Why can’t I find a vehicle for $1000 anymore????

Why can’t I find a vehicle for $1000 anymore????

We have had quite a few people calling and coming by lately for $1000 vehicles.  Unfortunately, we just can’t find these vehicles anymore…. but why?

During the recession in 2008-2009, new car sales dramatically decreased.  Although this is 9 years ago, it has affected the number of used vehicles today. Late Model vehicles are harder to find and especially at a decent price.  Meanwhile, people are also holding onto their vehicles longer. When people purchase a vehicle, they take care of it, and are on average, keeping their vehicle for about 8 years.

Prices at the auctions have increased as well.  We ran an article last year about the hurricanes in the South causing prices of Used vehicles to increase.  Most viable used vehicles are being shipped to the Southern US to replace many of the flood damaged vehicles.  This demonstrates the law of Supply and Demand.  We have low supply of vehicles in Illinois, which leads to higher demand, which can command higher prices.  Unfortunately, for the car dealer to make money, they must price the vehicle at a price higher than what they paid at the auction.  They must recondition the vehicle, and this takes money from their profit.  Hopefully not losing money in the end.  It’s a gamble.

Programs that are paid for by the state are also causing a shortage of inexpensive vehicles.  Programs such as cash for clunkers, donating vehicles to charities, or people in California being paid to retire older vehicles. Cars we might have sold for $3,000 to $3,500 a couple years are now $5,000 to $5,500.

Now is it possible to find the $1000 vehicle on Craigslist?  The answer is yes!   But you must be an informed buyer.  You most likely will be getting a clunker!  There will most likely be body damage, no AC, interior stains, etc.  If you just need a vehicle to get you from point A to point B, and absolutely do not care what it looks like, it is possible.  Do your due diligence though, make sure that it runs!  Some vehicles to stay away from…No license plates-this means that it is not being driven, vehicles with no pictures…it is actually that bad, it broke the camera!  Vehicles with major issues. You will most likely have some repairs, but make sure that it is nothing major!  And make sure that they have a clean title!  I looked up $1000 cars on craigslist right now, and found many cars that looked ok, but after reading the descriptions-most were not running.  There were some vehicles that maybe didn’t look the greatest but were running.  Just always remember, when buying from a private party, there is no guarantee for your purchase.

AutoSmart Inc.

39 Stonehill Rd Ste E

Oswego, IL 60543

630-554-2285

Detailing your vehicle for the Summer in Oswego, IL

• Wash the Undercarriage of your vehicle- Although our winter has not been too terrible this year, we all have accumulated salt on the undercarriage of our vehicles. It is a great idea to wash that out.  This will keep our vehicles running smoothly. Salt can cause rust and corrosion to our vehicle.  According to DMV.org, the main places that are affected by salt are:  the exhaust system, our Muffler, the Coil springs, sub-frame and Hydraulic brake system.

• Check your tire pressure- Making sure that your tires are aired up is essential to the upkeep of your vehicle. Remember that heat expands and cold deflates our tires.  So when it is hot, make sure that your PSI is 3-5 lower, and in the winter it should be 3-5 PSI higher.

• Check your fluids- make sure your windshield wiper fluid gets refilled immediately. The salt over the winter has depleted our fluids in our vehicle.   Also make sure that you check your brake fluid.  The winter takes a toll on our vehicles, and it is a good practice to check it when the weather gets nice.  Also take a look at your engine oil, coolant and the power steering fluid.

• Empty everything out of your vehicle-Over the winter, we accumulate a lot of trash, and extra stuff in our vehicles. We have extra clothes, ice scrapers, umbrellas, blankets, etc.   Take 5 minutes to empty everything out so you can have your vehicle detailed. Also add a small bag or trash can, so you can prevent the trash pile up in the future.

• Have your car detailed! We have a great detailer at AutoSmart.  He will hand wash your vehicle, remove contaminates from paint, recondition the paint, apply wax, clean and polish your wheels, clean the wheel wells, and clean the door and trunk jams.  The interior of your vehicle, and the mats and carpets, will be completely shampooed and deep cleaned. The seats will be treated, everything vacuumed, all vinyl protected and the glass will be cleaned.

Get rid of that dust and grime and give us a call for your detail appointment today! You will be blown away by how great your vehicle looks, it will look brand new!

AutoSmart, Inc.
39E Stone Hill Rd.
Oswego, IL 60543
630-554-2285
www.autosmartnetwork.com

Stop Stone Chips and Scratches On Your New Vehicle!

At AutoSmart, we use XPEL Ultimate, which is the best self-healing protection film on the market. XPEL protection films offer a wide selection of films to protect your vehicle from paint damage.

This film sheds contaminants like no other film. It combines the clarity of a clear film with the defense of an elastomeric polymer that self heals.  The film protects your vehicle from rocks, bug acids, salt, oils, gravel, tree sap, bird droppings and magnesium chloride.

The film will heal quickly and will continue to do so over time as long as scratches don’t penetrate the film. The average time for a scratch to heal is about an hour, but if the temperature is warmer the healing time will accelerate.

There are many kits for each vehicle. Whether you want a rocker panel or your whole vehicle covered, XPEL has a kit for your needs.

If you’re interested in vehicle paint protection, call AutoSmart for a quote. Our staff will discuss your options, go over any questions or concerns you may have, and schedule your appointment.

After your XPEL Ultimate Film is installed, wait 48 hours before washing it. After that setting time, any normal car soap can be used to wash it. However, in order to prolong the life of your film, we suggest regularly washing, waxing and sealing the vehicle. Unlike other films you can wax and seal your vehicle without causing any damage to this film.

XPEL is so confident that its product is the best paint protection film on the market that it comes with a 10 year warranty. This warranty covers peeling, cracking, yellowing, hazing and staining. If any of these occurs on the vehicle, XPEL will reimburse both the film and labor costs.

For more information, go to www.AutoSmartNetwork.com or call our office at (630) 554-2285.

In case of emergency, what do I put in an Auto Survival Kit?

The key to surviving an emergency is preparation.  You may not have been a Boy Scout, but that does not mean you are at the mercy of fate.  While watching episodes of Bear Grylls may give you some entertaining comfort, it is unlikely he will be there to hold your hand.  Imagine yourself on a trip to an unfamiliar location.  The car dies, or you’ve slipped into a ditch.  You pull out your cell phone and the battery is dead or there is no coverage.  When things start going wrong, the items we take for granted tend to fail us.  Having a simple plan allows us to adapt and move forward.  Our survival kit will be the key. 

Safe operation of vehicle.

• Window scraper to remove snow and ice.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Tell someone where you are going, the expected route, and idea of when you plan on being back.

Simple roadside breakdown. 

1. Safety Triangles and or flares.  This will allow other motorists to see you and avoid an accident.
2. Jumper cables.  The extreme cold weather can quickly run down a battery.  Having cables and have you back on the road in minutes.
3. Traction pads, old carpeting, cat litter.  If you can get some traction, skidding into a ditch might not require a tow.
4.  Shovel.  Removing snow will go more quickly.
5. Chain or tow cable.  A Good Samaritan may show up and be willing to give you a pull.
6. Flashlight.  Makes life much easier when the sun goes down.
7. Extra fuses, fan belts, duct tape

Extended breakdown, now what?

1. Florescent Flag to hang on the antenna or window allowing rescue crews to find you with greater ease.
2. First Aid Kit.
3. Prescription drugs
4. Water
5. Blankets and sleeping bags.
6. Winter clothing, hats, gloves, extra coat.
7. Non perishable food, granola bars, candy bars, instant soup.
8. Tin can or small cooking pot.
9. Lighter, waterproof matches.
10. Candles.  Lighting a candle can provide additional warmth to a car raising the temperature as much as 4.5 degrees.  The candle can also be a heat source for turning snow into water.

Other tips:  Stay with your car.  It provides shelter and it is easier for rescue crews to locate a stationary object.  To add visibility at night for the rescue crew, leave the dome light on.  In an effort to conserve your battery, only use hazard flashers when someone approaches.  The tail pipe must be free of snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  Running the auto for ten minutes an hour and leaving the window cracked during operation of the engine should reduce exposure to exhaust fumes.  A hand held crank radio or a weather radio would give you an idea of future weather reports.  A cell phone adapter for your car would allow you to recharge and make that 911 call.   Once on the phone with 911, stay on the line.  Do not hang up!  If you absolutely need to abandon the car, leave a note with your contact information and your planned route of departure.  Leave the note on the windshield so it can be easily found. 

What is an Auto Concierge service?

Auto concierge services work for the auto buyer and act as an advocate for the buyer.  They serve as a fact finder, negotiator, and personal assistant.  The concierge, just like a five star hotel concierge, researches the customer’s needs and desire for a new vehicle.  The concierge service may take several forms. 

Phone consultations are available at an hourly rate; have your questions prepared in advance.  The client gives the concierge service a list of their needs, wants and desires.  Is the car available with a V8, standard transmission, Bose® sound system, with anti-lock brakes? 

The concierge will find, determine and provide you current MSRP prices and the dealerships/manufacture’s current price and incentives.  The concierge calls their contacts in the auto dealing community requesting prices and availability of the vehicle in question.  The concierge will provide you with the information that dealers don’t want their customers to know. 

Put yourself in the driver’s seat.  Knowledge is power.  For the time sensitive client who understands that time is money, the concierge will locate your new vehicle and take care of every last detail. Whether you have a vehicle to trade, or looking to finance, they can arrange everything. 

Premiere services would take care of every detail and a concierge consultant would meet you at the dealership to walk you through the entire process. This is the hands on approach that will assure that you get the best deal.  Few clients enjoy haggling over price.  Some will give away their trade to avoid personally haggling over prices. 

Now they have an advocate to negotiate on their behalf.  Upon arriving at an agreeable price, the concierge then books the appointment for dealer to meet with the client.  The necessary paperwork is completed and the client is usually in and out of the dealership with their new vehicle in less than an hour.  For the time pressured professional, the concierge service leverages time and dealer contacts to save time and money.

Auto Appearance Care – Are You Protecting Your Investment?

As our economy changed, the average consumer’s cycle for trading-in their vehicle also changed. Consumers are keeping their vehicles longer, and keeping them mechanically sound. But are they properly maintaining their vehicle’s appearance?

Even though this winter was mild, we still need to understand the effects of the changing seasons on our vehicles. It may seem like a long time ago when trucks where dumping tons of corrosive salt onto our roads to protect us as we drove. But the same element that was protecting us several months ago is quietly destroying our vehicles, not to mention all of the snow and slush that we dragged into our vehicles.

For most people, their vehicle is just a means of transportation. Others consider their vehicle to be a reflection of their personal image. By having your vehicle detailed, you can reduce the negative effects of salt inside and out, while bringing back your car’s like new appearance.

Exterior detailing involves several processes, which includes washing, claying, polishing, waxing, and sealing of your vehicle’s painted surfaces. Interior detailing involves cleaning all of the hard to reach areas, extracting dirt from the carpets, and protecting the seating surfaces.

Do you remember when you first purchased your new vehicle, and you would park at the far end of the parking lot to avoid people slamming their car doors into your new car? Do you look at that door ding every time you get in or out of your vehicle?

Paintless Dent Removal is a quick and affordable process that can remove those ugly dents, without a costly trip to the body shop. This process is performed by highly trained professionals who have many years of experience removing door dings, minor dents, small creases, and hail damage, without harming your vehicle’s paint.

There are many reasons to maintain the appearance of your vehicle: pride in ownership, personal or professional image, but the most important reason is resale value! Everyone knows that automotive dealers are going to perform an appraisal of your trade-in, and the condition of the interior and exterior factors into the determination of what they are willing to offer you. A dirty or dented vehicle can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than a vehicle of the same year, make, and model that has had its appearance properly maintained.

We can help you keep your car’s appearance in its best condition. For more information regarding AutoSmart’s Auto Detailing and vehicle appearance services please call us at 630-554-2285.