Having car buyers at the dealership, at the negotiating table, excited about a vehicle and ready to make a purchase is the only time the dealership has a chance to really make some money.? The best way they can do this is by making consumers focus on payments.This is where the four-square worksheet and other tools like it come into play.? Usually the four squares show their price, the value of the trade, the cash down, and the payment.? Here is a normal method of presenting the deal:The car salesperson walks in and puts the sheet in front of you, facing you.? They point to each square as they go over the numbers.?This is for ours? this is yours? with $3,000 down, your monthly payments would be $789 per month.? Initial here and I?ll go get it cleaned up!?Whoa, whoa, whoa!? $789 per month?? $3,000 down?? What happened to zero down and $249 a month like the advertisement said?And just like that, they have you.? The last two numbers were so outrageous and spoken out loud.? The first two we skimmed over and never spoken.? You?re ready to leave, but before you can, the salesperson will identify the objection, which will usually be the payment and money down, and try to fix it.After a few rounds of back and forth, they relent to $500 down and $279 per month, magically making the numbers acceptable for you.? Still, at no time did they adjust the top numbers.? They simply kept the customer focused on payment and cash down.? They won News source: MY Car Wizard The best way to prepare for car shopping and get the best deal is to focus on trade difference ? the difference between their car and your car.? You can also consider ?total financed amount?, which is trade difference plus your trade-in?s payoff.If you can find an honest car dealer that works strictly with trade difference, such as Oklahoma City Lincoln Town Cars, you?ll have a much more enjoyable experience.If there are no dealerships like them locally, follow these steps and you?ll avoid getting redirected in the direction the dealership wants you to look:1)????? Determine your likely interest rate.? Better yet, get pre-approved at your bank, credit union, or other lending institution.? The dealership will probably be able to get a better rate, but knowing what the current rates are for your credit situation and for the kind of vehicles you are considering will help dramatically.2)????? Determine your monthly budget, desired down payment (if any), and desired term.? Find a loan calculator and plug in numbers until you know match your budget.? If you know going in that a total finance amount of $15,000 with zero down will be $311 per month for 60 months at 8.9%, you will be able to find the car that fits your budget.3)????? Get all the numbers you need ahead of time.? If you know how much vehicles you are considering are selling for at local dealerships, and you know how much your trade is probably worth, and you know your exact payoff, you can determine what your target trade difference and amount financed will be.4)????? Try to get your trade evaluated first.? Many dealerships won?t do it, plus it won?t help you in negotiating (despite other articles that claim the contrary), but it will tell you how much vehicle you can consider at that car lot.? Do not make the mistake of trying to find the dealership that offers the most for your trade up front.? If your car is worth $5,000, some dealerships will say it is worth $4,000, while others may say it?s worth $8,000.? In reality, they are all giving approximately the same, but you?ll find that the dealership giving $8,000 is probably $3k-$4k higher on the price of their vehicles.? Again, focus on trade difference.5)????? As rough as it is to go to multiple car dealers, it is a good idea.? Gather trade differences on similar vehicles, then go back to the dealership with the best one.? Then ask them to make it even better.? They may or they may not, but it never hurts to ask.6)????? Talk payments with the finance manager only, and only after the trade difference is acceptable.? If you know that a $15,000 loan will be around $310 per month, there is no reason to argue it with a salesperson who comes with numbers showing the $15,000 loan at $370 per month.? They want you to agree to leave a ?cushion? for finance to sell you a warranty, bump your rate, or sell some other products.? Again, if the trade difference is acceptable, worry about the rest of the numbers with the finance manager.7)????? Be strong.? Focus on the prize.? Do not let anything or anyone distract you from the important number: trade difference.? That is the only number you need to negotiate on the floor.? Bring a copy of this article if you must, but make sure they know you know what they know.? You know?It is an extremely competitive market, more so than ever before.? The internet has made it increasingly difficult for car dealerships to make money.Consumers have access to online inventories and classified sites like Baltimore Used Cars.They can get ideas of their trade values at Black Book Online.They can check loan payment calculators, find affordable warranties, and get a used car?s vehicle history report.? For all of this, we can thank the Internet.I hope it helps. News source: MY Car Wizard

Which Auto Collision Center Should I UseNext to your home, your car is the second largest investment you will make. You spend a great deal of time choosing that right car. And then in minutes you suddenly find yourself with a car that has been damaged in an automobile accident. As a result the same common question continuously gets asked “Which auto collision center should I use”?Tgis is a very good question. Vehicles arent cheap, and with such a big investment you want to be certain that the repair is done right and since you have the right to choose who will fix your car What ever you do, dont let your insurance company try to bully you into using whom they want. Different auto collision centers will have different rates, different practices, and different ways of filling out their auto repair estimate, which means you need to be alert as to how they are quoting their work. What looks like the cheapest quote may not be once you take everything into account. The auto collision center has to work with your insurance company to put things right and get you back on the road as soon as possible.Here are just a few things to find out about. That way you can compare each of the auto collision centers on a level playing field.What are the hours of operation and do they work with your schedule? Do they have a drop off service or a late pickup service?Is there a guaranteed delivery date to have your car repairs completed?Do they offer a loaner vehicle to drive while your vehicle is being repaired?How long do they warranty their work for? Is there a lifetime guarantee and if so is it on paint? Repairs? Labor?What is the qualifications of the craftsman in the auto collision center?How long has the company been in business?What type of equipment do they have for repairs? Do they offer state of the art equipment?Do they guarantee color match?Do they utilize laser measuring?Where are the centers located?Whats it going to cost?Before you do anything, if it is at all possible its a good idea to drop by, see the facilities, and get a quote. There are more than 35,000 auto body repair shops across the country, which can make it a bit confusing to choose. Use the tools at your disposal. The internet is an excellent resource, and having your list of questions answered can help you make the right choice.The average auto repair takes two weeks so make sure you have made alternative arrangements with a rental car. You should also make sure you are happy with their commitment to customer satisfaction and remember you can always check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a good reputation.Which auto collision center should you use? The choice is still yours but these tips should help you find the best facility for your repairs.. News source: Utah Careers

Many articles and sites promote using the internet tools and shady tactics to coax car dealerships into giving more money for your trade-in.? While some of these methods have a measure of substance, the most important things have been around since well before the internet and are still valid today.Car salespeople are trained from day one that the most important thing they need to do to set up a profitable car deal is to build value, especially with used cars and trucks.? They are shown ways to enhance the consumers? experience and to promote the preowned vehicle in the best possible light.The same holds true for the consumer in regards to their trade in.? Just like selling preparing a house for sale, preparing a car for sale can increase its value greatly.? Here are some ways to do just that.(1)?? Clean It, SillyIt sounds simple, and for those who are thinking ?duh?, you would be shocked to know how often this basic tactic is not used.If possible, get it completely detailed, including shampooing the carpet and floor mats, waxing the exterior, and spraying odor neutralizers or using ionizers to eliminate odors (especially smoke).? Most dealerships will give a small, sometimes even subconscious boost to the value of a vehicle if it is ?lot ready? when it arrives.(2)?? Empty It OutThere are articles out there that suggest not emptying a trade-in because it makes the dealer think you?re eager to give them your vehicle.? That sort of advice is absolutely ridiculous.If you intend to trade your car, make no efforts to hide the fact.? There is an entire article that can be written debunking the often implied concept of hiding your trading intentions, but for now, please have faith that letting the dealership know you are ready to trade your car will give you more advantages than disadvantages.Make it easy to ?move out? of you vehicle by having everything that you are not leaving with the vehicle out and waiting at home to be replaced into your new car.? For the items staying with your trade in?(3)?? Prepare a ?Care Package?Have everything that is staying in the car in a bag, preferably a large plastic Ziploc bag.? The owner?s manual, maintenance records, valet key, second key and key-fobs, and any care items you have that you won?t need in your new vehicle (leather treatment, touch-up paint, etc.) should all be ready for the salesperson for when they stock in their latest trade, yours.This gives a sense of organization and meticulous care that will carry over during the appraisal process.? The dealer will know that if you took this much care of the car when you were getting rid of it, you probably took great care of it when you owned it.? More subliminal money invested into your trade.(4)?? Spend Up to $100 Making it Ready to SellPeople will sometimes ask if they should get this repaired or that fixed.? Rarely will the cost of fixing something translate into an equal bump in trade value.? Dealerships can fix their used cars cheaper than we can.Some things you would want to consider spending money on would be an oil change and or tune-up, wiper blades, at least a half tank of gas (again, this is for subliminal reasons), and possibly even some ?luxury? adds such as fuel injector cleaner.? Anything too expensive ? just let them know a little bit about it and ask them if they think you should get it fixed before trading.? They will almost always say no to this, but offering can disarm them a bit from deducting too much from the value.(5)?? Tell the Dealer Something Wrong with the CarThe important thing to remember here is ?something?.? You may or may not choose to reveal chronic problems that you?ve dealt with ? that part is up to you and your conscious.? If there are no major problems, find something, anything that you can point out.Someone saying that their trade-in is perfect is begging for a more thorough check in the vehicle.? Mentioning a couple of minor scratches on the passenger side, a slight shimmy at 70 MPH, or poor reception for a particular radio station when you get to the south-side of town will go a long ways in building credibility in you and your trade.They will probably find these things anyway, so offering them up front makes them think, ?If that?s all that?s wrong with it, this car must be in great shape.?– Final Thought –Trade values are always negotiable.? Do not look at it as a buy and trade transaction.? Consider it like a seller to seller transaction.? Just as they are selling you a new or used car, you are selling them your used car.? Showing pride and confidence in the quality of your product can really help you get the most out of your trade-in.? News source: My Car Wizard

DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- Liquidity among automotive-parts suppliers will remain adequate over the next 18 months, but balance sheets for non-investment grade companies won’t improve because cash flow will be weak and easy credit has dried up, according to a report released Monday by Fitch Ratings.Most auto suppliers tapped the leverage loan market over the past two years, improving liquidity and pushing out debt maturities. That helped companies as they dealt with pricing pressure, lower Big Three production, high costs for raw materials and restructuring.But most of those pressures aren’t abating, and credit isn’t available in the amounts and on the terms it was a few months ago, Fitch said.”Operating cash generation from non-investment grade suppliers is expected to remain weak over the near term, with limited capacity for any improvement to balance sheets that have incurred significant incremental leverage over the past several years,” Fitch said in its report. “As a result, refinancing risks may have been simply deferred to later years, rather than resolved.”Fitch analyst Mark Oline said in an interview that some auto suppliers’ balance sheets have “incurred significant damage” over the past couple of years, and free cash flow generation will be limited in the next 18 months.While not a problem in the short term, the companies “won’t have the capacity to repair balance sheets before they face refinancing risks,” he said.Some margin improvement is expected from restructuring, a trend most evident at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL) and Lear Corp. (LEA). Visteon Corp. (VC), meanwhile, “has struggled to demonstrate progress,” Fitch said in the report.”In the event that margin improvement does not take place over the near term, capital availability may be limited,” the report said.Still, Fitch doesn’t see imminent tripping of loan covenants. But if covenants are violated, any resolution, “if available, will come at a steep financial cost.”There is also competition for available capital as several large auto suppliers are looking to arrange exit financing. Delphi Corp. (DPHIQ), Dana Corp. (DCNAQ), Federal-Mogul Corp. (FDMLQ) and Dura Automotive Systems Inc. all are looking to emerge from Chapter 11.The pressures of the auto industry forced several suppliers into Chapter 11 in the past couple of years.-By Terry Kosdrosky, Dow Jones Newswires; 248-204-5532; terry.kosdrosky@ dowjones.com News source: Money.CNN

A recent child safety seat inspection gave Nat Willauer an opportunity to get his grandson’s seat checked while eating at Burger King.”I figure I’d have them check what I’ve done,” said Willauer. “I just want to keep the kids safe.” Marion’s AAA Ohio Auto Club sponsored the child safety seat inspection and a vehicle inspection Thursday at Marion Plaza on Mount Vernon Avenue. Office manager Alicia Turner said it’s a public service while AAA mechanics said it also gives them a chance to look vehicles over and urge drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter. “It’s a convenience world,” said Vernon Hylton, field operations//member relations for Worthington’s AAA Auto Club, talking about how for example the majority of gas stations are now self-serve and have no one checking fluid levels and tire pressure. He estimated in about 50 percent of calls made by stranded motorists the break-down could have been prevented.Stephanie Langley, a Safe Kids-Central Ohio child safety seat inspector, also talked prevention as she checked not only how seats were installed but whether they were on any recall list. She said Safe Kids urges people to not use car seats for more than five years.”Car seats do get tired,” she said. “They get used and abused.”According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 400 children under 5 years old were saved by the use of child safety seats in 2005. An AAA press release stated that car seats have been shown to reduce infant fatalities by 71 percentLangley said there are common mistakes in installation such as seat belt harnesses not connected properly or not tightened enough. The retainer clip on the harness should be near children’s armpits but are often placed too low, such as near their stomachs, she said.She said she urges people to make sure their seats are safe and said many people use second-hand seats, which she advises against.”Car seats are so inexpensive anymore,” she said. “You don’t have to spend $140. You can spend $35-$60. It’s cheaper than the ticket you will get for a first offense.”According to state law, all children who are either under 4 years old or under 40 pounds must be in a properly used car seat that meets federal standards. A first offense can carry a $150 fine. A second offensecan mean $250 plus jail time.Exemptions are public safety vehicles, taxi cabs and vehicles not required by law to have seat belts at the time they were manufactured.Since April 6, all children 4-15 years old must be in an occupant restraining device such as a booster seat, car seat or seat belt no matter where they are seated. While it is a secondary offense, which means that an officer cannot pull someone over just for that violation, it carries the same penalty as the car seat violation.She said someone should never carry a child in their lap while driving or sitting in the front seat.”That child will probably save their lives,” she said, “but that child will probably die.”Hylton, AAA approved auto repair manager Douglas Dix and other mechanics inspected tires, batteries, fluids and other items on vehicles that stopped for the service. Buckeye Collision Service employee Keith Price helped check batteries and had new batteries available to sell and install through the AAA’s “go don’t tow” efforts to help stranded motorists at the scene rather than tow them to a service garage.Hylton and Price said common problems include low fluids, poor batteries and tires, including spare times, that do not have enough air. News source: Central Ohio