Tag Archive for: satellite navigation

Why Second-Hand Cars Are Perfect For Tech-Lovers

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Tech-lovers beware: you’re making a massive mistake. When it comes to the car in your life, there is always the urge to go with a brand spanking new model. After all, they have the best gadgets and gizmos, the things that keep you awake at night with excitement. Who cares if they’re expensive? They’re worth every penny! At least, that’s how you feel now. Usually, tech-lovers change their minds when the realisation hits – used cars are as appropriate as new motors, and they’re cheaper.

Here are the reasons you should start looking at the second-hand market the next time you need a whip.

 

Used Doesn’t Mean Old

Sure, it might be older than something that came out this year, but it’s not ancient. Looking 4 Car Finance has lots of models on their lot at affordable prices, and most of them aren’t as dated as 2012. Anything that came out post-2010 is fair game because all cars come with cool tech gadget these days. Whether it’s a 69 plate or a 60 plate, you’ll get everything from an ABS to an in-car sat nav with Bluetooth sync capabilities. And, because the registrations are almost a decade old, the cost will be significantly lower.

 

You Only Need Certain Tools

Car manufacturers have us in a tailspin with the way they market their products and services. As a result, it’s not uncommon to think you need everything they have and to fob the base model off as insufficient. Of course, the reality is different. There is only a handful of equipment you need, and you can find a list of our very own on this How To Kill An Hour post. The things that make a difference to the driving experience, such as dash cams and auto energy braking, should be on your list and everything else can go.

 

They’re Installable

Okay, you’re a tech-lover so the idea of only using the necessary car tech is laughable. That’s fair. Still, there’s no need to fork out a fortune for a vehicle that’s overpriced when there is an affordable base model. Once you have a chassis, you can add to the skeleton of the car by installing the stuff you love. New brakes and a better suspension aren’t cheap, yet they’re more affordable when you do it yourself. And, the electricals are easy to get hold of and to install in the car’s interior. Essentially, you can do an Xzibit and pimp your ride!

 

Sometimes, Basic Is Good

Remember that pimped out cars make bad drivers. The next time you get behind the wheel of one without parking sensors, you should note how many times you back up without looking. It’s crazy. Plus, you might be a tech nerd but you’re also a car-lover and that counts for something. It means, deep down, that you love the sound of an engine and hitting the open road without any mod cons because it takes you back to a simpler time.

 

Used cars focus on the basics, and they get petrolheads’ hearts racing.

Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

Turning An Old Banger Into A Tech-Lovers’ Dream Whip

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Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

 

It’s easy to feel embarrassed about the car you drive, nowadays. Even vehicles which fall into the budget category have far more features at their disposal than those which were found just a few years before. When you have something which has been around for a couple of decades, though, this only gets worse, and can leave people feeling bad about their only mode of transport. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work which can be done to give your banger an edge against even techiest of cars.

 

Finding The Car

 

The first stage in this journey will involve finding the car you want to transform, unless you already have one. Companies like Foxhayes Car Sales have been in this business for a very long time, making them a good direction to go in for anyone working to get their hands on a secondhand car. It’s always worth reading reviews for both the dealership and the car model you’re considering before you buy.

 

Giving It A Brain

 

Modern cars will have more than one computer at the heart. These systems control anything from entertainment to braking and steering, but you won’t need all of that. Instead, a single computer should do the trick, and there are loads on the market which are designed to occupy your stereo slots. You may need to buy a fascia to replace this in your car, but this will be worth it to give yourself a touchscreen, sat nav, and a range of other features.

 

Letting It Speak

 

This next option is a bit of a double whammy. While most cars have decent speakers, it will be a good idea to swap these out, with most models having convenient kits and guides available online. Along with speakers, though, having a tool like Google Assistant can also be very helpful. This can either be handled through your phone or the computer itself, but this will require an internet connection.

 

Connectivity

 

Next up, it’s time to think about connectivity, and how you’re going to keep your digital life moving forwards in a stone-age vehicle. WiFi hotspots are a good place to start, with loads of cell phone companies offering data packages which will be perfect for your time on the road. Along with this, it will also be worth converting the car’s 12v lighter port into a couple of USB connections, as this will make it easier to charge your devices.

 

The Gift Of Sight

 

One of the key features found on a lot of modern cars are sensors. Being able to avoid collisions, making it easier to park, and offering security in the case of an accident are all great benefits, and all of them can come from installing a simple camera system into your car. It will take some work to do this, but this will be well worth it.

 

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of turning an old car into something worthy of a tech-lover’s dream.