When you’re in the market for Texas used cars, there are plenty of pre-purchase questions you should ask. One of the most important areas to consider before you start car shopping is your budget. What are your priorities? Whether your budget gets you into a small, late-model Ford or something as envy-worthy as a Hummer, do some math and calculate what you can afford to pay per month on the vehicle. If you’re looking at a used car on the Texas market that you want to finance, you’ll also have to pay for full insurance coverage over the lifetime of your auto loan, so be sure to add in some room in the budget for any increase in your premiums.

Once you’ve got a monthly budget for a Ford, or Hummer, or other purchase, you can start looking for a vehicle with confidence—you can calculate the range of prices that fits your budget when broken down into individual car payments and look only for the vehicles that work well with your numbers. One more bit of math to do—figure out how much money you can save in interest payments over the life of your auto loan if you pay more than the minimum due. Some people prefer to save over the long run by tightening their budget elsewhere and paying more than the required payment. How much can you save by paying extra and cutting six months off the loan?

What’s a discontinued car? It’s one that has been taken out of production and will no longer be made after the final year. Texas used car buyers often learn by accident that a certain model is discontinued, other times a popular model grabs headlines when it’s learned that no more will be made. Some people shopping for a new or used car are after a specific make and model. Are you in search of a particular Ford? A Hummer? If the new car you want is discontinued, it may be turning into a sought-after model for more than one reason. Savvy used car buyers know a discontinued vehicle with high residual value offers a good advantage if you trade it in for another vehicle (or sell it outright) within a few years.

That’s the catch—the timing of your next Texas used car transaction. The residual value advantage applies generally to people who own cars for three to five years before trading them in or selling them and moving to a different vehicle. If you’re planning on operating the car for more than five years, the residual value may not be as high, so it pays to plan ahead. If you want a vehicle that has good residual value, do some research on it before you buy—check with your loan officer to see what a particular make and model is worth new, and how much it’s worth between three and five years from the date of purchase.

Over the past few years, the country has seen quite a shift towards exploring alternative fuels to power their cars and trucks.  Alternative fuel-powered vehicles are slowly entering the market place, so I’ve put together this brief list of the different types that are available now, and what is right around the corner.

Electricity: A vehicle that only used electricity would need to be plugged in before use, but many hybrid cars and trucks use both electricity and gasoline to reduce their environmental impact, and are popular at your Texas car dealerships.

Ethanol: Arguably the most popular in recent years, ethanol is made from sugar cane or corn.  There are vehicles sold today that can run on a gasoline/ethanol mixture.  One drawback to ethanol is that its not as fuel efficient as gasoline (you can drive further on one gallon of gas than on one gallon of ethanol) and it can be more expensive.

Hydrogen: Most of the research with hydrogen is the use of hydrogen fuel cells that would power a car or truck.  A car running on hydrogen alone would produce no emissions, just water vapor.

Most Houston residents are trying to do their part to reduce their impact on the environment, and Ron Carter is no exception.  We look forward to bringing you more information about alternative fuels as it comes available, and always carrying the latest auto technology at our Houston car dealership.

One of the most important steps when buying a new or used car in the Houston area is taking that car on a test drive.  This step in the buying process really allows you to determine whether or not the vehicle in which you are interested is the right one.  I've put together a list of things you should do while on your next test drive.

Before you even set foot on any Texas car dealership lot, know what you are looking for.  You'll be better able to determine which car or truck is right for you when you know what you need.  If you have kids, a big backseat may be important.  If have a long commute, good gas mileage is probably something you'll need.

Make sure you are comfortable in the car.  This means that you can get in and out easily, have plenty of leg and head room, the seatbelt fits well, and that you can reach the controls easily.  Drive the car as you would if you owned it.  If you drive on the highway a lot, ask if you can drive it somewhere at highway speeds.  Make sure the car or truck will fit what you need.

Our Houston car dealership conducts test drives to make sure you find the right car for you and your family.  Contact our sales staff at 281-331-8111 or on our Ron Carter website.

Roadside emergencies sometimes happen to our Texas car dealer customers, and unfortunately, are often unavoidable.  Here are some tips to make sure you and your family are prepared in case you run into some car trouble on your next road trip.

Always keep a charged cell phone in your car or truck.  While using a cell phone while actually driving your car can be dangerous, having one available to use in case of an emergency allows you to call for help, a tow truck, or even 911.  Pre-paid phones are a great alternative if you don't have a traditional cell phone plan.

Store-bought roadside emergency kits are often satisfactory, but it's fairly easy to create your own; including a blanket, flashlight, and flares in your car or truck while driving is a good place to start.  Keep a spare tire in your car in case you get a flat tire, as well as the tools needed to change the tire.  Sometimes a can of temporary tire foam will be sufficient to allow you to drive to repair shop.

Some Houston used cars will occasionally break down and roadside emergencies do happen.  Ask our service department about warranties and roadside assistance packages we sell, or may be included in the purchase of your new or used car in the Houston area.