CarLocate.com wants to help you locate the new or used car that best fits with what you want to buy and how you want to buy. Now, that includes giving you the ability to browse CarLocate.com on your preferred form of Web access – computer or mobile.

The new CarLocate.com mobile site allows you to search for cars from your iPhone or Android™ smart phone, as well as any other web-enabled phone. Simply enter the www.carlocate.com URL into your cell phone’s Internet browser and you’ll be automatically transferred to the mobile version of the site.

In addition, if you’re browsing our site from your desktop computer, you’ll notice two other new communication features to help you better find a car that meets your needs:

• Clicking the mobile phone icon () from any new or used car listing enables you to send the details about that car from the site to your mobile phone. This allows you to review the listing later or share it with others via text message. 
• Clicking the telephone icon () next to the dealer’s contact information connects you directly to a representative at the dealership so you can ask questions or schedule a test drive.

All of these new features are ways CarLocate.com is helping you “shop smart” for your next new or used car!

News Release: CarLocate.com Launches Mobile Version of its Nationwide New & Used Car Search Website

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In our article, “6 Reasons to Buy from a Car Dealership,” we noted benefits for you as the buyer and owner of shopping for a new car at a car dealership. These benefits include shopping convenience and choice, the personalized finance options that dealers can offer, and customer service during and after the sale. Automotive News recently published an article that is the 7th reason to buy from a car dealership – because the money you spend doesn’t just go back into the dealer’s pocket; it also goes directly back into your community. In addition to employee salaries, dealers are historically big donors to local causes, like sponsoring the high school marching band or fundraising for local nonprofit organizations.

Bill Wolters, president of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, who was quoted in the article, noted that dealers in Texas routinely sponsor items such as high school stadium scoreboards and have donated land for public parks and schools. In talking about about dealership giving in general, Wolters said, “Texas is not unique; it’s all over America. It’s what car dealers do.”

Here are some other examples from the article on how dealers give back to their communities:

• A July 2010 Automotive News informal survey showed that 70 percent of the 132 dealers responding reduced giving during the recession, but half of that group has now restored some or all of their support. These dealers noted that some of the causes they support include youth sports, marching bands, shelters for battered women, and hospitals. Many also give away new or used vehicles to causes.
• Of these 132 dealers, about one-third donate more than $50,000 annually to charities and causes in their communities and almost 20 percent donate more than $100,000 annually.
• Dealers also give to the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation, which has donated more than $10 million to educational, health care, and emergency relief programs across the country since its founding 35 years ago.
• Other dealers helped sponsor a “sober night” for a local high school, hosted and participated in fundraising events for the United Way, and have programs to provide matching funds when dealership employees donate to causes.

What does your local dealership sponsor in your area?

What other reasons are there to buy from a car dealership?

Find a car dealership in your area

Results of a new Market Intelligence survey* provide some insight about consumers’ attitudes toward buying a new vehicle and the influence of the economy on their buying decision. For in-market car shoppers, the survey data indicated:

• Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of car shoppers plan to purchase a car within six months.
• The average shopper has three vehicles in his or her consideration set. Still, 83 percent of all respondents noted they are still undecided on the make and model of their next vehicle. 
• 67 percent of consumers are looking to buy a used car, while only 33 percent are looking to buy a new car.
• 62 percent of used car shoppers plan to spend $15,000 or less on their next vehicle purchase.
• 50 percent of new car shoppers plan to spend $25,000 or less on their next vehicle purchase.
• 62 percent of all shoppers prefer having to negotiate, rather than having a single set price for the vehicle.
• One-third of all car shoppers plan to pay the entire cost of their next vehicle purchase in cash. Those consumers also report that the automakers’ incentive offers largely do not influence their car-buying decision. 
• Zero percent financing remains the most appealing incentive for those looking to finance their vehicle purchase. The most popular loan term was 60 months.

*Results of this survey are based on 338 in-market car shoppers who were surveyed on the  Kelley Blue Book website from June 18-21, 2010.

A Kelley Blue Book spokesperson indicated that consumer attitudes toward car buying can be directly attributed to low consumer confidence in the economy right now. Consumers are taking a conservative approach to car buying, deciding to purchase what they can afford rather than over-extending their credit lines or yielding to incentive offers from the automakers.

What do you think about the results of this survey? Join in the discussion on our automotive forum.

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