Affordable Automotive Blog

Tips on Buying a New Car

It usually happens at the most inopportune time - the car breaks down or dies altogether at a critical moment. This moment is when you are trying to decide if it is time to buy a new car. You are in a panic to buy something, anything, to get your life back on track and moving according to schedule again. At the same time you are contemplating the expenses you will incur by bring your car to an automotive shop for service, sitting in the waiting room when you car is hoisted in the air on their car lifts. But don’t let yourself feel pressured to purchase the first decent deal you come across. If necessary, get a rental car for a few days so you can think clearly without being clouded by the inconvenience of being without a vehicle.

Sometimes it makes sense to go ahead and pay to have a vehicle repaired. If the car is paid for and there is no damage to the frame, it may even be wise to go as far as having the engine replaced or rebuilt. This resolution avoids that high payment for a new car, along with the greater insurance coverage demanded by the institution loaning you the money for the car. Only liability is required on a car that has been paid off.

If you are certain only a new or a newer used car will do, get online or go to the library to get a copy of Edmond’s online or book guide to determine the dealership’s invoice pricing and market value of any car you might consider buying. Then research car insurance. It is easier to rate and cover a driver over 25 who has had not tickets in the last three years, has a stable work history, and a good credit report.

To get the best possible financing, get pre-approved for a car loan. When you go car shopping with financing already in place you are in a much stronger negotiating position. This also means you had the chance to look for the best terms among loans.

Armed with information on vehicle values, knowledge of insurance charges on the types of vehicles you prefer, and pre-approval on a car loan it is time to go shopping. But you don’t have to leave home to do that.

Many dealerships have an internet sales representative that will answer your inquiry quickly via email. Even if they are not set up with a dedicated internet rep they no doubt have a fax machine. Call and get that fax number then send over your written specifications and ask them what their best price would be. When the dealerships reply with their offer contact the two next lowest bids and tell them you have an offer lower than theirs and see if they will make you a better deal. With a written quote you have solid information with which to bargain. Get the best deal possible.

By doing your research, whether on car insurance, car loans, or on the expenses incurred for repairs on your car in an automotive shop equipped with car lifts, you will have a peace of mind that you are making the right decision.

Nitrogen In Your Tires

Nitrogen filled tires maintains tire pressure better than air and keeps tires 20% cooler. Less heat results in less tire degradation. When tires are filled with nitrogen, they use less fuel, prolongs the life of your tires, reduces tire failures, and can improve handling and performance. It has more mass, so it migrates through the tire three to four times slower resulting in tires holding their psi longer. Not only does having nitrogen in your tires produces less heat, but it drastically reduces oxidation on the rim and inner-liner. Oh yeah, it is also environmentally safe.

Correct inflation is highly significant when considering tire life and performance. it is not always possible to look at a tire and detect under-inflation. When tires are under-inflated, they can cause many tire related problems. Nitrogen has been used in tires for many years on aircraft, military vehicles, off road trucks, race cars, and even Tour de France bicycles to help combat under-inflated tires.

How nitrogen works and what it does

As we know, nitrogen makes up the majority of the air that we breathe. It is contained in the protein of all life on earth. Some of the properties of nitrogen is that is is colorless, tasteless, and is not toxic. The next most common component of air is oxygen. Together, nitrogen and oxygen make up about 99% of the air we breathe and traditionally fill tires with.

Because nitrogen is a larger molecule than oxygen, it cannot escape as easily as oxygen through rubber tire walls. Leaking at a much slower rate than oxygen, a tire filled with a higher percentage of nitrogen maintains its proper pressure longer than air-filled tires. It is known that proper inflation provides better fuel economy, better handling, longer tire life, and increased safety by reducing the likelihood of tire failures such as blowouts. It helps with a smoother ride and gives your car lift.

Another fact about nitrogen is that it is not flammable. Oxygen is a flammable gas and nitrogen is an extinguishing gas. In a vehicle fire, ruptured air-filled tires fuel the fire and nitrogen filled tires slow the fire.

The bottom line is that proper tire pressure is a big deal, and using nitrogen for tire inflation is not just practical but necessary.

More About Car Lifts

While car lifts are defined as mechanical equipment that generates force by a solid object moving through a fluid being able to lift a wheeled motor vehicle or any other object. There are also hydraulic lifts. These hydraulic lifts can be found in just about every garage or auto repair shop. These garage or automotive repair shops have at least one hydraulic lift that is recessed into the floor of a service area, and at least one portable car lift that can be utilized in another area of the facility. The portable car lifts are either two post car lifts or four post car lifts. Just about all these lifts can be classified as hydraulic lifts, regardless of size and configuration. While these automotive lifts or hydraulic lifts are usually associated with auto repair facilities, there are a number of automotive lifts that are used in manufacturing environments and even around the home, the storage lifts.

Car Lifts can now be used for many different tasks. Along with the automotive lifts that are recessed and permanently in place at the local garage, there are other auto lifts that can be used in many different settings. Some are constructed for periodic use, while others are durable enough to be used on a daily basis.

The in-ground auto lift is the most commonly used of all automotive lifts. These often have the hydraulics below ground level, and include two ramps that allow the vehicle to be driven into place and locked. Once in place, the mechanism raises the vehicle to a height that allows the mechanic to comfortable reach sections of the automobile from the underside. Along with use in garages, these types of automotive lifts also are often found in smaller businesses that specialize in oil and filter changes.

Among the portable automobile lifts, the scissor lifts is one of the most popular. Often, these car lifts also require for the vehicle to be positioned above the device by driving onto tire guides or ramps. When activated, the mechanism raises the vehicle directly upward using a configuration that resembles a pair of scissors being opened. This type of lift is generally small enough to be stored at home, and is ideal for use in quickly rotating tires or draining an oil pan.

Automotive lifts may be constructed in what is known as a two post or a four post configuration. Some work on simple hydraulics, while others use various combinations of electronic or mechanical devices to lift the vehicle. There are automotive lifts that are made for just about any size vehicle, from a motorcycle to a large transfer truck.

The standards for automotive lifts built in the United States are set by the Automotive Lift Institute. Formed in 1945, the Institute requires that any members meet a stringent set of safety and quality standards in order to receive certification and endorsement. There are also periodic inspections to ensure that members of the Institute are maintaining those standards on an ongoing basis.

Car Lifts

What are car lifts? Well as the question suggestions, it has to do with cars. Well a car is defined as a wheeled motor vehicle for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor.  Lift can be defined as a mechanical force generated by a solid object moving through a fluid.  So in short, a car lift is an mechanical equipment that generates force by a solid object moving through a fluid that is able to lift a wheeled motor vehicle or any other object. Car lifts are also known as vehicle lifts, automotive lifts, storage lifts, alignment lifts, or car stackers.

Car Lifts can be used by automotive shops to work on vehicles or used by home hobbyist for storage of their cars or to do repairs in their garage. Now car lifts come in different styles or models and having different lifting capacities. Lifting capacities can range from 7,000 lbs. to  30,000 lbs. and even higher at times. The most popular styles are two post car lifts and four post car lifts.  As the names suggest, some lifts have two post and some have four post. So depending on what you are using the lift for will help determine which one best suites your needs.

The 2 post lifts are asymmetrical and symmetrical and need to be installed by anchoring or bolting to your floor . The 4 post lifts do not need to be anchored to your floor. But if there is a constant flow of vehicles on and off the lift, anchoring the lift is highly suggested.

Tire Changers

Affordable Automotive Equipment has been in business 20 years selling tire changers and other related equipment products. We proudly handle products to meet all your needs such as Hunter Tire Changers, ProKar Tire Changers, as well as Ranger Tire Changers; along with used tire changers.

In todays market with the influx of larger wheels and lower profile tires, it has caused the tire changer industry to produce models with additional Pnuematic Bead Pressing arms to properly change many current tire and wheel assemblies. With that said, we cary models ranging from t he basic tire changers to the more advanced style units.

Please check out our web site to see the various tire changers, wheel balancers, 2 post lifts, car stackers, and the many more items we offer.

As a large equipment distributor in this business for over 20 years, you will always find us to be very aggressively priced and 2nd to no one in service of our products. Most tire changes and wheel balancers are in stock and ready to deliver.

Two Post Lifts - Dependable and Reliable

Are you looking for a two post lift that will get the job done and not empty your pockets. Well, take a look at the PK9TPB and the PK9TPC available at Affordable Automotive Equipment, Inc. for a low price of $1795.00. Both lifts are the ProKar models boasting a 9,000 lb. lifting capacity.

Can it be used as a storage lift in your garage? No problem… Can it be used in your automotive shop? No problem… The ProKar PK9TPC overhead asymmetric 2 Post Car Lift is equipped with a heavy-duty leaf chain, steel pulleys, and a high-strength cable equalization system. The asymmetric arms allows for easy access to both sides of your vehicle.

The ProKar PK9TPB 2 Post Car Lift is a base-plate symmetric lift also equipped with a heavy-duty leaf chain, steel pulleys, and a high-strength cable equalization system. The symmetric arms can be extended or collapsed so that all four arms are the same length.  Allows for easy access either in or out of your vehicle.

If you are looking for a dependable, reliable, and inexpensive lift that will get the job done, the PK9TPC and PK9TBP is what you are looking for in a two post lift.

2 Post Car Lifts

For many years numerous 2 post car lifts were purchased by commercial users for the workplace, but as the home hobbiest market began to grow, most Manufactures of car lifts began to solicit the home owner as well as the auto repair facilities.

Then came the off shore import Manufacturers, who in most cases in my opinion, do not build the same type of product as most older U.S Manufacturers do. With that said, as a consumer you should be treated to an honest, as we say, Lift Class 101. Questions need to be answered! For example..Why does so-and-so have a two post car lift advertised at such a low selling price? Maybe it is due to smaller carriages in the lift, maybe due to an inferior cylinder, maybe because of the lack of metal used in the arms, or maybe just all of the above. Lets face it, the last thing you need in our current economy is to find out you made a mistake in your decision to purchase the lower cost product only to find out that a 2 post car lift is not a great deal even though their website said it was.

A company such as Affordable Automotive Equipment in Orlando Florida, will give the true answers as to the reason of the lowest cost 2 post or even 4 post car lifts. The same holds true for tire changers, wheel balancers, as well as all other automotive equipment or used automotive equipment.

Remember, just because it goes up and comes down in similar fashion to other car lifts and heavy duty truck lifts, that does not mean it will last as long or operate safely for your home car lift or vehicle care storage lift needs.

Make an information decision when purchasing a car lift or any other automotive equipment.