Now What AutoTrader?

December 7, 2010 by John Druien

So what do you think is next on the plate for AutoTrader.com? Take over small countries in the Caribbean? Buy Dealer groups? Nothing really seems impossible for the company that has been in acquisition mode snapping up vAuto, Kelly Blue Book and HomeNet over the last 3 months. The company is truly taking over the automotive online marketing world and is far surpassing the visibility of other players that had previously worked up to 'neck and neck.'

 

The next step for AutoTrader appears to be getting in the middle of the finance business. They claim that these acquisitions are based entirely on their goal of "listening to dealers." Anyone who is in the business, and that actually listens to dealers, will tell you that staying the heck OUT of the finance side of the business is really what dealers prefer. The F&I office is one of the last bastians of profit that online companies have stayed out of, and dealers are ok with that. On the other hand, AutoTrader understands that's where a lot of money changes hands, and that's money that AutoTrader would like a piece of. We will wait to see what they come up in that area...or who they will buy. Maybe a bank.

 

What AutoTrader still cannot do, nor can most typical automotive destination sites, is determine the bottom of the sales funnel leads. At some point "quantity of leads" is going to stop being a selling point in favor of quality of leads. Dealers are not strong at keeping up with customers that contact the store and don't let on where they are in the 6-month purchase funnel process.

 

Chip Perry and AutoTrader...we await your next move.

 

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Ford Announces Fuel Economy Figures for 2011 F-150 EcoBoost V-6

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 1:59 PM

Subject: Ford Announces Fuel Economy Figures for 2011 F-150 EcoBoost V-6

Ford's all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 for the 2011 F-150 has been officially rated by the EPA at 16/22 mpg city/highway for two-wheel drive trucks and 15/21 mpg for four-wheel drive models.

Those numbers give the twin-turbo six-cylinder yet another boost in credibility as Ford positions the engine as a suitable replacement for larger V-8 engines, which have long been the traditional mills used for max towing and hauling duties but are known for being thirsty at the fuel pump. Using regular gas, the EcoBoost makes 365 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque.

Ford has already shown that the EcoBoost engine can outperform competitors' V-8s in a towing test at Davis Dam in Arizona. Ford has also demonstrated the EcoBoost's durability by torture testing a line-built engine on the dyno, pulling logs in Oregon, towing more than 11,000 pounds for 24 hours straight on a racetrack and competing in the Baja 1000 off-road race.

We've driven EcoBoost-equipped 2011 F-150s several times and have been impressed with its diesel-like performance – 90 percent of its torque band is available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm – and almost unnoticeable turbo lag.

The flat power curve also enables EcoBoost F-150s to run with the tallest (numerically lowest) rear axle ratios of any Ford half-ton, as low as 3.15. That helps enable the high fuel economy numbers, especially on the highway, without sacrificing much performance.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is paired with Ford's updated 6R80 six-speed transmission, which is standard across the 2011 F-150 lineup. The transmission features a new manual shift mode for 2011 that allows the gearbox perform like a manual transmission as long as it isn't redlined. The 6R140 also features Progressive Range Select for every engine, which allows a driver to reduce the number of available gears so it's easier to tow up a grade and hold a specific top gear, like 5th, without worrying about the truck upshifting and getting bogged down.

The 2011 F-150 with the EcoBoost V-6 is expected to go on sale before the end of winter with a $750 premium over Ford's 5.0-liter V-8 and a $1,750 premium over the entry-level 3.7-liter V-6.

The Ultimate Guide to US Pickup Truck Sales in 2010

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 10:54 AM

Subject: The Ultimate Guide to US Pickup Truck Sales in 2010

Pickup truck sales rebounded in 2010, with significant volume gains over last year's depressed sales levels.

Here's look at the numbers of trucks sold last year, according to sales data provided by J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power's "Power Information Network" figures are unique because they break out full-size truck sales into light- and heavy-duty classes. Monthly figures released by Chrysler, Ford and GM aggregate both light- and heavy-duty truck sales (including chassis cabs, when sold) into a single number without revealing class splits.

J.D. Power removes the Ford F-450/F-550 commercial trucks from the tallies, so chassis cab versions aren't included. They do, however, report Ram 4500/5500 chassis sales. GM doesn't sell trucks in these classes. So, to make this fair, we're presenting Ford's full-size truck data with and without chassis cabs, of which 21,134 were sold, according to J.D. Power.

Full-size Pickups

Full-size pickup truck sales rose 20.3 percent last year and were 13 percent of the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of all vehicles in December, a level not seen since 2008, having increased steadily from the low-10% range of early 2010. Full-size pickups made up 11.6 percent of all vehicle sales in 2010.

While nearly every full-size truck brand grew sales, Ford dominated with a 27.7 percent jump and a 38.6 percent share of the market, the largest share its held since 2001.

The only full-size pickup brand that lost year-over-year sales in 2010 was Cadillac, lending support to the conventional wisdom that casual truck buyers are gone from full-size pickups for good. Cadillac EXT sales fell 14 percent.

Small Pickups

Small pickup sales volume rose slightly last year, ending a slide that's lasted more than a decade in the stale segment but market share amongst all vehicle continued to fall, to just 2.3 percent, its lowest ever share. Most of the volume increase was due to strong sales of the Nissan Frontier, which rose 42.3 percent, the highest percentage sales gain of any high-volume pickup in 2010.

5 Tips To Get You The Best Buy On Your Next Used Car

5 Tips To Get You The Best Buy On Your Next Used Car

These days cars a lasting much longer than they used to do with so many people cutting back on finances many families are considering buying a used car.

Smart consumers know that buying a used car can be a much better deal than buying a new one if you know what you are doing.
Here are some tips that you can use to make sure you get the most out of your used car purchase.

1. Due Diligence
When you make any major purchase, it's Important for you to do some research and purchasing a used car is no different. If you do the right research you'll know the perfect make and model that suits your needs. You'll also be able to determine the fair market value of this type of car and therefore, you'll know when you're getting a good deal at the used car lot.
In addition you'll be able to research Important details about the car,
like recalls her things to look for and used models that may help when evaluating used cars and
negotiating deals.

2. Check Out The Car
When you find a car that you like, it is wise to check the car's history.
This will give you Information regarding the repairs as well as any problems with the car.
You can do this for a small fee online and it can save you from buying a car that's been in a flood or other major disaster. You won't want to buy a car that's been a major accident that could have damaged or bent the frame and it may be impossible to tell by just looking at the car so checking on the history is vital. You can find out the history of any car by going to Carfax.com.

3. Think Safety
In order to keep your family safe in the car, you want to consider the safety features of any used car you going to buy. Obviously, the newer model cars will have more safety features.
According to reports, 80% of traffic accidents are made worse because the cars lacked safety features.

4. Check the Documentation
You should check out the documents included with the used car cheerfully. Make sure that the cars are not stolen or that there were no liens on the vehicle and also be sure to check that the signature on the bill of sale is the actual possessor of the car.

5. Car Inspection
Before you make any deals on the used car, you must inspect the entire car.
Look for rust especially around the wheel wells in the frame and carefully scrutinize it for any damage.
Don't forget to check the tires, and the interior as well.
If you don't know much about cars, you can always asked to take it to your mechanic for inspection. Anybody on the up and up selling a car should not object to this.
If any flaws are found, and then you can use this as negotiating leverage and
lost the flaws are so major that you no longer want the car.

Buying a used car can take a bit more work than buying a new one as there are many things to check out. However, doing your due diligence will make sure that you get a great used-car at a fraction of the cost you could buy new one for and that will last for years to come.

Thank you, and let us know how to better serve you!

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

Can't Make it Here, We'll Take it There!

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SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices

SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices

Gas prices rose to around $3 per gallon over the recent Christmas holiday.
Overall, gas prices have almost doubled in the last 2 years, and the predictions for future prices don't look pretty.

So what does all this mean for car buyers?

It's likely there will be some huge price drops on SUVs and pickup trucks, while smaller cars will see price increases if gas continues to rise this year.

Back in 2008 when gas prices hit record highs, consumers turned away from larger vehicles and embraced more fuel-efficient and looked at smaller cars.

Some dealers, in desperation, were offering unbelievable discounts on large SUVs and pickup trucks.

The reverse is also true - small and fuel-efficient cars, due to higher demand, will start seeing price increases, just as they did back in 2008.

If you're thinking of buying a large SUV or pickup truck,do it now. If you're thinking of buying a compact, fuel-efficient car, you may want to wait to buy one.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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