1. FIAT 500 and MICROSOFT A HIT at CES 2010

    January 8, 2010 by mycarlady

    I found the FIAT 500 in the Microsoft booth at 2010 CES next to a hulking Ford F350 DEWALT edition (more next time) it held it’s own with clever lines and cool technology.  It’s this combination and fuel economy that will win over the skeptics (me) if it delivers. For now I was awed my the TECHNOLOGY of the BLUEandME® which offers an awesome stereo sound system and the newest wave in manufacturer integrated driving systems.

    While the FORD SYNC is a long way ahead of everyone in the SAFe Driver campaigns to keep your hands ON the wheel , i.e. voice activation (more to come in next post).

    ECO:DRIVE is unique because it goes beyond the available FUEL ECONOMY trackers in today’s iPhone apps.  This system plugs and plays, stores the data and analyzes your carbon footprint.  I’m hoping they will add the SPEECH RECOGNITION software for email and text to the package by the time the car arrives next year.

     I have to say, the car felt heavier and more solid (when you slam the door) than the SMART car, however, my judgment will remain open until I get one to test drive in the 110 heat of Las Vegas. Then I’ll do the obvious 4 way comparison of the FIAT 500,smartpassioncoupe MINI COOPER,VW BEETLE and SMART PASSION. (shown here) 

    Until then, enjoy this snap shot of ECODRIVE and check out the software at www.fiat.com/ecodrive.

    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

    Buying & Selling Automobile Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

    Category: FIAT 500, FUEL ECONOMY, MINI COOPER, NEW CARS under 15k, NEW TECHNOLOGY, SMART, WOMEN BUYERS, WOMEN DRIVERS
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  2. NEW CAR REBATES for COLLEGE GRADUATES

    December 20, 2009 by mycarlady

    NEW CAR REBATES FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES

    NEW CAR manufacturers are anxious to have recent college graduates (first time car buyers) seen driving their brands. To motivate the consumer they offer rebates and financing opportunities on specific models. The recent college graduate must show proof of a job making a min. of $1800.00 per month and their rent cannot exceed 30% of that gross income.  The graduate can expect to be limited to the most basic, least expensive models int he product line unless he/she has a substantial down payment or co-signer for any vehicle over 15K*.  A down payment to cover taxes and fees is usually required, and the credit must be spot-less.  Any negative accounts can make the deal null and void.

    HERE are the latest vehicles available for a RECENT COLLEGE (or PROFESSIONAL or TRADE SCHOOL ) GRADUATE satisfying the various requirements. For specific details contact your local dealer, the factory website or MYCARLADY.com  Remember, taking advantage of these offers does not minimize your ability to negotiate or get a discount off the list price of most of these cars.

    Acura:    2009-2010 models  Graduate Program special APR only.  Must have graduated in the past 2 years or will in the next 4 months with a Masters, Bachelors, or Associates degree from an accredited college or nursing program. Available on all new or certified pre-owned models.  See my test drive review of the Acura TSXvs. the Audi A4 here.

    Suzuki     $500  2009 and 2010  Suzuki  SX4  Must finance through American Suzuki Financial   

    Mazda 3
    Mazda 3

    MAZDA   2009-2010 Mazda models up to $25k Loan or lease.  See my test drive review of the Mazda3 and Kia SOUL here.

    Be graduating within 6 months or have graduated within the last 12 months from an accredited 2- or 4-year college, graduate school (including Doctorate), nursing school or trade school.

    Nissan    $500  2009 and 2010  Nissan Altima  Nissan Rogue*  Nissan Sentra  Nissan Versa  Nissan Xterra*  Students graduating within 6 months or up to 24 months after graduation. 

     

    Hyundai Genesis

    Hyundai Genesis

    Hyundai   $400  2009 and 2010  Hyundai Accent  Hyundai Elantra  Hyundai Genesis*   Hyundai Sonata   Students graduating within 6 months or up to 24 months after graduation.

    For more RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE NEW CAR REBATES on the specific MAKE and MODEL of your choice, click here:COLLEGE

     

    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

    Buying & Selling Automobile Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

    Category: ACURA TSX, AUTOMOTIVE-AUTO, CARS, Car rebates and incentives, KIA, Mazda 3, NEW CAR MAKES, NEW CARS under 15k, NISSAN CUBE, SUZUKI, women car buyers
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  3. 2010 KIA FORTE a winner!

    October 19, 2009 by My Carlady

    The 2010 Kia Forte has its high-beams on the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Nissan Sentra.

     All these sedans offer reasonable size, adequate horsepower, okay fuel economy and decent warranties… for around $18k. HOWEVER, when compared to the new FORTE, LOOK OUT.  Stylish exterior, 20% roomier inside, comfortable headroom, comparable horsepower and fuel economy but add the 5yr./60k standard and 10yr./100k power-train warranty and the 0% financing or killer lease options and the needle clearly moves to the 2010 KIA FORTE. The Forte KOUP is the sexy, smart two-door version destined to blow by the Eclipse, TC and Civic.

    2010 Kia Forte Koup

    2010 Kia Forte Koup

    The biggest problem with the KIA FORTE is the LACK OF INVENTORY.  Consider the severely discounted dollar and it’s no wonder KIA corporate is watching the importation of their latest winner. Like the KIA SOUL, the arrival for a hot car couldn’t come at a worse time, as the dealer invoice costs the manufacturers’ American division more per car than the U.S. built competition. (KIA is building a US plant in Atlanta to remedy the situation.)   The dollar disparity isn’t passed on to the American consumer, and it is surprising that they continue to offer the 0% interest and low incentive lease rates, but muscling the domestic and low-end import market-share is something KIA and HYUNDAI (it’s big brother) have been doing successfully for several years.

    If you haven’t checked one out, take a FORTE for a test-drive before you dismiss it, you might be sorry if you skip it.

    And visit here tomorrow for the Sarah Lee, MYCARLADY KIA FORTE TEST DRIVE REVIEW.

    Thinking KIA SOUL? CLICK  for the MYCARLADY KIA SOUL TEST DRIVE REVIEW YouTube video.

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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

    NEED AUTO FINANCE HELP or CREDIT report repair go to tell them MY CARLADY: Sarah Lee sent you. It’s a free consult and they do the right thing by you, fast, easy, cheap.

    Buying & Selling Automobile Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

    Category: FORTE-SEDAN & KOUP, KIA, NEW CAR MAKES, NEW CARS under 15k
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  4. BEWARE of SCAMS with CASH for Junkers

    July 13, 2009 by My Carlady

    BEWARE of CASH for Junkers SCAMS!

    1996 CHEVY Corsica

    1996 CHEVY Corsica

     

    It never ceases to amaze me how someone can ruin a good thing. Here our government has created yet another form of automaker stimulus in the form of CASH for CLUNKERS. CARS, as it is properly called, is designed to get old, gas guzzling cars off the road in favor of more fuel efficient vehicles. It doesn’t hurt the economy that you have to buy a NEW car or truck, suv or van, to get the $3500-$4500 rebate.

     

    HOWEVER, in less time than it takes to say, “START YOUR ENGINES!” along comes a dealership using the CARS: CASH for JUNKERS program to RIP-OFF the public.

    Read below the inquiry I received just days ago, and my response…

     

    John asks, “Question on auto sales tax in NJ. We just signed a sales contract based on cash for clunkers in NJ and found that the dealer wrote the contract and estimated (charged us) taxes based upon the MSRP and not the sales price agreed upon or using the cash for clunkers trade in of $4500. The red sales sticker price on the 2009 car was $15,300 not 18300 etc but 7% was charged on $18300. Should not the tax have been charged on the actual sales price of $10,555 rather than the msrp that was never even discussed? 

    Will buyers be required to pay taxes on the $4500 cash for clunkers trade in to state taxing authorities?  Looks like NJ auto dealer we purchased from taxed us as the tax was figured on MSRP?”

     

     

    MYCARLADY answers:- “You ARE NOT subject to federal income tax on the CARS rebate.  Having a trade-in of $4500.00 should give you some sales tax credit in most states. The dealership “estimating” sales tax on the rebate is pulling a SCAMto get more profit by adding the “estimated tax” to the selling price. Futhermore, MSRP has NOTHING TO DO with it. Selling Price is the NEGOTIATED Price. 

    I think dealerships advertising the CARS program and telling consumers they are getting the $4500.00 from the government program NOW, are setting themselves up to be banned from authorization, as consumers need to COMPLAIN to the www.cars.gov, their local DMV or Attorney General dealer licensing division, about the specific dealerships and their tactics. This should NEVER have happened.–slm

    If you or someone you know has experienced this type of B.S. email me the name of the dealership and the consumer and I will forward it to the appropriate authorities!

     

    READ MORE HERE ABOUT CASH for CLUNKERS.

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    NEED AUTO FINANCE HELP or CREDIT report repair go to 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

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Category: AUTO STIMULUS BAILOUT, AUTOMOTIVE, CARS, CARS I OWN, Car rebates and incentives, FUEL ECONOMY, NEW CARS under 15k, WOMEN BUYERS, WOMEN DRIVERS, women car buyers
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  5. CASH 4 JUNKERS, AUTO TAX CREDIT and MORE!

    July 3, 2009 by My Carlady

    The CARS program is NOT a TAX credit.  IT IS a direct trade-in credit off the NEGOTIATED price of the NEW or USED car purchase. HOWEVER, the program HAS NOT STARTED YET, so BEWARE of dealerships advertising $4500 REBATES on the CARS program. (the most is $4500.00 it could be much less).

    As a savvy consumer you should know this,      ” The dealer promoting the CARS program TODAY, TOMORROW or until the actual launch date ( JULY ?) and insisting the rebate is available NOW, are not being truthful to the consumer.“says Las Vegas/Henderson dealer Jim Mooridian of Courtesy Imports. “Those dealerships are simply selling their car at full sticker price or over-retail blue-book and showing the customer the $4500.00 rebate. There is NOTHING in the government program that states the consumer MUST PAY STICKER or OVER STICKER when using a CARS rebate. The SMART customer should go to the dealership and negotiate their BEST DEAL without mentioning the CASH 4 CLUNKERS program, or even a trade-in. Get the best price and THEN mention the $3500.00-$4500.00 REBATE.  Watch the numbers change!”

    BUYER BEWARE I have also seen ads stating: “CARS REBATE=CASH BACK TO YOU! This is another 3 card Monty for the unsuspecting car buyer. They are simply trying to give you a cash advance on the car loan, which most car loan finance companies will not allow!

    The new car sales tax credit will be another area of confusion for consumers and dealers alike.  The program states you can be eligible for both the sales tax credit AND CARS rebate and alternative fuel tax credits on the same car purchase.  How does the dealership show the true value of the trade-in when a sales tax credit is involved on a CARS trade?  These and many other questions are still being addressed by the administrators of the CARS program. So for now, don’t rush to the local dealer to collect your $3500 or $4500.00 rebate, it isn’t available.  In the MEANTIME: find an honest dealership to work with on this CARS program when it becomes available later this summer or call me: SARAH LEE at www.mycarlady.com and spare yourself the haggling and hassle. I’ll make sure you get the best deal and none of the BS.———CLICK HERE FOR MORE on THE PROGRAM FAQ’S—————————————————-

    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

     


    Category: AUTO STIMULUS BAILOUT, NEW CARS under 15k, REBATES and INCENTIVES, USED CAR SPECIALS, WOMEN BUYERS, WOMEN DRIVERS, women car buyers
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