Small businesses are struggling in the poor economy so buying new vehicles to lower operating costs could be difficult. The government "cash for clunkers" program could provide a $4,500 discount for a gas-guzzling delivery/service vehicle when upgrading to Ford's new Transit Connect.
Sonic Automotive reports sales of 19,449 used units during the second quarter, up 12.8 percent from last year and 20 percent over the first quarter. Long-term strategy put in place two years ago is paying off, including patient application of technique and technology.
High mileage is the number one cause of perceived depreciation followed by damage and failure to maintain vehicles. Retailer CarMax offers free appraisals and buys vehicles without making a sale.
As more and more "clunkers" need to be junked, the stringent CARS guidelines make reporting services much more important. Auto Data Direct (ADD) and ISO are providers, some fees attached. You can email ADD customer support team for more information.
Numerous studies clearly show that distracted driving from using cellphones and other electronic devices causes thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year. Yet, attempts to ban them largely fail and automakers continue to push more distractions into vehicles.