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% [?]

The 2009 Toyota Car Line Up

Over the past several decades Toyota has gone from an auto manufacturer that was mostly associated with cheap tiny cars to a name that is synonymous with top notch quality, economy, value and style. Combine these qualities with Toyota’s pioneering vision in safety, hybrid and electronic technologies and its easy to see why Toyota is among the very best auto manufacturers in the world today. Today’s Toyotas are, as a matter off fact, constantly rated among the best in almost every automotive category by automotive journalists, independent testing firms and consumers alike.

While over the years Toyota has been scaling to the top of the ranks they have also introduced a number of new vehicles and greatly expanded their line. In today’s Toyota lineup you will find everything fropm full sized trucks and SUVs to their more traditional compact and sub compact offerings. no matter what kind of vehicle you are in the market for, there is a Toyota to fit your needs.

Here is a sampling of Toyota’s 2009 car lineup. Take a look and see what you’ve been missing if you haven’t taken a look at Toyota in a while.

Read more

Popularity: 21% [?]

2009 Toyota Venza Videos

More Venza for Bartlesville Toyota fans

Not long ago I wrote a review of the 2009 Toyota Venza titled “Toyota venza: A Great CUV for the Bartlesville Mom”. In the past few days that post has been receiving a lot of views and even managed to creep into my top ten most popular posts as you can see by the “most Popular Posts” list in the right hand sidebar. Well, since there is so much interest in this car, I thought I might offer a little more on the 2009 Venza today.

I think we pretty much covered the stats on the car and all the great qualities you will find in this brand new model of CUV. So, today I’ve gone out and found some video fro Toyota that will allow you to get to know the car even better. These videos come from Toyota’s YouTube channel and are just a few of many videos Toyota offers to help consumers get to know there products a little better without having to take a trip to the lot.

Toyota on Youtube

Read more

Popularity: 16% [?]

One Bartlesville Auto Dealer Ready for a Fight

The Real U.S. Auto Industry Story

by a Real U.S. Auto Dealer in Bartlesville, Oklahoma

The gloves are off! We have listened patiently as the media and politicians spin their story of the automotive industry. We have watched sadly this week as a fellow auto dealer representing one of America’s great brands was forced to close his business here in Bartlesville. Now it is time to take charge of our future.

My grandfather and his brothers worked in a Ford dealership in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, as teenagers in the early 1920s. He became a Ford dealer in 1929 at the age of 21 in Braman, Oklahoma. While he accomplished many things in his life for which we are proud, he often said that all he “ever wanted to be was a good Ford dealer.” This business is a family legacy deeply rooted in Oklahoma and the “American dream.”

The auto business is the quintessential American business. From the beginning, the freedom of movement and transportation provided by the automobile resonated with Americans. For all practical purposes, Americans invented the automobile.

Read more

Popularity: 21% [?]

Ten Signs You Need a New Car

People love their cars. They form bonds with them very much like they form with friends and family members, especially in parts of the country, like here in Bartlesville, where a car is a necessary part of life. And what’s not to love. Cars are, for the most part, beautiful pieces of machinery that make our lives a lot easier and a lot more fun. Every now and then, though, that love can turn into something ugly. I mean really ugly.

Do you know anyone who has a favorite shirt or pair of jeans that they have had waaayyyy too long? You know, the ones with all the holes in them that show some patches of skin that normally aren’t supposed to see daylight. Well, people often have a tendency to do the same thing with their cars. They drive them until the simply wont run any longer.

The problem is that, just as with people you love, when you are too close to something you often have problems seeing its faults. With people this is fine. We should hold onto them as long as we can. But cars are inanimate objects and there comes a time when it is high time to just let that sucker go.

Read more

Popularity: 28% [?]

Toyota Venza: A Great CUV for the Bartlesville Mom

Well, Bartlesville moms, it looks like gas is on the rise again and, as moms know, the SUVs that have been so popular over the last few years are not overly friendly at the gas pump. With the drop in popularity of the styling of the mini van and the rise in fuel prices taking a bite out of the appeal of the SUV, another class of car is on the rise as the family hauler of choice in Bartlesville, Tulsa and cities and towns everywhere. Mom’s new best friend is the CUV.

These roomy people movers offer the fuel economy of sedans with the added space of SUVs and are quickly becoming favorites all across America. And, in the class of CUVs, there is one new comer making quite a splash of its own. Meet the Toyota Venza.

Toyota Venza: Not Just Another CUV

Read more

Popularity: 37% [?]

Toyota RAV4 — Fuel Economy, Cargo Room and Fun

The Toyota RAV4 is the original compact SUV and, even after an influx of competition, still a leader in its class. As such it has earned a significant following of loyal fans and is attracting more daily. Because of this, and because of all this vehicle has to offer, the Toyota RAV4 has earned the third spot in this month’s top ten used cars list.

The First RAV4, The First Compact SUV

Read more

Popularity: 35% [?]

Brad Your Car Guy’s Top Ten Used Cars for January 2009

Last month we published the top ten used car list for December of 2008 and today we will start with our Top Ten used car list for January of 2009. Though some of the cars are the same, as is to be expected when some cars have held on to top resale positions for years now, there are some newcomers as well. I hope you enjoy the list and will find it useful if you are in the market for a new or used car or truck.

So lets get started. Premiering this month on our top ten list at

10. The Toyota Sienna — A Used Mini-Van Marvel

It wasn’t until the arrival of the Toyota Sienna into the mini-van class that Toyota was able to make an impact on this highly popular segment of the auto motive market. Once it arrived, however, the Sienna brought a new level of class to compete with the Domestic models that had been dominate for so many years. Read more

Popularity: 7% [?]

2009 Toyota Camry — The Sultan of Sedans

America’s Top Seller

You can probably count the number of family sedans that offer affordability, fuel economy, luxury, comfort, style, safety and a hybrid option on one hand. Better yet, you can probably do it on one finger. Not that finger. The one next to it. Yes, that’s it. Raise it towards the sky and say, “Number one, Toyota Camry.” Well, I think that probably covers it. Read more

Popularity: 8% [?]

2010 Toyota Prius Plugged in with the Blue Man

The 2010 Toyota Prius Pure Intrigue Read more

Popularity: 18% [?]

Next Page »