Car Buying and Ownership

Summary:
Teach Yourself - the world's leading learning brand - is relaunched in 2010 as a multi-platform experience that will keep you motivated to achieve your goals. Let our expert author guide you through this brand new edition, with personal insights, tips, energising self-tests and summaries throughout the book. Go online at www.teachyourself.com for tests, extension articles and a vibrant community of like-minded learners. And if you don't have much time, don't worry - every book gives you 1, 5 and 10-minute bites of learning to get you started.

If you want a new car but have no idea where to start looking, how to find a good deal, or even whether to buy new or second-hand, this is an ideal book for you. It covers everything from the basics of research, buying online and abroad, dealers and specialists and the first days in your new purchase (what does that button do?). It will offer sensible and basic tips for car maintenance, including everything from safety checks on tyres, to checking oil and even how to wash, polish, and remove stubborn scratches or persistent dog hairs. With advice on everything from warranties to insurance to how to cope with a breakdown, it is ideal for any new car owner.

• Covers every element of the initial purchase, from used car sales to buying new or from abroad
• Also offers drivers drivers sensible advice on how to familiarise themselves with complex systems
• Gives instructions for every aspect of basic car care, from washing to checking oil and tyres
• Covers how to sell a car in addition to how to buy
• Explains such complex areas as warranties and insurance and offers advice as to what to do in the event of a breakdown or accident

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: How to decide what sort of car you need. Where to do your research. Things to take into consideration, like manual or automatic, petrol or diesel, service costs, depreciation and environmental issues. Finding finance. Finding insurance and brea
Chapter 2: All aspects of buying new including getting the best from the test drive, haggling, whether to trade in or sell privately.
Chapter 3: All aspects of buying used, including pros and cons of buying from dealers against private sales (from small ads etc), risks of buying at auction, how to check a car’s history and vehicle inspections.
Chapter 4: The first few days of ownership including understanding your new car’s systems, checking for faults, getting comfortable, running it in.
Chapter 6: The regular checks needed.
Chapter 7: Tyres. Importance of having the right specification tyres for the car, tyre pressures, tread depth, sidewall damage, the faults tread wear patterns can reveal, how to change a wheel and how to buy new tyres.
Chapter 8: Batteries and their problems. Battery faults are the most common problems breakdown organisations get called out for.
Chapter 9: Cleaning. There’s more to it than sticking it through a car wash. How to do it properly and some car valeting tips on getting the best results and coping with awkward things like dog hairs. Explaining when you need professional help.
Chapter 10: Servicing. Why your car needs it. Are there jobs you can do yourself. How to choose a garage to do it. How to complain if it isn’t done as you’d like.
Chapter 11: Warranty claims. What warranties expect of you. How to get work carried out. How to argue the case for things to be done under warranty (eg if something packs up just outside the warranty period). What you can’t expect them to pay for.
Chapter 12: Breakdowns. What to keep in the car. A few checks you can make so you’re not stranded just because a screw needs doing up. Push starting. Jump starting. Safety advice.
Chapter 13: Accidents. The information you need to gather at the roadside. Getting the repairs done.
Chapter 14: Getting rid of the car. How to prepare it for sale -- a clean one can impress even a professional and will often clinch a private sale. Pros and cons or trade in against private sale.
How to advertise it. How to deal with prospective buyers. How not to get ripped off.
Useful information section with web addresses and phone numbers plus a glossary.

About the Author(s):
John Henderson is a freelance journalist and photographer specializing in motoring journalism and equestrian photography. Since 1982 he has written on motoring for a wide range of provincial and national titles and before going freelance in 1990 was a road tester on 'Motor' and deputy editor of 'Performance Car'.

Readership:
Adult consumer