The bright and shiny new cars lure you in like a kid marveling at Christmas tree ornaments. The automobiles splayed before you not only represent movement and freedom, but the opportunity for improvement. There is an unspoken excitement when you think that soon you will be driving one of these beauties home. But before you can drive out of the parking lot, you have to make it through choosing, negotiating, financing and buying.

CHOOSING: Today, most people have done some sort of research on the internet about the car they want to purchase. It’s in your best interest to compare several makes and models and brands of similar vehicles online before heading to the dealership. Go to several companies’ main websites to get a general sense of features, mileage, and technology for the cars you like. Then check out websites with independent reviews and personal experiences of people who have driven those cars.

Once you have done a little research and narrowed down your options you’re ready to hit the lots. The salesperson is usually the first person you will meet at any particular dealership. Consider this person your dealer representative. It is his/her job to be the intermediary between you and the owner or general manager. Up front, ask to see all the vehicles you have previously researched and take them for a test drive. If the salesperson knows what you want early on, he/she can make your choosing experience go smoothly.

NEGOTIATING: Now that you have chosen the car you want, the nerve-racking task of agreeing on a price awaits. For new cars, there’s not much wiggle room in the price for negotiations. The brand headquarters sells the car to the dealership at a pretty steep price and suggests an MSRP that’s only a few percentage points above cost. The General manager of the dealership can sell the car anywhere in between those two price points. Keep in mind, he also has to pay the salesperson, the finance specialist, the support staff and still try to make a profit for the dealership from the money made off each car. During negotiations you should consider a decrease in price of 2% – 5% off MSRP acceptable for a new car. But this should not be expected. Some dealerships have already reduced the sticker price below MSRP for a special sale or to increase customer traffic.

FINANCING: Negotiating and financing tend to occur at the same time. While you are working with the  salesperson to determine a price, he/she is working with the finance specialist to get you a loan that will supplement the down payment and monthly installments you can afford. This is the part of the car buying process that tends to take the longest. Depending on your credit report and down payment, the finance specialist may have several options for you or just one. At any given time, don’t hesitate to put the financing on hold and get a quote from an outside institution like a credit union or bank. In the end, it is up to you to decide what the car is worth to you and how much you can afford.

BUYING: Once you have decided on the financing terms, you still have to go over all the details of your purchase. Most likely you will be sent to a customer service office where the representative will have you sign papers regarding terms and conditions of your loan, different insurance and warranty  options, suggested upgrades and many other important issues. You will also be required to procure insurance for your new car before you are allowed to drive it off the premises. Finally the salesperson will hand you the keys to your new car.

Congratulations on your purchase of a new car! The following are some important tips that will help you make the car buying process go smoothly.

• It can take up to 6 hours to buy a car. Expect to spend at least 2-4 hours at the dealership. Bring a book or other similar entertainment if necessary.
• If you have a trade-in, find out what it’s worth ahead of time. Try to sell it yourself to get more money, then use that as your down payment.
• Bring at least $500 – $1000 for a down payment. Most lenders won’t loan you money without a down payment.
• Don’t bring children. They just don’t have the patience or coping skills to sit through 4 + hours of negotiations and financing.
• Remember, you are going to be driving and paying for this car for the next 3 – 10 years and you should always feel comfortable when choosing and negotiating. If you ever feel pressured or bullied ask for a different sales representative or leave if necessary.

See Maxie Price Chevrolet for great deals on New Cars

by Wally Koster

Not too long ago, anyone shopping for a new or used car or truck would spend hours scouring the newspaper or waste precious time and money driving from dealership to dealership to compare models, trim levels and prices. Today’s smart, Internet-savvy customers do it all with just a few clicks on their computer keyboard and from the comfort of their own home or office. The Internet has, in fact, now become the information and shopping source of choice for today’s busy, time-crunched car and truck buyers.

Much of yesterday’s traditional showroom traffic has moved into cyberspace. Over 80% of all U.S. households now have Internet access. Nearly 85% of all new and used car purchasers shop online first, before even visiting a dealership. They spend an average of four hours researching and comparing vehicles and prices on a wide variety of manufacturer, dealer and third-party sites such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds and Yahoo. More than 10 million used car searches are conducted on Yahoo! each month.

According to a poll conducted by Cars Online, 44% of people surveyed said they were likely or very likely to purchase a car or truck entirely over the Internet, if that capability were available. Last year, one major automotive manufacturer piloted a program in California to sell their cars, trucks and crossovers on e-Bay.

To better satisfy the growing number of customers who shop online, dealerships are creating dedicated Internet Sales Departments to manage customer e-mail inquiries. "It’s grown so fast," says Donna Lawlis, Internet Sales Manager at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas. "We started with just one person. Now we have ten full-time sales consultants in a separate building just to respond to all our customer leads."

Industry experts recommend dealers hire one dedicated Internet sales consultant for every 100 leads received per month. The industry closing ratio for Internet leads is 2.9%. "Being an Internet sales consultant isn’t a car job, it’s a sales job," says Eric Hall of Classic Chevrolet. "A normal day for me is to get here at about 8:00 a.m. in the morning, check our incoming leads, start answering customer e-mails, and take photos of our new and used inventory to post on the dealership website. The day kind of progresses from there."

The NADA reports that 96% of franchised dealerships have a website. Nearly 90% of all GM dealerships are enrolled in a factory-sponsored Certified Internet Dealer (CID) program which provides a dealership website, search marketing tools, links to the GM and brand sites, and automatic updates of national sales and service promotions.

"Our dealership website gives us an opportunity to get business we otherwise wouldn’t get," according to Rick Smallman, Internet Sales Manager at Lupient Chevrolet in Bloomington, Minnesota. "It’s as important to our dealership as the showroom, or as the Parts and Service Department."

Over 80% of all activity on a dealer’s website is related to inventory. Most sites feature photos of new and used vehicles, including "Internet Specials," with detailed descriptions of vehicle features, specifications and pricing available at the click of a button.

"Keeping our inventory fresh or finding that one special car, truck or SUV for a customer is always a challenge," says Nate Cottrill, Inventory Manager at Al Serra Motor Plaza in Grand Blanc, Michigan. "About 70% of our used inventory comes from auto auctions. To find the quality, late-model cars and trucks we need, we’re now shopping auctions as far away as Texas and Florida."

As evidenced above, consumers are not the only ones shopping online. Many dealers now buy and sell a substantial volume of their vehicles on the wholesale market through online auctions. Dealers in the Midwest buy used rental cars over the Internet from as far away as Hawaii, California, Nevada and Arizona.

In the same way, online car haulers are helping used car dealers maintain their profitability when shipping vehicles from auto auctions outside their usual trading area. With a few clicks of their mouse, dealers can find online car haulers who offer both truck and rail service options.

Online car haulers are making auto transportation easy, safe and efficient for dealers who are using the Internet to find the best inventory. Dealers shopping online don’t want to be constrained by a vehicle’s location. After buying a car online from a wholesale auction, dealers simply go to the car hauler’s website to get a price and estimated transit time for door-to-door pickup and delivery. Dealers can then place orders, track shipments and manage all their transportation needs in one place online.

Technology and the Internet have changed how consumers compare and shop for cars and dealers are responding. Dealers are finding new ways to use the Internet to manage their business and remain competitive when selling cars to consumers and sourcing inventory for their lots.

About the Author

ShipCarsNow offers auto shipping nationwide providing used car shippers a robust and responsive vehicle delivery network to handle long distance and volume shipments.

Maxie Price Chevrolet in Loganville, GA has a fully staffed internet sales department and can ship any vehicle anywhere in the continental US. To buy cars online go to www.mymaxieprice.com

By: Neil Lemons

When my husband and I joined a Corvette club after buying a Corvette, some of our friends rolled their eyes. They thought it was bit corny and that we’d be out of element. Boy they were wrong. Joining a Corvette club is something every Corvette owner should do.

Being in a Corvette club is more than just attending obligatory meetings every other week or once a month. It’s a chance for camaraderie, a time to come together with like minded people, it’s an excuse leave behind the dirty dishes behind to go to events, and a chance to grow closer to a spouse.

Because of our car and the Club we joined, I have been to places I’ve never been to, I’ve made memories on sunny Saturday afternoons at local events, and have had the opportunity to evaluate some pretty hot Corvettes as a judge at an event my Club sponsored. And we’ve made some pretty good friends, including a couple I hold dear to my heart.

Why can you get out of it? Benefits of joining a Corvette Club:

- Make new friends to spend time with during club events and other social outings.
- Visit local attractions
- Take day trips
- Take week long vacations together
- If you own your own business, a connection with a club is a great way to network, particularly if you can provide a service the club can use.
- Gain valuable information on how to service, enhance or maintain your car.
- Find buyers for your Corvette, parts or accessories.
- Connect with those selling their ‘Vettes for an opportunity to find a car in decent shape.
- Participate in charity events to help your local community.
- Make a difference by organizing events for your club, giving you something positive to spend your energies on.

So are you sold yet? What do you have to do to join a Corvette Club? It’s easy.

- Find a Corvette Club of interest in your area. I’d recommend picking only one. Joining two or more questions your loyalty the first club you joined.

- Each club has different rules for becoming a member, but usually they like you to attend about three meetings, events, or a combination of both to show you truly are interested in attending.

- Once the club votes you in, pay their reasonable annual membership fee (my club asks for $25 a year for my husband and I)

- Attend events, make new friends, and have fun!

So how do you find a Corvette club to join?

- Well, it’s easy. Here are a few suggestions on how to find a local Corvette Club:

- Ask around at places that would be involved with Corvette clubs, such as Chevrolet dealerships who often sponsor the clubs.

- Ask your local Chamber of Commerce.

- Talk to the National Corvette Museum who has partnerships with Corvette clubs across the world.

- Talk to the National Council of Corvette Clubs, one of the oldest clubs in the nation who has many relationships with Corvette clubs across the U.S.

- Check online. There are many places on the internet to connect with your local Corvette Club. Visit the Corvette Forum under the "Tools" section (http://www.corvetteforum.com), Club Corvette (http://www.clubcorvette.com/main.asp), Corvette Club Listing (http://www.idavette.net/clubs.htm) for starters.

About the Author

Neil Lemons represents Corvette Gear USA, a leading retailer of officially licensed C5 & C6 leather accessories. For more information on Corvette products and Corvette merchandise visit http://www.corvettegearusa.com.

(ArticlesBase SC #411554)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Benefits of Joining a Corvette Club