$5000 Used Cars in the Houston, TX Area

The process of tracking a quality $5000 vehicle in the Houston, Texas area can be very time consuming. This shouldn't be too much of a surprise when you consider how many local used cars can be found throughout the Longhorn State. That is why using online car buying sites can be so beneficial, as they allow you view a wide array of pre-owned autos while staying around Houston and near your $5,000 price range.

Shopping for Local Used Cars in Your Area

One of my greatest pet-peeves about looking for a new car is how difficult it can be to spot local used cars in my area, without going to far from home. Online websites try to cater a wide array of nearby vehicles to their customers, but it doesn't always work the way we think they should. They either show a wide enough selection of used autos that are too far away or plenty of local cars for sale that may be out of your price range.

That is why I would like to share a new website specifically built to help people shop for affordable used vehicles locally in LocalCarsIn.com. I recently stumbled upon this site when me and my wife started looking for a second car that she could have.

This car buying site allowed use to easily target the local pre-owned autos in my area, and provided us with a wide enough selectio that she had plenty of good choices. After a few minutes of putting the final touches on our search she was able to easily narrow down her choices to nice Kia Sportage that fit perfectly into our budget.

We were also able to apply for financing from home as well, which helped save a ton of time when we got to the dealer. My wife and I already knew how much to expect from our car loan and after making a decent down payment and signing off on the last few things we were on our way in her new Sportage.

This may sound to good to be true for some people, but I assure you that LocalCarsIn.com can really make finding and buying a used car around your area simple. I'm sure that after giving it a try you will be able to locate your ideal vehicle in a matter of minutes.

New or Used Cars for First Time Teen Drivers?

I remember getting my first new car as a teen driver, I was 17 and it was a brand new red 2008 Audi A3. It took me all of three hours to get into an accident and total very first car. Surprisingly my parents weren't upset as they simply chalked this event up to be a learning experience for me. Now, this could be because my mom worked for the company and the best new vehicles came pretty easy, but that didn't stop others from ridiculing her for not giving me a used car.

Now, I'm a little older with a one-year-old daughter and when I look back I do wonder if I would have been better off with a slightly used car as a teen driver instead. Most will probably say yes, because how else would I possibly learn the value and sacrifice that my parents put forth to give me such an opportunity. I can't really argue with that kind of reasoning, but there are plenty of teenagers who get brand new cars and never get into an accident.

There are also those who get one of the best used cars for teen drivers and abuse them with the hope of getting something new faster. So which decision is the best for parents like myself who will one day have to choose between a new or used vehicle for a first time driver?

Choosing Between New and Used Cars for Teens

I have a possible theory that could help us all when we find ourselves in this dreaded situation, and it may sound crazy but try to stick with me. I propose that we leave it up to our children. Sound crazy right? We all know that a 16-year-old with a fresh license is going to choose a new car everytime, which is why you give them the best ultimatum any teen has ever seen.

Car Stipulations for New Teen Drivers

If they take the predictable route and say a new car simply inform them that it can be done, but that choosing the best cars for sale will result in a few stipulations. This includes the following:

1. Base Models Only: Let's face it the more features they have the less they will pay attention to the road.  Not to mention it will cost you less when you finance the vehicle.
2. No Sports Cars: The less horsepower they have the less likely they are to pick up unnecessary speeding tickets. Also, if they do get a speeding ticket have them pay it. 
3. They Make All Payments: Explain that you will cosign on their loan, which will help them build credit, but that they must make the payments. This can include the down payment, insurance, and gas which means if your kid doesn't have a job they have to go the used car route. 
4. Rules of the Road: Setting up curfews and places they can drive may sound controlling, but it helps reduce the chance of accidents or any other issues on the road. 
5. You Get to Drive the Car: It would be odd if you help them get a new car and never get to take it out on the road on occasion.

If your teen driver can't agree to these terms it allows you to go the used car route if you choose, but remember this all depends on your child. My parents trusted me at a young age with new cars and I understood the value of them prior to my accident, but that didn't stop it from happening. The same could be said for your kids, but once again everything depends on your financial situation and how comfortable you fell with a teen driver on the road.

How to Find the Best Used Cars for Sale

The ability to find the best used cars for sale is something that many of us think we can do with no problem at all. However, if that was truly the case there wouldn't be so many people who purchase pre-owned vehicles that barely last a year. That is why I want to address a few things that can help people locate the top used autos for low cost in their areas.

Kelley Blue Book's Top 10 Used Cars on Sale under $8000

I'm sure we can all agree that finding the top used cars on sale under $8,000 or for any low price is a fairly difficult thing to do at times. This is usually because of a limited inventory at some local auto dealerships, or due to the lack of decent quality in pre-owned vehicles.

Luckily, we have the luxury of great reviewers like those at Kelley Blue Book, who do an excellent job at keeping the public aware of the best cars for sale at various price ranges. And recently KBB unveiled their latest list of the ten greatest second-hand autos for less than eight-grand that people should consider.

2013 Top Ten World Car Finalists Announced

The top ten finalists of the 2013 World Car Awards (WCA) have been announced with us only 52 days away from the New York International Auto Show held on March 28, 2013. This year will only mark the ninth year that this award ceremony will be held, but only the eighth time that the NYIAS will be hosting this event.

Best 2013 Super Bowl Car Commercials

The Super Bowl is that one time of year where manufacturers provide the first of their best car commercials that will be on sale that upcoming year. And since airtime during the biggest game of the year doesn't come cheap it's usually only the bigger companies with something special to offer.