The Fiesta Movement: 2010 Ford Fiesta

This month, Ford will be announcing a groundbreaking marketing plan for the upcoming new "B-Car," the Ford Fiesta. To begin building consumer awareness and excitement for the Fiesta well in-advance of its US launch in 2010, Ford is importing 145 European-built Ford Fiestas. These vehicles are being used in 3 ways:

· The Fiesta Movement: 100 Fiestas are being given to 100 young, technologically savvy, and socially vibrant consumers - spread throughout the US - for free extended test-drives. From May-November, these "Fiesta Movement Agents" will be very active in exposing the Fiesta to both their local and online social networks and communities. The Fiesta Movement Agents were selected from over 4,000 applicants. You can learn more about the Agents and follow their adventures on fiestamovement.com.

· Fiesta Discovery Tours: 25 Fiestas will be utilized for 5 regionally based mobile test drive tours. Between May and December 2009, over 500 Fiesta test-drive experiences will be held across the country. The Fiesta Discovery Tours will allow approximately 100,000 consumers to learn about and drive the new Fiesta prior to the US market launch. The schedule of Fiesta test drive events will be posted on fiestamovement.com/ride-and-drive. Customers who wish to receive an e-mail notification of test drive timing in their area can register on fiestamovement.com.

· Marketing Events: the remainder of the Fiestas will be making appearances at auto shows, Drive One Tour stops, and other Ford marketing events this year.

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Chrysler Rejects U.S. Aid?

Chrysler Financial executives rejected a new $750 million loan from the Treasury Department after the company was unable to obtain waivers from top executives agreeing to strict pay limits, according to a government report to be released today.

The report from the Treasury Department's Special Inspector General overseeing the $700 billion TARP, also confirms the government plans to give General Motors Corp. up to $5 billion in short-term assistance and $500 million to Chrysler LLC.

And it reveals that Treasury plans to offer as much as $1.25 billion to underwrite Chrysler and GM vehicle warranties if either automaker files for bankruptcy.

On April 7 the government asked Chrysler Financial, as a condition of getting an additional $750 million, "to obtain waivers from the top 25 Chrysler Financial executives that would have waived legal claims against Treasury and Chrysler Financial resulting from the recent changes in executive compensation requirements for TARP recipients."

The government claims Chrysler was unable to obtain waivers from all 25 executives, therefore the request for additional funding was denied."

Chrysler Financial, however, said Monday that negotiations with the government never got to the point that executives were asked to sign compensation waivers.

According to Chrysler Financial they have determined that it has adequate private capital funding to cover the short-term needs their dealers and customers and that no additional TARP funding is necessary for the time being.

It sounds like Chrysler is trying to learn a lesson from Ford and not take bailout money. However June 1st is coming quickly and Chrysler needs to speak Italian and cut a deal with Fiat. According to the Obama administration Chrysler isn't viable as a standalone company and vows not to provide it with any more aid after April 30 if it doesn't complete the tie-up with Fiat.

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Fleet Pricing For The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Want That New Ford Fusion? Well now you don't have to pay full price for it! My friends at Blue Oval have a program that you can purchase the 2010 Fusion Hybrid at fleet pricing. That means you pay the same price as the big companies who purchase a large amout of vehicles. They get huge dicounts because of the volume, now you can too. Go to the Ultimate Auto Advisor for more info.

GPS technology lets you track vehicles live online

New technologies are emerging that can help managers keep an eye on not only where the vehicles are, but how they are driving and how long they are stopped, says George Karonis, CEO of LiveViewGPS. Most GPS navigation devices are commonly used to get a user from point “a” to point “b,” but the new technology expands that basic capability with a live Web based tracking unit that updates vehicles positions every 10 seconds. The vehicle’s position can then be viewed on any Web enabled computer.

“As the recession tightens everyone’s belts, companies need to maximize the time that their vehicles are in the field,” Karonis said. “You may be losing money simply because of man-hours wasted by drivers goofing off, or taking too much time on service calls. Being late to a customer call can sometimes cost you their business, so it’s imperative for companies to know where their vehicles are at all times.”

Here are some of the capabilities of the new technology, used in LiveView GPS products, include:

• Track the vehicle live – Anyone with a Web connection can track a vehicle live online, with
the view of the vehicle’s exact position being updated every 10 seconds.

• Track the vehicle’s speed – A pre-set maximum speed can be programmed into the unit, so
that an email and SMS text message is set any time the vehicle exceeds a predetermined
speed.

• Track the vehicle’s territory – If a vehicle is not supposed to leave a certain area, a
geographical safeguard can be programmed into the unit, alerting the tracker if the vehicle
leaves the area.

• Stay in contact with drivers -- The new units allow for two-way communication with drivers,
saving on cell phone bills. It allows companies much tighter control over their vehicle
deployment, and the ability to answer questions and mitigate issues drivers may have in the
field quickly, efficiently and cheaply.

• Historical Playback – Records all positions the vehicle has been, where it stopped for how long,
etc….Available for 90 days. If there ever was a question – User could retrieve data.

GM Board Members to be Replaced? Does it Go Too Far?

Changes in GM management at the influenced by the Obama Administration Auto Task Force have some wondering if it is too much government intervention in the free enterprise system America has always enjoyed. With the ouster of Rick Wagoner, and entry of Fritz Henderson as CEO and Kent Kresa as Chairman, the next move will be to replace a majority of the board of directors. Are we moving toward a European style of Socialism? How much power should the government yield over companies seeking aid?

The Obama administration will play a heavy role in reshaping General Motors' board of directors over the next six months, giving it even greater control in the management of the distressed auto manufacturer. The board today by and large consists of the current and former chiefs of major U.S. corporations such as Eastman Kodak Coca-Cola, Pfizer, and Ernst & Young,

Kent Kresa,, GM's new chairman, said that company officials will seek to replace a majority on the board by August, as the automaker moves to restructure operations.
And one White House official said that "There will be continuing coordination as decisions about the leadership of the company are made,"

If this is not a move toward socialism, than what is? The President of the United States has forced out the CEO of GM G. Richard Wagoner Jr. and Chrysler has been told they must make a partnership with Fiat. Even some senators agree; Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) "There is no question that this country is moving down a very different and foreign path. We have crossed this threshold: We own this company and we are telling it what to do."

What will happen to GM? With the government takeover and GM’s debt to the UAW heath plan, GM will probably go bankrupt and you will see the UAW being a major shareholder in the company. Hopefully if you own a GM product you won’t have to go to the post office to have service done or have a claim on your government backed extended warranty.

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2010 Transit Connect By Ford

Ford plans to unveil the 2010 Transit Connect small van at the New York auto show next week.

Ford developed the Transit Connect for use as a small delivery vehicle for businesses, and the 2010 Transit Connect will be the only purpose-built light-duty commercial van in the U.S. market. Designed for small business owners and their specific needs, Transit Connect will be prepared to handle those needs with a maneuverable, right-sized design, efficient powertrain, customizable cargo area and internationally proven dependability.

The body, essentially a scaled-down UPS van built on a compact car's platform, provides an excellent turning radius of 39 feet. The base version of the Transit Connect will come with a vinyl interior and a $21,475 price tag when it goes on sale this summer.

Powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Transit Connect should get EPA ratings of 22 m.p.g. in the city and 25 m.p.g. on the highway. It has seating for 2 in the cargo van, and up to 5 on the XLT wagon. Transit Connect offers a choice of 2 rear door designs, 1600 lb payload, and over 135 cu. Ft. of cargo volume.

And here is a cool tool: The optional Ford Work Solutions TM empowers small business owners to turn Transit Connect into a mobile office with these features:

Internet-capable in-dash computer and communications system
Tool LinkTM, an innovative tool-tracking system
Crew ChiefTM, a cutting-edge elematics system that tracksfleet vehicles

For a brochure on the 2010 Transit Connect


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Ford Shares Up 15% Today

While GM is being taken over by the U.S. Government, and Chrysler has been given 30 days to learn Italian, on the other side of town in the capitalist part of the U.S; shares of Ford Motor Co. surged more than 15% today after Ford released the positive results of its debt restructuring effort.

Ford said it will eliminate about $9.9 billion of its automotive debt following the results of three separate offers to debt holders that gave investors an opportunity to accept payments at less than the face value of bonds and loans.
Both the stock and bond markets reacted positively to the announcement. By 1:45 p.m shares of Ford’s stock had increased by 47 cents to $3.72 per share compared with its Friday close of $3.25 on Friday. Ford’s stock was trading under $2 per share as recently as March 10.

“We think this was a very successful transaction and it met all of our expectations,” Ford Treasurer and Vice President Neil Schloss said in an interview with the Free Press.

Because of the success of the effort, Ford will be able to slash its annual interest payments by more than $500 million. That means no federal loans are needed by the U.S. government.

Ford and Ford Motor Credit are using about $2.4 billion in cash and 468 million shares of Ford stock to repurchase the outstanding bond and debt obligations.

The acceptance period for two of the three offers closed on Friday and a loan repurchase offer expired last month. Ford plans to complete the debt exchanges by Wednesday.

Standard & Poor’s equity analyst Efraim Levy said “We view positively Ford’s reduction of nearly $10 billion of its debt in exchange for stock and cash,” in a research note today. “In addition to lowered interest costs, the reduction improves Ford’s balance sheet.”


However Levy warned that the value of Ford’s stock will be diluted as Ford issues the shares of stock and also said Ford will continue to face challenges due to industry-wide declining vehicle sales both in the United States and around the world.

Thanks to BRENT SNAVELY at bsnavely@freepress.com for the info.

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One More Reason To Buy A Ford

Thinking about buying a new car? Maybe the current economy or the thought of losing your job may have you putting off that new car purchase. Well here is a bit of good news that may help you if you are riding the fence on what to do.

Ford Motor Company has announced a new program for its customers, called the Ford Advantage Plan. Along with great financing available now including 0% APR on some vehicles, Ford is offering this program to its customers. So what is the Ford Advantage Plan? If you purchase a Ford vehicle and lose your job Ford will make your vehicles monthly payments up to one year and up to 700 bucks per month.

How do you qualify? You have to be involuntarily unemployed for at least 30 consecutive days, you can not get the notice then go buy the car, and you have to be employed for at least 90 days and work at least 30 hours per week.

Ford will make the payment direct to your funding source so you do not have to be financed with Ford Motor Credit. The best part of this program is there is no cost to you. But you have to purchase the vehicle between March 31, 2009 and June 1, 2009. You can get a free copy of Ford’s Payment Protection Plan here.

With all the events happening in the auto industry these days, GM and Chrysler in the tank and now the government is taking them over. Ford is practicing capitalism at its best by coming up with new ideas and ways to keep business going. This is just one more reason to buy American not just made in America.

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Ford 2010 Taurus Wow! What A Car

Ford Motor Company’s President of the Americas Mark Fields Made a comment about the new 2010 Ford Taurus last month saying that is was going to be like 1986 all over again with the new Taurus. Go back to the Reagan days when the original Taurus debuted. Not only was it a very unique aerodynamic design for a mid size sedan in those days, it was a great value compared to the competition.

In the 1990s the Taurus went on to become the best selling passenger car in the U.S. It had a 21 year run until late 2006 when the final Taurus rolled off the assembly line in Hapeville, Ga.

Alan Mulally came in as CEO and one of his first actions at Ford was to resurrect the Taurus name. Ford's new large sedan, the Five Hundred was then changed to Taurus. The new 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned, and Ford hopes all these changes to the exterior, interior, platform and power train will add up to a full-size car worthy of the Taurus name that's crammed with all the best technology and state-of-the-art engines.

Ford has been able to totally redesign the Taurus for 2010 in a very short amount of time. The new front end is marked by the latest interpretation of Ford's three-bar grille. There are still three bars, but they're much thinner with the top and bottom ones framing the grille. There are now also two additional bars in there that are perforated with little holes.

The new Taurus' rear end has been changed just as drastically as the rest of the car. In fact, most people won't be able to recognize the Taurus from the rear at first glance. The top of the trunk is taller and flows back into a raised bit of sheet metal forming a little ducktail spoiler.

The interior of the 2010 Taurus is even more a departure from the past than the exterior. The biggest difference is the new center stack that flows away from the dash at a very shallow angle, almost like in a low-slung supercar. The center console also sits higher, so each front seat passenger is cordoned off in their own compartment.

Powering the Taurus will be 3.5L Duratec V6 producing 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Ford has confirmed that a twin-turbo, direct-injected EcoBoost 3.5L V6 is on its way, but hasn't specified availability yet. That engine will produce big V8 power, somewhere in the range of 350 horsepower, and is expected to return decent fuel economy for a full-size car.

The 2010 Taurus is a large car that competes with other big front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive sedans, vehicles like the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300 and Pontiac G8. And best of all – the 2010 Taurus will have the same $25,995 base price as the 2009 model. Great move by ford and this is a great car!

For more info on pricing and information go to The Ultimate Auto Advisor.

What is Ford Doing in lieu of a Bail out?

With talk of GM and Chrysler possibly going into chapter 11 bankruptcy, Ford seems to have put some distance between them and their failing foes. So what is Ford doing different in a market that seems to keep spinning downward?

While Chrysler is trying to figure out which models to get rid of, Ford is taking a step in the other direction by introducing 3 new models for 2010: the Escort, Fusion hybrid, and the Transit connect. The Escort is to be a plug in vehicle with estimated 100 MPG , look for it in the fall of 2010. The Fusion Hybrid is on it’s way to dealers now and boasts 41 MPG city and 36 highway. The Transit connect is a mini cargo van that has that euro look to it. The transit connect is rated MPG is 22 city and 25 highway.

According to Ford CEO Alan Mulally “In 10 years, 12 years, you are going to see a major portion of our portfolio move to electric vehicles” Ford has outlined plans for a range of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles over the next several years but the comments by Mulally represented one of the clearest indications of the automaker's longer-term plans for electric car technology.
In recent weeks, the No. 2 U.S. automaker has announced plans to introduce a battery-powered commercial van in 2010. The stakes are high because Ford's stepped-up investment is coming at a time when the U.S. government is demanding steep increases in fuel economy and has put money forward to help automakers adopt new fuel-saving technologies.

"Ten years is going to come very quickly and I think we'll have a significant improvement in the fuel efficiency in the internal combustion engine," Mulally said in response to a question about what Ford expected a decade from now.

Mulally said Ford was committed to shifting away from its recent reliance on light trucks for 60 percent or more of its sales so that more fuel-efficient passenger cars dominate.
"We can now make cars in the United States and we can do it profitably," he said.
The global recession has brought gas prices in the United States down sharply from peak levels of last summer, but Mulally said Ford was building a strategy around longer-term energy scarcity.

"Over time, we are going to see ever-increasing prices for energy," he said.

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Is GM Going Bankrupt?

I am probably going to get a lot of heat from GM people and consumers who are GM owners and followers of the product, but don’t kill the messenger here.

The US government now has a "working group" on the automobile industry and are expected in Detroit friday for talks with representatives of troubled US automakers seeking government help and their unions.
The group are going to meet with top managers of General Motors and Chrysler along with leaders of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union as they try to chart a way to restructure the two companies to avoid bankruptcy.
The announcement came after GM's auditors last week voiced "substantial doubt" about the struggling automaker's ability to survive a collapse of global auto sales amid a deepening recession

GM chief executive Rick Wagoner has repeatedly warned that the largest US automaker would likely be unable to survive a bankruptcy filing because consumers would be unwilling to buy GM's vehicles.
GM is funding its operations with 13.4 billion dollars in emergency loans from the US government and said last month it will need an additional 22.6 billion in government aid if it is to survive.
But on Friday, it denied reports that it was considering a prepackaged reorganization financed by the government under the "Chapter 11" provisions of the US bankruptcy code as a solution to its financial woes.
But, two top Republican senators on Sunday called for struggling General Motors to seek bankruptcy rather than fresh government aid as the best path to long-term recovery.
"I think the best thing that could probably happen to General Motors, in my view, is they go into Chapter 11," John McCain, President Barack Obama's beaten opponent in last year's election, told "Fox News Sunday."
"They reorganize, they renegotiate their union-management contracts and come out of it a stronger, better, leaner and more competitive automotive industry," he said.
Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Senate's banking committee, said the government should stop propping up the US auto industry as well as giant banks such as Citigroup.
"Subsidization of anything for very long never works," he said on ABC's "This Week."

Meanwhile, the Canadian Auto Workers announced a tentative deal with GM on Sunday to freeze wages and pensions, and cut paid vacations, as part of GM's North America restructuring.
In the United States, the United Auto Workers last month reached an outline deal to allow Ford to restructure its 13.2 billion dollar obligation to a trust fund for retirees' health care benefits.
A similar agreement is expected shortly at GM and Chrysler because the UAW union maintains similar contracts at each of the Detroit Three.

My prediction is that GM or Chrysler will probably file for chapter 11. A big problem they all have is the UAW, they have bled the auto industry dry for the last 30 years. The next few weeks will be interesting to say the least. What about Ford? That will be a future blog.
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The Auto Industry: What’s Happening With Your Money?

Have you ever wondered what will GM and Chrysler do with the bailout money they received from the U.S. Government? Well GM has decided to take $1 billion of that and invest it in Brazil to avoid the kind of problems they face in the home market.

According to the president of GM Brazil-Mercosur, Jaime Ardila, the funding will come from the package of financial aid that the manufacturer will receive from the government and will be used to "complete the renovation of the line of products up to 2012."

It wouldn't be logical to withdraw the investment from where we're growing, and our goal is to protect investments in emerging markets," he said in a statement published by the business daily Gazeta Mercantil.Meanwhile, he cut the company's revenue forecast for this year by 14% to $9.5 billion from $11 billion, as the economic crisis began to cause rapid slowdowns in sales.

What kind of problems do the U.S. Automakers face? One big one is the UAW. Here is just one example: Ford also operates a state of the art factory in Brazil. (remember they didn’t ask for bailout funds!) This factory streamlines production and makes operations more efficient. Ford can make 5 different types of vehicles here. This is because Ford allows suppliers to be integrated into the assembly line process. So the suppliers making the seats, the dashboards, the fuel systems … they have assembly lines right inside the Ford factory. Makes sense, rather than relying on shipments of parts. No waiting. No shipment costs or delays. Ford even has it’s own shipping port for exporting vehicles right outside the plant.
Wonder why it’s in Brazil? The UAW is opposed to this type of innovative manufacturing. They are opposed to innovation that would actually help their employer because they stand the risk of losing jobs. And if they lose jobs, they lose power.
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Is buying An American Car Impossible?

The other day I wrote a blog about buying American cars and got some comments about is it really possible to buy American? With Toyota being built in Alabama, BMW in South Carolina, and GM and Ford in Mexico there is not a simple answer but I will try to simplify it for you.
Foreign car manufacturers generate billions of dollars in jobs and community infrastructure in the U.S., but there is a difference between Detroit's economic footprint and that of its foreign rivals.
The Center for Automotive Research says Detroit's Big Three employed almost 240,000 people in the U.S. at the end of 2007. Foreign makers had about 113,000 U.S. employees at the time.
The key difference in how the Big Three and foreign brands support jobs in the U.S. comes outside the factories, according to a 2006 study by the Level Field Institute, a group formed by Big Three retirees in Washington.
"What's driving the difference in jobs ... is investment in research, design, engineering and management," Level Field President Jim Doyle said in a statement on the 2006 study.
The Center for Automotive Research said the Big Three had 24,000 engineers on U.S. payrolls in 2007. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said its member companies had 3,500 U.S. research and development employees in 2007.
Look at it this way: You buy a Toyota that was built in Indiana by American employees. That purchase is helping out an American Family. I buy a Ford that was built in Mexico. My purchase is helping out a Mexican Family. However, my purchase is also helping out American retirees of Ford who put in 30+ years When Ford first hired these people, they made a promise to them. I'm just helping Ford keep that promise.

The United States is a service based economy and unless we can put our once booming industries back into place, this great nation will continue spin downwards. Fortunately, it's never too late and we can turn this around. Should Americans buy American cars? Absolutely!

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The American Automobile: What happened to "Buying American?

Growing up in the 60s my family, grandparents, and as a matter of fact EVERYONE owned an American car. Check out the Video below for those who have never seen a vintage American Auto ad, or if you haven’t seen one in a while. I lived in a small town back east and all you saw on the roads were American cars, flags on houses and everyone knew their neighbors.

As GM and Chrysler make their way back to Capitol Hill, what do those execs see? Do they see that America only buys American now? I think not. That in itself should be a huge wake up call for them and us as consumers.

American car companies need to not only build good cars, (and they do build good cars) they now need to look at going green also. Go American and green! What a concept. Our auto companies need to create a way for Americans to identify with their new vehicles.

G.M. in the 60s and 70s did this with the advertising slogan “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet.” Ford did it with “Quality is Job One.” And Dodge with “Big, solid, built to command”

We as Americans should get back to the “buy American” mindset. Easier said than done, just ask anyone under the age of 35 if they would buy an American car, most would opt for a hybrid or a Japanese vehicle because of the green factor and fuel economy. A lot of American’s have believed all the press written about how Japanese cars are better than American and get better fuel economy; just not so. Check out this consumer report article from December 2008.

So Ford has led the pack with it’s refocusing of it brand and is not taking any bailout money. Look for Ford to do a lot more than the other two. GM talks about change but you don’t see too much of that on their site. Chrysler has said they are going to eliminate at least 3 models probably more, and both GM and Chrysler are asking for more bailout money.

I for one hold out hope that we get back to the “Buy American” for America. Long gone is the muscle car age of the 60s and 70s, but what about the green car era of this age? It would be great to see the streets filled with American cars again and the flags on the houses would be a nice touch.

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1960's Ford commercial

Classic-Ford1960 - More amazing video clips are a click away

2009 Ford F-150 Still #1 Truck

With the full size truck market shrinking in sales the competition is going the other direction. The 2009 F-150 still the best selling truck is looking to keep that title for awhile. It has also taken the title of Motor Trends truck of the year award. The next-gen truck has 7 new styles to choose from. The XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and new premium Platinum trims all have their own look to varying degrees. The new platinum package comes with 20” wheels with bright chrome grille insert to name just a few of the options.

Ford did more than give the F-150 a face lift here. The entire platform is new and boasts a fully boxed frame made of hydroformed high-strength steel. It's lighter and stronger than the current platform. Maximum towing will increase over last years numbers.11,300 lbs when properly equipped.

The engine lineup comprised entirely of V8s, as the V6 option's been dropped in favor of a 4.6L 2-valve V8 that offers more power and the same fuel economy. The mid-grade engine is a 4.6L 3-valve V8, while the 5.4L Triton V8 has been reworked to provide more power and run on E85. What's more, in the near future, Ford will offer both a diesel engine and a new EcoBoost turbocharged direct-inject V6 in the F-150. Until that time, its new all-V8 engine lineup features a fleet average 1 mpg boost in fuel economy.

The F-150's interior has also been revamped, though it was already class-leading to begin with. New additions, however, include the availability of SYNC, Sirius Travel Link and a Sony brand stereo. Perhaps the biggest news inside the F-150 is how big it's become. Ford has added a full six inches to the length of the four-door model, all of which goes to increase rear-seat legroom to limo-like lengths. The rear floor is also completely flat, which Ford boasts is perfect for carrying a large flat screen TV home from Best Buy.

For more information on the new F-150 or other vehicles go to ultimate auto advisor.

A View From Inside The Auto Dealership

Mike Gaiser saw the first signs that business at his California car dealership was slipping as early as December 2006, this was before the country entered a recession and the nation’s housing industry collapse were apparent.

The California state budget still has not been passed, which has made selling vehicles to the state come to a grinding halt. Gaiser is a Fleet Manager at a Southern California Ford Dealership where most of his sales come from Government and small businesses.

“I Get up every morning keeping a positive attitude, thinking it will get better someone has to fix that light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s been like this for two years,”

As automobile manufacturers in Detroit struggle to salvage their businesses and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., work to bail out the industry, car dealers all over the U.S. are living the reality of the auto industry’s overwhelming change in business.

Inside the dealership the hours seem longer, the manager responsibilities larger, the pressure and high stress are still there but the profits are smaller. Most dealerships have had to cut back on personnel, inventory, and utilities. Many people who have spent their entire career in the auto business are contemplating a career change, and some of those people are over 45.

“I have seen a lot of dealerships close down after being in business for a many years, but I look at it like this: when we get out of this recession the strong dealerships will still be around, there will just be fewer standing which will eventually make our business better.” Gaiser said.

Better times don't appear to be around the corner. At its annual convention this week in New Orleans, the National Automobile Dealers Association forecast a tough 2009 but said conditions should improve for car dealers in 2010. We will have to see.

Just because car dealerships are having a hard time doesn’t mean you have to in buying a car! Go to Ultimate Auto Advisor to get tips and facts.

Ford does not need government loans

This in the news today: Ford Motor Co has enough liquidity to fund its restructuring plan and despite the deep downturn in auto sales still sees no need to ask for government loans, Chief Executive Alan Mulally said on Saturday.
"We don't want to borrow any more money. We have sufficient liquidity to fund our transformation plan, which means our business is in a relatively good shape," Mulally told reporters on the sidelines of the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.

Meanwhile Ford's U.S. rivals, General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC, won approval in December for $17.4 billion of government loans to avert collapse. Ford has asked for access to a $9 billion credit line from the U.S. government but has not sought loans. Washington has not yet responded to Ford's request.

Ford’s CEO said Ford was in a better situation than its rivals because it borrowed more than $23 billion in 2006, using most of the company's assets as security, including its well-known blue oval logo.

Ford expects an economic stimulus package being pushed by new President Barack Obama to drive a recovery in auto sales starting in the second half and maintains its forecast of U.S. auto sales at 12 million to 12.5 million units, he added.
The forecast represents the high end of prevailing expectations. Analysts have forecast U.S. sales in a range between 10.1 million and 12.5 million units for 2009.

That being said don’t you think American should be buying American vehicles? Let me know what you think. Need Advice on buying or selling a car? Go to ultimate Auto Advisor

Getting The Best Price For Your Car

In 1957, a ford Fairlane cost about $1900.00 and that was with all the “trimmings” as ole Uncle Ernie explains in the video. Today, who knew we would be paying over $20,000 for a mid size car today. (Which is what the average house cost in 1957) This is no small investment, and you want to do everything possible to ensure you get the best deal. Never make a fast decision. If you are completely without
A car, rent a vehicle until you find the right car, or consider the bus system. If your local bus system is like mine, this could be a scary thought, but may help reduce the pressure to buy too quickly. When you rush a purchase, you usually end up with something that you absolutely hate and will be stuck with. Using the Internet, you can discover the typical retail cost of a specific make and model, and with a little digging, you can find out the wholesale cost as well. Take the information you have found and. drive down to your local dealership and ask for the Fleet Manager. It is not realistic to expect to get your new car at or below dealer cost. It would be nice, but they need to make some profit, and you need to feel you paid a fair price, so some compromise is needed. It is fair to negotiate to a price that's $300-$500 above dealer cost or about 20% off the sticker price before rebates.

If the only cars on the lot have expensive options you don't care for, you might want to order a car to your specifications. You might wait a bit, but will save money on options you don't need. If you can’t deal with your local dealer the car or truck you want can be drop-shipped to your local dealership at no cost to you. For more information on that contact me HEREyou may have heard the advice to shop the last day of the month for better deals. It's true that you might get a better deal from a salesman then, but it’s not carved in stone. As far as trade-ins go, do your internet research here, too as knowing the value of your old car makes it easier to negotiate a better price for it. Try not to talk about a trade-in possibility until you get a purchase price. Be mindful of your market area, this may be hard to believe but sometime the internet is wrong on car values. Sometimes a rental company will dump a whole lot of vehicles into your market area. If that happens to be the same make you are looking to trade in you can expect to get less for it because of that supply and demand thing in your area.

You may want to advertise your older car and sell it privately. Typically you can get a better price this way, but it may take a little time. And you may have to deal with a lot of tire kickers.An extended warranty will likely be brought into the negotiation. There is consumer information out there that discourages buying an extra contract on a new car, as it's not likely a problem will occur during the first months of use. You may want to look at how many miles you drive in a year and see if it makes sense to you to purchase an extended warranty.Whatever you do, always read the fine print of any contract before signing it. Ask a lot questions about what certain phrases mean if you don’t understand something. I have been in the car business a long time. 99% of my career has been in fleet sales. If you have any questions about purchasing a new vehicle, feel free to contact me. Or go to http://www.Ultimate AutoAdvisor.com