Empire Auto Mall | Car Crazy New York

February 1, 2009 / eCarNews.com /
By DON THOMPSON   Associated Press Writer

The national wave of auto dealership closures has come crashing down on thousands of people who are on the hook for used-car loans that dealers were supposed to absolve.

When a car buyer still owes money on a vehicle he is trading in, the dealer promises to pay off the outstanding loan, then resells the vehicle. But as more dealers go out of business, some are sticking consumers with the bill. Lenders can then go after the previous owner who thought the debt was paid, or repossess the car from the new owner who assumed it came with clear title.

"It's devastating for people when it happens because they have two car payments and they can't afford them," said Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, a Sacramento-based nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of vehicle owners. "Their credit is destroyed for no fault of their own because the dealer defaulted." More...

(Tallahassee, FL) February 13, 2009 – With hundreds of auto dealership closures nationwide – and more poised to close this year, the Service Contract Industry Council wants to assure consumers that service contracts from these dealers are viable and consumers should feel confident purchasing them during Presidents’ Day sales and beyond.

“If a consumer has a service contract from a dealership that is closing or has gone out of business, the first thing to do is contact the dealer directly or the service-plan administrator whose name is located on the contract paperwork,” said Timothy Meenan, SCIC executive director. “Service contracts are covered by the motor-vehicle manufacturer and in most cases repair service is transferable to another dealership.”

Vehicle owners rely on service contracts (sometimes referred to as extended warranties) to pick up after the manufacturer’s limited warranty expires, usually after three years or 36,000 miles. Service contracts also can cover essential yet costly-to-repair systems not covered by the manufacturer’s power-train warranty, such as air conditioning, power windows, electronics, and navigation.More...

smart fortwo owners can receive ½ price parking on all day, night, and weekend rates and specials by opening a no-fee charge account.

Three New York City Area Parking Companies "Meyers Parking, Icon Parking Systems and AviStar Airport Parking"  Offer Discounts to smart fortwo Owners.

Web site:

http://www.smartusa.com/

http://www.iconparking.com/

http://www.fasttrack.com/

http://www.weparknewyork.com/

http://www.airportcorporateparking.com

Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Tuesday February 10, 2009, 9:48 am EST

With auto sales at their lowest levels in 26 years, getting a good deal should be a breeze. But even with deep discounts and generous incentives, what one dealer will charge - compared to another - would still surprise you.

Since July, the typical price variation on the same make and model of car between dealerships has increased substantially, according to research by the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. Back in July, prices varied from dealer to dealer by about 17.4% on average. In December, average variability had increased to about 28%.

The recent average price paid for a BMW 3-series at one dealership was $40,924, according to Edmunds.com. At another, it was $47,459. That's a 16% price difference. For the Honda Accord, prices averaged between $22,036 and $28,966, a 31% difference. And on an Audi A6, average prices ranged from $39,472 to $53,638, for a difference of 35%.

"The risk for consumers is that they just don't happen to shop at the dealer who's selling the car for less," said Jeremy Anwyl, Edmunds.com chief executive. More...