BayAreaCarGuy.com

Auto “Bill of Sale” Now Available Online

When selling a vehicle privately it’s best to have a Bill of Sale if your state DMV requires one or not. This is from my new book: HELP! I Gotta Sell My  Car NOW!:

A Bill of Sale makes the sales transaction explicit by identifying what is for sale, any conditions attached, and the price.

To make sure you get it right (a mistake here can be costly in more ways than one), it’s actually easier to download an attorney prepared Bill of Sale online. For a small fee, you can get a professional document that has been specifically designed for your state. Go to Find Legal Forms for an Auto Bill of Sale.

Find more tools for buying and selling vehicle on my website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com/tools.
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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Why I love Honda Certified Used Cars! Part I

I love selling certified Honda used cars!

Until recently I was the Internet Sales Manager for a major Honda dealership in the San Francisco/Bay area. I sold many, many certified Hondas to customers, friends, and friends of friends. These folks relied on my recommendations to find the right used vehicle for their needs, comfort, and budget. They trusted my judgment. And were so pleased with their experience that they sent their friends to me.

Selling a Certified Honda was a no brainer: there’s virtually no risk for my customers. Our mechanics not only put the vehicles through an extensive inspection – fixing any deficiencies they found – but Honda extended the warranty significantly.

NOW – I’m the Internet Sales Manager at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford. I continue to sell pre-owned Hondas and I continue to love the Honda Certified program. However, only an official Honda dealer can certified a Honda. “Too bad for me and my customers,” I thought.

BUT, to provide our customers with that “virtually no risk” experience when purchasing a Honda - Hilltop Ford has instituted a program that duplicates most of the Honda program AND provides better protection. We call this added level of protection our PremiumCare Extended Service package. 

What does this mean to you? It means that we DOUBLE the warranty!

 
Tommorrow - What is the powertrain warranty? And more about the added value you recieve with the PremiumCare package!

You can see the entire article here.

The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #6

Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:

• make the buying process easier
• ensure you get more than a good deal
• find a vehicle that will last you for years to come

I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.

Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.

Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.

Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.

Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.

It’s easy to find the best price on the vehicle you want by using the Internet. I use AutoTrader.com and Cars.com to discover which vehicles are available, and their price. I can narrow my search to any ZIP code in the country. LemonFree.com is also useful.

INSIDER INFORMATION – Decide which features and benefits have the most value for you, and then comparison shop. Price is just one factor to take into account.

For Example:

• If you have a long commute, a car with lower miles has greater value than one with higher miles.
• If you drive your children to and fro, a roomier minivan or SUV is important to you – but getting one with side curtain air bags may be life-saving and therefore worth more.

Here are other features and benefits that can affect you paying more – or less – for a vehicle:

• condition of the vehicle (and therefore lower or higher service costs in the future).
• added factory options or after-market accessories (but only if YOU value them).
• remaining original factory warranty, or the cost of an extended warranty.
• whether it is a Certified Pre-owned (CPO) vehicle (having its own extended warranty saves you the cost of buying one.

Price is important but it is not the only factor to take into account. Remember that each pre-owned vehicle is “one-of-a-kind.” It is your job to decide which combination of features – benefits – and price hold the most value for you.

See the next article in this series:

Mistake #7 – No buying from a reputable dealer.

The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #5

Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:

• make the buying process easier
• ensure you get more than a good deal
• find a vehicle that will last you for years to come

I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.

Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.

Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.

Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.

View my YouTube video, “How Can I Sell Used Cars to my Friends and They Won’t Hate Me Afterwards?” to see how my friends and I have remained friends after they purchased pre-owned vehicles from me. It’s a pretty simple formula – I first make sure that our cars are checked out mechanically, and then I try to make some form of warranty available so my friends are protected when problems occur. Here are some different scenarios:

• My mechanics have fully checked out every pre-owned vehicle before it is offered for sale, and every major component of every car has past muster. Then:

My friends buy a vehicle with remaining original factory warranty.

My friends buy a Ford Certified Pre-owned vehicle (CPO). These cars not only meet a higher standard, but Ford significantly extends the warranty at no extra charge.

My friends buy a Stead Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Package w/Warranty Wrap. This pre-owned vehicle meets a higher standard AND comes with an extended warranty. 

My friends buy an extended service contract to cover any future mechanical problems.

By following these steps I know that my friends won’t be mad after they purchase a pre-owned vehicle from me.

INSIDER INFORMATION - Cars, trucks, and SUVs have thousands of moving parts. It is unreasonable to believe that they won’t break down. No matter how well a vehicle is checked out by a mechanic, or looked after by it’s owner, problems will eventually arise. One of the reasons that I work where I do is the Ford Certified Used Car program – it is one of the best in the industry. I also work for the Stead Automotive Group, which demands that every pre-owned vehicle meets a higher standard, and we have the vehicle inspection and history reports to prove it.

Did you know that part of the requirements of the Ford Certified Used Car program and the Stead Automotive Group is to replace tires or brakes if 50-percent of their life isn’t remaining? Vehicles must also pass a minimum 150-point inspection by our mechanics.

Certified programs and extended warranties can get complicated – even confusing – especially when comparing one manufacturer’s program to another. Need help? I have a special CERTIFIED section on my website that will answer most of your questions. it also compares the many manufacturer’s CPO programs with the Stead Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Package w/Warranty Wrap. The Stead CPO package can often save you money while providing a more comprehensive warranty when compared to most manufacturer CPO programs. It’s a win-win situation for my customers. I’m also happy to answer any questions that you may have. Email them to james@BayAreaCarGuy.com

See the next article in the series:

Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.

The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #4

Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:

• make the buying process easier
• ensure you get more than a good deal
• find a vehicle that will last you for years to come

 I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.

Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.

Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.

If you are looking for a commuter car and are concerned about rising gas prices, don’t get sidetracked by a car you can’t afford to drive day-in and day-out. Pay attention to the gas mileage of each vehicle that makes it onto your short list – and compare.

INSIDER INFORMATION – Know the MPG rating for each car you are looking at.

I use www.fueleconomy.gov to get accurate gas mileage figures on any pre-owned vehicle. It’s a user-friendly, federal government website. However, beginning with 2008 the EPA rating changed the way it estimates MPG. It now takes into account:

• faster speeds and acceleration
• air conditioning use
• colder outdoor temperatures

This means that every 2008 model has a lower MPG. This website can give you the old rating – or convert to the new ones. Be sure that you compare the cars you are interested in “old rating to old rating,” or “new to new.”

Of course, the your actual mileage will vary based on traffic conditions, driving habits, and where you drive.

See the next article in this series:

Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.

The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #3

Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:

• make the buying process easier
• ensure you get more than a good deal
• find a vehicle that will last you for years to come

 I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.

Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.

Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.

Don’t take the seller’s word that the car you want to buy is in good condition. Lives have been changed – and not in a good way – by taking someones word for this (see Brenda’s story, Mistake #8).

The dealership I work with uses a 150-point checklist to guarantee that every major component of every vehicle is inspected before it is offered for sale. A detailed checklist and a competent mechanic guarantee that most deficiencies are fixed before the car is sold.

Why spend $15,000 on a vehicle and not know that it needs a $4500 transmission job, or $600 for brakes? How do you protect yourself from making these kind of mistakes?

INSIDER INFORMATION – A vehicle inspection report is a basic, inexpensive tool that every used car buyer should use.

If you are buying a car from a private party have your mechanic perform a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. Most mechanics are familiar with this process and will charge you $100 or less. They can quickly tell you about any problems and the cost to fix them. You’ll need to factor these results into your buying decision.

STORY- A seller is asking $9800 for their low mileage 2007 Chevy Aveo. Your mechanic says it needs a $550 brake job. Show the seller the report from your mechanic and demand $650 off the asking price. That will compensate you for both fixing the brakes AND the time and effort to take care of a problem that the seller should have already fixed.

Reputable automobile dealers will gladly show you their vehicle inspection report. You save the effort and cost of getting one from your own mechanic.

RED FLAG – If a dealer refuses to show their vehicle inspection report:

• they may not have inspected the vehicle themselves
• they may be trying to hide something

Be ready to RUN – DON’T WALK – to the exit.

See the next article in this series:

Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.

The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #1

Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year.  Yet, here are specific steps to:

• make the buying process easier
• ensure you get more than a good deal
• find a vehicle that will last you for years to come

I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.

As the Internet Pre-owned Sales Manager for Honda of El Cerrito in the San Francisco/Bay area, I have watched my customers make the same mistakes over and over. However, it only takes a little knowledge to turn a bad car buying experience into one in which;

• you feel more in control
• even your family and friends are impressed with the deal you made

I hope that by sharing my experience I can help turn your next car buying experience into a postive and profitable one for you.

MISTAKE #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.

As the Internet Pre-owned Sales Manager, I have worked with customers for weeks – even months – corresponding by email and talking on the telephone about price, color, specifications, and availability.

Steve W. spent months researching on the Internet before test driving the car he was hoping to buy. By the time I met him, Steve knew more about the engine, options, and specs of the car than I did. It was a big day when he finally came into the dealership to buy the car. However, when he sat in the driver’s seat for the first time, a sad look came over his face.

I don’t fit in this seat. The visability sucks. I can’t believe that I don’t even like this car. How did I make this kind of mistake?

A particular car may be:

• highly recommended by family and friends
• looks great on paper and has a good reputation
• gets great gas mileage and is priced right
• has all the options that you are looking for

However, none of this matters if you simply don’t like the car once you see it in person. Hands-on experience is crucial – please test drive early in the car buying process. As soon as your short list is reduced to just a few choices, test drive each one of them.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Which vehicle can I see myself driving for the next few years?
• More specifically: Will I still like this vehicle as I continue to make payments on it over the next few years?
• Which one is more comfortable?
• Does it have good visibility?
• Does it have all the options I want?
• Is the color okay?
• How is the gas mileage?
• Is it practical and affordable?

How does it drive on different terrains? Test drive it on:

• City streets
• Curvy roads, rough roads, roads under construction
• Major highways. How is the on-ramp speed?
• Try parallel parking

Open the trunk, the glove box, check the spare tire and tools, sit in the back seat, look under the hood, and kick the tires. After you do all that – well, see mistake #8 where it is crucial to follow your gut instinct.

Test drive early. It’s going to be your car for awhile, so don’t be afraid to go back and test drive a second time.

See the next article in this series:

Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.