7 Biggest Mistakes in car buying (and how to avoid them)

7 Biggest Mistakes in Car Buying

1. Paying too much: The obvious one, right? There really are unethical sellers out there who overcharge. There are also private used car sellers who try to sell WAY OVER market value simply because they owe a bunch on the vehicle. Lots of ‘em are flipped (upside down) thousands and can’t stand the payments so they try to sell it for payoff…which may have included thousands in deficit equity from a previous trade and could be thousands over realistic market value. Do some research. Look at the source of that research and determine if they are pursuing their own agenda.

2. Buying too much car: Even if you got a great deal, if the car payment is 35% of your income, you could be headed for a financial disaster that could wreck your credit and having you paying exorbitant interest rates for years (or driving a junker). Establish a budget or at least estimate your monthly expenses and seek to have transportation no more than 20-25% of your income.

3. Bad Service or No Service: No manufacturer is shipping them with the hoods welded shut. All vehicles are complex mechanical products and they all break and they all will need service. One of the reasons you want a newer car is to have some warranty, right? Warranty doesn’t determine whether you will get good service…just who pays for it. Used car superstores, independents and private sellers don’t have factory trained technicians and OEM parts…in fact they may not have a service or parts department at all. You won’t be able to claim priority handling in service when you bring in your Chevy you bought at CARMAX to the Chevy dealership. As rational business people, dealers will want to take care of their own loyal customers first.

4. Vehicle doesn’t fit needs: Sometimes your needs change and you get stuck with something you need to sell way before you expected to and take a beating on it. This can be especially true in trucks/SUV’s where a knowledgeable salesperson can help you determine the GVW, towing capacities, etc. When you over spec a product, you lose the incremental over spec; when you under spec, you stand to lose a lot more. You would not believe the number of people who don’t even test drive a new or used vehicle before buying it.

5. Buying from a private seller: You’ll have no warranty and recourse on the seller if a problem arises later. Even though the seller may have a clear Mississippi title, you may find that it had a previous salvage or flood title. This is because there is no national title database, each state does it. And some states (MS included) allow a vehicle to be brought in with a salvage title, go thru a simple inspection and magically issued a clean title. That can be a big mistake if you met a guy in a Wal-Mart parking lot to do a deal.

6. Poorly structured financing: You can obviously get clocked in financing but how do you really know if it’s a good rate or not? The best way is to get your free annual credit report that the government makes the credit bureaus offer. http://www.equifax.com/ You should do this annually to guard against identity theft and if you are actively car shopping, spring for the extra fee and get your FICO score (not the Experian score or any knock-off) . The median FICO score is 723 and below 620 is “subprime”. It has been reported that 678 is “average” but that is not exactly right. A closely related pitfall is not putting enough money down. Even if you are a 800 beacon score, if your vehicle is stolen or totaled, you may owe more than its worth. Lots more if you drive a lot and/or don’t put much money down.

7. Buying based on the salesperson: One of the top reasons people give why they bought where they did was “they liked the salesperson”. Unfortunately car salespeople are notorious for high-turnover so choose instead to buy from a reputable company. A local company that contributes to local charities and soccer teams is a part of the fabric of the community. It’s likely they will be there when you need them. Choose a reputable, local, service oriented company that has several recessions under its belt so you don’t find yourself needing some records, advice, service or whatever and find the door padlocked.

About Wilson Auto Group: We started as a Dodge dealership in 1988 on Highway 80 West in Jackson. After earning a high degree of success and becoming the number one Dodge dealer in Mississippi for over 15 straight years, we acquired Kia in 2000 and Hyundai in 2003. We have won numerous major Customer Satisfaction awards in service.

We believe in treating people like we would like to be treated and giving back to the community of our time and resources. Our core values are: honesty, integrity, courtesy and professionalism. We also have a consignment program where we will get you RETAIL value for your trade-in…whether you buy from us or not.

We believe our mission in life is to serve the public with their transportation needs.
If you have any questions concerning this, we are here to help.
We are available 6 days a week (closed every Sunday) at 4200 Lakeland Drive near Dogwood Festival Mall and the Jackson Airport. 601.914.4200 or doug@wilsonautos.com

Or visit us online at http://www.wilsonautogroup.com/

Doug Wilson
President/CEOWilson Auto Group, Inc.
4200 Lakeland Drive
Jackson MS 39232

March 2010 Service tips and coupon specials

We have some great service specials for Used Car owners (any make/any model) at Wilson Hyundai on Lakeland this month. Now is a great time to get your car into shape after a long, hard, cold winter with these specials. We appreciate your business and welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can improve our service. We have a saying around here that the only complaint we don’t like is the one not brought to our attention!!!

Print this and bring in before March 31 as our coupon specials for YOU!!!!

Nitrogen…$39.95: improves gas mileage and prevents TPMS light activation due to changes in temps….now only $39.95 for all four tires. If you are not doing Nitrogen, at least check your tire pressure as temps heat up to prevent a blow-out from underinflated/overheated tires.

Wiper Blades…$13,95: Spring showers are legendary in Mississippi…make sure your rubber blades haven’t hardened over the winter…$13.95 per blade installed. Two for most cars but three on minivans and some SUV’s…replace them all or just one…your call.

Brake System Flush…$69.95: brake fluid is very corrosive and operates at a very high temperature. Your brake fluid should be inspected for discoloration which might indicate a need to replace the fluid and flush the system. Brake fluid is clear to slightly yellowish when new…but darker colored fluid indicates a need to replace it and flush the system or at about 30,000 miles. Brake fluid attracts moisture, and this moisture can rust the insides of the brake system. This moisture was not that big of deal 10 years ago, but on ABS brake systems of today, the rust and other debris that accumulates in the fluid can do lots of internal damage, and can be very costly. Brake fluid can also break down over time from excess heat that is created from within the brake system.
Our special price in March is just $69.95 to get you stopped during those emergency stops on I-55 in traffic!

New Brake Pads…$149.95:
Like flushing, braking is a major safety issue. When your pads wear out, replace them for only $149,95…front or rear pads at this price. Most models. Turning or replacing rotors or drums is additional cost. When doing a brake job, I suggest you also replace the brake fluid for the reasons listed above. Waiting too long to replace your pads will cause the rivets on the pad to eat into the drum or rotors which can be very costly…play it safe and replace the pads when in doubt.

We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.
For a fast email appointment, email Greg,
service manager at service@wilsonautos.com

Be sure to look at our newest babies when you are here:

2011 Hyundai Sonata’s…intro priced at just $199 a month 36 month lease
2011 Kia Sorento’s…built in the USA and prices starting at just $18,995…and gets 29 MPG hwy according to EPA

2010 Hyundai Elantra…named tops by Consumer Reports…now with an incredible 24 month lease for just $149 a month or buy it for just $14,995
2010 Genesis Sedans and Hyundai Veracruz CUV’s…great selection arrived last week.
2010 Kia Souls, Forte Sedans and Koup’s…good selection and great savings!!!

We still have new 2009’s that we must clear out…DEAL!!!!
3 2009 Sonata’s
1 2009 Genesis Sedan V-8, rwd, loaded
11 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe’s

1 Kia Sedona minivan
2 Kia Rio’s
1 Kia Rondo

We hope to see you soon in service. We appreciate your feedback.
Email me personally if I can help at doug@wilsonautos.com
Or Greg at service@wilsonautos.com


Doug Wilson
President
Wilson Auto Group, Inc.
601.914.4200
www.wilsonautogroup.com

March 2010 News

Wilson Auto Group March 2010 news:

Kia’s new USA plant on the History Channel tonight:
Kia Motors has collaborated with the History Channel to integrate Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) and the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento into the premiere episode of Modern Marvels, the highly acclaimed television show, which features stories of those who created extraordinary architectural structures, technological breakthroughs and man-made wonders. The episode, titled “Start to Finish,” premieres on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. CST and features an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at automotive manufacturing, including the advanced techniques and state-of-the-art technologies utilized at Kia’s brand new manufacturing plant. In addition to the television program, viewers can visit history.com/tour for an interactive tour of KMMG that features video, imagery and facts about the various stages of automotive production. Through the interactive tour visitors can see selected views of the plant and learn how Kia is revolutionizing the auto manufacturing business.
Be sure to watch Modern Marvels on the History Channel (channel 45 on my cable system..7pm) TONIGHT!!

Consumer Reports:
I was waiting for a prescription at Kroger this week and picked up the new “Best Cars, SUV’s and Trucks” edition of Consumer Reports. I was pleasantly surprised to see where the Kia Optima, Kia Rondo, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Genesis, Hyundai Azera and Hyundai Veracruz CUV were on the “recommended” list. Hyundai and Kia both are building great cars and have the best warranty in the business, 10 Years/100,000 miles….and now with superior styling and quality to go with the 5 star (highest) safety ratings and superior fuel economy.

Kia Sorento 60 second video tops 950,000 youtube views:
The entertaining “Dream Ride” video with Sock Monkey, Mr. X, Teddy, Robot and Muno has reached superstardom!! Watch it by searching for “Kia Sorento” on youtube or going to www.kiasorento.com And the advertising and publicity is working…this 2011 Sorento is selling like crazy. Under $20,000 for a SUV is incredible but add a 10yr/100,000 mile warranty, built in the USA and 28 mpg fuel economy…and you know it’s a value WINNER!

#1 in Mississippi:
Wilson Hyundai outsold all other Hyundai dealers in MS in Feb as well as all dealers in Shreveport, Memphis and Nashville.
Likewise, Wilson Kia was #1 in the state with Kia. Thank you to all our customers and friends that made this possible. From the Chrysler bankruptcy to a newly renovated Hyundai showroom that may be the largest in the USA, we are indeed blessed and thankful. We are in the top 10 of all Hyundai dealers in a 5 state area that includes MS, TN, AR, LA and Alabama.

Hyundai named by EPA “Most Fuel Efficient in America”:
Not Honda and not Toyota…Hyundai was recently named by the EPA as the most fuel efficient automaker in the USA! Our new 2011 Sonata is a mid-size to large car…yet is EPA rated at 35 MPG on Hwy. Our small cars get even better fuel economy.

Academy Awards Sunday night:
Wilson Hyundai will be all over the Academy Awards telecast this Sunday night on WAPT-16….the highest watched television event second only to the Super Bowl. From the Barbara Walters pre-show to the Red Carpet intro event to the WAPT news afterwards, we will be running at least 10 Hyundai local and national spots. Please tune in to ABC and see the exciting new product Hyundai is unveiling.

Leasing is back!!!
Hyundai Motor Finance has plenty of money (even for those with less than perfect credit) and is getting really aggressive with leasing.
We have a STRONG $199 (36 month) lease on the all new 2011 Sonata as well as an unbelievable $149 a month 24 month lease on the 2010 Hyundai Elantra (Consumer Reports, “Most Recommended” list). See us for details. we have a huge inventory of these expecting great response in March.

Kia press release regarding February Sales:

KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES BEST FEBRUARY SALES EVER
All-New 2011 Sorento CUV is Kia’s Best-Selling Vehicle for the Second Consecutive Month

IRVINE, Calif., March 2, 2010 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the brand’s best February sales ever of 24,052 units, a 9-percent increase over the same period last year and 2.3-percent over the previous February sales record of 23,512 set in 2007. February sales were led for the second consecutive month by the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, which hit dealerships nationwide in early January and is the brand’s first U.S.-built vehicle[1]. Sorento posted sales of 8,207 units, an 11-percent increase over January.

“In addition to being our best-selling vehicle for the second month in a row, the all-new Sorento also is bringing new, more affluent customers into our showrooms and indicates the growing interest in the Kia brand,” said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). “Having recently celebrated the grand opening of Kia’s first U.S.-based manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, Sorento’s strong performance validates the investments Kia has made in the U.S. market as more and more consumers are recognizing our commitment to quality, safety, design, value and technology.”

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share. The launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA and the first vehicle to be built at the company’s first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia, builds on the momentum established in 2009 with the introduction of the Soul urban passenger vehicle and the Forte compact sedan and two-door Forte Koup.


Business is improving:
I see a definite increase in the willingness of folks to step up and buy a new car or good used car. I see the mood much better about the future and think that the “hunkering down” that occurred over the past 24 months has indeed repaired a lot of households balance sheets and helped them to reduce debt. Although unemployment remains high, I am hopeful for a continued improvement in overall economic conditions. As business improves, companies will start hiring again.

We are. With business improving, Wilson Auto Group is looking for two good sales consultants. We require no experience and will train the right individual. If you know of someone who might be interested, tell them to send us an email at opening@wilsonautos.com

If I can help with any of your transportation needs, please email me.
Doug Wilson
President
Wilson Auto Group, Inc.
601.914.4200
www.wilsonautogroup.com
[1] KMMG vehicles are assembled in the United States from U.S.- and globally sourced parts.