December Car Buying Strategies

December Car Buying Strategies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3mDrRlz1Hs&feature=youtu.be

We often hear that December is the best time of the year to buy a car, but is that true? It looks like between today and then end of the year the perfect storm is here for the car buyer. Where every element will make prices the lowest they have been all year. High inventory levels and lots of new incoming 2016 model year vehicles means dealers are ready to give you a mighty good deal at the end of 2014.

So how do you get the best deal on a new car, truck, or SUV? it’s often better to shop late at night closer to the end of the day. Car dealers are often likely to give you a better deal when it gets close to closing time. Of course December is they very last month of the year for Automakers to bring you buying opportunities. They’re looking to have great sales for the year and would be willing to do a lot to make you a new customer. This sets December up for a record price cutting about half a percent better than any other month of the year.

Consider all brands that are having sales this holiday season. Years ago Lexus started their December to remember sales event. Now everybody’s is jumping on the bandwagon and slashing prices of new vehicles. So be informed and learn about vehicles that would fit your needs and budget. Look at brands you may not usually consider. You might get one incredible year-end deal. If you are buying for your business don’t forget to think about tax benefits. Your tax consultant will be able to fill you in. But if you buy before December 31st remember that it counts as part of this year’s tax purchase.You should also consider leasing versus buying for your next vehicle. Leasing a vehicle can mean tax breaks every year you pay versus buying a vehicle which is often counted as one lump sum. Several manufacturers are offering 0% for up to 60 months, and Buick is offering that 0% finance with $3,000 allowance on the 2014 Buick LaCrosse. There is a rule of thumb when buying a new vehicle. this year you should be out to get 0% financing to .09% financing and between three and $5,000 off the MSRP

December Car Buying Strategies

2015 Nissan Murano

2015 Nissan Murano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A931HRWCgFg&feature=youtu.be

Nissan have announced they have they best full-line manufacturer fuel economy of any car maker in America. Giving them an overall 36 miles a gallon and those figures don’t include that all electric Nissan Lear. The Nissan Murano looks very similar to the concept car they rolled out earlier this year. Now they’ve dropped 146 pounds for the new year given it a 2-% fuel economy savings added 28 miles per gallon that’s a pretty good miles per gallon for a vehicle that size.

Almost 85% of Nissans on the road in the US today are produced in America, and that’s part of the strategy that has given Nissan that best ever sales year in the US to date. The New Nissan Murano is the most social vehicle Nissan has ever built. Aimed at empty-nesters or couples without kids. It transforms the SUV into a social lounge. It was designed at Nissan’s San Diego design studio. This third-generation vehicle has always been visually closer to a spaceship that a crossover.

Nissan wanted to have the same impact as the original adding a first-class cabin. the V motion front-end, and a roof that looks like it floats above the vehicle. This is Nissan’s flagship, and design with such precision that it cuts through the air with the same drag coefficient as a Porsche 911 Turbo. Inside an available panoramic sunroof a 7 inch full-color display. Best in Class rear cargo volume, best in class total cubic feet and an acoustic laminated windshield that keeps the outside out. and the inside in. To help with fule economy. There is that 146 pounds in weight reduction, active frill shutters tha change the shape of the car at speed and low rolling resistance tires to allow the new Murano to sip instead of drink fuel. Driving the new Murano was the most pleasure I have had in a long time. Smooth responsive and carefree make it perfect for even the most mindless driver and at a starting price of just $29,560.

2015 Nissan Murano

New Benchmark In Audi Technology

Audi Technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IZ8vnoE4oY&feature=youtu.be

Along with Audi’s sleek design and spirited driving dynamics comes a new benchmark in vehicle technology with a virtual cockpit. A fully digital instrument cluster which means a high-tech futuristic dashboard. We will have to wait almost a year for the new Audi TT to arrive in showrooms, but every indication is this new car is worth the wait. One of the biggest excitements is the new technology on the inside. It features the entirely digital instrument cluster that Audi likes to call their virtual cockpit.

Where you would normally see your gauges between the steering wheel and the windshield, instead in the new 2016 Audi TT you have a 12.3 inch screen. This will provide the driver not only driving information like speed and fuel use, but also entertainment info. The eyes are not the only thing that will be pleasantly surprised in the new Audi TT. The new vehicle will be able to read news headlines aloud. Also verbalize Facebook and Twitter alerts access more then 7,000 web radio stations and the vehicles user will be able to personalize news feeds and more. This version of Audi’s new connect system will also feature high-speed 4G LTE connectivity and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The new Audi TT will arrive on us shores during the second half of 2015 as a 2016 year model. We not find out the pricing and the equipment until closer to the vehicles on sale date.

New Benchmark In Audi Technology

New Cars & Concepts from Mini

New Cars & Concepts from Mini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOf8USkNoaI

Mini has always tried to look forward and inspire, it’s part of their DNA and has been since the brand was conceived in 1959. The Mini Superleggera is a British sports car with Italian style and shows the potential behind the Mini brand. Mini still has not told us what will be powering this vehicle. It’s a mystery but it will be green, economic and sip fuel whether that be Electricity, Hydrogen, Gasoline, or a mixture of all three. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. This is a concept and Mini have not said if they will even build it.

What is not a concept and is being readied for market is a new car for Mini. Building on the success of the Mini two door this new Mini comes with two extra doors. Now Mini introduce a four-door version of their hardtop. Mini is looking to refine what is expected from the premium small car segment. With added cargo space the new Mini hardtop four-door maintains the dynamic character and Go-Kart handling of the two-door model while adding functionality and interior space. The new four-door hardtop will go on sale sometime in 2015.

New Cars & Concepts from Mini

Black Friday Deals

Black Friday Deals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XayK69gLJBk

Just because it says it says Black Friday deal on the sticker on it doesn’t mean it’s a good deal, but good deals are out there. Dealers are trying to shift some 2013 and 2014 models, but I don’t recommend them since you can find some great deals on a 2015 year model. When you come to resell your vehicle those 2015 will have a much better resale value.

Also just because it is a Black Friday deal doesn’t necessarily make it a good car, truck, or SUV. What are the good deals this Black Friday? One of my top picks this Black Friday is the 2015 Ford Fusion. This stylish midsize family sedan handles extremely well in fact even better than some vehicles in it’s class that cost much more. Ford is offering savings of up to $2,963 on a 2015 Fusion and that deal will be in place until December 1st. Ford also offers a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version of the Fusion which have outstanding fuel economy of up to 47 MPG.

Buick are offering almost $3,000 off the most luxurious 3rd row crossovers, the Enclave. It’ll tows up to 5,100 pounds but a notable downside is it gets just 15 miles a gallon in mixed driving on regular fuel. Buick are also offering discounts on their Regal, a sports sedan with the european feel. The Buick Regal is one of my top picks for this Black Friday cause you can get up to $1,500 off of it.

GMC are discounting the Arcadia by almost $3,000, But by far my best pick for Black Friday discounts is the Kia Optima. Built in Georgia it has a respectable 25 miles per gallon fuel economy overall. Great styling and is well equipped in the mid #30,000 range. For this holiday season Kia are offering $2,565 off of the MSRP but these deals are only available until December 1st.

Black Friday Deals

Will China save the luxury car market?

Luxury car makers are thanking China for a boost in sales. China is reporting monthly car sales of 1.5 million units this year equaling that of U.S. vehicle sales. This has pushed some car makers well into the black and is giving them much needed capital to develop new models for a world market.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss2BKsaoZNY

Luxury cars like Bentley are more common on the streets of China and what a difference a decade makes. It wasn’t too long ago when Chinese cities were filled with bicycles, but thanks to a booming economy the luxury car market is growing fast. China’s luxury segment is seen as the next biggest boom for car makers around the world. Some analysts predict that within the next seven years China will outgrow the American luxury market and be the world number one.

What does a growing car market in China mean for American consumers? More sales in China will push some companies who have been struggling like Lincoln into profitability. This will give them more capital to develop new and more advanced vehicles and meet the needs of an expanding market. The result is that over the next ten years we are going to see luxury models and more advanced vehicles available for sale. Because of the larger volume the price may come down for some models. Super luxury cars like Bentley and Rolls-Royce may become harder to find as companies can only build a certain amount per year.

Before the year 2000 Rolls-Royce was selling as few as 600 cars a year. Now with some new models they are expected to pass the 4000 sales mark next year and it is thanks in part to the new rich Chinese buyer. Bentley’s growth is almost 20% in 2014 to 7,786 cars up from 6,516 cars in the same period of 2013. It is thanks in part to cars like the Continental GT and the Flying Spur.

America still has dominance with luxury cars sales.

Will China save the luxury car market?

TestMiles Radio Episode 47

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3GjqWjtWZc

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 47

Did Motor Trend Get It Right?

Did Motor Trend get it right by picking the Volkswagen Golf as it’s car of the year?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9Mr9vnnEJg

The 7th generation of the Volkswagen Golf family is Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of the Year winner for 2014. This is yet another award for Volkswagen just adding to it’s trophy cabinet for the Golf. Motor Trend chose the Volkswagen Golf over a number of other vehicles including the much loved baby of the Honda family the Fit. It also beat out Audi’s A3, The Hyundai Genesis which is one of of my favorites, and the much anticipated 2015 Ford Mustang. Also passed over were the Maserati Ghibli, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Lexus RC-F.

All these vehicles were strong contenders. Which left some industry reporters questioning did Motor Trend get it right?

The morning of the announcement Motor Trend spokes people were on hand to explain their choice and justify why they thought the Golf family was a good choice for their car of the year. It used to be the case that even being nominated for car of the year by an organization like Motor Trend was big sales numbers for the car maker. Last year the Mazda3 was one of the final 3 making it to the list of Car of the Year nominees. Even thought it had no chance of winning the nomination did not visibly dramatically boost sales of the car.

It seems like Americans are not as influenced by awards as they once were. The Volkswagen Golf has been hot in Europe on the sales scale, but buyers have been less impressed with it this year in the United States. It has only returned sales figures figures that puts it in the middle of the pack for buyers. It’s a solid car, with a 40 year heritage and definitely should be on the short list of test drives for car shoppers this year.

This Volkswagen Golf GTI has been on sale since spring and was joined by the other family members later in the year. The base Golf starts just under $18,000. The GTI Electric Golf and Diesel Golf will be joined by a new Golf R in early 2015. So Please go out and test drive on and tell us if Motor Trend got it right.

Did Motor Trend Get It Right?

TestMiles Radio Episode 46

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSIhqbch-_M

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 46

TestMiles Radio Episode 44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpPdBEXA_2M

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 44

TestMiles Radio Episode 41

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1fLaObteOM

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 41

TestMiles Radio Episode 40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxjR5V9GHGo

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 40

TestMiles Radio Episode 39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDN2fBB9k8A

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 39

TestMiles Radio Episode 38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKqisTq9TgY

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 38

TestMiles Radio Episode 36

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxELS2E_ya8

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1 radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 36

TestMiles Radio Episode 35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEZNXJd-xuw

TestMiles Radio is heard on 101.1FM radio every Sunday at 10:00am PST

TestMiles Radio Episode 35

TestMiles Radio Episode 34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD6AO_0VO4c

TestMiles radio is heard on 101.1FM KXL radio every Sunday at 10:00am.

TestMiles Radio Episode 34

Best compact trucks that GM has to offer

The Biggest Compact Trucks Just Got Bigger

Mid-size pickups were invented to bridge the gap between the traditional full-size V8-powered half-ton or better trucks and the imported mini-trucks that had been around since the 1960s. The first real mid-size was the 1987 Dodge Dakota, and its success led other automakers to respond by bringing out their own mid-size offerings or growing their mini-trucks to mid-size proportions. Eventually the compact trucks and even the Dakota simply died out, but that’s not the end of the story. 

“Eventually the compact trucks and even the Dakota simply died out, but that’s not the end of the story”

For 2015, the only surviving mid-size trucks on the American market are the Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and the twins from the General: the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Neither the Frontier nor the Tacoma have had a serious refresh in nearly 10 years, which makes this fall’s complete redesign of the Colorado and Canyon all the more significant.

Proven yet Fresh Engine Lineup

The new Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are built to take advantage of the fact that the last major work done in this segment happened before anyone had even heard of smart phones. GM has brought everything in their catalog to these compact trucks in order to squash the competition and dominate this market. And they just might succeed.

Start with the heart – the most basic of the new compact trucks offers a 200-horsepower, 191-pound-foot, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The engine is DOHC, with variable valve timing and direct injection, but it’s still naturally aspirated. This aluminum beauty bears no relation to the old “Iron Duke” 2.5-liter boat anchors in GM’s past – it’s a brand new player with substantial room for the aftermarket to boost power. There’s plenty of space in the truck’s cavernous engine bay to fit that engine with whatever may be developed.

The other engine is an aluminum 3.6-liter V6, also with DOHC, VVT, and direct injection. This one comes in at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. This is the engine you want for towing, performance

Both these engines have seen prior duty in other vehicles, but have been retuned for the specific needs of the truck market. That’s apparent when you see that even the 4-cylinder models have a basic tow rating of 3,500 pounds. When you add the tow package and the V6, that jumps to an impressive 7,000 pounds.

Flexible Transmission and Driveline Options

Regardless of the engine you choose, expect it to be backed up by GM’s capable Hydra-Matic 6L50 6-speed automatic transmission. The new truck is available with 2WD or 4WD, and it’s a fully automated shift-on-the-fly design. One of the great things that comes along with ordering the Colorado Z71 or Canyon SLT off road trim levels is that you get an automatically locking rear diff. The diff decides when to electronically lock itself up based on wheelspin, but unlike mechanical lockers, doesn’t put any additional drag on the system when it’s not in use. You can order the locking diff separately without the top 4WD trim level, too.

Redesigned Body and Bed

GM has done a bunch of work on these compact trucks to give you a quieter and more SUV-like driving experience, and it has paid off. It starts with the chassis. The new generation uses a fully boxed frame with freshly designed body mounts that keep the cab and the bed in line and isolated from the road. Then they put new triple seals around the doors to keep things quiet inside. Finally, extensive use of adhesives and sealants throughout the build process helps keep the Colorado or Canyon of your choice peaceful and pleasant.

You have your choice of two cab designs – extended or crew. There’s no basic cab any more. But GM isn’t going to put you between a rock and a hard place with a decision about bed space versus cabin capacity, either. You can have the 5-foot 2-inch short box, or a 6-foot 2-inch long box with the crew cab, or just the long box with the extended cab. The extended cab offers the traditional shorty rear-hinged doors for back seat access.

Chevy and GMC are particularly proud of their adaptable bed design in the new compact trucks, and they have a wide range of accessories that let you partition the bed or carry anything from bicycles to boats back there. One feature that deserves mention is the “cornerstep” in the rear bumper. This is a recessed step at each end of the bumper that makes it a lot easier to step up into the bed. Points for convenience. The bed also has an optional EZ-lift and lower system that stops the tailgate from slamming down.

Luxury Interior and Technology Showpiece

The inside of the Colorado or Canyon shows how far the pickup truck market has come from the days of metal dashboards and flat bench seats. The interior treatments are the same that you’d expect to find in an upscale SUV. This is where the Canyon departs from the Colorado. As you’d expect in a GMC, the luxury touches are a cut above Chevy, with soft-touch surfaces and a generally nicer presentation. You can get leather, heated seats, and the whole luxury deal.

Both of these compact trucks are really going to beat on Nissan and Toyota in the technology story. Your new Colorado or Canyon comes with a 4G/LTE receiver and three months of service to hook you so you’ll sign up your truck for its own data plan. You can use that 4G to broadcast a wi-fi signal around the truck for your use. That’s a nifty luxury for families, but could be a critical benefit for work purposes as well.

Everything is controlled through an 8-inch color touch screen. You can play your tunes, get your OnStar navigation and services, and watch your bumper while you’re backing up with the standard tailgate-mounted backup camera. Pair up your iPhone and the screen will give you text message alerts and Siri eyes-free services. You also get 4 standard USB ports on all the trim levels except the base model.

On the safety side, you get all the usual stuff – the trucks are as safe as anything on the road. But you can also order the optional lane departure warning and forward collision alert if this is your kid-hauler. The off-road package gets you hill start assist and hill descent control, and you can have trailer sway control along with the overall Stabilitrak stability control system.

Bottom Line: What’s it Going to Cost?

The literature will tell you that the basic Colorado or Canyon starts at $20,995, plus the usual destination charge. That’s a true statement, but it’s not really real. That truck is only a 4-cylinder, only manual transmission, and has none of the great stuff you really want. Change anything in the configuration – V6, Automatic, Crew Cab – and your price jumps up to the $28,000 range. Add several of those features and you’re already up to $35,000 before you can say “tow package.” Then ponder the fact that the top of the line models are about $40,000. That’s with the leather and the whole option book dumped in. Chevy and GMC have structured the pricing to get you up the option ladder quickly and efficiently, so if you’re going to do it, you might as well go big or go home.

In fact, “go big” might well be the slogan for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, because they’re about the same size as a classic 1970s C10. On the test drive, we pulled up next to a last-generation Ford Ranger and towered over the poor, frightened compact truck like it was a Prius. A touch of the accelerator and the V6 pulled us away from the light with authority.

The bottom line on the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon is this – they drive like a nice SUV, have plenty of power, and the future looks bright for the aftermarket. If you’re looking for something smaller than a full-size but with a fully modern feature set and design, one of these two options is your truck. There is simply nothing (yet) on the market to touch them.

Best compact trucks that GM has to offer