Most people do not know what to look for is a used car.  That’s okay, you don’t have to be an expert to come across as one. With the following tips, you will feel like a regular pro and won’t feel disadvantaged when walking onto a car lot. Take this small checklist with you to remind you what to look for.

Tires - Tire treads wear evenly. If the tread on one of the tires is worse than the others, it indicates that the car is out of alignment in some respect, or in need of adjustments or parts.

Headlights - Do the headlights match? By this I mean is one of them yellow or pointing in the wrong direction? This could give you a clue that the car was hit on one side.
   
Interior – Are there little holes in the cloth upholstery on the door or seat? They are most likely cigarette burns. In a leather interior car, look at the head liner, if the color is faded or stained, it was a smoker’s car.

Inspection – When does the inspection expire? If it was just recently inspected, the car passed the states requirements for safety and emissions. A car with an expired inspection means it either failed last inspection or was never put through. It may cost an awful lot of money to make it pass.

Oil – Check the oil level and color. It should be in the full range and the color should be a transparent golden brown..

Power windows and Locks – Check to make sure they work

Keys - Make sure master key fits in both the door lock and ignition. If they don’t work in both, it could mean the steering column was replaced.

Windshield – Are there cracks or chips in it? If they are small, they could get bigger and you will need a new windshield.

CarFax – It is an independent company that details the history of the owners, inspection records and accident reports on the car.

Warranties – What does the warranty cover? More importantly, what doesn’t it cover?

Test drive – Do you fit in it? Does the seat adjust to your comfort? Can you see over the hood?

These are a few or the things to look at when you are looking for a used car. Do these things on a used car lot and the dealer will think you know exactly what is going on, even if you don’t. While you are at it, go ahead and kick a tire or two.

by Tom Carey of www.ThatsMyNewCar.com

Our friendly pals over at AutoTrader.com have put together a snazzy New Year's Resolution list for Ask Patty! Make a resolution for you and your vehicle for 2007!

Be Happier
Get out of that Old Car – Whether you want to drive it until the wheels fall off (and they just did), you don’t feel it is dependable, it is not big enough for the family, or it just isn’t what you want, with the variety of vehicles, manufacturer discounts, and aggressive financing, this is a great time to look into a new ride.

Keep It Clean – One of the best ways to feel good about your car, and sometimes yourself, is to have a clean car. It not only provides a good personal image but, by keeping that empty bottle of soda from rolling under your brake pedal, it is also improves your safety.

Dress It Up – The same way new accessories can make you feel good; they can also make you feel good about your car. New wheels, pinstripes, spoilers, or just a steering wheel cover can improve your outlook on your car. Most automotive parts stores carry a wide selection of accessories with staff that can install them for you.

Save Money
Ease off the Gas - studies clearly show that aggressive driving can reduce your vehicle’s efficiency by up to 20% while rarely getting the driver to their location any sooner.

Check Your Tire Pressure - Maintaining proper tire pressure has many benefits: longer tire life, improved efficiency, more comfortable ride, and better / safer handling.

Change Your Oil and Filters Regularly – Your car is a major investment, treat it like one. Prolong its life (and yes, improve efficiency) by keeping the engine clean.

Car Pool – Sure, there are a million reasons why you don’t want to do it. But in the long run it saves you money, and in some regions, you can actually be reimbursed or paid for being in a car pool.

Drive Safe
The Road is not a Race Track - Remember that just because you want to be a race driver, or think you are, it does not mean you have the right to endanger others. A closed track, with other drivers that have accepted the responsibility and danger, is the only appropriate place for competitive driving.

Safety First – Take responsibility for yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Obey speed limits (especially in neighborhoods, near schools and near parks) and keep yours eyes on the road. Anything that is not part of operating the vehicle is secondary and should wait until you have come to a stop.

Reduce Distractions – The cell phone has been the primary target of blame, but any distraction is a hazard to you and others. Some examples of distractions you could try to eliminate or reduce are: reading, eating, hair / make-up, television (really), adjusting music, rubber-necking, and of course, cell phones.

Take Care of Yourself and Others
Be (more) Courteous – Find opportunities to make the experience better for everyone. Things like yielding rather than cutting someone off, and waving instead of “gesturing”, can help make the commute easier and make you feel better about yourself.

Use Your Seat Belt – The percentage of people that regularly do not wear their seat belts is still in the double digits in some states. Not wearing a seatbelt is one of the top reasons for automotive fatalities.

Secure the Kids – They don’t know any better – it is your responsibility! Children loose in a vehicle can be a distraction to the driver and a danger to themselves. Remember, automotive accidents are the number one killer of children under 15 ~ so strap ‘em in and teach them the importance of being responsible passengers.

Have a happy new year from AutoTrader.com!

Anyone who has slammed their fingers in doors (especially car doors) knows how painful it can be to squish those digits between heavy objects. Finger crunching is obviously a concern of parents with cars, whether it’s in doors or in automatic windows. According to the Detroit Free Press, there has been a recent push by parents and safety advocates to create a bill in Congress mandating power windows that will not close if something obstructs it. Like fingers.

The argument against it is surprisingly simple: in most cases it wouldn’t save lives and it can actually be used against you. For example, you are sitting at a light and someone tries to carjack your car. You quickly hit the power windows to protect yourself and the intruder sticks his hand in the way. Oops. Your window won’t roll up now.

Children’s fingers are important and we should definitely protect them from being crunched in windows and doors, but maybe the best way is by prevention. Make sure your littlest ones aren’t close enough to reach them, and explain the dangers to the older ones. And remember, a lot of vehicles have window locks for a reason.

by Joel Arellano of Automotive.com
I’m a car lover and techno geek and love when the two mesh together. Yet I don’t always see the advantages immediately. When we bought our 2005 Honda Accord hybrid I balked at purchasing the top-of-the line model with navigation system. “Why,” I asked my significant other, “do you want one? We’ve got Mapquest and, in a pinch, the Thomas Guide.” But several uses quickly convinced me the advantages outweighed the limitations of GPS.

GPS, or Global Positioning System, was originally developed by the U.S. military and released to civilian use in 1996. 27 satellites orbit the earth and form their own constellation so that four satellites are always present or “visible”.

That visibility’s important. Your GPS unit, or “receiver”, works by emitting a high-frequency, low-power radio signal to those satellites. By using triangulation of where—and when--the satellites are to each other and to the receiver, your location can then be determined. The location information is then combined with the almanac, or map, in your receiver to give you a visual representation to where you are. Location, atmospheric conditions, and incorrect almanac information can severely affect the GPS’ accuracy.

Onstar, which is General Motor’s subscription tracking and monitoring system, uses this service to provide the most unique and simplest navigation system that I’ve ever encountered. Called “Turn By Turn”, the system directs you to your location by simple verbal directions. Herb Shuldiner of Newsday tested the system. He contacted the staff and, after giving his destination, they transmitted the information to his car’s Onstar unit. The unit told him what street to take, when to turn, and how many miles (or feet) for the next action. This is a lot easier than using my Accord’s navigation system: I not only spent a weekend studying the manual and learning the system, but I have to look away from the road to make sure I’m following directions. Onstar avoids both issues by being easy to operate (just press a button) and simple to follow.

Michael Austin of Automobile Magazine wrote how Onstar helped him find E85 stations to fuel his flex-fuel Chevrolet Impala. He found the staff very helpful where, at one point, they made sure one such station provided twenty-four hour service.

But comparing the two is like the proverbial apples and orange comparison. Onstar provides other services from unlocking your car door, monthly diagnostics reports, to sending out emergency services if your airbags are deployed. Onscreen navigation systems show gas stations and restaurants en route as well as allow you to “see” the area ahead of you. If you buy a GM vehicle with Onstar and have the option to include a screen navigation system (like a Cadillac), give some thought to what your priorities are with navigation systems: easy of use or detail.

Finally, remember the technology’s not infallible: if your receiver loses its satellite connection or the almanac information has been entered incorrectly, it will shut down. When this happens, apply the usual common sense and, after telling your boastful male companion to pull off the road, either pull out that map or ask that nice stranger where the nearest hotel is located.

Joel Arellano is Senior Blogger for Automotive.com and The Car Blog. He was also a blogger for the popular Autoblog.com and its offshoot, Autobloggreen.com. He is an avid automotive journalist and enthusiast. This is his first guest post on Ask Patty!

In her usual deep pocket style, Oprah Winfrey has decided to start another show, to be aired on ABC and titled “Oprah Winfrey's The Big Give” where 10 people will have to spend Oprah’s money to come up with "the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others," according to the News Observer.

You might remember the episode a few years ago when Oprah and General Motors gave away 276 Pontiac G6s to an audience of people who all had car-related troubles. The show will be set up similar to Trump’s “The Apprentice” except instead of creating the best new pizza flavor and developing the marketing strategy behind it, contestants will focus making a difference in people’s lives.

What would you do if you were given a wad of Oprah’s cash and told to make a difference in someone’s lives? In keeping with the Ask Patty (automotive) theme, I would start a fund for people with disabilities to install adaptive equipment in their vehicles, whether it is a fully mounted and moveable wheelchair, or a simple adjustment to a seat to allow more comfort for the person with the disability.

So what would you do? Would you give cars to the needy? Would you make sure every family had a properly installed car seat? Leave a comment for us and let us know!

by Breanne Boyle
eMarketing Manager
AskPatty.com, Inc.

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and three other university partners have been awarded a $4.5 million five-year federal grant to continue research on transportation safety and usability for people in wheelchairs.

The U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research has renewed funding of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation Safety (RERC WTS), a partnership headed by UMTRI that also includes the universities of Pittsburgh, Louisville and Colorado.

The partnership was originally formed in 2001 to advance the safety, usability and independence of the large proportion of 1.7 million wheelchair users who remain in their wheelchairs when traveling in motor vehicles.

The partnership of universities will conduct research and development in six project areas, ranging from developing solutions for forward-facing and rear-facing wheelchair passenger stations in large accessible transit vehicles, to investigating issues of school bus transportation for children in wheelchairs, to improving frontal- and rear-crash protection for wheelchair occupants in private vehicles. The RERC WTS will disseminate information, train future researchers, transfer technology concepts to manufacturers, and develop and revise voluntary industry standards.

For more information, contact Bernie DeGroat, 734-936-1015 or 734-647-1847, bernied@umich.edu.

Ask Patty was featured in The Honolulu Advertiser today—the main island’s local paper. The Advertiser thought Ask Patty was great enough news to feature! The funny part is, our very own President, Jody DeVere, is vacationing in Hawaii at this very moment!

She called the Ask Patty staff to say she opened the local morning paper to see Ask Patty in all of her automotive-advice-for-women splendor! Talk about not leaving your work at home! We can’t get away from it and we are so grateful to be getting such great press!

Jody had a great start to a great day scuba diving and spending time with her loved ones. Say hello to the dolphins for us!

We hope your holidays were great and that you spent time with your loved ones and family, the most important part of the whole season! Even though people were on vacation, we still had submissions and we appreciate that! This week we will be wrapping up the posts on holiday wishes coming true as well as some issues about pollution (yuck!). Set aside the new toys for a minute and dig into the latest Ask Patty Blog Carnival!

It was a Merry Christmas for Karen Slaydon and her kids this year. Through the help of the Mary Martha House and a lovely gift of a Volvo station wagon, the once homeless divorcee was able to complete her schooling at the prestigious Paul Mitchell School in Tampa and she is well on her way to a better life for her and her family! The gift of the car was priceless!

With all the after-Christmas shopping going on, you will want to be sure you take extra precautions to prevent break ins while you are away from your vehicle. Thieves will target cars filled with packages and bags from stores. WBKO from Bowling Green has some great tips you should know to avoid losing all your newly purchased items.

Make sure you don’t lose your keys during this busy week! Most new cars have ignition keys with computer chips embedded in them and they can be really costly to replace. A woman who bought a Mercury Sable from a used car dealer was only given one set of keys and found it would cost her $132 to get a second key made! Ouch!

Ten years ago, Terry Franz started Cars for Christmas. He gave away some cars from his used car lot (as a promotion) to people who couldn't afford them. Franz now gets people to donate their used cars, mechanics volunteer to fix them up and local charities help him find deserving recipients. This year alone, his group has given away more than 200 cars.

In energy-related news, New York has started an initiative for a $10 million program to convert 574 hybrid vehicles in the state fleet to be plug-in hybrids. According to The Energy Blog, New York state has embarked on a $10 million program to convert 574 hybrid vehicles in the state fleet to be plug-in hybrids.

Speaking of electricity, one couple in Salem, Oregon, decided to convert their car’s engine into an electric motor. The couple spent $10 a day on gas for their 29-mile commute, but now it costs them between 30 and 60 cents a day!

Longo Toyota-Scion-Lexus of Los Angeles gave the city of El Monte $100,000 to fund several programs jeopardized by the city's recent $6.1 million budget deficit. City Manager James Mussenden said without Longo's donation the programs, which affect more than 3,000 children, had a good possibility of getting cut. What a great holiday gift from Longo!

The Car Blog asks an interesting question: Which would you prefer? They are referring to the two production electric vehicles, the Tango and the Tesla. One is sexy and looks like a super car, the other… well, it’s cute, but it’s nothing “super,” unless you consider the mileage it gets, or the fact that it can split lanes like a motorcycle. Join in the conversation on the Car Blog.

The AutoBlog updates us on the Motor 4 Toys drive that exceeded 10,000 toys for the California Highway Patrol Chips For Kids Program. The program is completely volunteer (down to the web site building, the workers and the car show associated with it) and of course, the toys go to a great cause! Congrats to a job well done this year!

And one last word of safety: Make sure you are driving safe as you head to all of your holiday destinations, and don’t speed! According to AAA reports, speeding triples the odds of crashing.

Thank you for all of your submissions! Make sure to submit next week! Please remember to submit your article using the online form or by emailing Breanne at Breanne@askpatty.com.

With all the shopping that goes on before the holidays, sometimes we forget to treat ourselves. Come on, we deserve it! We lug overloaded bags through parking lots, stand in astronomical lines at the stores, fight other shoppers for that last Cars DVD, and then we drive home only to lug out the wrapping supplies and wrap every present, tie every bow and write every holiday card. It’s exhausting! But of course, well worth it when we see the happy faces.

Now that all that is over, and you are busy after-holiday shopping, cleaning up all the wrapping paper and bows, not to mention turkey and leftovers (Hey! Wait a minute… we should make the men do that!), let’s reflect. What did I do for my wonderful self this year? Did I reward myself for all the hard work I put in at work and for my loved ones? This year I did.

I had a Pioneer AVIC navigation unit sitting in my garage waiting to be installed in my Acura for about a year. You know how it goes; it was more important to spend money elsewhere, and not on the installation of my navigation. Let me tell you, I should have done it sooner! Having navigation in my car is fantastic! Here are the great little things I love about it:

• It tells me where to go in a very pleasant voice while I drive (only if I have put in a destination. It doesn’t do it all the time – how annoying would that be?)
• It is smarter than I am.
• It has XM radio (less commercials and very specific music genres are great!), however I had to subscribe to this feature.
• It has a point of interest search, which basically means I can find anything near me (think Yahoo Maps). If I want to find the nearest restaurant or Starbucks or Vons I just look it up and it automatically routes me there. Genius!
• The screen is large and super easy to read.
• It’s touch screen which is kind of fun.

I have found that even changing the radio station (via the touch screen) can be difficult while driving because you have to look at the screen to make sure you touch the right spot, instead of your fingers feeling the buttons on a regular radio and just pushing them. But other than that, I love it!

So ladies, do something a little special for yourself before the new year, even if it’s as simple as taking a time out to sit with some hot cocoa or coffee and catch up on some reading. Either way, make some of this holiday season all about you!

by Breanne Boyle
eMarketing Manager
Ask Patty