Clean versus Dirty Trade-in

At least a few times a month I am asked, "Do I really need to clean my car before I come in there to have you appraise it?" I believe most Used Car Managers would say that having your trade-in detailed before having it appraised is not necessary. They are the experts and know the value of a vehicle whether it be clean or dirty. I beg to differ. It is purely psychological, but when an appraiser is presented with an absolutely clean vehicle, he/she, by human nature, will subconsciously think that the vehicle was well maintained. All in all, depending on age and mileage, having a freshly detailed, clean trade-in could get you anywhere from $200-$1500 more in actual cash value.

Most Important Check Before Summer

This time of year, I am often asked what the most important thing to have checked on an automobile is before the heat of summer sets in. You guessed it. Your A/C system. For around $48 (incuding tax), your service advisor can have an A/C Perfomance Check performed on your vehicle.

A/C systems rely on several key components including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, pressurized refrigerant, valves and hoses.

For this system to work correctly and be ready for the hot weather, it needs to be free from leaks so that the refrigerant stays in the system. Over time, contamination or leaks can appear and affect the cooling performance of your A/C system.

This simple and cost effective test can save you BIG money. If you are having problems with your A/C, and let it go unchecked to the point where you had to replace all the major components, you could be faced with a $1,500 - $2,000 bill.

How Often Should I Really Rotate My Tires?

We get asked this a lot, "How often should I really rotate my tires?" To maintain ride, handling, performance, and to maximize the life of your tires, you should rotate them between 5,000 and 8,000 miles. If you go much beyond that, you may experience uneven wear on one or more tires. If you are old school, and change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles, just remember to rotate the tires every other time you get an oil change. For the newer GM vehicles, it should be done every time you change your oil. This averages to around every 7,500 miles.

Auto dealer fee 2

Our dealer fee is only $384.85. This is more a true reflection of the cost of the clerks that process the high number of documents required in each legal automobile sale. In the Southeast, the average dealer fee is $599, and we know of one dealer who has 2 separate fees amounting to $1,400. In our view this is the dealers' taking advantage of their customer. Make sure that you get a breakdown of the taxes and fees charged before you agree to purchase your next automobile. If you are shopping, make sure you compare the "out the door" or "bottom line" price from dealer to dealer.