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Posts Tagged ‘Pontiac’

7 Car Buying Tips For The New Year

January 4th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 8 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

The Volt will show up in Chevrolet showrooms by the end of this year, but maybe the Cruze will offer what you want in a new car.

2010 is here and it will be a dandy. At least that is what most of us hope for a year which also begins a new decade: the tens. The auto industry was torn asunder in 2009, with Chrysler and General Motors both filing for bankruptcy and guided through same, while mostly every other car manufacturer recorded double digit losses for the year.

Consumers are buying, but in much lower numbers than when the last decade began when 17 million units were sold. This year, Edmunds.com has projected sales to increase above 11.5 million units with some analysts forecasting an even higher increase. No matter, car manufacturers want your business which means that the deals are still good, quality is constantly improving, and your options are bright.

Let’s take a look at 7 car buying tips for consumers this year:

1. Discounting Continues – You won’t see the discounts of early Spring 2009 when dealers were dropping new car prices by $5-10K on select slow selling models. But you will still be able to find discounts on most models or receive cut rate financing. As always, try to come up with the best financing deal elsewhere and take the manufacturer’s rebate if you are given that choice.

2. Orphans Aplenty – Pontiac and Saturn are being pushed into the history books, but many 2009 models remain unsold. Dealers are snapping these cars up and are reselling them to consumers for ultra low prices. But be forewarned: their resale values will stink and these discounts may not match what these cars are really worth. Still, if you plan on buying an orphan and keeping it until it dies, then this could be a good opportunity for you. Parts and service or warranty shouldn’t be a problem either.

3. Leftover Models – 2009 cars still on dealer lots should fetch a good deal, but you will find the best deal for cars which have made a generational shift. For example, the 2009 Ford Taurus is completely different from the 2010 Taurus, which means that if a dealer still has an ‘09 languishing on its lot, then make an offer that cannot be refused. The Buick LaCrosse, Subaru Legacy, and Mercedes E Class are among the models which are all new for 2010. Ask yourself this: can you live with an aged 2009 design?

4. Chrysler Controversy – While GM appears on the mend, Chrysler may be a different matter. The automaker is ailing, with quality issues, and not offering much of substance beyond its Dodge Ram line. You can probably get a great buy on any Chrysler PT Cruiser and save money on the Dodge Avenger, but these cars are substantially below par. Call it Chrysler bashing if you want, but today’s new car buyers have to look at how things will be 4-5 years out, particularly a vehicle’s resale value.

5. Check Credit – If you are planning to finance your purchase either through a car loan or lease, your credit rating will make a big difference as to whether you will be approved for a loan and at what interest rate. Obtain free copies of your three credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and pay the small fee to get your credit score. Review your reports and correct errors as these mistakes can lower your credit score.

6. Wait/See – If you can wait until this summer, a number of electric cars will begin to show up on the market. They’ll be pricey, but they’ll also carry significant government rebates with them, green cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. Then again, maybe paying $40K before rebate is a bit hard to swallow, which means that the Chevy Cruze and Ford Fiesta may be a satisfactory and affordable compromise for you.

7. Sell It – If you plan on trading in your car, do so only after you negotiate the best deal for your new ride first. Still, you will not get top dollar for your trade, which means that you should visit Kelley Blue Book to get a fair market price for your car, selling it on your own. Consider donating your car to a car charity as these organizations, which do much good, were hammered by last year’s CARS—Cash For Clunkers—program.

There is nothing better than the look, feel, and smell of a new ride. So do your research first and operate from a position of strength. Buy only what you can afford and consider holding off your next new car purchase until you find the right deal for you.

Adv. – If you’re planning to buy a new car, then you’ll want to get price quotes or find a dealer to arrange for a test drive. You may also want to arrange for your own auto financing which can save you hundreds of dollars on your next car loan.

Photo Credit: GM Corp.


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Fire Sale Prices For Pontiac, Saturn Models

December 31st, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

Potential Savings of $7000 Per Vehicle

Save big bucks on an orphaned Saturn Aura.

If you have been holding back on buying a new car in search of a better deal, you are not likely to find one better than what your Saturn and Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealers have to offer. Right now, General Motors is offering dealers $7000 for every Pontiac and Saturn car on their lots, if these cars are moved to service or rental vehicle fleets. Those vehicles would then be made available to consumers, supposedly at a heavy discount.

Gently Used Cars

Technically, if you were to purchase one of these cars, you would be buying a used model. That is because the dealer becomes the owner of the car before you do. Still, most of these vehicles are likely to have new car mileage, which means that there may be just a few miles on the odometer when made available for sale. Importantly, buyers will have the balance of the GM warranty applied to their barely used new cars, another reason why Saturn and Pontiac cars are likely to sell fast over the days ahead.

GM is taking this approach for two reasons: both the Saturn and Pontiac brands are being retired and the company wants to finish December on a high note. The December selling period ends with the close of business on January 4, therefore there is still time for dealers to snap up inventory. At any point, dealers will turn around and sell these cars, perhaps as discounts of up to $7000 per car.

Your Orphaned Car

One important fact consumers should keep in mind when purchasing a Pontiac or Saturn is that you’ll be owning an orphan car. An orphan car is a vehicle whose parent (make) has been discontinued, which means that the resale value of your vehicle may be poor.

Fortunately, other GM divisions can service these cars and the automaker will be providing parts for many years to come. Buy an orphan vehicle especially if you plan to keep it for many years, rendering its resale value of no consequence for you.

General Motors is also closing on a deal to sell its Hummer brand to a Chinese company and it may keep its Saab unit alive long enough for a new buyer to snap up its Swedish brand. In any case, when the smoke clears North American GM buyers will see that only four brands remain: Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC.

Adv. – If you’re planning to buy a new car, then you’ll want to get price quotes or find a dealer to arrange for a test drive. You may also want to arrange for your own auto financing which can save you hundreds of dollars on your next car loan.

Photo Credit: GM Corp.


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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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