Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Are Used Car Prices Going Down in 2016?

What Affects Used Car Prices?

If you drive a car, maintain a car, or ever think you may need to replace your current car, it is important to continuously remain up-to-date on how the marketplace is changing in relation to your car's value.

Back in May of 2011, USA Today published an article regarding pricing pressures in the used car market. The article describes the dramatic increase in used car prices due to a shortage in Japanese-sourced parts combined with a spike in demand for "smaller, fuel-thrifty cars." The solution among auto dealers was to encourage buyers to trade in their used vehicles for new ones.

Our takeaway from the article was that the car you are driving is holding its value well, and in 2011 more than ever. It paid to keep your car's maintenance and repairs in good order, allowing the opportunity for a trade-in.

Will Used Car Prices Drop in 2016?

Things have changed significantly in the past 5 years, resulting in a decrease in the value of used cars for the first time since 2008. In fact, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Used Car Guide, prices are expected to fall by 5 to 6 percent this year.

This trend has been explained in an article by Market Watch in March of this year. The major decrease of used vehicle prices has occurred for a number of reasons, including a post-recession economy and a growing popularity of leasing that has resulted in an increased supply of used vehicles, also known as off-lease vehicles.

Should You Buy a Used Car This Year?

If you are looking to purchase a used car, now is the time to do so. Considering that the most common leasing period is 3 years, this latest market trend is great news for buyers at least through 2018! Selling your car, on the other hand, may be worth waiting until the used car market sees new fluctuations.

The bottom line is, there are many different factors that affect used car prices, which is why we recommend paying close attention to the marketplace prior to making any sale or purchase decisions.

To learn more, please feel free to contact Keith Lewis and team at Motorplex today!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Choosing An Auto Repair Shop or Truck Service Shop:

It seems like a simple task for some, but can be quite daunting for others. Being a professional automotive technician for 25 years, and 4 time re-certified ASE Master Certified Technician, I get asked frequently “where should I take my car or truck?” With bias, I will always recommend one of our shops in Maple Valley, WA or Auburn, WA.  

Nonetheless, if you are not within this area—here are my recommendations. First off, please understand that technicians are humans, and we work on machinery and electronics—all with a mind of their own.  What I mean by this is that it is an imperfect process, and we will not always meet all of your expectations as a service provider.

Choose a repair shop by some or all of the following methods:

Businesses and Customers 
Alike Rely on Reviews 
  1. Review their website.
  2. Read through various reviews. Understanding that all reviews will not be positive—and if they are--it may be suspect.  Don’t just look at Google reviews, but try looking up DemandForce, Sure Critic and others.  Some businesses, like us, subscribe to services that scrape our database and either call or email every customer after a completed transaction.  We all know that the most satisfied are the least represented online.
  3. Make a phone call with questions. With current technology stripping away some person to person communication, having a personal discussion is valuable in learning competence and trustworthiness.
  4. Send an email with questions.  If a service provider is willing to take some time to communicate with you to answer questions, it goes a long ways in developing a worthwhile relationship.


    Customer Reading Reviews about Auto Repair
    A Satisfied Customer 
  5. Give them a chance.  Don’t always make up your mind with 1 transaction.  I recommend 5 transactions.  3 of the 5 will likely be just great, 1 of them might be little hard to understand or frustrating, and 1 might have a problem such as a part delay, warranty issue, or mistake.  Making your decision across all 5 transactions will help you make a fair decision, because they all don’t come in the order of the first 3 being just great.
  6. Finally, having a relationship with a repair facility should involve some loyalty and patience.  You will save more money by trusting that the right repairs are performed at the right time by the right person—not by saving 10% on one transaction. Furthermore, the real savings in having a relationship with a professional is the reliability and overall cost of ownership being less with a longer lasting vehicle.
Pro-Tow Vehicle in Auburn WA
One of Our Pro-Tow Vehicles


Good luck,
Keith Lewis
keith@motorplex.com
www.motorplex.com
www.pro-tow.com
Auto & Heavy Truck Repair
Maple Valley, WA  & Auburn, WA
24 hr Towing & Recovery
24 hr Mobile OnSite Truck Repair
425.310.1100
253.245.5454