Articles written by Richard Harley

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About me - Richard Harley

I like cars - buying and selling them. My other interests include fingerstyle guitar and music in general, as well as open source computing and technology. Most of my articles will probably come under these sections.

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Autos > Selling Cars Best ways to sell used cars: 2 of 22
Everyone likes a good deal but only some people manage to get it. In this article we'll discuss how you can become the seller that always gets a good deal. Getting the price you want when selling a used car is never easy - this is because sellers often have high valuations of their own vehicles. However, there are lots of th... More..
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness How to wake up early: 2 of 13
Waking up early is a science, not an art. Anyone can wake up early should they want to. It's a simple case of conditioning. But where do you start? 1) Sleep as much as you need to. Everyone knows how much sleep they need to not feel tired. For some people, this might be 8 hours - others 6 and others 10. If you intend to wake... More..
Computers & Technology > Telephones (Other) Which is a better type of cell phone plan: Pay as you go or a monthly contract plan?: 2 of 13
Pay as you go phones are dead. The only reason you'd use one is for participating in a robbery so the number couldn't be traced back. Pay as you go phones are suitable only for the old and the lonely. In fact, contract phones have become so much the 'norm' that every budget tracking software I've used has had a section for '... More..
Autos > Buying Used Cars How to buy a quality used car: 9 of 27
Some people say "good cars aren't cheap and cheap cars aren't good". Those people are stupid. Actually, they are half correct - can you guess which part? Cheap cars CAN be good. But how cheap can you go before delving into serious banger territory. I'm going to stick my neck out and say you can own a perfectly reliable and i... More..
Autos > Buying New Cars Determining how much horsepower your new car should have: 2 of 5
Deciding how much horsepower you 'need' is really the wrong calculation to do. In this article, I'll outline what you really should be looking at when it comes to choosing a new performance car. Horsepower alone is a largely irrelevant figure. Early Russian trucks, used for carting about swathes of infantrymen and supplies t... More..
Autos > Buying Used Cars How to determine the value of a used car: 4 of 9
It's an overused phrase but a car, like everything else in the world, is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. The value of your car is NOT what the local dealer is willing to give you in part exchange. He needs to make a profit, which cuts into your margin by more than most people know. The reason someone might p... More..
Autos > Car Reviews Car reviews: 1982 Land Rover Series 3: 1 of 1
I've owned quite a lot of cars and I can honestly saying the 1982 Land Rover I used as a daily driver for over a year had the biggest 'grin' factor by far. It was slow, uncomfortable and noisy. The steering was vaguer thanthe the tonkatruck I had as a kidandthe gearbox felt like stirring soup. Nooneelsecould drive the beast ... More..
Autos > Car Reviews Car reviews: 1986 Reliant Scimitar SS1: 1 of 1
A great little sports car for not a lot of money. That pretty much sums up the Reliant Scimitar SS1 - a forgotten gem of late 80s British motoring. Originally designed by Michelotti, who's other works included a long list of Triumph sports cars, the SS1 was held in great acclaim by British motoring journalists at it's launch... More..
Autos > Car Reviews Car reviews: 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara: 1 of 1
Underpowered and lumpy. That's how I would describe this vehicle during my 5 month ownership period. Suzuki introduced the Grand Vitara to replace the tired and boxy looking Vitara, which was well past it's sell by date. There's no doubt it's an improvement, but then again it should be, almost anything would have been an imp... More..
Autos > Cars What image does a minivan driver give its owner?: 7 of 9
Imagine you're meeting your date at 7.00pm - her house. You tell her you'll pick her up and give her a ring when your outside. That's exactly what you do. You arrive at 6.55pm and ring her mobile. But she doesn't answer. In fact, she never speaks to you again. Ever. Thats because you turned up outside her house in a minivan.... More..