by: Matthew C. Keegan

Chevy’s flagship car, the Impala, finally has the power to match its heralded name. Ever since the car was redesigned in the late 1990s, the Impala has been more of a pretender than a performer. Now with an optional small block 5.3L V8 added to the mix, the 2006 Chevrolet Impala can go toe to toe with the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger. The changes for the Impala are not all under the hood, Chevy took the time to redo the entire car and they did it with care. Let’s look at some of the changes for 2006.

More Power – A V6 is a great engine, especially in these times of high gas prices. Still, if you opt for a car of the Impala’s size, at least having the option of purchasing a V8 makes sense, doesn’t it? You better believe it. GM has sweetened the deal by plunking in a V8 that incorporates Corvette technology as the engine heads with “their pent–roof combustion chambers and flat–top pistons deliver high horsepower”, this according to Chevrolet’s promotional material. In addition, GM’s “displacement on demand” technology allows the V8 to squeeze out a miserly 28 mpg on the highway [18 mpg city] with computer equipment that shuts down unneeded cylinders at the appropriate time. Cadillac tried this in the early 1980s with its V8-6-4 engine that failed to live up to the job as computing technology then wasn’t what it is today. Fortunately, current GM technology makes this a reality for current models.

Better Looks – When it comes to “looks” beauty is subjective. Yet, previous Impala models had a bit of a pedestrian look to them. In the highly competitive large sedan category, this can easily mean lost sales as the choices for similarly priced, but more aggressive looking cars is strong. All new sheetmetal, a more assertive nose – similar to the Cobalt’s – and updated headlights and tail lights gives the Impala a fresh and assertive look.

More Models – 6 in fact. The return of the “SS” as the signature model should help sales. SS, or “Super Sport” is a term that was originally used for the 1961 Impala and by the mid 60s came to represent each of the performance models in the fleet. The Chevelle, Nova, and Camaro all had that designation then while the Impala, Cobalt, Malibu, and TrailBlazer wear it today.

Improved Interior – If you are going to change the skin and what is found under the hood, you might as well dress up the interior, right? The LTZ model – who the heck knows what that stands for – has heated front bucket seats trimmed in leather. Throw in 8 way power and lumbar support for the driver and you are talking top of the line comfort. On select models new “flip and fold” rear seating is available; side curtain air bags for the front seat is standard on all Impalas; and keyless entry, power windows, tilt wheel, OnStar, cruise control, and a host of other features all come standard on the Impala.

Prices start in the low 20s {US} and climb to nearly 30K {US} for fully loaded SS models. How the SS sells remains to be seen, but its bold, fresh look will certainly appeal to those who previously dismissed the Impala.


About The Author


Matthew C. Keegan

Copyright 2005 -- Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Auto Parts Canada: [http://www.autopartsonlinecanada.com ], a wholesaler of fine Toyota parts and Toyota accessories: [http://www.autopartsonlinecanada.com/make/chevrolet.html ] for your truck, van, SUV, or passenger car.


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Labels: car discount, car price, new car, used car

by: Pete Glocker

If you in the market for a new car, you have probably done your research on the vehicle you would like to purchase, but have you done your homework on the dealerships that sell them? There are a few things to consider when you enter the dealership zone. Knowing these industry tricks can save you thousands.

Trading your car? Do some research before handing it over to the dealerships. You could get more by selling it yourself, than what a dealership will offer you. Selling the car yourself may require more time and patience but the money you will save could help considerably toward the purchase of your new car. If you would rather trade it in, check www.Edmunds.com for the "true market value" of your car. Also, have a trusted mechanic inspect your vehicle first. Get written estimates for any repairs that your vehicle may need done. Do not present this to the dealership right away. If they catch the damages, then present the information you have. A dealership will charge you more for needed repairs. Should the written estimates not make a difference in price at the dealership, you may want your mechanic fixing these repairs before you trade in your car. Taxes can also make a difference whether you sell it or trade it in. Let us suppose you sell your car, on your own, for $20,000. You will have to pay sales tax on the entire amount. However, if you trade it in and get $10,000 to go toward the price of the new car, that sales tax was just cut in half.

Vehicle manufacturers have recently started offering cash rebates and special employee discounts to all consumers. These are great deals. Check with the manufacturer through their website if that is a promotion they are running on the vehicle you want. Manufacturers will also try to promote the sale of an older model vehicle or a model that did not make the most popular list. In order to see if the vehicle you want qualifies for such a promotion, go to www.cars.com. Once you acquire this knowledge, keep it to yourself. Revealing these secrets, may make the negotiation process at the dealership a little hostile.

Now, you know how much your car is going to cost before you walk into the dealership. However, they may not have the car you want without all the added features which can get pretty pricey. Spoilers, pin stripes and antitheft systems, are all examples of extra options. If they do not have the car you want without these features, request that they have one shipped to the dealership. In which case, they will charge you a shipping cost. However, this shipping cost may be less expensive than the features already on the car in the lot. You should not only pay attention to the features on the car, but also to the features on your bill. "Administration fees" are negotiable and sometimes they will remove it if the buyer questions it. However, most buyers do not know to ask. Question everything on the bill, especially if you do not understand something. Common charges are taxes, documentation fee plus the license and registration fee.

Now that you are armed with the vehicle information, order your three credit reports, with scores, so you can be prepared to discuss the financial aspects of your purchase. Know what your credit report says about you, this is your buying power. The better your credit, the more you can negotiate to get the deal you want. It is a legitimate practice for the dealership to get a cut of the loan for your car. However, it is not legitimate for the dealership to steer you toward a high interest loan or one that gives them the highest kickback. Shop around for a loan on your own. Check your bank or if applicable, your credit union for an approval. There are online sites that can assist you with the comparison of rates, such as, www.bankrate.com or www.e-loan.com.

Buying a car is exciting but it can also be very stressful. Make sure you do your research and be as educated as possible before you enter the dealership. Many of the sites that are mentioned above can also be of assistance if you are buying a car from a private seller. Lastly, do not let the dealers intimidate you. Should you have questions during your visit, ask. If you do not receive a satisfactory answer, speak to someone else. You are making a big purchase, do not succumb to their tricks. If you do not feel comfortable with the information you receive or their customer service, take your business some place else. It is your money!

Copyright (c) 2006 Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.


About The Author
Pete Glocker is employed in the Education and Charitable Services Department at Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. (“DMCC”), a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Boca Raton, Florida. Pete graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and was a web producer Intern for Tribune Interactive products Sun-Sentinel.com and SouthFlorida.com. DMCC provides free financial education, personal budget counseling, and debt management plans to consumers across the United States. Debt management plans offered by DMCC help consumers relieve the stress of excessive debt by reducing credit card interest rates, consolidating and lowering monthly payments, and stopping collection calls and late fees. DMCC financial counselors can be reached for free education materials, budget counseling and debt management plan quotes by calling 866-618-DEBT or by visiting http://www.dmcccorp.org/. Pete Glocker can be reached by email at pete@dmcccorp.org.


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Labels: car discount, car price, new car, used car

by: John Gall

When most people visit the dealership to buy a new car they focus on price and trade in value. With the availability of dealer pricing information on the internet many buyers show up at the car dealership armed with much information to use in negotiations. Most dealerships are willing to negotiate on price and trade in value but now many differentiate by offering perks to their perspective buyers. Below you'll find some other items you may want to negotiate for to get the most out of your car buying experience.

1: Discounts On Service. Many times cars are sold at or near dealer cost. Service is one way car dealerships make up for the deep discounts they must offer. Your dealer will be eager to earn a long term service customer and may offer a standing discount for service performed on your new car.

2: Car Washes. Usually when your car is serviced your car dealership will run your car through their own car wash. Free car washes are a nice perk to negotiate especially with the cost of a typical drive through wash approaching $8.00.

3: Discounts at local businesses. Some car dealerships partner with local businesses to provid their customer with discounts off local restaurants, services and stores.

4: Extended Warranty. Many times when you are offered the extended warranty, the price quoted is a starting point. You can try and get the dealership to throw in an extended warranty but most likley you'll be setting yourself up to bargain the price down on the warranty.

Remember when negotiating for that new car be creative. You'll generally be able to find something more is offered beyond the price of the car.

About The Author
John Gall profiles Ford Dealerships from around the country using sites like http://www.ohio-forddealer.com and http://www.oregon-forddealer.com to provide dealer contact information quickly.

Labels: car discount

by: Ricky Lim
Many automobile companies have spend millions of dollars each year in research and development of more efficient fuel consumption for cars. Each year more and more cars are rolled out the production plants and there is an urgent call by consumers and environmental groups to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles.

With the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental concerns regarding harmful emissions of toxic gases into our atmosphere, automobile companies are forced to developed radically different types of cars. One of which is the hybrid car

A hybrid is powered by conventional fuel as well as uses electric energy. Hybrid cars have lower fuel consumption and are more environmentally friendly.

All hybrid cars are powered by two engines : a gasoline engine and a electric engine. Typically, they work in tandem with each other. The gasoline engine is used during starting and stopping the car. Once the car is travelling at a certain speed, the electric engine will take over automatically.

In the current market, there are 2 types of hybrid car. The first type is the series. Typically, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Once the hybrid car has attained a certain speed, the electric engine will take over. The gasoline engine is also used to charge the electric engine’s batteries. As you can see, both engines are used in tandem with each other but never together.

The second type is called the parallels. It has the same physical configuration of the series hybrid however the operation is quite different. Both the electric engine and the gasoline engine can be used to start and stop the car. The electric engine is used to boost the power of the car when required. Parallel hybrid cars are more suited for long distance travelling.

Usually, hybrid cars are built using very lightweight materials in order to reduce the load on the hybrid car when travelling. This help to save fuel by requiring less energy to move the vehicle. The tires are made more rigid than conventional vehicles with higher tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency.

In on whole, a hybrid car consumes 50 to 60 percent less fuel than a conventional car. The only obstacle is the high cost at the present moment but I am sure as consumers start to recognize the benefits of hybrid car, the prices will start falling and become more affordable.

About The Author
Ricky Lim operates a hybrid cars site at http://www.all-hybrid-cars.info Visit his site for more information on hybrid car battery and hybrid car tax and other hybrid cars information.