Car Prices Blogs - February, 2010

GM Dealers Re-Open

February 23rd, 2010
1,350 GM Dealers could be back to work, which means more competing pricing for you. These are dealers who lost their franchises last year, but, Congress passed legislation forces GM and Chrysler to give dealers a chance to appeal closure decisions. The mandated arbitration process that begins later this month. Many of dealers where forced to close by the manufacturer, because of their close proximity to competing dealers. So, if they re-open, it means more competition, but also the likeliehood of encounters some lousy car dealers.

Most Costly Car Buying Mistake

February 23rd, 2010
According to US News & World Report, Confusing Wants with Needs is the #1 most costly car buying mistake Costliest Car-Buying Mistakes. But, we think #7 is a better tip, which is Not Cross-Shopping Car Deals. They suggestion that you don’t let carefully-crafted sales promotions mislead you into thinking that you’re getting a great deal. Be precise and detailed in comparing car deals for competing vehicles.

Used Car Values Climbed, Cheaper To Buy New

February 23rd, 2010
When comparing new and used car prices, the Fresno Bee has noticed an unusual trend: Used car values have climbed so much that in some cases, it’s cheaper to buy new. This can be good news for some shoppers, particularly if you have a trade-in, because it will have an increased value, thus getting a better bang for your buck when you buy new.

North American International Auto Show Opened January

February 23rd, 2010
It’s Showtime in Detroit North American International Auto Show opens Jan. 16 an expected 700,000 visitors will see more than 700 new car models for auto reviews! It’s an industry transformed. The focus won’t be only on the cars but also on the Auto Manufacturers themselves. Car companies are undergoing multiple simultaneous revolutions, the fallout from the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies, fragile economic recoveries in major economies worldwide, and new Hybrid technologies.

Saab On The Brink To Be Discontinued

February 23rd, 2010
Saab it is Sob Story — Tiger isn’t the only one who is no longer interested in swedish lovelies. GM announced it discontinuing its Swedish brand, Saab. We’ll miss those curvy Hoods! Saab is in the final stages of negotiations with Sweden’s National Debt Office for state aid. It is a complicated process; however, they remain extremely confident that their plans are on track to close the deal in the 4th quarter of this year to keep the Swedish Brand alive. Hey, in the meantime they are currently having 0% APR for 72 months for the always mysterious ‘qualified buyers’.

More Electric Cars On The Market

February 23rd, 2010
Expect more electric cars to go on sale this year to compete with the traditional gas guzzlers. These Electric cars are targeted to urban and suburban drivers who take relatively short trips each day. If you have a long commute, you could easily outdistance the range of the batteries. Most of these new models will cost around $30K, but remember that electric vehicle buyers will get a $7,500 federal tax credit this year.