Unfortunately, many car dealers still use trade-in scams to maximize their profits on each deal. By being aware of the more common of these scams, you can save yourself thousands of dollars, or help yourself simply avoid unscrupulous car dealers altogether.
Step1
Avoid car trade-in scams where the dealer says he will pay off your current lease or loan, no matter how much you owe. Remember that a lease or a loan is a financial contract, and there is no trick to eliminating one when buying a new car. Since this supposed "deal" will only end with you making even higher monthly payments on your new car, it's best to simply wait until your car is paid for, or your lease has expired.
Step2
Watch out for car dealers who conveniently forget to pay off your trade-in after the deal is complete. Many new car buyers are shocked when they receive notices for a collection agency a few months down the road because the dealer never handled the transaction as promised. Again, you can avoid this trade-in scam by ensuring that you get all pay-off documentation in writing, or simply wait until you vehicle is paid off before you trade it in for a new car.
Step3
Have your trade-in inspected by an independent mechanic in order to avoid car dealers who report "all sorts of problems" with the vehicle. By providing independent and recent documentation, you can effectively refute a dealership mechanic who claims your brake pads are almost gone, or that your engine may need a complete overhaul before it can be resold.
Step4
Obtain a copy your current credit report to avoid trade-in scams where the dealer tells you that you are ineligible for lower interest rates due to questionable credit scores. This scam is actually quite common, but it is easily discouraged once you produce a real credit report. Remember, no car salesman should ever know more about your credit score and financial history than you do.
Step5
Leave the dealership whenever you feel that you might be the victim of a scam. Don't try to beat the dealership at the game, since the salespeople have more experience at this than you. Simply walk away, and find a reputable dealer who will appreciate your business.
Source: http://www.ehow.com/
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Get Dealers To Hand You The Absolute Best Deal On A New Car Purchase In 2 Minutes
Taking A Free Service To The Next Level:
Okay, this is really good and works like a charm. And it's incredibly easy ... taking less than two minutes of your time. Sound too good to be true? Well, it's not and smart new car buyers are doing it all the time. You can even test it out yourself even if you're not interested in buying a car right now as a sort of "dry run" for when the time is right for you.
Bear with me for a few paragraphs because I need to explain the background for this technique first.
It's based on a free service we've all probably seen before. Then we're going to add a simple, but incredibly effective, "twist" that turns seasoned Car Dealerships into jello ... and gets you the best possible purchase price.
This Is How It Works Without The Twist:
It's very likely that you've seen "new car quote" services on the big automotive sites such as Automotive.com, Cars.com, Edmunds.com and many others. You know, "Tell us what new car you want to purchase and you will receive competitive quotes from multiple area Dealers" ... or something along these lines.
That's all fine and dandy. Dealers want your business and know you're getting offers from their competitors. They don't want to lose the sale so they give you a very good price in order to be the winner.
Theoretically, what then happens is the car buyer looks at the bids, goes to the Dealership who won the competition, does the paperwork and drives home in their new car.
By itself, this is a very legitimate way of getting a "good" deal ... much better than shopping at a Dealership and hoping you can negotiate something good. Afterall, it's good to have Dealers competing for your business.
But we're not interested in "good". We're interested in "great" ... or even "crazy".
This Is How It Works WITH The Twist:
In order to get the quotes (I'll tell you where in a moment), you're going to have to submit your email address and phone number. Don't worry about giving your phone number. This is a part of this strategy that pays off in a big way, as you will see. But make your "contact preference" email.
You've invested less than 2 minutes of your time (probably about 30 seconds, actually). It's been free and you are under absolutely no obligation of any kind.
So, let's say you now have 3 or 4 bids. The prices already look good to you based on the new car prices you've seen on Autotrader and so forth. But now, you take this a step further.
Why should you accept ANY of these bids? There's no reason to even go with the lowest bidder. Why? Because you can easily make them go still lower.
Here's how:
You'll likely receive follow-up phone calls from the Dealerships. They'll say something like,
"So we gave you an incredible price. When would you like to come in for delivery?"
Your response, nomatter how low the bid, should always be,
"Sorry, while I really want to buy this car, I'm afraid your bid takes you out of the running. If you want to make another offer today, I'll look at it."
Say this (or email it if you don't get a phone call) to every bidder. Trust me, they WANT this sale and you'll now get a new round of even lower offers.
If a Dealer says there's no way any other Dealer can be underselling his price and he wants to see the lower offer in writing, don't play his game. Instead say,
"Look it. I'm pretty happy with the price I've been given. Put yourself in my place. If I give it to you, you'll undercut it by $50 and then I have to go back to him and he'll undercut you by $50 and it turns into a real pain for me. All I can tell you is that if you want to send me another offer, I'll definitely consider it. It's up to you".
You'll either get another offer, or the Dealer will drop out. And when a Dealer drops out, you know you were really getting their best price ... the strategy was working.
The last Dealer standing gets the sale. And believe me, it will be at an outstanding price following this process.
Okay, Here's Where To Do It:
My personal choice is Yahoo! Autos because of their massive Dealer participation and credibility. I also like the fact that they allow you to select the Dealers you want to participate. And they're FREE, of course. So, to get started, just head over to Yahoo! Autos.
Have fun with this!
Source: Auto Broker Magic
Okay, this is really good and works like a charm. And it's incredibly easy ... taking less than two minutes of your time. Sound too good to be true? Well, it's not and smart new car buyers are doing it all the time. You can even test it out yourself even if you're not interested in buying a car right now as a sort of "dry run" for when the time is right for you.
Bear with me for a few paragraphs because I need to explain the background for this technique first.
It's based on a free service we've all probably seen before. Then we're going to add a simple, but incredibly effective, "twist" that turns seasoned Car Dealerships into jello ... and gets you the best possible purchase price.
This Is How It Works Without The Twist:
It's very likely that you've seen "new car quote" services on the big automotive sites such as Automotive.com, Cars.com, Edmunds.com and many others. You know, "Tell us what new car you want to purchase and you will receive competitive quotes from multiple area Dealers" ... or something along these lines.
That's all fine and dandy. Dealers want your business and know you're getting offers from their competitors. They don't want to lose the sale so they give you a very good price in order to be the winner.
Theoretically, what then happens is the car buyer looks at the bids, goes to the Dealership who won the competition, does the paperwork and drives home in their new car.
By itself, this is a very legitimate way of getting a "good" deal ... much better than shopping at a Dealership and hoping you can negotiate something good. Afterall, it's good to have Dealers competing for your business.
But we're not interested in "good". We're interested in "great" ... or even "crazy".
This Is How It Works WITH The Twist:
In order to get the quotes (I'll tell you where in a moment), you're going to have to submit your email address and phone number. Don't worry about giving your phone number. This is a part of this strategy that pays off in a big way, as you will see. But make your "contact preference" email.
You've invested less than 2 minutes of your time (probably about 30 seconds, actually). It's been free and you are under absolutely no obligation of any kind.
So, let's say you now have 3 or 4 bids. The prices already look good to you based on the new car prices you've seen on Autotrader and so forth. But now, you take this a step further.
Why should you accept ANY of these bids? There's no reason to even go with the lowest bidder. Why? Because you can easily make them go still lower.
Here's how:
You'll likely receive follow-up phone calls from the Dealerships. They'll say something like,
"So we gave you an incredible price. When would you like to come in for delivery?"
Your response, nomatter how low the bid, should always be,
"Sorry, while I really want to buy this car, I'm afraid your bid takes you out of the running. If you want to make another offer today, I'll look at it."
Say this (or email it if you don't get a phone call) to every bidder. Trust me, they WANT this sale and you'll now get a new round of even lower offers.
If a Dealer says there's no way any other Dealer can be underselling his price and he wants to see the lower offer in writing, don't play his game. Instead say,
"Look it. I'm pretty happy with the price I've been given. Put yourself in my place. If I give it to you, you'll undercut it by $50 and then I have to go back to him and he'll undercut you by $50 and it turns into a real pain for me. All I can tell you is that if you want to send me another offer, I'll definitely consider it. It's up to you".
You'll either get another offer, or the Dealer will drop out. And when a Dealer drops out, you know you were really getting their best price ... the strategy was working.
The last Dealer standing gets the sale. And believe me, it will be at an outstanding price following this process.
Okay, Here's Where To Do It:
My personal choice is Yahoo! Autos because of their massive Dealer participation and credibility. I also like the fact that they allow you to select the Dealers you want to participate. And they're FREE, of course. So, to get started, just head over to Yahoo! Autos.
Have fun with this!
Source: Auto Broker Magic
Friday, February 6, 2009
Want a Hybrid Vehicle? Good Luck with Financing!
Banks and other lending institutions aren't denying the environmental benefits of a hybrid vehicle. However, sometimes they're denying the financing for them, particularly to people with poor credit. Car loans, like home mortgages, are getting tougher for people to find.
What's the latest victim of the global economic crunch? Auto loans. Car dealers who thought that they might have escaped the aftermath of the crumbling banking industry are instead finding that they're caught in the middle of the meltdown. Car loans are difficult to finance these days, especially for people with bad credit. That's hard to take for most Americans, particularly those who wanted to buy a hybrid vehicle to cut emissions and save on gas.
Spending to save at the pump
Hybrid vehicles have become all the rage, and it's not because of their looks or handling. Prices at the pump have redefined what's desirable in an automobile: SUVs are out, and low-emission hybrid vehicles are in.
The switch to fuel-efficient vehicles can be attributed to two kinds of green movements. The first is concern over the environment. More people now understand the correlation between auto emissions and greenhouse gases, and they're taking action to reduce their carbon footprint.
The second concern is a lack of green in the wallet, particularly after a visit to the gas station. The rising costs of fuel are redefining our tastes in automobiles in terms of economics. The exceptional gas mileage of a typical hybrid far outperforms the mileage delivered by a conventional automobile.
Lagging auto loans
The auto industry has felt the pinch of a poor economy for the last few years, but the credit crunch has caused some significant pain as of late. More auto dealers are reporting problems financing potential buyers who have poor credit. It's hard to complain about the financial fact that people who have bad credit aren't getting loans; it was their ability to get mortgage loans that caused this credit mess in the first place.
Unfortunately, it's now becoming difficult even for people with good credit to get qualified. Difficult, but not impossible. The financing process is just more time intensive, and more thorough. In reality, this is the way banking should be. Credit worthiness is a privilege, not a right, and people should only be qualified for what they can afford. Taking the time to carefully scrutinize loan applicants may not be the best news for car dealers, but it's a sign that a degree of fiscal sanity has returned to the lending industry.
The auto industry, much like its housing counterpart, has enjoyed a spectacular ride during recent years, thanks to easy access to credit. That easy money has resulted in some serious pain for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street, and redefined the lending landscape. Car loans won't be made available to you unless you have your financial house in order. In other words, your credit needs to look great if you want to do some good for the environment.
Source: Mortgage Loan
Friday, January 23, 2009
Freed-up credit might blossom into more auto sales
Car buyers who suddenly saw credit dry up last fall might describe that disastrous feeling as something akin to having no oil in a car.
"The oil was taken away, and the engine was locked up," said John McDonald, a spokesman for General Motors Corp. in Detroit.
So as the Detroit auto show highlights a new world of hybrids and high-tech battery-powered cars, the major concern for most consumers continues to be last year's pitiful model for auto financing. Can they get a car loan? And if so, how many hoops will they have to jump through to get it?
Credit, while still an issue, appears to loosening up from the extremely tight standards that hit in late '08. Thanks to federal bailout money, GMAC LLC in late December lifted some strict roadblocks that stopped some consumers from qualifying for car loans. Going forward, the Feds have more credit-crunch tricks that could grease the skids for car loans, too.
Still, will credit be more accessible this spring as consumers hit showrooms?
"Logic should suggest that it should be a bit better because it was so bad," said Mark Zandi, lead economist at Moody's Economy.com.
Credit was so tight late last year that GM's McDonald said industry sales in the final months of '08 were below replacement levels -- meaning some consumers who needed cars weren't buying.
Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli said last week at the North American International Auto Show that auto dealers could boost car and truck sales by about 25% if consumer credit was more readily available.
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury added Chrysler Financial, the credit arm of Chrysler LLC, to rescue efforts. Chrysler Financial received a $1.5-billion, 5-year loan to assist with consumer financing of Chrysler vehicles.
Chrysler immediately said Friday that it would begin offering no-interest loans of as long as 60 months after the finance arm received the $1.5-billion loan.
Fortunately, there is more oil in that credit engine. Consider:
• Consumers with credit scores of 621 or higher may qualify for a car loan through GMAC. That change, announced a day after the U.S. Treasury said it would inject $6 billion into GMAC, makes car loans more available to consumers with good, but not excellent, credit.
Last fall, GMAC said tight credit markets drove it to stop making car loans to consumers who didn't have a credit score of 700 or better.
After the credit markets froze, about 26% of consumers with good credit couldn't get a car loan in October, according to CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore. That compares with about 15% in October 2007.
The lower credit-score limit "does help us get back to a more normal state of automotive financing," said Sue Mallino, director of communications for GMAC in Detroit. She said auto lending is restored to potentially cover about 90% of GMAC's historic spectrum of consumers. GMAC is not making car loans to subprime borrowers.
• A program called "Invest in America" was rolled out nationwide at credit unions in January. GM is offering supplier pricing on eligible new vehicles for credit union members. For the GM discount, you don't have to get your financing at the credit union to be eligible.
Chrysler's discounts are dependent on being a credit union member and getting credit union financing. At Chrysler, members of participating credit unions can receive up to $1,000 in bonus cash incentives, depending on the model.
David Adams, president and CEO of CUcorp, which spearheaded this effort, said now about 90 million members of nearly 8,000 credit unions would have potential access to low-interest loans for GM and Chrysler vehicles. CUcorp is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan Credit Union League.
• Next month, a new Federal Reserve program is to buy asset-backed securities for different consumer loans, including auto loans and leases relating to cars, light trucks, or motorcycles and loans for auto dealer floor plans.
"The securities market for auto loans is still a mess," Zandi said last week.
Many express hope that if the Fed's strategy works, credit could be more available for car loans.
Gary Allgeier, director of finance for the Suburban Collection in Troy, said the Fed's efforts are necessary to refuel the credit markets. Without the Fed's plan, he said, the banks and auto manufacturers wouldn't have as much money as necessary to make as many car loans. The ability to sell asset-backed securities to investors is essential.
"That's what allows the credit engine in America to continue to work. Without it, it stops," said Allgeier, whose company is the largest dealership group in Michigan and the 15th-largest in the country.
Make no mistake, credit is available. Even so, consumers could find far more restrictions -- and find it way tougher to get credit if they're higher credit risks -- than two or three years ago.
"Lenders were pushing the envelope by extending auto loans and leases to marginal buyers and borrowers," Zandi said.
Gone are the days when practically everybody who had a driver's license could buy a new car.
"I'm rather certain that we're not going to see any re-emergence of subprime lending," said Daniel Alpert, managing director at investment bank Westwood Capital.
Expect more credit restrictions. Expect to be denied a car loan if you have bad credit. Expect to pay higher interest rates if you can get a car loan but do have credit that is not great.
Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for Edumunds.com, said consumers who haven't shopped for a car in a while could be surprised to see that they're now being asked to make a down payment on a car or truck.
And he suggests that it could be a more financially savvy move to put 20% down -- and pick a model or vehicle priced at a level where you can make a larger down payment.
Some consumers might buy a $20,000 car, not a $35,000 SUV.
Right now, many consumers are over-leveraged when it comes to debt and many fear losing jobs. Such troubles will likely limit the available credit -- and limit car sales in 2009.
"You still need that guy to want to get a car. But that guy already has credit card debt up the wazoo," Alpert said.
Even so, GM's McDonald said some consumers have been out of the market for the past six months or so because of tighter credit conditions and he expects that '09 sales could get a boost from that pent-up demand as credit continues to loosen up.
Source: http://www.freep.com/article/20090118/COL07/901180460/1081/SUSAN+TOMPOR++Freed+credit+may+spring+auto+sales
"The oil was taken away, and the engine was locked up," said John McDonald, a spokesman for General Motors Corp. in Detroit.
So as the Detroit auto show highlights a new world of hybrids and high-tech battery-powered cars, the major concern for most consumers continues to be last year's pitiful model for auto financing. Can they get a car loan? And if so, how many hoops will they have to jump through to get it?
Credit, while still an issue, appears to loosening up from the extremely tight standards that hit in late '08. Thanks to federal bailout money, GMAC LLC in late December lifted some strict roadblocks that stopped some consumers from qualifying for car loans. Going forward, the Feds have more credit-crunch tricks that could grease the skids for car loans, too.
Still, will credit be more accessible this spring as consumers hit showrooms?
"Logic should suggest that it should be a bit better because it was so bad," said Mark Zandi, lead economist at Moody's Economy.com.
Credit was so tight late last year that GM's McDonald said industry sales in the final months of '08 were below replacement levels -- meaning some consumers who needed cars weren't buying.
Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli said last week at the North American International Auto Show that auto dealers could boost car and truck sales by about 25% if consumer credit was more readily available.
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury added Chrysler Financial, the credit arm of Chrysler LLC, to rescue efforts. Chrysler Financial received a $1.5-billion, 5-year loan to assist with consumer financing of Chrysler vehicles.
Chrysler immediately said Friday that it would begin offering no-interest loans of as long as 60 months after the finance arm received the $1.5-billion loan.
Fortunately, there is more oil in that credit engine. Consider:
• Consumers with credit scores of 621 or higher may qualify for a car loan through GMAC. That change, announced a day after the U.S. Treasury said it would inject $6 billion into GMAC, makes car loans more available to consumers with good, but not excellent, credit.
Last fall, GMAC said tight credit markets drove it to stop making car loans to consumers who didn't have a credit score of 700 or better.
After the credit markets froze, about 26% of consumers with good credit couldn't get a car loan in October, according to CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore. That compares with about 15% in October 2007.
The lower credit-score limit "does help us get back to a more normal state of automotive financing," said Sue Mallino, director of communications for GMAC in Detroit. She said auto lending is restored to potentially cover about 90% of GMAC's historic spectrum of consumers. GMAC is not making car loans to subprime borrowers.
• A program called "Invest in America" was rolled out nationwide at credit unions in January. GM is offering supplier pricing on eligible new vehicles for credit union members. For the GM discount, you don't have to get your financing at the credit union to be eligible.
Chrysler's discounts are dependent on being a credit union member and getting credit union financing. At Chrysler, members of participating credit unions can receive up to $1,000 in bonus cash incentives, depending on the model.
David Adams, president and CEO of CUcorp, which spearheaded this effort, said now about 90 million members of nearly 8,000 credit unions would have potential access to low-interest loans for GM and Chrysler vehicles. CUcorp is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan Credit Union League.
• Next month, a new Federal Reserve program is to buy asset-backed securities for different consumer loans, including auto loans and leases relating to cars, light trucks, or motorcycles and loans for auto dealer floor plans.
"The securities market for auto loans is still a mess," Zandi said last week.
Many express hope that if the Fed's strategy works, credit could be more available for car loans.
Gary Allgeier, director of finance for the Suburban Collection in Troy, said the Fed's efforts are necessary to refuel the credit markets. Without the Fed's plan, he said, the banks and auto manufacturers wouldn't have as much money as necessary to make as many car loans. The ability to sell asset-backed securities to investors is essential.
"That's what allows the credit engine in America to continue to work. Without it, it stops," said Allgeier, whose company is the largest dealership group in Michigan and the 15th-largest in the country.
Make no mistake, credit is available. Even so, consumers could find far more restrictions -- and find it way tougher to get credit if they're higher credit risks -- than two or three years ago.
"Lenders were pushing the envelope by extending auto loans and leases to marginal buyers and borrowers," Zandi said.
Gone are the days when practically everybody who had a driver's license could buy a new car.
"I'm rather certain that we're not going to see any re-emergence of subprime lending," said Daniel Alpert, managing director at investment bank Westwood Capital.
Expect more credit restrictions. Expect to be denied a car loan if you have bad credit. Expect to pay higher interest rates if you can get a car loan but do have credit that is not great.
Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for Edumunds.com, said consumers who haven't shopped for a car in a while could be surprised to see that they're now being asked to make a down payment on a car or truck.
And he suggests that it could be a more financially savvy move to put 20% down -- and pick a model or vehicle priced at a level where you can make a larger down payment.
Some consumers might buy a $20,000 car, not a $35,000 SUV.
Right now, many consumers are over-leveraged when it comes to debt and many fear losing jobs. Such troubles will likely limit the available credit -- and limit car sales in 2009.
"You still need that guy to want to get a car. But that guy already has credit card debt up the wazoo," Alpert said.
Even so, GM's McDonald said some consumers have been out of the market for the past six months or so because of tighter credit conditions and he expects that '09 sales could get a boost from that pent-up demand as credit continues to loosen up.
Source: http://www.freep.com/article/20090118/COL07/901180460/1081/SUSAN+TOMPOR++Freed+credit+may+spring+auto+sales
Sunday, January 11, 2009
College Student Car Loans - Supports Your Car Buying Needs
You are always late for your classes and never reach on time? Does public transport consumes a lot of time? Tired of traveling through buses? Looking for convenient way to travel easily and reach on time? College student car loans have been personalized for students, you are provided with funds so that you can purchase car for yourself. With these loans you can easily accomplish your needs.
If you get a co-signer then it becomes easy for you to get loan approval quickly and entail lower rates of interest as well. Your cosigner could be your parents or guardian. When your loan is co-signed by anyone this means in case of your inability to repay your co-signer will pay off the loan amount on your behalf and will be held responsible.
You can get finance easily for purchasing a new car or an old one depending suits your requirements and financial standing. The loan amount depends and is decided on the basis of model and make of car that you intend to purchase. You are free to choose any brand and any model that you want. The car loan amount may go up to 80-100% of your finance requirements according to your credit condition. The borrowed amount has to be paid back within a time period of 2-7 years.
Suffering from poor credit records! You need not worry, because college student finance is open to all. Even bad credit borrowers facing CCJs, IVA, defaults, late payments, missed payments and arrears can easily apply. Now anyone can borrow funds and fulfill their car buying needs easily.
The most feasible way to apply is online. It requires less time and has fast processing. You have to fill up a simple online form. Also you can search for affordable deals easily. One can even apply through banks and other financial institutions.
This is one such finance program that specially caters student's car buying needs. You can easily grab the loan amount and buy the car that you need.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Same Cars, Different Brands
Twinned vehicles are basically the same under the skin, but are sold under different brand names and marketed as unique vehicles. Manufacturers see this as a way of killing two birds with one stone: expanding their reach in various market segments while avoiding the higher costs of engineering a new vehicle. This practice is also referred to as "badge engineering," since an automaker can create the illusion of an "all-new" model simply by changing the badges, the grille and other superficial styling details.
Twinned vehicles are built on the same chassis and share most of their under-hood and interior components, but often have different sheet metal, amenities and interior design. This idea extends as well to "triplet" and "quadruplet" vehicles, as in the case of the Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook/ Chevrolet Traverse quads.
Note that twinned vehicles are different from vehicles that only share platforms. Vehicles that share platforms can straddle vehicle types and sizes, such as the Ford Fusion sedan and the Ford Edge SUV, whereas twinned vehicles cannot. There are far more vehicles that share platforms (Ford and Mazda vehicles, for example) than are twins.
Not Like It Used To Be
Because it has so many brands under one corporate parent, General Motors is the classic example of a company that found efficiencies by issuing virtual carbon copies of its cars across numerous brands. At one point in its history, GM even had sextuplets. But in today's world of customization and target marketing, the company is tailoring its vehicles to appeal to different customers.
"In recent times we've placed much more focus on the type of customer for a particular brand, to what type of features and styling appeals to a Buick Enclave customer versus that of our new Chevrolet Traverse," says GM spokesman Jim Burke. "While it's true that the vehicles share common chassis and powertrain attributes, really the customer doesn't see or touch these 'black metal' attributes. We've really worked to differentiate and distinguish the models from the standpoint of exterior and interior design."
So, for example, the Traverse's sheet metal is mostly unique, sharing only its roof and liftgate with its siblings. Its dual-cockpit design — the way the dashboard arches up from the center stack on both sides — is unique to Chevrolet and harkens back to Corvettes of 50 years ago. The instrumentation and door pads are also unique to the Traverse.
But design isn't the only feature that distinguishes the quads. According to Burke, customers are also attuned to the driving characteristics a particular brand is known for. So Chevy customers expect tighter steering and suspension, whereas Buick customers expect a softer, more luxurious ride.
It also held true in the past that twinned vehicles could be distinguished by the packaging of standard features and options: An item buried in an options package on one twin might be standard equipment on the other twin. That's far less true today than just a few years ago, but it's still worth reading those features and options lists carefully. In the case of the GM quads, whether a rearview camera, memory seats, Bluetooth or power rear liftgate is available as either standard or optional depends on which of the quads — and which of the trim levels — you choose.
More important may be the differences that exist in warranty coverage. This happens largely because vehicle twins exist today not only across brands within a company, but across different companies that share their engineering. A Pontiac Vibe, for example, is backed by GM's five-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty; whereas its twin, the Toyota Matrix, has five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain coverage. Even bigger warranty discrepancies can exist if one twin is from a luxury brand and another is not, such as the Lexus ES 350 and the Toyota Camry.
One last thing to consider when comparing twins is resale value; mechanically identical cars can still have differences when you try to sell them. For example, as of this writing, the GMC Yukon Denali depreciates $31,643 in five years. Its twin, the Cadillac Escalade, depreciates by almost $10,000 more. While this kind of discrepancy isn't common, it's a good idea to use our True Cost to OwnSM (TCO) tool to compare the full five-year costs of owning the vehicles you're comparing.
So How Does This Help Me?
Many people don't realize the strong similarity between cars of different brands. Knowing which vehicles are twins allows you to see through the marketing spin. More importantly, it gives you flexibility and bargaining leverage at the dealership (in terms of equipment, trim level and color). For example, if you like the seating capacity and general performance of the GMC Acadia but the dealer isn't giving you a good price, you can suggest that you'd be just as happy with the Outlook at the Saturn dealership a few miles away. It's a pretty sure bet he'll work harder to keep you at his dealership instead.
Some, like the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Pontiac G5, are close to identical; many others are more like fraternal twins. When car shopping, remember to compare not only whole vehicles, but specific trim levels and standard features as well.
Source: www.Edmunds.com
Twinned vehicles are built on the same chassis and share most of their under-hood and interior components, but often have different sheet metal, amenities and interior design. This idea extends as well to "triplet" and "quadruplet" vehicles, as in the case of the Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook/ Chevrolet Traverse quads.
Note that twinned vehicles are different from vehicles that only share platforms. Vehicles that share platforms can straddle vehicle types and sizes, such as the Ford Fusion sedan and the Ford Edge SUV, whereas twinned vehicles cannot. There are far more vehicles that share platforms (Ford and Mazda vehicles, for example) than are twins.
Not Like It Used To Be
Because it has so many brands under one corporate parent, General Motors is the classic example of a company that found efficiencies by issuing virtual carbon copies of its cars across numerous brands. At one point in its history, GM even had sextuplets. But in today's world of customization and target marketing, the company is tailoring its vehicles to appeal to different customers.
"In recent times we've placed much more focus on the type of customer for a particular brand, to what type of features and styling appeals to a Buick Enclave customer versus that of our new Chevrolet Traverse," says GM spokesman Jim Burke. "While it's true that the vehicles share common chassis and powertrain attributes, really the customer doesn't see or touch these 'black metal' attributes. We've really worked to differentiate and distinguish the models from the standpoint of exterior and interior design."
So, for example, the Traverse's sheet metal is mostly unique, sharing only its roof and liftgate with its siblings. Its dual-cockpit design — the way the dashboard arches up from the center stack on both sides — is unique to Chevrolet and harkens back to Corvettes of 50 years ago. The instrumentation and door pads are also unique to the Traverse.
But design isn't the only feature that distinguishes the quads. According to Burke, customers are also attuned to the driving characteristics a particular brand is known for. So Chevy customers expect tighter steering and suspension, whereas Buick customers expect a softer, more luxurious ride.
It also held true in the past that twinned vehicles could be distinguished by the packaging of standard features and options: An item buried in an options package on one twin might be standard equipment on the other twin. That's far less true today than just a few years ago, but it's still worth reading those features and options lists carefully. In the case of the GM quads, whether a rearview camera, memory seats, Bluetooth or power rear liftgate is available as either standard or optional depends on which of the quads — and which of the trim levels — you choose.
More important may be the differences that exist in warranty coverage. This happens largely because vehicle twins exist today not only across brands within a company, but across different companies that share their engineering. A Pontiac Vibe, for example, is backed by GM's five-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty; whereas its twin, the Toyota Matrix, has five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain coverage. Even bigger warranty discrepancies can exist if one twin is from a luxury brand and another is not, such as the Lexus ES 350 and the Toyota Camry.
One last thing to consider when comparing twins is resale value; mechanically identical cars can still have differences when you try to sell them. For example, as of this writing, the GMC Yukon Denali depreciates $31,643 in five years. Its twin, the Cadillac Escalade, depreciates by almost $10,000 more. While this kind of discrepancy isn't common, it's a good idea to use our True Cost to OwnSM (TCO) tool to compare the full five-year costs of owning the vehicles you're comparing.
So How Does This Help Me?
Many people don't realize the strong similarity between cars of different brands. Knowing which vehicles are twins allows you to see through the marketing spin. More importantly, it gives you flexibility and bargaining leverage at the dealership (in terms of equipment, trim level and color). For example, if you like the seating capacity and general performance of the GMC Acadia but the dealer isn't giving you a good price, you can suggest that you'd be just as happy with the Outlook at the Saturn dealership a few miles away. It's a pretty sure bet he'll work harder to keep you at his dealership instead.
Some, like the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Pontiac G5, are close to identical; many others are more like fraternal twins. When car shopping, remember to compare not only whole vehicles, but specific trim levels and standard features as well.
Source: www.Edmunds.com
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Auto Tools For The DIY'er
If you are a car owner who occasionally works on his or her own car, please don't go out and spend thousands of dollars on high priced tools. Professional mechanics make a living with their tools and need the best. If you are doing minor repairs on your own vehicles a lower cost tool set will do just fine. We have teamed up with AutoBarn.com to bring you the best price on tools for the DIYer. Keep in mind you can find most of these tools at your local parts store, but probably not at these prices. Let's look at the basics you will need for most common jobs.
The oil change:
Lifting tools: To gain access to the oil pan you need to get the front wheels off of the ground safely. Never leave the car supported only by a jack. A good set of jack stands or ramps are the safest way to go. Also don't forget to chock up the rear wheels to keep the car from sliding back. Even though you may have the emergency brake set, they can fail.
Oil filter wrench: Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get an oil filter off without the right wrench. I have gone to the extent of poking a screwdriver through the filter to spin it off..... this is not the cleanest way to change an oil filter.
Funnel: You have to get the new oil into the engine, and the less you spill, the less will burn off later while driving. Any funnel will do, but look for one with a long flexible neck, which will help getting into those tight places.
The brake job:
Disc brakes: You will need some special hex or torx sockets to get the caliper loose. Do not try using the wrong tool like a vise-grips or filed down bit.... you will damage the bolts. You will also need to retract the brake pistons once you have the old pads out. Using a C-clamp does work, but you have to be careful not to damage the pistons.
Drum brakes: There are special tools, which allow you to remove the clips, which hold the shoes to the backing plate. Also you will need an adjuster to adjust the shoes once you have everything back together.
Bleeding the brakes: Get a good kit, which includes a sealed container to collect the expelled brake fluid.
General tools:
A good Quality Tool Set: Make sure you have metric wrenches as all import cars have metric fasteners and most if not all-new domestic cars do also. If you plan on doing advanced work, or plan on eventually working as a professional mechanic consider buying a set of Craftsman tools. I have found them to be the best value and you cannot beat the lifetime guarantee. Plus wherever you are, there is a Sears store to take your broken tools in for replacement.
Auto Repair Manual: You wouldn't bake a cake without a recipe.... would you?? Make sure you have a manual by your side before you start working on your car. I can only give you general guidelines, but the manual will give you all of the specifics for your car, truck or SUV.
By: Kevin Schappell
Lifted from This Source: http://www.leemyles.com
About the Author: Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com.
The oil change:
Lifting tools: To gain access to the oil pan you need to get the front wheels off of the ground safely. Never leave the car supported only by a jack. A good set of jack stands or ramps are the safest way to go. Also don't forget to chock up the rear wheels to keep the car from sliding back. Even though you may have the emergency brake set, they can fail.
Oil filter wrench: Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get an oil filter off without the right wrench. I have gone to the extent of poking a screwdriver through the filter to spin it off..... this is not the cleanest way to change an oil filter.
Funnel: You have to get the new oil into the engine, and the less you spill, the less will burn off later while driving. Any funnel will do, but look for one with a long flexible neck, which will help getting into those tight places.
The brake job:
Disc brakes: You will need some special hex or torx sockets to get the caliper loose. Do not try using the wrong tool like a vise-grips or filed down bit.... you will damage the bolts. You will also need to retract the brake pistons once you have the old pads out. Using a C-clamp does work, but you have to be careful not to damage the pistons.
Drum brakes: There are special tools, which allow you to remove the clips, which hold the shoes to the backing plate. Also you will need an adjuster to adjust the shoes once you have everything back together.
Bleeding the brakes: Get a good kit, which includes a sealed container to collect the expelled brake fluid.
General tools:
A good Quality Tool Set: Make sure you have metric wrenches as all import cars have metric fasteners and most if not all-new domestic cars do also. If you plan on doing advanced work, or plan on eventually working as a professional mechanic consider buying a set of Craftsman tools. I have found them to be the best value and you cannot beat the lifetime guarantee. Plus wherever you are, there is a Sears store to take your broken tools in for replacement.
Auto Repair Manual: You wouldn't bake a cake without a recipe.... would you?? Make sure you have a manual by your side before you start working on your car. I can only give you general guidelines, but the manual will give you all of the specifics for your car, truck or SUV.
By: Kevin Schappell
Lifted from This Source: http://www.leemyles.com
About the Author: Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com.
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