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  • See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Memorial Day

    See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Memorial Day

    When it comes to buying cars, you can wait till the end of the month and hope that the dealership will cut you a deal. Or, you can wait until a big holiday like Memorial Day and take advantage of dealerships competing with larger than normal specials for your business. Covid has hit auto dealerships especially hard this year and these deals are proof that they’re ready to fight for your business.

    Start Early
    When do you want to start looking for deals? The earlier you start, the better in position you’ll be to find out what each dealer is offering. But your opportunity to sieze the best deal is generally between Saturday , May 29th and Monday, May 31st. The only downside of waiting this long is that you run the risk of the vehicle you want most being out of stock.

    Mid Size Sedan Sales
    Kia is offering one of the best deals of the year on their flagship sedan. The Optima is $3,500 off the Special edition and LX trims. Or if those trims aren’t your style they’re offering $4,000 off their other packages. You’ll also save money on financing with 0% for up to 75 months plus 120 days of deferred payment.

    Go Green and Save Green
    Getting an all-electric vehicle has too many benefits to count. It’s simple, convenient and requires less maintenance than a traditional gas-powered vehicle. This Memorial Day Chevrolet is offering $8.500 of or $4,750 with 0% up to 72 months on their all electric Bolt EV. The bolt is as fun as electric cars come with over 266 lbs of near virtually instant torque and a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds.

    Room For the Family
    The 2021 GMC Acadia Is a spacious SUV with more style and refinement than most would expect. It’s a great choice for families. The flexibility of a second and third row fold-flat seating system ensures the interior can change with you. This memorial day you can get $4,000 of all packages but the SL along with 0% financing for up to 84 months.


  • See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Labor Day

    See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Labor Day

    When it comes to buying cars, you can wait till the end of the month and hope that the dealership will cut you a deal. Or, you can wait until a big holiday like Labor Day and take advantage of dealerships competing with larger than normal specials for your business. Covid has hit auto dealerships especially hard this year and these deals are proof that they’re ready to fight for your business.

    Start Early
    When do you want to start looking for deals? The earlier you start, the better in position you’ll be to find out what each dealer is offering. But your opportunity to sieze the best deal is generally between Friday, September 3rd and Monday, September 6th. The only downside of waiting this long is that you run the risk of the vehicle you want most being out of stock.

    Mid Size Sedan Sales
    Kia is offering one of the best deals of the year on their flagship sedan. The Optima is $3,500 off the Special edition and LX trims. Or if those trims aren’t your style they’re offering $4,000 off their other packages. You’ll also save money on financing with 0% for up to 75 months plus 120 days of deferred payment.

    Go Green and Save Green
    Getting an all-electric vehicle has too many benefits to count. It’s simple, convenient and requires less maintenance than a traditional gas-powered vehicle. This 4th of July Chevrolet is offering $8.500 of or $4,750 with 0% up to 72 months on their all electric Bolt EV. The bolt is as fun as electric cars come with over 266 lbs of near virtually instant torque and a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds.

    Room For the Family
    The 2021 GMC Acadia Is a spacious SUV with more style and refinement than most would expect. It’s a great choice for families. The flexibility of a second and third row fold-flat seating system ensures the interior can change with you. This Labor Day you can get $4,000 of all packages but the SL along with 0% financing for up to 84 months.


  • Need a New Ride? Top Affordable Compact Luxury Cars

    Need a New Ride? Top Affordable Compact Luxury Cars

    Everyone loves getting to drive a nice new car. There’s something about being behind the wheel of a luxury car that’s ineffable and hard to place. It’s like you become the master of your own little domain, able to zoom around corners and go where you want. Not everyone can swing the huge payments to own a nice new car though.

    So, how do you find a compromise between a nice ride but not having to take a long time to pay it off? Thankfully, you can check out our list of the top luxury cars that won’t break the bank! These are luxurious, compact and affordable, and will keep you riding in style even as you keep your car payments reasonable.

    2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

    Mercedes-Benz, a well-known name in the world of luxury cars, offers the CLA-Class as a more affordable entry option to their range of vehicles. While you’ll only pay $33,695 for base models of the 2018, you’ll get the full Mercedes-Benz luxury experience. Some of the base features are pretty high-tech and impressive. For instance, it comes stock with drowsy-driver sensors, forward collision mitigation and rain-sensing windshield wipers. If that’s not enough for you, it even sports dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth! Add-ons include LED headlights, heated seats and adaptive cruise control. You can even opt for blind spot monitoring if you’re like me and forget to check those every time!

    2018 Acura ILX

    The ILX is a great choice for those who want a luxury ride but still want to have a practical vehicle. This vehicle has some pretty sweet amenities for its low price tag. While base models cost about $29,000, they also have keyless entry and ignition and heated front seats. they also sport dual-zone climate control, for when the driver and passenger feel comfortable in two different temperatures, and automatic LED headlights to help cut through hazardous weather conditions. For those who want a bit more, they can also opt for some safety features like adaptive cruise control and front collision mitigation. The ILX can also be equipped with navigation, leather upholstery and satellite radio.

    2018 Audi A3

    The next car on our list, the elegant Audi A3, starts at around $33,000. And it does more than just look pretty: it has some stellar luxury features. The A3 comes standard with forward collision mitigation, helping make sure you keep your nice new luxury car out of trouble. It also ensures a comfortable ride, with heated front seats and leather upholstery, and even a panoramic sunroof! If you want even more, you can opt to add on blind spot monitoring to even further keep your A3 (and yourself) safe, and even parking sensors. To round it all out, you can even opt for Apple CarPlay mirroring, letting you use your phone as your car stereo!

    2018 Volvo S60

    An extremely elegant car, and a great buy for $35,095. The S60 is a looker and boasts an incredibly comfortable ride to boot. Base models have low-speed collision mitigation, which is great when driving around town. They also have xenon headlights, leather upholstery and sunroof equipped standard. Oh, and don’t forget the Wi-Fi connectivity. Pretty cool, right? You can also opt for rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and navigation.

    2018 BMW 3 Series

    The 3 Series is the most affordable of BMW’s luxury cars, but it feels anything but “affordable.” This decadent ride is smooth, responsive and just plain fun to drive. You can grab a base model for $35,895, and that equips you with push-button start, dual-zone climate control and rain-sensing windshield wipers. You even get Bluetooth connectivity! If you want a more upgraded experience, you can also opt for a sunroof, among other awesome options.

    Tesla Model 3

    When it comes to brand recognition, few cars are in the same boat as Tesla. The astonishing range and acceleration on display in the Model 3 make its all-electric powertrain that much more impressive. The luxurious interior, with its minimalist design and simple center screen, feels like a car from the future.
    For the price of $35,000 you can get the Standard Range Tesla, though a few thousand more bucks gets you the Long Range. It’s a difference of about a hundred miles of range, as the Standard Range allows for an impressive 240 miles, while the Long Range sports 310 miles. The Long Range will run you a steeper $49,500.
    The Model 3 makes our list, however, due to the all-electric nature of the vehicle working in conjunction with its great drive and range. This is, for all intents and purposes, a totally normal car that also happen to need neither gas nor oil. You won’t need to fill it up, get oil changes or worry about most regular maintenance. That’s all behind you once you go fully electric.


  • How to Save Money on a New Car

    How to Save Money on a New Car

    Buying a new car comes with a huge cost. You shell out tens of thousands of dollars, or take on the burden of an auto loan. Being able to afford a new car requires years of saving money, researching your options, and digging deep to find the right deal.

    Yet there’s something you should know: car manufacturers are cutting prices. A new car doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Thanks to increased competition among automakers, prices are dropping. Every car manufacturer wants your business, but they know you’re too smart to go after the first low price you see. You want the lowest possible price and the best car in the market.

    The average car on the road is about ten years old. Cars are becoming less expensive across the board to compensate as manufacturers struggle to get new cars on the road. Dealerships are even scrambling to get old cars off of their lots to make room for new models. Are you taking advantage of this advantageous climate? Here’s the insight about the auto industry you need to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of these incredible deals.

    How to Save Money on a New Car

    Different Choices Equal Lower Prices

    Every car company is trying to stay ahead of the pack by creating more new options every year. This could work to your advantage. With so many different options, you could choose anything you want. Want an SUV or crossover? There’s one available from every car manufacturer, from affordable to luxury. Looking for a sedan or convertible? Each automaker has their own take on these types of cars. Special features, add-ons like warranties and maintenance packages, even upgrades on car interiors can all be compared too.

    Car manufacturers are at war over their prices. Facing stiffer competition across the market, car companies know they need to capture your attention. No one manufacturer wants to miss out on luring new customers, new car buyers–and when one automaker is lowering its prices, the rest of the pack follows. This trend could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

    You Can Afford a Luxury Car

    Luxury car brands are competing with each other as well, trying to offer the best features at the lowest prices. They know you have a lot of options to choose from, so they want to stay ahead of the game. Affordable automakers’ cars are catching up to luxury brands. With fancy, tech-savvy features like backup cameras, lane assist, and infotainment systems now the norm, luxury brands are starting to scramble. They know you could score a similar car from another company for less, and they don’t want to lose your business.

    Anyone can afford a luxury car thanks to this race amongst automakers. You simply need to know what a brand’s competitors are offering for a given model, and you can use that information to get a significantly reduced rate on the luxury car you’ve been eyeing for years.

    Do Your Research

    Don’t just walk onto a dealership lot looking a good sticker price. You’ll end up overspending by a lot and driving home with an outdated model you spent too much on. Car salespeople are really good at hyping up nothing at all and getting you to part with your hard-earned money. Before you get swept up by a sales pitch, do your research. You’ll want to know all of your options.

    Get a feel for what different brands and features cost. If you like features like lane assist, back-up cams and infotainment systems you’re in luck. Those features have become standard on pretty much every car. From luxury cars to affordable options, high-tech features are now the norm.

    Compare and Shop Online

    You don’t even need to head into a physical dealership. You can shop for cars entirely online if you so choose. That way you not only avoid the salespeople but you also get to shop at a slower pace. Slower paced shopping means you get to compare prices at your leisure and decide on which features you really want.

    Talk to Your Friends

    If your friends have nice cars or recently bought new ones, talk to them! They’ll be able to tell you way their shopping experience was like and how much they spent. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new vehicle this is a good way to get a feel for what people like. Your friends can even tell you which features they use a lot and enjoy and which ones aren’t really worth the money.

    Just remember that you should shop at your own pace! You’re in no rush to get a new vehicle. If you shop at your own place and avoid the typical car-buying process you’ll end up saving a lot of money.

    Local Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About These Deals

    Visit your local car dealerships, and you won’t find these amazing deals. Why? They’ll lose money if they let you in on their secret and sell you a car at the manufacturer’s reduced rate.  If you walk into a car dealership today, they will try to sell you a new car for the highest price possible. You could spend all day at a dealership trying to convince a salesperson to lower their price.

    Why waste your precious time when there’s an easier way? Armed with the right research, you can skip settling for bank-breaking dealerships. There are other options for buying a car at significantly lower prices. If you follow the tips above and do your research, shop online for different prices and talk to friends you will be armed with everything you need to know–and they’ll show you sticker prices far less than those at the dealership.

    Stop being jealous of all the new cars on the road–you can purchase one too for the best price on the market. You simply need to keep searching the top money-saving sites. In the age of technology, there are many online resources to help you buy the car of your dreams!


  • What Should You Pay for a New Car?

    What Should You Pay for a New Car?

    Who doesn’t love the idea of driving around in a brand-new car? Not many people get to enjoy the fun of taking a new car out for a spin, let alone owning one. If you’re thinking about getting a new vehicle, maybe you’re wondering how much you should be spending for your car payment. Should you own, or should you lease? There are a lot of questions when it comes to cars and car payments, so let’s get into it.

    New Car Info

    Buy or Lease?

    Firstly, you need to think about whether or not you want to buy or lease a car. There are a few reasons why you might go with either. Buying a car ensures that you’ll have an actual piece of property when you’re done paying for it, meaning you can resell it later to recoup some of the value. Remember, however, that cars aren’t investments, and they only ever lose value over time.

    If you’re just wanting to drive a new car and don’t want very high monthly payments, you can opt for a car lease. A lease allows you to pay less than a new car payment, on average, and still drive around a brand-new vehicle. However, you have to deal with mileage caps (and fees if you go over) and you won’t own the car at the end of the lease.

    What to Spend

    If you decide to buy your car, you’re going to want to know what to spend on your car payment. Unless you’re fantastically wealthy, odds are good you’re not paying with your new ride in full when you walk into the dealership. As such, you’re going to need a loan from someone. You can go through a bank for an auto loan, or you can finance through the dealership.

    When you look at your budget, don’t just see if you can manage a car payment. Try to get your payments as low as you can while still getting a reliable vehicle. For instance, if you make an average amount of money, it’s not wise to stretch your budget in order to scrape by making $500 (or higher) payments every month for several years.

    Rule of Thumb

    A good rule of thumb to follow is the 20/4/10 rule. This rules holds that you should make the down payment at least 20 percent of the car’s cost, you should never finance for more than 4 years, and you shouldn’t let a car’s expenses exceed 10 percent of your income. That ten percent needs to include car payment, interest, principal, insurance, gas and maintenance.

    This might sound like it accounts for a very small amount of your money. That’s because it should! In general, you want to make sure you’re not exceeding this for your vehicle’s payments. Otherwise, you’re letting your car eat up too much of your monthly pay, and you’ll find it hard to save for anything or get ahead.

    Could You Go Over?

    In theory, yes, you could go over this rule of thumb. Many people who love luxury cars end up spending far in excess of ten percent of their gross income on their vehicle expenses. However, we highly recommend you make any exceptions to this rule with a very good reason. For instance, if you’re buying an electrical vehicle which will net you a tax break this year, you can include that calculation for the purchase.

    Likewise, if you’re incredibly patient and simply save up the money for as much as half of the car’s value as a down payment, you can play with the numbers a bit more. However, it can be incredibly difficult to remain that patient, especially when you might not have the best vehicle for your current daily commute.


  • Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Does anything beat that new car smell? Yes, we’d say, the smell of money in your wallet beats that new car smell. See, when you’re saving money by buying used, you’re coming out with a lot more cash in your wallet. Today we’re running down the best reasons to buy a used car when you need a new ride. Make the right call when you hit the dealership!

    Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Car Values

    It’s no secret that new cars cost a lot more than they have any business costing. That’s why a new car depreciates by 50% in the first three years after it rolls off of the lot. This really stinks when you buy a new car and go to trade it in a few years later. The thousands of dollars it’s lost in value is essentially gone, and you’re about to sink the excess value into another new car.

    Stretch your Money

    It doesn’t have to be that way, though. If you go to a used car dealership and look for a 3-year-old vehicle, you can get a nice, modern car for half the price of a new car. Beyond that, once a car is three years old, it’s stopped depreciating at such a dramatic rate.

    That means, after you’ve driven your used car around for a few years, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a hard time selling it for a similar amount that you spent on it. This goes double if you’re buying used cars with lots of options, like infotainment systems, safety features and the like.

    Insurance

    Driving a new car is expensive for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons, on top of the sheer cost of a new car, is the insurance. Insurance on a new car can be as much as double the price for the same vehicle that’s three years old.

    Here’s the thing: you won’t feel the difference driving a three-year-old car around the road unless you’re a professional driver. Your insurance company, however, marks that difference in cold, hard cash. Cash that you could save for fun stuff like going on vacation or just for putting in your savings account.

    Choices

    Most dealerships have much wider varieties of cars that are used. After all, the newest cars have to appeal to a very specific kind of driver. If you’re looking for the right car for you, your best bet is going to be looking at a used car. Make your budget go farther for you by buying used for your next car.


  • Should You Buy a Used Car?

    Should You Buy a Used Car?

    A lot of people religiously trade in their car every 3 years to get a brand-new car. However, could you be spending more money on this practice than if you were to simply drive a used car? It’s worth noting that a new car loses most of its value in the first 3 years of it’s on the road. Should you be opting to buy used cars instead of new, though?

    Should You Buy a Used Car?

    Your Wallet

    Firstly, you’re going to save a lot of money if you opt to buy used cars over new. However, you knew that. What you might not know if just how much you’re likely to save. New cars, famously, are quite expensive for the value the consumer gets. Largely, what you’re paying for is the “new car smell” and the good feeling you get of owning a new thing.

    However, buying used cars that are in good condition could result in you saving thousands of dollars. On top of that, you can get relatively new, nice vehicles that are used and less expensive than from the dealership. Frankly, you’re better off forgoing brand-new cars for your trade-in value and for your wallet.

    Environmental Concerns

    When you buy a used vehicle, you’re actually making a good call for the environment. Hundreds of thousands of used car sales cut into new cars every year, causing production to slow down. As you well know, unchecked production plays havoc on the environment.

    As such, by buying used, you’re doing a bit of your part to curtail environmental damage. That said, if you’re buying a large truck or SUV, the emissions let off might balance the scales yet again. Jokes aside, buying used is a great way to be environmentally conscious.

    Avoid Dealerships

    No one likes dealing with salespeople. Even salespeople don’t like dealing with salespeople. If you’re eager to cut the dealership out of your car-buying experience, you can buy used cars directly from the previous owners. While you might still have to do a bit of haggling, it’s not the same as dealing with a trained salesperson.

    Shopping via eBay motors, Craigslist or some other online site is a great way to shop for used vehicles and avoid the dealership. That way, you not only don’t spend your day haggling with someone, you also get a fairer deal on a more affordable vehicle. That’s a win-win!


  • Could a Job as a Truck Driver be Right for You?

    Could a Job as a Truck Driver be Right for You?

    Maybe you’ve been looking into a job as a semi-truck driver and thinking about what it would mean for you. What kind of money do truck drivers make? What kind of hours do they work?

    In short, you’re wondering if a job as a truck driver would be right for you. Let’s look into that very question.

    Truck Driver Jobs

    Requirements

    First, before you can even be a professional truck driver, you need to get licensed to drive a semi-truck. The license you need is called a CDL, and usually, you want a Class A. Sometimes you have to get your license yourself, but some companies will sponsor you while you get your license.

    Aside from having the right license, there aren’t really any other requirements for becoming a truck driver. Companies usually prefer people with high school diplomas, though even that isn’t set in stone. A GED would work just as well as a diploma for most prospective drivers.

    Job Responsibilities

    Depending on the company and type of work you’re getting into, your job responsibilities could vary. However, generally, the responsibilities of a truck driver include hauling cargo from one place to another. Some drivers will work in smaller areas and could even go home every night after their route.

    Other drivers do “long-hauls,” staying on the road for days at a time to carry cargo cross-country. These drivers tend to get several days in a row off when they return home. On some occasions, these drivers will pick up hauls at their own discretion.

    Generally speaking, truck drivers don’t sweat the loading and unloading of cargo into their vehicle. The hard part of their job is all the time spent out on the road.

    Average Salaries

    Truck driving pays relatively well for what could be considered a blue-collar job. On average, student drivers make $41,000 per year. CDL drivers, who are licensed and more experienced, make an average of $66,000 per year.

    OTR CDL drivers, who have a ton of experience and complex licenses, make an average of $82,000 per year, making their job position a desirable one for drivers.

    Bottom Line

    A job as a truck driver could be right for you if you don’t mind being alone, on the road and far from home more often than not. If you can handle that, then there’s quite a bit of money to be made for an experienced driver with good endurance.


  • 2021 Subaru Outback Review

    2021 Subaru Outback Review

    The 2021 Subaru Outback is an interesting pick when it comes to a full-sized SUV. It’s in a competitive price range, it offers ample features, and it’s great for families.

    Does it stand out compared the competition, though? Today we’re breaking it down in our 2021 Subaru Outback review.

    2021 Subaru Outback Review

    Design

    There’s no mistaking the 2021 Outback for anything but a Subaru. The front grille design, the soft lines along the body and the general aesthetic all give it away for being a Subaru. That’s neither a compliment nor a condemnation: Subaru has a distinct look. Fans of this design will like the Outback, and those who find it dorky will continue to do so here.

    New Features

    This year is mostly an iterative upgrade over 2018, though the new model comes with some new bells and whistle. Namely, the EyeSight driver assist suite is now standard. More standard safety features is never a bad thing! Along with that, the base 2.5i trim now has more USB ports for everyone to charge their devices.

    What You’ll Love

    The cabin is huge and comfortable, and you’ve got tons of space to put all your stuff. On top of that. The vehicle offers great visibility, sporting very small blind spots. You’d be hard-pressed to get into an accident in the Outback, between all of the standard safety features.

    The loading heights for the cargo and roof are also notably lower than on other SUVs. In short, the Outback is short! That’s not new for Subaru, however, as their cars are, by-and-large, rather squat.

    What You Won’t Love

    Unsurprisingly, the 2021 Outback doesn’t sport a terrible great engine. The acceleration is lackluster and the handling is okay at best. That said, you’re not likely to be considering the outback for competitive street racing, so these drawbacks might not matter to you.

    Bottom Line

    In its class, the Outback is what you’d expect. It’s a spacious, comfortable SUV with ample safety features and a somewhat silly appearance. It sports a sub-par engine, middling handling and bad acceleration. But, then, what do you expect for an SUV that starts at $26,345?

    If you’ve got a big family that you need to get around town safely, and in comfort, then the Outback is a great pick. If you’re looking to impress your buddies with the speed and handling of your new ride, well, you already weren’t thinking about picking up an SUV.


  • 2021 Subaru Ascent – The Best Yet!

    2021 Subaru Ascent – The Best Yet!

    Subaru’s first attempt at a three-row SUV, the Tribeca, wasn’t the best car in the world. In fact, it’s one of Subaru’s weaker models, and really failed to impress. Thankfully, the 2021 Subaru Ascent is here to change all of that. This three-row SUV is a great value and perfect for big families. If you’re looking for an awesome new SUV for the whole family to enjoy, check out today’s feature round-up. You’re going to love what Subaru has delivered here.

    Huge Presence

    If you like having a big footprint on the road, the Ascent will tickle your fancy. You’ve seen the Forrester before, so picture that but with three rows of seating. The Ascent is big, it’s roomy and it makes sure it has space on the road. If you’re like me, you don’t want people crowding you while you cart your family around town. As such, that huge road presence is a big deal. It also means you can fit everyone and their friends in the car without anyone being cramped!

    Interior Accoutrements

    The Ascent features a big, bold infotainment system and a nice interior. While the interior cabin won’t blow your mind, it’s nice and does its job. The infotainment screen comes in a 6.5 or 8-inch display, depending on which configuration you go with. Either way, it’s helpful and works well when you need to use it. The Ascent also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

    On the Road

    Subaru’s Ascent handles great on the road. It gets 21 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway, all while putting out 260 horsepower. That’s not too shabby! The steering is responsive and accurate, especially considering the SUV’s big size. The suspension is great, and this vehicle features less body roll than most in its class. The best part is, the ride is smooth, quiet and comfortable. You’ll hear barely a whisper from the engine, and bumps are handled with ease.

    2021 Subaru Ascent Bottom Line

    This is a great SUV! If you’re looking for a car for lugging your family around town, this is a great pick. It drives well, it’s roomy and it has a ton of modern tech in the cab. You’ll love the ride, and you’ll love all the cargo space. The best part, though, is the price. The base model is $31,995, making it a great option for a family that isn’t looking for a luxury car. Not to mention, that price tag gets you the rock-solid Subaru name on the back. Customers are loyal to that company because its cars are just excellent.