Automotive Guruz

When it comes to shopping around for vehicles, a lot of people do an immense amount of research before finally deciding on which car they want. Once they make that decision, they then need to go begin the exhaustive procedure of searching around to get the best deal on that specific model of their choice.  After contacting local dealerships and searching through Autotraders and classifieds they may be able to find the perfect deal on the car of their choice.

When it comes to the first step and finding out which cars are actually the best bang for your money, consider that the US News officially announced the following cars and their respective awards:

• Toyota Camry was named the best midsize car for the money
• Honda Fit won the honor of being the best subcompact car for the money
• Mazda M5 won the award of being the best compact crossover for the money
• Hyundai Elantra received the award for being the best overall compact car for the money
• Toyota Highlander got the best midsize crossover for the money
• Lexus RX won the best luxury crossover for the money
• Chevrolet Tahoe won the best full size SUV for the money
• Mazda Miata took home the award for the best sports car for the money
• Lexus GS won the dubious honor of being the best luxury car for the money
• Toyota Tacoma won the best compact truck for the money
• Chevy Silverado received the award for being the best full size truck for the money
• Toyota Sienna won the best minivan for the money
• Toyota Avalon won the best large car for the money
• Lexus ES won the best upscale car for the money

A big congrulations to all the winners! Very interesting that Toyota won 5 of the awards, quite a feat! And when you consider that Lexus took hom another 3 awards, (Lexus and Toyota are the same company just different divisions) they won over half the automotive awards that were handed out in 2009 by the US NEWS Rankings & Reviews.

When looking for your next car, try and remember the aforementioned cars so that you can really get the most for your money when buying automobiles.

With the rise of the internet, an increasing amount of car dealerships across North America are realizing the importance of increasing their online presence and awareness in the search engines. As a result, more and more dealerships are really investing into their websites in order to be the resource for people looking to buy both new and used cars.

Traditionally, people used to search through Autotraders and the classified sections of the local newspaper. But the internet and the rise of Google and the other search engines has changed the automotive industry permanently. People now want to search for used cars and car deals online before they even bother going into a dealership, they can find so much information online that they may never even need to step foot into a dealership other then to come and pick up their car.

A great example of a dealership that shifted it’s strategy to tackle the online market is DriveTime.  They are differentiating themselves as well by branding themselves as the “Go to Guys for Cars and Credit” so kind of like the one-stop shop for people with not the greatest credit to search for cars in the United States. The really cool part is that they have over 70 Drive Time locations in over 10 states, so there is a seriously wide selection and availability of cars to choose from. Considering a few years ago you would just browse through an Autotrader or two and visit a couple of dealerships and maybe used car shops, these new dealer websites offer a massive increase in the amount of cars you can browse through.

All these changes really benefit the consumer, as they can quickly search for the best deals for the specific car model of their choice. Alternatively, if they aren’t sure what kind of model or car they want, there is a myriad of search options on the car dealer’s websites so you can search my car brand, the year of production, by budget range and more. The options are really advanced and provide great value to the consumer.

As the trend in marketing continues to shift away from paper products, tv and radio towards online marketing, the automotive industry will continue to offer great searchability functions for consumers as they continue to expand their website services in an effort to boost their online presence and awareness.

One of the most critical things to know if you are planning to get rid of your old car is to find the best value that you can get for it. If you know the used car trade in value for your car, then irrespective of whether or not you really trade it today, you shall be able to distinguish between acceptable prices beneficial for you from impractical pricing that is going to get you a naught. It would also give you a better picture of the retail value of the car.

How do you find the trade in value for your car? You need to consider the following factors.

The statistics and the make of the car would play a critical role. Note down the year of manufacture, make, model, mileage and equipment fittings that you have. If there are optional equipments that you did not fit in your car, it is worth noting those down as a separate item. Add the basic features that you car is equipped with to your notes.

Understand the difference between the trade in value and the retail value of a car. The trade in value is what you can exchange your car with another car that you may want to own. The dealer will offer you the trade in value for your car against another car that the dealer is ready to sell. The retail value of the car is what someone can sell the car for. The car will be sold against as much money as its retail value either by you or by the car dealer.

Use the Internet – it is an unmatched resource for information if you use it properly. There are a number of quality websites that will let you calculate the exact value of your car. Kelly Blue Book is one great online tool that would let you find the price of your car. You need to enter some basic data points about your car, and the tool will give you an estimated value of the car with a optimistic guess of the car’s current condition. Please be warned that this price being optimistic, your dealer would almost always quote a lesser value.

Understand that while you mention the condition of your car in your online tools, it would almost be unrealistic to call it excellent unless you are confident that the dealer can put it up for sale without touching it for any kind of fixing. Usually you would mention that your car is in a good or a poor condition.

Now that you know the value of your used car, you can decide whether you want to get rid of it or keep it for some more time to come.

With the current economic instability in the financial markets, many people are now looking for ways to trim their budgets. One way consumers are cutting costs is purchasing used cars. One company that has seen an increase in used car sales is Honda.

The Honda Accord and Honda Civic are one of the most popular used car choices. The 2005 models were a specifically popular choice.

Other popular used Honda models along with an example model year include:

Honda Accord Coupe
1997 – 2008
2008:  MSRP$21,860 – $30,510, Fuel Economy 17 – 31 mpg

Honda Civic Hybrid
2003 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$22,600 – $24,350 Fuel Economy 40 – 45 mpg

Honda Civic Sedan
1997 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$15,010 – $22,460 Fuel Economy 25 – 36 mpg

Honda Civic Si Sedan
2007 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$21,310 – $23,260 Fuel Economy 21 – 29 mpg

Honda Insight
2000 – 2010
2006: MSRP$19,330 – $21,530 Fuel Economy 40 – 43 mpg

Honda Civic Coupe
1997 – 2008
2008: MSRP$14,810 – $22, 460, Fuel Economy 25 – 36 mpg

Honda Civic Si
2002 – 2006
2006: MSRP$20,290 – $22,240, Fuel Economy 22 – 31 mpg

Honda Civic Si Coupe
2007 – 2009
2008: MSRP$21,110 – $23,060, Fuel Economy 21 – 29 mpg

Honda Ridgeline
2006 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$28,000 – $35,090 Fuel Economy 15 – 20 mpg

Honda Odyssey
1997 – 2008
2008:  MSRP$25,860 – $40,610 Fuel Economy 16 – 25 mpg

Honda Accord Wagon
1997: MSRP$19,090 – $22,530 Fuel Economy 23 – 29 mpg

Honda Prelude
1997 – 2001
2001: MSRP$23,600 – $26,100, Fuel Economy 22 – 27mpg

Honda Del Sol
1997: MSRP$15,080 – $19,600, Fuel Economy 26 – 39 mpg

Honda Civic Hatchback
1997 – 2000
2000:  MSRP$10,750 – $12,200, Fuel Economy 32 – 37 mpg

Honda Fit
2007 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$13,950 – $16,070, Fuel Economy 27 – 35 mpg

Honda CR-V
1997 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$20,700 – $28,400 Fuel Economy 20 – 27 mpg

Honda Element
2003 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$18,980 – $23,575 Fuel Economy 18 – 25 mpg

Honda Passport
1997 – 2002
2002:  MSRP$23,300 – $30,900 Fuel Economy 16 – 21 mpg

Honda Pilot
2003 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$27,595 – $35,645 Fuel Economy 16 – 23 mpg

Honda Accord Hybrid
2005 – 2007
2007:  MSRP$31,090 – $33,090 Fuel Economy 28 – 35 mpg

Honda Accord Sedan
1997 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$20,360 – $30,260 Fuel Economy 19 – 31 mpg

Honda Civic GX
2008 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$24,590 Fuel Economy 24 – 36 mpg

Honda Civic GX NGV
2005 – 2007
2007:  MSRP$24,590 Fuel Economy 28 – 39 mpg

Honda S2000
2000 – 2009
2008:  MSRP$34,300 – $37,300 Fuel Economy 18 – 25 mpg

Dow Jones recently reported “that used car prices fell 8 percent in 2008.” This may be a great time to get yourself a quality used Honda. Make sure that you check the Kelley Blue Book to get an estimate of the price range for used Hondas. They can usually range anywhere from $11,000 to $15,000 depending on the age, condition, and detailing.

Deciding on buying a used car can seem like a huge decision. Buying a used vehicle often offers the best dollar value to the consumer, but with it can come many issues and problems. Many people feel that by purchasing a used car they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of sitting in the local garage and having a depleted bank account. All this can be true, but with a bit of research and careful consideration mixed with common sense, a good used car can be the perfect answer to all your vehicle needs. You just need to take time and balance the pros and cons of each vehicle you are considering.

A used vehicle offers a long list of advantages over trying to obtain a new one. Costs of expenses like insurance, taxes, better vehicle options, as well as the obvious lower price, are all bonuses on the side of the consumer. Also, compared to new vehicles, it is easy to research the history of the vehicle and learn about any mechanical issues it may have as opposed to a new vehicle, especially if it is the first year for the model.

Insuring a used vehicle is considerably lower than insuring a new model. Costs can be as different as $50 to $500 or more annually depending on the make, model, year and previous driving record of the person insuring the vehicle. Another reason for the lower insurance costs is that an older vehicle does not always need to be covered for all possible insurance options, such as collision. A brand new vehicle will need more coverage for protection from accidents.

Used cars may not be under any type of service warranty so you will need to be prepared for out of pocket costs for repairs. Everything from tires to transmissions will be possible issues, so research your potential vehicle before purchasing. Some makes and models are prone to certain common repair needs so avoiding those vehicles will be easy if you check them out first.

Many vehicles that are previously owned are much more reliable than they had been years ago. Vehicles manufactured since the late1980’s have reported less repairs and problems occurring to the exhaust systems and body deterioration. Many of today’s used vehicles will last well past 100,000 miles and some as high as 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and care. How the vehicle fairs will depend on how well the previous owner treated and cared for the car.

Unfortunately, an older used vehicle may not have the safety requirements you would like or need to have, so make sure that this is something you take into consideration. Airbags, child safe seat restraints, and traction control are likely to be lacking, but a garage will be able to install a child protective system, and if you shop around, the other features may be found.

There are a few issues to consider when buying a used vehicle but as long as you are alert and practical your purchase should prove to be well worth the efforts made. Always take the car you are considering to a respected and trustworthy independent mechanic for a through inspection. This move on its own could not only make or break the deal, but could save you thousands of dollars in repairs.