For the love of cars
For the love of cars
If you’re in the market for a used vehicle, it’s important to do your research so that you can shop prepared. Below we’ll take a look at five things you should know and consider before you start shopping for the perfect used vehicle. Read More
With crossover SUVs becoming so popular, it may be more difficult to find a new sedan on a dealership lot these days, but used sedans are alive and well. This is great news for car buyers’ wallets, since buying used is the easiest way to save money when it comes to getting a vehicle. From a used Chevrolet sedan to a used Toyota, take a look at some of the best used sedans you can find.
Buying a car at a used car dealership can be fun and exciting, but if you find yourself at the wrong one, you’ll be in a world of misery. Read More
The past few years have been tough on the new and used car markets. From supply chain issues to price increases and production slowdowns, buying a car has not been easy. But 2023 is a new year, and many experts predict more stability and lower prices. So, is 2023 the time to finally head to used car dealers and buy a car? Let’s take a closer look at what we might see coming in the auto industry.
Buying a car can be a stressful task, and, let’s be honest, nobody enjoys looking for a new or used car. There are plenty of ways to tell if you are being scammed by a car dealer. Here are some of the big red flags to look out for. Read More
The time has finally come for things to return to the way they are supposed to be, and with that is the decline of used car prices. Used cars, over the last few years, have become increasingly popular, causing the prices of them to shoot up exponentially. Read More
When it comes time to explore used cars for sale near you, you have a couple of options. Of
course, not all of these choices are equal. From searching Google for “used cars – dealerships
near me” to investigating ads online, here is what you need to know about the best place to
buy a used car. Read More
It started with car loans – breaking up a big purchase into smaller, more manageable payments over a longer period of time. Then, it became additional features – Bluetooth connections and customizable radio packages that enhance your driving experience.
Now, it’s speed – by paying more, your car can drive faster, and its engine performs better, according to a new package being rolled out at Mercedes dealer locations that sell EQE models. But what does that actually mean for drivers, BMW as a company, and the future of vehicle subscriptions?
The Acceleration Increase Package is a $1,200 per year subscription that makes acceleration quicker and improves torque for Mercedes-Benz’s EV models. For some, like the EQE 350 4Matic SUV, this can make a vehicle go 0-60mph in 5 seconds instead of 6.
That’s a pretty big improvement in acceleration and performance, and it’s one that anyone who enjoys fast cars would love! It’s also a great selling point for a luxury vehicle brand – you’re already visiting a Mercedes dealer for a good car, so why not get a package that makes it even better?
Here’s the problem: the hardware and technology are already in the vehicle from when you buy it. You just can’t use it until you pay an additional fee. BMW already made vehicles able to run this well – they just won’t sell them to you as-is.
If that sounds strange or unfair to you, you’re not alone. Subscription services for vehicles have already been getting negative feedback, and BMW’s latest package is just one of many.
BMW isn’t the first vehicle manufacturer to offer subscription services related to pre-installed features. Earlier in 2022, for example, GM announced a mandatory OnStar subscription for models like Buick and Cadillac.
This isn’t even the first package or feature BMW has provided for a monthly fee! Features like heated seats and steering wheels, as well as dash cam access, have either a one-time or monthly cost for BMW drivers. The company also had plans to charge vehicle owners a subscription fee for the use of Apple CarPlay, but ended up scrapping them.
So if this isn’t the first vehicle subscription service the company has tried to push onto consumers, the real question to ask is this: will it be the last?
Earlier in 2022, New Jersey lawmakers began introducing legislation to ban vehicle subscription services just like the one BMW is offering. The bill would specifically prohibit automakers and dealers from charging ongoing fees for hardware that’s already present in vehicles at the time of purchase.
This means that not only would BMW be unable to offer the Acceleration Increase Package, but Mercedes dealers wouldn’t be able to tack on their own fees once vehicles are in their showrooms.
Is this the future of EVs that manufacturers intended? Or is it merely an unfortunate sign of the times? Hopefully, it’s the latter, and new laws and negative feedback can help carmakers make positive changes away from this trend.
A car donation is one of the best ways to lower your taxes. Knowing the proper paperwork to file and the proper steps to take can help you feel confident about your car donation. Here’s what you need to know.
Good news for people interested in the Chevy Bolt – GM has decided to continue the multi-thousand dollar discount for purchasing the Bolt EV and EUV through the end of 2022 instead of just August.
But while this may seem like great news, there’s more happening here. From recalls at Chevrolet dealer locations to tax credit changes, there’s a lot to talk about with the Chevy Bolt and its discount.
People keeping up with the latest from General Motors may remember that the company had to recall every Chevy Bolt made between 2019 and 2022. Reports said it was due to battery fires caused by defects in LG’s manufacturing of the batteries.
While GM acted swiftly by removing even brand new Bolts on the lots of Chevrolet dealers and communicating with anyone who’d purchased affected vehicles, this still left many customers unhappy and tanked the reputation of the Chevy Bolt.
Even though the situation has been resolved, GM may have decided to sell the rest of the available 2022 Bolt and Bolt EUVs at a reduced price to smooth things over for customers.
So what is the big discount the Chevy Bolt is getting? Just under $6,000 for the Bolt and close to $6,500 for the EUV. This means a base model Bolt would cost $26,000 new, while the baseline Bolt EUV is $28,000. This includes the $1,000 destination fee for delivering the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer near you.
This discount makes the Chevy Bolt the most affordable EV currently on the market. The new price beats out EVs from manufacturers like Nissan, which used to be known for their affordability.
It’s only guaranteed until December 31st, 2022, so buyers must act quickly to take advantage of the new affordable pricing.
But that leaves the question of what will happen to the Bolt after this promotional incentive ends.
GM, like Tesla, no longer has the EV tax credit to fall back on to provide incentives for consumers to transition to electric vehicles without paying more out of pocket or reducing manufacturer profit. A new Inflation Reduction Act may help create a new EV-specific credit, but there’s no guarantee that it’s coming any time soon.
This means that the Chevy Bolt’s bad reputation and lack of incentives may hurt its chances of survival in 2023 and beyond. It may be discontinued like the Volt. Or maybe it will survive as a less-desirable EV option.
Either way, it’s important to remember that if you want a Chevy Bolt, this is the best time to get one. They’ve been heavily inspected and repaired after the battery issues they faced, and the current discount available shaves thousands of dollars off the sale price.
Now may be the only good time to head down to your local Chevrolet dealer and find out what you can do to get an affordable Chevy Bolt or Bolt EUV.