by Jeff on October 16, 2007
Getting the most car for the least amount of money
We have all heard it said at one time or another - when you buy a new vehicle you loose a couple thousand dollars just driving off the lot.
Unfortunately, I heard that saying a little too late. I had already bought two brand spanking new vehicles and paid off two 60-month loans before I got wise. Then I decided to purchase a vehicle that was 3-years-old and with around 40,000 miles on it. I got a great price from a dealer, got the car paid off quicker, and I am still driving it today 6-years later not owing a cent. [click to continue...]
by Jeff on October 15, 2007
My sister lives in the city of Chicago. Smack downtown near Michigan Ave. and Lakeshore drive. Where she often is spotted driving her little silver VW Jetta. Now even though Erin has been driving for over 10-years, city driving is just too much for this girl.
Too much chaos, too much aggressivenes, and worse - she hesitates like a Grandma. Bless her, she has been in her fair share of fender benders.
I am sure we all know someone like this. A friend, a family member, an idiot on the road… you see them and you see big flashing lights blinking - DANGER, DANGER, DANGER. If this is you, or one of your loved ones, and you are tired of riding around teeth clenched and white knuckled. There could be a viable solution. You can find a car that will be the simplist to use, easiest to handle, and safest to drive. [click to continue...]
by Jeff on October 8, 2007
Buying an American vehicle is a very sensitive issue for some folks. My Grandparents live in Granville, IL. This is a sleepy town in Middle America where the population is under a thousand, and know one is a stranger. Spotting a foreign car is like finding a needle in a haystack - and believe me there are no shortages of haystacks.
These people are often loyal to one dealership and one salesman, and might buy from the same car manufacturer their entire lives. For instance my Grandparents have been buying Chryslers for the last 25+ years. This is just what they do.
So what happens now when cross-ownership of automakers is becoming the norm? Is is still possible to buy a true American vehicle….
An interesting article on msn.auto provides some insight into the subject. [click to continue...]
by Jeff on October 8, 2007
Do you know anyone who leases a vehicle? Perhaps you lease a vehicle yourself… I have never done it, or felt the need to. For some reason I like the feeling of owning my car. Know one is going to snatch it back at some point! After all, I am paying quite a hefty sum each month toward ownership. If I am paying quite a hefty sum for something I have to give back then it is just like renting a car I suppose, accept for a looooong time.
According to edmunds.com - Leasing became popular in the 1990s because cars became too expensive to buy for many people. Leasing allows a person to drive a brand-new car and make lower monthly payments, thus making the “new-car experience” more accessible to more people. Finally, leasing can offer tax breaks for certain occupations. [click to continue...]
by Jeff on September 28, 2007
Back when I was an impulsive young adult (to put it nicely) I decided I was going to trade my 3 year-old S10 P/U for a newer model. With the word sucker written on my face I went to a dealership and with a small amount of pressure I was eating out of the salesman’s hand - signing and putting money down on a new truck that wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Fortunately, and I didn’t realize it at the time, it was a good thing that they didn’t have that truck in stock…. as the true story goes… [click to continue...]
