Custom Paint Job - Things To Do First

Daniel Harris possesses a creative mind that drives him to express himself with any medium he can get his hands on. He currently funds his artistic endeavors by writing for BYK Additives & Instruments who specializes in color measurement.

In a world of increasingly similar people, there is the urge to be unique, to mold your vehicle into an outward vision of your personality. It grants a certain status. You are the person that has the guts to proclaim to the neighborhood who you are. Unfortunately guts and courage will not counter the accidents, changes in personal taste, or the very real potential of a resale that might dampen any urge to buy a custom paint job.

Accidents Happen

Inexperienced drivers, slippery weather conditions, and the occasional mistake in judgment mean that your car is an accident waiting to happen the moment that you drive it off the lot or out of the shop. Accidents lead to chips and scratches on your car and the potential need to replace entire doors that are beyond repair. Not a problem, right? You just have to touch up that cool custom paint job that all your friends’ envy. Easier said than done.

Custom paint jobs, while cool, deviate from the normal colors that a car is typically painted. This isn't a problem until it’s dragged into the shop and the car mechanic has to try and match your cars color code, which can be unique if you had the pain custom made which turns the matching game into a guessing game. Because of  how color is measured, it is difficult for the mechanic to find that exact shade of blue when there are ten million possible color variations. Depending on the quality and resources available to the mechanic that will be in charge of the repaint, they may not have the material available that will allow for the identification of the exact shade that was used on the custom job. The wrong choice and your car could be painted two different shades of blue. What was once cool and visionary becomes a mockery of what it once was.

People Change

Custom designs, especially custom designs that have flames, thunder bolts and any other number of symbols might lose their significance as individual’s age. Cars for many are an investment. They are meant to be the mode of transportation that can last years and sometimes decades. It is important to project ahead when considering a custom paint job. At twenty-one purple and blue lightning bolts running down the side of the car may seems cool, but will the cool factor be maintained as the years pass? Before making any big purchases or decisions you should project ahead and ask yourself: “in twenty years will I wonder why I wanted this?”

Resale Plans

If you get to the point that you’re wondering why you purchased that unique paint job, you might decide to sell it. Selling the car is problematic because the second that you deviated from the norm you opened yourself up to a potential loss in resale value. The problem is that the demand for a car with lightning bolts down the side is not high. This is reflected in the price.

There is the possibility that the modifications in the paint job could fall into a niche of people eager to buy the car for or above resale value. There is the possibility that the car mechanic has the gadgets necessary to pin point that exact shade, and there is a slither of the chance that you will never get into an accident. This possibility should be considered remote for the potential buyer. The odds are not in your favor. After you have considered the potential pit falls of a custom paint job, and still desire a lightning bolt covered car go for it. Or the time being at least you’ll be the coolest person in the neighborhood. And that is something that money can buy.

Are Car Mods Worth It?

Vince Evans was a light mechanic and auctioneer until he went back to his old love, writing. Rather than shouting at North Easterners, he prefers to write about New Jersey used cars dealers.

When thinking of decking out your car you should research to see how much that modification might increase or decrease the overall resale value of the car.

Personalized Aesthetic Modifications

Some modifications like wings attached to the rear of the car or a giant picture of a unicorn paint job might have disastrous effects on the resale value. Okay, yes most people won’t paint a giant unicorn on their car, but the overall concept is true. What is charming to you might be ugly to them. These types of modifications are all flash. They modify the car to fit you. The payoff for these is the personal satisfaction that comes with knowing that you are unique and not like all of those zombies that own the same car.

The problem with personalized aesthetic mods is that the resale value corresponds with the number of people that are willing to buy the car. Because most people are zombies that like to play it safe and not mod enthusiasts, the resale value might take a dive. When you try to sell a mod car to the masses, they sometimes get uncomfortable when they think about owning a car with some kinds of mods. They like normal cars that are a solid red, white, or black. They want the end of their car to be wingless, and they desire to avoid the shame and embarrassment that might arise in formal social situations when people see them climb out of their car at the company picnic. These types of people might not be able to see themselves buying the modified car at market price, let alone above market price. For that reason personalized modifications do not always sell well and should be considered only if resale value does not matter.

The Warranty Problem

Whether resale of a modified car is on the horizon, you should check beforehand if the mod can void the warranty. There are documented cases of warranties being voided because poorly installed modifications led to damage to the vehicle. A voided warranty will lead to a drastic dip in the resale price.

Modifications that Appeal to the Masses.

That being said certain modification when installed skillfully and correctly do appeal to the masses and can increase or at least not hurt the resale value. Replacing that old cassette tape player with a CD player or installing a TV with a DVD player into the back of a mini-van can increase the overall sale price. Soccer moms are less likely to road rage when their kids are occupied with a movie instead of arguing in the back seat. Likewise replacing the ratty seats with new leather can raise the comfort level, aesthetic appeal, and sales price of the eventual sale. It is important to make all mods appeal to a large demographic. Ask yourself what kind of people would buy a car with this modification. If you have a fairly large list of potential buyers, the modification should be safe to install.

Whether the mod is a functional or an aesthetic change, the potential mod buyer should be aware how the changes will affect how used car dealers from New York, Idaho or California will be able to sell your car. The wrong modifications could lead to a larger dip in the sales price than might be expected. And the right one can drastically increase what you can expect for the car.

Toyota Etios Spotted: Launching Soon

Toyota, the Japanese Auto Major's Toyota Etios has been spotted with set of cosmetic updates and it is expected to be rolled out in the markets soon. Our trusted sources have constantly reporting about the updated version of Liva and now they have spotted the 2013 Toyota Etios Liva facelift version, which will be arriving in the markets soon. We have already reported about the Toyota's plans on February 7th, earlier this year and now it is all but official that the facelifted Etios will arrive in markets with some major modifications.

According to the video released by the company, the car has got some major modifications inside the cabin. Now the inside of the car looks much premium than its existing version. Toyota has used some of the finest fabric to give a premium feel to the switchgear, dashboard, and door panels as you can see in the Toyota Etios pictures. On the other side the dashboard now gets a beige finishing, new seat fabrics, adjustable headrest that makes the vehicle more luxurious. It has also got Bluetooth supportive music system that indeed offers high definition entertainment to the passengers.


According to our trusted sources, the Japanese auto maker is planning to introduce a 1500cc petrol engine powered version in the markets. However, it is still unclear that the Etios Liva will be getting a 1.5 liter petrol engine or not. We cannot ignore the possibility of placing the 1.5 liter powered petrol engine in the high end variant of Toyota Etios. This will certainly make the car as one of the most powerful hatch in the segment and makes it as one of the best choice. However, the Toyota Etios price might be hiked because of these updates.

There are some more changes that include the improved braking system along with re-tuned suspension system, much wider wheels that complements additional power and so on. Toyota Cars are known for the quality benchmarks across the globe but they face criticism from many individuals because of the not-so-impressive interiors. Etios was one of those cars that received strong criticism from the markets because of its interiors. This is the reason why the sales of the company were not up to the mark in the recent times. Now the company seems to be realized about the actual problem and disclosed its plans about the face-lifted version of its hatchback.

There is no doubt that most of the Toyota Etios features will be improved and will definitely provide better comforts with better driving experience. If you just take a look at the Toyota Etios Pictures closely, you can notice that OVRMs gets an edgy housing with indicator lamps, design of the tail lamps have been slightly revamped and so on. The rear part of the car looks very decent with much premium look with the cosmetic updates. There is no wonder that the new 2013 face-lifted Etios will grab your attention in the first impression. There is still no update about the official launch date of the Etios Liva Hatch in the markets but many are anticipating that the vehicle will arrive shortly by the end of this month. If the rumors goes right, the vehicle will arrive in this month to lure the Indian car enthusiasts.

This post has been written by Shweta Aggarwal on Toyota Etios.

Tips To Sell Your Modified Car

Things You Should Know Before Selling Your Modified Car

Unlike selling a traditional used car, putting a modified car on the market can be a whole new ballgame. However, when approached correctly, selling a modified car can result in much higher profits. Getting cash for cars is a game that essentially comes down to advertising and presentation strategies. Individuals selling and buying traditional used cars can mainly rely on prices that are close to the Kelley Bluebook value. On the other hand, a modified vehicle must speak for itself.

One of the most important things to do is to accurately represent your vehicle, and show it in the best light possible. Presentation starts with attention to detail. Detail the entire car. The little things can add up quickly, easily resulting in a price difference of hundreds of dollars. Clean the engine with degreaser, add a layer of vinyl protectant to all plastic surfaces, and steam clean the appropriate interior surfaces. Love can equal value.

Changes and upgrades should be included in any advertisements taken out on the vehicle. It may be hard to list all of the modifications in a single ad. Be sure that you also keep a detailed list of any modifications that you have made to the vehicle to present to potential customers. Each change, no matter how small, can raise the value of the car. When possible, keep receipts or any form of documentation for your upgrades. All changes may not be readily visible. The receipts also verify the expense that was incurred as the car was upgraded. If the original parts of the car are in your possession, then include those in the package. Buyers may not be thrilled with every modification. However, they may be interested in restoring certain aspects of the car. The attractiveness of the offer may be based on the good condition of the vehicle itself.

Attempting to get cash for cars can be difficult. You often run into extremely saturated markets. Where you advertise can make a huge difference. It is vital that you try to reach your likely customer base. Modified cars will attract car enthusiasts. These are the people that like to get under the hood and get their hands dirty. The Internet is full of message boards, clubs, and websites geared directly at these types of people. Begin advertising on resources such as these for a higher success rate. Advertising to well-informed customers also increases the likelihood that you can get a fair price for the vehicle. The Internet is also a great resource because advertising can usually be done for free, depending on the site. It is also wise to avoid putting all the eggs in one basket. Advertise in as many places as you can. Use Craig's List, newspaper “Auto-Trader” sections, classifieds, and any other form of media at your disposal. Do not fail to neglect the appearance of the car as well. Use pictures where possible, and put the detail work to use.

This has been a guest post from Are You Selling, a website that helps people get cash for their cars.

Will Mercedes-Benz CLA bring Mercedes on top??

Mercedes, the leading global luxury car manufacturer, recently was beaten by BMW and Audi in the Indian market. Some time before there was just Mercedes which was ruling the Indian luxury car market, but after the entrance of other two German manufacturers i.e. Audi and BMW, Mercedes has lost lots of its market share and apart from losing the customers, Mercedes has also been shifted towards third position after BMW and Audi.

Now if we take a look at Mercedes Benz plans for this year then it seems that German auto giant will not leave any stone unturned to regain its market share and position back from BMW and Audi. Recently there were rumors that all new Mercedes Benz CLA will reach the Indian market in 2013 seems to be untrue. We are expecting that this amazing car will reach Indian shores by 2014. it has also been said that Mercedes Benz CLA price would be tagged around Rs 25 lakhs, all new car from German auto giant will be placed before Mercedes Benz C class. This amazing compact sedan from German auto giant will be launched in Indian market in direct competition with Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat. Lets take a look at this amazing all new Mercedes Benz CLA pictures, we will notice that designers has done a lot of work on this amazing compact saloon, to provide it an amazing look.
 
If we talk about the power and performance of this amazing upcoming saloon then Mercedes Benz CLA features 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol engine. Heart of this amazing compact saloon i.e. CLA 250 is capable enough to churn out the power of 208bhp with a peak torque of 350Nm. This was about the petrol engine trim of this amazing and classy saloon. If we take a look at the diesel engine trim of this car then CLA 220 CDI is featuring 2.2 liter engine which is capable enough to churn out a power of 167bhp with the peak torque of 350Nm. Another good news for all the Mercedes lovers is that both the engine options i.e. diesel as well as petrol trims, will be equipped with amazing 7 speed dual clutch automatically transmitted gearbox which readily falls in hand.
 
Apart from this amazing power and performance car is also featuring some amazing features like, panoramic roof which brings more sunlight in the car. The four wheeler is also equipped with ECO start/stop function in all the variants of the car, attention assist on lethargic roads, blind spot assist, lane keeping assist, AMG styling kit for providing car a luxurious feel. Car is even equipped with many different safety features for the complete protection of passengers sitting inside the car like, radar based collision prevention assist with adaptive brake assist too, and many other similar features are also provided in this amazing saloon from the leading German auto giant. Most popular Mercedes Benz cars running on Indian roads are Mercedes M Class, Mercedes S Class, Mercedes CLS class, Mercedes E Class.

Guest Author, Shweta Aggarwal has written on luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes CLA May Come in First Quarter

Mercedes Benz India is planning to launch another car in India this year. This time it will be compact sedan car that carries the name as Mercedes Benz CLA. This car has already made it to the Detroit Motor show and now it is all set to enter the domestic markets of India to compete with its German Rival BMW. The company sources have already confirmed that they will be launching the vehicle in India and hence, we can expect that the vehicle will arrive in domestic markets of India soon. This new model CLA is based on the MFA platform (Modular Front Architecture), which is also shared with the Mercedes A Class hatchback. 

The company is offering a standard engine with a petrol and diesel engine options in the international markets. Many of the market experts are assuming that the company is launching CLA class vehicle with standard trim in order to sell large number of volumes in the market. At present Mercedes Benz cars have lost their top slot in the Indian markets due to which, the company is now focusing on the improving the sales of the company. As far as Mercedes Benz CLA is concerned, it is a car with stunning appearance as we can see in the Mercedes Benz CLA pictures. 

On the other hand, the company is promising that the car will be much affordable than the rest of the models. However, the company hasn't revealed anything about the Mercedes Benz CLA price at the moment but soon it will be disclosed for the car enthusiasts. When it comes to the specifications of this upcoming car, it is blessed with 2.0 liter turbo charged petrol engine and with a 2.2 liter diesel engine. The petrol engine has the maximum power output of about 208Bhp and 350Nm of peak torque, where as the diesel engine has the ability to generate 167Bhp of maximum power and 350Nm of maximum torque. However, both these engines are equipped with a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission gearbox. 

When it comes to the Mercedes Benz CLA features, it is loaded with ample amount of luxurious features. When it comes to the most important appearance part, the car definitely has a stylish look better than any other Mercedes car in its class. This compact sedan car from Mercedes is expected to carry a price tag of under Rs. 25.0 lakh, which will be very competitive in the Indian markets. There is no information about the official launch date of Mercedes Benz CLA at the moment but soon the company will be launching by the end of first quarter of 2013.

Many New cars are now available with good features

 Indian automotive industry has been continuously rising, some new companies are continuously entering the Indian car market. Recently company which made the entrance in Indian car market is Renault, the French auto giant. Some New cars have been launched by the company in the Indian car market like Renault Duster the SUV and Renault Pulse a hatchback these two cars are doing pretty good in the market. In fact Duster has been pretty much loved by the Indian customer and is its performance outstanding in the country.

Renault Duster

Some luxurious companies have also made their way towards the company. Indian car market had been a continuous target for all the foreign companies India is the largest car market all over the world. We can also call the Indian car market by the name of hatchback car market. If we go as per the sales figure of our country we would notice that majority of sales include hatchback cars. We can also see that almost every company in the country is offering its hatchback, in recent introductions Pulse was launched by Renault motors with an objective to maintain a grip on the Indian car market.

Audi Q5

Some latest new car models were also launched by the companies in the country recently , yesterday only the German manufacturer, Audi launched the facelift version of its most saleable SUV in India the Audi Q5, Audi Q5 was proved to be a good decision by company to launch the car in country. Q5 was launched back in 2008 and since then car is continuously boosting the sales of company. Another latest new cars which are expected to be launched in the country in 2013 are Ford EcoSport in the SUV segment. One of the biggest luxury car manufacturer Jaguar motors which is a subsidiary of Indian company Tata Motors has planned to launch Jaguar XF S2.2 in the country which would be cheaper and more fuel economical as compared to the Jaguar cars which are already running on the Indian roads.

Ford Ecosport

Major reason due to which car would be cheaper is that this time car would be imported in the country via CKD route (completely knocked down) which will save lots of duties, which usually car has to go through so we can say that due to less price car will help the company to gain India's market share.

Maruti WagonR

And lots of new car models are also expected to be launched in the country like it has been said that Maruti WagonR facelift would be launched in the country on 15th or 16th of January 2013. some other luxury cars are also expected to be launched in the country like Mercedes G63 AMG and facelift version of Mercedes E class.

 About the Author : This post is written by guest author on new cars with good features and specifications.