Tis the season.......

A reader asked if there is a better time of year to buy a vehicle?

Let's just say that car guys can kind of be like women when it comes to selling cars, very emotional. The good old internet will tell you that the best time to buy a new car is late summer just before the new model years are realeased. There's some truth to that. The manufactures usually put bigger incentives on them (although we've never seen bigger incentives than right now) and the dealerships are usually willing to give bigger discounts to clear out the last year models. The problem is that they are just that, last year's models. Used car facilities such as Hertz have been selling that same model year for 10 months or so even cheaper than the heavily incentivised prices.

Really what you need to look for are trends in the economy, especially retail trends. Because of the economy, right now is as good of time to buy a vehicle as I've ever seen. Dealerships must turn over their inventory very quickly in order to be profitable. In tough economic times, a good dealer will make nothing on a car just to get it off the lot and replace it with a new vehicle that he hopefully can make some money on.

Depending on the type of vehicle, the seasons change the values of cars. For example, in the late fall and all of winter, 4x4 vehicles typically sell for more in locations that get snow. In the spring and summer, you will see prices of convertibles and sports cars increase.

The last thing to watch is fuel prices. Four months ago if you wanted to buy a Toyota Prius Hybrid, you would have paid anywhere from $6,000-8,000 more than what they are selling for today. If fuel prices go back up, so will the price for a Prius. Also when gas prices were very high, SUV's and truck prices fell through the floor.

So yes, there can be better times of the year to buy certain types of vehicles, but there is no standard format. It is always changing with the economy, fuel prices, and demand. There are alway fair deals to be made no matter what time of year, you just need to work with the right people!

Hope this helps!

Should I by from a dealership......or private party?

Both options have their pros and cons... but one should be better for you depending on your personality. Let me pose a question.....When you are going to buy new electronics, let's say a flat screen TV or a new IPOD, do you search online and buy from the lowest priced seller you can find regardless of who it is, or do you find a fair deal from a reputable store like Costco, Walmart, Best Buy, etc? It is the same when buying a car. Sometimes you can find a vehicle for a little bit cheaper when buying from a private party (They have no commissions to pay, rent, flooring cost, etc). But most likely when someone is selling a car on there own it usually means they went to a dealership and weren't happy with the trade-in allowance they received, so they are selling it on there own to try and get more money. (Usually not much less than the dealer would have asked for it) A lot of times though, you can find some very nice vehicles that have been very well maintained, especially if they are "one owner" vehicles. The biggest thing to be aware of when buying from a private party is to make sure there is no lien on the vehicle(current loan). Make sure they have the title, or you meet them at the bank who holds the lien to pay for the vehicle. There are scam artist that will sell vehicles, take your money, and tell you they will send you the title right away. Before you know it they are gone with your money and you never see the title to your car.

In most cases I would recommend buying from a reputable dealership. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors which dealerships they have had good experiences with. When that IPOD freezes up after one week of usage, it sure feels good knowing you can take it back to Costco and get a new one without any hassle. You probably won't get a new car, but a reputable dealer will stand behind his product and usually help take care of problems for at least 30 days after purchase. Also a good dealership can save you money down the road with maintenance costs, parts, tires, etc. Dealerships can also offer rate specials if you are financing the vehicle that you wouldn't be able to get on your own, along with some great insurance products to protect you and your family and give you peace of mind.

Finally, if you choose the right dealership, they will make the experience so much better. Instead of driving all over the place to look at private party cars, you can drive various makes and models in different colors and equipment packages all in one stop. After all... buying a car should be fun. Most of the time it's only hard when we make it that way!

First Impressions! If you need a job, don't look like it!

Today someone showed up at my office looking for a job. Bright red hoodie sweatshirt, cream colored jeans, red shoes, and hadn't seen a razor in a few days. My first impression was that he wanted to wash cars(unfortunately this is still my impression). I was wrong, he explained he wanted a sales job and went on to tell me about all his experience in management and closing deals. He did offer up a resume which was nicely typed, not scratched out on a piece of lined paper thank goodness. The resume quickly proved that he has bounced around from job to job for many years now and confirmed to me my first impression.

Look, the man may be an ok salesperson, I don't really know. But the point of this post is that first impressions mean a lot and just because your desperate for a job, which so many people are these days, don't act like it. Dress professionally, shave, be respectful with people's time, and you will have a much better chance of landing a new opportunity!

What can the CAR GEEK do for you?

What can the Car Geek do for you? In life, we rely on many professional to give us advice about things. We consult with our accountant about our taxes, our financial adviser about investing, our banker about loans, our real estate agent about purchasing a home, and many other trusted professionals to help us along life’s path. Why not have a trusted Geek to give us advice about buying a new vehicle? In most cases, our vehicles are our second largest purchases we make in our lives besides a house. The Car Geek is passionate about the automobile industry and helping consumers have a fun and positive experience. I want to help you have a pleasant and stress free experience when purchasing a vehicle. Also, I want to share my knowledge with you so that you can be more confident about your decision. I have no hidden agendas. I will answer any question that I can with honesty and integrity.

What services does the Car Geek offer? My main purpose is just to give free advice and consulting to anyone who is looking to purchase or sell a vehicle. I will do my best to inform you on market conditions, fair profit, trade values, fuel economy, recommended makes and models, advertising methods, tricks of the trade, or any other questions you might have. I will also write regular posts fro my day-to-day experiences in the car business that might be helpful knowledge to the general public. If you feel like you need additional help from the Car Geek, the following services are also available:

1) Purchasing Agent: The Car Geek will help you locate, negotiate, and purchase your new vehicle. All you have to do is take the test drive and sign on the line. *A fee is required up front for this service.
2) Selling Agent: The Car Geek will help you market, advertise, and sell your vehicle to maximize your profit. *There will be a small upfront fee for this plus a commission at the time of sale.
3) If you so desire, the Car Geek has access to hundreds of vehicle and will sell you one direct. I promise to make it the most pleasant and stress free automobile purchase ever!

Please feel free to ask me any questions or for any advice that I may be able to offer. Like I said before, my main goal with this site is just to share knowledge and experience from my life in the crazy car business.

Let’s be honest, car salesman don’t have the most stellar reputations. A lot of that they brought on themselves and a little was created by the consumers. Buying and selling a car should be fun and enjoyable. That is why the Car Geek was created. I hope to hear from many, and if nothing else, you might get a good laugh from some of my day-to-day experiences. Thanks for reading the Car Geek’s blog and spread the word to your family and friends!