If every car has four wheels, then all-wheel drive must be the same as four-wheel drive, right? Not so. All-wheel drive is a feature in some cars, minivans and car-based crossover SUVs. It means power can automatically be sent to any or all of wheels depending on where slippage is detected. Sometimes all-wheels drive-systems just send 80 to 100 percent of the power to the front wheels or the rear wheels by default, and only drive the other wheels on loose surfaces.

Four-wheel drive is a feature for trucks and serious off-roaders. Four-wheel drive is optimized for severe conditions. These vehicles will often have mechanical features like a high and low gear range and lockable differentials. They’ll usually let you manually switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, with two-wheel drive being the norm for road use. Most drivers should only have a need for all-wheel drive.

What’s the difference between leather interior and leatherette interior?

Leatherette is an artificial fabric that is substituted for real leather in vehicle upholstery because of cost, suitability and ethical concerns. Many people can’t tell the difference between real leather and the faux leatherette interiors in modern cars. Lots of entry-level luxury cars now use the synthetic material exclusively. The quality and durability are about the same, as are the look and feel. In fact, more people prefer the synthetic material than ever before because it doesn’t require maintenance to stay looking its best, and many car buyers may not want to have animal products used in the manufacture of their car. Other folks still prefer cloth because of its breathable comfort on long trips (i.e., the back of your legs won’t stick to the seat when you get out of the car).

What’s the difference between a coupe and a sedan?

Most of us have always thought of two-door cars as coupes and four-door cars as sedans. Unfortunately, many manufacturers now make cars they claim are four-door coupes or two-door sedans. What gives? Technically, the definition of a coupe or sedan depends more on the interior volume of the car. Smaller cars are coupes and bigger ones are sedans. This makes sense because smaller cars usually have two doors and bigger cars usually have four. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll stick to the old-fashioned way of describing our inventory. Two-door cars will be listed as coupes and four-doors will be listed as sedans.

Put a great used car deal on your Christmas shopping list

Everyone knows the best time to buy a used car is at the end of the year, when dealerships are discounting vehicles to meet their annual sales goals. It’s true. Buying at the end of the calendar year is smart. Even when sales have been great the other 11 months of the year, every dealership, including us, is pushing to exceed those sales goals. That gives smart shoppers a chance to take advantage and find some bargain year-end prices.

Bargain prices

No matter what kind of vehicle you’re looking for, the end of the year is a great time to head down to the dealership. December is always one of the best sales months for us, and that’s because it’s usually when discounts are at their absolute highest. You’ll see the average list prices on highly desirable used cars drop up to 10 percent, sometimes even more. It’s a great time to buy.

Historically low interest rates

Another key reason to buy this December is that interest rates may soon go up. It’s likely that this will be the last December when car buyers will be able to enjoy historically low interest rates. The Federal Reserve will raise interest rates as early as this month. At that point, car buyers will have to shop carefully to find the right car and the right car loan. It’s best to lock in financing at today’s rates.

Wrap it up!

The good news is there’s still plenty of shopping days left to research our inventory, apply for financing and drive home with the car of your dreams. Whether it’s a Christmas gift for someone you love, or you’re treating yourself, you should be able to find the vehicle you want here at Poulin Auto Sales. If not, contact us and we’ll help you find a perfect match. Make this the year you get to wrap one of those giant red bows around a one-of-a-kind gift in the driveway.

What’s the best way to find and buy a good used car?

Know what you can afford

You shouldn’t spend more than a quarter of your income on car payments, as a general rule. So, buy with your head and not with your heart. That’ll prevent you getting over your head later on. Decide your budget, and then stick to it. When you’re ready, use our online application to get financing.

Make a wish list

Once you know what you can afford, make a list of cars that fit the bill. Keep an open mind. You should have some secondary options that you will be willing to settle for in case you discover that your first choice doesn’t actually meet your needs or fit your budget.

Check prices and reviews online

Gather all the information you can about the models you’re interested in. Besides checking car review sites, online forums are a great place to learn about specific features and issues with specific cars straight from owners. Then, use our online tools to see the true market value of the car you want.

Check the inventory at Poulin Auto Sales

Use our online inventory search to sort by make/model, year, mileage, price, body style, MPG or color. With our extensive inventory, you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. Can’t find exactly what you’re looking for? Use our online vehicle finder notification system. 

Check the vehicle history report

Click online or call us for the free AutoCheck report of the car you’re interested in. You can use the vehicle’s VIN to get an even more detailed report online. We include a free AutoCheck vehicle history report with every vehicle to instill confidence in our customers, because an informed customer is a happy customer.

Test drive

Don’t just kick the tires! The only way to know for sure if a car is the right one for you is to take it for a spin. Try to make up a route that simulates what your usual driving routine is like (i.e., if you you do a lot of highway miles, get the vehicle up to highway speed and see what it’s like).

All that’s left is a little painless paperwork, and then you’re ready to relax and enjoy your “brand-new” used car!

How to go about trading in your used car near Montpelier

Step 1: Find out the value of your trade

Click here to get the true market value of your car instantly. It’s important to be accurate on all of the options equipped in your car and to be honest about the condition level. Most well-maintained cars fall into the “clean” category. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Step 2: Get a dealership quote

Give us a call at 802-859-0090 in South Burlington or 802-476-8159 in Barre to set an appointment for appraisal of your car. Try to schedule your appraisal when it’s not too busy, like on a weekday morning, and we’ll have you in and out in a hurry. Keep in mind that the trade-in price you’re offered might vary depending on our inventory and how likely it is that the car will sell well.

Step 3: Negotiate or close the deal

We’ll give you our best offer on your used vehicle. If you intend to buy your next vehicle here at Poulin Auto Sales, you can bet we’ll sweeten the deal for you. You won’t likely get a higher offer elsewhere. We encourage you to do your research and to check for our special promotions by calling 802-859-0090 in South Burlington or 802-476-8159 in Barre. Remember, there’s always room to negotiate.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need to clean my car? Now, it’s not necessary to have your car professionally detailed when bringing it in for appraisal. But please throw out those old fast food wrappers or soda cans. Other than that, keep in mind that a little dirt doesn’t change the value of the car.
• Do I need to repair my car? Sometimes people get dings and dents repaired or put on a fresh set of tires before an appraisal. That’s not necessary. We can make repairs to the car at a much better value, so it won’t likely add value to your trade-in.
• Why is the offer less than I expected? People often attach sentimental value to their cars and assume they’ll get the highest value on the appraisal site. The truth is online appraisals are averages; some people get offered more, some less. Rather than fuss over the old car’s value, let’s focus on getting you a great deal on your new car!

Where to pick your own Christmas tree near Burlington & Montpelier

Pretty soon it will be time to deck the halls for Christmas. We’ve made a list of all the best places nearby to pick out the perfect pine. There’s nothing like a fresh-cut tree — just remember to check for wildlife!

Red Barn Gardens

8939 Williston Road
Williston, VT 05495
802-233-0429
Website
Precut trees, wreaths, boughs, garlands, trees tied, picnic area.

Upper Valley Tree Farm

Upper Pleasant Valley Road
Jeffersonville, VT 05477
802-434-4762
Choose-and-cut trees.

Urie’s Tree Farm

1694 Old Stage Road
Williston, VT 05495
802-879-2720
Website 
Choose-and-cut trees, wreaths, boughs, free hot chocolate.

Whites Tree Farm

255 Jericho Road
Essex Junction, VT 05452
802-899-4977
Choose-and-cut trees, wreaths, boughs, garlands, decorations, tree shaking, trees tied, baled, saws provided.

Balsam Acres

36 Elmore Road
Worcester, VT 05682
802-223-7028
You-choose-you-cut trees, you-choose-we-cut trees, wreaths, boughs, trees tied, baled, saws provided.

Herring Family Farm

4232 Route 12
Berlin, VT 05641
802-229-9834
Precut trees, wreaths, fresh eggs.

Legare’s Farm Market

535 US 302
Barre, VT 05641
802-476-5037
Precut trees.

Meadow Ridge Farm

18 Merritt Road
Middlesex, VT 05602
802-223-4258
Choose-and-cut trees, precut trees, wreaths, tree shaking, trees baled, saws provided.

Murray Hill Farm

865 Guptil Road
Waterbury, VT 05677
802-244-6437
Website
Choose-and-cut trees, precut trees, wreaths, garlands, trees bagged, baled, free trimmings, saws provided, wagon rides.

Simplicity Farm/Turner Farm

905 Main St.
Waitsfield, VT 05673
802-496-9775
Website 
Precut trees, tree shaking, free trimmings, saws provided, fresh eggs.