Here are a couple car facts of interest:

1.  Latest JD Power Quality Ratings

1. Porsche (who cares?)
2. Acura (interesting)
3. Mercedes (who can afford it?)
4. Lexus (ditto)
5. Ford (real cars for real people)
6. Honda (real cars for real people)

That’s a good sign.  Did anyone see Toyota in the top 6?

2.  Buying a 2010 BMW 6 series M5? (I hope not)
But if you are, there is up to $12,500 dealer incentive money–make sure they share!

3. Only in America.  Well, maybe not.
Nissan has 14,000 orders for its new electric car, the Leaf.
Let’s see, an electric car.  You have to install a home charging system for $3,000.  It gets an advertised 100 miles on a charge (No air conditioning and averaging 38 mph with no stops etc etc) and hasn’t even been priced yet, let alone have a proven track record, and there are 14,000 U.S. orders?  Wow, Leaf it alone!  That’s all I can say.

Again Happy 4th of July– & keep your eye on our site www.cu-autosolution.com for hot repossessions from NW Credit Unions.

Here is something new–A shortage of “American Cars”.  We’ve noticed lately a real dearth of some Chevrolet and Ford models.  A turnaround from the old days and sort of nice.

And speaking of Ford, they are offering dealers free F&I (Finance & Insurance) training to part you with your money when you buy from them.  Use Auto Solution & your Credit Union.

Lastly, we are remarketing an ever-increasing number of Credit Union repossessions from our Credit Union partners.  These can be a good way to get a lot of car for a very good price. Visit our site at www.cu-autosolution.com for some good buys.

Tru-Car, a firm that tracks vehicle pricing says “Average margins at Kia stores went from 2.4% before the program to 5.1%.  The firm says “Consumers left an average of $2,868 on the table for Mitsubishi, $2,500 for Toyota Prius, and $1974 for Mazda 3.”  Oh yes and $3,810 on overage for Nissan Murano.

And! These figures do NOT include what happened in the finance (remember F&I?) office.

That, folks, is why Credit Unions and their members need Auto Solution.  If your Credit Union does not offer Auto Solution, do them a favor–let them or us know.

Generally

Specifically

Answer! No, that’s not enough.  “Clunkers” has nothing to do with the cost of the new vehicle.
Auto Solution gets the new car close to invoice and you’ll get the government’s “clunker” money.
Do not let dealerships charge too much because you’re in the Clunker program.

#2  Yesterday a member called
..and purchased a new Subaru–on the Clunker program.  Well guess what, when we saw the trade-in “Clunker,” it was not a clunker at all.  We took it in trade instead and netted her more money.

–Pay Attention–
If your trade is worth more than $4500, get Trade-In value, not “Clunker Cash.”

This program may seem simple, but there are pitfalls.

1. Don’t overpay for the new car.
2. Don’t let a dealer “steal your trade.”  You may think the government is your friend, but is your car dealer your friend too?

Questions?  Go to our website (home page) or call one of our consultants in Oregon (800-207-2429) or Washington (800-935-2886)

Oh yeah, if your new GM vehicle needs warranty work, Nancy Pelosi will personally come out in designer coveralls and take care of any problem.

Ditto Chrysler
The car landscape is sure changing.  Auto Solution has gone from 70-75% new vehicle to 70-75% used.

And speaking of used, you should be in constant touch with our website, www.cu-autosolution.com as we sell a good number of repossessions for Credit Unions and some are an excellent buy.

And last but not least.  Seems that leasing is trying to make a comeback.  One word of advice–Don’t lease (ok 2 words).  Credit Unions have money to lend.  It’s the best way to go.  Leasing is the worst.  No matter what the car salesman says.

But enough of that. At least your money is safe–if it’s in a Credit Union.

Cars, oh yeah–
Guess what? The dealers with the multi-million dollar inventories are starting to call. Subarus below invoice. Used cars below wholesale, etc, etc. Not a bad time to buy if you’re looking.

Let’s talk hybrids. The straight scoop is they don’t save you money. In the true “cost to own” derby from Edmunds the Prius comes in 34th.  Why? Currently there is a Prius shortage, so the price is artificially high.

Next is gas prices and consumption. How many miles do you have to drive to make up the $4000(+-) premium for the hybrid? The answer is lots–

Go to http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html to see if you are really going to save money.

I’m not anti-hybrid, I am pro-green (green as in money)–spend yours wisely.

Remember Auto Solution and your Credit Union will save you money on the purchase and financing of your next vehicle.

And just to lighten it up a little, here are the top 10 ways to tell if you need a new car:
     10. Your passenger seat is on the National Register of Historic Places.
     9. Instead of an air bag, there is a whoopee cushion taped to your steering wheel.
     8. You lose the stoplight challenge to a 14 year old on a moped.
     7. 15 Minute Jiffy Lube needs to keep your car for 3 days.
     6. When you gas up, the attendant asks, “Can I re-duct tape that windshield for you?”
     5. Thieves repeatedly break in your car just to steal “The Club.”
     4. While sitting at a stop light, people keep running up to you and asking if anyone was hurt in that  wreck.
     3. For the last five years, you’ve had to settle for making “vroom, vroom” noises while in the driveway.
     2. You keep losing dates on left turns.
     1. Traffic reporters start referring to you by name when discussing morning tie-ups.

The return of Fastrax.  Absent for a while, for no particular reason, you’ll be receiving a Fastrax approximately every 10 days… so hit unsubscribe if that’s not good news.

What better to lead off with than an almost-funny-if-it-weren’t-so-tragic switch of position? Cars have always been a depreciating asset while homes were a safe haven… yeah right!! Lately small cars have increased in value and home values are falling like a rock. It won’t last but it seems strange. Besides, probably not too practical to move your family of four into the family Prius.

How about this from Experian…

Of all vehicles (1.3 million) severely damaged by collision, weather, or fire in the first 1/2 of 2008, 15% (195,000) now have clean titles. Read another way, almost 200,000 totaled cars are returned to the roads of America—illegally—every 6 months.

Protect yourself. How? Experian and CARFAX both have programs to help consumers. Auto Solution has a program through Experian to help Credit Unions protect themselves from financing those vehicles. Call us!

From a consumer’s position there is nothing more important than knowing that you are buying from a reputable source (that’s why well over 300 Credit Union outlets recommend Auto Solution).

And, especially now, if you’re thinking of a new vehicle don’t forget incentives, the money paid to dealers and sometimes consumers by manufacturers to encourage sales. Right now some manufacturers are paying loads of money to dealers on some models and you need to know before buying or chances are good the dealer will forget to mention the dealer money to you—Imagine—

If you are a consumer, call us. We’ll tell you if your vehicle of choice has incentives. And if you’re a Credit Union, we’ll advise you monthly, upon request, of all incentives.

We’ll talk soon—don’t let all the doom and gloom on the nightly news get you down.

That sure is interesting, I know Auto Solution doesn’t speak for the industry at large, but we had our best January in 3 years–maybe consumers are looking around for good deals…ya think?

Ok, here’s Toyota’s newest- A system that monitors the eyes of a driver to tell when he or she is getting drowsy. If your eyes start to close it sets off an alarm. Guess you wouldn’t be able to drive and listen to the presidential primary speeches…

Maybe quality is not the problem- The CEO of one of our Credit Unions ordered a new Chrysler Town & Country van eight weeks ago. We dutifully ordered it through a Chrysler dealer and waited…3, 4, 5, 6 weeks with no news. I get on the phone to the dealer and he says:

“Oh, Chrysler didn’t have enough orders so they closed the plant for a while.”

“Closed the plant? What about the customer?”

I called the CEO and today delivered her a new Honda Odyssey. The problem wasn’t quality, it was a complete lack of customer service. I am a buy-American guy but I agree with her–Chrysler doesn’t want the business, so go somewhere else.

That’s it for the exciting update.  But believe me something funny will happen soon.  This is, after all, the car business.