John Koehler – Page 3

Avoid Tricks, Make the Deal a Treat

October 31, 2017August 25, 2019 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** The auto buying experience has come along way; although it is still way behind other retail transactions of any size, and also slower and less convenient than other sizable transactions - in a lot of places the process of buying real estate, with a mortgage, still takes less time than a trip to the dealership where you show up knowing the vehicle you want and are paying cash. The most amazing thing is that while there's been substantial improvement in much of the process, the reputation of car dealers/car salespeople is still among the lowest of any profession in the United States, as well as similar nations like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.* It is baffling that people would be willing to do business with people they think are going to trick them. However, the results never seem to change:...

Dealing with a Car Accident

October 7, 2017June 22, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** No one likes to think about what might go wrong, and we totally understand - if something is uncertain it's much more enjoyable to imagine success; like your favorite team winning the championship, or a Nigerian prince selecting you to give millions of dollars to if you help him collect his billions (seriously, don't fall for this!). However, there are plenty of low probability events that are bad: that's why the insurance industry exists, and while you're sure to have insurance if you drive a car, there's more to know than simply making your payments on time to make sure you don't make a bad situation like a simple traffic accident worse. Avoiding Excess Wear and Tear Costs Getting into a car accident (at least one worth reporting) is sure to place the car's condition beyond the "normal wear and tear" zone...

Leasing a New Model

September 29, 2017August 25, 2019 by John KoehlerNo Comments

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** Autumn has arrived: the air is a little cooler (or should be), the sun sets earlier, the leaves change colors, and the auto manufacturers roll out the next model year's edition of their entire vehicle lineup. If the vehicle is a mainstay in the brand's lineup, then it will have a major overhaul every 3-5 years, and otherwise not change much from one model year to the next. But each manufacturer also likes to introduce 1 or 2 brand new models each year, to much fanfare, while more quietly retiring those models that don't seem to be as popular any more. In either case - the overhauled (their lingo is often "redesigned"), or model or the brand new model, there's some things to keep in mind to make sure you get a great deal - whether you're buying or leasing. The...

Leasing in a World of Uncertainty

September 10, 2017June 22, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** Last time we quoted the Ancient Greeks here was on the page "Know Your Credit", and we will give a brief update about that, but this week's theme is about the Ancient Greek's classical elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and the Void, and how they have each been kicking North America's behind over the past few weeks, especially this week! Earth - an extremely strong, and unfortunately deadly, earthquake, with an 8.1 magnitude, struck off the coast of southern Mexico on the evening of September 7th, and toppled hundreds of buildings. Fire - many of the western states of the U.S. as well as British Columbia, Canada have been dealing with wildfires, that have been substantially worse than predicted based on the cold wet winter that the area had, and it has caused some evacuations, with many more possible if the...

Holiday Weekend Shopping

August 30, 2017March 10, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** It seems like every retailer uses holiday weekends as a reason to put their inventory on sale, and advertise these discounts, and the world of auto retailing is no different. The manufacturers and dealerships know that consumers will use the extra time off to take care of one of the biggest purchases most people make, and that the deals and heavy advertising is needed to get folks to choose their brand and their dealership over all the other choices. The Weekends to Watch There are six holiday periods in particular that the automotive industry focuses on for its holiday-themed deals, although what you're shopping for may impact how great of a deal you can expect, as well as which holiday it is. Throughout the year the biggest holidays for auto sales are (chronologically, not sales volume): President's Day Weekend Memorial Day Weekend ...

Understanding Terms & Conditions

August 25, 2017June 22, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** Getting behind the wheel of a new car is always exciting, but understanding the conditions of your lease is important in knowing that your getting a good deal, as well as helping you to drive confidently; knowing that when your lease is up, you won’t be paying unnecessary fees. The Not-So-Fine Print In your lease contract, the mileage allowance will be clearly spelled out. If you’re worried about potentially going over, it’s a good idea to assess where you’re at with your mileage. If your 36 month lease allows you to drive 15,000 miles per year, over the course of three years, your lease allows you to drive 45,000 miles. Only you know exactly how many miles you’ve driven each year, the lessor isn’t going to pop in after the first year to make sure you haven’t driven 15,001 miles and make...

Road Trip – II

August 17, 2017March 10, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** We continue the summer series focused on great road trip ideas, depending on what part of the country you find yourself in, and with the goal of visiting 5+ states and traveling around 1,500 miles. Obviously, if you are already leasing, you want to watch the mileage you put on the vehicle, but if you're just a few months from turning it in and you're thousands of miles under the limit, these ideas may be for you. Last time we covered New England and the midwest. This time the focus will be on the incredible natural beauty of the southwest and the amazing music created in the southeast. A Day (or Week) at the (National) Parks There's a number of great national parks (as well as forests, seashores, wilderness areas, conservation areas, etc.) across the 48 contiguous states. Picking out a few...

Understanding Online Lease Ads

July 26, 2017August 25, 2019 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** Do you have any idea what the easiest part of leasing is? The answer, to the detriment of the unprepared consumer, is advertising the lease deal! Think about the lease deals you've seen advertised before - on TV, in newspapers or other print, or even on billboards: all of them focus on just three numbers (in this order): The monthly payment The number of months The amount due at signing / down payment amount The advertisers then breeze through the other legally required details as quickly, or in as small of font, as their lawyers will let them. Comparatively, advertising a vehicle for purchase either needs to focus on the full purchase price, which is tens of thousands of dollars, or try futilely to advertise a single monthly payment for consumers with thousands of unique credit and down payment situations. So...

At The Dealership

July 19, 2017March 10, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** You’re at the dealership surrounded by shiny, new vehicles. Your eyes are dazzled by brilliant colors, glittering rims, and your senses are completely overwhelmed with the rush of that new car smell. You’ve done the research and know you want to lease a new car. You look up and the smiling car salesman is walking toward you. He shakes your hand and asks how he can help you. You mention the car you’ve had your eye on, and together you glide across the showroom floor. Here it is, your dream car, and you’re ready to slip into the driver’s seat and take her for a spin. The dealer takes your driver’s license, grabs the keys, and you make your way to the lot. Your fingers grip the steering wheel; its a perfect fit in your palms. The sun is shining, and...

Road Trip!

July 8, 2017May 15, 2020 by John Koehler Comment Closed

**This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.** It may be surprising to have a publication called "Lease Wizard", which provides information about auto leasing, publish an article about road trips, but we're full of surprises around here. Basic advice provided elsewhere on this site explains that leasing is best suited for those that drive below average miles (1,000/month | 12,000/year) and don't have lots of unexpected trips. All of that holds true, but what if you're now in the last 3-6 months of your lease, you're on pace to complete the lease term quite a bit below your mileage limit, and you don't have interest in purchasing the vehicle? Obviously, one option is to simply turn the car in, and the dealer and lessor will sing your praises for years to come and even name their children after you... Coming back to reality, they will be nice to...