Salesman Lingo Unleashed.

Ever wondered what the salesman was saying to you as he started rambling about the new car that was a few signatures away from being yours? Ever just nodded your head in an attempt to get him to quit talking but not really confident of what you were agreeing to? Well, here are a few things we thought would help make your car buying experience a bit breezier.



Rebate: a rebate is an amount paid by way of price reduction off of your new car (only on new cars). On TV commercials I have also seen them called "cash back," "down payment assistance," etc. They are counting highly on the fact that you will not take cash back. Who really would on a $20,000 and up purchase?

APR: this is only if you are financing. APR is Annual percentage rate. Or the amount that you'll pay the bank each year (broken into monthly payments) for taking out your loan. You will pay interest only on your remaining balance each year, so the longer you have the loan, the smaller your interest payments will be.

Upside Down: a strange adjective to describe owing more on your car than it's worth. In some cases you can take out a loan for up to 6 years to lower your payments. The less you pay each month (most likely more in the case of a new car) the more upside down you'll be. This is bad when you want to trade in your car and end up losing money on the deal to pay off your remaining balance and trade in your car. Not so bad if you keep your car forever.

Payment Calculator: It would be best to describe this with the actual payment calculator. Look Here! This helps you determine your monthly payment based on your down payment, loan term and price of overall vehicle. You can even factor in your trade-in.

Doc Fee: This fee is typically added to your vehicle price along with sales tax and registration. Most dealerships charge anywhere from $150 to $495 while Eckert only charges $50. At Eckert, we are up front about adds and pricing and we respect you, your pocketbook and your time. These get a bad reputation in the car-buyers mind. Well sure, when you've been taken advantage of by dealer after dealer charging upwards of $500 for a paper shuffle?

Tax, Title, License & Registration Fees: Texas state tax is 8.25% we collect this amount and later pay it to the state. This amount is charged on the difference of your new car after the trade in amount, and after the rebate is taken out. We tax you on the smallest amount possible. We also collect $110.30 on cars for title work, license and registration, which is later collected by the state. If you are buying a used car with a current registration sticker you can opt not to have it renewed (which saves you a trip to the tax office) and reduce your $110.30 about $50. Your choice.

VIT Tax: Vehicle Inventory Tax charged on all new and used cars which is imposed by our county. It is currently 0.2% of your sales price (minus rebate, if you have one). It is usually under $100.

Inspection Fee: This is a mandated $23.75 for new cars. And $39.75 if your car is used and the inspection is expired. If not expired, no charge.

Ah, that's better. Now that your confidence is restored. Take a deep breath and check out some inventory. You know you want to....

WhatIsAnAmericanCar.com

Hyundai is thought of as and International Nameplate - meaning the car isn't made in America.

Think again! Where we have several plants abroad, we are starting in on building our cars on American soil.

“International nameplate vehicles are some of the most popular on America’s roads today. However, their investment in America is often overlooked,” said AIADA President Cody Lusk. “This new website will help shed light on the international automotive brands that are building vehicles and creating jobs right here in America.” AIADA is a United States lobbying force dedicated to the economic and political interests of America's international nameplate automobile dealers. Their main focus is to oppose tax increases and promotes free trade. Their goal with the website is to help you understand what international nameplates are creating plants and making jobs here in the U.S.

So far in America there is one Hyundai Manufacturing Plant, located in Montgomery, Alabama. They have created 4,100 jobs! Might make you feel a little better knowing that you're car is made by your friends, right here in Alabama!

Come check out our website and pick out your new car.

Buy a used car...where?

Alright, I have researched and researched the used car buying bonanza. Here's what I have come up with. Buy your used car at a [preferably our] dealership. I know I know you think that I am chock-full of bias because I am here in the dealership typing this right now. But honestly, it's the best way. Honestly.


I am a normal person who doesn't benefit from a car sale and I'm telling you I found some very creepy things on Craigslist and a few other selling resources. Enough to make your skin crawl (I will tell you the best ones, don't worry). But here are my thoughts on why purchasing a used car at dealership is not only the better idea but the safer one.

• Trustworthiness. Ask anyone, there are some serious horror stories from random, private sellers off of the internet. Here's my favorite doosie (from seattleauto.net): "We knew one buyer who was on the verge of buying a beautiful but used Mercedes CLK with low miles from a sleek private seller. His fiance convinced him to get a professional inspection, whereas they learned that their luxury dream car was actually spliced together from two separate cars. They’re married now, but they passed (luckily) on the car." We are not allowed to sell you a bad car. And if we do you will have somewhere to bring it back to or someone to call the police on if, heaven forbid, it goes that far. But we aren't going to pack up our "house" and move.



• Safety. Two reasons I fear Craiglist are 1) Who is coming over to pick this up at my home? 2)Who am I meeting to purchase this car and how many big burly men can I bring with me? You could be face-to-face with any sort of person! At least at the dealership I know I could go alone and there's a clean restroom for me to use. Not to mention our comfy sofas, free wifi and big ole fireplace.



• Mechanic Inspected. Contrary to any doubts you've had we take really good care of our cars. Here, the mechanics do all of the inspections and fix up your new [used] baby before you drive it home. Unless marked as "As-Is" you will not be purchasing a vehicle with known problems.
  

Some cool things I found while researching Hyundai's for sale on Craigslist (and by cool I mean terribly awful and weird): A car with a salvage title (meaning at some point in it's life it was considered a "total loss" by an insurance company and then pieced together again), a car with AN EXISTING LIEN (ladies & gentlemen, this was the most terrifying thing I saw, if someone doesn't give you the title, don't buy the car!!!), a car that "can't pass emissions." Did you know that people could turn off the "check engine" light and then sell it to you? On your way home it could turn on and while they are already spending the money you gave them. Buying from a dealership will ensure that you do not bump into any of these problems.

On a side note: if you are trading in your car to us, you do not have to wait. You will instanteously have a trade in and buy out, if you so desire. Convenience factor? A 10.

I know you're thinking now...check out the used car inventory we have!

Hot Air Balloon [Financing]

Just as my knowledge of Gap Insurance was somewhat squatty, so my background with Balloon Financing needs some bulk. But here's the interesting thing, when asking people around the dealership, I realized I am not alone! Usually, if someone isn't a car salesman (which is not many of you) they need a little bit more help with their car terminology. I hate feeling dumb.


Balloon Financing. What does that mean?


First: My source of info comes from http://www.balloonfinancing.com/, creative website name, I know. Feel free to read and read on this site; there's a lot of information. But I will gladly summarize for you with a quick disclaimer that it's not specific to our dealership, though I will review some of our terms at the end.

Balloon Financing allows you to have low monthly payments for a specified term usually 24-36 months. At the end of this term you can do one of a few things:
1) Refinance the remaining balance
2) Pay off the remaining balance
3) Trade in your car
Much like a lease, you can enjoy low payments but the car is yours! There are only a mileage restrictions if you want to return the car at the end of your term.


Balloon Financing is a great way to keep your payment down, especially if your intention is to trade your vehicle every 2-4 years anyways.  But remember that you won't accumulate a lot of equity, so be sure to purchase Gap insurance, keep your mileage low, or put down money on the initial purchase so that you won't end up owing more than your car is worth.


Onto to the good part...

• 30-50% lower payments than a traditional car loan, on average
• Generous or no mileage restrictions, depending on the dealer and the lender
  
• Flexible terms
• Choose to trade, sell, return, or refinance the car at the end of the term
• Sell, buy, or trade vehicle at any time without any penalties
• You own the vehicle and enjoy all the benefits of ownership
  

At Eckert Hyundai, our Balloon Financing rates are AMAZING! For example you could [balloon] finance a 2011 Hyundai Sonata with an APR of 1.9%!  With this financing option you could rock a brand spankin' new Sonata for a monthly payment of $199.
To compare, I calculated a 60 month loan with a 5.8% low APR, the same down payment as the balloon amount above, and I came out with a $352 monthly payment. Yikes.

So, for those of you who have the itch for a new set of wheels, check this option out. Take a look at our inventory and contact us to set up a test drive and a chat with one of our salesmen.

photo provided by cvial.ece.ttu.edu

What Gap Insurance means to me...and you

Imagine this: You've strolled into your favorite car dealership (ahem, Eckert Hyundai) and you have you eye on a shiny new Sonata...who doesn't? You've worked with your salesman to determine the cost you'll get for your trade in, and what you are planning to pay for your new car. And you have a nice little down payment to go toward your new wheels. Congratulations, you are almost finished!! All you have left to do is work out the financing of your new vehicle...sigh, you were never good at math.

As you listen to the finance man patiently try to explain every aspect of your car payment to you some things fly over your head...they do to me too. After working at this dealership for 2 years, I finally leaned over and asked, "What is Gap Insurance?" and I'll be honest, I was a little embarrassed to ask.

Not only did they explain the concept to me, but I decided to do a little research. So next time you're buying a car here and our delightful finance men can't help you understand, poke your nose around and find me...I'm becoming an expert....sort of.

I found an entire article on Gap Insurance at Carinsurance.com, you can read it there if you so desire. Here's the jist...Gap insurance is for you if you are financing a new (or even used) car in which you are taking out a loan. Mostly for new cars, because as soon as you drive that puppy off the lot there is a loss in what an insurance company thinks the "value" of the car is. And, my friends, if you make minimum payments on a car over a 5 or 6 year time period, you will quickly be "upside down" in a car. Solely meaning that your car is worth less than you have to pay the bank. No biggie, it's one of the cool things about America. You can purchase a car and pay it off slowly. Blah, blah blah, why get Gap Insurance??

Explanation.
Try this dream on for size: you're driving down the road in the shiny new Sonata you bought and some...person...slams into you. First you think, "ouch," don't worry, in this dream you are OK. But your car is considered "totaled" by the insurance company. Meaning the cost to repair is more than what your car is worth. The insurance company will shell out the bucks to pay you back for what your car is worth...but because you haven't finished paying off your car, you owe the bank money still (for this sake we'll say $2,000). And you think, "I owe money for a car that has been dragged away to the trash pile?!" and the bank says, "yes, pay up." Aren't you glad you got Gap Insurance?? Gap insurance pays the bank what you owe (they fill in the "GAP"). Then you can take all of the money you got for you car and try to replace your old, crushed friend. Something even cooler. If you aren't upside down in your car....Gap Insurance will pay your deductible! Boy, oh, boy, learn something new every day.

The cool thing is, Gap doesn't cost very much. A few hundred bucks, and it's rolled into your car payment, so you end up paying a few dollars a month for lots and lots and lots of protection. And the exciting side is that if you pay off your car early, they will cut you a check for the months you didn't need coverage.

Does it seems like a good idea to you now? It should.

Browse our inventory for a car that you can get some sweet, explained, GAP INSURANCE on...

And then HOPEFULLY this will not happen to you...but that's why you got Gap Insurance, right?

picture provided by http://www.carandautoinsurancequote.com/car_auto_insurance_quote_accident_picture_ted.htm

Expect the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid in Early Spring.

Ever been sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office for a REALLY long time? Only to find that when your doctor gets to you they take a considerable amount of time caring for you, laughing with you and then giving your kid a lollipop (dentists beware)? I have. I constantly have to remind myself that either a) there's a huge problem with the person in there, thank the LORD it wasn't me or b) he will probably spend that much time caring for me. lunch break smunch break, doctors visits are important.

And so is your [hybrid] car. Don't you want it to be perfect? Instead of being recalled later? yes, and yes. And I'm sure I don't stand alone.

While you and I are wildly awaiting the release of the new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (well probably you more than me, because I don't have a garage to plug mine into yet) we also desire perfection not lame-o imperfections plastered all over our car. Also consider that this is the first time Hyundai has ever made a Hybrid so they probably have some perfecting to do. Understandable, Rome wasn't built in a day, etc.

According to Autonews.com, "The delay comes after Hyundai decided late last year to change the car’s “virtual engine sound system.” The system mimics the sound of an idling gasoline engine to alert nearby pedestrians of the car’s presence when driving at low speeds. Concerns about the safety of pedestrians being unable to hear hybrids, which are nearly silent when moving at low speeds, prompted U.S. lawmakers to pass a law in January requiring automakers to install sound-emitting devices. Under the law signed by President Obama on Jan. 4, all hybrids will be required to have such devices in a few years." Hyundai had planned to have a button on the dashboard where you could turn off this noise (so thoughtful) but after hearing that NHTSA would require it in a few years, they decided to do away with the button and adhere to the government standards (how politically correct and obedient).

Well, that makes sense.

Trade in your junker for $3000....hurry before September

Do I have news for you? You may have heard of Aircheck Texas before, but let me explain.

You can get $3000 for your old car. And you don't even have to buy a brand spankin' new car.

Basically, Texas is trying to get high polluting vehicles off the road by offering financial assistance toward a new (or new to you) car. So if your car is having trouble meeting emission tests or your check engine light just won't stop flashing, then continue reading and see if you qualify. Who doesn't want $3000?


A few requirements:

• You must be a resident of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, or Tarrant County


• The car must be currently registered in a participating county and has been for at least 12 months prior to the application


• The car must be driveable and gasoline-powered


• There are also income requirements that you must meet, check here.
  

If you meet these requirements you could be approved for $3,000 for a car in the current model year or the previous three model years!

Download your Application and get started on the process! It is certainly worth it.


Eckert Hyundai is an approved dealer and since the car that you are purchasing must be $25,000 or under, Hyundai is the perfect choice.

Hurry, this program ends in September 2011!

Check out our inventory!

Image provided by http://harrydav99.typepad.com/blog/salvage-car/