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July 6th 2019 Cruise-in
Join Sutherland Chevrolet for a Cruise-in / Car Show on July 6th, 2019 from 5:00-8:00pm. Bring a lawn chair or two and enjoy the afternoon with friends and beautiful automobiles. The event is open to all makes, models and years of cars and trucks.
June 2019 Cruise-in
Join Sutherland Chevrolet for a Cruise-in / Car Show on June 1, 2019 from 5:00-8:00pm. Bring a lawn chair or two and enjoy the afternoon with friends and beautiful automobiles. The event is open to all makes, models and years of cars and trucks.
IS THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER RETURNING TO THE U.S.?
Possibly following the path Chevrolet laid with the revived Blazer, the Trailblazer might make a comeback. According to GM Authority, the rumored Trailblazer would be about the size of the current Chevrolet Trax. Considering it will be sized similarly to the Trax, it’s probably safe to assume that if the Trailblazer returns to the U.S., it will probably just replace Chevy’s current subcompact crossover.
The latest iteration of Chevrolet’s Trailblazer debuted at the Shanghai auto show earlier this year. The tiny Trailblazer follows the styling direction laid out by Chevrolet with the revamped Blazer. With the style similar to the Blazer, an aging Chevy Trax and trademark filings for the “Trailblazer Activ” in the U.S., it’s almost hard to see the Trailblazer not coming back to the States.
Should Car Dealers use Facebook?
Automobile dealers are working harder than ever to connect with consumers during their car buying process.
Dealers and manufacturers have spent millions of dollars and huge amounts of their resources to quickly and accurately identify consumers getting ready to make a purchase. These consumers were the same people that is the past would stop by the dealer and go for a test drive, ask for a brochure and fill out a credit application. Today that consumer tends to do online research long before making the purchase. Manufacturers and Dealers want to find ways to connect with car buyers early in the process and stay connected until a purchase is made.
When you decide to start your search for a new or used vehicle, are there any changes in your social or online behavior? Do friends or family know that you are looking for a new car? Are you likely to read online reviews of the vehicle you are looking for? Do you look at the ratings of the dealership? Would you ask the opinion of others on Facebook? All of these questions, (and many more) are indications that a consumer is getting closer to buying a new or used vehicle. Dealers and Manufacturers are looking for ways to get their name in front of the consumers exhibiting this behavior and it is a very lucrative business for Google and Facebook.
Ads triggered by specific keywords or phrases like 2018 Chevy Tahoe reviews or How much is my 2016 Dodge 1500 SLT worth? Are examples of searches from a truck buyer. Google has cornered the market for these types of searches and the costs are staggering. Most consumers have no idea how much Dealers and Manufacturers spend on those search words / phrases and would be shocked. But what about Facebook?
Facebook has become a useful tool for Dealers wanting to share photos of happy customers and listing some of their inventory to people who have “liked” their page, but connecting with others in the Facebook community is much more challenging and expensive. Some Dealers and Manufacturers have purchased ads from Facebook in hopes of grabbing the attention of consumers while they read the posts of their friends. Other Dealerships are using Facebook to promote special sales or local events they participate in. This helps the Dealership appear active in the community and drives local views to their page, but has a limited reach.
Facebook (and Google) have done a very poor job teaching Automobile dealerships how to best use their products. Both Facebook and Google have relied on their online support forums to give advice and help the dealers use their products. Some Dealers have hired specialists to produce social ads and content while others have handed the responsibility to the most active social networking person / people in the building. It appears that Facebook and Google have missed a huge opportunity to instruct dealers how to best use their products and at the same time sell advertising opportunities. I guess somewhere in the future a dealership will stand out by doing Facebook “the right way” and others will follow, but until then we will just keep liking funny videos and pics and sharing the best seasonal recipes we can find.
Give me your feedback about how you think car dealers should use Facebook and Google. Jim.Kincer@sutherlandchevy.com
I can’t afford a new car.
I can’t afford a new car.
Buying a new car today has some people scratching their heads wondering if they can afford it. They search online for the best price on a new car or lowest monthly payments on a new car. What often gets left out of their equation is the cost associated with keeping the older car they are currently driving. This expense can dramatically change the real cost of owning a new car. Let’s dig into the facts and take a closer look at why buying a new car may be less expensive than you think.
When buying a new car you will quickly realize that cars have become more expensive and feature loaded than vehicles in the past. Automobiles from just a few years ago have less safety features and drivers aides than newer vehicles. Not to mention, current automobiles are far more efficient and less polluting than older cars, trucks and suv’s. Vehicles from just a few years ago probably do not feature collision avoidance, backup cameras, lane departure warnings or even traction control and supplemental restraint systems.
When buying your next automobile, be sure to think about maintenance. A newer auto will not require service on things like brakes, tires, transmission, bearings or other wear items. These expenses on an older vehicle will need to be rolled into the equation when comparing keeping and older car versus buying a new one.
Automobile insurance rates on newer / safer vehicles could make a dramatic impact on the overall cost of ownership versus keeping your older vehicles. Factors like insurance are often removed from the equation when buyers are seeking a new vehicle, but it shouldn’t be. Cost of ownership should include all of the factors involved. Factors like maintenance, payments, insurance, parking, washing / detailing and depreciation should all be considered.
When looking for a new vehicle, please look at the entire cost of ownership and you may be surprised to find that new car you want is actually less expensive than keeping your older one.
Review this blog article for some good advice.
Sutherland Chevrolet will help guide you through the process!
Used Cars Under $20K
Many car buyers are searching for a used car, truck, van or suv priced below $20K. One local dealer even named their business “12K and under motors” to take advantage of the trend for buyers to shop online by entering a desired price to stay below. Unfortunately, most car buyers have no idea what that means and how many good deals are being lost by using a search phrase clearly developed by Used Car Dealers.
Buying a used car for a desired purchase price is ok if you are a cash buyer and you don’t have a trade-in vehicle. But most buyers do not fit in that category. Understanding the value of your trade-in and knowing how much you can afford per month is critical. Knowing your monthly payments may increase your ability to purchase a more expensive vehicle or keep some of your hard earned money in your pocket.
Try searching Google for a vehicle you are interested in, locate it and go for a test drive. You may be surprised to find out what you can afford. Financing has never been easier and researching the reputation of the dealer you choose to work with is as simple as a couple clicks.
Many advertisements today talk about “Skipping the dealer” purchase options and this type of shopping does appeal to some buyers, however we urge you to read carefully and know what you are getting into before you sign the dotted line. Sutherland has been selling cars since 1925 and there is a reason so many people buy from us… Give Sutherland a chance to earn your business, You will be glad you did.
Are you buying a safe car?
When searching for a new car, truck or suv you should consider vehicle safety a large part of your decision. This consideration should extend well beyond the car you are looking to buy, it should be considered with your trade in vehicle as well.
Car buyers often come into the dealership with a trade-in vehicle and they have done a few web searches to get a value for their vehicle. Unfortunately these car valuation websites base their prices on vehicle original price, depreciation, reputation and condition. The elephant in the room when it comes to trade in value is the safety of the vehicle. If a vehicle has earned a reputation as an unsafe vehicle or it has performed poorly in crash testing, its value will be significantly less than expected. This becomes a problem when a car buyer wants to trade in the unsafe vehicle on a new car.
Modern cars, trucks and suv’s are safer than they have ever been and the addition of driver aides has created very safe automobiles for both the occupants and pedestrians. Insurance rates on new vehicles is dramatically lower than older unsafe vehicles and many young drivers are finding out that the tradition of buying a cheap old car to drive to and from school actually works out better when buying a new car with additional safety features.
Most new car buyers are looking for a vehicle with drivers aides and safety features like heads-up displays, collision avoidance, lane departure notification, automatic braking and much more. The car buyer must acknowledge that their trade in does not have these features and will have less value than trade-in vehicles in the past. Modern automobiles are not only more efficient, safer, better equipped but they are also a better investment than vehicles in the past.
Vehicle safety and advanced drivers features are here to stay and many drivers have become accustomed to having them. Services like GPS, On-star, vehicle info-tainment systems and more have made today’s vehicles much more than just transportation and these features have caused the used car inventory prices to drop to an all time low. Many used vehicles without these drivers features are priced well below comparable vehicles that have additional technology and safety features.
When buying your next automobile, consider the features you are buying and will those features be desirable in the future when that vehicle enters the used car market…
Chevy Dealer Near Me
Locating a Chevrolet dealer near me is a common search phrase entered into Google search. Fortunately Chevrolet corporate has done an excellent job connecting car buyers with the Chevy dealer closest to them when doing a search, but did you know that the WiFi you are using can dramatically affect those search results?
When you log into a WiFi service at a retailer like McDonalds or Starbucks, the connection you have to the web may come from miles away. Often retailers use data centers to host their WiFi and the traffic goes thru those servers which are sometimes cities or even states away. Sometimes the browser you are using does a good job figuring out where you are and what area you are searching for but occasionally you will get results in Texas, Chicago, California or even out of the country.
When searching for a Chevy dealer near me, It may be helpful to add the city where you are located or the zip code you are seeking. Most Chevrolet dealers have notified Google and other search engines what cities, states and zip codes they service. You should make sure that the search results you see are actually organic results. Many dealerships purchase advertisements for zip codes, cities or brands hoping to trick you into visiting their dealership or website to look for your next vehicle. Google ads can be quickly identified by a small box with the word “ad” in it. Also Google ads are place above and below the organic search results. There are 10 organic search results per page and Google has determined which one best represents what you are looking for placing it in position #1.
So next time you search for Chevrolet dealer near me or Chevrolet service near me, take a look at all the advertisements on the search page and how many dealerships are trying to get your attention. Fortunately you can always visit Chevrolet.com and enter your zip code to find the official Chevy dealer near me.
Car Buying for Genii (more than one genius)
Buying a new or used vehicle can be a confusing transaction. If this is your first car buying experience and you want it to go as smoothly as possible, you should do some research before starting the process. If you are an Expert car buyer, this advice may just be a little reminder to cross all your “T’s” and dot your “i’s”.
Understanding the car buying process from the point of view of all the party’s involved will help make the transaction more clear. As the buyer, you want to get the best car for your money and possibly get the best value for your trade. Of course some buyers have a low monthly payment in mind or a fixed dollar amount per month they can spend on a car. These buyers sometimes overlook the interest percentage rate or term length because the monthly payment fits their budget. It is very important for this type of buyer to understand the loan process and purchase a vehicle that will hold its value throughout the term of the loan. Getting upside down in a car payment is a bad situation and can be prevented if some good common sense is used.
Selling automobiles for profit is the name of the game for the car dealer and they are very good at what they do. Most dealerships offer low online prices to get buyers in the showroom and often the vehicles listed at the low monthly payment or below dealer cost pricing are not available, but a similar vehicle at a slightly higher price is available. This tactic is frustrating for the car buyer and is all to common in the car dealer world. Another tactic used to mislead consumers is selling a payment. Often the dealers sales rep asks how much per month the buyer can afford before anything else. Having that information gives them the edge because they can steer the buyer into a lower priced vehicle with more profit in it. Unfortunately these tactics are still used and buyers fall for it every day. The smart buyer should do their research online about the vehicle they are interested in and understand how much they can afford before going to the dealer. This can help prevent being misled into a long term finance situation or inflated pricing.
The finance department at the dealership can be your best tool when car buying. These professionals know what finance institutions are lending and where to get the best rates. Getting input from the finance department early in the car buying process can help you make a smart buying decision. Ask the agent for multiple options and terms and don’t be afraid to put some money down to get the monthly payment you are wanting.
Research ALL of the dealerships you plan on visiting and ONLY do business with the ones with good reviews. Dealers with many negative reviews plan on only selling one car to one person once in their life. They do not care about repeat business and do their best to make the most on every transaction. These types of dealers often prey on buyers with poor credit or desperate buyers in a bad situation. Small town dealerships that have been around for many years are your best bet when buying a car, truck of SUV. These dealerships care about your happiness because they want to earn your future business. Also they expect to see you at the store or around town, their reputation is important to them. High volume dealers can advertise lower prices, however many of them end up selling vehicles at the same price as the lower volume dealers because of the large overhead they must maintain. Dealers with hundreds of cars on the lot must pay for all of those vehicles and each one potentially raises the cost of the car you are wanting to buy. More inventory and more choices DOES NOT mean lower prices for the buyer, actually it’s a sure sign that the prices are higher than normal.
With all the information available to the car buyer today, it is very possible that you will find a vehicle at or near “dealer cost” or find “employee pricing” on a new car, truck or SUV. These terms are advertised all the time to try and make the buyer think price negotiation is off the table. DON’T fall for it. ALWAYS negotiate!
Contact Sutherland Chevrolet to learn more! Selling cars since 1925.
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