Long time away from the blogging scene. With the holidays and hunting season in full swing, it's been a busy December and January. Alas, my hunting seasons are mostly over and the corners of my mind are again filled with all things auto retail. And with that, another disturbing online scam is surfacing as told to me by good friend David Ruggles of the Ruggles Report. In short, DO NOT trust the

A friend just sent me a link to a presentation by a gentleman named Rob Gruhl at the Ignite Conference in Seattle a few years ago.http://consumerist.com/2009/12/buy-a-new-car-without-getting-ripped-off.html#commentsIt's quick, clear and concise and hits on some great points. Very well done.Selfishly, almost everything he is touches on are the consumer pain points that led to our creation of

This week’s AutoBidsOnline.com spotlight on the latest and greatest in the new car market focuses on the 2010 Mazda CX-7 4dr S Touring 2WD. The CX-7 is one of the best in class in the Crossover segment and a real bargain listing at $26,550."Without a doubt, the 2010 Mazda CX-7 4dr S Touring 2WD is currently leading the way against rivals Subaru Tribeca and Chevy Equinox," said Jeff Cook,

For the first time ever, more than 4 out of every 5 car buyers are using the Internet in their shopping experience. In a report just released by Chrome Systems, 86% of those responded to a poll conducted by Zogby International indicate they conduct online research prior to the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.Manufacturer websites lead the way as 64% say they visit OEM sites while conducting

Barney The Pimp and some so-called consumer protection groups are calling for yet another layer of bureaucracy to "oversee" dealer assisted financing on new and used car loans.Just what we need - more bureaupunks, creating yet another layer of bureaucracy. If this passes, we'll be blessed with one more inefficient, unaccountable waste of our tax payer dollars – all in the name of “protecting” the

Massive rebates are coming into the market on the heels of the government's Cash for Clunkers (or CARS program). With dealers literally starving for new sales, now may very well be historic times for the new car shopper.As you set about buying your next new car, you are probably wondering the best way to establish the true market value and secure the best possible price.Edmunds.com has done very

Ricky Beggs, managing editor of Black Book, just reported that all 10 used car segments have shown increased wholesale values for the second time in the last three weeks. And as a whole, cars have been up 6 weeks in a row and trucks have been up 8 in a row.What does this mean for new car buyer? Quite simply, your trade is worth more today than it was two months ago and you likely have additional

We all know competition breeds lower prices but how can you use the internet to get the most out of your next new car purchase?First you need to be aware of what is out there. Cars.com, AutoTrader, KBB, Edmunds, Manufacturer sites, Dealer sites - it can all be a little overwhelming.When it comes to getting a great deal, kick out the Manufacturer sites. They provide a great starting point but do

When planning your next car purchase, take some extra time to evaluate the trade-in process. This is the Achilles’ Heel for many buyers as they neglect to take into account everything involved in the trade.One key is staying focused. Do not be dazzled by your new car, or your dream of getting that new car. Think about your trade-in and do not let its significance disappear as you negotiate with

New car buyers are often uneasy. There is a nagging fear they will be had when they finally sit down to negotiate with their local dealer.The first step to getting a great deal is to know what your new car is worth - and there are plenty of automotive research websites that will tell you. In the end however, you still have to sit down and negotiate with the dealer and play their same old dealer