Eighty percent of car buyers are using the Internet to research cars and used car prices. For vehicle research, the Internetís great! For vehicle prices, the Internet sucks! It sucks because the prices do not reflect reality for the buyer or the seller. Web sites that place values on vehicles have created more confusion than ever.

ìMy carís worth $25,800.î ìI looked up used car prices on the web and my vehicleís worth twenty grand.î I hear quotes like these everyday. I wish, for the customerís sake, that the values are real. By ìrealî I mean a viable number according to market value.

As hard as it is to accept, even for me as a dealer, what we think a car is worth, and what itís actually worth according to ìmarket valueî is often drastically different.

To find a vehicleís value the context must first be discussed. Whatís context?

Context includes, but is not limited to:

1) Vehicle condition: mileage, maintenance, 1-ownerÖetc
2) Desirability: new model, special editions, just plain coolÖ
3) Seasonality: plow trucks, convertibles, 4-wheel driveÖetc
4) The Economy: factory incentives, gas prices, hybrids, SUVs
5) Location: Beverly Hills versus the Bronx

Now, each of the above context variables could easily have several sub categories. For exampleÖ

Vehicle condition is extremely relative. One person may think there vehicle is perfect, someone else states it needs $1000 worth of work.

Desirability is also relative. A bunch of very cool bells and whistles may not add any value, or it may add $1000ís.

Seasonality is relative. A convertible in the summer has more value than one during a Chicago winter. A plow truck in June will have significantly less value than in November in the northeast.

Economic recessions, exorbitant gas prices, combined with manufacturer incentives can shift new and used car prices all over the map.

Location has a major effect on used car prices. A convertible in California is worth more than one located in Canada.

To summarize, context funnels down to market value. Web sites such as Edmunds, NADA, and Kelley have drastically missed this mark, creating a host misinformation. To be fair, these are great research sites, but they can not be the final say on price.

Stating that a vehicle is worth a certain amount of money based on a web siteís data does not take the above factors into account. Itís a value based on misinformation.

These web sites have created an aura of trust when in actuality, the values are mythical. The market is the real indicator of vehicle worthófor better or worse.

What should one do? Buyers and sellers would be wise to follow the market. Check out autotrader.com, cars.com, and/or *ebaymotors.com and watch what vehicles are being advertised and sold for. While these sites are not the final word either, theyíre much more accurate than web sites leaning heavily on opinion and averages.

Note: eBay used car pricing is generally wholesale. In other words, it would not be accurate to compare a wholesale-priced eBay car (which may need a significant amount of reconditioning) to a retail-priced vehicle in showroom and/or perfect working condition.

In the end, and this come straight from industry expert, Barry Roth, ìTake the highest price and the lowest price you find on the Internet and throw them out. The remaining numbers in the middle is where one should wade. But donít forget value. Price is one thingóvalue is the real key to a great carî

For more on used car values visit www.jqcars.com

 

Eighty percent of car buyers are using the Internet to research cars and used car prices. For vehicle research, the Internetís great! For vehicle prices, the Internet sucks! It sucks because the prices do not reflect reality for the buyer or the seller. Web sites that place values on vehicles have created more confusion than ever.

ìMy carís worth $25,800.î ìI looked up used car prices on the web and my vehicleís worth twenty grand.î I hear quotes like these everyday. I wish, for the customerís sake, that the values are real. By ìrealî I mean a viable number according to market value.

As hard as it is to accept, even for me as a dealer, what we think a car is worth, and what itís actually worth according to ìmarket valueî is often drastically different.

To find a vehicleís value the context must first be discussed. Whatís context?

Context includes, but is not limited to:

1) Vehicle condition: mileage, maintenance, 1-ownerÖetc
2) Desirability: new model, special editions, just plain coolÖ
3) Seasonality: plow trucks, convertibles, 4-wheel driveÖetc
4) The Economy: factory incentives, gas prices, hybrids, SUVs
5) Location: Beverly Hills versus the Bronx

Now, each of the above context variables could easily have several sub categories. For exampleÖ

Vehicle condition is extremely relative. One person may think there vehicle is perfect, someone else states it needs $1000 worth of work.

Desirability is also relative. A bunch of very cool bells and whistles may not add any value, or it may add $1000ís.

Seasonality is relative. A convertible in the summer has more value than one during a Chicago winter. A plow truck in June will have significantly less value than in November in the northeast.

Economic recessions, exorbitant gas prices, combined with manufacturer incentives can shift new and used car prices all over the map.

Location has a major effect on used car prices. A convertible in California is worth more than one located in Canada.

To summarize, context funnels down to market value. Web sites such as Edmunds, NADA, and Kelley have drastically missed this mark, creating a host misinformation. To be fair, these are great research sites, but they can not be the final say on price.

Stating that a vehicle is worth a certain amount of money based on a web siteís data does not take the above factors into account. Itís a value based on misinformation.

These web sites have created an aura of trust when in actuality, the values are mythical. The market is the real indicator of vehicle worthófor better or worse.

What should one do? Buyers and sellers would be wise to follow the market. Check out autotrader.com, cars.com, and/or *ebaymotors.com and watch what vehicles are being advertised and sold for. While these sites are not the final word either, theyíre much more accurate than web sites leaning heavily on opinion and averages.

Note: eBay used car pricing is generally wholesale. In other words, it would not be accurate to compare a wholesale-priced eBay car (which may need a significant amount of reconditioning) to a retail-priced vehicle in showroom and/or perfect working condition.

In the end, and this come straight from industry expert, Barry Roth, ìTake the highest price and the lowest price you find on the Internet and throw them out. The remaining numbers in the middle is where one should wade. But donít forget value. Price is one thingóvalue is the real key to a great carî

For more on used car values visit www.jqcars.com

 

Whether buying used or new cars, both options have advantages and disadvantages that the car buyer alone would be the best person to be knowledgeable about as he or she would know what would work well as according to his/her needs, wants, preference, budget and whim.

The following are basic factors to consider in buying a used or a new car:

The price.

Those on a stringent budget would find used cars a good deal. Though there are a handful of new cars that sell for less than ten thousand dollars, the ones that cost less usually have only a few amenities, with some having none of the following: air-conditioning, stereo. Sometimes the cars come with only two doors or one of the power windows is broken, if there are power windows at all. On the other hand, the availability of three to four-year old used cars loaded with more than the bare-boned features of a basic used car ñ such as a CD player, air conditioning, airbags ñ gives the used car buyer a great deal.

But still, the pricey new cars are costly because of the updated safety features they carry: de-powered airbags as well as ìsmartî front and side protection airbags. New vehicles also carry whimsical features such as: beverage holders that keep drinks cool or hot.

The choice depends on you, your priorities and your purchasing power.

The warranty.

New vehicles usually are under warranty for a minimum of three years to a maximum of ten. Hyundai and Kia provide ten year warranty for their vehicles. DaimlerChrysler offers a seven year warranty for their Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models. So does Isuzu.

Some eligible late-model used cars could complete their original warranty and could just as well be extended if they are protected by the vehicle certification program. If not, used car owners could shell out a few hundred to be able to extend their service warranty or contract.

The mileage.

Newly-bought used cars come with mileage already spent. New vehicles basically do not need maintenance for the first thousands of miles, and if they do, car manufacturers cover the oil change and their tune-up as well as other fundamental maintenance services.

Specially made cars

Used car buyers usually have to content themselves with as-is vehicles whose color may not be that perfect shade of red, green or blue. Buyers of new cars however, have the option of a varied range of colors or car features that used cars have not. Car dealers usually cater to the tastes and impulse of a car buyer and usually would even satisfy a customer by specially-ordering a vehicle.

 

source: jqcars.com

Whether you are traveling in the heat of the sun or just looking for a little privacy, car window shades are a solution to your dilemma. They come in a variety of materials including vinyl, mesh, sunscreens, and nylons and corrugated cardboard. They are designed for windshields, back and side windows.

If you want a subtle looking shade, you can select a plain color, or you can purchase shades that are wild, with colorful designs. Some shades are free, given to drivers by companies wishing to market their products. Logos and messages are printed on the shade and displayed when placed on the windshield of a vehicle.

Portable and affordable car shades work well in any driving environment, especially when the sunís rays are its fiercest. If your parking spot offers no shade, just pop on the car window shade, and youíll return to a cool, comfortable car without having to wait for the air conditioning to kick in. They work great as side window covers too. If you have a child, these shades are designed to reduce the glare that shines through a side window, affecting the vision of your child. Although it does not offer protection from ultraviolet rays, it will provide shade and a comfortable ride for your little ones. When side shades are in place, the driver will not encounter any visual distortion, or will vision be impaired while driving.

Car window shades are cheap, very easy to pack and work efficiently. Sometimes, air bubbles appear on the shades, and you might want to get rid of them by squeezing them out. Also, you canít open windows when the car shades are in place. To put the shade in place, all you have to do is unfold and stick it to the surface of the glass. You do not have to wet the shade or the window. To remove the shade, you simply peel it off and roll it back up.

for more: visit us on jqcars.com