In the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of brokering new car purchases for several of my clients.
By doing this, they have avoided the hassle of the barrage of information that salesmen dump on customers.
The process takes a few days, but in the end, we have two or three different dealerships bidding for our
business.

To facilitate the process, clients go through a checklist with me to clearly define the car they way to buy.
This covers make, model, solor, interior, engine, and any and all accessories they desire on the vehicle.
Once this choice is made, I find dealerships that have the EXACT vehicle, and begin the bidding process.

Most people are not aware the the internet starting price is usually the lowest you will find. The process
includes having them quote their best OTD (Out The Door) price. For example, an 08 Infiniti G35 with a
starting price of $24.800 will give you and OTD price of about $27.300, because of the taxes, document fees
and title charges. Once we have agreed, in writing, on a price, all that remains is for the client and I
to go to the dealership, sign the papers and drive home (about 45 min to an hour process).

This has been a challenging and fun experience for me, and generally the client can expect to save $2-3,000
over the price they would have negotiated. That is not to say that someone could not get this deal, but you
have to be patient and persistent with the salesMEN. You have to be able to say “no” if the deal is not
to your liking.

These recent purchases have included an 09 Honda Accord EX-L, an 09 Toyota Matrix S, and an 08 Infiniti G35
Journey. The best part of this process is the ease with which the client can conclude a sale. All of them
have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it is.

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According to http://www.cars.gov, the government has adopted a program to help get gas guzzlers off the roads.   As with any government program, there are many hurdles to jump in order to qualify for this program. The program will rolled out in about thirty day. as the NHTSA is now formulating the rules.   Below are the highlights:

The Car Allowance Rebate System is a new program from the government that will help you pay for a new, more fuel efficient car or truck from a participating dealer when you trade in a less fuel efficient car or truck.

Your trade-in vehicle must

* have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
* have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
* be in drivable condition
* be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in

Note that work trucks (i.e., very large pickup trucks and cargo vans) have different requirements.

The amount of the credit is $3,500 or $4,500, and generally depends on the type of vehicle you
purchase and the difference in fuel economy between the purchased vehicle and the trade-in vehicle.  Different requirements apply for work trucks.

The law requires your trade-in vehicle to be destroyed. Therefore, the value you negotiate with the dealer for your trade-in vehicle is not likely to exceed its scrap value. The law requires the dealer to disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in vehicle.

As you can see, there is a downside to this program,  as with most that the government institutes. You will only benefit if the salvage value of your vehicle plus the rebate combine to give you a good trade in value.   However, if your car is an older model (generally they were the gas guzzlers), you may find this is a way to part with it and and get enough money for a good down payment.

Do not be fooled.  This is not any additional money for you.   It is just a way to get you on your way to a newer, more fuel efficient vehicle.  The most obvious mistake people can make is to assume that this money will be over and above their car’s trade in value.  NOT!

Contact us if you need assistance in buying a car under this program, or if you just help in cutting through the hassle of purchasing a new vehicle.

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If you ask any car salesperson, they rely on the emotional attachment of the customer to the car they are looking to buy. This is mistake number one.
Although everyone has to love the car they buy, the buying process itself should be devoid of emotion. That way, if your terms are not met, you are comfortable walking away.
To begin the process, determine EXACTLY which car you want, and stick to your guns. Don’t buy something just because the sales department wants to get rid of it. Determine make, model, engine, transmission, trim package, and all options before you begin shopping. This is the only way you are going to get a good cost comparison. Any deviation from your criteria will make a difference in the price.
Recently, internet pricing seems to be the best way to get what you want, and you have it in writing with little or no double talk.
Compare several dealers, and always ask them for the “drive out price” This will include tax, doc fees (total profit for them), and title/tag. When you get this price, print it and take it with you when you go to test drive the vehicle.
Don’t get pulled in by extended warranties. The are extremely pricey and generally only cover catastrophic problems. Most manufacturers are offering generous warranties to begin with.  Finally, you should have a pretty good idea of what you will pay for a vehicle before you ever darken the door of a dealer.  Do your research, compare what listings are out there and KNOW that you will always pay less than advertised.  How much less will depend on how well you negotiate. Remember that whoever blinks first loses.

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♦Whether you are going on a long trip, or just tooling around home in the summer, your car will undergo stress that it has not seen in months. The higher temperatures are hard on a vehicle, and you have to be vigilant.

Focusing on your engine performance, make sure you have your mechanic check the system out before the summer temperatures hit their peak.

The radiator is key in this process, and you want to make sure it is functioning properly. You should flush your radiator every 2-3 years. Even though it is a closed system, wear and tear can build up and plug the radiator with rust. This will result in your engine running hot, and here come the problems. If you find that your car is running a little hot, have it checked. It can save mucho dinero.

Next are belts and hoses. This is crucial for the circulation of fluid to your cooling system. A crack in a hose or belt can signal trouble. Have them checked once a year and replace those that may need it. An ounce of prevention…

Knowing the normal running temperature for your car is a must. Take a look at your temp gauge when you are driving. In most cases, it should run in the middle range. The temperature gauge is an easy and cheap replacement, and will also save you money down the road.

Before you take off on a road trip (one of my favorite things in the world), go over your car completely. Go around the car and make sure ALL of your lights are working. That means brake lights, turn signals, headlights and flashers. Check all fluid levels in the engine, including transmission, radiator, power steering, brake, and windshield washer. Check your tire pressure (see owner’s manual for info), and make sure your spare is in good condition.

Even with all of these precautions, there is always the possibility of car trouble.
Make sure you are prepared. Keep water, flashlight, first aid kit, a jack that is operational, and some basic tools in your trunk. Pack as lightly as you can to avoid unnecessary load on your tires.

Last, but not least, try to follow the rules of the road. Keep your speed in check (and save gas), and above all, maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you.

Buckle up, chill out, and enjoy the ride!

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When you take your car in for service, you often get told that you need a transmission flush.  What does
this mean?  Generally, that means, the shop needs to upsell you on SOMETHING, and since most people
are unaware of how to check their own to verify this statement, they can get away with it.  Transmission fluid
is normally red or reddish orange, and when it begins to break down, turns brown/black.  It does this gradually
and should be checked every 10-15,000 miles for wear.  To do this, it is just like checking your oil.  Pull out
the transmission dipstick and clean it off; then insert it and check the fluid color from there.  You will know
when it begins to wear.  Don’t wait until it is black.  See http//autos.aol.com/auto-repair-blog/2009/03/06/my-transmission-fluid-is-brown-should-i-change-it/
for why this occurs.  You can save yourself a lot of money by staying aware of what is going on inside your
transmission.  If you aren’t checking, your lube shop will be able to do it for you and show the results when
you check your oil next.  The joke in the industry is to sell a transmission flush, a radiator flush, and a wallet
flush.  Keep your wallet healthy by ehcking this important item before someone tried to sell you a bill of goods

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Atlanta, like a lot of urban areas is full of bad drivers. You don’t want to be one of them. Most of the accidents and tickets are caused by not being aware of your surroundings and lack of common sense.

As a former body shop manager, I can tell you that highest numbers of accidents are caused by rear end collisions. The cause if obvious, but so is the cure. For some of us older folks, the rule when we learned to drive was one car length for each 10mph. It was a good suggestion, but difficult to implement. Now, the more prudent guideline is the 3 second rule. That means when the car in front of you passes a landmark (i.e., sign post),

you should arrive at that point in 3 seconds. A few years ago, I passed an accident on GA 400 where three cars had literally run up onto the rear deck of each other. Georgia law generally will find the person in the rear responsible, and you don’t want it to be you.

Another of the bad habits of drivers in Atlanta is the use of turn indicators. The term turn signal implies to these drivers that when they engage it, they have a right to go in whichever direction they have chosen. It is called a turn indicator because is to communicate to those around you what your intentions are, not what you are going to do no matter the traffic conditions. On the flip side, there are those who never utilize their turn indicators at all. When the indicators are used properly, traffic can flow smoothly.

Both of these habits bring up one of my biggest pet peeves. People who drive vehicles and have no idea that one or more of their lights are not working… A client of mine called me recently to say he had almost been rear-ended because his brake lights were out. His problem was more than a blown bulb, but that is usually the cause. Bulbs are easily replaced and are on vehicles for safety reasons, not decoration. So, take a friend and both of you go around your vehicles and check headlights (both high and low beams), turn indicators, brake lights, back-up lights, and hazard flashers. It will not only save you money, but may save your life.

For more driving tips, go to: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/. There are all sorts of hints there.

These are only two of the common errors drivers make, but right there on top of my list.

I will share more of these as time goes by. Just remember that “common sense is not very common”

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No one ever wants to be in this situation, but your vehicle is involved in an accident and in need of repair.  Everyone is OK, but the car needs help.  Where do you go to get help in this process?
After you call the police, do their report, and phone your insurance company, then the bewilderment and confusion sets in.  You need to know your rights and how the process works.
First of all, you do not need to get three estimates any longer.  The law in the State of Georgia is clear.  It is your vehicle and the choice of repairs is yours alone.  Insurance companies may try to “steer” you to a shop by telling you that they will not warranty the repairs unless you take it there.  The insurance company does not warranty the repairs, the shop does, and the reputable shops will tell you what their warranty is.  In most cases it is for as long as you own the car.  So, the important decision is finding a shop that you trust and getting your car there.
Some repairs obviously take longer than others, but a five-day job is the norm.  Since all you will see is the new paint when the car is returned, make sure you find a shop that is I-CAR certified and has all of the equipment necessary for your particular repair.
One thing that often confuses people is the fact that they see that a new bumper cover doesn’t match the car exactly.  Look at new cars on the lot; theirs do not match either.  The cause of this is the difference in painting plastic versus metal.  The difference should only be slight, but there will be some.
Be sure that you have rental coverage on your insurance policy.  It is one of the cheapest coverages you can buy, but without it you can rack up quite a bill sometime.  If the accident is the other party’s fault, they or their insurance company should provide you with a rental while your car is being repaired.
Make sure that your look your car over carefully when it is completed.  Mistakes happen, and most are not intentional.  Point them out to the staff member right away, but keep your options open.  After you get your vehicle home, you may find other issues.  Write them down, and call the collision center and find out when they can correct them.  A reputable shop will gladly take care of any problems you may find.
There is a lot more to a good experience in collision repair than just giving them your car and waiting for a call.  The staff should be communicating with you a couple of time while your vehicle is there to update you on the status.
But remember, “you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar”.  The people at the body shop that you talk to are the ones responsible for getting your car repaired correctly and in a timely manner.  You want to keep them on your side, and not make the process more difficult.
Although no one feels that their vehicle is ever the same after an accident and repair, most of them are.  The aftermath of emotions of driving a car that has been wrecked can be nerve wracking.  Try not to be “gun shy”, but do recognize if problems come up further down the road.
As a final note, Georgia is one of the only states that recognized “diminished value”.  The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the owner of any vehicle with less than 100,000 miles is entitled to be reimbursed after an accident just because the car has been wrecked and is now worth less.  It has nothing to do with how or where the car was repaired.  A rule of thumb in these situations is the reimbursement should be about 15% of the final repair bill.  If the responsible party (insurance company or individual) does not contact you, feel free to call them and ask for this money.  If your car is very new, the sum should be greater, but you may have to hire an independent appraiser to prove this.
If you have questions beyond what has been covered here, feel free to call Gail Dunn, 770-722-5211, or go to our website www.womensautomotiveconnection.com for more information and help.

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On April 18, 2009, the new Automotive Boot Camp will be launched at Parc Alpharetta, 1000 Fanfare Way, Alpharetta, GA.  It will begin at 2:00 in the afternoon and admission is $15, plus two cans of food for the North Fulton Charities.  The program will last 1-2 hours, including some garage time with three convertibles.  This program will be basic training in maintaining your vehicle.  You will be given information on how to avoid being ripped off, and ways to enhance the experience of getting your car serviced.   It is an interactive program with plenty of time to get your questions answered, and your concerns addressed.  Gail Dunn and Sherry Richardson will be available afterward to take you into the garage and go over vehicles, theirs and yours.  Put this on your calendar and join us.  Contact either Gail, 770-72-5211 (or e-mail via www.womensautomotiveconnection.com) or Sherry, 678-905-1718 (or email via www.alancoxautomotive.com.  We will have refreshments and a lot of fun.  Make your plans now!

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On Friday, March 6, Gail Dunn and Sherry Richardson were featured on CBS Atlanta 11pm news.  You can view this segment at: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18877225/?taf=lnta

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When I was in school, the internet wasn’t even a glimmer.  Now that I am an business owner in this age, I find that my learning curve is absolutely straight up.  Websites were great things to look at, but the idea of social networking to increase your business was a foreign language to me.  Russell Fair is one of the main reasons I have come as far as I have, and when he spoke to our Golden Referrals group yesterday, I was amazed that there is still so much to learn.  My blog www.womensautomotiveconnection.com/blog/ is one of Russell creations, and along with that he has educated me on Internet 2.0.  I have a long way to go, but would recommend you go to his blog,  http://rfwebstudio.com/blogs-rss/link-love-do-unto-others/, and find out what he can do.

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