0% for 84 months! A great deal…or is it?
At the time of the post we are in the midst of a global pandemic known as Covid-19. With that being said, it has had a significant impact on the global economy. What does that mean for the car industry? Will there be killer deals available? Will I be able to buy a car at the fraction of the original price?
The pandemic has had an impact on the car industry already and the total impact has yet to be determined. There are deals available now, and they may or may not get better within the coming weeks. Will you be able do get a car at the fraction of the original price…probably not.
With auto manufacturers shutting down production over the last few weeks is preventing the market from having a huge surplus of new cars therefore limiting the extent of how deeply vehicles will be discounted.
However, there are some attractive offers from a few auto brands at the moment. One of the most popular seems to be the 0% for 84 months.
This is is a killer dealer right! Maybe…..Maybe not.
First of all, I wouldn’t advise anyone to drag an auto loan out for 7 years. 7 years! Also, if you have followed me for a little while you know that I am a proponent of purchasing preowned vehicles vs. new.
Is there a catch? Well here are some things to consider.
Most dealers only offer 0% financing or a rebate. Not both.
A small interest rate such as 1.9% with a rebate could actually be a better deal. The monthly payment may be slightly higher but the total amount paid over the term of the loan could be lower.
Check out the video below by David B sells Chevy on YouTube where he breaks down the math on an example.
When most people purchase a car, they are generally most concerned about the monthly payment and whether or not, they can manage it.
What should be considered most is the total amount of the loan including finance charges and interest over the total amount of the loan. Just becase the payment is lower doesn’t mean it less expensive.
Moral of the story, pay close attention to total amount being financed, interest rate, and monthly payment. That way you can determine the total amount you will have paid at the end of the loan period.(This will also be in your finance paperwork as well when you are signing the final documents.)
- Published in Auto, Business, Finance, Uncategorized
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Car?
Depends. The answer is based upon your personal financial situation.
I’m expecting there to be very attractive deals in the upcoming weeks and months.
With the uncertainty of the economy and job market, this current time could be a risky move. However, I would recommend that you have at least six months to a year (leaning more towards a year) of expenses saved if you are wanting to purchase a car.
More importantly, assess if this purchase is a want or a need. If you have extra funds available at the moment, perhaps those funds could be best used in some type of investment at this current time. The stock market is down at the moment; therefore, could those funds be better served there?
Those who are satisfied with their investments and who have adequate savings, this could be an opportune time to buy a car.
Although, I am typically not a proponent of purchasing a new vehicle, I expect this is where you will find the larger discounts.
GM is already offering extended terms (be careful with this) and lower interest rates on select vehicles.
For instance, I have read that the company is beginning to discount the brand new previous generation Corvettes. Since the 2020 Corvette is all the rave at the moment, the new 2019 Corvettes should be significantly discounted. I understand that GM has a fairly large amount of them in inventory. If you are not the type of person that has to have the latest and greatest, this could present a good deal for you.
To answer the initial question, yes, this could be a good time to buy a car if you are in a financial situation that allows for it.
Deals are beginning to appear, and I expect them to be even better in the upcoming weeks.
- Published in Auto, Business, Finance, personal finance
When is the Best Time of Year to Buy a Car???
Well, Q4 is upon us. This is what I consider to be the best time of year to purchase a car.
As you probably already know, dealerships have goals and quotas to meet. Included in this would be end-of-year goals. Making a car purchase at the end of the year could increase your chances of getting a better deal. According to iseecars.com, the months of November and December offer 26.9% and 23.5% more deals than average, respectively. If I were in the market for a new car, I would begin my search now, in October. There are deals to be had in October, and it gives more time research and compare prices. Pick 3-5 vehicles that you are interested in and compare pricing, options, rebates, promotions, etc…
In addition to quotas, another prompt for dealers to discount cars is due to overstock. The new models begin to roll out late summer and fall, and the dealer has to make room for these new cars. For instance right now, you may begin to see better deals on the 2019 models as the 2020 models are beginning to fill up the dealer lots. Pay attention if a vehicle has been redesigned for the new model, you may begin to see significant discounts on the current model, because they can appear to be less desirable. On the flip side of this, if you are in the market to lease a vehicle, you may see better lease deals on the newer model compared to the current model. Tip: Ask the dealer to show you a side by side comparison of 2019 and 2020 model lease rates. The newer model will likely have better rates due to residual value. Residual value on a lease refers to the estimated value of the lease vehicle at the end of the scheduled lease term.
If you are in the market for a preowned vehicle, there are deals to be had, they just may not be as heavily discounted compared to new vehicles. Larger dealers will begin to receive an influx of people who want to trade in their cars for the latest models and lease terms will be coming to an end. This will present an opportunity to purchase a nice preowned vehicle.
When doing your research and preparing for your car purchase, there a few things to keep in mind.
If the vehicle you want is a strong seller and in high demand, there may not be much of an incentive for a dealer to discount the price.
This may be a similar case for smaller independent used car dealers. Their profit margins may not be as large and they may not have the overstocked inventory problem to contend with to warrant heavy discounts.
The end of the year is not the only time there are good deals offered. Take advantage of holiday sales events and promotions. Christmas and New Year’s, but also Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day sales can have good discounts.
Most importantly, exercise patience. When negotiating a car purchase, be willing to walk away if you do not feel good about the deal and if isn’t right for you. Wait for the deal that you want (if it is within reason). Chances are you will not likely get a $20,000 car for $12,000. Do your research so that you know what your ideal car is selling for. Truecar.com and Cargurus.com are great resources for price comparisons.
Good luck on your car purchase journey!
Cruising in a FJ Cruiser
If you have known me for just about any period of time, you know that one of the things that I am passionate about is cars. I love to see, drive, and occasionally buy them. I keep a mental list of cars that I would like to one day drive and sometimes own. They range from high-end exotics to quirky clunkers. Most of them are iconic cars of the late 80’s and 90’s, the era that I grew up in.
Today I had a chance to cross one off of my driving list.
I had the opportunity to drive a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser…
Here are a few takeaways from my experience:
1.It drove well, decent acceleration and handling(for what it is
2.It’s a niche vehicle so you kinda have to really want one(think Jeep Wrangler)
3.Not the best visibility, has a few blind spots
4.Accessibility was better than I expected with rear access doors
Overall, I would give it a thumbs up. If you are interested in owning it, the vehicle happens to be for sale in Jacksonville, FL. Contact me for details.
If you have an interesting car that you would like to have featured on IG or my blog, feel free to contact me
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- Published in Auto, Business, Uncategorized
Interview with a Car Enthusiast…
Not too long ago, I discovered another really cool channel on YouTube! Me being the Corvette guy that I am, the Corvette in the thumbnail caught my eye. As I watched a few videos, I became more and more interested in the channel. The creator of the channel was making videos on his likes, and dislikes of his corvette. The transparency is what really caught my attention. He did videos on the purchase of his corvette. He was transparent about the cost and financing of his purchase. I felt that this added a lot of value to YouTube viewers. Being so intrigued, we reached out to “Mr. Cars, Costs, and Technology” for a Q & A session.
What inspired you to create your YouTube channel?
I’ve always had a passion for cars and videography/photography. YouTube seemed like the perfect outlet with the best of both worlds.
We know that you are a Corvette guy, so what do you like most about Corvettes?
Corvettes have always caught my attention even as a child. They’re like America’s automotive superheros. Corvettes offer an incredible experience and performance that’s actually attainable for an average person.
How much did saving and planning play a part in the purchase of your Corvettes?
Financial planning and saving played a huge part in the purchase of both of my Corvettes. At my age the odds were stacked against me to own a car like this. It was imperative that I research every cost involved
from the sticker price to the maintenance and insurance premiums. Taking a disciplined approach to savings was the only way for me to purchase my Corvettes without putting my other financial goals at risk.
How long was the savings/planning period, before purchasing your first Vette? What about the second?
Saving to purchase my home was the most challenging obstacle within the last 5 years. Once that process was complete, I never changed my spending habits which allowed me to save up for my first Corvette very quickly.
The first Corvette took about 2 years after purchasing the house. There was a roughly 2 year gap between the first Vette (C6) and the second one (C7). Luckily I was able to
use the equity from the first Corvette to expedite the process of purchasing the second one.
What was your first car?
A 1998 Ford Expedition.
What is your dream car?
It’s hard to decide on just one, but currently my dream car is the rumored C8 mid-engine Corvette. If I had to choose one that is currently available it would be the Koenigsegg One:1 .
Favorite driving music?
I like a little bit of everything, but believe it or not I’m a Christmas music fanatic. Outside of the few months that I can enjoy Christmas music I prefer the sound of my Corvette.
Where did you get your love of cars from?
I raced motocross as a kid, so I had a passion for engines and speed at a very early age. As I got older, cars began to open doors for me that dirt bikes could not. I still love that sport though and follow it closely.
They say that cars represent traits of the owner…What traits does your car have that represent you?
I would say consistent, practical, and made in America!
What do you think will be your next car purchase?
Z06!!
Lets say you have a dream 3 car garage? What vehicles would we find in it?
Koenigsegg One:1
2018 Corvette ZR1
2018 Ford F150 Raptor
Check out Cars, Cost, and Technology on YouTube.
- Published in Interview, personal finance