Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chrysler launches 'No Payments for 90 Days' incentive]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chrysler-launches-no-payments-for-90-days-incentive/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chrysler-launches-no-payments-for-90-days-incentive/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chrysler-launches-no-payments-for-90-days-incentive/#commentsFiled under:



Chrysler upped the ante for May sales announcing this week a deferred payment program for anyone buying a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Fiat between now and the end of May.

The "No Payments for 90 Days" program began Monday and runs until May 31. Qualified buyers financing their new vehicles through Ally Financial or Chase Auto Finance are eligible for deferment. Some consumers may not be eligible due to state laws.

It's an interesting twist to spur sales, as Chrysler has seen a 31-percent increase in sales this year, well ahead of the 10-percent increase for the industry. However, sales at Chrysler slowed in April, climbing just 18 percent, while overall industry sales mildly grew 2.3 percent.

Additionally, Chrysler announced it was doubling down on military members and their families with its "Military Appreciation Bonus Consumer Cash". Instead of giving eligible military members $500 toward a vehicle purchase, Chrysler is spotting them $1,000 through the end of the month.

The hot selling 2012 Dodge Avenger SE, Chrysler 200 LX sedan, Dodge Journey AVP, Fiat 500 Abarth and all SRT models, including the soon to arrive Viper, are exempt from the deal. See more details below.

Continue reading Chrysler launches 'No Payments for 90 Days' incentive

Chrysler launches 'No Payments for 90 Days' incentive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingchryslerdealsdodgefiatincentiveincentivesjeeppaymentWed, 23 May 2012 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20243746/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/chrysler-launches-no-payments-for-90-days-incentive/20243746/article-detail.xml 20243746 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/20120513-chrysler-incentives-deferred-payments_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/20120513-chrysler-incentives-deferred-payments.jpg <![CDATA[Audi offering four-year SiriusXM Traffic subscription on select 2013 models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/audi-offering-four-year-siriusxm-traffic-subscription-on-select/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/audi-offering-four-year-siriusxm-traffic-subscription-on-select/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/audi-offering-four-year-siriusxm-traffic-subscription-on-select/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There's about to be a whole lot more traffic news for select Audi buyers. SiriuxXM radio is already offered free for three months to folks who buy a new Audi, but now, if you select MMI Navigation Plus or MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, you'll get four years of SiriusXM Traffic, free, even if you don't pick up the subscription to the rest of SiriusXM's offerings.

The offer is available on all Audi models so long as you tick the correct options box. With SiriusXM 2.0 head units supposedly due later this year, though, perhaps you'll want to wait to get the most of your radio, instead of having all those dead SiriusXM options staring back at you. Scroll down to read the press release.

Continue reading Audi offering four-year SiriusXM Traffic subscription on select 2013 models

Audi offering four-year SiriusXM Traffic subscription on select 2013 models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audicar buyingmmimmi touchsiriusxmWed, 23 May 2012 13:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20243283/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/audi-offering-four-year-siriusxm-traffic-subscription-on-select/20243283/article-detail.xml 20243283 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/audisiriusxmtraffic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/audisiriusxmtraffic.jpg <![CDATA[Average price of new car sales transaction hits $30,748, an all-time record]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/#commentsFiled under: ,

Female car buyer looks at new vehicle

If you've looked into purchasing a new car recently, we likely don't need to tell you prices are plenty lofty. According to TrueCar.com's data, the average selling price of a new car sold here in the U.S. last month was $30,748, marking an all-time record (last year's figure was just $28,771). While buyers are currently looking toward smaller, less expensive and more fuel-efficient models, overall vehicle sales have jumped ahead of the rest of the slowly recovering economy. In addition, manufacturers are keeping production more in line with demand, resulting in significantly scaled-back incentives.

As a result, the average transaction price has inched skyward even in the face of an uncertain economy and escalating fuel prices. In addition, small cars now carry significantly more content than before and prices to match, and crossovers just keep getting more and more popular. Buyers have proven none too wary of optioning B and C-segment vehicles well above MSRPs typically seen on mid-sized fare, and used car fleets are thin, raising prices and pushing buyers toward new cars instead. According to CNW Marketing, consumers now routinely option a vehicle to within 86 percent of the fully loaded cost.

Average price of new car sales transaction hits $30,748, an all-time record originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto pricesauto salescar buyingcar pricecar pricescar salesnew car pricespricetransaction pricestruecarWed, 11 Apr 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20213416/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/20213416/article-detail.xml 20213416 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/female-buyer-checking-out-new-car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/female-buyer-checking-out-new-car.jpg <![CDATA[Infographic: Which automakers gave the biggest discounts?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/infographic-which-automakers-gave-the-biggest-discounts/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/infographic-which-automakers-gave-the-biggest-discounts/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/infographic-which-automakers-gave-the-biggest-discounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Business was a-boomin' in the auto industry last year, and while a number of factors conspired to keep cars moving through dealerships, chief among them was discounts. How do we know that? This infographic contains part of the answer.

Compiled using data from car-shopping website CarWoo!, the infographic tells us which automakers gave the most discounts last year, where they were given, who got them, and more. Which automaker doled out the most discounts? Jeep, which CarWoo! says was selling its vehicles at a 17.7-percent discount in 2011. Which automaker also posted the largest percentage gain in sales last year? Jeep, whose sales jumped over 44 percent compared to 2010.

Mitsubishi and Kia, which posted the second and third largest percent increases in sales last year, also make CarWoo!'s list by having offered high discounts of 11.7 and 12.1 percent in 2011.

Big savings didn't always equal big sales, though. Infiniti, for instance, is on record offering discounts of 12.2 percent in 2011, but still saw its sales fall 4.8 percent.

Check out the rest of what CarWoo!'s infographic has to say about savings after the jump.

Continue reading Infographic: Which automakers gave the biggest discounts?

Infographic: Which automakers gave the biggest discounts? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcarwoodiscountsinfinitijeepkiamitsubishisavingsSun, 29 Jan 2012 16:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20157768/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/29/infographic-which-automakers-gave-the-biggest-discounts/20157768/article-detail.xml 20157768 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jan2012carwooinfographichc-2012.01.23-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jan2012carwooinfographichc-2012.01.23-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Higher prices, more controls slow auto sales in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/higher-prices-more-controls-slow-auto-sales-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/higher-prices-more-controls-slow-auto-sales-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/higher-prices-more-controls-slow-auto-sales-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Traffic in China

China saw the slowest growth in the country's auto market in over a decade last year, according to the Associated Press. Sales rose by just 2.5 percent in 2011, thanks in part to more expensive vehicles and tighter buying controls. All told, consumers brought home 18.5 million vehicles last year, compared to 18 million in 2010. Chinese buyers endured the expiration of various tax breaks and buying subsidies, changes that saw the bottom line on most vehicles increase substantially. In addition, the Chinese government installed new restrictions on car buying in Beijing, further crimping sales growth. Sales exploded by 32 percent in 2010 after China slashed sales taxes and offered hefty subsidies in an effort to push buyers toward the showroom.

By contrast, the U.S. enjoyed fairly expansive growth last year. Vehicle sales in the U.S. increased by 10 percent to 12.8 million units.

Analysts expect the Chinese auto market to continue growing in the coming years, but the pace will likely be more restrained than in the past. The country's housing market is beginning to cool down, which typically yields slower expansion in the vehicle market as well.

Higher prices, more controls slow auto sales in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar saleschinachina car saleschinese auto marketchinese car salesTue, 17 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20148123/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/17/higher-prices-more-controls-slow-auto-sales-in-china/20148123/article-detail.xml 20148123 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/traffic-in-china_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/traffic-in-china.jpg <![CDATA[Analysts predicting up to 14M auto sales in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/analysts-predicting-up-to-14m-auto-sales-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/analysts-predicting-up-to-14m-auto-sales-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/analysts-predicting-up-to-14m-auto-sales-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sold car sign in window

Automotive industry analysts are projecting a better sales year in 2012. According to Automotive News, a number of culminating factors could see sales of up to 14 million units next year. That's thanks to factors like decreasing unemployment, improved credit availability and a larger portion of the population looking to replace older vehicles. Don't think that means the overall economy will be any stronger next year, however. According to the studies, buyers have simply grown more callous to news of repeated financial crises and aren't likely to let that news impact their new vehicle purchases. While the ink hasn't dried on 2011's sales figures, the national tally is expected to wind up somewhere around 12.6-12.7 million new car sales.

That view is largely based on a scenario that played out earlier this year. When Congress faced off over the nation's debt ceiling, the Dow Jones Index plummeted by 1,500 points. In the past, that would have translated into decreased auto sales, but the numbers have stayed steady this year.

Throw in pent-up demand from buyers waiting for sunnier economic times and more free-flowing credit and automakers may just meet the 14 million unit mark.

Analysts predicting up to 14M auto sales in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 vehicle salesauto salescar buyingcar salesnew car salesvehicle salesWed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20135840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/28/analysts-predicting-up-to-14m-auto-sales-in-2012/20135840/article-detail.xml 20135840 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/sold-car-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/sold-car-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Illinois town builds own track for consumer test drives]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/29/illinois-town-builds-own-track-for-consumer-test-drives/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/29/illinois-town-builds-own-track-for-consumer-test-drives/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/29/illinois-town-builds-own-track-for-consumer-test-drives/#commentsFiled under: ,

Indiana Test Track from above

If you're shopping for a vehicle near Naperville, Illinois, you may have a chance to put your possible purchases through the gauntlet on at a new facility. The town has joined forces with local dealers to create a driving course that would reduce the number of test drives on public streets and give buyers a better sense of the type of vehicle they were purchasing before they signed on the dotted line. The course features a variety of pavement types, a small parking area and even a sprinkler system to allow for foul-weather evaluations.

While the entire facility is housed in an area roughly the size of a mall parking lot, Cars.com reports that the course gives buyers a safe way to more or less fully evaluate a vehicle. Given that most dealers simply offer up pre-planned routes that give only the faintest impression of what a vehicle will be like to live with, we wish more dealers and buyers had access to similar test track. Head over to Cars.com to check it out in greater detail.

Illinois town builds own track for consumer test drives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar dealercar shoppingdealerdealersillinoisnapervillenaperville illinoistest drivetest drivingMon, 29 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20029442/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/29/illinois-town-builds-own-track-for-consumer-test-drives/20029442/article-detail.xml 20029442 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/indiana-test-track-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/indiana-test-track-630.jpg <![CDATA[Half of America's young willing to try Chinese cars, 41% would consider Indian [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/24/half-of-americas-young-willing-to-try-chinese-cars-41-would-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/24/half-of-americas-young-willing-to-try-chinese-cars-41-would-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/24/half-of-americas-young-willing-to-try-chinese-cars-41-would-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Cars from China's BYD

Foreign manufacturers have had a strong presence in the United States' new car market for decades now. Germany, Japan and Korea produce vehicles that many consumers find as appealing as our domestic offerings, if not more so. Those countries have had lots of time to win favor among American consumers, while other countries have yet to make a dent on our car-buying radar. That could change more quickly than one might think, however, as a new study by GfK Automotive shows that younger car shoppers are willing to explore cars made in countries other than the ones previously mentioned.

According to GfK, only 38 percent of U.S. car shoppers are open to a Chinese brand. That figure drops to 30 percent for a vehicle from an Indian manufacturer. However, looking at younger consumers, 52 percent of Gen Y car shoppers say they would be willing to take a look at a Chinese automobile, and 41 percent would consider an Indian-made vehicle. Conversely, America's Baby Boomers are less likely to give a chance to vehicle made in India or China, with 22 and 29 percent (respectively) giving those countries a thumbs up.

Still, those are more promising figures for Chinese and Indian automakers than we might've expected. Built and priced correctly and given the right marketing, China and India could have a waiting group of shoppers ready to take a chance on a new face in America's car park. Click past the jump to read the full press release and let us know if you think you'd be ready to go Chinese or Indian in our poll below.


View Poll

Continue reading Half of America's young willing to try Chinese cars, 41% would consider Indian [w/poll]

Half of America's young willing to try Chinese cars, 41% would consider Indian [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingchinachinese automobilechinese carsgen ygfkgfk automotiveindiaindia carindian automobileindian carsWed, 24 Aug 2011 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20025807/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/24/half-of-americas-young-willing-to-try-chinese-cars-41-would-c/20025807/article-detail.xml 20025807 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/byd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/byd.jpg <![CDATA[Analysts predicting big year-end incentives blitz to salvage yearly numbers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/analysts-predicting-big-year-end-incentives-blitz-to-salvage-yea/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/analysts-predicting-big-year-end-incentives-blitz-to-salvage-yea/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/analysts-predicting-big-year-end-incentives-blitz-to-salvage-yea/#commentsFiled under: ,

Toyota Marin dealership

As Japanese automakers see their production levels return to normal, U.S. dealers should finally be able to bolster their inventories after months of slim pickings. According to Automotive News, the companies may use the situation to attempt to improve total year sales with massive incentive and advertising spending. The report says that currently, some showrooms are only at half of their pre-disaster inventory levels - this, despite the fact that the number of available vehicles has increased over the past month. The quake and tsunami disaster has resulted in a shift in market share, with Japanese makes losing 6.7 percentage points from their pre-quake height of 38.8 percent. Automotive News reports that Toyota saw its market share plummet by 2.6 percent to 11.6 percent.

The introduction of the seventh-generation Camry may help that company's cause, and rivals Honda and Nissan may attempt to launch a price war to keep buyers in the family. That may mean larger incentives than buyers have seen from either automaker in the recent past. Additionally, the report says that manufacturers are cranking up the ad budget to match production. The rush of cash is expected to take hold in the fourth quarter, which means automakers must make it through Q3, first.

Analysts predicting big year-end incentives blitz to salvage yearly numbers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingcar buyinghondaincentivesnissantoyotaTue, 02 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20006976/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/02/analysts-predicting-big-year-end-incentives-blitz-to-salvage-yea/20006976/article-detail.xml 20006976 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/toyota-marin-dealership_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/toyota-marin-dealership.jpg <![CDATA[What Would Grandpa Drive? Apparently, a CTS Wagon or Panamera [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/what-would-grandpa-drive-apparently-a-cts-wagon-or-panamera/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/what-would-grandpa-drive-apparently-a-cts-wagon-or-panamera/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/what-would-grandpa-drive-apparently-a-cts-wagon-or-panamera/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Elderly Car Sales

What you see here is a list of the cars most often purchased by senior citizens, and thus, the fact that the Lincoln Town Car, Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS are the top three spots should come as no shock whatsoever. But look at the fourth place listing - the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. That's right, General Motors' Art & Science cargo-hauler accounted for a whopping 74.2 percent of all senior citizen car sales CTS Sport Wagon sales between 2009 and 2010. That's a whole lot of cool grandpas.

Scan further down the list and you'll see other no-surprise entries like the Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse and Toyota Avalon. But then there's the Porsche Panamera, which takes the 11th place spot, accounting for 53.3 percent of sales to these 65+ drivers meaning that 53.3 percent of all Panameras sold were to the 65+ crowd. Even more cool grandpas.

The TrueCar.com study also ranked the top brands for senior citizen buyers during 2009 and 2010, with Buick, Lincoln, Cadillac and Chrysler taking the top spots with 57.5, 47.7, 44.0 and 36.1 percent of total sales going to senior citizens, respectively. Only 29.5 percent of Porsche sales are to the older crowd, putting it in seventh place. See the full results of this study in our image gallery below.

What Would Grandpa Drive? Apparently, a CTS Wagon or Panamera [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccar buyingctscts sport wagoncts wagonelderlypanameraporschesenior citizensseniorstruecarWed, 27 Jul 2011 11:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20001998/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/27/what-would-grandpa-drive-apparently-a-cts-wagon-or-panamera/20001998/article-detail.xml 20001998 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/chart630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/chart630.jpg <![CDATA[Four-cylinders increase lead over V6s as engine of choice for Americans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/four-cylinders-increase-lead-over-v6s-as-engine-of-choice-for-am/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/four-cylinders-increase-lead-over-v6s-as-engine-of-choice-for-am/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/four-cylinders-increase-lead-over-v6s-as-engine-of-choice-for-am/#commentsFiled under: ,

2012 honda civic ex sedan engine

America cho-cho-chooses the four-cylinder engine as its preferred means of locomotion. In fact, the four banger has been the favored choice since taking the lead over six-cylinder engines a few years back. The four-versus-six debate was neck in neck back in 2005, when six-cylinder engines accounted for 43 percent of the market. Now, it's the four pots that own 43 percent of the market.

There's no mystery behind the shift in consumer buying patterns. Fuel prices are higher, four cylinder engines keep getting better and the economy continues to remain flat.

It's also no surprise that a the eight cylinder engine has also fallen out of favor with new car shoppers. In 2005, a V8 could be found powering one in three new vehicles. Today, that powerplant has fallen to powering one in six. Time, as they say, marches on...

Four-cylinders increase lead over V6s as engine of choice for Americans originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar shopping trendsfour cylinderi4inline fourpreferred enginesix cylinderv6v8Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19999674/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/25/four-cylinders-increase-lead-over-v6s-as-engine-of-choice-for-am/19999674/article-detail.xml 19999674 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/17-2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-1311607492_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/17-2012-honda-civic-ex-sedan-1311607492.jpg <![CDATA[Demand for convertibles folded up, stowed amidst sour economy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/demand-for-convertibles-folded-up-stowed-amidst-sour-economy/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/demand-for-convertibles-folded-up-stowed-amidst-sour-economy/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/demand-for-convertibles-folded-up-stowed-amidst-sour-economy/#commentsFiled under: ,

2011 chevrolet camaro convertible

If Paula Cole were a car enthusiast (and forgive us if she is), she would probably rework her hit song to ask, "Where have all the convertibles gone?" Look around and you may have noticed that less people are buying new convertibles these days. The folks at Polk have taken a look at the sales numbers for convertibles, and market share for droptops is down... way down.

Convertibles must've been hard to keep on dealer lots back in 2006, when the reclining-roof rollers accounted for 2 percent of all new vehicle sales. That amounts to nearly 350,000 drivers letting the sun shine in. In 2010, however, total convertible sales fell over 50 percent while market share dropped to just 1.2 percent.

If one automaker wanted to declare victory in this declining segment, it would be General Motors. Through the first part of the year, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible has accounted for 12.4 percent of the droptop market. The Ford Mustang isn't far behind, making up for an even 11 percent.

Demand for convertibles folded up, stowed amidst sour economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camaro convertiblecar buyingchevroletconvertiblepolksalesTue, 19 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19994733/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/19/demand-for-convertibles-folded-up-stowed-amidst-sour-economy/19994733/article-detail.xml 19994733 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/03-2011-chevrolet-camaro-convertible-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/03-2011-chevrolet-camaro-convertible-opt.jpg <![CDATA[First Groupon deal for autos fails miserably]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/first-groupon-deal-for-autos-fails-miserably/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/first-groupon-deal-for-autos-fails-miserably/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/first-groupon-deal-for-autos-fails-miserably/#commentsFiled under:

groupon screenshot

We live in an age of instant discounts. Groupon, Living Social, Gilt and a host of other websites offer up excellent deals on everything from designer clothes to dinner. One area those sites have yet to tap is the world of car buying. Groupon has tried, but it hasn't exactly gone swimmingly.

Partnering up with LaFontaine Automotive Group in Detroit, Groupon offered consumers a $500 coupon for the price of $199. Mind you, that's not $500 off since you just shelled out nearly 200 bucks, but you'll get a $301 reduction in the bottom line of the vehicle purchase price. LaFontaine needed at least 10 folks to jump on the Groupon deal.

Just four folks understood the deal and clicked "Buy!"

It seems this first attempt at a Groupon deal for car buying hasn't gone as well as some hoped. Customers want more bang for their buck, and $301 off the price of a new car just isn't going to cut it.

First Groupon deal for autos fails miserably originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingdetroitgrouponlafontaine autoMon, 18 Jul 2011 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19994050/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/18/first-groupon-deal-for-autos-fails-miserably/19994050/article-detail.xml 19994050 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/groupon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/groupon.jpg <![CDATA[Groupon offers first-ever deal for car buyers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/groupon-offers-first-ever-deal-for-car-buyers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/groupon-offers-first-ever-deal-for-car-buyers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/groupon-offers-first-ever-deal-for-car-buyers/#commentsFiled under:


Groupon, the social media deal website/app that's racked up over 80 million members by offering 50-percent off your next hot stone massage or $10 off a large pizza from Mama Santos, is ready to start wheeling and dealing on more expensive products, namely cars.

This week the company offered its ever deal on a car: $199 for $500 off the purchase or lease of a vehicle. The catch is that the deal's only good at LaFontaine Auto in Detroit. Also, we hope you read the above closely, because the deal isn't $500 off the purchase or lease of a car, it's that you pay $199 to get $500 off, which means you're really only saving $301. And who's to say the dealer doesn't list the price of its cars a few hundred dollars higher to cover the cost of the deal? Mama Santos can't do that with her large pies; everybody in the neighborhood already knows how much they cost.

This is Groupon's first attempt at angling for car buyers, though. In this particular case, it only seems worth it if you were already planning to buy a car at LaFontaine Auto in Detroit. Otherwise, you're just saving a few hundred bucks to deal with someone new who may or may not give you the best deal on your new car purchase. In any case, we're more interested in what this means for the long-term - will Groupon make a more serious move into the auto buying space? Stay tuned.

Groupon offers first-ever deal for car buyers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar dealgroup ongrouponlafontaine autosocial discountWed, 13 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19990492/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/13/groupon-offers-first-ever-deal-for-car-buyers/19990492/article-detail.xml 19990492 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/lafontaine2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/lafontaine2.jpg <![CDATA[Midwest most loyal to Big Three while the Coasts favor imports]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/midwest-most-loyal-to-big-three-while-the-coasts-favor-imports/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/midwest-most-loyal-to-big-three-while-the-coasts-favor-imports/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/midwest-most-loyal-to-big-three-while-the-coasts-favor-imports/#commentsFiled under:

california volkswagen dealership

Loyalty to a particular car brand seems to fluctuate as you move throughout the country. Certain makes sell well in one area of the U.S., yet that same make might fall flat in other parts of the country. One buying pattern is certainly clear, however, as car shoppers in the midwest flock to domestic brands while those on the coast prefer imports.

In Detroit (surprise, surprise) and St. Louis, car shoppers opt for domestic brands 67 percent of the time. By comparison, domestic car purchases account for just 27 percent of the market in both Los Angeles and San Diego. The desire for imports isn't a West Coast trend either, as Miami (35 percent), Boston (33 percent) and New York (32 percent) prefer imported makes, as well.

Domestic automakers are gaining traction in new areas thanks to updated and improved lineups. General Motors, for example, has seen strong sales of the Camaro all over the country. Still, the imports aren't letting up easily - Hyundai and Kia are setting internal sales records on a monthly basis, and we don't see that trend dying anytime soon.

Midwest most loyal to Big Three while the Coasts favor imports originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingdomestic car salesimport car salesnew car shoppingMon, 11 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19988202/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/11/midwest-most-loyal-to-big-three-while-the-coasts-favor-imports/19988202/article-detail.xml 19988202 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/vw-dealership_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/vw-dealership.jpg <![CDATA[What cities have the most patriotic car buyers?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/what-cities-have-the-most-patriotic-car-buyers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/what-cities-have-the-most-patriotic-car-buyers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/what-cities-have-the-most-patriotic-car-buyers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Detroit Fireworks

In this case, "patriotic" refers to car shoppers who buy from domestic manufacturers regardless of where their products are actually built or designed. Not surprisingly, TheDetroitBureau.com reports that the Big Three are most popular in the Midwest, with more than two-thirds of car sales going to Ford, General Motors or Chrysler. Detroit and Saint Louis were rated the two cities with the largest slice of domestic car buyers with consumers choosing to buy American 67 percent of the time. Cleveland, Ohio came in third with a 59 percent U.S. majority in the CarGurus.com study.

The Detroit News reports that those figures slide off a bit the farther you move toward the coasts. San Francisco shoppers only opt for domestic hardware 27 percent of the time. Los Angeles and San Diego are tied at the same rate. Likewise, East Coast buyers tend to lean more toward import vehicles, with just 32 percent of New Yorkers taking home an American vehicle. Head over to TDB for a full look at the rankings.

What cities have the most patriotic car buyers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy domesticcar buyingchryslerclevelanddetroitfordgeneral motorsgmst louisWed, 06 Jul 2011 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19984782/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/06/what-cities-have-the-most-patriotic-car-buyers/19984782/article-detail.xml 19984782 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/detroit-fireworks_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/detroit-fireworks.jpg <![CDATA[What is holdback, and how much did your dealer make on your car?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/02/what-is-holdback-and-how-much-did-your-dealer-make-on-your-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/02/what-is-holdback-and-how-much-did-your-dealer-make-on-your-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/02/what-is-holdback-and-how-much-did-your-dealer-make-on-your-car/#commentsFiled under:

Money in hands | Photo by Seven Depolo | CC BY 2.0 Licence

When you buy beef jerky, some Bridgestones or a Bulgari, you don't spend six hours researching how much the retailer paid for the product. For that matter, when you buy a building, you don't ask how much the builder put into it. When it comes to cars, though, consumers can never be deterred from scrutinizing the dealer's actual costs. Hence the spotlight shined on dealer 'holdback,' which is a sum of money paid to a dealer by the manufacturer after a car is sold.

According to TrueCar, holdback makes up anywhere from one to three percent of the price of a car. In the most nefarious interpretation, holdback is a built-in rebate that spikes the dealer's invoice price. If a manufacturer wanted $20,000 from a dealer for a car, knowing that it might need to pay a two-percent holdback once the car is sold, the manufacturer makes the dealer pay $20,400 for the car. That $20,400 is now the official invoice price that appears on the breakdown. Once the car is sold, the dealer gets a check for $400.

Holdback is an inexact number. It could be pegged to the base MSRP or the configured invoice or the configured MSRP, for instance. But it can allow the dealer a number of follow-on benefits, including being able to sell a car at invoice price and still make money. Not that a dealer would let it go for invoice, and $400 isn't much on a $20K transaction, but you get the point. TrueCar has a table of holdback percentages for various manufacturers, but be as wary of having too much information as too little.

What is holdback, and how much did your dealer make on your car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingdealer holdbackdealersdealershipholdbackSat, 02 Jul 2011 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19979639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/02/what-is-holdback-and-how-much-did-your-dealer-make-on-your-car/19979639/article-detail.xml 19979639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/moneyhands-bystevendepolo-ccby20_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/moneyhands-bystevendepolo-ccby20.jpg <![CDATA[Used car prices highest in 16 years, but might not stay that way]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/used-car-prices-highest-in-16-years-but-might-not-stay-that-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/used-car-prices-highest-in-16-years-but-might-not-stay-that-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/used-car-prices-highest-in-16-years-but-might-not-stay-that-way/#commentsFiled under: ,

Car buyers

If you're looking to purchase a used car or truck, you may have noticed that the prices have been a bit higher than you may have expected. Maybe the salesman in the used car lot isn't willing to dicker as much as you may have expected. According to USA Today, the reason for this phenomenon is that pre-owned vehicle prices are at a 16-year high.

The national paper claims that the average transaction price for a used vehicle is $11,660; up 30 percent since 2008. If that total still seems palatable, consider that four-year-old Honda Accord sedans are selling for $16,175, or about $373 per month with the typical four-year loan and five percent interest. While it's not the same as buying, USA Today notes that a brand-new Accord can lease for about $250 plus taxes, title and plates.

And while we're on the subject of leasing, the U.S. recession and the sharp decrease in leasing has helped cut down on the used vehicles available, further depleting stock while demand remains strong. The price hikes are also being felt at the auction houses, where prices have soared to levels not seen in over a decade. Owners are keeping their vehicles longer as well, as the typical vehicle is now 10.6 year old, up from 9.8 years in 2007.

But while the used vehicle market is strong, many feel that the trend can't last forever. Car buyers are leasing more now. 21 percent of all vehicles moved off of new car lots are being leased - up from 11 percent in 2009. That means more vehicles will become available once those leases run their course. Credit has loosened a bit as well, so potential new car buyers with less-than-perfect credit are now more likely to find themselves in a new vehicle.

Used car prices highest in 16 years, but might not stay that way originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto salescar buyingcar salesleasingpre-ownedrecord used car pricesused car pricesused carsused truckused vehicleFri, 27 May 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19949175/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/27/used-car-prices-highest-in-16-years-but-might-not-stay-that-way/19949175/article-detail.xml 19949175 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/car-buyers-signing_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/car-buyers-signing.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Consumer Reports</i>: Car buyers will pay for higher fuel economy, won't compromise safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/consumer-reports-car-buyers-will-pay-for-higher-fuel-economy-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/consumer-reports-car-buyers-will-pay-for-higher-fuel-economy-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/consumer-reports-car-buyers-will-pay-for-higher-fuel-economy-w/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota Prius models at a dealership

According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, new car buyers are factoring fuel economy as a larger concern in their purchases. That's no real surprise given that prices at the pump remain high, but the study also revealed that those same consumers are unwilling to sacrifice safety just to net a few additional miles per gallon.

The research revealed that 62 percent of buyers say they are planning to buy a vehicle with much better or significantly better fuel economy than their current ride. On average, that translates to fuel economy of 29 mpg or better. Surprisingly enough, 10 percent of those questioned said that they expected 40 mpg or better from their next purchase. That means that buyers will need to be willing to make all sorts of concessions, including making compromises on purchase price, vehicle size and the number of options.

One factor those surveyed evidently won't give up on, however, is safety. Only 11 percent of the total respondents said they would be willing to compromise safety for greater fuel economy. Read the complete summary over at Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports: Car buyers will pay for higher fuel economy, won't compromise safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buying habitscar buyingcar shoppingconsumer reportsfuel economygreenstudyThu, 26 May 2011 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19949804/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/26/consumer-reports-car-buyers-will-pay-for-higher-fuel-economy-w/19949804/article-detail.xml 19949804 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/prius-models-on-a-lot_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/prius-models-on-a-lot.jpg <![CDATA[NADA and banks working to curb new federal oversight efforts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/nada-and-banks-working-to-curb-new-federal-oversight-efforts/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/nada-and-banks-working-to-curb-new-federal-oversight-efforts/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/nada-and-banks-working-to-curb-new-federal-oversight-efforts/#commentsFiled under: ,

nada logoIn 2010, the Federal Trade Commission received 1,339,265 complaints. According to the National Automobile Dealer's Association, less than one percent of those complaints were related to new or used auto sales. That relatively low number (compared to the 250,854 people who complained of identity theft) has NADA upset over the government's decision to pursue the creation of an automotive lending consumer advocacy agency.

NADA has given its official support to the congressional Republicans who are looking to put the clamps on this new oversight group.

This agency will be formed as part of legislation that seeks to simplify auto loan disclosure forms, and the entire process of borrowing money to obtain a new set of wheels. On the contrary, NADA believes this advocacy agency could lead to financing abuses related to the level of power granted to those in charge.

NADA and banks working to curb new federal oversight efforts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar dealer complaintcar dealersdealership complaintfederal trade commissionftcnadanational automobile dealers associationoversightWed, 25 May 2011 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19948531/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/nada-and-banks-working-to-curb-new-federal-oversight-efforts/19948531/article-detail.xml 19948531 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/nada-logo-11_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/nada-logo-11.jpg -1 2