This Memorial Day 2012 will see the official start of the car sales selling season with BIG auto lease deals in every brand.

Let’s get one thing straight before you venture out to the car lot. It’s a SELLERS market.  Limited inventory, limited banking resources and huge demand. You need to be smart about your approach to car buying because the dealers are NOT desperate to GIVE AWAY cars and the banks are not dying to loan money to people with less than PERFECT credit.

The leasing movement will help revitalize the industry and correct the drought of used cars by cycling 2 and 3 year old cars into the system over the  next few years, however, the new rules of leasing will surprise many car shoppers this selling season.

THE NEW RULES OF 2.0.12 AUTO LEASING.

Auto Credit scores MUST be over 720 to get the advertised rates, and anyone not holding the AUTO FICO of 700 can kiss their chances of leasing to the curb without 25% CASH down.

Foreclosures, Short Sales and Bankruptcy eliminate your ability to lease a car without having already re-established your car credit prior to the lease.  Just because you previously leased luxury cars and paid the leases perfectly, DOES NOT GUARENTEE you will be able to lease again from the same car bank or another competing brand. The auto leasing banks are scrutinizing every line of the credit report, application, tax return and bank statements. Welcome to the new world of auto finance; you must be PURRFECT to play.

CASH DOWN is important.  It was once thought that the point of leasing was to keep your CASH liquid, especially if you are a business owner writing-off your auto expenses for tax purposes.  Today’s auto leasing programs are pitched with serious cash down of $3995 PLUS  sales tax, registration, bank acquisition and dealer fees.  The hefty cash down or inception fees are capital cost reductions that not only lower the payment, but give the bank a reasonable hedge against default.

LOWER MILEAGE limits vary with the term.

Luxury car makers are offering mileage breaks for 5,000, 8,000 and an average 10,000 miles per year, which keeps the depreciation down, and helps drivers who own multiple homes and need a car in every carport. However, the typical drier needs to be reasonable about the number of miles he will need and what the cost is should he go over. Don’t be swayed by promises of early lease termination or pull ahead programs to get you out in the event of over-miles, the crystal ball and the salesman holding it could be long gone 3 years from now.  Buy an average number of miles for your typical annual use.

GAP Coverage is a must, but not automatic in every lease today. Make sure there is GAP insurance in the lease contract to cover any difference in value paid by your insurance company and the remaining lease payments. GAP coverage is inexpensive compared to the potential cost to you without it.  Don’t agree to pay for it, UNLESS you see it is NOT printed on the back of the contract.

RESIDUAL VALUE Does NOT equal BUYOUT PURCHASE OPTION: ALLY BANK

Until 2010, most lease contracts had a line for the residual value and a line for the purchase option at lease end, and the number on each line was the same. There might have been a pre-printed dollar amount of up to $500.00 as a “fee”, but it was spelled out as such. Then came ALLY, the newly re-designated GMAC leasing arm of formerly General Motors bank. Their new auto lease contract packs a hefty $2500.00 onto the “residual value” to become the actual LEASE END Buyout Purchase Option. Don’t sign it if you think you will buy the vehicle at the end of the lease, demand a different bank where the buyout is more reasonable, and if this wasn’t disclosed prior to your trip to the finance department, be prepared to LEAVE, without the car.  This is NOT NEGOTIABLE at the end of the lease, (remember the crystal ball?). Granted you are not obligated to BUY the car at the end, but signing the contract before reading the fine print won’t undo the problem later.

So as you make your list of possible cars from the television ads shouting at you… be ready with your checkbook, credit score and several different vehicle options should one or two not pan out.

READ MORE: 3 tips for car shopping this Memorial Day season.

READ MORE: USED CAR SPECIALS this MEMORIAL DAY Holiday Car Sales.

READ MORE: Memorial Day holiday Car sales rebates, incnetives and more…

————————————————————
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: 702-521-7546
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The fact is, used car prices are extremely high in some sectors, mostly four to eight year old – 2008-2004 cars with under 100k miles on them, expecially imports like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima, Altima and Lexus.

Why are used car prices so HIGH?

IMHO. The continued limitations on production of new cars, a somewhat bumpy economic recovery and mixed messages about the future of 2012 depending on which politician you listen to and Wall Street’s response to such. Parts, core materials and the dollar value in Europe and Japan have caused the cost of these items to rise, making new car manufacturers reluctant to make excess inventory. Right now the automakers are responding to dealerships confidence when ordering and the facilities ability to crank out so many new cars per day without increasing labor costs. The suppliers of parts must also fall in line with their ability to supply the airbags, switches, glass and rubber going into the cars.  When there is a lack of new car inventory on the dealer lots, people don’t trade their old cars, they wait.

A lack of good used car trades…  lack of turn-over.

Another issue is the lack of lease returns. In the past and up until 2008 there were lots of leased vehicle in the system, pre-determined trade-ins. We all remember 2008, it was the beginning of the Great Recession, as it is now called, not so GREAT, but I digress. The reality is, leasing came to a hault, almost. The lack of leased cars in 2008, 2009 and 2010, has effected the number of returning off-lease vehicles to the “used car” market.  In addition, those consumers who have leased vehicles are finding the residual value, aka: buyout, is less than the actual retail value of their car on the lot. Hence, the leasee is BUYING his/her vehicle and holding onto it for another few years while trying to decide what the future holds.  This is another reason ALLY and other banks are trying to charge huge “buyout fees” on their new lease contracts, to capture some of the profit on the low residual. But again, that is a story for another blog post.

The only arena where I see some possible “deals” in the used car market is luxury sedans and coupes; BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, in the 3 series or C-class. 2009 – 2010 Jaguar XF, 2008-2011 Lexus ES350, IS350 and 2008-2010 Infiniti G37. Audi A4 and A6 are still high priced, as are Acura, Bentley. Porsche is hot and should only be purchased  from a CERTIFYING Porsche dealership.

Earlier this year I had predicted the high-prices of used cars would pop by Spring, but I was wrong.

Supply and demand, CONSUMERS PAYING THE PRICE, and banks lending, has kept the house from crashing, but as soon as the car makers get their production flowing, hopefully by 4th quarter 2012, used car prices will slide back to a more stable and sustainable level.

However, be careful! If you don’t put much cash down, take a 72 mos. loan, or add negative equity to the new loan, make sure you have GAP protection on your loan. Gap protection will cover the “gap” between the balance on your car loan and the insurance company valuation, in the event your car is stolen or totalled!

This Memorial Day, be prepared for the nice cars to have a premium price tag when sold from a reputable dealership lot offering financing and warranty, expecially on late model 2004-2010 used cars. The nicest ones rarely make it to the front line, so let the dealers know exactly what you are looking for and have the ability to move quick if they get one. Be careful of “unbranded” or “pot lots”, where the cheaper the price, the more likely the car has a problem, a salvage title or both.

If you have any questions about used car or new car shopping, deals and holiday special offers feel free to ask MyCarlady.

READ MORE HERE: 3 tips for Memorial Day holiday car shopping.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

As I have mentioned before, the more in demand cars have little to NO rebates or offers on them. For example, forget a discount or rebate on a Toyota Prius hybrid. LEXUS has up to $750 off many of their hybrids, but inventory is slim.

The best deal out there if you need a minivan is the KIA SEDONA with $2500 rebate money.

If you need an  mid-size SUV, look at the MAZDA CX-7, being discontinued, but still a great ride for the money.

KIA: $500.00-$1000 on most of the cars. Loyalty and competitive rebate avail.  .9%-2.9% interest rates for qualified buyers. BEST BUY $2500 rebate on a SEDONA MINIVAN

Hyundai: $500.00-$1000 with big money (up to $3000) on Genesis and Equus sedans. ) and 1.9% interest rates for qualified buyers.

ACURA: from $500 – $2000 on various models and rates as low as .9% for qualified buyers. Great lease deals on TSX, MDX and TL.

AUDI: from $1000-$3000 in rebates or interest rates as low as 1% for qualified buyers.

JAGUAR XF & XJ: Competitive, Loyalty rebates and up to $5200 in various incentives. Lease deals start at $499/mth for qualified buyers. 4yr/50k service included.

JEEP: from $500 on Wranglers to $3000 on Liberty. $1000 on Grand Cherokee and 0% financing for qualified buyers.

NISSAN: The LEAF has $a 500 rebate, if they are sold in your state that is a huge deal! Otherwise they have rebates up to $3000 on 2012′s and $4k on some 2011 leftovers. Interest rates as low as 0% for qualified buyers.

MAZDA: The Mazda 3 has a great rebate or interest rate as low as 0% for qualified buyers.

HONDA:  Interest rates as low as .9% and some special incentives of $500-up to $2000 to the dealer for advertising support. Lease deals are a better way to go, but you will find short supplies of popular models and color/option combinations.

TOYOTA: The best deal here is the $1000 or 0% on Corolla. The other cars scale from $500 to to $1000 on the more expensive models. Nothing on Prius. They do offer 2 year free basic service at no charge.

VW: NO REBATES  The best you can hope for here is a 0% to 1.9% rate for qualified buyers. Disclaimer: Not on my Top 10, but they do make popular cars so I threw them on the list for information purposes only.

READ MORE: 3 TIPS for CAR SHOPPING THIS MEMORIAL DAY

Good luck finding the car you want and the rebates or interest rate, it’s a process. If you need help with your car shopping fill out and submit the form below.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Please note: rebates change so check with the dealership. You may not be able to use a rebate AND low interest rate.

——————————————————-
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: 702-521-7546

The key to finding the best car deal this Memorial Day 2012 Holiday Summer sales event launch is three things:

1. Have realistic expectations of discounts, rebates, interest rates, incentives and trade-in values.

2.  Have at least a Cash down Payment of $2000 or more.

3.  Have a FLEXIBLE attitude toward the Car Model,  Option, and Color.

So what does this mean when you are buying a new or used car this Memorial Day holiday?

#1.  The Great Recession has taught everyone, especially car makers to keep inventories at thin to on-demand levels, thus reducing the need to entice the consumer to buy their over-stocked cars. In addition, the cost of making and importing many models made overseas where the dollar is at a low value, means the profit margins on these imports has been reduced. Thus, less discounting and fewer, smaller rebates. On many HOT car models there are NO REBATES unless you currently drive a specific competitive model or are an existing=brand loyal client.  For example: You drive a Toyota Camry and want to purchase a Hyundai Sonata or KIA Optima which are direct competitors of the Camry, so maybe there is a small rebate between the companies. The point is, forget the thousands of dollars in BIG rebates and discounts of yesteryear, UNLESS you are considering a 2011 model, soon to be discontinued model, slow-selling, gas hogging vehicle or one with poor safety or reliability ratings. (**HINT HINT you don’t want it even with big price cuts.)

#2.  Have some cash down or a trade-in valued at $2000 with a clear title.  Banks do not want to finance dealer and state fees, taxes and extra add-ons like warranties and Lo-Jack. Come to the dealership with cash/check/credit card and/or the title. The lower your credit score, the MORE CASH DOWN you will need.  NO JOKE, be prepared to answer more questions about personal credit information and talk to the bank for verification of your auto loan BEFORE final approval.  Great credit or not, the auto loan banks are scrutinizing every auto loan equally.

#3.  Perhaps the hardest thing to overcome this Memorial Holiday car sales weekend will be the limited selection.  NEW CARS: For HOT models, the dealers will have one or two of each car, if you are lucky. Recently a client went to see a KIA Optima only to find the dealer had only one in stock. Not one of each option package, ONE period. Whether you are shopping online and calling to ask if that car is in stock, be prepared to have some salespeople say, sure it’s here, only to find it GONE when you arrive.  If it’s a holiday weekend, on a hot model, yes, they can sell that fast. SO my tip to you this holiday car buying season… If you find a car you like, (especially a hot model) at a price you can afford, and you NEED to make the purchase in less than 90 days, BUY IT.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to negotiate, go ahead and haggle if you like, but be realistic given these examples and suggestions. Don’t waste your time or theirs haggling over a few dollars and the loss of a day off, because there is a high likelihood, the car you are discussing won’t be there when you come back the next morning, because the people who test-drove it the night before are back to take delivery while you are driving to the next lot.  *** If you can afford and have the patience to wait upwards of 90-120 days, considering ordering a 2013, when things will hopefully improve for global auto parts manufacturing and dollar values worldwide.

USED CARS: Everything pre-owned is still over-priced, as limited trade-ins and a drastic reduction in off-lease and fleet returns have serious affected the availability of mid-priced 3-5 year old used cars. The 6+ year old trades are more often junk, wrecked or high-mile worn out beyond re-saleable. The good thing is if you are trading a nice, clean, well-maintained 3-6 year old car, you will get top dollar on your trade-in plus the tax credit!

HOT CAR LIST for 2012 Memorial Day Sale:

KIA- all models

Hyundai- All models

Toyota- All model cars, small SUV’s and Prius V and C hybrids.

Porsche 911, Cayenne, Panamera and Hybrid versions

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Chrysler 300

Honda- all models

Nissan- Juke, small cars

Audi- A6, A7

Ford- Edge, Small cars, Ranger, Hybrids.

Lease Deals:  Mercedes Benz C250, BMW 325i, Jaguar XF, Chrysler 300, Honda Accord, VW Jetta

READ MORE: USED CAR PRICES THIS MEMORIAL DAY 2012 CAR DEALS 

——————————————————-
Sarah Lee Marks is MyCarlady. She has over 23+ years of experience.
She writes about all things car related, delivers car reviews at

http://www.youtube.com/MYCARLADYTESTDRIVES

and is a staunch consumer advocate on all types of auto 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: 702-521-7546
—————————————————————————–

The most popular model luxury cars in China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are Black on Black 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Sports, 2012 Mercedes Benz ML450 /550, Porsche Cayenne 6 cyl and the 2012 BMW X5. These are the hottest US exports, however, dealers, manufacturers and driveway entrepreneurs are at odds over who has the right to sell cars overseas and where the money goes. Where the money goes is also of interest to all concerned, including the IRS.

European car makers are loath to ship cars to the US, suffer the dollar vs. euro difference, and then see these brand new highline luxury models arrive in international ports, cutting into their profits.  For years American auto dealers were selling these cars to local consumers who helped their bottom-line by servicing, trading and repeatedly leasing these luxury makes in record numbers, making excess inventory for export deals few and far between. When the occasional car left port, the manufacturer would chastise the dealer for not knowing the car was sailing away and future allocation would be threatened.  Then came the recession and dealers were hard pressed to pass a full MSRP sale when walk-ins and returning leases failed to appear.  The number of exports grew exponentially, some suspect the figure to be 5% or more of annual sales.  Add to this issue of underground international marketplace, i.e.; the grey market, the government’s concern that these sales could be devised for illegal money-laundering or tax evasion.

Nevada passes law on dealership sales to auto exporters. 

In 2011, Nevada has passed a law protecting the dealers from punitive behavior on the part of the auto makers for lack of knowledge of a broker –exporter relationship at the time of sale. To educate the dealers the manufacturers now provide electronic manifests numbering hundreds of pages featuring every known broker or name attached to vehicles shipped abroad, some before the cars are even loaded on the boat.

Selling out of state scrutinized by dealerships.

When calling a dealer about one of these particular models, the auto representative is quick to alert the future buyer to the dealer’s policy regarding out of state or export sales.  For the US citizen shopping online for the best deal, this might hinder their ability to pit the local dealer against the out of state online showroom or eBay retailer broadening his market, however, the pressure to curb exports falls short of creating state by state franchise monopolies.  Dealers are held accountable for the registration and destination of every vehicle they sell, hence their due diligence to validate those in the carriage class with multiple homes to have corroborating documentation, regular mail service and a water bill for that address.

Local luxury car buyers win.

For the local luxury car buyer the pressure to reduce exports of these models will make it easier to obtain one within his home market, however, for budding international entrepreneurs hoping to buy the 2012 Cayenne with intentions of selling it to his buddy at a tidy profit, the increased scrutiny into proper licensing and tax disclosures may make this deal unprofitable in the end.
———————————————————————–
Sarah Lee is an automotive writer, personal car concierge and commercial fleet manager. If you need free advice on your car problem, question, issue, contact her at sarahlee@mycarlady.com for a confidential conversation.
She has over 22+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. MyCarlady offers private, auto-related services to help you maintain your personal or commercial vehicles. Call Sarah Lee for more information: 702-521-7546

The past year and current used car market has demonstrated new price levels at all-time highs, making consumers and dealership used car managers very nervous. The concern among many in the automotive business is when or will the bubble burst?  More important than the crystal ball on the price of used cars, is what should car buyers do in this market?

Why are used car prices so high?

In the past many late model pre-owned vehicles came from rental car turn-over and off-lease vehicles, however, years 2008 and 2009 were the lowest lease years in my recent memory. Hence, three and four years later, the number of off-lease vehicles hitting the market is at an all time low.

The second part of the lack of off-lease vehicles making it to market is the disparity between the residual value of the leased vehicle and its current street value.  As a result, the leasee is electing to purchase their vehicle or extend the lease term at it’s current payment, driven by uncertainty in the economy.

Add to these scenarios the aging fleet of over 100k mile vehicles, held beyond normal ownership cycles and being traded for new models when the repair estimates exceed thirty percent of the value of the car.

The next move in car buying; New  vs. Used?

Given the reviving economy and pent-up demand of car shoppers, the new car manufacturers are increasing production of 2012 and 2013 models as material and parts suppliers’ ramp up for pent-up demand. Auto industry analysts suggest new car sales will mark a 14 million unit record this year, however to do this, consumers must be educated to where the deals, including 2012 leases, are.

The lack of selection of nice, clean, low mile used cars combined with high pre-owned prices are taking the appeal of perceived used car savings off the table making a new car deal alot closer when a used car price reflects a variance of less than 20% over the net new car price.

Traditional used car buyers often quote the depreciation suffered by the first time owner as a reason to buy a second-hand car. However, thanks to the internet, auto brokers and car buyer agents, the discrepancy between the net prices paid for a new car versus current used car prices makes the new car buy a better deal.  Add to this equation the increased length of new car warranty term and free scheduled service plans now included by many auto manufacturers, the scales tip even further towards a new car purchase.

When combining increased rebates, interest rate incentives, and higher than usual trade-in values with the ability to have more selection of new cars on the dealer’s lots, the additional cost for a used car extended service contract or certified pre-owned warranty also requires further scrutiny.

The caveat to this debate of new car vs. used certified pre-owned may be the luxury exotics of Porsche, Aston-Martin, Maserati, Ferrari and Bentley, where the volume of new car availability is severely limited.

Auto loans, second-chance financing and credit scores change the payment plan.

The car banks are anxious to lend, not only to spur new car sales and increase brand market share, but this is not without scrutiny of credit reports, bank balances and local economic situations.

Regardless of 720 and higher credit scores; banks want money down to allay their fears of vehicle value inequity from optional equipment, fees and taxes.  Those car buyers who have experienced credit challenges of late will find higher interest rates, a need for a minimum 20% down payment; cash or trade-in and proof of all income.  Second chance or bad credit car loans are caught between the high used car prices, high mileage odometers and the banks demand for up to 40% cash down, bank statements, tax returns and employer interviews.

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday and start of the summer car selling season, car buyers must be prepared to rethink their car shopping list as the reality of the highly competitive used car market changes the deal on car lots across the country.

————————————————————————-

This bike runs like a champand has lot’s of extras including saddle bags, flashers, security system and factory warranty.

Sadly, the current owner has health conditions that do not allow him to ride any more.  The bike has a clear title and is in mint condition. It runs like a champ and looks even better in person.

As a private sale, you pay no sales tax.

Call now 702-521-7546 for a test drive, but please, no dealers.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

// ]]>

Just in time for the Laughlin River Run, Bikefest, Spring break in Daytona, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August,and more… this bike has under 12k miles! What a great way to celebrate spring with this baby under your seat, Softail I mean!  Pls. only serious buyers with cash or loan pre-approval. NO dealers.

You save on NV sales Tax when you buy from a private party. The only will deal directly with the buyer. call 702-521-7546 for more information or email:sarahlee@mycarlady.com

This bike has the following accessories and options:

Harley Davidson -07-FXSTC-Custom Softail

11,778 miles w/Harley alarm/fobs, Blue & silver, 6 speed

Blue & Silver paint-Harley

Engine & transmission are stock

Chrome components:

1)      Tire rim’s-front  & solid rear

2)      Harley flush mounted gas filler & gauge

3)      Harley inner transmission cover

4)      Harley chrome controls

5)      Harley rear sway bar

6)      front forks –Harley- lowered 2”

7)      Harley alternator cover

8)      Harley oil cooler

9)      License plate holder- led light flash’s when brake applied

10)  Vance & Hines pipes

11)  Hypo charger air induction system

12)   Harley oil temp gauge

13)  Harley rear view mirror’s

14)  Misc. bolt covers & bolts

15)  Harley Engine guard

16)  Highway, front and rear pegs (Kuryakn)

Other items:

20) Engine guard w/high intensity driving lights

21) Steel control cables

22)Memphisshade removable windshield w/ leather bag

23) Harley saddlebags

24) Harley battery tender

25) Motorcycle jack

26) Headlight high intensity

27) Tires have 4K miles

28) Soft bike cover-blue& silver

cforms contact form by delicious:days

If there’s one thing that most major auto manufacturers try to achieve is excellent reliability.  Giving drivers something that breaks down every 10 minutes just isn’t going to cut it in the slightest.  The trouble, though, is that better reliability comes from more expensive cars (in general), so people with limited budgets might be left with something quite average.  Buy cheap cars however, and this can change in an instant.

Think of it this way- second hand cars are cheaper than buying brand new, so you can get a better car for less money.  What this means in the reliability stakes is that it’s possible to get a wonderfully engineered car that’ll perform to it’s potential all the time for the same price as something that’s, well, not as good.  With a solid investment such as this, you really will get more in the long run.

Obviously some of the best brands to look out for are Audi, BMW, Mercedes, but don’t discount high end motors from Volvo, Volkwagen and Ford either.  In fact, it’s worth casting an eye over most top end models, provided they are in your price range, as 9 times out of 10 they’ll have better engines and a nicer finish inside.  The great news is that you won’t be short of choice, as there are more used cars for sale than you could possibly shake a stick at, which is nice.

So where is the best place to bag such a bargain?  Well in short, it’s the internet.  Yes, the online information highway is packed full of insane pre owned motoring deals, and you can find them with only a few Google searches and clicks of the mouse.  Places like www.motors.co.uk are superb because they list nothing but the best quality autos, have seriously low prices and make going from initial interest to taking a test drive very easy indeed.

The fact of the matter is this- if you’re going to buy a car, getting one that’ll last a while is preferable.  While manufacturers kit out their top flight models with the best gear and most reliable engines, buying second hand means you can get the best for less.  Although it might sound strange, to get a reliable car, buy one pre owned!

—————————————————————————————————

Pent-up demand and our aging vehicle fleet patched together as the economy has worn our tread bald, is driving consumers to re-evaluate putting money into costly repairs. Compounding the new car sales loggerjam is the lack of big incentives, caused by tight inventory controls.

The KIA, Hyundai, Audi, Jeep, Jaguar, BMW, Lexus and Toyota manufacturers are desperately balancing the need to sell cars for a profit with the lack of inventory in key models.

KIA and Hyundai have it BAD, lacking Soul, Optima, Forte, Sportage, Sorento, Sonata, Elantra,all vehicles sporting great fuel economy, reasonable prices, long warranties.  As fuel prices increase buyers are reconsidering the big suv in favor of the Sportage, CRV, RAV, Patriot, and Tucson. Land Rover has the new Evoque crossover suv, but the latest ratings from Consumer Reports have been misleading and bear closer scrutiny.  As this part of the market continues to grow, look for Porsche to add their own mini-suv called the MACAN in 2013.

This season also brings some new small models including the Fiat Abarth, Mini convertible, Evoque from Land Rover, Porsche: 911 and Boxster remake coming in May.

I will be back with in-depth reviews over the next few weeks, but in the meantime check out the opinions of other scribes on these various cars.

 My tips for 2012 NEW car shopping during this period is…

1.  Be flexible on color and feature lists.

2. Have a second or third vehicle model choice ready.

3. If you are determined to have the exact color and features, expect to order the car and wait 7-12 weeks.  The rebate programs may change during the wait, but they could improve in your favor as production increases.

4. Be realistic about your credit situation.  A 600 score does not warrant a better than 15% interest rate, no matter how good your credit was once. Advertised Lease programs usually require a 740 score. expect to pay more if your credit won’t qualify. Lending is not the dealers perogative, it’s up to the bank to judge your risk.

5.  Have 20% cash down.  The banks are not funding sales tax, warranties and other extras.

6. Get GAP protection if you are putting minimal down payment and/or have a credit score lower than 680.

For more info contact me and I’ll help you find the right deal for your budget and transportation needs. An autobroker can save you money,hassles and time, if you pick the right one.

cforms contact form by delicious:days