#TAXIDRIVER REBUKE'S SAFETY REPORT ABOUT #TOYOTA'S

A blog to assit people in the purchase of used cars, trucks and motor vehicles stevecars.com aka ace auto pawn is the nation's #1 #online #vehicle #pawnshop in #paducah, #kentucky. I have been a San Francisco Taxicab Driver for over 25 years. I have driven Toyota products for the past 10 years. The recent informtion about Toyota safety is propaganda and completely fake. If you believe the information recently placed in the media about Toyota you probably believe in Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. I have been in numerous accidents over the past 26 years as a San Francisco Taxicab Driver. I have been t-boned, rear ended, and one head on. I presently drive a Prius and previously have driven Toyota Camry's. I have found that other vehicles involved in accidents seem to explode on inpact. The Toyota's involved are barely dented and are generally put back on the road within 24 hours. The opposing vehicles are generally complete totalled. Who do you believe: A film clip of a car hitting a fake wall and fake dummy or a person that has been on the street of a major city in the U. S. and actually experienced an accident in a Toyota.

WHAT IS YOUR #PADUCAH #USED #CAR #LOT #SOCIAL MEDIA STANDING????????????

THE used car business has changed 180 degrees over the past 25 years. The old way of doing business generally consisted of a small dealership that would deal directly with entire familes for their vehicle needs. In many cases #used car dealerships often times repeatly sold vehicles to three and four generations of the same family. It was often unheard of to shop around for a better deal as one dealership was "the family dealership that everyone went too" . The internet has changed the whole landscape of the new and used car business. Used and New Car Dealerships can no longer depend on long time repeat customers. A dealership's social media presence can either lead a dealership to profit or downfall in a short period of time. A dealer that considers retirement and wishes to sell his long established business might be very discouraged at the value of his long standing business if he has NO SOCIAL MEDIA connections. Consider, Dealer A and Dealer B Dealer A long standing dealership 90 per cent of sales repeat customers no website and uses social media very little. Dealer B New business very active in social media, up to date website gains 90 per cent of market share from internet. Lower profit margin but sells more units per month with less salemen. Social Media Checkoff list Dealer Website up-to-date 100 points Dealer Blog 75 points Ebay presence 50 points Craigslist prersence 85 points Linked in presence 50 points FaceBook presence 85 points Twitter presence 50 points Pinterest presence 50 points Instagram presence 50 points If your dealership score is less than 300 points it is recommended that you consider revisiting social media. I have heard arguments that only 25% of many dealerships sales comes from the internet. If you dealership is relaying on repeat business the future of your business model is questionable.

#CATERING TO THE FEMALE CAR BUYER

DURING THE 1950'S, 60'S, and as late as the 70's and early 80's purchasing a new or used car meant many weekends of tire kicking and visiting new car show rooms and used car lots. The man of the house generally negotiated the terms of the sale and usually aside from color and extra's the women of the house keep quiet and just did not get involved. The internet changed the whole landscape of new and used car sales. The invention of the internet allowed women to search out information about cars, prices, terms, and warranties. I witnessed an elderly lady in Cracker Barrel discussing MVP and a host of terms I did not even understand. The women of today thanks to the internet are better educated and informed about a vehicle purchase and in many cases know more about the product than the AVERAGE CAR SALESMAN!. Dealerships that once tacked in overpriced add'ons now are subject to the seasoned eye of a female buyer. The old style of selling cars by beating down the buyer are over.

#HOW TO PROFIT FROM POLICE IMPOUND AUCTIONS

I have been a licensed Used Car Dealer in the state of Kentucky for over 10 years. My family has been in the used car business in some area for over 75 years. I have written a book that will be published this fall titled "How To Profit From Police Auctions". I accidently discovered this hidden source of used cars . I was a Navy Recruiter and was searching gatherings of qualified applicants in order to meet my monthly quota. I had visited every college, tech school, union hall in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started thinking out of the box and put my uniform on and realized that every week 100's of qualifed individuals frequented these sales. I handed out business cards every week in order to find people for the U. S. Military!!! I learned that a person did not need a DEALERS LICENSE! DID NOT NEED A USED CAR LOT! in order to buy and resell these types of vehicles and many people were making their living buying, selling, and trading vehicles from these sales. I also learned that often times "COLLECTABLE CARS" were sold for a fraction of their valueat these sales. I continued to visit these sales even after my retirement from the military service and took the plunge and bought (2) GMC pickup trucks on the same day for under $500. each. The California Department Of Motor Vehicles requires that in order for vehicles to be registered an individual must have insurance, smog certificate and all back registeration fees must be paid in order to get a clean title. The above factors can often kill your profit margin. However, if a vehicle is shipped out of the state of California to a state that does not require a smog you are exempt. The back fees on these vehicles were also waived. I have learned over the past 10 years the hard way about "Police Impound Auctions". I will share my plan to my readers for a price of $4.98 and a full refund if your are not satisfied. Whether, you want to start small and buy a cheap car to flip or buy more expensive vehicles this book will help you avoid many of the pitfalls I have experienced. The book IS NOT A GET RICH QUICK BOOK. The book is for people that want to either supplement their income or make a living from the sale of these types of vehicles. I want to mention (2) other items before you submit your email address. I will give the first 50 people A FREE BOOK that makes a comment on this blog once the book is complete and prior to publish date. I outsource all of my mechanical work, outsource all vehicle shipping and sell all vehicles AS IS. I will also will have an email address and phone number is you have any questions once you buy the book about purchasing "Police Impound Cars." Thank all of you readers for encouraging me to write this blog and following me daily.

#CONSUMERS USE SOCIAL MEDIA MORE FOR VEHICLE PURCHASE

Latest News Social Networks Guide Dealership Selection Online dealership reviews on social media networks are now playing the most important role in the dealership selection process. The Spring 2013 Automotive Social Media and Reputation Trend Study released by Digital Air Strike included an in-depth analysis of how 650 U.S. dealers use social media and an online survey of 2,000 consumers who purchased a vehicle in the last 6 months. The majority of car buyers said they consider review sites as "helpful" in their decision as to where to purchase a vehicle. The study found that 24 percent of consumers consider online review sites to be the "most helpful" factor, exceeding all other factors including the 15 percent of car buyers who consider dealership websites "most helpful". The study also showed that review sites are becoming increasingly important in organic search. Eighty-one percent of car buyers who use review sites said they look at review scores in search results. The dealer component of the study revealed that, on average, five review sites show up in search results. Car buyers use the top five sites 13 percent more than just 6 months ago. The most popular review sites are Cars.com (61 percent, previously 55 percent), Edmunds.com (54 percent, previously 50 percent),), Google Plus Local (37 percent, previously 44 percent), Yelp (14 percent, no change), and Yahoo (11 percent, no change) - the same rank order as the October 2012 study. The study went on to reveal that there is a 43 percent probability that a consumer will search for a local dealer on Facebook using Facebook's new Graph Search. The study revealed 67 percent of car buyers search for local business using mobile devices with 41 percent having "checked-in" to a local business using their mobile device. Additional Facebook findings include: There is a 59 percent probability that a consumer will trust a review from a Facebook friend more than reviews on other sites. 27 percent of car buyers click on mobile ads on Facebook. There is a 45 percent probability that a consumer will view the dedicated feed for brands in the forthcoming Facebook News Feed. Clicks on automotive dealership Facebook ads more than doubled from October 2012 to April 2013 - from 16 percent up to 39 percent.

#TRUE CAR PROVIDES TRADE'IN CAR VALUE

eNews U.S. News Adds TrueCar's ClearBook U.S. News & World Report has expanded its relationship with TrueCar Inc. to now incorporate ClearBook, TrueCar's used-car valuation tool, in various places on the U.S. News Best Cars website. TrueCar will be the exclusive provider of trade-in value and used car estimated market value data and pricing to 30 million annual visitors. With the introduction of ClearBook on U.S. News Best Cars, consumers visiting the site can now do the following: Find used vehicle pricing information for thousands of makes and models within a consumer's local area including Expected Sale Price, Recommended List Price and Trade-in Price. View rankings of used car models based on a price range so consumers can find the best used cars within their budget.

#AUTO START-UP WINS BUSINESS SCHOOL CONTEST

eNews Auto Start-Ups Win Business School Contest The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania announced that student team ZenKars won the $30,000 Perlman Prize at the 2013Wharton Business Plan Competition (BPC). The prize was awarded at the Wharton School's 15th Annual Venture Finals onApril 24 where student finalists received more than $115,000 in combined cash prizes and in-kind legal/accounting services. ZenKars, which also received Wharton BPC's "Committee's Choice Award," is an online retailer of used cars targeting a $600 billion market. Jean-Mathieu (Jim) Chabas and Venkat Jonnala, co-founders and second year MBA students, have created an online model connecting used cars from corporate directly to consumers. Their "peaceful buying experience" for the buyer offers competitive prices, detailed vehicle information, convenience and warranties. The ZenKars co-founders met last summer on Facebook while looking for roommates in Philadelphia.They eventually found themselves batting entrepreneurial ideas around and landed on what has become ZenKars, which was soon accepted into the DreamIt Ventures accelerator, from whom they received additional seed funding. The Venture Finals, which is the yearlong Wharton BPC's culminating event, attracted nearly 300 venture capitalists, business leaders, faculty members and students. This year, 140 conceptswere submittedfor the competitive phase of the Wharton BPC. While the Venture Finals judges deliberated over the top three prizes, the "Great Eight" Finalist teams competed for the Michelson "People's Choice Award," which allowed the audience of hundreds to vote on their favorite elevator pitch. This year the crowd favorite was MacuLens whose eyeglass lens technology helps reduce the glare of high intensity auto headlights. MacuLens also won the Venture Finals second place award of $15,000.

#CONSUMERS SEEK DOMESTICS ONLINE

eNews Consumers Seek Domestics Online According to page views on Kelley Blue Book's website, which is defined as every time a KBB.com user visits a Web page, domestic automakers Chrysler and Ford continue to see the largest increases. Chrysler increased to 7.2 percent of page views on KBB.com, up from 6.1 percent last year, while Ford has seen the largest jump, to 12.6 percent in April from 10.6 percent in April 2012. Hyundai/Kia reports the steepest drops in KBB.com page view traffic, down to 7.5 percent in April from a 12.3 percent share in April 2012. As gas prices have dropped, Kelley Blue Book also has seen segments with the most fuel-efficient vehicles drop. Subcompact car page views are down to 3.5 percent in April from 5.3 percent in April 2012. Compact car page views are down to 13.5 percent in April from 15.4 percent in April 2012.Hybrid vehicles page views also are declining, down to 3.2 percent of all KBB.com page views in April 2013, from 3.7 percent in April. The segments that saw some of the largest increases in KBB.com page views are compact crossovers, which had the largest segment increase, up to 13.8 percent in April from 12.6 percent in April 2012. In addition, luxury crossovers also increased from last year, to 5.9 percent in April from 5.1 percent in April 2012.

#IMPORTS DOMINATE SCORECARD OF BEST CARS TO OWN

Latest News Imports Dominate TrueCar.com Scorecard Subaru, Toyota and BMW topped the list in TrueCar.coms Performance Scorecards for March. TrueCar.com, which provides new car pricing information, trends and forecasting, recently released its March Performance Scorecards for automobile manufacturers and brands. The Performance Scorecards grade each manufacturer and brand on eight different measurements related to pricing, sales, incentives, customer loyalty, market share and days in inventory data. Overall, the top manufacturers on the March Performance Scorecard were Subaru, Toyota and BMW. Near the bottom of the list were Volvo, Mitsubishi and General Motors. The brands that received the highest grades for the period were Scion, MINI, Subaru, Lexus and Audi; while the brands with the lowest grades were GMC, Buick and Dodge. The manufacturers with the largest gains, from February to March included: Toyota, which moved from a B- to an A and Porsche which moved from a C+ to a B+. The manufacturers with the steepest declines, from February to March were: Mitsubishi, which moved from a B+ to a D+; Mazda moved from an A to a B-; and Ford moved from an A to a B.

#TOP BEST CAR BUYS FOR TEENS

USAA, a financial services provider, unveiled its third-annual Best Value vehicles list naming the top 2013 automobiles offering affordability, safety and reliability. It also listed its top cars for teens. The 2013 Best Value list includes: Large Sedan, Dodge Charger; Midsize Sedan, Dodge Avenger; Small Sedan, Mitsubishi Lancer; Large Luxury Sedan, Lincoln MKS; Midsize Luxury Sedan, Audi 4; Large SUV, Chevrolet Traverse; Midsize SUV, Ford Explorer; Small SUV, Kia Sportage; Midsize Luxury SUV, Lexus RX 450h (hybrid); Large Pickup, Toyota Tundra; Sports, Scion Fr-S; Coupe, Honda CR-Z; Wagon, Audi 3; and Minivan, Dodge Grand Caravan. No vehicles met the USAA Preferred requirements in the large luxury SUV and small pickup categories this year. This year we raised the bar on the importance of safety standards. Vehicles must earn a top safety pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to qualify as USAA Preferred, said Steve Thompson, vice president responsible for the USAA Car Buying Service. A USAA Preferred vehicle is a great value financially, and is among the safest vehicles on the road. According to USAA, Best Value automobiles offer the best overall value of all vehicles USAA evaluates as part of its proprietary rating system called USAA Preferred, which uses quantitative data to evaluate vehicles cost, safety and reliability, among other factors. There are nearly 70 cars, trucks and minivans currently designated as USAA Preferred vehicles. The Best Value list represents the vehicles that rose to the top of each category.

#INFINITI CONSIDERING PLANT IN THE US

NISSAN MOTOR CO is considering a new automobile plant in North America that can produce 100,000 premium Infiniti vehicles per year starting in 2017. The Infiniti brand in previous years has been concentrated in Japan. However, Nissan has been the most aggressive in Japan's BIG 3 to shift production outside the country in recent years. The existing operations plant in Smyra, Tenn could get a boost in opportunties to expand their facility and hire more employees.

#USED CAR DEALER COMPLAINT SETTLED IN PENNSYLVANIA

Latest News Dealer Settles Consumer Complaints A Pennsylvania used-car dealer has settled with the states attorney general on a number of consumer complaints. Nicholas B. Dizes, owner of Olympic Motors Inc. in Folsom, entered into an assurance of voluntary compliance, filed by the Bureau of Consumer Protection. The AVC resolves concerns that Olympic Motors failed to: sell vehicles as they were advertised; honor advertised prices of vehicles; sell vehicles that were roadworthy; inform consumers of defects in their vehicles that made them unroadworthy; deliver titles and registration to consumers in a timely manner; sell vehicles with the features that were advertised; honor warranties; make repairs to consumers' vehicles as guaranteed at the time of sale; and respond to consumers' telephone calls, complaints and refund requests. In the AVC, Olympic Motors Inc. agrees to comply with the Consumer Protection Law and the Auto Regulations, pay restitution to all consumers who have suffered losses as a result of its conduct, and pay civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law and Auto Regulations and $3,000 for consumers age 60 or more.

FEDS ARREST MAN FOR SELLING FAKE AIRBAGS#

Shop Amazon - Best Selling Products - Updated Every Hour Feds Accuse Man of Selling Counterfeit Airbags A 25-year-old Vancouver, Wash., man was arrested April 2 on a four-count indictment charging him with trafficking in counterfeit goods. Prosecutors allege that between June 2011 and June 2012, Vitaliy Yaremkiv sold more than 900 counterfeit vehicle airbags he had purchased from a source in China. If convicted, Yaremkiv faces up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Trial in the case is scheduled for May 28. According to the indictment, Yaremkiv operated a business, Vital Auto Parts and Sales, out of his Vancouver home. He allegedly imported counterfeit Honda, Subaru and Toyota airbags from sources in China and elsewhere, and sold them over the internet representing them as the genuine product. Yaremkiv sold at least 964 of the counterfeit airbags via eBay with a sales total of $137,243. Yaremkiv sold individual Honda airbags for an asking price of $110. Investigators believe that many of the airbags were sold to independent garages who installed them in vehicles believing they had purchased a genuine airbag.

CONSUMERS WOULD RATHER SELL THEIR USED CAR THAN DONATE IT TO CHARITY

Latest News Consumers Prefer to Sell Cars Rather Than Donate A new Kars4Kids survey revealed that despite high awareness and knowledge (88 percent) of tax credit eligibility for making non-cash charitable donations, most U.S. adults opt to sell their used cars instead of donate them. The survey also indicated that only 10.5 percent of U.S. adults have donated a car. The study was conducted in March among 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. Additional findings show that 94 percent of U.S. adults donate goods to charity by de-cluttering their homes more than once per year. Of the 94 percent who donate to charity, 36 percent of those surveyed claimed the garage is the space at home most in need of de-cluttering. More than a quarter of respondents indicated that de-cluttering is the topic argued about most in their household. Despite the convenient and cost effective process of donating a car, only 5.4 percent of adults reported donating their used cars when they purchased a new one. Additionally, 4.6 percent of adults will keep their old cars and not use it, contributing to the clutter. The survey also revealed that 69.4 percent of adults are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. However, of that number, only 6.5 percent of respondents purchased a hybrid vehicle. Furthermore, nearly 63 percent of those surveyed are not participating in one of the most effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint: donating an old vehicle for potential recycling.

KIA RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 2007-2011

Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and causing the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

TESLA EXPECTS PROFIT AS CAR DELIVERIES PICK UP#

TESLA MOTORS INC. the Silicon Valley Auto Maker said it would report a first-quarter profit, sending the luxary electric-maker's shares surging 16% on Monday. The Palo Alto, California maker of $70,000 vehicles lifted its forecast for the quarter after delivering more Model S electric vehicles. Tesla has a backlog of 15,000 orders and books revenue for the vehicles as soon as they are shipped to customers. In 4 p. m. NASDAQ Stock Market trading reported TESLA finished up $6.04 at $43.93. It is reported that TESLA vehicles are being seen more and more throughout the San Francisco Bay area streets and highways. TESLA's business model unlike FORD, GENERAL MOTORS, and CHRYSLER place a store in a Mall with very little if any inventory. The TESLA customer basically builds his car from scratch in the store and the vehicle is shipped out after built. TESLA MOTORS operate state of the art stores however, old school car dealerships have tried to slow them down in their expansion citing out of date State Motor Vehicle Codes requiring dealerships to have a minimum of several thousand square foot of space for inventory storage. The older dealerships of yesterday do not seem to get the message that the days of carrying a million dollar inventory and paying interest on vehicles that are not selling is coming to an end.

#GM BRINGING BACK Z/28 MUSCLE CAR

Remember when you were 16 years old and the coolest guys in your school had a Z. Everyone in town either wanted one or knew somebody with a Z and they were probably next to owning a vette the most popular car in 50 years aside from the 57 Chevy. GM rolled out the Camero Z/28 at the New York International Auto Show. The goal is to have the Z/28 in consumer hands by 2015. The Z introduced in 1967 hasn't benn around since 2002. Earlier this year, GM North American pulled the Stingray name out of mothballs and placed it on the latest Chevrolet Corvette sports car, which goes into production later this year. While car names may stir memories for auto enthusiasts, the coming Stingray and Z/28 won't be the volume leader GM needs to rebuild their market share worldwide. I wonder if the new Stingray and Z/28 will have a state of the art 8 track player included in the price. Reinvention of the muscle cars of the past proves that former auto designers had a better business model for car sales than the new MBA wiz kids.

BANKS OVER CHARGING ON AUTO LOANS#

A federal consumer regulator said on Thurday some lenders offering auto loans through auto dealerships charge minorities above-market interest rates and warned it will crack down on a profit-sharing practice between used and new car dealers and lending institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said a typical industry practice known as "dealer markup" -in which a lender and a used or new car dealer split interest-rate charges-may lead to lending discrimination. The regulator said its examination of the industry shows that some lender policies allows markups of interest rates, and that there is a "significant risk" the practice results in higher interest rates for African-Americans and Hispanics. The CFPB would force auto lenders "into changing the way they compensate dealers without any indication that the bureau has examined the effect this change could have on the cost of credit for consumers". The agency failed to address the fact that high risk consumers often times require the cardealer to in fact co-sign or guarantee the loan. If the consumer defaults on the car loan the dealership is liable to the bank to payoff the debt. The credit scoring system often requires consumers with marginal or low credit scores to pay higher interest rates.

#NEW CAR SALES STRONG

Latest News New Vehicle Sales Remain Strong New-vehicle sales remain strong in March, as both the light-vehicle retail selling rate and the total light-vehicle rate are consistent with February's performance at 12.1 million units and 15.3 million units, respectively, according to a monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network (PIN) and LMC Automotive. March new-vehicle retail sales are expected to come in at 1,158,000 vehicles, which represent a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 12.1 million units, with volume approaching a double-digit increase from March 2012. Retail transactions are the most accurate measurement of true underlying consumer demand for new vehicles. The average new-vehicle customer-facing retail transaction price ($28,504) is up 3 percent from March 2012. Leases account for 23.1 percent of new-vehicle retail transactions in March 2013, up from 20.0 percent in March 2012. In addition, the percentage of retail sales with a 72-month or longer loan is at record levels, reaching 32.1 percent in March 2013, an increase from 30.4 percent in March 2012. Total light-vehicle sales in March 2013 are projected to reach 1,465,100 units, an 8 percent increase from March 2012, with a selling rate that is consistent with the expected performance for the year. Fleet share is expected to hold at 21 percent. The outlook for 2013 remains strong and consistent with the pace expected to be set in the first quarter. LMC Automotive is holding its 2013 U.S. forecast for total light-vehicle sales at 15.3 million units and the retail light-vehicle forecast at 12.5 million units.

BEWARE OF FAKE DEALER LOTS AND ADS

Latest News BBB Warns of Fake Dealership Sites The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is urging consumers considering an online car purchase to be extra cautious following three recent incidents involving bogus auto dealer websites, each claiming to be located in North Dakota. This scheme was first brought to light by the BBB in late 2011 - when another bogus online entity claimed to be operating an auto dealership in southern Minnesota - and it appears to be spreading. In the three most recent cases investigated by the BBB, the 'hook' used to entice customers was similar - authentic-looking used auto dealer websites featuring high-end luxury cars such as Ferraris and Bentleys, often priced thousands of dollars below typical book value. Each site claimed a physical address in North Dakota, and provided one or more North Dakota phone numbers for people to contact. Last October, a Connecticut consumer alerted the BBB to a website purporting to be 'Wieser Autos', on 7th St. S. in Fargo, N.D., (this is not to be confused with Wieser Auto Sales, a legitimate used car dealer in Wahpeton, N.D.). The BBB's investigation revealed that no such dealer was licensed in North Dakota, and that many of the website's auto listings were lifted directly from online inventories of legitimate car dealers around the country. The Fargo address the phony company claimed actually belonged to an unsuspecting business not connected with the shady website. The BBB immediately contacted the web provider hosting the bogus website, reporting its findings and urging the provider to suspend the site. The website was taken down within a few days, although the BBB subsequently learned of a victim in California who sometime in the weeks prior had wired away over $23,000 to scammers for a truck he never received. In November, the BBB received a complaint from an Illinois consumer about a website claiming to be 'Golden Motor Group' on Morrison Ave in Bismarck, N.D. The BBB once again determined that listed vehicles actually belonged to other, legitimate dealerships, and that the address listed was a rented storage locker. The BBB was again able to have that website shut down. Unfortunately, the consumer who reported the scam had already wired away $32,000 for a sports car that was never delivered. The most recent example of this scam came in February, when a consumer in Hawaii contacted the BBB about a website purporting to represent 'Nationwide Motor Center,' with an address on North 4th St. in Grand Forks, N.D. Once again, the BBB was able to establish that the dealership and its inventory were non-existent, and the web provider quickly opted to shut down the site when presented with these findings. One new 'twist' in the Grand Forks case was that the consumer first encountered 'Nationwide Motor Center' through a listing on Cars.com, a legitimate auto advertising and research site. A contact claiming to be a private individual indicated she was consigning her truck due to 'financial hardship,' and urged the consumer to contact 'Nationwide' about the purchase. The consumer cut off communication with the 'consignor,' and he alerted the BBB.

#The Toyota 1988 Land Cruiser 4x4

Stevescars.com one of the nation's number auto reseller of police impound vehicles has just received a 1988 4x4 v6 Toyota Land Cruiser for sale. Review the history below of this great vehicle. The vehicle comes with roof rack and has 186,000 miles and a clean Ca. title. This vehicle can be shipped nationwide. The vehicle has a view minor dings but looks great for 25 year old vehicle. 60 Series Also called Toyota Samurai (Venezuela) Production 1980–1990 Assembly Toyota City, Japan (ARACO) Cumana, Venezuela Body style 4-door station wagon Layout Front engine, four-wheel drive Engine Petrol: 4.2 L I6 2F petrol (FJ60) 4.0 L I6 3F petrol (FJ62) Diesel: 3.4 L I4 3B diesel (BJ60) 4.0 L I6 2H diesel (HJ60) Turbodiesel: 4.0 L I6 12H-T diesel turbo (HJ61) Transmission 4-speed manual H41F or H42F 4-speed automatic A440F 5-speed manual H55F (non-US) Wheelbase 2,730 mm (107.5 in) Length 4,675 mm (184.1 in) Width 1,800 mm (70.9 in) Height 1,750 mm (68.9 in) The Land Cruiser 60 series was produced from 1980 through 1990 for most markets but the Cumana Plant in Venezuela continued until 1992 for their local market. It is a front engine, four door wagon which can seat five to eight[citation needed] people. Like all Land Cruiser generations, it is well known in the off-road world for its off-road abilities but was somewhat limited by its awkward departure angles.[citation needed] The 60 series was available in the following solid exterior colors: Alpine White, Brown, Desert Beige, Freeborn Red, Royal Blue; and in the following metallic exterior colors: Charcoal Gray, Cognac, Gray-Blue, Rootbeer, Sky Blue, Stardust Silver. 1980 — The 60 series was introduced. While still retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, the 60 was designed to better compete in the emerging sport utility vehicle market. The 60 was given a variety of comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. The FJ60's "2F" petrol engine was left unchanged from the "40" series while six-cylinder 4.0 L 2H and four-cylinder 3.4 L 3B diesel engines were added to the product line. 1981 — Land Cruiser sales surpassed 1 million and a high-roof version was introduced. The 60 series was introduced to South Africa when a stock Land Cruiser competed in the Toyota 1000 km Desert Race in the punishing wilds of Botswana. 1984 — This was the final year for the 40 series. 1984 — Alongside the 60 series, the 70 series was introduced. 1985 — The Direct-injection 12H-T turbodiesel engine was introduced. 1988 — The petrol engine was upgraded to a 4.0 L 3F-E EFI engine. The FJ62G VX-Series was introduced allowing the Land Cruiser to be sold in Japan as a passenger vehicle. Toyota Land Cruiser post-facelift (US) 1981–1987 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ60; Australia) 1987–1990 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ62RG) GX (Australia) 60 Series 60 Series Also called Toyota Samurai (Venezuela) Production 1980–1990 Assembly Toyota City, Japan (ARACO) Cumana, Venezuela Body style 4-door station wagon Layout Front engine, four-wheel drive Engine Petrol: 4.2 L I6 2F petrol (FJ60) 4.0 L I6 3F petrol (FJ62) Diesel: 3.4 L I4 3B diesel (BJ60) 4.0 L I6 2H diesel (HJ60) Turbodiesel: 4.0 L I6 12H-T diesel turbo (HJ61) Transmission 4-speed manual H41F or H42F 4-speed automatic A440F 5-speed manual H55F (non-US) Wheelbase 2,730 mm (107.5 in) Length 4,675 mm (184.1 in) Width 1,800 mm (70.9 in) Height 1,750 mm (68.9 in) The Land Cruiser 60 series was produced from 1980 through 1990 for most markets but the Cumana Plant in Venezuela continued until 1992 for their local market. It is a front engine, four door wagon which can seat five to eight[citation needed] people. Like all Land Cruiser generations, it is well known in the off-road world for its off-road abilities but was somewhat limited by its awkward departure angles.[citation needed] The 60 series was available in the following solid exterior colors: Alpine White, Brown, Desert Beige, Freeborn Red, Royal Blue; and in the following metallic exterior colors: Charcoal Gray, Cognac, Gray-Blue, Rootbeer, Sky Blue, Stardust Silver. 1980 — The 60 series was introduced. While still retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, the 60 was designed to better compete in the emerging sport utility vehicle market. The 60 was given a variety of comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. The FJ60's "2F" petrol engine was left unchanged from the "40" series while six-cylinder 4.0 L 2H and four-cylinder 3.4 L 3B diesel engines were added to the product line. 1981 — Land Cruiser sales surpassed 1 million and a high-roof version was introduced. The 60 series was introduced to South Africa when a stock Land Cruiser competed in the Toyota 1000 km Desert Race in the punishing wilds of Botswana. 1984 — This was the final year for the 40 series. 1984 — Alongside the 60 series, the 70 series was introduced. 1985 — The Direct-injection 12H-T turbodiesel engine was introduced. 1988 — The petrol engine was upgraded to a 4.0 L 3F-E EFI engine. The FJ62G VX-Series was introduced allowing the Land Cruiser to be sold in Japan as a passenger vehicle. Toyota Land Cruiser post-facelift (US) 1981–1987 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ60; Australia) 1987–1990 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ62RG) GX (Australia)

#LEXUS RANKED HIGHEST FOR 5TH YEAR

Latest News Service Satisfaction Drives Loyalty Lexus ranks highest among luxury nameplates for a fifth consecutive year, and GMC ranks highest among mass-market nameplates, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. Among luxury brands, Cadillac, Jaguar, Acura, and Infiniti follow Lexus in the rankings. Among mass-market brands, Mini, Buick, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen follow GMC. The CSI Study measures customer satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit a dealership service department for maintenance or repair work during the first 3 years of ownership. Satisfaction is examined across five measures, listed in order of importance: service quality; service initiation; service advisor; service facility; and vehicle pick-up. Survey responses received from 91,000 owners and lessees of 2008 to 2012 model-year vehicles were included in the study. The 2013 CSI Study finds that manufacturer and dealer investments in improving the customer service experience are producing more highly satisfied and loyal service customers. In the 2013 CSI Study, customer satisfaction with service at a dealership increases 10 points to 797 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 787 in 2012. Moreover, dealer service facilities have expanded their lead in overall satisfaction, compared with independent service facilities, by 6 points, to a 44-point gap, despite service customers spending an average of $44 at independent facilities, compared with $118 at dealer service facilities. According to the study, 77 percent of customer visits to dealer service departments during the first 3 years of ownership are for vehicle maintenance, an increase from 72 percent last year and 63 percent in 2011. This shift in the proportion of maintenance work to repair work is one of the contributing factors to the increase in overall satisfaction. Analysis from the CSI Study shows that there is a direct correlation between service satisfaction and loyalty, with 79 percent of vehicle owners indicating that they "definitely will" return to their dealership for maintenance and repairs during the vehicle's warranty period. However, loyalty decreases after the vehicle warranty expires, with 64 percent of vehicle owners indicating they "definitely will" bring their vehicle back to the dealership for maintenance and repairs after the warranty expires. Among vehicle owners who say they are "delighted" (satisfaction score of 901 or better) with their dealer service experience, loyalty rates increase substantially, and 59 percent of "delighted" owners also say they will purchase or lease their next vehicle from the same brand.

#USED CAR PRICES FLAT

The first sign of a recession is used car prices read this article. NADA Sees Flat Prices Wholesale prices for used cars and light trucks up to 8-years-old rose a modest 0.8 percent in February, well below the 3 percent increase for the month over the past two years, says the NADA Used Car Guide in its March edition of Guidelines. Overall, used-vehicle prices have increased by 0.4 percent over the first two months of the year, significantly less than the 4.4 percent and 2.4 percent increases recorded over the same two-month period in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In addition, February's tepid performance dropped NADA's seasonally-adjusted used-vehicle prices index to 122.7, which is a decline of 1.4 percent from January's level and just 0.9 percent higher than February 2012's reading of 121.6. The index is a seasonally adjusted measurement of the change in price for used vehicles up to 8 years in age. Looking ahead, NADA expects that used-vehicle prices in March will be flat to up moderately compared to February, and decline in April. Tax refund season in the past has been a time of the year of used car prices rising and consumers spending more on motor vehicles.

WHOLESALE USED CAR PRICES DECLINE

Wholesale used vehicle prices fell both on a month-over-month and on a year-over-year basis in February. According to ADESA Analytical Services' monthly analysis of Wholesale Used Vehicle Prices by Vehicle Model Class, wholesale used vehicle prices in February averaged $9,752 - down 2.8 percent compared to January and 1.2 percent relative to February 2012. The only segment that showed a month-over-month average price increase in February was mini SUVs, which showed a 1.9 percent rise. Prices for used vehicles remarketed by manufacturers were up 1 percent year-over-year, tapering considerably from last month's 7.7 percent year-over-year increase. Despite this tapering, off-rental program units are continuing to show price strength. Prices for fleet-lease consignors were flat year-over-year. Prices fell 4.5 percent year-over-year for dealer consignors. Prices were down on a month-over-mon

#CONSUMER REPORTS BEST CARS

Consumer Reports Names Best Used Cars To help consumers choose the best used car for their money, Consumer Reports compiled a Best & Worst Used Cars list for model years 2003 through 2012. The full report, available in Consumer Reports April Annual Auto issue and at ConsumerReports.org, highlights the best sedans, SUVs, and small cars available in four price ranges: from $10,000 or less up to $25,000. Each performed well in CR's testing when new and had above-average reliability for the model years shown, based on CR's annual auto survey. And all models came standard with electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaver during the years indicated. The Consumer Reports worst used cars list includes 2003 to 2012 models that have had multiple years of much-worse-than-average overall reliability, according to CR's survey. Among the 20 models that made that list are the BMW 7 Series, the Ford Explorer (V6, 4WD), the Kia Sorento (V6), and the Mini Cooper S. Most gas/electric hybrid cars have shown superior reliability in the past decade. However, the Honda Civic Hybrid is an exception, according to the survey. Almost one in five owners of the 2009 model year Civic Hybrid needed a replacement battery in CR's 12-month survey period.

CARS.COM PICKS BEST CAR DEALS

Latest News Cars.com Picks Best Deals The editors at Cars.com released their list of the top 10 used cars that they recommend for shoppers who are looking to spend around $10,000. With a used car market that is sparser than it used to be, car shoppers have fewer options to choose from and higher prices to pay, but the Cars.com experts compiled a list of 10 used cars that will help shoppers get the best bang for their buck around the $10,000 price point. The winners are: 2006 Ford Escape: Ford's first generation crossover had trucklike styling but car-based underpinnings, and the driving experience combined handling and ride comfort in a way that few car-based crossovers of the Escape's era could match. 2008 Ford Focus: The Focus comes with safety features like side curtain airbags and also Bluetooth and USB/iPod integration, both of which were ahead of the curve for 2008. The car's sharp handling distinguished it from many rivals, and it is offered in three body styles, providing an option for everyone. 2007 Ford Freestyle: This budget-friendly family hauler comes with spacious seating for seven passengers and impressive cargo storage. 2007 Ford Fusion: A responsive V-6 engine option and decent handling chops distinguished Ford's midsize family car. So did trunk room, which remains spacious even by today's family-car standards. 2006 Honda Civic: The beloved eighth-generation Civic's interior quality, fuel efficiency and overall drivability impressed so much that they still hold up today. 2006 Hyundai Azera: A full-size sedan with upscale features, a big engine and big backseats, the Azera packed a comfortable ride. 2007 Hyundai Sonata: A family sedan with roominess, safety features and value in spades. Years later, a used example should still suit any shopper well. Find one with the optional 3.3-liter V-6 for muscular passing power. 2008 Kia Optima: A cousin to the Hyundai Sonata, the Optima had more available luxury features, but less styling and a smaller engine. However, a roomy backseat and decent standard safety features round out a car whose successor won Cars.com's Best of 2011 award. 2008 Nissan Versa: Nissan's unexpectedly roomy Versa slips into tight city parking spots like any proper subcompact should. A responsive transmission combined with a larger four-cylinder engine than most competitors' provides impressive power. 2007 Scion tC: Strengths included rich cabin materials and a responsive four-cylinder engine; look for the available five-speed manual for more fun.

#CAR DEALER CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING

Latest News Dealer Faces Money Laundering Charges A used-car dealer and two associates in Commerce City, Colo., were arrested for structuring and money laundering. Raul Mendoza, Julia Castillo-Caraveo, and Isidro Noe Mendoza-Ortiz, were named in a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Denver on Feb. 14. In addition to the three arrests, agents and officers executed search warrants at a residence and an automobile business. Twenty automobiles with clear titles from the car dealership were seized. According to the indictment, beginning in February 2008, and continuing through May 2012, Mendoza and Mendoza-Ortiz conspired with each other and others to structure currency by depositing transactions with the intent to evade the reporting requirements as required by law. Daily cash receipts from Mendozas business, Chopeque Auto Sales, were received at the business and structured into separate accounts at various banks to avoid the $10,000 reporting requirements. From Feb. 26, 2008 through May 29, 2012, they structured over 700 deposits totaling $4,543,714. As part of the conspiracy, on June 4, 2011, Mendoza, Mendoza-Ortiz and Caraveo knowingly caused Chopeque Auto Sales to fail to file a Federal IRS Form 8300, a report required by law for all currency transactions over $10,000 received by a business. Particularly, they sold a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 in exchange for $10,500 that was represented by undercover law enforcement officers to be the proceeds of drug distribution and that they did so with the intent to conceal the nature of the proceeds of the specified unlawful activity and to avoid IRS Form 8300 reporting requirements. On March 8, 2012, Mendoza and Castillo-Caraveo followed a similar pattern and sold a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in exchange for $20,900 that was represented by undercover law enforcement officers to be the proceeds of a drug distribution; no IRS From 8300 was filed. The defendants conspired to conceal the nature and source of the specified unlawful activity and attempted to launder drug proceeds. Particularly, Chopeque Auto Sales sold automobiles to known drug dealers, prepared false documents relating to the sale of vehicles to known drug dealers, structured currency deposits to conceal the source, falsely claimed to law enforcement authorities to be a valid lien holder of a seized vehicle in order to assist a known drug dealer in seeking the return of the vehicle. Upon conviction of the offenses above, they shall forfeit to the United States all of the defendants right, title and interest in all property, real or personal, involved in such offenses, or all proceeds traceable to such property, for which the defendants are joint and severally liable. Mendoza was charged with three counts of structuring and three counts of money laundering. Castillo-Caraveo was charged with two counts of structuring and three counts of money laundering. Mendoza-Ortiz was charged with two counts of structuring and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, each count of structuring and money laundering carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $500,000. Agents with IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Homeland Security investigated this case. In addition, Denver Police Department, Commerce City Police Department, Thornton Police Department, and Department of Revenue Auto Industry Division assisted in the execution of the warrants.

BUY HERE PAY HERE LOTS STRONGEST MARKET SHARE

Latest News New Car Terms Hit High; Used Terms Flat Experian Automotive released data that shows average loan terms for a new vehicle in the fourth quarter jumped to an all-time high of 65 months, up from 63 months in the fourth quarter of 2011. Terms for used vehicles stayed flat at 60 months. Findings from the State of the Automotive Finance Market analysis showed that the average interest rate for new and used vehicle loans dropped in Q4, and average monthly payments dropped versus the same time period in Q4 2011. The report also showed that the average loan amount for a new vehicle was $26,691 in the fourth quarter, up $272 from the fourth quarter of 2011, while the average used vehicle loan was $17,629, up $239. However, while consumers are taking out larger loans, lower interest rates and longer loan terms for new vehicles helped bring down the average monthly payments. For example, the average interest rate for a new vehicle loan in the fourth quarter dropped to 4.36 percent, from 4.52 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, while the average interest rate for a used vehicle loan dropped to 8.48 percent, from 8.67 percent. Additionally, the average monthly payment for a new vehicle dropped to $460 from $468. More consumers also were able to obtain financing in Q4, as average credit scores for both new and used vehicles dropped. For new vehicle loans, the average consumer credit score was 755 in Q4 2012, down six points from Q4 2011. For used vehicle loans, the average consumer credit score dropped to 665 in Q4 2012, down five points from Q4 2011. Automotive loans for new vehicles with terms from 73 to 84 months increased by 19.4 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011. New lease share of new financing increased to 24.79 percent, up from 10.45 percent. The total subprime market for all new vehicle financing increased to 24.77 percent, up from 22.59 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. The total subprime market for all used vehicle financing increased to 55.4 percent, up from 53.58 percent. Buy-here, pay-here organizations and credit unions showed the strongest market share growth of 4.3 percent and 3.9 percent for overall automotive loans. Banks have the highest market share of automotive loans at 41.2 percent.

MISSOURI CAR DEALER CHARGED WITH ODOMETER FRAUD

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed criminal charges against a Springfield, Mo., used-car dealer for misrepresenting the true mileage on two cars he sold. Ashley Bolton, owner of Excel Auto Group, is charged with two counts of unlawful merchandising practices. The attorney general's investigation revealed that in 2011 and 2012, Bolton misrepresented the actual mileage of vehicles being offered for sale by Excel to two different consumers. In one count, Bolton allegedly bought a car with more than 180,000 miles then sold it representing it had 99,000 miles. In the other case, Bolton bought a car with nearly 220,000 miles then sold it less than a month later with 119,000 miles. Unlawful merchandising practices is punishable by two to four years in the Department of Corrections, or up to one year in the county jail, and/or a fine up to $5,000 or double the amount the defendant gained from the commission of the crime, not to exceed $20,000. The Missouri Department of Revenue and the Office of Odometer Fraud in the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration assisted Koster's office in the investigation. The AG's office also has a civil investigation against Bolton underway. The charges were announced during National Consumer Protection Week. Attorney General Chris Koster announced he was using the event to highlight areas where consumers can protect themselves from scammers, including when purchasing a used car.

CARS SALES SAME EVEN WITH HIGHER TAXES

f Higher Taxes For the month of February, Kelley Blue Book analysts predict new-car sales will maintain the momentum from the previous three months and hit 15.3 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), a 3.4 percent year-over-year improvement. Although shy of the 14 percent annual gain the auto industry experienced in January, sales should improve more than 7 percent after adjusting for the number of selling days in February. Although sales are expected to maintain a steady course in February, a recent Quick Poll among in-market car shoppers conducted by Kelley Blue Book 's Market Intelligence team indicates that many consumers are beginning to feel the pinch from the expiration of the 2 percent payroll tax holiday. When asked if the increase in the payroll tax impacted their new-vehicle purchase timeline, 39 percent indicated that they planned to delay their purchase, 28 percent responded that the tax increase didn't impact their purchase timeline in any way, while 27 percent indicated that they would reduce the amount they planned to spend on their next purchase.

IPHONES AND COMPUTERS OVER WHEELS

eNews Millennials Favor Phones over Wheels Zipcar, Inc. released the findings of an independent study of Millennials (18- to 34-year-olds), which examines the attitudes and behaviors of this generation related to urban transportation, technology and car ownership. Overall, the study found that the increasing availability of on-demand mobility services (such as car sharing, ride sharing and vehicle sharing) helps many Millennials drive less and makes it easier to for them to live without owning a car. The study, conducted in December by KRC Research, reveals that mobile devices and on-demand transportation apps are more important to Millennials than car ownership: Nearly two in three (65 percent) of Millennials say losing their phone (30 percent) or computer (35 percent) would have a greater negative impact on their daily routine than losing their car (28 percent). One in four Millennials (25 percent) say transportation apps have reduced their driving frequency, compared to less than 12 percent of those 45+. Considering how youth has changed over the years. The baby boomers saved their money and could not wait until their 16th birthday in order to drive. The new generation places the importance of wheels at the bottom of their lists.

USED CAR SALES SLOWING DOWN

Used Car Sales Slow Used car sales are expected to slow this month. Edmunds.com estimates that 3.35 million used cars will be sold in February, for a SAAR of 37.2 million (compared to 3.12 million - or a SAAR of 38.7 million - used car sales in January). Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,198,538 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in February for an estimated SAAR this month of 15.5 million light vehicles. The projected sales will be a 14.9 percent increase from January 2013, and a 4.3 percent increase from February 2012. Retail SAAR will come in at 12.4 million vehicles in February, with fleet transactions accounting for 20.3 percent of total sales. Considering the fact that fuel prices are rising unemployment is staying the same and income tax refund checks are being delayed dealers are feeling the pitch and prices of used vehicles are expected to topple.