BayAreaCarGuy.com

Getting Your Car Ready for Sale

Major auto dealers sell millions of dollars of used cars every month. They make their vehicles as clean, tidy, polished, and attractive as possible. Some call it “curb appeal.” It works!

Whether you are selling a luxury sedan or an old clunker: a clean and spiffed-up vehicle will sell quicker and for more money than one with halitosis – unwashed, grimy, and strewn with unwanted papers and moldy fast food containers. You want to seduce your potential buyer, not turn them off with a bad first impression. It’s worth the time and effort to do it right.

Be appropriate for the value and condition of your vehicle. For example, a quick wash and vacuum is probably all that is needed for a $1200 Ford Taurus. However, if you are selling an $8,000 Toyota Camry, you probably want to invest in a wax job and deeper cleaning from grille to trunk. For a Lexus or Escalade, even more tasteful care is needed.

No matter what you want to sell, do what is appropriate for your vehicle. Fronting the cash to have it detailed by a professional may pay for itself ? and even put money in your pocket. Basic services run from $15 to $50, and $100 to $300 for a full-service, professional detail job that will leave it sparkling inside and out. Don’t be shy with a professional detailer: request a price quote. Then call around for the best deal – with them, you are a buyer.

HELP! NOW!

Why go to all the work of taking photos of your car, writing a great ad, and posting it on sites like Craigslist, Kijiji, AutoTrader or Cars.com if it looks dingy when a buyer comes to look at it.

If you have other questions about:

• how to be safe on the test drive
• what form of payment is recommended (hint: don’t take personal checks)
• how to price your vehicle so you don’t leave money on the table
• how to complete the paperwork

See my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!

HELP! NOW! walk you through the NEW RULES for selling your vehicle online.

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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 Americans Hate Buying Cars – Part II

The Dilemma

Consumers are in a bind when it comes to buying their vehicles: The majority of Americans love the cars that they drive but they hate the process of buying them. It is this specific issue that moved me to begin this weblog because I prove every day that buying a car, truck, or SUV does not have to be a painful experience.

The consumers I work will tell you that their car buying experience was “informative,” “constructive,” and at the very least they will report that the experience was not as “stressful” as they thought it would be. In fact, a few customers have actually described their car buying experience with me as “fun.”

Don’t get me wrong: It is not always bliss, and not everyone leaves having successfully negotiated a vehicle purchase. However, buying your next vehicle does not have to be so stressful that it ranks as one of the worst experiences that you will go through this year.

There Is Another Way To Do Business

Earlier in my life I was a business owner and operated three businesses simultaneously: A regional modular home sales & service center, along with two property management companies. A significant part of my job was learning how to provide topnotch customer service in a variety of business environments. This process had its own learning curve, but in time I was able to make real contact with my customers, and to work with them to resolve issues in an intelligent, transparent, and fair manner.

After moving back to the San Francisco/Bay area a few years ago, I chose to enter automotive sales and worked with both Honda and Ford dealerships. In both cases I was an Internet Sales Manager who specialized in developing online marketing of pre-owned and Certified pre-owned vehicles, as well as selling and leasing new vehicles. 

Skill are transferable, and it was in the auto industry that I was able to transfer the professional customer service experience that I developed in other industries. This, at a time when the auto industry is enduring major—and, at times—turbulent change.

It seems that life is not always easy for either customers or car dealers in this age of evolving automotive markets. The severe economic downturn, combined with more limited lending practices,  is drastically impacting society in general, and the automotive industry in particular. More on these issues in another article. 

For now, suffice it to say that life goes on and here in the Bay area this means that we need good, reliable transportation that we can afford to buy, that we can afford to maintain, and that we can afford to put gas in. We also need vehicles that are comfortable enough—and safe enough—to spend the long hours that we invest each week in our commute. This is often done in less than ideal driving conditions. 

The bottom-line is that our jobs, our livelihood, our safety, and, at times, our very sanity rests on good, reliable transportation that we can afford to buy and maintain. Our ongoing dilemma is figuring out how to buy the cars that we love in such a way that lessens the stress in our life rather than adding to it. The good news is that there are practical options available to you that will move you towards this end. 

Tomorrow: Real solutions for Americans who hate the process of buying their cars.

Best Cars For Under $10,000!

Cars.com recently published an article entitled, “The Best Cars for $10,000.” I was surprised to see that Ford models made up exactly half of their list.

Cars.com has put together some extremely useful consumer oriented articles. In this one, they list their choice of mostly pre-owned vehicles that you should be able to buy for less than $10,000. They also provide the reasons why each vehicle made the list. 

Here is a brief summary in the order the article listed them:

1. 2009 Nissan Versa — Safe, good gas mileage, roomy for a sub-compact, and best of all – price.
2. 2005 Ford Escape — Reliable, good gas mileage, safe (look for one with side-curtain air bags), lots of models to choose from.
3. 2005 Ford Five Hundred — Very roomy, good gas mileage, well-equiped with features. 
4. 2005 Ford Freestar — 3rd row seat, mostly reliable, and try to find one with side curtain air bags.
5. 2005 Ford Taurus — Reliability and a great crash test rating. Offers two v6 engines.
6. 2005 Hyundai Tucson — Lots of safety features for the money, reasonable gas mileage, and reliable. 
7. 2005 Hyundai XG350 — Luxury car with a soft ride, reliable, safe – though disappointing gas mileage.
8. 2004 Ford F-150 — Reliable, safe, leads its class. 
9. 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe — Reliable, safe, but disappointing gas mileage for both the 4 and 6 cylinder models.
10. 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander — Lots of power, reliable, safe. Be sure to pass on the lesser LS model.

We can thank Kelsey Mays and Joe Wiesenfelder for the article. It is particularly useful in this period of economic uncertainty when many Americans are postponing major purchases – or, for example, choosing to buy a pre-owned vehicle instead of a more costly new one.

Mays and Wiesenfelder caution the reader that “The used-car market is wildly unpredictable.” They mention this in connection to price confirming that you may get a better or worse deal that what they describe. 

Read the entire Cars.com article here. 

If you are looking for a pre-owned vehicle don’t forget to download my report, “The 8 Most Common Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make and How To Avoid Them!” It’s a free download on the right side of this page. 

The Most Stolen Cars!

Each year the National Insurance Crime Bureau releases their Auto Theft Study. The latest figures are from 2007.  Honda is particularly popular among the thieving crowd these days. The Toyota Camry and Ford trucks aren’t far behind.

Here is the list:

1. 1995 Honda Civic
2. 1991 Honda Accord
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F-150
5. 1994 Chevrolet 1500
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 2004 Dodge Ram
8. 1994 Nissan Sentra
9. 1988 Toyota Pickup
10. 2007 Toyota Corolla

Where Are They Stolen From?

Four of the top five cities for car theft in the United States are in California. Las Vegas, NV has the honor of being the only non-CA city that broke into the top five award territory. 

Here is that list:

1. Modesto, CA
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. San Diego/San Marcos/Carlsbad metro area, CA
4. Stockton, CA
5. San Francisco/Bay area, CA

There appears to be some good news in the report, however. Auto thefts on a national level appear to be down by as much as 9% when compared to data from 2006.

Future Ford’s Truck Expert Is A Girl!

Sherri Wicksten - Ford Truck Expert!

The world of trucks has been dominated by men and guy-talk since Henry Ford created the Model T over 100 years ago.

UNTIL NOW!

Sherri Wicksten is Future Ford’s truck expert with 12-years experience – and she is definitely a girl!

You’ll find her at Future Ford Hyundai of Concord off I-680.

WALK THE TALK

Sherri won’t let you make a costly mistake.

She’ll start your visit with a “Needs Assessment,” and apply her experience, knowledge, and training to match you with exactly the right truck after determining model, HP, wheelbase, accessories, payload, and personal factors like your body’s comfort.

Sherri is certified by Ford as a Light and Heavy Duty Truck expert. She graduated from Ford’s Truck School and has 12-years experience with Ford trucks.

FROM THE FRONT LINES OF TRUCK SALES

I have watched hardened truck buyers sink back in their chairs, slack-jawed, and amazed that the person sitting across from them (Sherri Wicksten, the girl) knew more than them about gear ratios,  axle types, and standard versus HD payload capacities.

Sherri told me: If someone owns a contractor or landscape business and they need to carry additional payload I’ll work with them to make sure that their new truck is up to the task and won’t let them down. I need to know what the new truck will be carrying, how heavy the load will be, if they will be pulling a trailer, and if so, how much weight they plan to to tow.

She went on to explain: What payload package will they need? Which axle ratio is required? Gas or diesel? Do they really need to pay more for a larger engine, or can they stay will a smaller displacement, saving money upfront and over the long haul with increased fuel economy?

Need help calculating GVR? GVWR? CW? Ask Sherri. She uses the C.O.P. method to calculate. Still confused? Just call her.

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

Buying a truck these days is far more complicated than ever before.

Sherri agrees: Specifications – and especially the technology on our trucks - are constantly changing. It’s difficult for buyers to keep up. That’s why Ford spends so much time and effort TRAINING it’s top Truck sales staff – so we can identify and head off problems BEFORE they ruin your day!

Sherri Wicksten is tops in her field with a wide range of experience in the automotive industry. At Michael Stead’s Ford dealership in Walnut Creek she developed skills as Sales Manager, Fleet Manager, and Internet Director, guiding the company to expanded sales using that growing technology.

Her financial background also comes in handy:

I spent a few years as a loan officer for a major Bay area Credit Union and helped them develop their emerging Car Store business. I was as much a vehicle broker as a loans officer, working directly with a wide variety of auto dealers in the Bay area.

Sherri is now Internet Director at Future Ford Hyundai of Concord.

NEED A TRUCK?

For a Ford truck – light or heavy duty, talk to the East Bay’s Ford Truck Expert – Sherri Wicksten. She is not just a Truck Expert, she can help you with financing issues (something that is particularly important these days). And don’t forget: Sherri has a track record for some of the best customer service in the industry.

Sherri can be reached at swicksten@futurefordofconcord.com or 925-686-5000, extension- #150.

Can You Benefit From the Economic Downturn?

With doom and gloom pervading America today it may surprise you to learn that there are some bonifide deals available for those who are in a position to take advantage of them. I dare say that without the economic downturn the ability to save many thousands of dollars would not be presenting itself at our store beginning this Friday the 13th (sounds ominous, doesn’t it?).

Not only is Ford offering 0% for 72 months (sure, you’ll find some manufacturer’s offering 0% for 24 or 36 months, maybe 48, and occassionally 60, but almost no one offers 0% for this long of a term – 72 months or 6-years), but there is additional cash back on some models if you finance through Ford Credit. (Fine print: You have to qualify for 0% and some models are excluded.)

Check in tomorrow to see a break down of the figures and exactly how much you save with 0% financing.

Your savings don’t actually begin or end with 0% because the offer from Ford is calculated after you get a sale price from me. If you have followed this website you know that I recently transferred to Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford from a nearby Honda dealership, and as the Internet Sales Manager I’m eager to see how low Ford prices can really go. In other words, I’m out to provide the best value in the Bay area on any of our Ford vehicles in stock! Email me at james@BayAreaCarGuy.com to see what I can do for you, and how low I can go for you, your friends, or your family.

And don’t believe the negative hype that no one is lending money anymore. Virtually all automakers continue to make car loans in a big way. Ford Credit is no exception. While it is true that the sub-prime auto loan market (less than stellar credit) has been squeezed from the “anything goes” mentality of the last few years,  our experienced finance managers at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford continue to make loans in the sub-prime range. The only difference is that now the loans have to make sense to the lender based on stricter guidelines. In other words, each case has to be assessed on its own merits.  And the good news is that we are regularly getting our sub-prime customers approved.

If you need a car, truck, or SUV and you have less than average credit or better, then RUN – don’t walk – to Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford this President’s Day weekend for unheard savings on new Ford vehicles. Take advantage of one the few positive aspects of the economic downturn and save big while you can.

BTW, if you want to confirm your credit worthiness prior to coming in simply go to BetterLoanBetterCar.com and fill out our online credit application. Write “ATT: James” in the application and it will come straight to my desk.

Good luck and good shopping. And remember: Don’t believe all the doom and gloom, at least not while you can get 0% for the next 72 months/6-years on a new Ford vehicle + possibly even cash back! Tune in tomorrow to find out exact figures on the savings you can earn this weekend.

Why I Love Honda Certified Used Cars! Part II

Yesterday I gushed about the many reasons I love selling certified Honda vehicles – at least I did while I was an Internet Sales Manager at a local Honda dealership. Now that I am the Internet Sales Manager at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford I still sell pre-owned Hondas, and we have program where we offer more protection for our customers than the Honda program. Today – part II of this article:

What is the POWERTRAIN? The powertrain is the engine and transmission – considered to the two of the most expensive parts of the vehicle to fix if serious problems arise.

What is the NON-POWERTRAIN? Everything on your vehicle other than the engine and transmission. The non-powertrain warranty is often called the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty.

Why is the NON-POWERTRAIN WARRANTY so important? Each year more vehicles depend on computerized components. This can include maintenance monitoring programs, navigation systems, and electronic stability assist programs. These provide great convenience, safety, and access to technology. When problems arise, it can be expensive to diagnose the problem, or to even swap out computerized components. That’s why having the non-powertrain warranty extended to 7-years/100,000 miles is so important: to make sure that, for example, computer or electrical problems will most likely be covered.

PRICING: Have you noticed that virtually all manufacturer’s certified vehicles cost more than non-certified ones? This is because the dealer pays the manufacturer a fee when a vehicle is certified. The vehicle also must meet certain requirements, and go through an extensive inspection process with any deficiencies repaired. This added cost is going to be passed along to you, which is why certified vehicles are generally more expensive. It makes sense: A certified vehicle has added costs, but also has added value. These are passed along to the consumer with a higher selling price.

PURCHASING OPTIONS: At Hilltop Ford we offer two purchase options with most pre-owned Hondas. You can buy a Honda with only the remaining manufacturer’s warranty, if any. Or, buy your Honda with our PremiumCare Extended Service package. Let’s see how these two options compare when applied to a specific Honda Accord that we currently have in stock. (Details and pictures of the vehicle at http://hilltop-ford-lincoln-mercury.ebizautos.com/detail-2008-honda-accord_ex_sedan_4d-3786487.html.)

TOMMORROW – I get into exact costs using the example above.

To see the entire article click here. 

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.