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.
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
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.
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
Like all things Lexus, the ability to resonate with their customer base is a marvel of perfection. Ever since the introduction ofIn 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
C.A.R.S.-otherwise known as CASH for JUNKERS is scheduled to launch July 24th. WAIT, before you do wheelies over to the Automall, call me to make sure it actually happens. The promise is $1Billion government dollars to get those gas-hogging rustbuckets off the road. However, the dealerships and salvage yards haven’t been given certification, registration or anything resembling reimbursement procedures, as of this date. YES, I know dealers have been advertising like crazy to drive traffic to their doors. The key is if you don’t have me watching your back, the advertising can amount to a SCAM on YOU! (Read more at Mycarlady.com/blog) The real deal is you have to do your HOMEWORK first. Go to the official www.cars.gov website and READ THE RULES. Then link over to list for comparing the car you want to TRADE-in for the one you want to BUY. You must have a minimum gain of 1 gal. MPG, from old to new, depending on the classification between the two vehicles. Confused yet? ME TOO! The $4500.00 is the MAX amount allowed, but you may not qualify for even $3500.00. SNEAKY STUFF; I’ve hademails from readers reporting dealers adding the rebate to the selling price (or a portion of the rebate) and presenting the added cost as “SALES TAX”. Moral of the story. Do you homework on what you THINK you want to buy and trade, then call me and I’ll let you know when the program officially launches and what dealers are APPROVED to do the CARS program. REMEMBER: While the rules say a dealer COULD become eligible for trades taken after July 1, but before the official launch, the program also states they could be left empty-handed if the money runs out before they get paid, even if they took the cars in during the program. Finding out the status of the funding is one of those “soon to be announced” things. The dealers have to be very careful, as the potential to be floating the cost of the program waiting for an UNCLE SAM check, plus being taxed (they get taxed on the rebate as income!) could be a heavy burden in a troubled industry. Stay tuned to http://www.mycarlady.com follow me on TWITTER @mycarlady for the latest news on CASH 4 JUNKERS. QUESTIONS: sarahlee@mycarlady.com
GREAT LEASES require research. You’ve heard me say it before. Leasing has taken a SERIOUS hit the last 18 months. Residual values plummeted with the economy and rising fuel prices. As the summer hump of car sales hits, dealers lots are picked clean for the bargains. Rebates are slim except on hard to move product. Such is the case with year-end leases. Car makers have adjusted their lease marketing to focus on very specific models in their product line. The targeted models are typically their most popular and price sensitive models, i.e.: Honda Civic $179.00mth, Nissan Altima $199.00mth, Toyota Corolla $169.00mth, Acura TL and MDX $499.00mth, Infiniti G37 $499.00. Notice these are all entry-level teasers with BIG, BIG down payments. Even Mercedes Benz is running a baby Benz for $499.00 with 5k down and 8k miles. OMG, 8k miles? The other prices are also tagged with big down payment “lease inception fees” and measly miles. What you won’t see are FORD, CHRYSLER and GM, or BMW and LEXUS jumping into the lease game. They don’t want their cars on the LEASE termination ledger after the residual bloodbath of returning SUV’s, Luxury sedans and trucks amid the gas crisis of ‘09. AS fuel costs have dropped from $4.50 highs last June, the prices are creeping back up as oil contracts are already $60.00 a barrel heading into fall. This combination has increased demand for the new 2010 PRIUS, but don’t expect any SPECIAL INCENTIVIZED LEASE programs on hybrids. WHY? Because the car companies know the hybrid/electric/alternative fuel technology is changing so fast they can’t recoup the residual in 36mos. and you need to keep the car at least 6-7 years (average driver) to see the actual $avings over a traditional 4cyl. traded in 5 years. (*this is not my argument on the environmental aspect here, we own a Civic Hybrid, this is about leasing). SO, if you have a payment in mind, call me at 702-521-7546 and I’ll give you the inside scoop on leasing the car of your dreams.
ALTERNATIVE FUEL DEALERSHIP coming to town soon. check back with me often to get the inside scoop.
NETWORKING and FREE COOL STUFF NETWORKING: You know how I love to hook you up with great business contacts and cool stuff , … so here is my find of the MONTH! You have to hurry, it ends July 31st 2009!
OFFICE DEPOT(a WBENC supporter) is giving away $1,000,000 dollars to 500 small business owners in their ADOPT A SMALL BUSINESS; SURVIVALOFTHESMARTEST.com VIDEO contest.$1300.00 in supplies and services for 500 lucky winners. If you aren’t technologically gifted your kids, employees or significant other can make it for you, and your business still gets the dough! All you have to do is make a 2 minute video about how Office Depot saves you money in your small business. Go to this website to check it out, and if you aren’t on their Worklife REWARDS card you are missing 10% savings on your purchases, extra coupons in the mail/email AND more money-back. AND did you know they have FREE WIFI and PRICE MATCH any competitor’s coupons too! All that and they support local small business people with grants and sponsorships. SARAH LEE’S SOAPBOX: YOU KNOW I believe in putting my money where my mouth is, (and you know I have a big one , mouth that is) so I like to do my little part to support the companies that WALK the WALK! Watch for my video entry on their website: http://www.thesurvivalofthesmartest.com/
MYCARLADY “STEALSONWHEELS”
STEALS ON WHEELS: Everyone likes a great deal, especially on cars. So the youtube site: www.youtube.com/stealsonwheels.com www.youtube.com/stealsonwheels and the same named section of my website bring you great cars in video-vinettes of cars, trucks, suv’s and vans under $10K These beauties don’t last long, so if you aren’t following me on TWITTER when I blast the latest posting out there, you need to subscribe to the Youtube link or the website. Examples: 1997 Jeep Cherokee 80k miles 2wd clean only $4995.00 2002 Hyundai Tucson 38k miles only $6995.00, 2002 Nissan Xterra 23K miles, one owner, only $10995.00 (price exception for this amazing steal, sold in 1 day) I get the inside track on these and bring you the lowest price, BEFORE it ever makes the front line of the dealers lot. And REMEMBER, when MYCARLADY calls, there is no haggling, no hassling, just the straight deal, no nonsense, safety-checked and warranted! That’s the Sarah Lee, MYCARLADY.com promise!
Looking for a job? Looking for an employee? You know I know lots of people, so don’t be afraid to drop me a line at sarahlee@mycarlady.com and I’ll spread the word for you! This newsletter reaches 1500 mailboxes and then out to the www universe and beyond.
As always, thanks for your continued support. Please know from the bottom of my heart I appreciate you!
HUGS,
SARAH LEE
631 n stephanie st #283
Henderson, Nevada 89014
SARAH LEE, mycarlady.com
Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge are in the beginning of a pre-packaged bankruptcy. The judge has already approved $4.5 billion dollars in loans yet the car company has already told dealers there will be NO PRODUCTION during the two month BK process. Dealers have inventory, but not enough of the models that sell well. Hence, the opportunity to put additional sales on the books during the 60 day hiatus is lost to factory freeze. Dealers placing orders today are being assured their cars will be built this summer as 2010’s, but probably won’t reach the showrooms ’til fall. Given the standing supply and consumer uncertainty, will Chrysler amp up rebates to help dealers clear their lots, or leave them to choke on slow-movers ?
The biggest question daunting the public and the government appointed car czars (who masterfully designed the BK) is “will American car buyers trust a car company salvaged by the government, to make a reliable, safe, quality vehicle at a reasonable price? IS FIAT’s reputation for building cars that don’t break? What Chrysler has never understood is repeated visits to the dealership for repairs, even under warranty, is not a plus in the mind of the consumer. For our loan money, are we getting a truly competitive car or just one that returns a profit to the shareholders, now US.
The car buyers I work with are buying new and used Toyota, Honda and Nissan products, or their high-line luxury brand sisters. The car shoppers I know rarely ask me to get them a price on a Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep, after owning one with one too many problems. The Cummins Diesel problems of 2007, and 2008 involving the EPA required ultra-low sulfur fuel and DPF regen systems have destroyed the holy grail of Dodge profit; the RAM 2500/3500 Cummins Diesel. Will the government back the failed turbos, DPF’s and emission systems of the Dodge Cummins? President Obama has repeatedly said the factory warranty will be backed by the government and parts will be available. Great. Will there be any Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealers left to do the work? This week in Las Vegas, the second, and remaining Alpha (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge) dealership closed. I expect it will take more than President Obama seen riding in a Chrysler 300 Presidential stretch limo to convince consumers Chrysler is the real deal.
Adding another question mark to the equation of life after BK for Chrysler; Will the new 2010 NHTSA five star safety crash test ratings spell trouble for the release of the newly redesigned Jeep Wrangler, or launch of the 200 and EV-SUV Nitro? Chrysler’s history of 5 star results have been mixed at best.
If consumers don’t belly up to the bar when Chrysler emerges from bankruptcy, will the factory continue the heritage of rebates, 0% financing incentives and lifetime warranty giveaways that fostered two decades of buying the business? WIll Chrysler Financial, have the restored luster and deep pockets to buy the auto loans consumers need? If CFC isn’t part of the reorganization, with specific benchmarks to meet, give the $4.5B back now.
These are but a few of the many issues facing the Pentastar behemouth, many wonder if it’s worth saving? What do you think?
NEED AUTO FINANCE HELP or CREDIT report repair go to www.ecreditautoadvisor.com tell them MY CARLADY: Sarah Lee sent you. It’s a free consult and they do the right thing by you, fast, easy, cheap.
Top learn more about getting your best car deal click here: CAR DEALS
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
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.
. These models are still available for sale. 
Want to know about other Lexus lease deals 
.com
Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge are in the beginning of a pre-packaged bankruptcy. The judge has already approved $4.5 billion dollars in loans yet the car company has already told dealers there will be NO PRODUCTION during the two month BK process. Dealers have inventory, but not enough of the models that sell well. Hence, the opportunity to put additional sales on the books during the 60 day hiatus is lost to factory freeze. Dealers placing orders today are being assured their cars will be built this summer as 2010’s, but probably won’t reach the showrooms ’til fall. Given the standing supply and consumer uncertainty, will Chrysler amp up rebates to help dealers clear their lots, or leave them to choke on slow-movers ?
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