something different, something refreshing, like a sunroof! Or err…a moonroof? Panoramic sunroof?

Seems like there is more than one “car roof” than you thought, and you possibly are not even sure of the difference.

It’s ok, the three roof amigos seem to confuse a lot of people on their differences from one another. Keep on reading to understand more about their differences and awesome cars that have them!

Sunroof or Moonroof?

As many have heard of the “sunroof”, it is the generic phrase to describe the panel in the roof of a car which lets in sunlight. The sunroof is built into the roof of the car, typically with the same body color of the car and can be opened manually or electronically.

The “moonroof” is a common term used today to describe the inbuilt sunroof, a glass panel, the slides between the vehicle’s roof and headliner. It is practically the same thing as a sunroof, maybe the minor difference is the tinted glass panel.

There are countless options of cars with the sunroof/moonroof feature, standard or optional like the:

  • Honda Fit
  • Ford Fiesta Hatchback
  • Acura ILX
  • Buick Encore
  • Porshe Panorama

Panoramic Roof

Speaking of panorama, the “panoramic” sunroof/moonroof, has been classified as the “luxury sunroof”. This new sunroof is much larger and can also come in as a multi-panel moonroof (again, sunroof and moonroof are like fraternal twins). The panoramic sunroof/moonroof offers openings above both front and rear seats and may be opened electronically, or can be fixed into the roof of a car as unmoveable glass panels. Allowing refreshing light to flow in through its usually tinted glass roof. Below is a list of cars that come with standard panoramic sunroof/moonroof or have the option available:

  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Kia Soul
  • Ford Flex
  • Audi Q3
  • Jeep Cherokee

 

These lists can go on and on, and it is mostly a preference of how big you want your sunroof/moonroof. Would you like it only available above the front seats, or two panels: one for front and rear seats, or a large glass panel that stretches from the front to rear seats?

No matter what roof option you choose, Swapalease.com has a variety of vehicles with that awesome feature! We are the largest online lease transfer marketplace and have vehicles and customers in every state in the continental United States and Canada. For more information on finding the best car lease deals or to learn how you can have a successful car lease trade, visit Swapalease.com or contact us at 866-SWAPNOW.

Wanting To Lease A Used Car

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The majority of leasees look for new cars to keep up with the latest cosmetics and gadgets cars have today. However, there are a few who are interested in leasing out a used car. How does it work? Is it the same as leasing a new car? Will I have restrictions? Here are a few tidbits on wanting to lease a used car.

When leasing a used car, it is best to look at cars around the two to three years old. Most of them are still under warranty or a certified pre-owned can come with an extended warranty. Keep in mind, sometimes the cost to lease a used model of a car can be the same or above the current year model.

Make sure to have a full inspection completed before leasing the car. You don’t want to drive it off the lot if there are problems you cannot see.  Also, any problems you find can help lower the cost of the car.

There is an option to take over an existing lease, but it needs to be approved first by the leasing company and at the end of the lease, you are responsible for the repairs done by the original owner.

A downside to looking for used cars to lease is that there isn’t a wide selection to choose from since fewer companies aim for leasing new cars, not used one. So if you have a specific car in mind, you might need to go for a lease on a new car.

Swapalease.com has been helping people who want to switch up their ride for more than 15 years. Headquartered in Cincinnati Ohio, Swapalease.com is an online marketplace that allows drivers to list their current lease and helps match them with buyers looking to take over the remainder of that lease. Both parties get what they’re looking for all with the convenience of online shopping. For more information on finding the best car lease deals or to learn how you can have a successful car lease trade, visit Swapalease.com or contact them at 866-SWAPNOW.

Buying A Car As A Recent College Graduate

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After college, the world is officially yours. It’s time to create an independent life for yourself and it usually starts off with getting a car to call yours. But of the thousands of cars and options out there, and the thought of “what can I afford?”.

New or Used Car?

When shopping for a car, the majority of graduates can’t wait to see the latest and greatest for the year. Sometimes they run into the case of seeing the greatest but it happens to be an older model or a used model. Newer cars have the upgrades and technology these grads are interested in, but so do used or older models. Also, test driving a new model versus and older or used model can end up surprising the grad in how similar the ride is. A used car also does tend to cost less and depreciates less over time.

Leasing or Buying?

So you have figured out whether to purchase a new or used car. The next step is to either lease it or buy it. Off the bat, leasing a car only works for new cars only unless you can find a specialty dealership which allows leasing of a used car. When you lease a car, you only pay for the value of the car in the time frame you will have it, not the total value. There are also security deposits and fees that you wouldn’t see so much if buying a car. Leasing, however, does give you the option of driving a new car every few years.

Then you have the option of buying a car, not leasing. When you buy a car, you pay for the entire value of the car with other fees and you can either pay it cash or finance it with an auto loan. You will find those monthly loan payments are always higher in a car you bought than in a leased car. Buying a car means you plan on having this car for a while, over 5 years give or take.

Budgeting For Your Car

So you have chosen your new or used car and chose to either lease it or buy it, now it’s time to think of your budget and which car would be more suitable for your monthly payments. Here are a few things to consider into your car budget:

  • Loan Payments
  •  Insurance
  • Gas
  • Maintenance and Repairs

Buying a car can be stressful and time-consuming. Luckily, Swapalease.com here to make it easier. It is the largest online lease transfer marketplace. For more information on finding the best car lease deals or to learn how you can have a successful car lease trade, visit Swapalease.com or contact them at 866-SWAPNOW.

Know the Difference Between a Hybrid and a Fuel Sipper? A Glossary of Vehicle Types

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hybrid and fuel sipper-glossary of vehicle typesThere are many types of vehicles in the auto industry today and many ways to classify them. In fact, there are so many often-overlapping car classes, drivers often don’t know the difference between a hybrid and fuel sipper or a crossover and SUV.  Continue reading →

The VIN on Your Vehicle: How All Those Numbers Add Up

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vin on your vehicleEvery car, truck or motorcycle in the world today, other than a few antiques, has a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) stamped on it. The VIN on your vehicle serves as its unique fingerprint. VINs are used to track each vehicle, making it possible to get a vehicle history report when shopping for a used car.   Continue reading →

Looking Over A Used Car — Inside, Outside And Under The Hood

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looking over a used carIf you are thinking of buying or leasing a used car, it is a good idea to inspect the car’s condition before making any final decision. Though it is helpful to consult a professional mechanic, you can identify most potential issues by looking over a used car yourself. Continue reading →

Getting A Used Car? Consider These 5 Key Safety Features

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getting a used car - safety featuresDrivers are increasingly interested in safety features when they’re car shopping, according to a survey we conducted at Swapalease. Although the technology is constantly advancing, you can still have quite sophisticated safety features when you’re getting a used car, as long as you know what to look for.  Continue reading →