Author Archive: Chad Baus

Stay prepared for anything your next road trip might throw at you.

I’ve taken a lot of road trips in my day, from moving myself across the country in a stick-shift sedan I didn’t know how to drive, to dozens of nights camping in my truck deep in the desert. I’ve also had my fair share of breakdowns, flat tires, spin-outs in snow drifts and dead batteries. While a car emergency kit can’t solve all of these problems, having a compact, comprehensive set of tools and emergency aids at my disposal has helped in plenty of circumstances. A well-stocked kit can provide crucial items like first aid supplies, tools for minor repairs, and essentials like food, water, and blankets.

…What I’ve learned through research and experience is that roadside emergency kits come in various sizes with multiple tools and safety items, including jumper cables, flares, tow ropes, and hand tools. The approach of the cold winter [...]

Planning for a road trip can be overwhelming. It’s hard to anticipate what you’ll need along the way — and what will slow you down.

When you don’t have to pay fifty bucks to check your luggage, it’s tempting to just throw it all in the car. But, after a few trips, I learned that going this route leaves you with a car full of stuff, none of which is at arm’s length when you need it.

…I wouldn’t call myself a road trip expert (yet). But if I had to boil down what’s in my car to the top 10 essentials, here’s what would make the cut:

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The holiday seasons mean many things to many people. Some of our celebrations are religious, while others are secular. Sometimes we gather with family members and at other times with friends. One thread that likely connects us if we’re parents, however, is the need to drive long distances with our children under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Holiday road trips can be stressful. If little minds aren’t occupied, little bodies squirm in their seats. Fatigue-induced tantrums are a possibility for both children and adults, and the term “blowout” can apply to tires and diapers. So we’ve compiled a range of helpful tips, including how other … parents keep their kids occupied on the road, what you must be sure to pack for your upcoming road trips, and how to make sure your vehicle is ready for whatever winter throws at it.

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What you need to know about all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive

If you find yourself asking what the difference between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is, don’t feel bad. It can get confusing. What it boils down to is whether or not the vehicle has a multi-speed transfer case. A transfer case is effectively a second gearbox, usually mounted behind the transmission, that allows drivers to select a mechanically lower gear, which aids off-road driving by multiplying torque and increasing control on ascents and descents.

Most all-wheel-drive vehicles won’t have a selectable low range, but many four-wheel-drive vehicles use what’s known as “full-time” four-wheel drive. This means they always drive all four wheels while still having a selectable low range. Other four-wheel-drive vehicles will spend most of their time in two-wheel drive and require the operator to select four-wheel drive manually. This approach was the most common design for many years and is still in [...]

…[T]here are just as many things that are rumored to improve your gas mileage that just don’t work on today’s modern cars.

Some, it has proven, including preferring air conditioning over open windows and choosing tires with low rolling resistance, don’t affect your gas mileage as much as you’d think.

Here are just seven of the mpg myths busted by the folks over at Consumer Reports. Read them, and let us know what you think. 

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Busting common trade-in myths

According to Edmunds data, the best time to trade in a car is within the first two quarters of the year, when used car values tend to trend higher. That’s the ideal situation, but life is unpredictable, and you may need a car later in the year. Does that mean you’re out of luck? Not necessarily. There are many other factors that affect trade-in values, such as the current market conditions, the age of the vehicle, mileage and even the brand of vehicle itself. With this in mind, here are answers to common questions people may have about the timing of their trade-in.

Note: A general rule to be aware of is that you’re going to get less money trading in your car than selling it yourself. That’s because the dealership needs to factor in reconditioning costs and also wants to make a profit on the vehicle. These factors impact the trade-in [...]

They Can Make or Break a Car Deal

Smart car shoppers do their homework before setting foot in a dealership. They research makes and models, read the expert reviews on Edmunds, and know what vehicle they want before talking to a salesperson.

And of course almost everyone realizes that a car dealer or lending institution will want to evaluate a potential buyer’s credit report before agreeing to a loan or lease. But sometimes even the most savvy consumers don’t really understand the specifics of what goes into that report, even though it may determine whether they drive away with the car of their dreams.

Since credit reports and credit scores are so closely intertwined, there’s often confusion about what each is and how each is used.

A credit report is a record of your current and past interactions with lenders and others with whom you’ve had financial dealings. The parties can include banks, finance companies, [...]

It’s possible to avoid a repo if you follow these steps

Maybe you’ve had a massive, negative life change. Or perhaps you’re just struggling with personal finances. Whatever the reason, you’re afraid of falling behind on your car payments and maybe even defaulting on your loan altogether.

If you find yourself saddled with a monthly car payment that you can no longer afford, don’t panic. You have some options.

Communication with your lender is vital and can be the difference between keeping your car and having it repossessed. Don’t hesitate; take action immediately to head off a real crisis point. You might find that the lender has an auto loan hardship program and will be able to provide a solution.

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Can you imagine having a car that you’re financing declared a total loss because of an accident or theft — but still having to make payments on it?

Because I sold cars at dealerships for 12 years, I’ve seen this scenario more times than I can count. People fell into this situation not because of poor planning, some car dealership scheme or cosmic bad luck. It happened because many shoppers didn’t fully understand their car insurance policies or what they meant for their auto loans. These car owners assumed that if they were to lose their car to an accident or theft, their car insurance would handle the money part and they’d just go get a different car and move on with their lives.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, especially if you owe more on your car than it is actually worth.

This is where gap insurance comes in: As the name implies, it covers [...]