Avoid Tricks, Make the Deal a Treat

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:...
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Leasing a New Model

Leasing a New Model

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...
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Leasing in a World of Uncertainty

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...
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Understanding Online Lease Ads

Understanding Online Lease Ads

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...
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At The Dealership

At The Dealership

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...
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Leasing an “Old” New Car

by John Koehler Comment Closed
Is is Worth Leasing an "Old" New Car? **This post contains affiliate links and the publisher may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.**   As we reach mid-June there are still more 2016 vehicles listed as new cars for sale than there are 2018 vehicles listed for sale.  Overall, there are about 103,000 new 2016 vehicles listed for sale nationwide, which is about 4% of the total new car inventory currently listed for sale*. All of these cars will eventually be sold, it's just a matter of when and at what price.  Lease Wizard doesn’t recommend for or against considering these vehicles for lease (or purchase) versus more conventional new cars – those with a 2017 or 2018 model year, but instead here are some things to consider that can help you make an informed choice: At some point in each year a manufacturer usually cuts off incentive support for these “old” new cars – the ones with...
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