LEXUS | MyCarlady.com

TOYOTA RECALL NO NEED FOR PANIC
January 26, 2010 by mycarlady
Today’s announcement by Toyota corporate affects these models: 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia. Owners of these Toyota models purchased new or used can contact Toyota’s customer care hot-line: (800) 331-4331 to find out if their vehicle is involved in the recall. The vehicles involved in the recall involve approx. one third of all the models Toyota produces and the number of incidents is few and far between. However, kudos to Toyota for taking the high road in addressing the accelerator problem head on rather than hiding from it. Given the need to consider parts modifications, software changes and the distribution of service repair training information to the field, halting production while sales are traditionally slow this time of year, is a smart move. If for no other reason than the halting of production gives the company time to review the entire electrical system while dealer stock remains low, the dealers will suffer the least by having this disruption come now vs. later in the selling season. While some will use this situation to discredit Toyota’s premium for quality, the action taken with one death and less than 100 reported accidents makes the brand out to be the ultimate consumer safety conscious company. Not since the mid-80’s when Audi fell victim to the sticking gas pedal, has another product been scathed by this malady, however, you can bet NTSHA is reviewing the issue for all auto production post 2005.

The sales suspension DOES NOT AFFECT Lexus or Scion vehicles. Toyota said the Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids. These models are still available for sale.

Scion Xd not affected by the production halt.

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Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 20+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. Her company: MY CARLADY is a car buyer’s service committed to getting you the best deal on your next new or pre-owned vehicle. You can reach her at www.mycarlady.com

Top learn more about getting your best car deal click here: CAR DEALS

Category: LEXUS, RECALLS and Buybacks, SCION, TOYOTA
Tags: accelerator problems, gas pedal problems, toyota halts production
New Car Buyers use auto broker to make sweet deal.
January 16, 2010 by mycarlady
Women hate car shopping. Men hate dealer haggling. They both hate the time it takes to buy a car.

Enter Sarah Lee Marks, aka: MY CARLADY, a one-women assault team who takes the customers orders and delivers a new or used car, truck, suv or minivan to their driveway in record time. “My wife and I are your newest #1 fans,” writes Donny Klein of Miami, Florida. It doesn’t matter that Marks operates from Las Vegas, Nevada, 3,000 miles and three hours time zone difference from Klein’s office. When he gave her a list of requirements and then added the pressure of a lease turn-in due back in less than two weeks, Sarah Lee returned an email in 24 hours with five car comparisons including price, warranty, style and availability, including the option of extending his lease while waiting for the new body style 2011 BMW 528i.

Mrs. Klein had different needs but was pretty sure she wanted a Lexus ES350. My Carlady negotiated between two dealers in southern Florida. When one dealer couldn’t and wouldn’t get the colors they wanted, Marks found a dealer that would. The winning dealer delivered Mrs. Klein’s car in twenty-four hours. Do the dealers hate auto brokers and car buyer’s agents? “Most welcome the no nonsense, bottom line of an easy deal,” Sarah replies, “They may not make a lot of money, but it’s a qualified, motivated and credit approved buyer who would otherwise go elsewhere or not buy because they despise the dealership experience.”

Fancy buildings sporting luxury car name plates can often work against the dealer, intimidating potential buyers. “My job is to breakdown the process and give my clients all the information to make the best decision for their needs, wants and wallet. I’m the bad guy/gal so my customers can enjoy the new car buying experience,” she adds.

Sheila and Clifford Anderson and their family have been buying cars from Sarah Lee for over fifteen years. “I think it’s number twelve or thirteen,” laughs Sheila, “we really like new cars and Sarah makes it so easy.” Marks managed a steady supply of new cars to Clifford when his job took him out of state for several years.

The additional care MyCarlady provides her clients extends to making service appointments with pick-up and delivery, body shop recommendations and oversight of repairs. “My mantra is… My clients become friends and family. They should never have to call anyone but me to answer all their car questions and needs.”

In between attending graduations, weddings, and baby-showers as her extended (car) family grows, Sarah Lee has often put clients together on private sales or assisted customers trying to sell their cars online. “My clients have called me to ask about selling cars on eBay and Craig’s List, and I help them post the car, handle the inquiries and research the potential buyer for any scam or fraud. They don’t know what to beware of, and I’ve found many unsavory characters trolling the car sites looking for unsuspecting victims.” She has vetted potential buyers through a network of official and underground resources before picking up a potential client at the airport. “I use whatever legal devices are available to be as comfortable as possible with the transaction but nobody gets the title til the money clears,” she insists.

Recently Leila called Sarah Lee after recounting to her co-workers the story of returning two used cars in four days to the same dealer after numerous problems. Her office-mates quickly produced the MYCARLADY card and insisted she call right away. After retrieving her down-payment, Leila met Marks at the Mazda dealership where Sarah Lee had found the exact car, color and features Leila wanted for the payment she could afford. Staying under budget was critical but Leila got the added surprise of no payments for 3 months during the Christmas holiday, something she was unaware of until the paperwork was presented to her. Marks added another bonus to the deal by insisting the MyCarlady service includes registration service for all her clients. “No standing in line. I am one-stop car shopping. Their (the buyers) personal information never leaves my hands, even when it comes to license plates.”

The referral network is growing and glowing for MyCarlady.com, as all her business comes from word of mouth referral, previous clients and internet inquiries. “My best source of advertising is the recommendations of my happy clients. I’ve been told I don’t charge enough, $250.00 for cars under $40k and $500.00 for cars over $40k, but this isn’t work to me, it’s fun to see how much money I can save them, not to mention taking the stress away. I feel like I’m helping family when they call me, and that feeling gives me a great sense of satisfaction.” Judging from her client testimonials, satisfaction with the MyCarlady service is putting it mildly.

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Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 20+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. Her company: MY CARLADY is a car buyer’s service committed to getting you the best deal on your next new or pre-owned vehicle. You can reach her at www.mycarlady.com

Top learn more about getting your best car deal click here: CAR DEALS

Category: AUTOMOTIVE, LEXUS, MAZDA, NEW CAR MAKES, WOMEN BUYERS, WOMEN DRIVERS
Tags: auto brokers las vegas, car brokers, craigs list, eBay motors
LEXUS 2 Remember tops Holiday gift-giving
December 23, 2009 by mycarlady
Like all things Lexus, the ability to resonate with their customer base is a marvel of perfection. Ever since the introduction of In Pursuit of Excellence, the Lexus marketers have continued to emboss the ideology of Lexus as THE BEST car you could drive, in every drivers brain.

Now after four years of heavy December marketing “December to Remember” (r) to the masses who have everything, Lexus dealerships are standing room only for the cheap lease payments surrounding the ES350. 3 years, 36,000 miles of driving a $38,000.00 car for less than $1,500.00 a year in interest, all other things being equal. I say cheap, because after test driving the Audi A4, Genesis 3.8l, Acura TL, and Infiniti G37, you can’t get as low as the advertised $399.00 plus tax with $ 3750.00 in drive-offs (first payment, de-cap, acquisition and dealer fees) as these others with similar features. Come back tomorrow for my Lesson on Leasing. Want to know about other Lexus lease deals click here.

The runner-up would be the Audi A4 (which includes scheduled service in it’s warranty, at a value I approx. to be $10.00 a month on the 36 month lease term), but the Audi A4 is smaller in the backseat. Lexus dealers around the country say their stock of ES350’s is low, and they will be completely out by January 1st, 2010, as the last of the business buyers count tax savings in a dismal profit year. This year I had more folks asking about the annual Lexus give-away than ever before. After suffering through a horrendous $100.00 a month bump in payment the first month after the December 2008 sales event, I warned clients the day after Thanksgiving this year, get your Lexus now, if you want one. BTW, the plural of Lexus is Lexus, as in; I sold alot of Lexus this season!

If Lexus continues it’s benchmark motto making, I expect to see “A Birthday to Remember (r)” (Lexus, I’m registering this right now!) running every day of 2010, as car sales continue to languish with the economy.

Happy safe driving this holiday weekend!

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Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 20+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. Her company: MY CARLADY is a car buyer’s service committed to getting you the best deal on your next new or pre-owned vehicle. You can reach her at www.mycarlady.com

Top learn more about getting your best car deal click here: CAR DEALS

Category: ACURA TSX, AUDI, INFINITI, LEXUS
Tags: ES350 lease deals