Lemon Laws Don’t Protect Used Car BuyersWritten by Charles Essmeier
Most buyers of new cars are probably familiar with lemon laws, which allow consumers a refund or replacement when their car turns out to be defective. These laws generally cover leased cars as well as purchased ones, and they have worked well as a consumer protection tool. Unfortunately, no such laws exist for used cars, and buyers should be careful when purchasing them.
Many car dealers offer “certified used cars” that come with some sort of warranty, but most independent used car dealers do not. In most states, law permits used car dealers to sell cars “as is”, and in that case, anything that goes wrong, even if it happens five minutes after purchase, becomes buyer’s problem. Dealers selling cars on an “as is” basis often aren’t even required to disclose any problems a vehicle might have to potential buyers. Most independent car dealers sell older, less expensive cars than those sold at major auto dealerships. A lot of profits that independent used car dealers make come from financing, particularly from financing those with bad or poor credit. Those with problem credit often find that such dealerships, which self-finance, are their only chance at obtaining a car loan. These loans, with their resulting high payments, often leave buyers without any extra cash to pay for repairs of undisclosed problems. Legislators in several states are considering laws that
| | Replacement Parts for the Mercedes Benz E500 at PartstrainWritten by Jenny McLane
The award-winning Mercedes-Benz E-Class line will soon feature new 2006-model E350 sedan and wagon, both powered by a new-generation 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower – a 20 percent increase over 3.2-litre engine.The E500 stands at top of regular E-Class sedan lineup, which also includes V6-powered E320 and new-for-`05 E320CDI turbo diesel. The 3.5-litre V6 features four valves per cylinder; double-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust valves. This is first time Mercedes-Benz has used double-overhead camshaft technology on its V6 engines. One of most powerful engines for its size, 3.5-litre all-aluminum V6 produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, with maximum torque available from 2,400 rpm all way up to 5,000 rpm. At only 1,500 rpm, new V6 already develops 87 percent of its maximum torque. E class models have hood, front fenders, trunk lid, and suspension sub frames are aluminum, as are numerous suspension pieces. There is increased structural use of high-strength steel as well. The design and construction helps ride comfort and handling of all E-Class models, but E500 and E55AMG have a special trick as standard equipment - Airmatic DC (Dual Control) semi-active air suspension, derived from that used in premium S-Class. The air springs and shock absorbers use electronic sensors and computer-controlled actuation to match suspension response to road conditions, driving style, and cornering force.The E350 and E500 rear-drive models come equipped with world’s first seven-speed automatic transmission. The seven-speed transmission improves acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h by up to 0.3 seconds and allows significantly quicker acceleration in highway passing situations. At same time, shifting is even smoother than with previous five-speed.
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