Everyone wants the best price on a used car. Up to 80% of used car shoppers are looking for their next deal online; shoppers visit over 10 different car sites before even visiting a dealership. Knowing this, a consumer may ask why car dealers don’t try harder to price their inventory more competitively.  A new company is shaking up the used car market with the first and only solution to an old problem.

Only three years old, vAuto is making a strong impact on used car dealers. Their revolutionary system helps dealers price, appraise and stock pre-owned vehicles. The winners? Dealers AND consumers.

I spoke with vAuto’s Chairman and Founder recently, Dale Pollak. His enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for changing the used car industry rings loud and clear. 

WhyBuyUsedCars: What was your driving motivation in creating vAuto’s used car pricing solution?

Dale Pollak: I quickly saw the huge disconnect between the way traditional dealers price their vehicles and how consumers compare car prices on the Internet.  Most dealers mark up their acquisition costs by $3,000 - $5,000 and place the vehicle on the Internet at that price.  Consumers, on the other hand, can (and do) easily sort and search for the best values in the market.  This renders the majority of the used cars on the Internet as uncompetitive from the customer’s perspective. I saw this as a really big problem and one that needed to be solved…so I created the vAuto solution.

WBUC: How have dealers responded to vAuto - what’s the feedback so far?

DP:  Very positive right from the start; our sales have soared. The next phase will be exciting as dealers begin to see their own sales pick up as a result of working with us.

WBUC: What was the buzz like at NADA this year in San Fran?

DP: Our traffic at NADA was over the top; we had standing room only for nearly the entire show.  I think dealers have figured out we have something really special to offer.

WBUC: What opportunities do you feel dealers are missing?

 DP: Although dealers are eager to acquire our tools, they still have significant cultural challenges in using them correctly.  Specifically, most dealers want to price their vehicles to make the biggest margin possible rather than to price them to market.  It takes a lot of discipline for a dealer to price vehicles to what the market will bear rather than to a higher, pre-determined profit margin.  Progressive operations, such as Auction Direct USA serve as important models of how to successfully serve the used car market. 

WBUC: Notice any trends developing within the industry?

DP: The used car market has become efficient and transparent.  In my opinion, dealers must price used vehicles according to the market if they expect to see buyers show up at their door.  As more dealers catch on, there will be less negotiation and in many cases, none at all.  I therefore believe that whether dealers recognize it or not, negotiation-free selling is in their future.

Thanks for the comments Dale, keep up the great work!

Dealers - If you haven’t seen it yet, check out their used car pricing solution.

Consumers - Keep searching for the best used car prices. If Dale has anything to do with it, it’ll probably be easier in the near future.

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Take Care Of Your Oil If You Want To Save Gas!
by Scott Siegel

A vehicle that performs at it’s peak will realize the best fuel economy.  If something interferes with peak performance it will decrease gas economy and will cause you to use more gas and spend more money.  For that reason proper management of the oil in your engine is a critical component of good fuel economy.

You need to make  scheduled oil changes a priority in maintaining your car. Following the auto producers oil change recommendations is a major component of keeping your car running at its peak and keeping your gasoline economy at its best.

The job of the oil in your car is to lubricate the moving parts of its engine, minimizing friction. preventing metal- to-metal contact and carrying away excess heat. All of those functions promote better gas efficiency.

Another major function of oil in your engine is to remove dirt, metal shavings and other impurities which are then captured in the oil filter. In addition to negatively affecting fuel economy, neglecting the oil in your car could lead to replacing the engine itself.

You should follow the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule for oil changes.  If the manufacturer says to change the oil every three thousand miles or every three months, do it.  If oil is not replaced at the proper time it becomes saturated with impurities it is supposed to remove from the engine.  If it becomes saturated with these impurities, sometimes called dirty oil, it will be less efficient in doing its job.  That will cause the engine performance to decline and your fuel economy will decline with it.

Make sure that you are using the right grade of oil that is required by your car or truck. By using the lowest multi grade of oil recommended in your owner’s manual, you can improve the fuel efficiency of the engine, particularly when starting it cold.

Using the wrong grade of oil may cause your car to run poorly as the weather changes. The wrong grade will get thick and heavy in cold weather. Oil that is too thick and heavy requires the engine to work harder because the thick and heavy oil’s resistance is greater.  The harder the engine works the more gasoline it will use. The wrong grade of oil can cost you 1 to 2 percent of your gas economy.

If you use, for example, 10W-40 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-40 it can lower your gas mileage as much as the two percent mentioned earlier.  In addition if something goes wrong with your car, and the manufacturer can show you used the wrong oil, it could void your warranty.

Many drivers make the mistake of procrastinating in getting the oil changed. The more a driver puts off changing the oil the worse the fuel economy will be. Using the proper grade and changing the oil on time will help you get better gas economy, especially when you buy used cars.

Tip of the hat to Scott Siegel who wrote a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider secrets on how you can learn to get better gas mileage. 

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Unless your name is Paris or you work for a major oil conglomerate, you’ll want to take notice. This is really simple: Stay away from the manufacturer’s “Value Packages.” 

Between gas prices, credit crunches and the threat of a recession, here are some incredible examples of the savings spread available between quality used cars and and new cars with value packages. Of course, most consumers don’t pile on value option like condiments on a burger - but here’s what can happen if you did…

Looking for a sharp C-Class Mercedes? Two options to consider:

• A new Mercedes-Benz C300, filled to the brim with the best Value Packages Niederlande has to offer: $57,944.
• A used 2007 Mercedes Benz C230, with enough valued added options to keep you smiling all the way to the Oktoberfest, $27,922.
• Savings: $30,022.

How about a fun Porsche Boxtser?

• A new Porsche Boxster; and this is just for the standard model. Go nuts with the Build a Boxster feature & suddenly you’re at: $118,295.
• A used 2000 Porsche Boxster, that will still get you to 60 mph in under 6 seconds:  $15,278.
• Savings: $103,017. 

Even the Lincoln Town Car wants to get in on the action.

• A new 2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Sedan: $50,645.
• A used 2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Sedan: $23,960.
• Savings: $26,685.

Rather than buy the new Lincoln, buy the used Lincoln & the Boxster…then stash the extra 11k for another great find on the best used cars. 

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This is what happens when several German car designers spend too much time in Italy. Audi wanted more than just a piece of the super-car fame - so they bought Lamborghini S.p.A. and cranked out the Gallardo inspired Audi R8.

If you were one of the nine people NOT watching the Super Bowl this year, you caught a glimpse of the Audi R8 in the coveted first commercial slot. I missed the entire first quarter Tivo’ing the commercial.

Super car enthusiasts around the world have blessed it as a wunderkind. It showed up the 911 Carrera 4S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and BMW M6.  Autocar, Top Gear & Automobile magazine all fell in love. They named it the Best Handling Car, Car of the Year and Automobile of the Year respectively.  Hugh Hefner knows a thing or two about beauty; Playboy gave it Car of the Year honors.

Here’s the complete 2008 “Best of” list from MotorWeek. These Driver’s Choice Award winners provide a nice glimpse of the future’s best used cars.

1. Best Small Car - Scion xB
2. Best Family Sedan - Honda Accord
3. Best Minivan - Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country
4. Best Convertible - Chrysler Sebring Convertible
5. Best Luxury Sedan - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
6. Best Sport Sedan - Cadillac CTS
7. Best Sport Coupe - Infiniti G37
8. Best Performance Car - Volkswagen R32
9. Best Small Utility - Nissan Rogue
10. Best Large Utility - Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
11. Best Crossover Utility - Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook
12. Best Pickup Truck - Ford F-Series Super Duty
13. Best Eco-Friendly - Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid/GMC Yukon Hybrid
14. Best Dream Machine - Audi R8/Bentley Continental GT Speed/Lexus LS 600h L

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A lot of people dream of owning a Cadillac - especially since the redesigned CTS, STS & Esclade hit the streets. Strong grills, luxurious interiors and technological improvements to boot have pushed up their demand.

The Patriot’s Tom Brady may have another Cadillac parked in his driveway after tomorrow’s Super Bowl game. This would make Caddy number three.

After winning the MVP in 2002 he drove home the stunning XLR convertible. His MVP prize in Super Bowl XXXVIII was a cool Escalade. Hines Ward grabbed a 2007 Cadillac Escalade for his MVP performance in SuperBowl XL. [That’s 40 for the Roman Numeral impaired]

Funny thing about his second Cadillac - the dealership responsible for delivering his new ride didn’t get it to him for over six months.

GM has a couple of gems to offer up this year’s MVP recipient - maybe they’ll use the Super Bowl to showcase the new BLS Sedan or even the fierce supercharged STS-V model with 525 HP.

Not sure who will win the MVP (Brady is the top pick), but I have a feeling this year’s prize will be parked somewhere in the New England area.

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Sports car fanatics all over the world have been waiting for what could possibly be the best Nissan sports car ever - the 2009 Nissan GT-R.

The (right) decision was finally made to offer, what was once known as the Skyline GT, the new version on a worldwide basis. One look at the specs and you’ll think the Nissan designers got into some HGH.

• 3.8-liter twin turbo V6
• 473 hp & 434 pound-feet of torque
• 0-60 in 3.3 seconds.  I’ll repeat that: 0-60 in 3.3 seconds.
• Electronic launch control
• Quarter-Mile time of 11.6 seconds; over 120 mph
• 15-inch rotors; Brembo calipers & Bridgestone Potenza tires

Let’s put these performance numbers in perspective. Sick numbers like these make this car faster than:

• Porsche 911 Turbo Tiptronic [3.4 seconds to 60]
• Dodge Viper [3.7 seconds to 60]
• Corvette Zo6 [4.1 seconds to 60]

Don’t even bother getting in line - the US bound GT-R’s have all been spoken for with hefty deposits. Keep yourself occupied with another sports car until this becomes one of the best used cars available. It may only take some of the first owners 12-18 months to grow tired of their new play toy. By that time, you may save a ton off the surprisingly low initial MSRP of $70,000.

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The final list of 2007 models, representing the best value deals, was just released by Intellichoice.com. A slew of surprises on the best deals list include the Audi A4, the BMW 3-Series, the Toyota Tundra and the Hummer H3.  Look for more hybrids and green vehicles to move up the value list - and not just the stereotypical compact hybrids. New models of sedans, mid-size SUV’s and even large SUV’s should also grab a lot of attention as consumers turn to hybrid versions of the Chevy Malibu and Cadillac Escalade.

These are some of the best used cars out there today: [Data provided by Intellichoice.com]

Subcompact car — Mini Cooper Hatchback

Compact car more than $16,000 — Honda Civic Hybrid

Compact car less than $16,000 — Honda Civic Sedan

Midsize car more than $21,000 — Toyota Prius

Midsize car less than $21,000 — Toyota Prius

Convertible — Mini Cooper Convertible

Luxury convertible — Audi A4 Convertible

Near luxury car — BMW 3 Series Sedan

Luxury car — Lexus ES

Large car — Toyota Avalon

Base sport car — Honda Civic Si Coupe

Sports car — Chevrolet Corvette

Sports sedan/wagon more than $38,000 — Lexus GS Hybrid

Sport sedan wagon less than $38,000 — Mazda3 Mazdaspeed

Compact utility/crossover — Ford Escape Hybrid

Midsize crossover — Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Luxury crossover — Lexus RX 400h

Small wagon — Toyota Matrix

Midsize/large wagon — Subaru Outback Wagon

Intermediate utility — Hummer H3

Full-size utility — GMC Yukon

Luxury Utility — Lexus GX

Compact pickup truck (2WD) — Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD

Compact pickup (4WD) — Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD

Full-size pickup truck 2WD (half-ton) — Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 2WD

Full-size pickup truck 2WD (3/4 ton) — Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD

Full-size pickup truck 2WD (one ton) — Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD

Full-size pickup truck 4WD (half-ton) — Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 4 WD

Full-size pickup truck 4WD (3/4 ton) — Chevrolet  Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD

Full-size pickup truck 4WD (one ton)  — Chevrolet  Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD

Minivan — Honda Odyssey

Full-Size Van — Chevrolet  Express 1500

Cargo Van — Chevrolet Uplander

Dealers are looking for places to put their ‘08 inventory and would like nothing more than to move their old vehicles now. Make the smartest decision and start your research with the vehicles that retain their value. Your next move is knowing the appropriate prices for these vehicles and their history. Look up vehicle pricing at KBB.com and get a vehicle history from CARFAX. (Dealers often have free reports in their used cars listings) 

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People tend to avoid painful things: Root canals…Tax audits…Birthday parties with clowns.

Add the traditional car dealer’s Four-Square worksheet to your personal list of things to avoid.

What’s the Four-Square? This is the car dealership’s mind-control tool. Car salesman are “encouraged” to use the Four-Square worksheet to completely scramble your cognitive reasoning and negotiating abilities. If you have ever been subjected to the Four-Square, you already know it’s crippling power.

Here’s the deal…before you begin price negotiations, your salesperson will fumble through an unorganized mess and produce an innocent looking piece of paper. On it, a simple T-grid, creating “Four Squares.” Easy enough? Hardly.

The salesman adds the vehicle info to the sheet: year, make, model & vague customer info. His handwriting puts your Doctor’s to shame.

Next, he makes a simply absurd request: “Please initial here - this indicates that you’ll buy today if we can see eye to eye on the final price.” [Huh?]

Just about everyone complies and add their initials. You get the same feeling when you buy a scratch-off lottery ticket. You hope to get lucky, but deep down you know the effort will be wasted.

By getting your initials, the salesperson now has permission to enter the office reserved only for managers. They perk up knowing someone is in the cross-hairs.  Managers determine the price you’ll pay; the salesperson is merely a paper courier.

After a few minutes your salesperson returns with a few numbers, words and symbols strategically arraigned on the grid. Looks like a math test that you didn’t prepare for in college. Don’t try to grasp its complexities. Google’s sophisticated search algorithm is still stumped by the Four Square.

Then, you’ll get a quick breakdown. It begins with how much they’ll give you for your trade. And no, you probably won’t be pleased with the number.

Oblivious to your visible agitation, the salesperson shoots to the top right square and tells you the price of the car.  Suddenly, you’re distracted enough to forget about the fact you were getting heated over the price of your trade. You may try to do simple math - subtracting your trade from the price quoted - but confusion sets in and your math skills are sub-par at best.

Suddenly, the next square’s value is thrown at you. This is your down payment. It’ll probably be somewhere between how much you paid for your first car and the federal deficit. You try to maintain composure. Before the impact of that number sets in, the last square caps it all off. Your monthly payment. This is also the exact moment when blood begins to boil.

Every once in a (great) while, the salesperson gets an easy layup and the customer agrees.

This is where the shell game begins. You’ll tell him you don’t like what you see in either the down payment or your trade-in value. They may try to convince you why your used car is worth less than a rickshaw or try to diffuse the down payment objection.

Next question: What down payment are you more comfortable with? He’ll cross out the original number and replace it with your new down payment. For good measure, he might sympathize with you and tell you something like how his managers always pad the numbers to boost their bonus and they can afford to come down a bit. Now he’s on your side.

But, he warns how a lower down payment could increase the monthly payment. Crap, didn’t see that coming. He may have a solution though. Maybe he can persuade his manager to give you more for your trade. Yes, there is hope. (No, there isn’t)

Amid the confusion, he may ask you for the down payment check. You’re told this shows the managers your commitment and helps them make a better deal.  He’ll also ask you to initial the work sheet agreeing to the deal. More control tactics.

TIP: Stayed focused on the price of the car. That’s all that matters.

They will tell you the down payment is good. But, the monthly payment is an issue. If the trade-in value is still a deal breaker, quickly drawn X’s, smiley-faces and dark, thick ink will mask the extra changes made to the purchase price, down payment and/or the monthly payment.

TIP: Stay alert for the simple questions they lob out - they want to get as many YES answers out of you as possible.

The negotiations continue until they either break you down into agreement or you walk out in frustration.

How do you avoid the Four Square? Remove one or more of the elements used to confuse you; tell them you don’t have a trade-in or tell them you don’t need financing. Tell them you are only interested in the vehicle’s final price. You may not avoid all of the negotiations but you might be lucky enough to avoid the wrath of the Four Square worksheet.

The best solution? A used cars dealership offering low/discount fixed pricing with no haggling required to get the best deal possible.

Have you ever experienced the Four Square? Share your story…

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Thanks to everyone who visited, read & voted for WhyBuyUsedCars.com (what do you mean you didn’t vote?) Without your support, WBUC wouldn’t have become one of best new automotive blogs for 2007.

Thanks for visiting…be sure to visit us in ‘08. You’ll love what we have in store for you…

Here’s my Best Of ‘07 (short) Top 4 list - enjoy!

Best SUV | 2007 Acura MDX. Subtle yet stunning. Beautiful lines & and aggressive grill. Less expensive than the Lexus and VW competitors; Seats 7 and more head & legroom.

Best Sedan | 2007 Cadillac STS. Class & comfort. The STS rides so smooth you’ll wonder why your own couch isn’t this comfortable. And its got the power to stay in front of the M35 &  GS350.  (V-8; 320hp)

Best Sports Car | 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. V-8. 6-Speed. Chrome rims. Victory Red. ‘Nuff said.

Best Compact Car | 2007 Scion tC.  Tiny coolness with all the trimmings. Moonroof, turn-signal mirrors, mesh grill - even steering wheel stereo controls for the Pioneer CD/MP3 player. Want to be hip quick? Get out from under your rock and get one of these.

Also, be sure to keep a close eye on your older used cars. The top 9 favs of car thieves everywhere: 

1995 Honda Civic
1989 Toyota Camry
1994 Dodge Caravan
1994 Nissan Sentra
1997 Ford F150 Series
1990 Acura Integra
1986 Toyota Pickup
1993 Saturn SL
2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

Keep driving & keep reading WhyBuyUsedCars.com. [Not at the same time.]

Happy New Year!

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There is a reason the words “used-car salesman” conjure up an image of a greasy, no-good trickster. While this isn’t necessarily a fair stereotype — some salespeople are just decent hardworking people — it is a stereotype for a reason: It’s true more often than not. When buying a used car, it can be hard to separate the facts from the sales pitch. Here are a few tricks of the trade to watch out for the next time you are in the market for a used car.

1. Loss-Leader Advertising: Have you ever see those ads in the paper for cars that are listed for well below what you’d expect to pay? Well, it’s usually because they’re undesirable colors, have no options or generally have problems. But car dealers aren’t trying to sell you these cars, they just use them to lure you in with low prices. Then, once they’ve explained to you why these cars are undesirable, they try to trade you up to a better car that you’ll gladly pay more money for because it seems so much nicer in comparison.
2. Lowballing: This is an exasperating technique used by salespeople to wear you down. A salesperson will give you an absurdly low quote for a car, then encourage you to shop around to see if you can find a better price. Buyers will visit with many other dealers — which of course won’t be able to match the low price — and will spend hours shopping around before returning to the original dealer. The salesperson then has to confirm the price with their manager, who undoubtedly will say that they can’t sell it for that little. This process can be repeated several times until you’re so exhausted, you’ll just pay what they’re asking to be done with the whole ordeal.
3. “Free” Extras: By throwing in extras, the salesperson is hoping to help stall negotiations. After all, if you’re getting more thrown in, you’re going to be much less likely to ask for a considerably lower price. The problem is, even with loads of “free” extras, you will likely end up paying more than what a car is worth, and that’s just what the salesperson wants.
4. Making Friends: Any salesperson worth his or her salt will make a huge effort to find common ground and interests with a potential buyer in an attempt to cultivate a sort of friendship. This helps the customer to identify and relate to the salesperson, which in turns makes it much harder to say “no.” After all, you don’t want to let your friend down by not buying from them.
5. “My Wife/Husband/Mother Drives One”: If the car is good enough for the salesperson’s family, then what excuse do you have for it not being good enough for you? This trick is meant to convince you of the value of the car and make you feel guilty for not wanting it. Even if this line is true, it’s likely that the salesperson gets a substantial discount on the car by working for a dealership, making it much more of a bargain for him or her.
6. Limited-Time Offers: This is one of the most common sales tricks, by far, as commercials and ads play on this heavily. This is meant to put pressure on the customer by creating a sense of urgency that the deal is only available right now. This forces the customer to make up his or her mind on the spot, rather than take the time to shop around and make an informed choice.
7. Hot Property: No matter what you’re looking into buying, an enterprising salesperson will try to convince you that it’s a highly sought-after car or one that customers have been asking for frequently. This may or may not be true, but you should be wary of claims like this.
8. The Lapdog Trick: This trick is meant to get the customer to feel obligated to come back to the dealership. When a customer tells the dealer that he or she is going to shop around, the dealer tells the customer to come back and they’ll match the lowest price. That way, instead of buying from the place with the lowest price, you’ll feel like you have to return to the original dealer.
9. Highballing: If you’re bringing in a trade-in, beware of this trick. Many customers are drawn to dealerships that offer them an overly high amount for their trade-in. And it seems like a great deal at the time, so why not? But rest assured, that you’ll pay for it in the long run in the price of the new vehicle you’re buying.
10. Stalling: This tactic is meant to tire you out when you’re car shopping and can make it hard for you to shop around, as well as impatient just to get the process over with. Common tactics include salespeople who misplace keys, take a long time to access a trade-in or make lengthy consultations with the manager.
11. Sucking Back: This method of selling involves offering you less for your trade-in that it is actually worth, then selling you a new car at an unrealistically low price. It is meant to conceal the actual profit from the customer, as he or she will often feel that they have gotten a steal.
12. Bouncing the Trade-In: This is an especially dirty trick salespeople will use even after you’ve left the lot. Someone will call you before you’ve gotten your new car and tell you that there was an issue with your trade- in, usually something along the lines of it being worth considerably less than what you were originally quoted. If you fall for this trick, the salesperson gets to profit from the difference, and you’ll lose out because of it.
13. Repayment Quotes: This is a sneaky way to increase the total amount you pay for a car. Dealers will make slight increases to your monthly repayment quotes, which won’t seem like much but will add up to quite a bit after you’ve been paying them for a few years. Make sure to do the math yourself when getting these kinds of quotes to double-check that you’re getting the best deal.
14. Spraying: You’ll want to do whatever you can to avoid being the victim of this sales method. This is when a salesperson pursues a customer relentlessly until a sale is made. Even if you do end up buying from another dealer, the salesperson will call you and attempt to make you feel bad about how much you paid or that you were disloyal to him or her. Don’t let these kinds of sales tactics get to you; you deserve to get the best deal possible, regardless of who you buy from.
15. Timing: No matter when you walk into a dealership, it will always be a “lucky” time to buy. Either the salesperson will be trying to meet an end-of-the-month quota or make up for missing one last month, and they just have to sell you the car more cheaply. While there are quotas that dealers have to meet, you have no way of knowing whether this is truth or just a fib to get you to buy.
16. Puppy Dogging: While it might seem like it’s nice of the salesperson to let you take your new car home overnight, you should realize that sometimes this is a bit of a sales trick. First, the salesperson is hoping you’ll “fall in love” with the car while you have it. Secondly, this is often a ruse accompanied by a lengthy overnight trade-in assessment.
17. Cheap Financing: Sometimes a dealer will tell you that he or she has reached the bottom of what they can offer you in terms of a deal on the car, but that they can offer you some special financing terms. The dealer will tell you that you will only have to pay a slightly lower amount than the normal rate. Make sure you know what current interest rates are, because otherwise, you can end up paying a higher rate than you should be, even if the salesperson tells you it’s a good deal.
18. Referred by a Friend: Beware of telling a salesperson you’ve been referred to by a friend. While your friend may in fact have gotten a good deal, you are more likely to be trusting of a salesperson that a friend has recommended, and you may not be on the lookout for tricks and scams.
19. 100-Point Inspection: Most car dealerships will try to sell you a car based on inspections made by their on-site mechanics, usually a 100-point inspection that sounds particularly comprehensive. They may or may not be trustworthy, but it’s best to be safe and have your own mechanic check out the car before you buy it.
20. Dressing Up: Watch out for cars that have been cosmetically polished and gussied up to hide flaws. Rust spots, dings and scratches are often hidden under a coat of new paint or wax. Keep a watchful eye out for things that may be cosmetic but can greatly reduce the value of the car.
21. Making Lemonade Out of a Lemon: Don’t get stuck with a lemon, a car that simply cannot reasonably be fixed. Car dealers will often do just about anything to get you to walk off the lot with this dud of a car, so make sure you’ve done your research and know what kind of cars to avoid before you go shopping.
22. Getting You Behind the Wheel: If you are serious about buying a car, you will eventually have to take a test drive, but if a salesperson is pushing you into taking a drive, he or she may be trying to make a hard sell. This can work especially well if you have kids with you, who will always be excited to take a test drive and can do a lot of the sales work for the salesperson.
23. Selling Up: If you’re not specific enough about your sales needs, you may get swindled into purchasing a car that is much more expensive or fancy than you need. After all, this is a salesperson’s job. So be very specific about the year, miles, models and colors you are interested in so you won’t feel motivated to buy something that wasn’t what you really wanted.
24. Leaving Out the Details: Sometimes it isn’t so much that a salesperson will lie to you directly but that he or she will simply forget to mention some key details that might drive you away from the deal. Of course, you’ll find out eventually, but by then it will be too late. Make sure to ask plenty of questions up front to make sure you’re really getting a bargain and not just getting fleeced.
25. Not Telling You the “Drive-Out Price”: Often dealers will just tell you the actual sale price, not the total cost of the car after fees and taxes. These kind of fees can add up quickly and can make what seemed like a good deal on a car considerably more expensive.

It isn’t fair to say that all salespeople are trying to pull the wool over your eyes and rip you off, but the truth is that some are. After all, their job is to make the sale, and some will do that at any cost. So long as you shop smart and look out for these common sales tactics, you can often avoid getting swindled and get the best deal possible on a car you’ll love driving off the lot.

Thanks to InsideCRM for submitting this article!

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…And may not even want to. People often talk about how cars sold in Europe are so much different, and better, than those purchased stateside.

 Well, here’s four European rides that are definitely different. Not sure about better.

Chevy Matiz | The Chevrolet Matiz is a tiny runabout which GM outfitted with a 51 horsepower 0.8-liter engine. I’ve driven lawnmowers with more torque. The Matiz is sold in Japan, Mexico, Pakistan and South Korea. Be sure to buckle up if you opt for the 1.0-liter engine and all 64 horses.

Ford Ka | Ford’s attempt at producing an Audi TT clone resulted in this $7,000 2,900 lb. rollerskate.  This is sold in Spain and Latin America. The Ka is actually Ford’s best selling car in the United Kingdom with about 30% of the market.

Ford Mondeo | The Mondeo is a fancy Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique. In the US this is classified as a compact car. Across the pond they actually call this car a Large Family Car. Sharp, more deliberate design elements, a larger front grill and improved interior styling give the Mondeo a clear cut edge over the American version. Ford could boost sales by offering this version in the states. It was named as “Ford’s Finest Car Ever” in 2007 by the AutoExpress Car of the Year Magazine.

Opel Combo | The Combo is featured mainly in Europe, Chile, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand  This was designed as a panel van or even, get this, a leisure activity vehicle.  Leisurely is about as exciting it will get…even with the largest engine available - 100hp.

Enjoy your U.S. based used cars.

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Cars and Gadgets.

Car owners expect cool gadgets in their cars just like Dolphins fans expect losses.

Here’s some of the coolest car gadgets of 2007:

• Volvo Blind Spot Information System | Leave it to Volvo - two tiny cameras & little orange light tell you if its OK to change lanes.
• Sync Hands-Free System | Ford’s solution to fiddling with portable music players while driving: simple voice commands allow you to play your music.  
• Sirius Satellite TV | Chrysler lets the kids make the buying decisions by offering the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network available. I wish I was 9 again. 
• Easy Third-Row Access | Folding your seats down manually is so 2006.
• Heartbeat Sensor | Great idea for older drivers and/or Ferrari owners.
• Integrated Booster Seats | No more booster seats needed to trash your leather interior; leave that to your kids.
• Full-Size Hybrid SUVs/Trucks | Now people who feel the need to drive around in 6500 pounds of eco-friendly steel won’t get harassed from people who drive around in 2500 pounds of eco-friendly steel.  
• Around View Monitor | This is a neat gadget from Infinity: A 360-degree camera-eye view for tight parking spots and navigating crowded areas. Which begs the questions, why are you trying to squeeze into tight, hard to see spots in an Infinity EX35??
• Scratch Shield Paint | Infinity’s super elastic resin with a clearcoat finish claims to protect from minor scratches, dents and even fingernail scratches under the door handles. (Save some money -  get your wife a manicure and get the Satellite TV)
• Lane Departure Prevention | Another top tech toy from Infinity keeps you safely in your lane by detecting lane markings, applying brakes when needed and providing dashboard alerts.  

Still no word on the Nagging-Wife Silencer or the Friend Who-Always-Needs-A-Ride Ejector…there’s always next year. 

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Everyone can rattle off a couple of cars that have significant memories. Your first car…your dream car…the car your wife crashed. I’m sure you have some. 

Here’s a list of the cars, and their memories, for which I’m thankful for.

Datsun 200SX | My first ride; when I got in this car it made me feel like Jimmie Johnson hoisting his championship Nextel Cup. When getting out of it, I was just glad it got me to my destination in one piece.

Ford Squire Station Wagon | I grew up watching the Brady Bunch pile into this land yacht every day. I’m thankful my parents didn’t own one of these.

Lamborghini Countach | I believe this was a mandatory bedroom wall poster for any teenager in the 80’s. This was supposed to be my first car…then I found out the price. Hello Datsun.

Mercedes Benz 450/380SL | Riding in my Dad’s classic convertibles served as the impetus for my appreciation of all things automotive.

Mustang GT | This was the first car I bought. It was also my first car I had to sell once my son was born. Good thing I didn’t have to sell the Countach.

Bugatti Veyron | Another super-car dream crusher. This was supposed to be my next car…until I found out they priced it upwards of one million bucks. For that money, I could have had 10 Lambos.

Dodge Viper | The perfect Pre Mid-Life Crisis car. Used ‘96 -’98’s represent some of the best super-car values available today. Looks, performance and uniqueness…for less than half the price of competing cars in it’s class. Definitely time to park one of these in the driveway.

Lexus ES300 | The car my wife crashed…

Be thankful for the memories your cars provide…savor those on the horizon.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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The leaves have fallen, I can see my breath in the morning and my bald head is colder than an angry wife after a long night of poker with the guys.

That only means one thing in New York…the month and a half of Autumn is over and the snow is ready to come crashing in. Perfect time for a Top 9 list of the best vehicles to drive in the snow. (Top 10 lists are so yesterday)

A couple of things to keep in mind when shopping for a 4×4 winter sled. Make sure it comes with snow tires, has decent ground clearance for your driving habits, and appropriate tire width.

Used SUV’s may have low grade all-season treads that can under-perform in thicker ice and snow conditions. Do you make short commutes in minimal snow cover? If so, you may only need a smaller all-wheel drive/crossover vehicle rather than a taller, full-size SUV. Plus, those fat tires on the big boy SUV’s probably won’t grip as well as a standard set.

• Ford Edge | A 256hp crossover that’s safe & roomy.
• Toyota Highlander | One of the original crossovers - reliable, light-weight & handles great in the snow.
• Subaru Forester | Top rated AWD with great handling, safety & sensibility.
• Subaru Tribeca | Modern, stylish & high safety rating.
• Volkswagen Toureg | Classy, lots of fun & powerful - up to 310hp available.
• Lincoln MKX | Dress up your Ford Edge in it’s Sunday best and this is what you’ll get - pleasantly refined.
• Mercedes Benz M-Class | Smooth riding, very safe & strong in the snow.
• Volvo XC90 | This 7 passenger snow tank is perfect for a winter family trek; lots of room & power.
• Subaru Outback | Perfect for light duty winter driving - AWD, high quality and loaded with features.

My Favorite?  The VW Snow Sled at the top. Germans make awesome sleds.

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Ever feel like you weren’t firing on all cylinders? Now you can and you don’t need to feel bad about it.

Honda Motor Co., General Motors, and Chrysler are rolling out Cylinder Deactivation Systems to help drivers save on gas by increasing their MPG, while still getting the horsepower they originally wanted from their car or truck.

The ‘07 Impalas and the two-wheel drive Pilot SUV have Variable Cylinder Management - even the Odyssey minivan has had it since the ‘05 model year was introduced.

Just press a button and you can be driving on only 3, 4 or 6 cylinders. It’s pretty simple - when cylinders shut off, fuel consumption decreases. (And it has a Green affect by lowering carbon dioxide emissions as well.)

Drivers have been asking for a horsepower/gas savings solution for a long time. (GM tried a variable cylinder solution way back in the 80’s; it mis-misfired though)

The automakers seem to have answered this one perfectly.

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