Automotive Reviews and Skeptical Journalism

When we hear the words 'automotive reviews' we think of comparative tests, investigations, technical details, advantages and disadvantages of a particular car model. People are most interested in automotive reviews when they are about to purchase a vehicle. This is an important decision for the potential buyer since the car may remain in his/her possession for many years. Actually, statistics say that the purchase of a car is the second largest expense for many people. In developing countries, the situation is even worse than that, as choosing a certain car is sometimes a life commitment for those people. Under these circumstances, automotive reviews are a must. No automobile is to be purchased without having consulted its review.

Automotive reviews are useful for all kinds of customers, from those are simply interested in buying a cheap car with good gas mileage to those who are mostly interested in design and comfort. To all these people the purchase of a car may appear as a very challenging experience, since the auto market is vast and the lack of experience can prove to be a serious drawback. Needless to say all those interested in purchasing a car should follow the latest automotive news in order to keep up with what is new in this vast and complicated area. However, automotive reviews cannot be found on television every day, nor do they appear in newspapers. Moreover, specialized media, such as auto magazines, which are issued weekly or monthly, may not give the automotive reviews you need when you need them. Therefore, a good source of accurate and reliable automotive reviews is the Internet. Automotive blogs are full of information with and about cars and many related topics. In addition, you get more than statistics or official figures, because people like you have posted their comments or facts from personal experience on those car blogs. Sometimes this beats all automotive reviews.

As we have stated before, there are many sources of automotive news and reviews. The problem is that some of them may not be as reliable as we think and this can be damaging to the consumer. There are times when the interests of certain companies stand in the way of giving consumers honest advice. A good share of criticism is not a must have for automotive reviews. However, skeptical journalism is proof that the consumer' s best interest is at the top of the priority list. Auto magazines present a lot of automotive reviews because that's their line of work, but they will rarely point out possible flaws of automobiles.

Everyone will agree that in the auto magazines or TV shows, the automotive reviews sound a little too good to be true. You can check out the latest automotive news in magazines and on TV shows, but as far as the reviews are concerned, you should only trust what you see with your own eyes. This may turn out to be a little difficult at times, but fortunately we live in the technology era, and seeing it for yourself is now possible on the internet. If a car reviewer speaks of some less appealing features of a certain automobile, there's the chance of actually seeing them by means of multimedia. Criticism equals bad publicity, so when it comes to magazines or television shows, there's a good chance that the consumer will be deprived of his right to be honestly and correctly informed. Therefore, the internet remains the most reliable source of both automotive news and automotive reviews.

Automotive Advertising Agencies Need to Reinvent Themselves to Support Social Media

The role of automotive advertising agencies is changing along with the auto industry that they serve. It is important for automotive advertising agencies to educate themselves and their auto dealer clients about their changing roles in a consolidating auto industry that is shifting onto the Internet Super Highway vs. local car rows.

Problems and solution shared at real world venues in the auto industry are having an impact and the slow shift to the new pull/push world of the consumer driven Internet is becoming more obvious. Similarly, a growing number of online social networking communities are also all helping to spread the word and their timing couldn't be better.

The only constant in the auto industry is change. Of course human nature is also a universal constant, but since that is the fuel that powers most change in the auto industry it must be factored in and considered by automotive advertising agencies who can now look to consumers for the answers.

Radio, T.V. and newspapers are no longer the media of choice for today's Internet savvy consumers. B2C messages online are filtered out in favor of C2C conversations in social networking communities that now dot the landscape on the World Wide Web. Automotive advertising agencies must reinvent themselves as the resource that auto dealers rely on to navigate them onto the Internet Super Highway because that is where their customers are.

Keeping ahead of new technologies and applications that integrate selling processes between the real and the virtual world showrooms and inserting auto dealers into the conversations that make up the online marketplace must be job one for automotive advertising agencies who wish to serve their auto dealer clients in today's challenging auto industry. Radio, T.V. and print production has a shrinking role in an automotive advertising agency's tool box and leveraged online production resources will eliminate them altogether in the near future. Similarly, agency commissions earned from conventional media analysis and placement are being absorbed into the media providers as value added services for their auto dealer advertisers. At the same time, automotive advertising budgets are being shifted to online digital marketing platforms with more verifiable sourced R.O.I. that is far superior to conventional media. The writing is on the virtual wall and automotive advertising agencies must either read it, write it or accept their diminishing value in tomorrow's auto industry."

The Internet has empowered consumers to bypass auto dealers and even their most strategically placed marketing message in favor of online information resources that are not dependent on automotive advertising agencies or auto dealers for their content. Initially, third party aggregators captured online auto shoppers attempting to avoid real and virtual world auto dealerships by collecting inventory from hundreds of auto dealers anxious to get their inventory in front of today buyers for new and pre-owned vehicles. Consumers quickly realized the limitations of looking at vehicles in this kind of dealer-centric platform and the technology driven evolution of online marketing platforms soon provided more consumer-centric solutions.

Auto dealers are now able to monetize social media with features that invite car shoppers to share their vehicle selections with their online friends and family to assist them in their car shopping experience. These C2C conversations pushed to Face Book and other social networking communities replace previous unsuccessful attempts by automotive advertising agencies to post B2C messages on the same social media platforms. Automotive advertising agencies need to know about sites that offer a variety of free services and a way to earn a seat at the social media table More relevantly, they need to tell their auto dealer clients about them to justify their agency fees!

Other technology driven applications automotive advertising agencies need to tell their auto dealer clients about that will allow them to sell more vehicles and service for less money and with less staff include dealer hosted personal web sites for their staff, dashboard tools that integrates telephone and SMS text messaging for more comprehensive and cost effective follow up, automated video production platforms that converts the pictures on an auto dealer's website pushed onto the search engines with Facebook applications that allow an auto dealer to display their entire inventory on a non-offensive tab within the customers Face Book page, customer interaction platforms that allow online shoppers to initiate a two way video conversation from within an auto dealer's website that can accommodate a turnkey online transaction without having to drop the glass wall that empowers online shoppers to move forward in the negotiation process and appraisal tools which provide site visitors with NADA sourced values for their trade-in while selecting suitable vehicles from the auto dealers online inventory to find a car to replace the one that they are selling.

Automotive Advertising Agencies Must Use Yesterday's Knowledge & Tomorrow's Technology to Survive

Automotive advertising agencies who expect to be here tomorrow must apply tomorrow's technology today or they will follow their shuttered auto dealer clients into the ranks of the unemployed. The consolidation of the auto industry is a necessary reaction to a shrinking economy and the proof of two basic rules of business -- supply must follow demand and survival of the fittest insures that it will. The secret to survival for automotive advertising agencies and their auto dealer clients in a challenging market is to offer more for less and the technology being designed to improve sales processes on the Internet provide efficiencies that will determine the winners and the losers.

Integrating proven real world automotive advertising best practices with maturing virtual world selling processes that rely on developing technology on the Internet allows forward thinking automotive advertising agencies to blur the line between the real world of brick and mortar auto dealerships and the new virtual showrooms being built on the Internet Super Highway. Automotive advertising 101 teaches that you must go where your customers are if you want to reach them and with 93% of car shoppers confirming that they start their car buying process on the Internet that part of the marketing and sales process is easy. The hard part that automotive advertising agencies must recognize is that the one constant that has survived on the World Wide Web is human nature. Customers empowered by the easy access of information on the Internet are no longer dependent on auto dealerships -- real or virtual -- to determine what vehicle they will purchase and who they will buy it from. Online shoppers are looking for a new or used vehicle, not an auto dealership, and automotive advertising agencies need to convert from push/pull advertising methods to pull/push techniques preferred by an educated consumer.

Of course there is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water! Automotive advertising agencies must use conventional wisdoms built on the stable foundation of human nature supported by the efficiencies offered by new automotive advertising applications designed to crash through the glass wall of the Internet to preserve both market share and profits for their auto dealer clients. The easiest way to satisfy the customer and the auto dealer -- in that order -- is to give the customers what they want, when they want it -- which is immediately -- and to do it in such a way that the customers feel that they are buying a vehicle vs. being sold one. That is where the use of new automotive advertising technology and the related improved selling processes come in.

Giving the customers what they want -- which is a vehicle not an auto dealership -- suggests that automotive advertising agencies must promote individual vehicles on the Internet, not their auto dealer clients. While this may seem counter intuitive to old school car guys who presume that they must sell themselves before they can sell their vehicles, it is in keeping with equally established wisdom that suggest that automotive advertising doesn't sell cars it just attracts customers who want to buy one. Simply put, the best advertising message in the world has no value if no one sees it and since customers are searching the web for individual vehicles that is the bait that will have them bite the hook that has the auto dealer on the other end of the line.

It is an accepted fact that cars sell cars and brick and mortar auto dealerships have gravitated to car rows or auto malls to take advantage of the attraction of having as many vehicles as possible in one location to draw real world car shoppers to their individual facilities. The leveraged advertising of multiple competing dealerships and the added value and convenience of one stop shopping for comparable makes and models at one central location is a value for consumers that has survived on the Internet Super Highway. Established third party inventory based websites have a proven place in today's online automotive advertising plans. Most auto dealerships already rely on the leverage of their collected inventories of literally millions of vehicles from thousands of auto dealerships to attract online new and used vehicle shoppers. The search engine optimization, S.E.O., realized by these third party sites coupled with their localized search engine marketing, S.E.M., investments drawn from the collected revenues of the auto dealer clients that participate in these communal sites provide a competitive advantage that no individual dealer or even a large dealer group can compete with. New technologies being applied to this established business model promise an even better return on investment, R.O.I., for the auto dealers that participate.

ronsmap is a game changing online car buying/selling site for both consumers and dealers that exemplifies the value of improving technologies in existing Internet based marketing platforms. It makes car buying fast, comprehensive, transparent and live. What makes it unique is their new technology that gives consumers unparalleled buying and negotiating power over the car buying/selling processes including the opportunity to accommodate For Sale By Owner listings. Their unique value for dealers is that it provides them with an unprecedented level of sales intelligence on consumer leads, and it enables automotive advertising agencies to promote and engage consumers via social networks.

With existing search engine filters and third party websites online shoppers have to scroll through lists of hundreds of vehicles while clicking and drilling down on each site since not all vehicles for sale are aggregated on any one exit on the Internet Super Highway. Auto dealers that pay the most are typically promoted in the top listings limiting honest competitive comparisons and auto dealers are often non-responsive to general inquiry leads sourced from these lead resellers. Auto Dealers are equally challenged by existing marketing platforms that do not provide visibility or insights into consumer's other vehicles of interest discovered during their online shopping trips and their communications are often mid sales cycle starting long after the initial research by the consumer has been completed. The R.O.I. for auto dealers for leads purchased from multiple third party providers are reduced by duplications and smaller dealers not willing or able to pay for a premium position can't compete equally with the larger advertisers on these sites.

Automotive and Diagnostic Equipment Financing

Automotive tools are highly specialized in nature. Many a time a particular automotive tool serves only a single purpose. Therefore it is essential to have a set of automotive tools in order to avoid any interruptions in the business. However the automotive tool set is extremely expensive. At times, the cost of the tool is more than the cost of vehicle that needs repair. Sometimes the cost of tool set may be more than the vehicle needs to be repaired. Hence automotive tool financing is becoming essential nowadays.

There are some legitimate financing companies have an expertise in financing automotive tools. You can seek their help by submitting an online application provided by them. They ensure fast approval of the amount required to acquire automotive tool set.

Automotive tools financing is normally available under various options. Automotive Air compressor is one among them which helps in acquiring the equipment which costs thousands of dollars. There are various types of compressors like compact air compressor, piston compressor, single stage compressor, two stage compressor and so on. Due to automotive tool financing it is possible for almost all companies to acquire any of the aforementioned types of air compressors.

Automotive hand tool financing is required to keep ready a well-equipped set of hand tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, clamps, sockets, installer or remover equipments etc. These tools are indispensable for running an automotive repairing business. Acquiring any one of them is affordable to all. But keeping a set of such tools is really expensive and hence the need for automotive hand tool financing is essential.

Welder financing is yet another category of automotive tool financing. A high quality welder is important for the automotive business. There are some precise welders like arc welder, stick welder, TIG welder, and MIG welder and so on. They are essential to apply heat in a given area. The sophisticated nature of the welders raises their price tags and that's why automotive repair business people go for automotive tool financing to acquire them.

Automotive waste and recycling equipment are required by certain companies for disposing the hazardous wastes in a safer way. In fact many shops find it profitable to recycle the wastes. Therefore such equipments are becoming essential in an automotive repair shops. They are highly expensive and as a result of which automotive tool financing is required to acquire these equipments.

Brake lathe is yet important equipment in any automotive repair shops. They allow you to work on all types of brakes. You may need a combination of brake lathe, heavy duty brake lathe or car brake lathe depending upon the type of your business. However any type of brake lathe is expensive and not possible within the reach of all. Hence brake lathe financing is essential.

The automotive industry has undergone several changes in the past hundred years. Keeping yourself updated of the changes and using the latest equipment can help increase your revenues. Though essential, this equipment is very expensive and so seeking the help of a financing company is required. Some genuine financing companies offer assistance to acquire automotive tools without any frustrating procedures.

A Bad Wrong Fuel Recovery Experience - How to Avoid the Industry Cowboys

Nick drives a diesel powered Toyota Landcruiser and was driving his vehicle to work in Gloucester city centre as usual on a Monday morning. It was early so there were not many vehicles on the road as yet and Nick decides to fill up his vehicle with fuel whilst the fuel station is quiet, even though he already has half a tank of fuel. He has not had a very good night's sleep and is feeling tired as he pulls onto the forecourt and parks up next to a pump. He picks up the fuel nozzle and places it into the tank aperture clicking on the trigger latch and leaving the nozzle in the tank to fill the vehicle tank to the top.

When the nozzle automatically clicks into the off position he knows his vehicle is full to the top with fuel and he pays at the forecourt shop. He returns to his vehicle and turns on the ignition, the engine starts but sounds rough. Nick puts it down to the cold damp morning and drives away from the forecourt. As he is driving the vehicle engine is starting to sound worse until he comes to a juddering halt at a busy junction and the engine cuts out altogether. There is just enough room to one side of his vehicle to allow other drivers to pass as Nick tries to get his vehicle started again, but without any luck. He then has a moment of recall and realises what may have happened, with a feeling of impending gloom he checks his fuel station receipt and confirms his suspicion that he has filled up with vehicle with the wrong fuel type. He has put unleaded petrol into his vehicle instead of diesel.

At this point, Nick is about 500 metres away from the forecourt and he can't risk leaving the vehicle where it is because it's in a dangerous position. As he is thinking about what to do, a bus arrives behind him and there is not enough room for it to pass safely so, he has to push the vehicle to the right to make enough room leaving his vehicle in the middle of the junction with traffic manoeuvring around him. He checks his smart phone which has some charge in it so he calls his roadside assistance company who tell him that they can be with him within an hour as they are very busy so, Nick says he will call them back if he needs to. He then quickly searches the internet for help. He enters the search phrase "wrong fuel in car Gloucester" and chooses a website at random from the page as he is conscious that he could run out of charge at any moment. The site is for a company who claim that they will come out to the vehicle and remove the wrong fuel. They will then replace the fuel with the correct type and send you on your way for a small charge. This looks ideal to Nick and he calls the number and speaks to someone who says a van will be with him in 30 minutes.

Facts To Consider When Negotiating With Car Dealers

These days when you are in the market for a new or used automobile, you will be faced with a lot of options. Millions in fact. Last year alone over 54,000,000 vehicles were sold in the United States. Everyone has different needs when it comes to a vehicle for themselves or their family. Here are some interesting facts and figures that might help make your decision easier the next time you visit car dealers.

New Versus Used

Of the total number of automobiles sold last year, 40,000,000 were used and 14,000,000 were new. The average new model costs over $32,000 compared to $15,000 a used one. New vehicles generally come with the latest safety and performance technology which appeals to those who can afford them. They also come with warranties that can range from three to ten years, depending on the manufacturer. On the other hand, used automobiles offer slower depreciation rates for consumers. 7% a year rather than 15% is the average. They also boast some of the same features as the latest models, just not the most recent and cutting-edge technology.

Another aspect to consider is availability. When searching for a new model, if the local car dealers do not have one in stock, they can order one from the factory. If you can't find the used vehicle you want, you just have to keep on looking. The used market, however, offers more options of who to buy from, giving the consumer more negotiating power.

Sedans And Coupes Versus Trucks And SUVs

The auto market in the United States is dominated by sedans, coupes, pickup trucks, and SUVs. It is also the only market in the world in which trucks and SUVs annually outsell sedans and coupes. Last year 55% of all models sold were trucks and SUVs. Their popularity is in large part due to their versatility both on and off the road. They also offer more storage and moving capacity. Of the four most popular models offered by car dealers, three are pickup trucks. On the other hand, sedans and coupes offer consumers better gas mileage and sharper on road performance. They are also easier to maneuver in tight spaces, making them popular for urban drivers. Six of the top ten most popular autos are sedans and coupes.

The final thing to consider is safety. Sedans and coupes are less likely to roll over due to their good stability. Trucks and SUVs test better in head-on collisions because of their size and weight. Whatever your choice, there will be plenty of good models at your local car dealers.

Four Tips for Visiting Car Dealers

Buying a car can end up being one of the most important decisions in your life. However, making the right choices at the dealership can be tough. When it comes to a great deal and having the best possible experience with car dealers, there are a couple of things you're going to want to know. These four tips can prove to be crucial when making your decisions at the dealership.

1. Come in with a gameplan.

Make sure you know what you're doing. You're here to make a huge and possibly life-changing decision; it's nothing to sneeze at. The first thing you're going to want to do is analyze your situation. When you're going to buy a new or used car, you want to know everything from what kind of car you're looking for to the smallest details in your financial situation. Always do some research before you walk into the dealership. Look up which models they have available and which ones you feel will suit your situation the best.

2. Think about how your purchase will affect you in the long-term.

Let's be honest, people make mistakes. You may change your mind about the car, and it could turn out that you don't love it. Even if you do love it, it probably won't be the only car you drive for the rest of your life. That's where resale value comes in. You're going to want to pick a model that has a great resale value. Doing this can save you thousands of dollars later on. If and when you do end up reselling, you'll be able to regain a greater percentage of the funds you invested in the original purchase.

3. Go for a spin.

Buying a car can be a lot like buying a pair of new shoes: You really have to try them on before you make your decision. If you make the decision before you try it out, you might not be as satisfied with the product as you thought you'd be. When test driving the car, pay attention to the smaller things and the fine details. You should look for things such as legroom, all the different controls in the vehicle, and even how the car feels as you drive it. It's always going to be better to try out all your options first before you make the important decision of which car you will purchase.

4. Get the best deal.

Sure you're probably going to be spending a significant chunk of change, but don't forget where you are. Car dealerships aren't like retail stores; there is always going to be a little bit of wiggle room. If you're buying with monthly payments, the dealership will probably be willing to part with a few dollars here and there, so just talk them through it. The car dealers are being paid to work with you, and they want you to be happy with your purchase.

Are Personalised Number Plates Fashionable?

Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Timothy Kaye Have you always wanted a personalised plate but never been able to afford it? 

They are a great way to demonstrate your individuality, give your car additional character, and show the world you are a person who isn't afraid to express yourself. Personalised numbers can express all sorts of themes, from your name, a popular well-known phrase, a slogan, or someone's initials. The most sought-after combinations are names, which can either be your own, your partners, or someone else you love or admire, even famous people are included! When designing your cherished number it's important to be aware that you can't assign a registration to a vehicle if it makes it look younger than it actually is. 

There are many reasons you might want to consider a personalised registration for your vehicle - popular themes or to mark a memorable occasion, such as the birth of a first child, or your partner's birthday. You may want to create your wedding date so that you will always remember your anniversary, and you'll never again get in trouble for forgetting it! Cherished numbers, as they are sometimes known, can also represent your character or you can use it to let everyone know your favourite band, football team or your nickname. 

They are also a great way to advertise your business name. If you decide to buy a new car then it's not a problem to retain your personalised number as car registrations can be transferred between vehicles so you can take your personalised number plate with you at whatever point you decide to change your car. Personalised number plates are becoming increasingly fashionable and they are available to anyone that has a car or motorcycle that is currently taxed and tested for the road. If you have a small budget then you can buy a low cost un-issued number plate which represent excellent value for money. If you are looking for something more exclusive then you can buy an exclusive number for either tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

There are a number of brokers that deal in personalised number plates and they have access to many of the low cost numbers but they don't always have access to the exclusive numbers seen on the more established company websites. In choosing where to purchase an exclusive cherished number it is worth looking at the experience of the broker and how long they have been in the market place. Personalised number plates are available from Premier Plates with over 45 million car registrations available on our website. You can search and purchase securely on-line hassle free. We have number plates ranging in price from £60 through to £6 million and we have access to 99.9% of the market for cherished numbers. Please feel free to visit our website by clicking here: Number Plates