YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE FOR WEST CENTRAL NEBRASKA | THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014 | C1
How to prepare to return your leased vehicle Leasing an automobile is a great option for many people. Leasing allows motorists to drive a new car every few years if not more frequently, and the lower monthly payments associated with leases make it possible for drivers who otherwise may not be able to afford a new car to drive the vehicle of their choosing. But unlike buying a new or used car, leasing requires drivers to return their cars at the end of their lease. That process often goes smoothly, but it goes even more smoothly for those motorists who know what to expect when the time comes to return their vehicles. The following tips can help lessees better navigate the process of returning a leased vehicle. · Expect an inspection. A lease inspection is standard with many lease agreements, but lessees may not know that this inspection can occur as early as 90 days before the end of the lease agreement. The leasing company will contact lessees to schedule an inspection, but such a call can catch some lessees off guard if they're not prepared to receive it. The lessee does not have to pay for the inspection, which is conducted to determine if there are any mechanical problems, cosmetic damage to the vehicle's exterior and interior, cracks and/or pitting in the windshield, or excessive wear on the tires. Once the inspection has been completed, lessees will receive a report assessing any damage found by the inspector and the cost associated with addressing the damage. This report may be handed over immediately or in the days following the inspection. · Conduct your own inspection first. The best way to prepare for the lease inspection is to beat the inspector to the punch and inspect the vehicle first. Some auto manufacturers provide sample inspection reports to lessees so the drivers know what to look for in advance. If your vehicle manufacturer does not, find a Returning a leased vehicle is not as simple as returning a rental car. Lessees must sample report online and use that as your guide. take steps to ensure they are not subject to potentially costly penalties when they When conducing your inspection, pay particular attention to any dents, dings or scratches on the vehicle's exterior as well as any tears or stains on the vehicle's interior. A thorough detailing may be enough to address some scratches, while others may need a more creative solution, such as some new paint. Speak to an auto detailer if you think the scratches are significant enough that your lease inspector will charge you for them. In addition, remove personal items from your vehicle's interior and clean and detail the interior if necessary. Handling issues on your own is typically less expensive than letting the manufacturer address any problems found during the inspection. · Request a second inspection. Many leasing companies schedule the first inspection so far in advance of the turn-in date so lessees can address any issues on their own and save money in so doing. Such companies will typically then schedule a second lease inspection upon request, so don't be afraid to schedule a second inspection after you have addressed issues found during the initial examination. Inspectors will check to verify all issues have been properly addressed, and you may even receive a second inspection report if some problems were not satisfactorily addressed. · Return everything. Many lessees are caught off guard when they are charged for items they received when they initially signed the lease but have long since lost or forgotten. Whether it's that second set of keys you have never used or those annoying manufacturer floor mats that came with the vehicle when you drove off the lot, you need to return everything that came with the car. Failure to return items can incur penalties, some of which may be significant.
return their leased vehicles.
2008 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan
4 Cy, Auto, Clean, Local Trade, 74k
2010 Chevrolet Malibu
$9,995
4 Cy, Auto, 33k miles, Hail Discount
2011 Chevrolet Malibu
SO MANY MALIBUS TO CHOOSE FROM
4 Cy, Auto, Very Clean, 1 Owner, 25k miles
$13,995
4 Cy, Auto, Very Clean, 1 Owner, 45k
$12,495
2010 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan
$9,995
2010 Ford Focus SE Sedan
2010 Chevrolet Malibu
4 Cy, Auto, 33k miles
2010 Ford Foucs SE 4dr Sedan
4 Cy, Auto, 1 Owner, 51k miles, Hail Discount
$9,995
4 Cy, Auto, Very Clean, 1 Owner, New Tires, 64k
SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM
$11,995
$11,495
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan
4 Cy, Auto, Clean, 1 Owner, 51k miles, 38 MPG
$12,995
C2
WEST CENTRAL DRIVES
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Tips for traveling with pets Many pet owners feel vacations are more fun with their furry companions in tow. Traveling can be more complicated when pets are part of the equation, but there are ways to ensure a comfortable and safe trip.
accommodations. Websites such as www.dogfriendly.com can provide a number of options. At the hotel, use white noise to keep dogs from barking at every passerby outside the room. Exercise the pet before retiring for bed so that he or she is as calm as possible before sleep.
The Humane Society of the United States says the safest and most comfortable way for pets to travel is inside a carrier or If your dog is unruly in an unfamiliar location, try offering crate. Make sure the carrier is big enough so that the pet is a chew toy. The ASPCA says chewing and licking are very comfortable and has some mobility, but not so big that he or soothing to dogs and may help them fall asleep. she can be jostled around. One concern some pet owners have is a dog or cat who will not Carriers and crates should be anchored to the vehicle using a relieve himself in a place that is not familiar. Some dogs will seatbelt or another device. Carriers that can move or bounce hold it in, which can be uncomfortable and unhealthy. Cats may around are dangerous to the pet and the occupants of the car. soil where they shouldn't. A scent cue, such as a small amount Airlines and railways often insist pets travel in carriers. of dirty litter or a piece of fabric with the pet's urine on it, can be used to entice the dog or cat to relieve itself appropriately The safest place for pets during a road trip is in the back seat on vacation. of a car or in a rear cargo area when possible. In the event of a crash, air bag deployment can seriously injure a pet that is Dear Tom and Ray: riding along in the front seat. I just purchased a 2014 Mazda3, and I am thrilled with getting 32 miles per gallon, Pet owners should put together a traveling kit that includes city and highway combined. Then I essential items their pets may need. Such essentials may spoke to my brother-in-law in England include identification, a temporary travel tag for the collar this weekend, and withstood 15 minutes with current contact information, vet records indicating the of browbeating. He says a new car in the pet is current on its vaccinations, plastic bags, food, a favorite toy, and clean-up supplies in the event of motion sickness. Traveling with pets may be a choice or a necessity. Either way, pet owners U.K. simply would not sell at 32 mpg. So I did a little research, and lo and behold, Pets that drink water from an unfamiliar area may experience should explore their options to make the experience more comfortable. the U.K. version of this car, which looks stomach discomfort, so bring some water along as well. identical and has the same engine When booking your trip, seek pet-friendly hotels and and about the same weight, is being advertised at 50.4 mpg combined. With the diesel, that jumps up to 72 mpg. Why does the European version of this car get much better mileage, and why can’t we buy these European car configurations in the U.S.? — Robert & RAY: You’re comparing crumpets and 1031 Pickups 1005 Cars 10 Automotive Transportation oranges, Robert. CHEVROLET 1994 Pick CHEVROLET 2002 S10 TOM: They’re not the same exact car, up $1400, PONTIAC 4 Wheel drive, crew cab, 1005 Cars 1 9 9 9 G R A N D P R I X $4500. 1976 Trail Eze not the same mileage tests and not even $ 5 0 0 n e e d s w o r k P i n t a l h i t c h t r a i l e r, the same size gallons! $5500. 4 rims vor Ford 308-530-0024 f250 pickup, tire size LT RAY: European cars often do get 275/70R18, $200. Call LINCOLN 1981 somewhat better mileage than similar 308-530-4645. TOWNCAR, $500. U.S. cars. But that’s because the engines 308-368-7247 tend to be smaller. TOM: Europe places a high value on 1013 Campers/RVs low carbon emissions, and puts strict GMC 2013 SIERRA 1500 D A M O N 1 9 9 6 D AYregulations on them. And the best way BREAK 2500- Class A 4X4 5.3L Z71. Rancher to 25’ Motor home, Very steel cattle guard, runnclean, only 19,000 miles, ing boards, remote start, lower carbon emissions is with a smaller tinted windows, B&W New tires, batteries, air engine. bags, etc, Good MPG, turnover ball, leveling kit, $15,000. 308-534-0384 mud flaps, 19,600 miles. RAY: And that’s the case with the $33,000. 308-362-4551 or 308-660-1334. Mazda3. If you got the smallest available DODGE 2001 DAKOTA engine in your U.S. Mazda3, you’d get CLUB CAB, long box 1016 Antique with cover, V6, auto, 155 horsepower. /Classic FORD 1992 TEMPO electric, $4500 OBO. TOM: Get the largest available gasoline White, 55,500 original 308-368-5802. FRASIER 1947 MANmiles,automatic, very engine in a Mazda3 in the U.K., and HATTEN, new tires, good condition, buryou’d get about 120 hp. needs upholstery and 1032 SUVs gundy interior. $3800. paint. FORD 1975 F150 (308) 532-0259 RAY: Most car manufacturers consider flatbed, new tires. TURN CHEVROLET 2002 SUBURBAN automatic 4 U.S. drivers power-obsessed, so they O F T H E C E N T U RY BUICK 2003 CENTURY DOCTORS BUGGY with wheel drive, leather, don’t sell their smallest engines here. SEDAN, 3.2 ltr v6 en- one horse shaves, good 136,000 miles, 1 owner. Whereas Europeans are content to Ve r y c l e a n . $ 8 , 3 0 0 . gine, low miles, excellent shape. 308-539-7846. 308-539- 0919 condition, silver exterior, accelerate a little slower in exchange for cloth interior, 30 mpg, using CHEVROLET 2004 3/4 well maintained, $6200. 1031 Pickups TON SUBURBAN, great 308-534-8607 less fuel. FORD 1996 F350, Crew shape, medium miles, TOM: Another factor is the gallons Cab - Long box, V8 call Roger 308-930-0316 Find an they’re measuring. The U.K. uses the 460. 228,000 miles, 5 overdrive, 4 wheel Rev it up in the awesome auto in speed imperial gallon, which is about 1.2 U.S. drive, very well mainClassifieds ! gallons. So for each U.K. gallon, you get the classifieds! tained, runs great. $5000 OBO. 308-530-4323. about 20 percent more fuel! RAY: So if you were to fill your Mazda here in the states with imperial gallons and calculate your “miles per imperial New 2014 Toyota TUNDRA gallon,” your combined mileage would MAX instantly be 38, not 32. TOM: And the other major factor is the mileage test itself. The European test tends to use slower acceleration, lower top speeds, and fewer starts and stops than the U.S. test. It also doesn’t take 2.9% X 72 MONTH*OR $1000 REBATE into account things like air conditioning use and cold-temperature use. RAY: So if you took the same exact car, with same exact engine and same New 2014 Toyota PRIUS New 2014 Toyota New 2014 Toyota amount of fuel, and ran them through C L/B the two different tests, the European mileage number would be, on average, about 20 percent higher, just because the test is different. TOM: So if you convert for imperial 0.9% X 6O MONTH* gallons, and then convert for the 0% X 6O MONTH*OR $500 REBATE 0% X 6O MONTH* PLUS $500 REBATE difference in testing methodology, your OR $1500 REBATE car would be rated at about 45.6 mpg. That’s pretty close to the 50.4 advertised in the U.K. New 2014 Toyota New 2014.5 Toyota New 2014 Toyota RAY: Of course, you can’t count on V getting ANY of these numbers in real life. While the U.S. test is more realistic than the European test, neither of the tests really mimics your own driving. TOM: So they’re always best used as 0% X 6O MONTH* 0% X 6O MONTH* PLUS $1000 REBATE 0% X 6O MONTH* relative measures, to compare one car OR $1500 REBATE OR $1500 REBATE OR $1000 REBATE with another. RAY: The best measure is the one you do at the pump. You’ve done that, and as you say, you’re “thrilled” with your 32 New 2014 Toyota 4RUNNER New 2014 Toyota TUNDRA New 2014 Toyota AVALON mpg combined. So enjoy your car and D-CAB GAS OR HYBRID tell your brother-in-law to sod off.
COROLLA
PRIUS
0% X 6O MONTH* OR $1500 REBATE
PRIUS
VENZA
CAMRY
2.9% X 6O MONTH*
2.9% X 72 MONTH*OR $500 REBATE
*WITH APPROVED CREDIT THROUGH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES GOOD THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD, 2014
Peace of mind with every new Toyota. Featuring a complimentary maintenance plan with roadside assistance.
We at Toyota are devoted to safety and dependability, and proper vehicle maintenance is important to both. That’s why we’re including a complimentary worry-free maintenance plan1 with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota. For 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, you and your new vehicle will be covered. It’s complimentary peace of mind and we’re the only full-line brand to offer anything like it.