How the Car Business is Changing

Change: “to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone…”

This is the first in a series of short posts on change in the car business. Some changes are obvious. Some changes are hidden. As a third generation car dealer, I believe that our business is entering a period of the most profound and rapid change we have ever experienced — and that is saying something.  Of course, we’re not alone in this. The entire world is experiencing the same thing. My hope is to help you as a consumer to understand the changes going on in the car business, so that you will be empowered to make the best decisions for your own particular situation.

Transparency

Transparency is explained by Wikipedia as follows. Transparency, as used in the humanities, implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning used in the physical sciences: a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through.

In the car business, access to information and an increasingly efficient market is driving increased transparency.  As a consumer you have access to more information than ever before. Just “Google” whatever you drive now. A search just a moment ago for “2008 Toyota Camry” resulted in 5,580,000 results (that’s way more than the number of Camry’s sold that year!). As you know the quality of the information you have can make a big difference. Automotive consumers have more choices and increased access to information, which leads to a more efficient market. You wouldn’t pay more than the going rate for a publicly traded stock.  Until relatively recently, consumers and dealers alike didn’t have access to this kind of information that they could count on to be accurate.

I have to say all this is a good thing for our business. The car business needs to change and quickly. We have to develop new ways to do business that meet our customers’ needs.

At Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury we talk about this all the time. We strive to be leaders in increased transparency of a car deal and upfront dealings with our customers. For an example of how this might work check out our “shopping cart” for automotive e-commerce at http://www.aidealer.com/AiDealerProduction/DealershipInventorySearch.aspx?DealershipId=28

The nuts and bolts of a car deal is just math. The real magic in our business comes from helping people.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Ford’s Upcoming 2010 Ford Fusion Hyper-miling Event

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Challenge Comes to Pass

Those of you who have been reading here for a while might remember a post I did a while back titled “2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid-Road Rally Challenge- Results”. In that post I put forth the idea of starting a road rally challenge to try and get 1000 miles from a single tank full of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Well, guess what?

I have it on good authority, the authority being Ford, that this idea is actually something Ford is looking to do later this month. Apparently they have been training with a hyper-miler named Wayne Gerdes for just this sort of event. From what I was told by the Ford public affairs guy who read my post, the event is to be a trip from Ford’s home town of Dearborn, Michigan to Washington driven by a 5 man team and is expected to take around forty four hours.

There were also some preliminary mpg numbers discussed but I think I might keep those secret a little longer so as not to ruin the surprise. I will, however, say that the estimated 41 mpg of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and even my suggestion that they try to achieve 1000 miles from a single tank are looking like they are well short of the numbers a hyper-miler like Mr. Gerdes can achieve.

Hyper-Miling in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

About this time I assume many might be asking what is hyper-miling anyway?

Hyper-miling is nothing more than adjusting your driving habits to achieve maximum fuel mileage from your vehicle. With the abundance of cars that focus on fuel mileage and the surge in hybrids that has occurred over the past few years the number of people who have abandoned seeing how fast they can go to try and find out how far they can go on a single gallon or tank of gas has increased greatly. And with new technologies like the 2010 Ford Fusion SmartGauge with Eco-Guide everyone can get in on the fun.

To learn more about hyper-miling check out the conversation at Hypermiling Forum.com. With a little research you might be the next person to push your Ford Fusion well past the thousand mile mark.

2010 Ford Fusion and SmartGauge with EcoGuide

You can also learn more about the 2010 Ford Fusion and Smart Gauge with EcoGuide by searching for those terms and this blogs search function located near the upper right hand corner of the blog or check out some of the videos, like the one posted below, offered by Ford via Youtube.

This video is actually one from Ford awesome Digiknows webcast series where they take one particular Ford product or technology and discuss it live while fielding questions from internet viewers. To catch Ford for their next Digiknows broadcast make sure you go to Ford’s channel at UStream and join in the fun Tuesdays at 12 noon Eastern/ 11 a.m. Central.

Popularity: 29% [?]

2009 New Car Sales: What Consumers Really Want

Americans Love New Pick Up Trucks

How many times have we heard it over the past months? American auto manufacturers are suffering because they aren’t producing the fuel efficient vehicles that people really want. It is a refrain heard all across our TVs, the internet and in print publications. The reason they are doing so badly is because they refuse to build anything except for SUVs, Pick-up trucks and muscle cars but what the people really want is fuel economy. Well, guess what?

The numbers for the US vehicle sales of specific models from domestic and foreign manufacturers are in for January of 2009 and the picture sure looks familiar. Americans love their pick up trucks. According to AOL Autos the best selling domestic vehicles for January 2009 were: Read more

Popularity: 19% [?]

Congratulations Kenseth, Ford, Roush

Ford in Victory Lane

Congratulations to Matt Kenseth on his win yesterday in the 51st annual Daytona 500. Kenseth drove his Ford Fusion to the front of the pack in a rain shortened race to claim his first Daytona 500 win and the first Ford win since 2000.

Though the excitement of yesterday’s big win was somewhat dampened by the weather Kenseth and his Roush Racing crew were overjoyed by the win. With the Ford Fusion the teams are racing this year utilizing a brand new power plant the early season success just might be a sign of big things to come. For Kenseth, Roush and Ford, all having struggled somewhat in recent seasons, I am sure this would be more than welcome.

Read more

Popularity: 12% [?]

Ford Innovation in the 2010 Ford Fusion

There has been a lot of fuss over the upcoming 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. In fact Car and Driver has recently ranked it above the Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry hybrid offerings for the 2010 model year. They go on to say that, with the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, “Ford has hit one out of the park and into the ionosphere”.

I will be doing a review of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid for all of you interested in the overall car, whether here in Bartlesville or wherever you may be, in an upcoming post here at Bradyourcarguy.com. Today though I thought I would look at one particular aspect of the upcoming car that has generated a whole lot of buzz. I’m talking about Ford’s new SmartGauge with EcoGuide.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Santa’s Magical Ford Christmas

It was once upon a christmas eve,
as all the children slept in their beds,
that Santa found himself pacing the floor
’cause his reindeer were sick in their heads. Read more

Popularity: 14% [?]

2009 Ford Fusion – Medium Size Classy Sedan

The 2009 Ford Fusion sedan is an excellent choice if you are looking for a classy mid-size sedan for your family. Three different models, the 2009 Ford Fusion S, the 2009 Ford Fusion SE, and the 2009 Ford Fusion SEL, offer different levels of luxury and convenience, giving owners the ultimate flexibility.
Read more

Popularity: 11% [?]