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Posts Tagged ‘Chevrolet’

Will Ford and Chevy Squeeze Toyota?

December 15th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Autos Express
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Now that everyone realizes that Toyota is peopled by mere mortals, the top selling car brand in the United States may soon be relinquishing that position.

Through 2006, Ford dominated the US market by finishing first 19 out of 20 years, but was pushed out by Chevrolet and Toyota who finished 1-2 in 2007. In 2008, Toyota and Chevrolet switched positions, but for 2009 Ford is expected to finish ahead of Chevrolet and close the gap with Toyota.

Will Toyota Slide?

When 2010 is said and done, both Ford and Chevrolet could zoom past Toyota although the prospects for Ford moving ahead appear to be much brighter than Chevy. Still, with the all new compact Cruze set to hit showrooms next summer, Chevrolet will have a strong model to go up against the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic and will beat the all new Ford Focus to the market. Ford’s Fiesta will give it an important boost in the subcompact market, targeting the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit in the process.

America’s auto industry has been in retreat for decades with Chrysler falling the furthest behind. Quality issues, an unbalanced product mix, and buyer preference for better priced/valued foreign makes have furthered that decline.

But the fortunes of each automaker have turned over the past 12-18 months. Bad publicity has followed Toyota in spades this year due to several high profile product recalls and consumer investigations of various Lexus and Toyota models. Those events followed an important decision made by Consumer Reports in 2007 to stop automatically recommending Toyotas after finding that reliability had slipped.

GM Resurgence

On the surface, GM appears to be floundering having dumped two CEOs within the same year, with a $60 billion federal structured bankruptcy reordering between these two events. Saturn and Pontiac are being closed down, a deal finalizing the sale of Hummer is just weeks away, and Saab may be sold off I pieces. The Opel debacle may prove to be a bold about face as GM’s board asserts its authority and declares the brand essential to its ongoing global product development and market position.

And then there is the Chevy Cruze, likely to become the single most important car sold by GM ever. Yes, you heard it from me: across its many brands including GM Daewoo, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden and Chevrolet the Cruze and its related models will easily account for the top model in the GM fleet no matter whether it is called the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere, Opel Astra, Holden Cruze, or some other name. This is GM’s first true global car, a model that will be sold wherever GM models are sold in the world. Importantly, the quality, engineering, technology, and price will be a huge factor, something already apparent as the car is introduced market by market.

Ford Emergence

Ford has proven that its cars meet the same quality levels enjoyed by Toyota and Honda, something that isn’t be lost on consumers as they shop for a new car. The Fusion is siphoning sales in the midsize segment, while the Fiesta and later the all new Focus will give the automaker a stronger presence at the lower end of the market.

Hocking the company’s assets before the recession began in late 2007 has made Alan Mulally a hero in for Ford. The decision to bring up to six European models to the US market also refocused the automaker, expanding Ford’s strength globally.

Approaching Hoofbeats

Though 2010 may do much to propel Ford and Chevrolet, from 2011 and beyond we may see Volkswagen and Hyundai move up the ranks too, perhaps surpassing Chrysler followed by Nissan a few years later.

Few customers really care about who is first, second, third, etc., but there is one reason to be glad that the automakers are duking things out: everyone is working harder to bring better built, higher valued, and more technologically advanced cars to the market. While prices will continue to go up, stiff competition will ensure for many years that the cream of the crop are the vehicles most likely to give buyers years of driving satisfaction.

See Also: Toyota’s No. 1 — but Ford’s on the muscle

Adv. – If you’re planning to buy a new car, a thorough study of the IIHS results can ensure that the vehicle you buy is a safe one. As you do your research you’ll want to get a quote or find a dealer to set up a test drive. Importantly, arranging your own auto financing can save you hundreds of dollars, allowing you to take the manufacturer’s rebate instead of their low-rate financing.

Photo Source: Ford Motor Company


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Buying A Car? Save Money With Employee Pricing!

August 20th, 2008 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Consumer Financing, Consumer Tips

General Motors is offering employee pricing on most models including the popular Chevrolet Malibu. Other automakers are also offering incentives, making now an excellent time to consider buying a new car.

General Motors is currently offering employee pricing on most models including the popular Chevrolet Malibu. Other automakers are also offering incentives, making now an excellent time to consider buying a new car.

My neighbor, Lester, is a good representation of so many of the people living in my area. He retired early, has a generous pension, is collecting social security, and he keeps track of his investments. Lester is also very thrifty, driving a nine-year old Chevy Impala that has less than 75,000 miles on the odometer.

Lester plans on buying one more car in his lifetime, figuring it’ll last him long enough before he and his wife will head off for a retirement home. That car purchase wasn’t going to take place until next year, but with so many new car incentives available this year, he plans on seeking the best discounts as soon as they become available.

It looks as if Lester’s wait is now over.

General Motors, for one, is now offering their biggest discounts of the year, allowing buyers to take advantage of the company’s employee pricing program. When an automaker rolls out this type of plan, they are showing that they mean serious business; car prices are slashed below the sticker price, and are offered at the deepest discounts possible.

Although the GM offer is the only one of its kind in place right now, other automakers are expected to follow suit between now and the end of the year. Sales for most car companies are way off and bloated inventories must be cleared. One way to do that is to offer slash prices to the bone. However, even with employee pricing, additional savings can be realized IF you think smart.

Employee Pricing? You Can Realize Additional Savings!

If you are planning to take advantage of GM’s employee pricing or some other automaker’s program, you’ll want to know that additional savings are also available. These include:

College Grad or Military Discounts — Recent college grads and active military members are often offered an additional discount by automakers. Ranging in price from $300 to $500, they are the kinds of deals that consumers often overlook and dealers don’t always mention. Before heading off to your local showroom, get on that brand’s website to learn about additional incentives.

Cash Discount — If you are in a position to offer an all cash transaction, you might also be able to shave a few hundred extra off of the price of the car. This offer varies from dealer to dealer, but remember this: the automaker often slips the dealer rebate money for selling cars — why not get a portion of that money for yourself as well? Lester plans on doing just that — too bad he isn’t a recent college grad or he’d be after that discount too!

Get More For Your Trade In — Lester is giving his old Impala to his daughter, but you may be looking to trade in your car when you buy your new wheels. Be careful — car dealers will often try to mix both deals together, i.e. the buying of a new car with the trading in of your old one. Better to work out the best price on your new car first and then see what the dealer will pay for your old car. Visit Kelley Blue Book at www.kbb.com to find out what your car is worth. Cars with larger engines as well as trucks and SUVs are depreciating much faster these days; you have high gas prices to blame for that.

I’m not in Lester’s position financially nor am I planning to buy a new car right now. Regardless of what your financial condition is, before you spring for a new car, you’ll want to use an automotive calculator to learn what you can afford and what your monthly payments will be. Visit the Saylending.com to find a lending guide to help you with the car buying process.

(Photo Credit: GM Corp.)


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