5 Tips For Choosing The Right Auto Lender

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Auto Lender

G.M. has agreed to purchase AmeriCredit, a lender of car loans, for $3.5 billion. The car maker made the move as a way to re-establish a captive finance division after selling off GMAC (now known as Ally bank) a few years back. GM considered buying back Ally but opted to go with AmeriCredit, instead.

Many people may think this is a good move for consumers and car shoppers. But hold on a second, as of course there is another motive here for GM. By bringing back an in-house finance arm, the company will be better positioned ahead of launching its initial public offering (IPO).

The company will ultimately be able to sell more cars by offering better deals through an in-house lender.

Should you always go with an in-house lender, though, when shopping for a car? LeaseTrader.com works with all major lenders for its car Lease Specials transfer program. A special division of Lease Specials transfer specialists are always on hand to help people navigate the transfer process with their lender.

Here are a few tips to help you make sure you’re shopping for the right lender:

1. Focus on having good credit and finances: When shopping around for the right auto lender, you may feel lost in a sea of confusion. But you’re not helpless. There are things you can control to better your chances of landing with the right lender. Making sure your credit is in tip top shape is one of those things. The better your credit, the better the terms that will be offered to you.
   
   


2. Shop around to read up on lenders: Put the power of the Internet to work here. You can do all kinds of research and read lots of reviews on various lenders just by going to Google and typing in a few key search terms. You’ll be surprised at the amount of information and knowledge available to help you make the right decision – before you step into the dealer’s showroom.
   
   


3. Look at everyone’s terms: Comparison shopping happens all the time when you shop around for a car. It should absolutely happen when you shop around for a good lender, as well.
   
   


4. Understand fine print ahead of time: One area that always frustrates car shoppers is the “hidden” fine print associated with the lender’s offer. Don’t let there be any surprises one or two years into your loan. It is your responsibility to read through the loan up front and ask all the necessary questions. There is no finger pointing (dog ate my homework) excuses here.
   
   


5. Know what the captive is willing to offer: Don’t immediately discount the captive finance arm (the car manufacturer’s in-house lender). Many times the captive finance lender wins the business because they package their loan with great incentives on the car (instant cash back or a lower sticker price).

How did you shop for your auto lender? Tell us about it here:

GM leveraging investment banks to sell cars as well as IPO Shares

GM leveraging investment banks to sell cars as well as IPO Shares

 

Since General Motors Co. announced its initial proposal for public offerings this past May,

GM has been squeezing concessions from banks vying for a role in what may be the second-biggest IPO in U.S. history. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley won the lead mandate in June and agreed to fees of 0.75 percent of the sale, a quarter of the usual rate for large stock sales

The automaker is also requesting help selling cars not just Shares, biding banks are required to consider using some of the underwriting fees to subsidize the purchase of GM cars by their employees.

Understanding the background

The Treasury wants to keep fees for the IPO low because GM still is recovering and needs to conserve cash, It will also take advantage of any bank it can!

The US Government is playing hard Ball, some analysts say. The Obama administration is wary of paying Wall Street banks large fees after bailing some of them out with government funds, it also feels the banks should bend to help out U.S. Treasury, which owns 61 percent GM

GM sent the request for proposal before it agreed to fees with its lead banks. JPMorgan had already offered to accept payment in equity instead of cash but the their offer was rejected,

How the roles have changed in investment banking:

In the past odd requests were unheard of, the back usually held the controls of what, when and how much but with the way the market is going and the lack of companies vying for business banks are willing to go the extra mile when gathering clients

 

If market conditions permit GM will file a prospectus next month with shares to be sold as soon as November. GM plans to sell 20 percent of U.S. Treasury’s stake reducing the government’s share to less than 50 percent

 

The sale is expected to rise over $10 billion to $15 billion, considering 3 factors

• Strength of the economy


• Company’s performance


• Health of the IPO market

To understand how big this deal is only four U.S. IPOs have exceeded $5 billion since 1999

• Visa Inc.’s $19.7 billion deal in 2008


• AT&T Wireless Group’s $10.6 billion offering in 2000


• Kraft Foods Inc.’s $8.68 billion deal in 2001


• United Parcel Service Inc.’s $5.47 billion sale in 1999

 

Source: [ Bloomberg and WSJ ]

NEW SURVEY ON TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS SHOWS WHICH DRIVERS THINK THEY’RE ABOVE RED LIGHT CAMERAS

 

                                                                                                   

 

News Release

 

 

For Immediate Release

NEW SURVEY ON TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS SHOWS WHICH DRIVERS THINK THEY’RE ABOVE RED LIGHT CAMERAS

LeaseTrader.com Driving Survey Reveals Perception of Traffic Violations

MIAMI – (July 20, 2010) – Do people believe they can get away with a traffic violation based on what they drive? Conventional wisdom says people with nicer vehicles get all the breaks, but a new LeaseTrader.com survey says the nicer a person’s car, the more likely they believe they will get caught.

A nationwide online marketplace for car leases, LeaseTrader.com recently polled roughly 2017 drivers across America to find out if they believe they can get away with a traffic violation based on what they drive. The company polled drivers on their likelihood of getting tickets for speeding, red light infractions, parking fines, and illegal u-turn. The survey was comprised of drivers in four different sets of vehicles (examples):

 

Economy (Ford Focus, Chevy Cobalt)

Mid-Size (Honda Accord, Toyota Camry)

SUV/Truck (Chevy Tahoe, Ford F-150)

Luxury (BMW 7 Series, Mercedes M Class)

 

The survey showed that luxury drivers across the board feel they get away with less compared with the other three sets of drivers. 63.2 percent of luxury drivers feel they will get a speeding ticket if they travel 10 miles per hour faster than the limit, compared with mid-size drivers (45.8%), economy drivers (28.2%) and SUV/truck drivers (41.2%). People leasing luxury cars feel they have a false sense of entitlement when it comes to speeding.

Drivers of economy vehicles also feel they’re least likely to get a ticket running a red light (15.7%), including new red light cameras, because of a blend-in syndrome where they feel their cars don’t stand out as much as the rest. Drivers of luxury vehicles again were highest (62.1%) followed by SUV/Truck (43.6%) and mid-size (35.7%).

Luxury drivers felt differently when it came to parking fines, however, with many feeling (72.5%) they wouldn’t receive a ticket for parking illegally, possibly because of a feeling of entitlement. Mid-size drivers were next (62.8%) followed by economy drivers (54.2%). Only a few SUV/truck drivers feel they wouldn’t get a parking ticket (21.4%).

 

About LeaseTrader.com

LeaseTrader.com, the most recognized name in car leasing, easily and affordably matches car shoppers with individuals looking to escape their auto Lease Specials. Privately held and founded in 1998, LeaseTrader.com is headquartered in Miami. For more information visit www.LeaseTrader.com, on Twitter @Lease_Trader, or call 800-770-0207.

First Impressions - How Important Is Your Car?

First Impression - How Important Is Your Car?

 

Whether you are a man or woman, it is generally agreed that when it comes to dating, your car does make a first impression. According to a survey from Ford Fusion that polled more than 400 singles, showed 89 percent of males and 95 percent of females said they were somewhat likely to notice their dates car. The survey went on to reveal that it is not just your car, but the cleanliness of the interior. A survey last spring from LeaseTrader.com showed men keep cleaner cars than women (http://tinyurl.com/38njo6y). Any car that was super dirty or malfunction were considered an absolute no-no.

An overwhelming 90 percent of those survey said they would not borrow a nice car from a friend to impress a first date. Of those that said they would borrow, 12 percent were males compared to only nine percent of females. The survey is part of an upcoming series of Ford-sponsored dating events in select U.S. cities to introduce the new Ford Fusion.

 

 

All the results listed below:

1.) Keep It Clean

The Ford survey revealed that it's not just your car, but the state of

your car that can make an impression on your date, with 58 percent saying that

the condition of their date's vehicle would at least somewhat impact their

attraction to the person. Females felt more strongly about their date's car

condition than males with 69 percent saying it would at least somewhat effect

their attraction to their date compared to 47 percent of males.

"If your car is dirty outside and cluttered with wrappers and junk inside,

that delivers a personality message to your date that could very well impact

the evening and your future prospects," said Sherrie Schneider, co-author of

The Rules.

"Your car offers a very visual view of the person you are dating before a

single word is ever spoken."

 

2.) Sky Rocketing Gas Prices -- Don't Go Dutch!

More than 79 percent of respondents said they had never been "asked to

chip in for car-related expenses by their date." Of those that had been asked

to chip in, 15 percent said they were asked to spring for gas followed by

parking (9 percent) and tolls (6 percent). Twice as many males (20 percent)

said they were asked by their dates to chip in for gas than females (10

percent).

"At today's gas prices, I guess you can expect more people to ask their

dates to share costs," said Fein. "It still remains a big no-no in most

dating circles if you're looking to score a second date," she cautioned.

 

3.) Most Embarrassing Car Date Moment

When asked to recall their "most embarrassing car date moment,"

respondents chose being told by their date that they were a "bad driver" (22

percent) as tops overall with females (26 percent) outpacing males (18

percent).

Second overall was suffering an "upset stomach" (16 percent), followed by

being "pulled over for speeding" (15 percent) and a getting in to a "fender

bender" (10 percent). Also on the list, but scoring surprisingly low with all

respondents, was "getting caught fooling around" (2 percent).

 

4.) Kissing and Not Talking About It?

When asked "what their favorite car date activity" was, 43 percent chose

"talking" or getting to know their date better. Nearly half of females (49

percent) rated talking as tops with 38 percent of males agreeing. Second

overall was "sightseeing" (28 percent) followed by "kissing" (16 percent) and

listening to music (14 percent).

Of note, only eight percent of females surveyed chose "kissing" as their

overall favorite car date activity versus 24 percent of males.

 

5.) Grand Theft Auto

An overwhelming 90 percent of those surveyed said they "would not borrow"

a nice car from a friend to impress a first date. Of those that said they

"would borrow," 12 percent were males compared to nine percent of females.

"What's the point if it isn't yours?" said Fein. "If you go beyond a

first date to the all-important second date, it's only going to come back to

bite you. Besides, there are some really stylish and affordable cars out

there that make a great impression."

Fox Business - People Skipping Out on Cars Leases - Video

 

Fox Business - People Skipping Out on Cars Leases – Video

 

 

LeaseTrader.com appeared on FOX Business Network’s Willis Report to talk about recent trends in car Lease Specials trading. Host Gerri Willis was particularly interested in the increase of American drivers now choosing to walk away from their Lease Specials contract by trading it over to a credit-qualified individual. Many of these people are still able to make their Lease Specials payment but would rather do without the extra payment. The situation is most prevalent in areas where there is a high concentra tion of strategic default in home mortgages, such as California, Las Vegas, South Florida and Michigan.

 

 

 

LeaseTrader.com John Sternal on how his company can help people from defaulting on cars leases

Ford’s Alan Mulally made more money than the top three Japanese execs combined

 

Ford’s Alan Mulally made more money than the top three Japanese execs combined

 

Alan Mulally compensation added up to more than that of top three Japanese execs combined

Who is Alan Mulally?  Besides being the chief executive officer of Ford Motor Company he single handily secured Ford’s position as the only Detroit-based automaker to avoid bankruptcy. His acclaim has also awarded him a one of the largest paychecks in the industry.

Compared to the competition Alan Mulally made more than the CEOs of Toyota, Nissan and Honda combined.

Back in 2009 Alan Mulally earned over thirteen times more than Toyota's CEO Akio Toyoda at $1.1 million and Honda's CEO Takanobu at $1.3 million. Even the highest paid CEO in Japan Carlos Ghosn of Nissan fell short at less than $10 million.

It's not unusual for American executives to earn more than their counterparts overseas, although currently only Mulally is earning these large sums in Detroit. General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne are both limited as a result of the government bailouts. In spite of Mulally's success, his pay still pales next to the $100+ millions regularly paid to financial executives.

 

Source: [ Detroit News : AutoBlog ]

7 Proven Auto Theft Prevention Tips

7 Proven Auto Theft Prevention Tips

 

There are a few places you feel you or your possessions are absolutely safe in this world. Perhaps you’d never think of getting robbed in church. Maybe you’d never think your bank would go under and close (perhaps not a great example). Finally, what could possibly happen to your car while it’s getting serviced at the dealer, right? I mean come on. If anyone’s going to take such care of your car it’s going to be the people who sold or leased it to you AND the same people that are hoping to Lease Specials you another one, right?

Think again. Check out the following story before learning some important auto theft prevention tips.

A Chicago area Audi dealership was at odds with one of its customers when he dropped off his Audi A4 to get serviced. Everything was going fine until the car’s wheels were stolen over night. The dealer claims its security system was not working the night of the heist.

Making matters worse, the Audi dealership’s initial reaction was that of, we heard nothing and saw nothing, too bad. Rightfully so, the customer asked the dealership to pick up the $500 Insurance deductible, to which the dealer said no way. When the customer threatened legal action the dealer then demanded the customer remove his car from the premise, no wheels and all.

Fortunately, the folks over at Jalopnik jumped in and pressure from readers eventually forced the Audi dealership to reverse course and pay the deductible. Ultimately the dealership did the right thing, but as is the case with so much in society today why did it take so much effort to get the company to simply do the right thing?

We really don’t have to remind you how important it is to keep your car Lease Specials safe and well maintained, especially since you don’t own the car and the bank does. But we’ll remind you anyways. In fact, when you take over a Lease Specials on LeaseTrader.com you have the ability to schedule a vehicle inspection report, which offers a litany of photos and full vehicle inspection report. You know exactly what you’re getting so that you can fall in love with the car of your dreams.

Once you get the car, keep a watchful eye on that dealer so that they also take good care of your car during service. Here are seven ways to prevent auto theft that will help you sleep better at night:

1. Never hide a second set of keys in your car.
   
   


2. Park in well-lit areas.
   
   


3. When you do park your car outside of your neighborhood, try to park in an attended lot. Statistics show thieves are less inclined to steal a car from one of these lots.
   
   


4. Be wary of valet parking – it’s ultimately your responsibility when you give a stranger your keys.
   
   


5. Treat your car like your child and never turn your back on your car while running – even if for a second. Don’t leave your car running and then get out to run to the ATM.
   
   


6. Don’t leave valuables in plain view.
   
   


7. Hide a few business cards in your car. If the police recover your stolen car this will make it much easier for them to identify and prove that it’s your car.

 

Use these auto theft prevention tips to keep your car Lease Specials safe.

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

 

 

 

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign   

1. 
   

   Chrysler dealers upset that Fiat SpA parent company hasn’t launched a large advertising campaign

   
   


2. 
   

   Fiat says they’re waiting to launch a marketing campaign to coincide with redesigned vehicles

   
   


3. 
   

   Look for the new campaign – plus the new vehicles – to come out later this year
   
   

   
   

Remember Chrysler? You know, the number three in the “Big Three”? Many of Chrysler’s few remaining dealers have grown weary over the last several months frustrated with Chrysler’s slow attempt to jump back into the marketing game.

These dealers have watched General Motors (GM) come back from the same brink of bankruptcy by watching advertisement after advertisement on television. Chrysler’s dealers are left to ask what’s going on with their company’s strategy?

Help may be coming soon in the form of a new, multi-million dollar advertising blitz.

Although the company was close to shuttering its doors until the owner of Fiat SpA bought Chrysler Group LLC last year, demand for Chrysler vehicles has remaining steady on car Lease Specials website LeaseTrader.com. The company has even reported brisk sales at the retail level.

But dealers have grown frustrated with Chrysler’s lack of advertising and now feel the company isn’t helping with critical foot traffic into the showroom.

For its part, Chrysler Group LLC’s new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has previously stated an unwillingness to roll out an expensive marketing campaign until the launch of several redesigned vehicle models.

But all that seems to be changing.

 

• 
  

  Scheduled to launch later this year, the new Chrysler ads will feature the updated versions of the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and other sedans.

  
  


• 
  

  A newly redesigned Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle will also make an appearance, as well as the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

  
  


• 
  

  Sergio Marchionne has said it is useless to spend lots of money on an advertising campaign that simply says “We are back.” He feels people already know the company is back.

  
  


• 
  

  Because Chrysler is now part of the Fiat SpA group, the television ads will also feature the Fiat 500 subcompact sports car. Remember one key element that attracted Fiat to buy Chrysler was the ability to gain entry into the U.S. market for its Fiat lineup, which didn’t leave a lasting impression back in the 1980s.

  
  
  
  



Chrysler vehicle leases are widely available on LeaseTrader.com, the car leasing website that matches a person wanting out of a Lease Specials with an individual looking to take it over.

 

 

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG 

 

Emerging on the web today, the brand new 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG will soon be released , thanks to the folks at 4WheelNews for the update and images,

At this time we do not have a date of its expected release but sources confirm the fact that the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG will be powered by the new 5.5 liter V8 engine pushing out over 544 horsepower , while the Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG is expected to house the same impressive turbocharged V12 engine, pushing over 604 horsepower with 738 pounds of torque.

The overall look is sharp, with daytime LED running lights, beefed up stance with clean ground effects, price for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 is expected to be around $160K

and the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 should push over $200k

 

More info on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG  TBA

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG 

 

Emerging on the web today, the brand new 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG will soon be released , thanks to the folks at 4WheelNews for the update and images,

At this time we do not have a date of its expected release but sources confirm the fact that the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG will be powered by the new 5.5 liter V8 engine pushing out over 544 horsepower , while the Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG is expected to house the same impressive turbocharged V12 engine, pushing over 604 horsepower with 738 pounds of torque.

The overall look is sharp, with daytime LED running lights, beefed up stance with clean ground effects, price for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 is expected to be around $160K

and the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 should push over $200k

 

More info on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL65 - CL63 AMG  TBA

Which Models Offer Great Car Lease Deals For Summer

 

Which Models Offer Great Car Lease Specials Deals For Summer

Several car models are going to have fantastic car Lease Specials deals this summer because of availability and price.

Other cars are going to feel the opposite because of lack of availability.

Check out our list below to fid out which cars will be good car Lease Specials deals during the summer.

You can also check LeaseTrader.com to find incredible car Lease Specials deals at any time during the year.

So which car Lease Specials deal has you salivating this summer? No matter what part of the country you live in, there’s sure to be some manufacturer and local dealer offering an amazing car Lease Specials deal that’s right for you. The USA Today has documented through auto experts which deals are the best for this summer and which won’t be sot hot.

So why are there so many great car Lease Specials deals this summer? A few key factors are sure to ring true, including plenty of supply and the automakers willingness to move inventory. This won’t ring true for all cars, though, since the recession tightened production making certain cars a little harder to find this summer. But here are the ones that are expected to make great car Lease Specials deals:

• 2010 Cadillac Escalade hybrid


• 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe


• 2010 Hyundai Sonata


• 2010 Mazda CX-7


• 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class


• 2010 Nissan Altima hybrid


• 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

As always, check LeaseTrader.com for more great car Lease Specials deals since it’s the most recognized name in car leasing. If you love any of the above vehicles but don’t think you can get a great car Lease Specials deal at your local dealer, check out the website’s inventory to find some great prices.

But don’t go rushing over to your car dealer just yet. The flip side is occurring for other car models, which may prevent people from getting a really great car Lease Specials deal this summer. Here is a list of some of these cars, as mentioned in the USA Today:

• 2011 BMW 5 Series


• 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup


• 2010 Honda Civic


• 2010 Lexus GS 450h


• 2010 Mini Cooper Cooper Clubman


• 2010 Toyota Camry


• 2010 Volvo S80

Many of these vehicles with slightly older models are offered on LeaseTrader.com with incredible car Lease Specials deals, especially ones like the BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Mini Cooper Cooper, Toyota Camry and Volvo S80.

How to Unload Your Car Lease Specials: Q and A with a LeaseTrader.com Executive

 

How to Unload Your Car Lease Specials: Q&A with a LeaseTrader.com Executive

We've all heard about buyer's remorse. But how about leaser's remorse? Some consumers who hope to get out of their car leases—or who want to take over someone else's Lease Specials on the cheap—are turning to Lease Specials trading websites, notably LeaseTrader.com, which handled 60,000 Lease Specials transactions in 2009 and is on pace to handle 70,000 this year.

For folks looking to unload their leases, the attraction is obvious: These websites put them in touch with all sorts of people who might be willing to take over the payments. For those in the market for a car, these sites allow you to shop around, negotiate, and take over a Lease Specials without ever having to hand over a down payment. Both sides of the transaction, however, incur fees that'll run at least a couple hundred bucks.

Below, LeaseTrader's John Sternal answers my questions regarding how the site works, what kinds of fees consumers can expect, and advice for both sides of the Lease Specials-trade transaction. If you're seriously considering Lease Specials trading, it's also worth your time to look over this Edmunds story, which provides a good overview of Lease Specials trading and includes details on LeaseTrader competitors such as Swapalease.com.

What kinds of cars tend to show up in large numbers at LeaseTrader? In browsing the listings, I see lots of high-end luxury vehicles -- BMWs, Mercedes, etc. Also, have noticed any trends since the economic downturn began -- for instance, have the kinds of cars listed on your site changed much?

LeaseTrader's John Sternal: Yes, it is true that the LeaseTrader.com marketplace offers plenty of choices on high-end leases. But Fred Flintsone would have loved this site. Leasing in general tends to skew towards the luxury and high-end side of automotive, but there are all kinds of vehicles in the marketplace. There are fewer SUVs to reflect fewer on the road today. We're also seeing more domestic vehicles from GM and Ford as these companies have done a remarkable job raising the profile of their vehicle lineup.

What parts of the Lease Specials-trading process are negotiable? And what tips can you offer to consumers trying to negotiate taking over a Lease Specials?

JS: While you can't rewrite the contract during a Lease Specials takeover, you can certainly negotiate with the “seller” during the deal. Like marriage, you can always find ways to negotiate but sometimes that means compromise on other areas. Of course if the seller is really desperate to get out of the contract (which happens a lot these days) you've got a lot of power. One big area to negotiate is in the monthly price. Ask the seller to buy down the balance of the Lease Specials, which will lower the monthly price.

How, in your opinion, does a buyer get the best deal while taking over a Lease Specials? Are you more likely to get a deal on certain kinds of cars, or if you're taking over a longer/shorter Lease Specials, or what? And what qualifies to be listed as a "Hot Deal" on your site?

JS: A lot goes into consideration for a “Hot Deal.” As you may or may not know, leasing is all about mileage, months and price. Some listings are hot deals because of a low monthly price, while others are a hot deal because there is a lot of mileage remaining on the contract. The key in getting a good deal is knowing what's important to you and also knowing where you can give a little. For example, if your hot button is having a lot of mileage, search for cars with lots of mileage left and be willing to give a little on the best possible price. Having more miles left on the contract will pay for itself in the long run.

Before someone takes over a Lease Specials, what fees should one know about ahead of time?

JS: To take over a Lease Specials it costs $39 for credit verification and a 60-day membership; it then costs you $149 to begin the transfer. These are LeaseTrader.com's fees. The leasing company also charges a fee to do the transfer and their fee can range anywhere from $75 - $600, depending on which leasing company you're with. Why such a big range? That's an excellent question for the leasing companies, and one we've been trying to address with them for years. Understand that it's important to do the credit verification up front so that we know every single interested party has the appropriate credit to take over someone's Lease Specials payment. There is no down payment when taking over a Lease Specials, so that's good for several thousands of dollars remaining in your pocket.

To get rid of a Lease Specials it costs a one-time fee of $89 to list the vehicle on the site, followed by a fee of $149 to begin the transfer process (both sides pay a transfer process fee).

Along those lines, what complications should someone know about ahead of time before taking over a Lease Specials? For instance, how does it work if the purchaser and seller live far away from each other?

JS: LeaseTrader.com always recommends you find a car in your own area. But we're a nationwide service and we handle cross-country transactions daily. When that's the case we offer two very key third-party services to help you get the car of your dreams. We offer a vehicle inspection report that comes with a full vehicle history and lots of pretty pictures, so you know exactly what you're getting. We also offer transportation quotes to ship the vehicle to you. The great benefit here is that you don't have to ship the car back at the end of the Lease Specials.

From the seller standpoint, what are some tips for unloading your Lease Specials as quickly as possible?

JS: You want to do some research to see what similar cars are listed for. If you're paying $800 a month and similar vehicles are listed at $600 a month, general economics rules say you've got to price your vehicle (by buying down some of the balance) competitively. Other than that, take lots of pretty pictures of your car. Remember, finding a good match is not unlike online dating – good pictures can mean everything.

 

Source: [ Brad Tuttle - TIME Magazine ]

Financial abuses of deadbeat parents

 

Financial abuses of deadbeat parents

 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- For parents who've wrecked their own credit rating, cashing in on junior's clean financial history is increasingly tempting.

Children make easy targets for identity thieves because they don't use their own credit and likely wouldn't notice any discrepancies until they reach adulthood.

And when a parent uses their own child, the risk of prosecution is lower because of the family ties. It's not easy to turn in mom or dad, especially if they were simply trying to provide for the family.

"The parent is saying, 'I have to keep the lights on and water running,'" said Adam Levin, co-founder of Identity Theft 911 and CEO of Credit.com. "But unfortunately, they often fall behind on payments and in the end, they've just put their child behind the 8-ball."

If a parent has a child's social security number, they can do almost anything -- no matter how young the child is -- because a credit check does not reveal a person's age, said Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com.

Here are several ways a parent can damage a child's financial reputation before they even finish school:

Taking out loans: With access to every piece of their child's financial identity, it's easy for parents to take out a loan in their son's or daughter's names.

One college senior from the D.C. metro area, who spoke to CNNMoney.com on the condition of anonymity, didn't find out that her father had taken out education loans in her name until she went to open her first credit card and was denied.

"I never thought he would ever do something like this to me," she said. "It's really manipulative to do that to your kids because you know you have that power over them."

Not only is she now stuck paying back the loans -- plus interest -- but her credit is shot.

"My credit is really bad now," she said. "I've had to have a co-signer for every apartment I've ever had, I can't get a credit card and getting any other loans or even a car is going to be very hard."

But she said she would rather put up with the financial pain than turn her father in to the authorities.

"It's just not worth the emotional turmoil," she said. "But every once in a while I do get so frustrated that I almost go ahead and do it."

Opening credit cards: When their own cards are maxed out, parents can easily apply for new cards in a child's name.

"Some parents will do this because they still want to buy the things they can't afford," said Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "And the easiest opportunity to do this for someone who is really desperate is to use their own family members."

Alex, a 28 year old from Ann Arbor, Mich., said his father opened three credit cards in his name while he was in college. After Alex received packages containing items that his father had ordered online, his dad admitted to activating a credit card in Alex's name because he desperately needed the money.

"He said a card had come in the mail so he activated it, that it wasn't a big deal and he would pay it off, and I had no reason not to trust him." said Alex. "But once I got a credit report and found out there were a bunch of them and they hadn't been paid off, that's when I got angry."

Two of the credit cards Alex's dad opened had been maxed out and all three were past due on payments. As a result, Alex's credit score dropped by about 150 to 200 points.

Creating new accounts: Opening a utility or phone account in a child's name is another common offense, said Siciliano of IDTheftSecurity.com.

Because of the availability of personal information to close family members, more than half of identity theft cases are typically committed by parents, he said.

"Parents who are compromising their child's identity are generally doing it because of a need, like a single mom whose electric bill is too high and the lights get turned off, so the path of least resistance is putting it under the baby's name," said Siciliano.

"But then a light bulb goes off in her head and she opens a mobile phone account, and the next thing you know she has a credit card under her kid's name or gets a car loan," he said.

Co-signing a Lease Specials: It's not just underage children who are being targeted.

More parents with subpar credit are turning to their adult kids for help. The number of children between 21 to 28 years old agreeing to become co-signers of a parent's auto Lease Specials has jumped nearly 30% over the last two years at LeaseTrader.com, an auto Lease Specials transfer marketplace.

"You used to rely on your parents to help you out or co-sign something," said John Sternal, vice president of marketing and communications at LeaseTrader.com. "Today it's a little bit of the opposite, since kids often have credit situations that haven't been tarnished as much as their parents'."

If payments are made, co-signing a Lease Specials for a parent can actually benefit a child by helping him or her to establish credit. But many young adults don't realize the responsibility they are taking on and how important their credit is, said Sternal.

"Credit is the life-blood for everything today, so you want to do everything you can to protect your credit going forward," said Sternal.

Financial abuses of deadbeat parents

 

Financial abuses of deadbeat parents

 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- For parents who've wrecked their own credit rating, cashing in on junior's clean financial history is increasingly tempting.

Children make easy targets for identity thieves because they don't use their own credit and likely wouldn't notice any discrepancies until they reach adulthood.

And when a parent uses their own child, the risk of prosecution is lower because of the family ties. It's not easy to turn in mom or dad, especially if they were simply trying to provide for the family.

"The parent is saying, 'I have to keep the lights on and water running,'" said Adam Levin, co-founder of Identity Theft 911 and CEO of Credit.com. "But unfortunately, they often fall behind on payments and in the end, they've just put their child behind the 8-ball."

If a parent has a child's social security number, they can do almost anything -- no matter how young the child is -- because a credit check does not reveal a person's age, said Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com.

Here are several ways a parent can damage a child's financial reputation before they even finish school:

Taking out loans: With access to every piece of their child's financial identity, it's easy for parents to take out a loan in their son's or daughter's names.

One college senior from the D.C. metro area, who spoke to CNNMoney.com on the condition of anonymity, didn't find out that her father had taken out education loans in her name until she went to open her first credit card and was denied.

"I never thought he would ever do something like this to me," she said. "It's really manipulative to do that to your kids because you know you have that power over them."

Not only is she now stuck paying back the loans -- plus interest -- but her credit is shot.

"My credit is really bad now," she said. "I've had to have a co-signer for every apartment I've ever had, I can't get a credit card and getting any other loans or even a car is going to be very hard."

But she said she would rather put up with the financial pain than turn her father in to the authorities.

"It's just not worth the emotional turmoil," she said. "But every once in a while I do get so frustrated that I almost go ahead and do it."

Opening credit cards: When their own cards are maxed out, parents can easily apply for new cards in a child's name.

"Some parents will do this because they still want to buy the things they can't afford," said Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "And the easiest opportunity to do this for someone who is really desperate is to use their own family members."

Alex, a 28 year old from Ann Arbor, Mich., said his father opened three credit cards in his name while he was in college. After Alex received packages containing items that his father had ordered online, his dad admitted to activating a credit card in Alex's name because he desperately needed the money.

"He said a card had come in the mail so he activated it, that it wasn't a big deal and he would pay it off, and I had no reason not to trust him." said Alex. "But once I got a credit report and found out there were a bunch of them and they hadn't been paid off, that's when I got angry."

Two of the credit cards Alex's dad opened had been maxed out and all three were past due on payments. As a result, Alex's credit score dropped by about 150 to 200 points.

Creating new accounts: Opening a utility or phone account in a child's name is another common offense, said Siciliano of IDTheftSecurity.com.

Because of the availability of personal information to close family members, more than half of identity theft cases are typically committed by parents, he said.

"Parents who are compromising their child's identity are generally doing it because of a need, like a single mom whose electric bill is too high and the lights get turned off, so the path of least resistance is putting it under the baby's name," said Siciliano.

"But then a light bulb goes off in her head and she opens a mobile phone account, and the next thing you know she has a credit card under her kid's name or gets a car loan," he said.

Co-signing a Lease Specials: It's not just underage children who are being targeted.

More parents with subpar credit are turning to their adult kids for help. The number of children between 21 to 28 years old agreeing to become co-signers of a parent's auto Lease Specials has jumped nearly 30% over the last two years at LeaseTrader.com, an auto Lease Specials transfer marketplace.

"You used to rely on your parents to help you out or co-sign something," said John Sternal, vice president of marketing and communications at LeaseTrader.com. "Today it's a little bit of the opposite, since kids often have credit situations that haven't been tarnished as much as their parents'."

If payments are made, co-signing a Lease Specials for a parent can actually benefit a child by helping him or her to establish credit. But many young adults don't realize the responsibility they are taking on and how important their credit is, said Sternal.

"Credit is the life-blood for everything today, so you want to do everything you can to protect your credit going forward," said Sternal.

AARP Sex Survey: It’s All Downhill After 45

AARP Sex Survey: It’s All Downhill After 45

 

 

The AARP survey is called the “2009 Sex, Romance, and Relationship Survey.” It used a random sample of 1,670 U.S. citizens of the ages 45 years and older. The AARP, which represents 40 million Americans over 50, conducted similar surveys on sexual attitudes and practices in 1999 and 2004.

 

One of the most pronounced changes over the 10-year span dealt with sex outside of marriage. In the 1999 survey, 41 percent of the respondents said non-marital sex was wrong. That figure dropped to 22 percent in the new survey.

Yet sexual activity — marital or not — seems to be less frequent overall for this age group. In the new survey, 28 percent said they had intercourse at least once a week, and 40 percent at least once a month — both categories were down roughly 10 percentage points from 2004.

Asked if they were satisfied with their sex lives, 43 percent in the new survey said yes, down from 51 percent in 2004.

One intriguing finding: Respondents who had a partner but weren't married had sex more frequently and with more satisfaction than respondents who were married. According to the survey, men are more than five times as likely as women to say they think of sex at least once a day, and nearly three times as likely to say they engage in self-stimulation at least once a week.

The survey asked respondents what would improve their sexual satisfaction. Twenty percent of the women and 37 percent of the men said better health; 14 percent of the women and 26 percent of the men said better personal finances.

 

Money Woes = Sexual Lows?

The recession and the stress that comes from financial anxiety has had a deflationary effect and temporarily depressed sexual appetite and performance of the 45+ demographic. A worse financial situation is listed third—right behind health and stress—as changes people say have negatively impacted their sexual satisfaction, with 26% of men and 14% of women saying better finances would help improve their current satisfaction—up from 17% of men and 9% of women in 2004.

Sexual Attitudes, Thoughts, and Behaviors

Respondents ages 45-59 are generally more sexual than those ages 60+; these younger respondents have sexual thoughts more often and engage in sexual activities much more frequently than their older counterparts. Attitudes towards sex have also changed with opposition to singles having sex decreasing by nearly 50% over the last ten years (41% in 1999 vs. 22% today) and fewer than one in 20 people age 45+ believe that sex is only for younger people. However, overall sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction with this same demographic have decreased slightly since 2004.

Men vs. Women

Men still trump women when it comes to the prioritization of sex in their lives

• 
  

  Men think about sex more than women (Men are more than five times as likely as women—45% vs. 8%—to say they think of sex once or more every day; men also rank sex higher on the list of what makes for a high quality of life.

  
  


• 
  

  Men have sex more often, more men than women have partners, and single men without partners are less satisfied with their sex lives than women in the same situation. (27% versus 19%).

  
  

Singles vs. Married Couples

Respondents who have a regular sexual partner have vastly different attitudes than those who do not have one—not only about sex but also toward their outlook on life. Partnered respondents report dramatically higher overall quality of life at the current time as well as both in the past and in their expected future. Sex plays a more critical role in their relationships and quality of life.  Sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction are higher among unmarried and dating (or engaged men and women) than among married couples. 

• 
  

  48% of dating singles surveyed have sexual intercourse at least once a week, compared to 36% of married couples. 

  
  


• 
  

  60% of single daters are satisfied with their sex lives while roughly only 52% of married couples hit that mark. 

  
  


• 
  

  In general, about half of everyone with a partner reported that their relationship is extremely or very pleasurable physically (51 %) and more than half (53%) say their relationship is extremely or very satisfying emotionally.

  
  

Age Matters

Sexual satisfaction declines dramatically with age with male satisfaction dropping from 60% satisfaction at ages 45-49 to 26% for people 70+. Women start at lower numbers with a 48% satisfaction rate among women ages 45-49 vs. 27% at age 70+.

The Bottom Line

For a majority of midlife and older adults, sex is a necessary component to living a happy and healthy life, and sexual satisfaction plays a critical role in relationships and overall quality of life (85% of men and 61% of women say this is so). Moreover,

• 
  

  57% of those with a sex partner reported they are at least somewhat satisfied compared to 15% of those without a partner 

  
  


• 
  

  More than half of the people who reported that their health was "excellent" or "very good" were satisfied with their sex lives, and 36% said they were "extremely satisfied".

  
  


• The highest single predictor of sexual satisfaction is the frequency of intercourse
  
  
  
  • 
    

    More than once a week seems to be the key with 84% of people who have sex at least once a week reporting they are satisfied, compared with 59% of those who engage in intercourse just once or twice a month.

    
    
  
  
  
  

 

 

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

 

 

 

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign   

1. 
   

   Chrysler dealers upset that Fiat SpA parent company hasn’t launched a large advertising campaign

   
   


2. 
   

   Fiat says they’re waiting to launch a marketing campaign to coincide with redesigned vehicles

   
   


3. 
   

   Look for the new campaign – plus the new vehicles – to come out later this year
   
   

   
   

Remember Chrysler? You know, the number three in the “Big Three”? Many of Chrysler’s few remaining dealers have grown weary over the last several months frustrated with Chrysler’s slow attempt to jump back into the marketing game.

These dealers have watched General Motors (GM) come back from the same brink of bankruptcy by watching advertisement after advertisement on television. Chrysler’s dealers are left to ask what’s going on with their company’s strategy?

Help may be coming soon in the form of a new, multi-million dollar advertising blitz.

Although the company was close to shuttering its doors until the owner of Fiat SpA bought Chrysler Group LLC last year, demand for Chrysler vehicles has remaining steady on car Lease Specials website LeaseTrader.com. The company has even reported brisk sales at the retail level.

But dealers have grown frustrated with Chrysler’s lack of advertising and now feel the company isn’t helping with critical foot traffic into the showroom.

For its part, Chrysler Group LLC’s new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has previously stated an unwillingness to roll out an expensive marketing campaign until the launch of several redesigned vehicle models.

But all that seems to be changing.

 

• 
  

  Scheduled to launch later this year, the new Chrysler ads will feature the updated versions of the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and other sedans.

  
  


• 
  

  A newly redesigned Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle will also make an appearance, as well as the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

  
  


• 
  

  Sergio Marchionne has said it is useless to spend lots of money on an advertising campaign that simply says “We are back.” He feels people already know the company is back.

  
  


• 
  

  Because Chrysler is now part of the Fiat SpA group, the television ads will also feature the Fiat 500 subcompact sports car. Remember one key element that attracted Fiat to buy Chrysler was the ability to gain entry into the U.S. market for its Fiat lineup, which didn’t leave a lasting impression back in the 1980s.

  
  
  
  



Chrysler vehicle leases are widely available on LeaseTrader.com, the car leasing website that matches a person wanting out of a Lease Specials with an individual looking to take it over.

 

 

5 Ways To Ruin A Date With Your Car

5 Ways To Ruin A Date With Your Car

She gave you her number. She returns your texts. She added you as an online friend and always comments on your status updates. Best of all, she wants to go on date with you. After so much careful progress, the last thing you need is to ruin a date with your car.

It doesn’t even have to be a first date. There are a lot of ways to ruin a date with your car even if you’re exclusive -- or engaged or married.

5 Ways To Ruin A Date With Your Car

• Road Rage – You might be taking a sweet cruise with the top down on Venice Blvd and in a twist of fate, some guy driving a Mini Cooper Cooper cuts you off. Don’t think getting out and having some friendly words with the driver only to realize he’s twice your size. Be smart, don’t start!
  
  


• Dirty Car – You don’t stand a chance of exploring proclivities, assorted fluids and breakfast with her if the dirtiness is literal and involves your car. It doesn’t mean you need it professionally detailed before every date, but at least give it good once-over outside and in. Don’t forget to hide the protein bars laying around in your car. That’s just tacky.
  
  


• Your Car Is Too Clean – Yes! There is a fine line between OCD clean and a debris free car. But overdoing it is also one of the ways to ruin a date with your car. It’s when your leather seats are like a Slip ‘n Slide. A car that’s too clean might also be an indication that you’re a perfectionist and complete OCD freak.
  
  


• Refusing To Pay For Parking – Driving around half the night looking for metered parking or buying condoms from a club bathroom is borderline crossing the line into “I’m frugal zone.” If you want to get past the first stop for the evening take this advice, VALET!!!
  
  


• Changing A Tire With A Phone – Got a flat? Figure it out. Using Google or calling roadside assistance for help drops your “man card” below an acceptable level. Show her you can handle simple tasks even if it means getting a little dirty.

May 2010 Auto Sales by the Numbers

May 2010 Auto Sales by the Numbers

 

 

U.S. CAR AND LIGHT-TRUCK SALES, MAY 2010

All manufacturers have reported

Automaker ▾	May-10	May-09	Pct. chng.	5 Months 2009	5 Months 2010	Pct. chng.
BMW Group*	22,118	23,020	-4%	98,384	93,734	5%
Chrysler Group LLC	104,819	79,010	33%	434,731	402,900	8%
Daimler AG**	19,882	16,317	22%	90,797	77,454	17%
Ford Motor Co.***	196,671	161,197	22%	805,662	618,369	30%
General Motors****	223,410	190,881	17%	882,885	772,733	14%
Honda (American)†	117,173	98,344	19%	487,282	430,358	13%
Hyundai Group††	80,476	62,997	28%	342,740	287,302	19%
Isuzu	-	-	-%	-	165	-100%
Jaguar Land Rover	3,671	3,391	8%	16,407	15,311	7%
Maserati	152	128	19%	732	481	52%
Mazda	22,605	16,718	35%	97,481	86,652	13%
Mitsubishi	4,737	4352	9%	22,292	22,105	1%
Nissan†††	83,764	67,489	24%	375,762	289,446	30%
Other (estimate)	294	306	-4%	1,470	1,530	-4%
Porsche	1,873	1,979	-5%	8,842	8,757	1%
Saab Spyker Automobile‡	174	-	-	522	-	-
Subaru	23,667	17,505	35%	104,359	74,686	40%
Suzuki	1,903	2,585	-26%	9,514	20,259	-53%
Toyota‡‡	162,813	152,583	7%	705,938	638,794	11%
VW‡‡‡	32,882	27,230	21%	145,372	108,836	34%
TOTAL	1,103,084	926,032	19%	4,631,172	3,949,872	17%

 

Numbers in this table are calculated by Automotive News based on actual monthly sales reported by the manufacturers and may differ from numbers reported elsewhere.

Source: Automotive News Data Center

Note: Other includes estimates for Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Lotus

*Includes Mini Cooper and Rolls-Royce

**Includes Maybach, Mercedes-Benz and Smart

***Includes Volvo

****Includes Saab through February 2010

†Includes Honda Division and Acura

††Includes Hyundai and Kia

†††Includes Nissan Division and Infiniti

‡The sale of Saab was final on February 23, 2010

‡‡Includes Toyota Division, Lexus and Scion

‡‡‡Includes VW, Audi and Bentley

 

Ford up 22%; GM up 17%, Chrysler up 33%; Toyota up 7%

 

DETROIT -- All major automakers except Toyota reported double-digit U.S. sales gains in May, as the light-vehicle sales rate hit its highest level since December.

Sales rose 19 percent from May 2009, marking the eighth-straight monthly increase, the longest such streak since June 2000, according to Bloomberg Data. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate hit 11.8 million, beating analysts' predictions for demand in the low-11-million-unit range.

Ford Motor Co., one of the leaders in the Memorial Day weekend incentive spree, gained 22 percent for the month. General Motors Co. -- which yesterday marked the anniversary of its 2009 bankruptcy filing -- saw overall sales rise 17 percent.

Chrysler Group climbed 33 percent compared with May 2009, a month the automaker spent in bankruptcy.

All three Detroit automakers beat analysts' average forecasts by at least 6 percentage points.

Despite continuing a string of incentives it started in March, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. increased only 7 percent, its worst sales performance since posting declines in January and February during recall problems. Toyota is still trying to fix its image after its recent global recalls of more than 8 million vehicles to address unintended acceleration and braking problems, said Jeff Schuster, lead forecaster for tracking firm J.D. Power and Associates.

Also, “there's likely some payback from the incentives that they put in place in March,” Schuster said. “They lost their effectiveness.”

Nissan North America and American Honda took advantage of Memorial Day discounts -- Nissan grew 24 percent and American Honda grew 19 percent. Hyundai-Kia was up 28 percent for its 11th-straight monthly gain.

Slow recovery

The recovery in U.S. auto sales remains slow, as uncertainty persists in the housing and job markets. And the European debt crisis could further hamper consumer confidence, analysts said.

Still, GM stuck with its 2010 forecast of 11.3 million to 11.8 million U.S. light-vehicle sales for the industry.

“We've all witnessed significant volatility in the financial markets,” Steve Carlisle, GM's vice president of U.S. sales operations, said of the European debt crisis. “We don't think it signals another collapse in the global economy or in the vehicle industry.”

Carlisle predicted that the U.S. light-vehicle sales rate, which had averaged 11 million units through April, would stay mostly flat through July and start to pick up in August and September.

Efraim Levy, an equity analyst with Standard and Poor's, said sales recovery from last year's 10.4-million-unit total so far tracks with his expectations for 11.65 million sales this year.

“People are still concerned about their jobs, and now we have some more stock market volatility,” he said. Next year, “we'll put more distance behind us from the recession.”

He predicts sales of 13.5 million in 2011, about even with 2008's 13.2 million units.

Death of Mercury?

Ford rode the momentum of its F-series pickups, which the company said gained 49 percent for their highest sales total in more than two years. Lincoln fell 10 percent, and sales dropped 11 percent at Mercury, which Ford is expected to kill.

Ford said today it would end Mercury production in the fourth quarter and would invest more in Lincoln as a result. Product plans include Lincoln’s first C-segment compact car.

Also today, Ford increased its second-quarter production forecast by 15,000 vehicles, to 640,000. It said third-quarter production would total 570,000, up 16 percent from 2009.

May sales were tracking lower until Ford, Nissan and Honda announced incentives timed for the Memorial Day weekend.

Over the past three years, sales during the holiday weekend ran about 40 percent higher than the typical May weekend. But sales on the last day of the month this year were more than double the average day, according to Edmunds.com, a consumer auto site.

The industry spent slightly less on incentives in May than in April as inventories declined, Edmunds.com said. The average of $2,603 per vehicle was down 1 percent from the month before and $340 or 12 percent from May 2009.

Fleet and ‘a blockbuster'

May sales finished stronger than J.D. Power had forecast, despite weak second and third weeks, analyst Schuster said. May's sales rate is the highest since December's 11.9 million, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

“Either fleet mix was really big, or the [Memorial Day] weekend was a blockbuster,” Schuster said.

Both Ford and GM reported strong fleet sales to commercial buyers, which both Schuster and Levy pointed to as a sign of economic recovery. Schuster also said an increase in daily rental sales doesn't concern him right now, as rental companies are replenishing fleets that aged during the recession.

Subaru of America posted a 35 percent increase last month. The Japanese brand joined Hyundai and Kia as the only brands to post U.S. sales gains last year.

BMW Group's sales fell 4 percent, the first decline for the German automaker since November. Suzuki's sales slid 26 percent; it last gained in July 2008.

 

Source: [ Automotive News ]