So you want to look for a new car but can’t seem to make your finances stretch far enough? Or maybe you’ve already found the car of your dreams, but know there’s no way you’ll ever be able to afford it. You’re not alone – the car industry has been hit hardest of all by the recession and car sales have reached an all time low. It seems no one can afford to think about purchasing a new car right now.

But don’t let that discourage you – there is still another option. There is a way you could still get the car you want, without even having to pay upfront for it. Car contract hire or leasing agreements are a great way to choose the exact car you want and you only have to pay one manageable monthly fee.  

I know what you’re thinking, there has to be a catch, right? Well, in fact, no there really isn’t. Yes you have to sign a contract but you get to choose from any car on the market, including those that would normally be out of your price range. In fact, the more desirable the car, the better deals you can get. It’s not like buying a new car where the value decreases with time, most contract hire agreements are based on your projected usage so they take wear and tear into account and when the contract ends you can trade it in for a newer model.

Choosing contract hire will usually also help with the running cost of having a car – often the road tax and servicing costs are thrown in to the monthly instalments so you won’t find yourself suddenly landed with huge repair bills. And it’s less likely to break down as you can trade it in every couple of years, so you’ll always have the latest new model.

Basically, it’s a great way of getting a new car without any of the worries of buying outright – and it really does make sense, especially now when times are hard. And who knows, you might end up with that dream car after all!

Technorati Tags: car contract hire, cars, contract hire, credit crunch

Originally, it started as an engineering concept at the turn of the 21st century. Gas-Electric “hybrid” cars were the dream of the modern society and they were displayed at auto shows to gauge public reaction and market potential. Yet within a few years alone ( a small wink in the vehicle industry), hybrids have evolved into one of today’s most important automotive trends. Electronic components have really developed over the last ten years and are now more geared than ever to accommodate for the ‘greener solutions of our time. Every bit of a car from basic fuses to solenoids have been updated and modified to be friendlier for the environment. Numerous other components have come into play in the advancement of this technology, but one element in particular, copper, has been indispensable in helping to propel the growth of hybrid vehicles.
According to GM (General Motors) Chief Engineer, Time Grew, “Copper has two important roles in hybrids: It runs the electricity, so you have large amounts of copper in the motor and battery, and, more importantly, the copper technology is making hybrids viable commercially”. Fortunately enough, hybrids have come into the market in a big way. People are more than keen to get their first hybrid car and contribute to saving the world’s energy resources.
These days there are not many cars that are not hybrids. Car companies have a responsibility to now be far more conscious about polluting the planet. It is interesting to try and comprehend where technology will be this time in a couple of years. Will our vehicles be even more energy efficient? Only time will tell but I am sure that automotive technology will have a lot of surprises for us. It simply depends on what is going to be viable from a commercial and marketing point of view.

Technorati Tags: cars, fuses, hybrid cars, solenoids

Over the last couple of weeks the UK has been hit with some of the most extreme weather we’ve seen in a long time. The first week of February brought the heaviest snowfall we’ve seen for 18 years, causing hundreds of schools to close and leaving over 6 million people stranded unable to get to work. Most public transport was disrupted or cancelled and many roads were deemed unsafe due to the icy conditions and closed off.

The continuing bad weather is a real worry for drivers, with an increased risk of accidents on the icy roads as well as other problems caused by the extreme conditions. There have been a number of incidents of sudden heavy snowfall causing trapped drivers to have to be dug out, while in other parts of the country the melting snow has been replaced with heavy rains and severe flood warnings have been issued.

All this is bad news for car owners, not only because the personal risk of driving on the roads is higher, but also because a damaged car can be a costly business. With the recession, most people really couldn’t afford to splash out on a new car if something happened to theirs. And that is the real problem with owning a car. It’s brilliant until something goes wrong, but then it can just become really expensive. You might think it won’t apply to you, that you’re a careful, safe driver who won’t get into that sort of situation. But as the last few weeks have proved, you can’t predict what will happen on the roads, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent it.

The problem is that once your car is paid for, it then becomes entirely your responsibility. Then the older the car gets the more likely it is to go wrong, especially in extreme weather conditions, and the more money you’ll have to shell out when it does. And even when you get it fixed, it still won’t be worth half what you paid for it in the first place as a car only ever decreases its value over time.

The people who manage to avoid these worries are those who opt for a car contract hire deal instead of buying a car outright. It doesn’t mean the car’s not yours, it just means that you pay for it in regular monthly instalments and often you get extra benefits thrown in as well like road tax and servicing costs. So if something was to happen, you wouldn’t have to foot the whole bill yourself. And the best thing is that when the contract hire expires after a couple of years you can trade the car in for a new one, meaning you’ve always got the latest updated model. And as you’ll always have a new car, it won’t have had time to wear out and is less likely to break down in the first place!

Technorati Tags: car contract hire, cars, contract hire, driving

Take a look at this pre-owned 2007 Cadillac STS, Stock: 77287. Visit http://www.mastria.com/ for more information on this vehicle and our full inventory.

Mastria Buick Pontiac GMC
1525 New State Hwy
Raynham MA, 02767
(508) 880-7000

MASTRIA ANNOUNCES AUTO ADVANTAGE PROGRAM

Advantage Program gives area employees discounts when shopping at Mastria

The Mastria Auto Group on Route 44 in Raynham is pleased to announce the commencement of their Auto Advantage Program. Designed to offer employees of local businesses added value when doing business at Mastria, the program is being presented through Human Resources’ departments to their employees as a company benefit.

Features of the program include discounts in the service, parts, and auto appearance departments, as well as a free two year factory maintenance package with the purchase or lease of a new vehicle. The benefits are available at all four of Mastria’s dealerships in Raynham.

Interested local businesses may contact Mastria through their website, www.mastria.com or by email at autoadvantagepro@mastria.com, to obtain more information about enrolling in the program.

Loaded Cadillac luxury, displayed in full in this gorgeous STS. AWD security, heated AND ventilated seats, DVD-based Navigation, and far more than we can list here make this a must-see for the discrimating buyer ! Call TODAY to make sure it’s still here and to schedule your no-hassle test-drive ! Act soon and get Free Tires for as long as you own it !! Pricing does not include any bank or acquisition fees.

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Technorati Tags: "New, 02767, 2007, Buick, cadillac, car, cars, dealer, gmc, MA, Mastria, pontiac, Preowned, Providence, Raynham, STS, SUV, trucks, used

General Motors Corp. is set to invade the 2007 North American International Auto Show with a distinctively new approach. This time around, GM will not only showcase new production models and concept cars but it would also premiere a whole new exhibit.

According to Mark LeNeve, GM North America’s vice president of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing, the 121,000 square feet legroom given to the company will be transformed into the auto show equivalent of an art gallery. He added that parts of the auto exhibit will travel to other domestic and international shows and that this new exhibit is making its debut in Detroit because NAIAS is “a critically important show for General Motors and our industry.”

The auto exhibit is aimed at showcasing GM’s global brands, particularly Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hummer and Saab, distinguishing all of GM’s brands both global and domestic, stressing technology and positioning GM as a design leader. “Indeed, design and technology will take center stage at the GM exhibit. Debuts will take place within their brand’s setting, while corporate announcements will occur on a center stage within the exhibit,” said LeNeve.

That stage will be utilized to exhibit GM technology, such as OnStar communications and alternative fuel technologies. The layout is enhanced by technologically advanced overhead and vehicle lighting, open spaces and clean lines, minimalist architecture and finest materials to make visitors experience GM’s eight distinctive brands in unique, gallery-type settings within a unified, GM-themed environment.

“While the stars of the show are the vehicles, we wanted the exhibit space to reflect the corporation’s design-driven direction in a way that complements the brand essence of each vehicle and the overall GM brand,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. “The finest work deserves to be displayed in the best galleries, and I believe we’ve accomplished that with this exhibit.”

Throughout the exhibit, 615 linear feet of LED lighting will be suspended above visitors’ heads. The lights are mated to additional lighting in the brand displays to shower the vehicles in luminosity. Each of the brand areas will have back wall video projection for product messages, as well as synchronized corporate messages.

Cadillac, the luxury marquee of GM, showcased the sharp lines and faceted architecture of its lineup. It used an angular ceiling canopy, sophisticated materials such as frosted glass and stainless steel surfaces, and modern lighting. The brand will be unveiling the 2008 Cadillac CTS.

For the Chevrolet brand, GM made a concept called “Chevy Moments.” The display includes a series of graphic towers, feature vehicle displays and LED screens, along with unique flooring that defines specific vehicle areas. GM will be unveiling the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu in the auto show.

Hummer showcases capability. The go-anywhere, do-anything lineup of the brand showed off textured elegance using deep orange backdrop blended to architectural cues like ID plinths, concrete and glass floor panels.

Saab featured unique LED technology and LED screens that create a special product environment. The display radiates spotlessness and freshness.

Other GM brands are also made strikingly fabulous to draw more visitors. Saturn is set to unfold its 2007 Aura Green Line hybrid. Buick is absorbed in promoting Lucerne. The vehicle will showcase OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation technology on a windshield-projected account.

The individual brand displays of GM featured LED screens and projected laser images on glass that demonstrate GM’s vision for reinventing the automobile.

The industry is showering the auto market with lots of surprises. GM’s closest rivals like Ford and Toyota are also concentrating on making their lineup more astounding than before. Automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Honda are also focused on auto innovations. In fact, upgraded auto parts Mercedes boost the potentials of the upcoming GL 420 BLUETEC concept.