Anticipating a very competitive 2002 John Hine experienced the fruits of one of the best years in automotive sales history last year. The 0% financing really stimulated our business but now we're starting to see that drop off, the southern...
The Russ Darrow Automotive Group in Milwaukee, WI has named Harvey Padek general manager or Darrow Dodge. He will continue to serve as general manager of Russ Darrow Cedarburg. The new position is something of a homecoming for Mr. Padek. His...
In this issue's Dealers Speak feature, we asked automotive retailers around the country how they did in 2001 and what they expect 2002 will hold for them. Their answers varied. A lot of them remain optimistic despite an ailing economy and...
It's easy to hear anger in the body shop manager's voice as he talks about the new competitor his Ford dealership in Houston has for collision repair work: a shop down the street. I've had several customers insured by Allstate told they have to...
ZERO PERCENT FINANCING MAY BE GREAT FOR vehicle sales, but it's creating a potential tax problem for many dealers. They're worried about year-end inventory reductions causing substantial losses to their LIFO (last in, first out) tax benefits. This...
For the last several years we dealers have been bobbing on the waves of a perfect storm. What made up this perfect storm? First, unprecedented new car volumes of 17 to 18 million units putting the temptation of incredible multipliers into the mix...
Autobytel Inc., the pioneer of third-party lead referrals to auto dealers, is learning that adaptability may be the key to its survival. No longer does Autobytel see lead generation as its sole means of creating revenue. But the company is by no...
There's a new sheriff in town, and he doesn't like sham operations selling auto parts under the names of General Motors, Ford and the Mopar division of Daimler-Chrysler. The Big Three have formed a posse of sorts, called the Global Industry...
When I first entered the car business my sales manager ask me to make a list of all the people I knew. Then he asked me to contact these people and ask if they or anyone they knew were in the market for a new vehicle. I was worried that next he'd...
When Ford Thunderbird's color palette is changed for '03, one of the new hues will likely recall romantic Oceanfront sunsets, the automaker hints. Asked if pink so popular when the first T'Birds were built will be among the new fashion colors...