Chapman Motors

Buying a used car during the holidays

Posted on November 18th, 2011 No Comments

The holiday season is a busy time of year for shopping, but one area that tends to have lower sales is the automotive industry.

First, analyzing the web site for you traffic in order to find out what online shoppers are looking for. After examining what customers are looking for, you should refine the inventory in order to meet their needs as best as possible.

Finally, the inventory at your dealership needs to be advertised appropriately so that customers know what you have. For example, used car shoppers want photos of the vehicle when shopping online, but avoiding a distracting background image that will deter the buyer.

If you or a loved one has been searching for a used car, you need experienced representation on your side. Contact the Austin used cars dealers of Chapman motors in order to browse the combined inventory.

Used car prices in the fourth quarter

Posted on October 25th, 2011 No Comments

The National Automobile Dealers Association reported that trade-in values for used cars are expected to maximize new vehicle sales in the fourth quarter of this year. ”Higher used prices will also drive more car shoppers to choose new vehicles instead of used ones because monthly payments between a new and used purchase will be closer,” according to Jonathan Banks, senior analyst of the National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Guide. Banks also states, “Automakers based in Japan will likely increase incentives to boost lost market share after the production disruptions from the earthquake and tsunami in March.”

If you are looking for a car at a competitive price, contact the Austin used car dealers of Chapman Motor Sales at one of our eleven locations today.

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Best used cars for teen drivers

Posted on September 12th, 2011 No Comments

If you have a teenager who has just started to drive, you know safety is the most important thing when it comes to having your child get behind the wheel. In fact, the leading cause of death in teenagers are car accidents.

Consumer Reports has recently compiled a list of the best cars for new teen drivers that have the greatest safety features that won’t break the bank. Consumer Reports suggests a vehicle that can accelerate to 60 mph between eight and eleven seconds, as to not encourage speeding but can allow the driver to be able to safely merge into traffic.

Cars that can hold less than five people are recommended so your teenager can’t drive several of his or her friends, which could be a huge distraction.

The following are considered the best cars for teen drivers:

- Acura TSX
- 2009 or newer Ford Focus
- 2007 or newer Hyundai Sonata or Hyundai Elantra
- 2007 or newer Mazda3
- 2008 or newer Scion xB
- 2007 or newer Volkswagen Jetta and Rabbit/Golf

If you are looking for a used car and want to purchase from a well-known, good quality dealer, visit one of the eleven Austin locations of Chapman motors to look at pre-owned vehicles today.

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New law protects used car shoppers

Posted on August 22nd, 2011 No Comments

A new law in California mandates that used car dealerships must place a red sticker on cars that, according to the federal database, have had serious problems (also sometimes considered “lemons”). This is the first law of its kind and has received mixed reviews.

Advocates for the bill included the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, the California New Car Dealers Association, and the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. They argue this law will better protect used car buyers and make shoppers more confident in their purchases. Those in opposition include companies like Carfax and Experia that state having one information supplier is wrong.

The main objective of the law will not take effect until next July, but will require dealerships to run the used car’s identification number through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. However, it will come with a fee. Used car dealerships can charge up to $80 (but not more) for car documents.

If you or someone you love is looking for a great quality used car, visit the used car experts of Chapman Motors at one of our eleven Austin locations today.

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Used car dealer sued for fake inspection stickers

Posted on July 23rd, 2011 No Comments

The Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against the owner of two Arlington car dealerships, accusing the owner of selling cars that did not pass safety inspections or emission tests.

Prosecutors claim that the owner repeatedly tested vehicles that passed emission and safety protocols in order to obtain inspection stickers which he would then put in other cars that had not passed. He would then sell the cars that had not been inspected, leaving customers to pay for the repairs when the stickers expired.

According to the lawsuit, about 97 vehicles were sold with fraudulent inspection stickers, 82 of which were sold or owned by both Arlington car dealerships.

If you or someone you love is looking for a used car and want to purchase from a well-known, good quality dealer, visit one of the eleven Austin locations of Chapman motors to look at pre-owned vehicles today.

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Australia tests imported Japanese cars for radiation

Posted on June 21st, 2011 No Comments

Nearly 800 Japanese-made automobiles will be transported to Sydney, Australia this week, prompting the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency to test for possible radiation.

The agency has been under pressure to conduct radiation tests after some vehicles shipped from the same Japanese port, Yokohama, to Chile contained low levels of radioactivity.

Acting head for the agency does not believe they will find radiation on the vehicles, but is taking these steps as a precaution. Only thirty vehicles out of the 800 being shipped are used vehicles which some fear could have been from areas affected by the tsunami. Hand-held radiation devices will be used to conduct the tests.

If you are looking for a used car and want to purchase from a well-known, good quality dealer, visit one of the eleven Austin locations of Chapman motors to look at pre-owned vehicles today.

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Increasing used car values may be at their peak

Posted on May 10th, 2011 No Comments

With the Japanese tsunami, the recession, and tightening credit– the used car market as sky rocketed. However, some experts believe this is the peak of used car values and expect the rates to level off since it has become cheaper to purchase a brand-new vehicle than a used one.

According to statistics, car dealers are playing 30% more for used automobiles than they did at the end of 2008. In fact, used car values are at their highest in the past sixteen years. A 2008 Honda Accord sedan in good condition could cost you as much as $16,175.

Economists predict that used car values will increase for just a couple more months before leveling off.

If you or a loved one has been searching for a quality used car, visit one of the eleven Austin area locations of Chapman motors today to find what you are looking for.

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Used Car Prices Increase After Earthquake in Japan

Posted on April 1st, 2011 No Comments

Due to the tragic and catastrophic earthquake that recently occurred in Japan, the NADA pricing service has found that the prices of Japanase brand used cars have increased.

The reason for this increase in price is because Japanese-brand vehicles will not be produced for at least a few weeks. Two Japanese auto brands, Toyota and Nissan, have said that they don’t expect to produce more cars until April 11th. Also, U.S.-based branches of Japanese auto producers are also not operating fully because they must conserve the automobile parts they receive from Japan.

Vehicles like the Toyota Corolla have seen prices increase by at least 11 percent just in the weeks following the earthquake.

If you are currently looking to purchase a low-cost used vehicle, please stop by one of the eleven Austin locations of Chapman Motors today.

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J.D. Power releases vehicle dependability study

Posted on March 25th, 2011 No Comments

This month, J.D. Power & Associates released their 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study. The study examines problems that the original owners of a variety of cars experienced in the first three years of owning the vehicle. About 44,000 car owners participated in the survey covering 2008 car models.

In addition, the survey categorizes vehicles into 8 major vehicle systems and addresses 202 problem areas. Officials rank the vehicles based off the number of problem occurrences per 100 vehicles. The lower a vehicle’s ranking, the better.

Vehicle brands rated as most improved from previous studies included Volkswagen, Jaguar, Scion, Suzuki, and Land Rover. Lincoln ranked number 1 in the vehicle dependability study.

To learn more about the wide variety of used vehicles Chapman Motor Sales offers, take a look at our combined inventory in Austin.

(Source)

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EPA makes fueleconomy stickers for used cars

Posted on March 17th, 2011 No Comments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a web site that allows a person to make their own fuel information sticker so if you are selling a car, potential buyers can view the fuel economy of the vehicle.

A sticker can be made for vehicles manufactured between the years of 1984 and 2010. The sticker includes the year, make, and model along with the engine transmission and the fuel type that is used. There is also a photo of the car along with the city and highway mileage.

If you or a loved one are in the market to purchase a used car, it can be a difficult decision. For quality dealers and great deals on used cars in Austin, visit Chapman motors or browse the combined inventory.

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