By: Dennis James
Car technology is advancing at amazing speed so its no surprise
that at least a couple cool things turn up each model year. Here
are some of the latest innovations that will be coming out
sometime in the near future that new car buyers can look forward
to seeing.
Economy Mode
While we consider that most of us drivers are set in their ways
and odds are we will never make the necessary changes to
conserve on fuel. One example of such would be, we know that by
simply not using our AC increases our fuel economy when we
drive, but rather than just rolling down our window when we
could to save fuel we opt to use the air conditioner to keep us
cool. We are simply set in our ways when it comes to running our
AC even when we could be just as comfortable at this time with a
window down. With the new idea and innovation of the Economy
Mode the car it will be able to determine what systems in your
car are non-essential at the time and turn them off to save on
fuel for the driver; examples could be the AC, Cruise Controls
and others. The car would begin making these adjustments for the
driver automatically. It's not just an idea in fact; some
Hybrids feature an economy mode that limits A/C use on several
models right now. Black Box Technology
Planes have them and cars will too, and why not the Black box on
planes have be literally invaluable for many years with its
ability to get detail records of trips and logs of what happens
to a plane in flight or when accidents occur. It's still being
debated like most things that come to personal privacy and many
people will no doubt object to the idea of the black box being
implemented into their personal vehicles. The fact is that both
Ford and General Motors already are using black Box technology
in around two-thirds of the models built, but they are referred
to as "recorders". Drivers can expect the advancement of these
"recorders" to be able to tell police officers and insurance
companies about car accidents, how fast you were driving, where
you had driven that day and much more. Cars That Park for You
Yes, a car that actually will do the parking is already in
production today. There is already one type of system where the
driver keeps his foot on the brake while the car amazingly
enough parallel parks it's self. Its future looks bright, as
this type of application could be very useful in the future not
just in parking but also use in other tight places like garages.
Let the Car do the Driving
It's no longer just a dream or something we have seen in the
movies, with the advancement of GPS and robotic technology
setting your car on Auto Pilot where the navigation system
guides the car to its destination while the driver sits back and
relaxes will become a reality sooner than many people could
imagine. Experimentation and planning is underway with the use
of magnets and GPS to make this dream become a reality.
Crash Detection
Is already a reality with the Acura RL and it's called the
Collision Mitigation System. Hopefully, one day all cars will
include this type of safety feature. Where the cars decides on
its own that a wreck is unavoidable and will warn the driver to
brace for impacts as it automatically takes action for the
driver by deploying the airbags hitting the brakes and tightens
up seatbelts etc. all own its own.
The near future is indeed an exciting time.
About the author:
Dennis runs Car Dealer Check which has reviews on Alabama
Car Dealers Including M
ontgomery Car Dealers.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Detroit's Big Three Try Harder To Win Over Customers
Author: Anthony Fontanelle
Article:
Never before have consumers been courted by Detroit's automakers
the way the latter are doing now. The industry that has been
long dominated by Detroit's Big Three - General Motors Corp.,
Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group - is
threatened by the dominion of foreign automakers. This is the
reason why Detroit's automakers are doing their best to win over
customers being wooed by foreign rivals.
The competition is so hard-hitting that the financial turmoil
engulfing Detroit's Big Three is made obvious to all. The bright
side of the quandary is that auto customers find themselves in a
situation where they are deluged with smart alternatives that
are tailored to satisfy their individual needs. The
consumer-minded strategy is announced at the Chicago Auto Show.
In said the show, automakers have announced the some strategies
like letting potential customers to test drive the car from
their home.
Fresh techniques are now being resorted by the automakers to
capture at once the desires of enthusiasts and make them stay
with the brand. Employing new technology, interesting features
and stunning designs are some of these tactics being tried these
days. Chrysler, for one, sends researchers out to watch how real
people use their vehicles to gain insight into how to make
improvements. "The standard that used to satisfy people 10 or 12
years ago is completely unacceptable today," GM product czar Bob
Lutz said during Chicago Auto Show's media preview. "And if
consumers aren't happy, there's plenty of places they can go."
Detroit's automakers, while facing the one of the greatest
challenges in their existence in the automotive realm, manage to
battle their standing problems. The executives of these
companies said that they cannot just match products that are
being churned out by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor
Company. In fact, they are saying that they have to do better.
Part of the strategy to rise from gloom is to stride a chord
with potential customers. Appeal to customers is essential to
automakers. To keep the appeal, GM rolled out a fresh customer
service strategy at its Saturn brand. The strategy covers
delivery of vehicles by Saturn dealers directly to the
customer's house or office. Some dealers have since adopted the
practice however Saturn will be the first to do it en masse.
Saturn will also be offering 24 hours service online. Saturn
concerns like model problems and choices could now be addressed
any time of the day. Saturn auto parts problems involving Active
Brakes Direct, engine and suspension could be entertained by
the said service. "We really looked at what great brands are
doing to differentiate themselves in the marketplace," Saturn
General Manager Jill Lajdziak said, pointing to industry giants
such as Starbucks Coffee Co. and Apple Computer Inc. "Flawlessly
aligning their product with consumer demands is a strength of
both companies," she said.
Also, a shower of strategies is anticipated in the auto
industry. "More Saturn-like approaches are likely on the way
from Detroit carmakers," said Joseph Phillippi of AutoTrends
Consulting in Short Hills, N.J. "This is the classic case of the
oft-noted axiom, 'It takes one bad car to lose a customer but it
takes you massive amounts of money to win that customer back.'"
As competition increases, the chance of winning over customers
is getting slimmer. "This hypercompetitive environment, it's
going to make you do things you wouldn't have done before," said
Cisco Codina, head of marketing, sales and service for Ford in
North America. "When you have such a crowded marketplace, you
have to have a more articulated message. The problem is, how far
do you go?"
At Chrysler, the company is trying to be hyper-sensitive to
customers. Last year it began having people watch unwitting
drivers in their vehicles. "As there's more competitors and more
market segmentation, you've got to be more precise," said Frank
Klegon, Chrysler's vice president of product development. "It's
not just 'I think blue is the favorite color' anymore. You've
got to get objective data and apply that."
About the author:
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up
in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive
magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Article:
Never before have consumers been courted by Detroit's automakers
the way the latter are doing now. The industry that has been
long dominated by Detroit's Big Three - General Motors Corp.,
Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group - is
threatened by the dominion of foreign automakers. This is the
reason why Detroit's automakers are doing their best to win over
customers being wooed by foreign rivals.
The competition is so hard-hitting that the financial turmoil
engulfing Detroit's Big Three is made obvious to all. The bright
side of the quandary is that auto customers find themselves in a
situation where they are deluged with smart alternatives that
are tailored to satisfy their individual needs. The
consumer-minded strategy is announced at the Chicago Auto Show.
In said the show, automakers have announced the some strategies
like letting potential customers to test drive the car from
their home.
Fresh techniques are now being resorted by the automakers to
capture at once the desires of enthusiasts and make them stay
with the brand. Employing new technology, interesting features
and stunning designs are some of these tactics being tried these
days. Chrysler, for one, sends researchers out to watch how real
people use their vehicles to gain insight into how to make
improvements. "The standard that used to satisfy people 10 or 12
years ago is completely unacceptable today," GM product czar Bob
Lutz said during Chicago Auto Show's media preview. "And if
consumers aren't happy, there's plenty of places they can go."
Detroit's automakers, while facing the one of the greatest
challenges in their existence in the automotive realm, manage to
battle their standing problems. The executives of these
companies said that they cannot just match products that are
being churned out by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor
Company. In fact, they are saying that they have to do better.
Part of the strategy to rise from gloom is to stride a chord
with potential customers. Appeal to customers is essential to
automakers. To keep the appeal, GM rolled out a fresh customer
service strategy at its Saturn brand. The strategy covers
delivery of vehicles by Saturn dealers directly to the
customer's house or office. Some dealers have since adopted the
practice however Saturn will be the first to do it en masse.
Saturn will also be offering 24 hours service online. Saturn
concerns like model problems and choices could now be addressed
any time of the day. Saturn auto parts problems involving Active
Brakes Direct, engine and suspension could be entertained by
the said service. "We really looked at what great brands are
doing to differentiate themselves in the marketplace," Saturn
General Manager Jill Lajdziak said, pointing to industry giants
such as Starbucks Coffee Co. and Apple Computer Inc. "Flawlessly
aligning their product with consumer demands is a strength of
both companies," she said.
Also, a shower of strategies is anticipated in the auto
industry. "More Saturn-like approaches are likely on the way
from Detroit carmakers," said Joseph Phillippi of AutoTrends
Consulting in Short Hills, N.J. "This is the classic case of the
oft-noted axiom, 'It takes one bad car to lose a customer but it
takes you massive amounts of money to win that customer back.'"
As competition increases, the chance of winning over customers
is getting slimmer. "This hypercompetitive environment, it's
going to make you do things you wouldn't have done before," said
Cisco Codina, head of marketing, sales and service for Ford in
North America. "When you have such a crowded marketplace, you
have to have a more articulated message. The problem is, how far
do you go?"
At Chrysler, the company is trying to be hyper-sensitive to
customers. Last year it began having people watch unwitting
drivers in their vehicles. "As there's more competitors and more
market segmentation, you've got to be more precise," said Frank
Klegon, Chrysler's vice president of product development. "It's
not just 'I think blue is the favorite color' anymore. You've
got to get objective data and apply that."
About the author:
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up
in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive
magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Buying A Used Car
If you don’t want to invest in a new car for any reason, you of course have to go with something that has been owned by someone else. You can get a great car this way, but you have to be smart about buying a used car. There are a lot of great pre-owned vehicles out there, but there are plenty that you want to stay very far away from. Though most people are honest, there are some people who want to make money from a car that perhaps should be sitting in the junkyard instead of in your driveway.
If you are buying a used car from a car lot, you don’t have as much to worry about. However, you still want to have someone look over the car for you to make sure that you aren’t buying what they call a lemon. A lemon is a car that by all appearances seems to be a good car but ends up giving you a lot of problems after you buy it.There are laws out there called lemon laws to protect those who are buying a used car. Make sure you know what those laws are in your state.
If you are buying a used car from a private source, make sure you have a mechanic give the car a thorough inspection before you commit to buy or hand over any money whatsoever. You may have to pay to get someone to look over a car for you, but when you are buying a used car from a classified ad, you really need to know what you are getting into. If you know a mechanic who would do this for you for free, take them up on the offer. Don’t trust your eye if you don’t know much about cars. Some mechanics can tell if a car is good or not just by listening to the motor for a minute or two.
When you are buying a used car, make sure you have a receipt and perhaps a witness to the sale. If you are sold a lemon, you need to be able to show that you paid for the car, and that the car was misrepresented to you. This is not always easy. If you are buying a used car from someone who seems nice and you don’t want to insult him or her there is something you should remember. An honest seller will have no problem with you protecting yourself. If someone protests, you have to ask yourself why. Perhaps that is when you should look elsewhere for your new wheels.
If you are buying a used car from a car lot, you don’t have as much to worry about. However, you still want to have someone look over the car for you to make sure that you aren’t buying what they call a lemon. A lemon is a car that by all appearances seems to be a good car but ends up giving you a lot of problems after you buy it.There are laws out there called lemon laws to protect those who are buying a used car. Make sure you know what those laws are in your state.
If you are buying a used car from a private source, make sure you have a mechanic give the car a thorough inspection before you commit to buy or hand over any money whatsoever. You may have to pay to get someone to look over a car for you, but when you are buying a used car from a classified ad, you really need to know what you are getting into. If you know a mechanic who would do this for you for free, take them up on the offer. Don’t trust your eye if you don’t know much about cars. Some mechanics can tell if a car is good or not just by listening to the motor for a minute or two.
When you are buying a used car, make sure you have a receipt and perhaps a witness to the sale. If you are sold a lemon, you need to be able to show that you paid for the car, and that the car was misrepresented to you. This is not always easy. If you are buying a used car from someone who seems nice and you don’t want to insult him or her there is something you should remember. An honest seller will have no problem with you protecting yourself. If someone protests, you have to ask yourself why. Perhaps that is when you should look elsewhere for your new wheels.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Six Steps on How to Make the Most of Your Used Car Listings
Selling your used car rather than trading it in gives you the chance of earning money. Car listings have become popular as a method for car sellers to advertise their vehicles to the public.
Rather than searching for car dealers to sell the used car for you, why don’t you sell it yourself?
Here are the steps for your successful used car listing:
1) Set the price – Determine a competitive market value of your used car. Second-hand car values could be found on your local classified ads for similar cars being sold and on certified used car dealership online.
Determine the minimum price you would accept for possible negotiations. Be aware that buyers do their research and having a lower price than others would generate more inquiries.
When your price has been set, consider the most attractive ad to publicize.
2) Groom the vehicle – For buyers, appearance is everything. Make sure that before you place an advertisement; inspect your used car inside and out. To make the most profit, take care of minor and major maintenance issues of the vehicle.
3) Prepare vehicle record – Presenting the buyers with complete maintenance logs and receipts is a powerful selling tool. Prepare paperwork of services done such as oil change, tire and battery replacement and warranties for each.
4) Obtain a car history report – To show that the used car has a clean record with the law and past accidents, purchase a car report from your local department of motor vehicles. The biggest fear of buyers is purchasing a used-car that has been in a wreck. The car history report would reveal if the vehicle has been in a major collision in the past.
5) The advertisement – Ad options include newspaper classifieds, magazines or online listings. However, the most cost-effective and useful tool for marketing is by placing an online ad.
* Photo: Although majority of car listings online do not require photos, eighty-five percent of used car buyers search for car listing with photos.
* Details: Provide a complete description of your car even if you have uploaded a photo. Use extra details and words that would grab the buyers’ attention. Do not forget to place a contact number to be reached.
6) Sell – Since you know your car’s worth, negotiate a fair price. To finalize the sale, you should have two copies of the bill of sale, a receipt that transfers ownership of the car, for you and the buyer.
Once you sold your used car, you’ll be glad you made the most out of your car listing since there was no car dealer involved and all the profit is yours.
Rather than searching for car dealers to sell the used car for you, why don’t you sell it yourself?
Here are the steps for your successful used car listing:
1) Set the price – Determine a competitive market value of your used car. Second-hand car values could be found on your local classified ads for similar cars being sold and on certified used car dealership online.
Determine the minimum price you would accept for possible negotiations. Be aware that buyers do their research and having a lower price than others would generate more inquiries.
When your price has been set, consider the most attractive ad to publicize.
2) Groom the vehicle – For buyers, appearance is everything. Make sure that before you place an advertisement; inspect your used car inside and out. To make the most profit, take care of minor and major maintenance issues of the vehicle.
3) Prepare vehicle record – Presenting the buyers with complete maintenance logs and receipts is a powerful selling tool. Prepare paperwork of services done such as oil change, tire and battery replacement and warranties for each.
4) Obtain a car history report – To show that the used car has a clean record with the law and past accidents, purchase a car report from your local department of motor vehicles. The biggest fear of buyers is purchasing a used-car that has been in a wreck. The car history report would reveal if the vehicle has been in a major collision in the past.
5) The advertisement – Ad options include newspaper classifieds, magazines or online listings. However, the most cost-effective and useful tool for marketing is by placing an online ad.
* Photo: Although majority of car listings online do not require photos, eighty-five percent of used car buyers search for car listing with photos.
* Details: Provide a complete description of your car even if you have uploaded a photo. Use extra details and words that would grab the buyers’ attention. Do not forget to place a contact number to be reached.
6) Sell – Since you know your car’s worth, negotiate a fair price. To finalize the sale, you should have two copies of the bill of sale, a receipt that transfers ownership of the car, for you and the buyer.
Once you sold your used car, you’ll be glad you made the most out of your car listing since there was no car dealer involved and all the profit is yours.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
How To Get An Auto Loan If You Have Bad Credit
By: Chris Chandler
Are you in need of a new car, but are afraid it's impossible
because of your bad credit? Well, the fact is that, today,
consumers with bad credit have a wide variety of options
available to them in regards to bad credit auto loans. In fact,
it can be very easy to get the money you need, but it is
important for you to do your research before getting a loan.
If you have bad credit, the first thing that I would recommend
is to find out more about your own financial situation. What is
your exact credit score (FICO) with the three credit agencies
(Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax)? One place that you can find
this information is the free credit report service at
www.AnnualCreditReport.com. At this site, you can place an order
for a free yearly credit report. The credit report has
everything but the credit score. You have to pay extra to get
the scores, but it is worth it. It is valuable information to
have on hand in your search for the best auto loan deal. With
this information, you can do quite a few things to help
yourself. The first thing you need to do when you examine your
credit report is to look for errors. Correcting errors can help
bring up your credit score some. Another way to increase credit
score is to have a friend, or relative, with good credit add you
as an authorized user to their credit cards. This connects their
good credit history to yours. If you simply don't know what to
do, there are credit repair companies that can help clean up
your credit report. I have used a credit repair company in the
past and was very pleased with the results.
I definitely don't recommend getting a bad credit car loan from
the local car dealership where you buy your car. You will
definitely get charged a very high interest rate (APR), and will
most likely be fed a load of bull about the bank "requiring you"
to buy extras like the extended warranty, glass VIN etching,
credit life insurance, etc. etc. The list goes on. One trick
that they also do is to say that your credit score is lower than
it is just to justify higher interest rates. You just need to
know that information anyway. If you don't, it can really cost
you in the long run. Let's use an example. Lets say that you're
getting 12% APR (could be higher) bad interest loan from a
dealership instead of a normal 6.25% APR car loan you might find
elsewhere. True, the monthly payment is only about $40 higher
for the bad credit loan per month, but over the life of the loan
(generally 60 months), high interest really adds up. In the end
you pay an extra $2,500!
Keep in mind that bad credit auto loan lenders usually require
that you have steady employment and a favorable debt-to-income
ratio. Of course, if you cannot demonstrate employment, you are
dead in the water anyway. But what the bad credit borrower needs
to understand is the fact that this kind of loan can come at a
high price, and it pays to research several options before
buying.
One of the best places to find a bad credit lender is online.
There are hundreds of them there out there. Shop around. Simply
google "bad credit auto loan" and several will come up. I would
try to go with a well known, established auto loan company.
Check out its background with the Better Business Bureau. Be
sure to read the fine print and know what the exact terms of the
loan are.
Another place to look for automobile financing is your local
bank. Sometimes when it is hard to get a loan anywhere else, you
can get the money you need from this traditional source. If
nothing else, you can get someone else with good credit to
co-sign the loan with you. The co-signer assumes equal
responsibility for the loan, so it is best to have an open line
of communication with the co-signer about your credit situation.
On any loan, also be sure that there is no prepayment penalty in
the fine print so that you can pay it off early or refinance
easily.
When it is all said and done, a person with poor credit does
have many options available. It is just a matter of doing the
research and keeping an eye out for the best deal available.
Your dream car is within reach, and having bad credit shouldn't
hold you back.
About the author:
Chris Chandler is a successful entrepreneur, webmaster, speaker,
and internet marketing consultant. His website, Christian eBuy,
http://www.christianebuy.com"
Are you in need of a new car, but are afraid it's impossible
because of your bad credit? Well, the fact is that, today,
consumers with bad credit have a wide variety of options
available to them in regards to bad credit auto loans. In fact,
it can be very easy to get the money you need, but it is
important for you to do your research before getting a loan.
If you have bad credit, the first thing that I would recommend
is to find out more about your own financial situation. What is
your exact credit score (FICO) with the three credit agencies
(Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax)? One place that you can find
this information is the free credit report service at
www.AnnualCreditReport.com. At this site, you can place an order
for a free yearly credit report. The credit report has
everything but the credit score. You have to pay extra to get
the scores, but it is worth it. It is valuable information to
have on hand in your search for the best auto loan deal. With
this information, you can do quite a few things to help
yourself. The first thing you need to do when you examine your
credit report is to look for errors. Correcting errors can help
bring up your credit score some. Another way to increase credit
score is to have a friend, or relative, with good credit add you
as an authorized user to their credit cards. This connects their
good credit history to yours. If you simply don't know what to
do, there are credit repair companies that can help clean up
your credit report. I have used a credit repair company in the
past and was very pleased with the results.
I definitely don't recommend getting a bad credit car loan from
the local car dealership where you buy your car. You will
definitely get charged a very high interest rate (APR), and will
most likely be fed a load of bull about the bank "requiring you"
to buy extras like the extended warranty, glass VIN etching,
credit life insurance, etc. etc. The list goes on. One trick
that they also do is to say that your credit score is lower than
it is just to justify higher interest rates. You just need to
know that information anyway. If you don't, it can really cost
you in the long run. Let's use an example. Lets say that you're
getting 12% APR (could be higher) bad interest loan from a
dealership instead of a normal 6.25% APR car loan you might find
elsewhere. True, the monthly payment is only about $40 higher
for the bad credit loan per month, but over the life of the loan
(generally 60 months), high interest really adds up. In the end
you pay an extra $2,500!
Keep in mind that bad credit auto loan lenders usually require
that you have steady employment and a favorable debt-to-income
ratio. Of course, if you cannot demonstrate employment, you are
dead in the water anyway. But what the bad credit borrower needs
to understand is the fact that this kind of loan can come at a
high price, and it pays to research several options before
buying.
One of the best places to find a bad credit lender is online.
There are hundreds of them there out there. Shop around. Simply
google "bad credit auto loan" and several will come up. I would
try to go with a well known, established auto loan company.
Check out its background with the Better Business Bureau. Be
sure to read the fine print and know what the exact terms of the
loan are.
Another place to look for automobile financing is your local
bank. Sometimes when it is hard to get a loan anywhere else, you
can get the money you need from this traditional source. If
nothing else, you can get someone else with good credit to
co-sign the loan with you. The co-signer assumes equal
responsibility for the loan, so it is best to have an open line
of communication with the co-signer about your credit situation.
On any loan, also be sure that there is no prepayment penalty in
the fine print so that you can pay it off early or refinance
easily.
When it is all said and done, a person with poor credit does
have many options available. It is just a matter of doing the
research and keeping an eye out for the best deal available.
Your dream car is within reach, and having bad credit shouldn't
hold you back.
About the author:
Chris Chandler is a successful entrepreneur, webmaster, speaker,
and internet marketing consultant. His website, Christian eBuy,
http://www.christianebuy.com"
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