Car Shopping At A Glance

by Kimberly Ann

We all know, there are so many factors involved when purchasing a vehicle.  We have to decide what type of car we would like, do we want new or used, what’s our price point?  Once you have that figured out, there are numerous means by which to purchase a vehicle these days.  A study by JD Power & Associates shows that over 80% of consumers use the internet to help them in their vehicle shopping experience.   And this is fabulous!  However, with many on-line automotive marketplaces, you need to reference several websites in order to complete your research.  You may begin your vehicle search on one website, but then have to reference another for market data, comparable prices and then vehicle history reports.  Wouldn’t it be nice to simply reference ONE website?  To be able to see a vehicle you like, not have to switch back and forth between sites, and just KNOW the vehicle is a good enough deal to take the time and go test drive it?

AutoSaver.com is a new and innovative automotive platform that does just that.  They have developed what is known as the Value Range Meter (aka vrMeter) and it’s about to take the market by storm.  With this technology, and data backed by Black Book, a consumer can easily search, view and know for certain if the vehicle they are interested in is a good deal.  Not only if it’s a good deal, but their vrMeter shows you how far below average market that particular vehicle is priced.  And all of this can be recognized with a simple glance…It really doesn’t get any easier. 

As you can see, the deeper ‘in the green’ your vehicle is, the greater the value.  After all, we love to save money and the more we save the better.  

Although many sites have several search features and a means by which to filter your search, AutoSaver.com allows you to also filter by Value Range Price Results.  Basically, if you want to view the best deals, slide the guide to determine your savings.

AutoSaver.com’s CEO, Derek White, stated that their main objective when creating the vrMeter, was simply to make car shopping 'by price' much easier.  After taking one glance at the vrMeter you'll be convinced they have done just that. 

References:

https://pictures.dealer.com/jdpower/f03848600a0d02b7004dd01481592777.pdf

www.AutoSaver.com

A Salute To America's 'Big Three'

AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

In honor of our Independence Day this week, we thought we’d salute the top three United States Auto Manufacturers.  These companies have been known as ‘The Big Three’ or ‘The Detroit Three’ and have been amongst the largest auto manufacturers in the world.  So, here’s to Ford, General Motors and The Chrysler Group.

According to AutoGuide.com, in the first quarter of 2013, Ford has moved a total of 580,917 vehicles thus making it the top seller worldwide, over Toyota who came in at number two.  Quoted on their corporate site as saying, “Ford Posts First Quarter Pre-Tax Profit of $2.1 Billion, Driven by Highest North America Profit in more than a decade; Net Income of $1.6Billion +’ …now that’s impressive.  Founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, The Ford Motor Company introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars as well as large-scale management of an industrial workforce…the moving assembly lines. With top sellers starting with the Model T, Ford has not only manufactured millions of vehicles, they employ an estimated 160,000 people worldwide.  Ford has three of the top ten best sellers of all time:

1. The Ford F Series Pick up at 35 million units sold
2. The Ford Escort at 20 million units sold
3. The Model T at 16.5 million units sold

The General  Motors’ powerhouse incorporates Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet.  Founded in 1908 by William “Billy” Durant and holding only the Buick Motor Company, General Motors soon acquired more than 20 companies including Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland (currently known as Pontiac).  Although they have only one vehicle on the top ten list, the Impala, this vehicle has been around for over five decades with the Corvette having celebrated  it’s 60^th birthday on June 30.  We MUST also mention the Cadillac, which was the first production vehicle to introduce the electric starter, ignition and lighting.  Employing an estimated 213,000 people worldwide, General Motors’ sales are on the rise as well.  Reporting their highest number of vehicles sold in the month of May at 252,894.  This is their highest volume since September 2008.

The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Chrysler in 1925 from what once was the Maxwell Motor Company. The company expanded in 1928 acquiring the Fargo truck company and the Dodge Brothers Company, as well as establishing the Plymouth and DeSoto automobile brands in the same year. In 1987, Chrysler acquired American Motors Corporation, which brought the profitable Jeep brand to their sales fleet.  Chrysler holds the Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands under their umbrella.  Selling 2.2 million vehicles in 2012, the Chrysler Group, LLC employs 65,000 people.  Today, European automaker Fiat, is the majority shareholder of the Chrysler Corporation but will always be considered an American company.

Without these Automakers, we'd have hundreds of thousands of additional unemployed individuals.  They have made a huge contribution to our country and society.  Thank You Ford, GM and Chrysler, you've made a difference and make our country proud.

AutoSaver.com 

References:

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/04/ford-toyota-top-automakers-in-march-2013-sales.html

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/02/top-10-best-selling-cars-of-all-time.html/9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_(automobile_manufacturers)

http://media.gm.com/content/product/public/us/en/gm_facts/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/microsites/gm_facts/business_results.html#market

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.filter.html/GM/EN/News/companyinformation.html

http://www.cadillac.com/experience/history-heritage.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler

http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/company/AboutUs/Pages/AboutUs.aspx

http://media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=67291608C3EC25C13E2E41D0A0938304?&id=866&mid=1

The Cost Of Speeding In America

AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

The speed limit really isn’t the speed limit anymore, or at least that's how it appears when we're out on the road.  If the speed limit sign reads 65, it seems like everybody’s moving at at least 75 miles per hour.  What’s the catch phrase?  “Eight you’re great…Nine you’re mine”.  Bottom line is the majority of us speed.  I’m not stating we are all Excessive Speeders, but in today's society, everybody  is always in a hurry to get somewhere.  Let’s take a look at what it ultimately costs us when we choose to speed.

It's obvious, if you are caught speeding, you can pretty much count on being issued a ticket.  The ticket brings with it fines and penalties, such as points on your license.  Depending on how fast you were speeding, will determine the number of points you will get on your license, as well as the cost of the ticket.  If you receive numerous points on your license, in a short period of time, it could result in the suspension of your license.  A good point of reference is the DMW website: http://www.dmv.org/traffic-tickets.php .  In Florida, for instance, a speeding ticket can result in 3 to 6 points on your license, however the code for each state varies.  I recently read an article where a 21 year old was issued a ticket for driving at a speed of 131 MPH in a 65 MPH zone.  This resulted in over $3,500 fines and court costs...not to mention the points on his license.  

Now, once you take the hit and get the points on your license and pay your ticket, the next cost of speeding could be a rise in your automobile insurance.  Depending on your age and driving history, a speeding ticket can most certainly cause your insurance to rise.  For example, if you are a new driver who is ticketed for speeding in excess, your cost of insurance could rise as much as 25% for the next couple of years.  On the flip side, if you are a 40 year old, with a clean record, your insurance may not be affected at all.  The cost of your automobile insurance is determined by what the insurance company considers your risk level to be.

The most tragic cost of speeding could be an automobile accident.  Perhaps not just an accident, but a fatal crash...whether it's your life or the life of an innocent.  According to ThePoliceChiefMagazine.org, the number of traffic-related deaths is increasing.  It's expected that the number of traffic-related deaths will reach and exceed the high numbers of years past. It is stated that speed is a contributing factor in 31% of all fatal crashes.  This is nearly 14,000 lives per year in the United States alone...an astounding number. 

While behind the wheel, we have control over how we chose to drive.  Speeding is most definitely a choice we make as a driver.  It's bad enough we have to be on the same roads as angry, thoughtless drivers, so why not do our best and control what we can.  Take the cost of a speeding ticket out of the equation, is it worth risking your life and the lives of innocent people sharing the road with you?  We can help simply playing by the rules.

www.AutoSaver.com

References

http://www.dmv.org/traffic-tickets.php

http://wrmj.com/?p=4936

http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?

fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1001&issue_id=92006

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-insurance/how-much-does-a-speeding-ticket-affect-insurance-rates

Five Fabulous FUN Summer Rides

www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

Can there be anything more fun than a convertible to drive around, enjoying your Spring and Summer months? Being able to drive with the top down and the sun on your face is pure freedom. This week we’d like to feature five FUN summer vehicles to enjoy the beautiful warm weather in.  

Audi TT 2 Door Roadster

Looking for a cute, sporty ride without giving up the get up and go?  Hop behind the wheel of The Audi TT Roadster.  I don’t see an overabundance of these on the road and had to include it in my top five.  The TT Roadster offers fabulous gas milage, getting 22/29 miles per gallon city/highway, and this featured vehicle can be purchased for under $24,000.  So grab those sunglasses, fill your tank and enjoy some sunsets in style.

http://www.autosaver.com/product/details/8904973/

Jeep Wrangler Sport

This Jeep epitomizes easy beach living, off-roading and loads of fun.  Now being offered in a wide arrange of spunky colors, the Jeep is sure to snag you some glances.  I found this ‘Gecko Pearl’ Jeep Wrangler 4 Wheel Drive for only $23,850.  AutoSaver's Value Meter shows us this is almost $2,300 below average market prices.   Feel free to take the doors off, take the top down, grab your flip flops and get rolling!

http://www.autosaver.com/product/details/9001619/

Porsche Boxster

This two seat, luxury roadster is a popular joyride.  The Porsche Boxster packs some punch with it’s 265 horses yet getting 30 highway miles per gallon.  If you love the high performance vehicles, this one sits at the top of it’s class up against the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Audi TT.  Being the least expensive way to get into a Porsche, this featured Boxster is ready for a new owner, priced perfect at $38,950.

http://www.autosaver.com/product/details/8908689/

VW Beetle Convertible

Definitely not a performance vehicle, but cute as a button, the VW Beetle definitely offers up some nostalgia.  The VW Beetle will get you where you need to go with an average of 20/29 miles per gallon city/highway.  And let’s not forget the affordable price tags…this particular vehicle is under $14,000. Whatcha waiting for…get cruising!

http://www.autosaver.com/product/details/8959567/

Stallion Trike

Yes, I know I know.  Technically, this isn’t a car, but there is something very intriguing (FUN) about this vehicle.   From behind, it looks like a small convertible… but it’s a Trike.  Equipped with all the features of a car (including it’s Ford 2.3 4-cylinder engine), the only thing it’s missing is a top!  Who knows, maybe that’s next for The Stallion.  Some serious bikers may consider this a sissy ride, but if you’re looking for comfort and safety, perhaps this is for you.  You definitely can’t argue with 35/45 miles per gallon city/highway…one tank gets you the most fun in the sun out of my Top 5.

Not sure about you, but now all I want to do is get outside!  I picked the five vehicles above strictly based on the 'Fun Factor' and I know there are many more great summer rides out there.  If you have a favorite please share!

www.AutoSaver.com

I'm Not Too Old To Drive!

AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

Not too awfully long ago, I wrote an article on Teen Drivers.  It’s interesting, because although the spotlight, in today’s society, is on youth drivers and distracted drivers, we tend to overlook another dangerous driver…the old folks.  Now, I want to know, at what age are we considered a senior, old and then elderly?  Is there an exact age OR is it a state of mind?  I even dove into Wiki and they can’t even clearly define old age…so perhaps it’s a state of mind and body combined.  After all, we all age differently.  Senior Citizens are defined by being 65+, in the United States.  Now, my Mom is senior citizen…barely, and is by no means old or elderly for that matter.  The definition of old, as defined by a group of baby boomers (age 50-64) is 72 years old and above.  I’m not going to go into why, but the link to the article is at the bottom of the page, if you’re curious.   Personally, I define elderly to be somebody who is old AND weak… they can’t really function day to day without help. 

Statistics provided by autos.com show that people between the ages of 15 and 24 and then those over the age of 75, are the most likely affected by car accidents.  So if you look at our scale, those are Old(er) Folks.  So the Seniors are cleared. 

I believe the teen drivers top the list due to inexperience and distractions.  It’s their first taste of freedom, so to speak, and many just don’t think ahead to the possible outcomes of their actions.  Now, why are the Old(er) Folks in second?  I would say their reaction time may be slower, their vision isn’t top notch…just the facts of getting older.  The question I’m going to ask is, do you feel there is an age at which driver’s should be re-tested to maintain their driving privileges?

It’s a hot topic and one that needs to be addressed.  Many states have what they consider ‘accelerated renewal procedures’ where, depending on the state and your age, you may be required to re-test vision, you’re not allowed to file electronically, etc.  However, very few states require a re-take of the road test and this is where my issue lies. 

People shouldn’t be offended because they need to re-take a road test.  If the true concern is public safety, and you feel you are a good driver, the test should be no problem.  I certainly wouldn’t have a problem re-testing…whether I pass or fail, it’s for safety’s sake.  The list of states and their requirements can be found here: http://www.iihs.org/laws/olderdrivers.aspx

Have you experienced a near miss?  Think I'm nuts?  What say you?   

www.AutoSaver.com

References:

http://www.examiner.com/article/baby-boomers-old-age-begins-at-72

http://www.autos.com/driving-and-safety/car-crash-statistics-based-on-age-and-location

Auto Dealers Are Offered 60-Day Trial of Innovative Vehicle Marketing Platform

by Kimberly Ann

AutoSaver.com, a value-based car shopping site that helps bridge the gap in trust between price-sensitive shoppers and auto dealers, is picking up steam after hitting the market last month. There’s no question that once you visit AutoSaver.com, you’ll find it’s not your typical car classifieds site. What truly sets this bargain mecca apart from other sites is its proprietary Value Range Pricing. This unique method for interpreting price, surfaces thousands of vehicles in the used automobile market that are at the end of their retail marketing cycle. These vehicles are usually marked down for a variety of reasons, mostly due to the length of time the vehicle has sat on the dealer’s lot. Market prices are displayed on an aesthetically attractive “diamond meter”, and in one glance, serious buyers can quickly discern if a particular vehicle they’re researching is priced to sell.

The company's founder is Derek White, who was the original founder and visionary of real estate data giant Realtytrac.com. White had the idea for AutoSaver.com while operating a successful Internet auto dealership in the Midwest. His vision for AutoSaver.com was to give consumers access to the best deals on pre-owned cars while facilitating a unique marketing niche to assist dealers in liquidating aged-inventory faster and cheaper than auctions. By partnering with AutoSaver.com, dealers can lessen the overhead costs and logistical problems associated with traditional remarketing channels. "I’ve spoken with hundreds of dealers over the course of 2 years that are overwhelmingly in support of our service. In plain terms, we help the consumer shop smarter and give auto dealers the best wholesale value proposition in the industry,” White states.

AutoSaver.com is offering a free 60-Day Trial to any dealer that registers before June 1, 2013. There is no obligation to continue, and the price after the free trial period is only $149 per rooftop on a month-to-month basis with no contracts or set up fees. Dealers who are interested in listing their inventory on AutoSaver.com should contact Glenn Tebo at (904) 239-5353 or via email at glenn.tebo@autosaver.com.

About AutoSaver.com

AutoSaver.com is a savings-minded vehicle shopping service that identifies the best pre-owned deals online. Great prices on dealer overstock and wholesale units are always within reach, and the innovative Value Range Pricing (an industry first) helps serious car shoppers locate and validate the best deals online. With a vast stock of wholesale inventory that’s nearly three times larger than any dealer-to-dealer marketing site, AutoSaver.com is also an excellent resource for dealers to locate wholesale inventory.  AutoSaver.com is partnered with Carfax, Black Book, Recycler, Visiture, AutoUSA, Detroit Trading Company, VivaStreet, Trovit and CarsDirect among other industry-leading companies. The company is based in St. Augustine, FL.

Go to www.autosaver.com for more info.

Is Your Car Getting You Tickets?

AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

It was a Saturday evening, and I was driving to a friend’s home with a car full of children.  As I’m heading out of the little downtown area, I see the lights flashing behind me…and so do the kids!  I was a bit confused as to WHY I was getting pulled over until the officer asked, ‘Did you realize you were driving 35 in a 30?’ Really…Of course I did! Needless to say, after some chatter, I didn’t end up with a ticket.  However, I can’t tell you how many of my friends blamed the incident on the car I was driving.  At the time, I was driving a silver, Mercedes-Benz E Class.  Which is by no means a sports car, but could it be the reason?

Have you ever been driving, then passed by another driver…yet you’re the one pulled over for speeding?  Even though you may have been speeding, the other guy was going faster, right?  Is it possible it’s the car you’re driving?

Well, let’s take a look at Quality Planning’s Top Ten most ticketed vehicles:

1. Mercedes-BenzSL-Class Convertible
2. ToyotaCamry-Solara Coupe
3. SciontC Coupe
4. HummerH2/H3 SUV
5. Scion xB Hatchback
6. Mercedes-BenzCLS-63 AMG Sedan
7. AcuraIntegra Coupe
8. PontiacGrand Prix Sedan
9. Mercedes-BenzCLK 63 AMG Sedan
10. VolkswagenGTI Hatchback

Are any of these results surprising to you? I was surprised there are no BMWs in the Top 10!  Quality Planning conducted this study by collecting data from law enforcement firms across the United States and then ranked the cars that were pulled over the most.  Here are a couple of other interesting findings:

• Some patterns showed seven of the top ten cars were most likely driven by women.  As I woman I am going to say... this is because we are the ones doing all the carpooling :) This stat did make me smile.  
• Seven of the ten total entries were driven by individuals an average age of 40 or higher - don’t tell your teenage driver this stat
• The Toyota Camry is deemed 3.5 times more likely to be ticketed - probably because it has been the best-selling vehicle for the majority of the last 10 years.  More Camrys on the road equated to more tickets the Camry drivers will get? We’ll let you make that call
• They didn’t take vehicle color into consideration - This surprised me…so much for my Red BMW theory.

And just for the heck of it, here are the Top 10 ticketed moving violations:

1. Speeding - Obviously
2. Running stop sign/red lights
3. Unsafe lane changes
4. Reckless Driving
5. Following too closely
6. Violating Railroad Rules…??
7. Driving in the wrong directly - So glad this violation isn’t in the top 3
8. Passing in a no passing zone - I guess this isn’t the same as #3?
9. Not stopping for pedestrians or school buses - Shame! Shame!
10. DUI - I can’t believe this isn’t higher on the list

Ok, so what do we do with this information?  Do we not buy a Mercedes SL Convertible because we fear we may be ticketed more?  The odds are against this.  Actually, I’m not even sure what to do with this information, but I find it interesting.  Perhaps we all drive a little more carefully and then it doesn't matter what vehicle we happen to be driving.  The odds are probably against this as well.

I want to hear from you!  Have you had any questionable driving offenses that have left you wondering…is it my car’s fault?

www.AutoSaver.com

references:

1 Safe Driver http://blog.1safedriver.com/top-10-most-ticketed-cars/

B Line Traffic School http://www.blinetrafficschools.com/top-10-moving-traffic-violations-and-how-to-avoid-them/