Monthly Archive for October, 2008

Truck and SUV Sales Up Slightly

With gas prices down a bit this fall, truck and SUV sales conveniently appear to be on the rise. Trucks back in May accounted for about 9.2 percent of auto sales, while September truck sales accounted for about 14.1 percent of sales. The peak of truck sales was back in July of 2005 when sales accounted for about 18.2 percent of total sales according to JD Power and Automotive News.

Pickup and SUV sales have also been helped by incentives. As truck sales have slowed over recent months, manufactures have offered huge discounts on these vehicles to help increase sales, especially among Chrysler, Ford, and GM models. Even Durango CO Chevy dealers have drawn-in customers from such inventive programs.

Despite small sales increases in vehicle sales, all automakers are still rushing to add smaller, fuel efficient models, which is exactly what has helped dealers such as Honda Denver dealers thanks for their attractive compact lineup. In fact, automakers are planning for the worst, and vehicles currently coming down the pipeline are based on high future gas prices, not lower gas prices. While automakers are rushing to supply these cars, dealers such as Richmond Used Cars are biding their time selling a high volume of high-value used cars.

When it comes to gas prices and demand, automakers will continue to work on getting incentives in-line with demand, which is good news for Bob Watson Chevrolet and other dealers who are eager to move slowing inventory. With the cost of fuel remaining a huge concern among consumers, expect more incentives on gas-guzzling vehicles even despite the sales increases. Continue reading ‘Truck and SUV Sales Up Slightly’

Used Car Buying Secrets

There are plenty of used car buying tips and secrets online, but the need to remain informed about used car buying is important due to the increase in interest and demand in finding a quality for the used car, for the right price.

Among the adverse aspects to buying a used car is the pressure of agreeing to decide on a used car immediately. Unlike new cars, used cars are generally one of a kind. For example, there’s only a single model on Providence Used Nissan’s lot with the same price, options, and color, which makes it difficult to wait and decide since you’ll run the risk of losing to vehicle to another used car buyer.

After finding the right make or model and desired options, the best way to make up for this problem is by doing your homework and finding the how condition, mileage, and options effect the vehicle’s overall price. If you become more informed about pricing, you can better gauge whether you’re getting a good deal. Used Cars Birmingham admits that this will also but you in a better place in terms of negotiating ability.

There are plenty of resources online to verify what you should be paying for a used car. Among the most widely used websites are Kelley Blue Book, National Auto Dealers Association, and Edmunds. Used Cars Burnsville is one dealership that sees a high portion of customers that do their homework through sites like these, which they actual enjoy as it makes for more agreeable deals by both parties.

Another important consideration is to avoid paying more than you planned. In some cases, the promise of getting a lower monthly payment is enough to distract you from the total purchase price. Unfortunately, this is a common ploy among dealerships. The best thing to do is ensure you stick with a strict budget. Another tactic you may want to consider is shopping for a car loan prior to heading to the dealer which has become more common in recent months at Brandon MS Used Cars since buyers are more aware of the economic downturn and credit crunch that has affected buyers and dealers alike.

Shopping for a loan before shopping for a used car can often provide a number of advantages. Used car loans tend to have slightly higher rates than those for new cars, and they could be harder to obtain. Your personal bank or credit union may provide better used car rates as many used car dealers may provide mediocre rates. A common question among Used Cars Kansas City used car shoppers is buying a car with a credit card. Buying a used car with a credit card should also never be considered, unless you know you can pay off the amount at the end of the month prior to facing steep interest rates.

In addition to having the financing secured before venturing to the dealership, you should also have an idea of what you’re after. Between makes, models, and body styles, there are many choices for you to choose from. Having not only a price point, but also a specific type of vehicle will help you save time at the used car dealership says Houston Used Cars. In addition, by being informed about a particular vehicle, you’re less likely to become misled by whoever is trying to sell you the vehicle, which is a common occurence among Used Car Dealer Birmingham’s competitors. If you have an idea of what type of vehicle you’re after, learn as much as you can about it. In addition, you’ll want to know possible risks that could make your used car purchase a nightmare. These days, there are plenty of places to get information on used cars, especially when with online resources such as Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports, and JD Power. With greater knowledge about a potential used car, the more you’ll be prepared for potential flaws.

No car buyer is going to know how a used car’s previous owner treated it. As such, there are plenty of ways in which the vehicle could have been mistreated or perhaps did not receive regular maintenance. The vehicle may be on the verge of falling apart, and you may be stuck with it if you don’t do an adequate inspection of the vehicle. If you know of a mechanic that you trust, it will be important to have them inspect a vehicle that you’re interested in, which many used car dealers North Kansas City and others are typically comfortable with. However, if a used car dealer doesn’t approve of an inspection by a mechanic, simply walk away.

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Which Cars are Selling, and Which Cars Aren’t

With gas prices on the rise and the economy making consumers and lenders nervous, it’s truly no wonder why auto sales overall are down. And with fewer sales, competition for auto sales is intense, especially among high-demand segments such as among compacts and subcompacts.

The highest selling subcompact cars are the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit. Both offer reliability and excellent fuel economy, not to mention an affordable price tag. The Honda Fit, says Honda Lexington, has also recently been redesigned, which should already be in Honda showrooms. With the new model, the previous generation models should be available with outstanding deals as dealers want to move those models first. Domestic automakers are struggling in this segment, with the Chevrolet Aveo suffering from dwindling sales and being the only subcompact in Boonville Chevrolet inventory to compete against fresh imports, such as the Fit.

Among compact cars, Ford is gaining momentum thanks to the recently redesign Ford Focus, which provides efficiency and attractive features for Littleton CO Ford dealer customers such as the Sync system. However, Ford can’t quite compete with the Toyota Corolla which has seen strong sales at Yakima Toyota, although they’re still down compared with last year. A stronger seller at the moment is the Honda Civic, which has boosted sales recently. Although they’re far behind, sales of the Chevrolet Cobalt, and Pontiac’s G5, are up slightly.

Compact SUV sales are in high demand. The appeal of the SUV remains among many new car buyers. Many simply want their SUV to be smaller and more fuel efficient. The Ford Escape, which was redesigned relatively recently, has remained popular, although it has sold few models than last year. A hybrid is Escape also appeals to plenty of buyers. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota dealer Minneapolis’s Toyota RAV4 remain the top sellers in the segments. Meanwhile, larger crossovers have lost ground, such as the Taurus X.

The luxury SUV segment is perhaps the hardest hit. Many consumers who can afford to buy a luxury SUV don’t really care about the cost of gas, but many consumers do. There are simply too many changes and in the economy not to consider such costs. As such, despite strong sales at Lincoln Mercury Los Angeles, the Lincoln Navigator and the Cadillac Escalade overall have both dropped in sales compared with last year’s figures. There has been a spike in sales among the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Lexus version, the LX, due to a redesign that was long overdue.
Ford Trucks

Trucks are also having difficulty when it comes to sales.  The once dominant Ford F-series has recently suffered a 40 percent decrease in sales nationwide. In response, Ford actually delayed production on the all-new 2009 model F-series. However, trucks have remained decent in pre-owned sales according to Used Cars Richmond VA who have offered plenty of dealers to keep inventory moving steadily. But even better than used trucks are used hybrids at Used Cars Shreveport, where pre-owned models don’t stay on the lot for long. The Toyota Tundra has also been hit by sales declines, but sales have increased slightly due to a recent redesign – redesign that has also helped the Sequoia SUV, which is based on the new Tundra. Sales of the Chevrolet Silverado have done decently at Birmingham Chevrolet dealers considering, and the Employee Pricing incentive program has helped the sales of the Silverado and other GM models.

Continue reading ‘Which Cars are Selling, and Which Cars Aren’t’