Nissan surpasses Leaf sales expectations in Japan

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Nissan

The auto industry is eagerly anticipating the debut of the first electric vehicles in the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. The future of electric cars may hinge on the reception of them by the public. One important statistic is the number of early adopters who commit to the product.

If Nissan’s sales in Japan are any indication, electric vehicles have a long and bright future. Nissan, the third-largest Japanese automaker behind Honda and Toyota, recently released the preliminary sales figures on the new Leaf model.

According to the report, Nissan has already received 6,000 preorders, which was its target for total sales of the vehicles in the first year. The company began taking pre-orders on April 1, but the car isn’t due to hit showrooms until December.

Last month, Nissan revealed that the U.S. and Japan had combined to order 13,000 units, suggesting that the car will be popular in the U.S. as well.

Until electric vehicles are widely adopted, those who want to go green when they drive should consider looking at hybrids like the Toyota Prius on the used car market.

GM and Ford locked in high-tech battle

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

The two largest American car companies, GM and Ford, are both attempting to one-up each other when it comes to the digital features now included in their cars.

GM announced last month that it will partner with Google to offer the company’s Android operating system on its OnStar system. The company plans to debut the feature on the Chevy Volt. Using smartphone apps, drivers will be able to locate their vehicle and get directions on-the-fly.

Ford has also partnered with the technology giant for its Sync feature. Google Maps will soon display a “send to Sync” button that will allow users to send maps and directions directly to their car.

“Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age,” said Doug VanDagens, head of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization.

Ford’s Sync, debuted in 2007, has a leg up on GM, having already been installed on 2 million Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns. Some of these cars have already entered the used car market.

Although these features are convenient, they can also add to the price of a vehicle. Smart shoppers can easily find late-model used Fords by heading to dealers and auto auctions.

Deals on used Nissans can be found after company’s quick turnaround

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Posted in Nissan

Those looking to buy a used Nissan should be able to find great deals, as the company is planning to introduce three new models into their lineup. When a new model is introduced, the remaining older models are often sold to used car dealers at a steep discount, allowing those savings to be passed on to the consumer.

After posting a loss last year, the company is on track for a turnaround, according to BusinessWeek. Nissan’s SUVs have been quite successful, and the company hopes to add to that with a redesigned Murano and Titan later this year.

The company has also experienced strong sales figures for the highly-anticipated electric Nissan Leaf, according to early reports.

As a reward for the company’s new growth, Nissan announced plans to pay twelve of its top executives some hefty bonuses. In fact, the executives’ salaries will be four times those of Toyota and three times those of Honda, its chief Japanese rivals.

When a company redesigns a vehicle, its possible to find the lightly-used older models at used car lots on the cheap.

Searching for efficiency with the midsize crossover

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Posted in Chevrolet, Ford, Honda - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota

SUVs are a handy way to transport cars full of kids or luggage quickly and easily. For those who don’t need off-roading capabilities, a midsize crossover is the perfect fit.

When purchasing an SUV, one important consideration is fuel economy. SUVs have a reputation for being gas guzzlers, but new technology and the smaller size of crossovers has improved efficiency, according to Edmunds.

In this class, the Ford Edge and Honda Crosstour lead the way with 18 city/27 highway miles per gallon. City drivers may consider the Toyota Venza, which trades one mpg on the highway (26) for one in the city (19). The Nissan Murano gets 18 in the city with 23 on the highway, while the Chevy Equinox posts 17/25, although they are a bit roomier than the others. All of the cars feature 6-cylinder engines.

Car buyers should balance their desire for efficiency with their need for space and features. The Ford Edge has a slight, well, edge, over the competition, as it has just undergone a complete redesign for 2011, according to the Detroit Free Press.

With the new Ford Edges being introduced, drivers can search the used car market for any 2010 Edges that dealers were unable to sell. They can also find deals on all the cars mentioned above.

Teen buys used car with bad check

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Posted in General Auto News

A Honolulu teen was arrested this weekend for using a bad check to buy a used car from an unsuspecting seller.

A 34-year-old Kalihili man put his used vehicle up for sale on Craigslist and was contacted by an 18-year-old buyer. The buyer conned the seller by paying with a check, which bounced when the seller tried to cash it, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Police found the car when the teen pulled into a harbor without his lights on at 1:30 AM. A suspicious officer ran the plate and found that the car had been reported stolen. The alleged con artist was placed under arrest and is currently in custody.

Some drivers trying to find deals on vehicles go to websites like Craigslist in search of driver-to-driver sales. Often, these can result in either party being scammed. Consumers have little protection in these situations. Had the teen left town with the vehicle, the seller would have had no recourse.

Its safest to shop at used car dealerships or auto auctions, where deals can still be found in a regulated and controlled environment.

Big Three post big gains in May

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chrysler - DO NOT USE, Ford, Nissan, Toyota

As a further sign that the economy is beginning to recover, Detroit’s Big Three automakers: GM, Chrysler, and Ford, all posted big gains in the month of May over the same time last year. With consumer confidence returning and Americans making car purchases that they may have held off on in the wake of the economic downturn, consumers should remember that they can purchase many of these cars for considerably less at used car dealerships or auctions.

Ford gained the most, with a 20 percent increase over previous years’ totals. Ford is in good shape, as the only one of the Big Three not to accept federal bailout money and thus not have to pay it off, according to the Washington Post

GM sales increased 16.6 percent, and Chrysler sold 100,000 vehicles for only the second time in two years.

Among Japanese automakers, Nissan jumped 24.1 percent while Toyota sales slowed amid recall problems.

Although the industry itself may still be recovering, the country is not yet out of the woods. Consumers who need to save money can look at these brands’ ample offerings on the used car market.

Mustang and Camaro battle it out

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Posted in Chevrolet, Ford

Ford and GM have recently engaged in a war of words over the sales figures of two of their models, the Mustang and Chevy Camaro.

The current iterations of these classic cars are close competitors, and sales between the two have been close. The companies proved they weren’t above a little mudslinging in marketing these new vehicles.

Press were invited to test drive the new 2011 Mustang, but not before Ford brought out a brand-new Camaro in order to point out all the ways the Mustang improved over Camaro’s design. When the May sales figures were released, Ford appeared to have gained the upper hand by outselling Chevy 10,225 to 8,931.

Some analysts were quick to point out, however, that Ford was offering steep discounts on 2010 Mustangs in order to make way for the new models. And Chevy released a press release detailing that it had outsold the Mustang by nearly 7,777 units over the first five months.

Those who like a little muscle in their car would do well to check out the used car market. As the two giant automakers trade blows, savvy consumers can find great deals on used Ford Mustangs and Camaros.

Consumers can find deals as brands end

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford, Mercury - DO NOT USE

The economic downturn has meant that some automakers are ending brands with a long history. Pontiac and Saturn bit the dust last year, the last Hummer rolled off the line a few weeks ago, and Ford recently announced the demise of Mercury.

Consumers who are fans of these models can turn to the used car market in order to find deals on these cars. As new car dealers were forced to liquidate their stock, some have sold cars to used auto dealers at a reduced rate. Those dealers can then pass savings on to the consumer.

For brands like Hummer, the used car market will be the only place to find the discontinued models. Soon, that will be the same case for Mercury.

Mercury, owned by Ford, was the victim of a crowded market. Sandwiched uncomfortably between Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand and regular Ford brand, it never quite found an identity and commanded less than 1 percent of the market share.

Ford has promised to roll out additions to the Lincoln brand to replace the loss of Mercury. In the meantime, consumers may want to shop for deals on the used market for these once-storied brands.

Mercedes-Benz CEO bets on Germany in World Cup

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler AG, is offering Benz buyers in Germany some of the best deals in years in connection with the World Cup.

Zetsche is slashing prices on German Mercedes, such as $2,493 off the sleek SLK Roadster, according to BusinessWeek. In addition, those who lease get a special bonus if Germany takes home the cup – a near $400 rebate. Germany’s current odds are 14-1.

The World Cup tie-in sales are part of Zetsche’s initiative to revitalize the brand. In Germany, Mercedes are perceived as a car for older consumers. Zetsche’s strategy involves associating the brand with soccer and F1 stars, both huge spectator sports in Europe, to give it a more youthful image.

Those looking for a Mercedes-Benz in America might be disappointed to learn that the savings won’t be passed on to American consumers. Mercedes can be especially pricy cars if bought new.

However, that doesn’t mean potential car buyers can’t be driving off the lot in Mercedes without breaking the bank. If they shop for used Mercedes rather than new, drivers can get a great car at an affordable rate.

Accord may overtake Camry as America’s favorite car

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Toyota

The title for best-selling car in the country is hotly contested in the auto industry, but the last few years have been dominated by the Toyota Camry.

However, according to recent May sales figures, Toyota’s fellow Japanese auto giant Honda is gaining ground in the rivalry. Honda sold 124,967 Accords in May, falling just shy of Camry’s 125,804, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Toyota has faced criticism amid a wave of recalls because of unintended acceleration, and recent Toyota Camrys were included in the recall. This damage to the company’s safety-first reputation may be leading some to choose Honda, although Toyota is offering better financing packages in an attempt to woo customers back.

Despite the rivalry, some say that the two Japanese companies respect each other greatly and adhere to an honor code, according to the news source. Honda could introduce special offers on Accord to surpass Camry, but it would be seen as unfairly attacking the competition in a time of trouble.

The last time Accord won the battle was in 2001, when it sold 414,000 cars. With the influx of brands and models, its unlikely a car will ever post sales figures like that again. Many of these cars are still on the road, and savvy consumers can get deals by buying a used Honda.