Dress for Success for Women includes the CAR you DRIVE.

Tips and Tricks for Women Car Buyers:

Remember when women wearing pants in the office was a big deal?  Well, fashion forward to the car you drive makes a huge impact on the professional business community you are doing business with.
As much as “the look” you present; shoes, handbag, jewelry and more…
the men (and women) you are pitching take in the car you are driving as a value statement.
This year in China, more women purchased Ferrari’s than men?
A statement? Absolutuely.
Your car sends the message: YOU are a successful business woman.
The particular brand identifies you as a smart, savvy car shopper who knows what she wants. The car driven is an extension of YOU; for all the right reasons, and those you address… when the client, co-worker, boss, asks if you like you car.

BUYING: New vs. Used Luxury cars.

The car brand is directly linked with status, power, prestige and success, so when you can’t afford a new one, consider leasing or buying pre-owned, or even leasing a pre-owned model if the financials work in your favor.

1. Consider a BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Lexus or Acura right now, as these fierce competitors are vying for the number one spot in Luxury Car Sales.  Want to show your UNIQUE, I don’t follow the pack, I lead it… go Jaguar. The deals you see advertised are the deal, so don’t expect to get anything more off the price.
2. Be aware: most dealers will have a VERY limited supply of the ad car.
3. Use this calculation: +$15.00-20.00 per month for every $1000.00 in added features or upgrades. Be prepared to switch, the ad car is always a base model. 
4. 10,000 miles per year is the advertised lease. If you need more miles per year, you can add another $20.00-$25.00 per month for every step up: 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year.
5. If you drive more than 15,000 miles per year, go for the low interest rate purchase/auto loan program. Rates as low as 1.9% are being offered this year.
6. GAP PROTECTION (insurance)  is NOT your regular car insurance. This policy protects you from having to pay-off the entire car and remaining lease payments or any portion of the remaining lease balance the car insurance didn’t cover. It is imperative to have GAP protection on all AUTO LOANS or LEASES where you are putting down a small amount of money, or adding negative equity into the the payment. GAP is usually included in most lease contracts from the auto manufacturer and some banks. ASK who the leasing company is through BEFORE signing.  If the dealer suggests GAP is not included, the additional cost is usually $500.00, but before you pay,  ask to see the actual contract. Look for the words GAP or VEHICLE REPLACEMENT COVERAGE. 
7. USED LUXURY brands also offer leases, which lower the payment yet again, and conserve your cash.  They are usually only offered on CERTIFIED cars sold by the brand dealer. 

Continue reading my MYCARLADY tips and Tricks for Women buying cars here:  TRADE-INS.

If you have any questions concerning your car buying search, need help or free advice, contact me at sarahlee@mycarlady.com or use the form below.
I try to answer every email personally, usually within an hour, PST.

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Pent-up demand and unforeseen circumstances along with a desire to make a change for various reasons, has warmed the auto buying marketplace.

At the same time, WOMEN are cautiously approaching the car buying mode, having held onto their clunkers and junkers to the point of $ ZERO dollar return.

ZERO DOLLAR RETURN- CAR VALUE-TRADE-IN

What do I mean by this? 

The cost of repairing the car for the 1st, 3rd or 10th time, is exceeding the total value of the vehicle to you, the owner, as compared with a monthly payment on a NEWER car.  $500, $1000, $300 at a time is still a monthly payment when spread out over the life of these repairs against the car as a whole. If you have or need to spend several hundred dollars every month or so, on a car that is six years old or older, you are WASTING YOUR MONEY. The car is telling you, it’s getting older, parts are failing and MORE EXPENSE is coming.

This is a great video done by two knowledgeable carwomen about trade-in valuations from the dealership side. You’ve read or heard me say it before, so check this out…

CAR BUYING Women Tips and Tricks continued…

Dress for Success, BUYING: New vs. Used, Leasing :New vs. Used, DRESS for SUCCESS-YOUR CAR CHOICE  and more to come…

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This week “BLACK FRIDAY” may be more important to car dealers and luxury car buyers than ever before.

The last few months have not shown dealers the gas pedal on sales, just as Japanese imports have seen inventories rebound and the European manufacturers hold back on their goods as global markets elsewhere have proved more profitable.

So what does this mean for the year-end, profit-taking businessman or bonus-driven executive?

BLACK FRIDAY CAR DEALS mean BUY NOW!

Car dealers recognize the opportunity to get your attention amid gift-shopping, christmas parties and business demands is slim, and they have NO INTEREST in waiting til the last week of December to see if you have ANYTHING left in the BONUS or BUDGET stocking. The dealers are ready, the banks are ready and the inventory isn’t getting any bigger because after January 1st,2012,  tax is due on standing stock.

If you were considering a car as the ultimate gift or business deduction… get going and get out before the other guy beat you to it.

2012 New Car colors and options are limited.

Luxury vehicles, expecially the BMW, MB, AUDI, PORSCHE, JAGUAR, LEXUS, ACURA and INFINITI are in limited stock, and many dealers are just getting the more premium featured vehicles, thanks to equipment back-orders from the Tsunami.

Metallic red and pearl white paints may still be missing from the lots, as the key mineral in the sparkle is from Japan and every car color starts with the white base, so if a special color is your goal, be flexible or order it and wait for Summer 2012.  (Good-bye tax incentives, 0% interest, higher than unusal trade-ins and deep dealer discounts).

My point is this… “December to Remember”, “HO-HO-Hit the Road” and other clever season’s greetings are to be taken seriously by those ready to buy. 

If ever there was a perfect storm for the cash, lease and credit-worthy luxury car buyer to get his or her BEST DEAL of the YEAR, NOW IS IT! 

Don’t wait, you’ll miss the boat, lose any tax benefit and probably won’t see another buying opportunity like this for the next 18-24 mos. 

So, stop whining and waiting for the the stock market to pay you back.

 Go buy the car you’ve been pining for, the dealers are ready to play, the incentives are all-in and it’s time for YOU to put your money where your mouth is… before Uncle Sam take’s it away.

Happy Holidays!

Sarah Lee
aka:MyCarlady

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Sarah Lee Marks is MyCarlady. She has over 22+ years of experience.
She writes about cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects.
MyCarlady offers free car buying advice, and private, auto-related services to help you maintain your personal or commercial vehicles.
Call Sarah Lee for more information: 702-788-3868
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USED CAR deal during the 2011 Labor Day sales events?

The good news is Used Car prices for 2011 Labor Day holiday sales have stabilized and LUXURY sedans have actually dropped 5%-10% from 6 months ago.

Looking for an inexpensive used sedan under $10,000.00?

Good luck, so is EVERYONE else, and the nice, low mile, imports are still high by comparison to the domestics.

A 2004 Toyota Camry with 80k miles will bring 1500.00 MORE MONEY than the same year,  model, miles than the comparable Chevrolet Malibu.  Is it justified?

YES, in some cases, certain model year manufacturing at Ford, GM and Chrysler is duly noted for lackluster quality control. Visit CONSUMER REPORTS for the specifics on any particular car or go to www.NHTSA.com for service bulletins, recalls, complaints.

Meanwhile, deals can be found on 2001-2008 Chrysler PT.Cruisers. These are very solid, reliable and versatile hatchbacks that take a hit and are reasonably CHEAP. Not great on gas, but you can pick up a PT with 65k miles for $8000!

10 tips for finding a USED CAR deal this Labor Day sales weekend.

SO the things to remember about shopping the lots this Labor Day weekend hoping to grab a clearance deal…

1. Visit Google, Yelp or DEALERRATER.com to check out the online reputations of the local dealerships in your area.
2. Once you know what dealers to consider, visit their website and click on the SPECIALS!  These are usually cars marked down to their lowest prices already and most internet prices are very competitive to begin with BECAUSE you can easily compare hundreds of cars in the click of a keystroke, and the dealers know it.
3. COMPARE Apples to Apples. BE CAREFUL about believing everything you see on an  online vehicle posting! Dealerships are known to add DISCLAIMERS in small print, i.e. *requires a trade of $5,000.00 or cash equivalent.  If the car you are considering is the cheapest in the bunch, READ the details carefully.
4. Check on the CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED STATUS. IS this a FACTORY CERTIFICATION or a DEALER certification?
   What’s the difference? ALOT!  A dealer can say he did his own certification and the car is up to par and then he sells you an extended service contract from XYZ company.
   A FACTORY CERTIFIED used CAR must meet the original manufacturer’s criteria, can ONLY be offered by a BRANDED dealer licensed to sell that BRAND/MAKE new, and it comes with a warranty which mandates original manufacturer parts, a special low interest rate (for qualified buyers), and the certification is honored at all branded dealership and ASE/ACE shops in the country and (sometimes) Canada. EXAMPLE: PORSCHE.
5. Know your credit rating BEFORE you make an appointment to  test-drive. If you have credit challenges, call the dealership and ask for the fleet or internet manager.  Be direct when inquiring if they have a second chance finance or car loans for people with less than great credit.  The manager will be honest, perhaps asking you to fill out an online credit application prior to arriving at the dealership.  DON’T DO IT> secure your credit score through your bank or credit union and tell the dealer what the AUTO SCORE is.  IF you have trouble getting an AUTO CREDIT SCORE, go into the dealership and do the credit application in person.  Make sure you review the actual report for discrepancies and to see the score for yourself.  Note the credit bureau company on the report: TRANSUNION, EQUIFAX, TRW/EXPERIAN and write down the score. They can’t legally give you a copy but you can take notes, should you decide to go elsewhere in your car search. Limit the number of times your credit report is pulled as each time an inquiry is made, the score drops up to 7 points. UGLY but True.
6.  Once you find the car you want, take the test-drive, do your due diligence and ask to see the title (so you know they actually have it)  and a CARFAX or AUTOCHECK on the car. Look for accidents or discrepancies in the mileage that would trigger some concern.
7. Ask if you can take the car to an independent mechanic before you sign? go to AAA or ask those you know if they have a mechanic-repair shop they trust. Get the car inspected so you know what possible expenses lay in wait.
8.  If you purchase an extended service contract from the dealership, ask if there is a waiting period before you can use it, and if they will pay the deductible if you must use it within 90 days. Most states have a limited used car warranty law.
9. NOTE: There are usually no USED CAR LEMON LAWS to protect you when purchasing a USED CAR from a dealer.
10. GET ALL PROMISES IN WRITING!  Never take delivery of a dark car a night (you can’t see damages) and make sure the vehicle identification number on the actual car matches all the paperwork you are shown (CARFAX) and sign!

If you need any  advice on your Labor Day used car deal this holiday weekend, feel free to contact me using the form below.

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