About Compliance, Tech Compliance, technology adoption and cost reduction strategies were each cited as critical factors to business success for auto lenders in a recent survey.
Planned adoption of cost saving payment acceptance technology by auto finance companies of all sizes scored high on the survey, with online payments set to increase drastically by the end of 2014. Results found over 30 percent of surveyed lenders have plans to adopt online payments by year’s end setting the pace for utilization of online payments to reach 98 percent. .
Consumers Complain About Car Sales
Misrepresentations in advertising or sales of new and used cars, lemons, faulty repairs, leasing and towing disputes led consumer complaints last year.
That is according to the annual survey of state and local consumer protection agencies. In addition, used-car sales ranked third among the fastestgrowing complaints in 2013.
Sale Offers Piece of Dealer History
By Jenny King
Auctions America scored big-time at its second annual sale in Burbank, Calif.
July 31 - August 2.
In a field of unusual and collectible cars, one of the more rare was a bright-yellow 1953 Muntz Hudson Jet Convertible with red interi-
or, a progeny of Earl “Madman” Muntz, a used-car dealer, renowned promoter and one-time automaker. Muntz in the early 1940s was hailed as the largest used car dealer in the world. According to a Hemmings blog story, Muntz produced close to 400 of the sport luxury convertibles us-
ing tooling from race-car builder Frank Kurtis. It is believed that 50 of the Jets are still around.
Two faced auction this summer.
Staged at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, and with 400 vehicles plus automobilia up for grabs, the summer-
time event posted sales of $17.5 million.
The top seller was a stunning 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, which brought a hammer price of $1,155,000. A second sevenfigure transaction featured a 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa that brought a winning bid of $1,017,500.
Auction Chains Invest in Dealer-to-Dealer Online Platforms
The two largest auction continue investing in online dealer-to-dealer sales.
ADESA has acquired a 50 percent stake in Toronto-based Nth Gen Software Inc. and its online vehicle remarketing system, TradeRev.
The total purchase price for the transaction is approximately $30 million in cash.
ADESA also announced that it has entered into a joint marketing agreement with TradeRev to assist in expanding its footprint in the dealer-to-dealer online space in the U.S. and Canadian markets. ADESA will be the exclusive provider of certain products and services to TradeRev’s
customers. TradeRev is an online automotive remarketing system where dealers can launch and participate in realtime vehicle auctions at any time from their mobile devices or desktop.
Meanwhile, Manheim has rolled its much-hyped DealerMatch platform into its digital product portfolio.
“DealerMatch started as an innovative incubation project and has become a successful digital platform that creates a more efcient channel for dealer-to-dealer trading,” said Janet Barnard, Manheim’s chief operating ofcer. “We are aligning all of the digital services we ofer customers within Manheim’s product portfolio.”
A MAD MAD WORLD: This 1953 Muntz Hudson Jet failed to sell at a recent auction. The vehicle was the brainchild of dealer Earl “Madman” Muntz, who also produced his own line of television sets.
NYC Targets Used Car Dealers Over Open Recalls
By Jeffrey Bellant
New York City’s investigation of 200 used-car dealers for selling cars subject to recall has prompted a rebuttal from the state’s independent dealers association.
On July 29, the city’s Department of Consumer Afairs announced it had issued random subpoenas to a quarter of the city’s 800 used-car dealers over the issue.
DOC ofcials, in a press release July 29, stated the subpoenas seek “records of which recalled cars were sold unrepaired and to whom.”
Used-car dealers in the city are licensed by the DCA.
“Under city and state law, which DCA enforces, dealerships must certify their
cars are ‘roadworthy,’ and a recalled car that has not been repaired is not deemed to be roadworthy,” the press release stated.
DCA Commissioner Julie Menin said the department will contact those customers and ensure those vehicles are fixed at the dealer’s expense.
“More cars were recalled in 2014 than any other year on record,” Menin said in the release.
“We’re going to find out how many cars have been sold in the city and demand that dealers fix them.”
She said the city will pursue this aggressively and called these vehicles “ticking time bombs.”
But the New York Independent Automobile Dealers Association is challenging the DCA’s actions.
“Currently, no state or federal law explicitly prohibits dealers from selling used vehicles with open recalls,” said Executive Director Paula Frendel.
IAG_UCN-Aug4_All.pdf 1 8/11/14 7:54 AM
“Attempts to modify existing laws that require dealers to repair new vehicles
with recalls to include used vehicles have, to date, not succeeded.”
She added New York City laws also do not expressly prohibit the sale of a used vehicle with an open recall.
“Instead, DCA appears to be reinterpreting well-settled law to extend what constitutes a deceptive or unfair practice,” Frendel said.
Dealer Fred Donnelly, president of the NYIADA, said what upsets him is accusing dealers of using deceptive practices.
He said there has never been an issue about these sales before.
Donnelly, whose dealership is in the Bronx, did not receive a subpoena. But he questions where the city draws the line at dealing with recalls. Does it end with dealers or does it go to auctions?
“I mean, how far back do you go?” he said.
Donnelly said the city ought to focus on curbstoners – unlicensed dealers – if they are going to crack down on anyone.
He understands that disclosure is important, but the city’s dealers are regulated more than any other municipality in the country.
Donnelly added that dealers who are upset should be part of the NYIADA.
At press time, Frendel was attempting to arrange a meeting with the DCA and outside counsel to discuss
the matter further.
Frendel is also urging dealers to join the NYIADA and contact state and local ofcials.
“NYIADA is the voice of New York’s independent dealers,” she said, “and we make sure that New York State and local governments hear your voice loud a nd clear.”
RECALL : Julie Menin speaks to a crowd during her campaign for Manhattan Borough President. The Department of Consumer Affairs Commission issued subpoenas to used-car dealers for selling vehicles under recall.
Paula Frendel
Go Auto Exchange Adds Site
Go Auto Exchange announced the opening of its fourth location in Orlando on Aug.7.
Though sharing land with Manheim Orlando, the new site is located of-premises and will have its own main ofce, cafeteria and reconditioning facilities.
The newly refurbished location will be named Go Auto Exchange Orlando.
Butch Herdegen III has been selected as general manager of Go Auto Exchange Orlando.
He joins the company from Manheim Palm Beach, where he has served as manager of dealer services since 2012. Herdegen has more than 10 years of experience in the auction business and has served in various leadership roles at Manheim and within the industry.
Credit Acceptance Reports Results
Credit Acceptance Corp. announced consolidated net income of $69.4 million for the three months ended June 30, compared to consolidated net income of $61.5 million for the same period in 2013.
For the six months ended June 30, consolidated net income was $119.2 million, compared to consolidated net income of $122.1 million for the same period in 2013.
Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three
NEWS BRIEFS
months ended June 30, was $67.6 million, compared to $60.7 million for the same period in 2013.
For the six months ended June 30, adjusted net income was $131 million, compared to adjusted net income of $119.5 million for the same period in 2013.
Small Businesses Pass on Loans
Despite reports that small business loans are becoming easier to obtain, a majority of small business owners don’t ever apply for them, according to a survey from Sageworks, a financial information company.
When asked if they had ever applied for a loan for their business (including personal loans), just under 77 percent of small business owners said they had not.
All businesses surveyed were less than 10 years old.
The survey also asked small business owners why they chose other means of funding over business loans. Sixty-two percent of respondents said it was because they did not want to take on debt, and 24 per-
cent said they did not believe they would be approved for a loan.
Twelve percent thought the cost of credit was too high, while nine percent said the loan process was too time-consuming.
But how are business owners financing their businesses if they aren’t applying for loans?
When asked how they’re starting their business operations without taking on debt, 59 percent of respondents said they used personal savings to start their business.
Almost 30 percent didn’t need any funding and 10.5 percent received funding from friends or family.
Just over 19 percent of respondents
did rely on a loan or line of credit.
GWC Rolls Out Elite Program
GWC Warranty recently rolled out the GWC Elite Dealer Program to its best dealers.
In addition to all of the services and support the company provides, GWC Elite dealers will also have access to exciting benefits like expedited concierge claims service, special certified pricing, accelerated underwriting profits, strategic account service and more.
GWC also said that any new dealer who signs with the company will receive free access for a limited time.
Published By General Media LLC
USED CAR NEWS (ISSN 1555-7413) is published at 24114 Harper, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
Phone: 586-772-5200 or 800-794-0760 Fax: 586-772-9400
www.usedcarnews.com
Charles M. Thomas
Founder (1947-2002)
Lynda R. Thomas, Publisher Colleen Fitzgerald, General Manager
Production: Josie Godlewski, Media Manager Tim Montie, Graphic Designer
Used Car News is published the first and third Monday of each month. Subscribers: We print advertisements as sent to us by auctions and other advertisers. It is not possible to verify the correctness of listed vehicles in auction ads. Most lists are partial and all lists are subject to last minute changes by auto auctions, so before travelling a long distance for a particular auto auction event, contact the auction by telephone for a fax of vehicles in the sale.
Used Car News assumes no guarantees or liabilities concerning the accuracy of any advertisements. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.
Please submit clear, legible copy. Payments from first time advertisers must accompany the insertion order. Distribution is guaranteed by U.S. Postal Carriers. The advertising reservation deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10 days prior to the issue date. Camera ready ads must be received by noon on Monday prior to the issue date.
the Conversation! Visit Used Car News online at www.usedcarnews.com or scan this QR code with your smartphone to be taken directly to the website.
Used Car Prices Continue Slow, Steady Decline
Used-car prices are drifting down, although they remain high.
Wholesale used vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) declined 1 percent in July.
That resulted in a Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index reading of 122.7 for the month.
That is still an increase of 1.5 percent from a year ago. This was the third consecutive monthly decline in wholesale pricing.
The declines have been fairly large, leading some industry watchers to predict a coming collapse in prices.
Manhein chief economist Tom Webb dismisses this talk.
“Such a collapse cannot come from industry forces alone,” Webb said. “It would also require a significant altering in the current trajectory of labor market and credit conditions. That’s possible, but not likely.”
What is likely is a gradual but steady decline in usedcar prices, according to analysts with ALG.
“The continued strength of new-car sales is increasing the availability of highquality used cars as shoppers continue to trade in their old vehicles,” said ALG president Larry Dominique.
“Additionally, because of the popularity of short 24and 36-month leases, the drought of used-car supply is already starting to subside. As a result, we expect a steady decline in used-vehicle prices.”
By 2017, ALG forecasts the average new vehicle will retain 49.4 percent of its value after three years, in contrast to the 54.6-percent retention recorded for vehicles through June 2014. Furthermore, ALG forecasts the growing supply of used vehicles in the market should ease the industry back to a 46-percent residual average by 2019 – the same as it was before 2008.
“The lower residual values will create a greater gulf between used- and new-vehicle prices, which could steer more consumers to purchase used vehicles,” Dominique said.
Source: Manheim Consulting
Combining Live and Live-Online Buyers
We understand that your business is driven by retentions. That’s why IAA’s unique combination of live and live-online auctions and deep market expertise helps you reach the right buyers in more than 110 countries. At IAA, we see the importance of every type of vehicle.
Feds Subpoena GM Financial
General Motors Financial Company Inc. is the latest auto finance company to face regulatory scrutiny, this time in regard to its securitizations.
GM Financial was served with a subpoena July 28 by the U.S. Department of Justice directing it to produce certain documents relating to its and its subsidiaries’ and affiliates’ origination and securitization of subprime automobile loan contracts since 2007. The subpoena is in connection with a Justice Department investigation in contemplation of a civil proceeding for potential violations of Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989.
Among other matters, the subpoena requests information relating to the underwriting criteria used to originate these automobile loan contracts and the representations and warranties relating to those underwriting criteria that were made in connection with the securitization of the automobile loan contracts.
Menawhile, the company continues to expand.
GM Financial has completed the purchase of a property in Arlington, Texas, to expand its Arlington Operations Center campus.
The 240,000-square-foot facility is located on 22 acres of land near
the intersection of Interstate 20 and Collins Street. The facility will accommodate approximately 800 to 900 employees, most of whom will be new hires over the next two to three years.
The company plans to upgrade the exterior façade, parking lot and interior of the building that was formerly used as a customer service center by a major financial institution.
Although the company will begin occupying the space in the next few months, the renovations are expected to take nearly 24 months to complete.
When finished, GM Financial will use the new ofce space for operations and as a training and conference center.
The new facility is located one block east of two buildings currently occupied by nearly 2,150 GM Financial employees and used for operations and customer service. The company, which employs 4,600 team members in North America, also has customer service centers in Chandler, Ariz.; Huntersville, N.C.; and, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; and has 17 credit centers in the U.S. and Canada.
The company employs 6,200 team members worldwide and is headquartered in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
FICO Refines Credit Scoring
FICO announced today that the new FICO Score 9 bypassies paid collection agency accounts and offering a sophisticated treatment diferentiating medical from nonmedical collection agency accounts. These enhancements help lenders because they result in greater precision.
At the same time, the median FICO Score for consumers whose only major derogatory references are unpaid medical debts is expected to increase by 25 points.
FICO has used sophisticated modeling techniques to make the new FICO Score 9 more predictive of a consumer’s likelihood to repay a debt than previous versions.
This latest version of the FICO Score, the industry-standard measure of U.S. consumer credit risk, captures recent consumer behavior to give lenders better risk assessments across the credit lifecycle and all credit products.
It will be available to lenders through the U.S. credit reporting agencies starting this fall.
For example, instead of classifying a consumer as someone who paid or didn’t pay her bills in absolute terms, the various degrees of the consumer’s payment history have been quantified.
The end result is a score with an improved ability to assess the risk of thin files.
FICO Score 9 assesses consumer credit risk on all credit product lines, including auto loans, and can be used across the entire customer credit lifecycle, starting with marketing/pre-screen, originations and account management, all the way through early-stage collections. FICO’s innovative, multi-faceted modeling approach incorporates a more exhaustive characteristic selection process to build a score that is even more efective across a wide variety of situations.
This approach also uses the Multiple Goal Scorecard technology of FICO Model Builder, which balances a traditional risk metric evaluating all accounts with one evaluating originations risk across all product lines.
FICO Score 9 will also be the most consistent FICO Score across all three credit bureaus.
FICO Score 9 also supports the desire of lenders to better assess the risk of consumers with limited credit history – so-called thin files. In the model development process, FICO data scientists represented a consumer’s repayment behavior in degrees of risk.
PAGE 8 - THE BEST OF THE AUCTIONS
Annual Readers’ Poll Honors Ten Auto Auctions with Awards
By Jeffrey Bellant
This year’s Best of Auctions” awards recognize sales from the Northwest to the Southeast and honors categories ranging from “Best Customer Service” to “Best Charitable Sale.”
Best Customer Service
- Winning this category pleased the leadership at Charleston Auto Auction in Moncks Corner, S.C.
“Out of all the categories, that is the one that we would have liked most to win,” said Bill McCready, assistant general manager. “It involves every single department and every single person.”
The auction aims for higher ground in this area, he said.
“Every team member knows that ‘satisfactory’ customer service is not good enough. We want every dealer to have a memorable experience.”
Laura Taylor, general manager, said the key is to go back to the basics. She said it’s a form of customer service to keep the employees happy.
“Therefore, they’re happy and then they provide great service to our customers,” she said. “We realize without our customers, we have no business. It’s also doing the little things.
“Even our drivers know the dealers’ names when they pull up,” she said.
Best Facility –Past awardwinner Harrisburg Auto Auction, in Mechanicsburg, Pa., added the “Best Facility” title this year.
“Well, we’re extremely proud and thankful that our dealers appreciate us,” said General Manager Lynn Weaver.
“I think our people and our location (add to the appeal of our facility).”
The medium-sized auction is “easy to navigate and find the cars you’re looking for,” he said.
“The people are the icing on the cake and make everything work.”
The auction runs six lanes, but it operates its weekly sale as if it’s an 11-lane sale.
It opens at 8:30 a.m. with a video in-op sale and damage vehicles, along with an as-is sale in a diferent lane. After these sales, the auction opens up all six lanes to run dealer consignment. It follows that up with commercial account units that run through three lanes.
Best Auctioneers – Capital City Auto Auction, in St. Albans, W.Va., won the “Best Auctioneers” award for the second year in a row.
“The guys like getting these awards,” said auction owner Joe Pyle.
Pyle can enjoy it twice since he also auctioneers. He said being an auctioneer himself helps him put a strong staf together.
“I feel like I’m part of the team and we try to stay connected with our customers,” Pyle said. “We’re all in it together. I understand the ups and downs of their day. If someone is not an auctioneer, then it’s hard to feel their pain.”
Pyle said they urge auctioneers to “finish like a pro,” knowing that the auctioneer has to sell the last car the same as the first.
“The first hundred are the easiest ones,” he said. “It’s the last hundred that are hard.”
Pyle also pushes the importance of communication.
“Communication with your seller is paramount,” he said.
“It’s important to know what the seller wants to do. I tell my auctioneers, ‘you have to communicate.”
Best Consignment – Pyle’s other sale, Mountain State Auto Auction, also in West Virginia, earned the “Best Consignment Sale.”
Pyle said this award was unexpected, though the auction does ofer a wide variety of vehicles.
“We’ll have a lot of lowend cars, but we also have a lot of fleet-lease cars,” Pyle said. “We have all major fleet-lease companies that sell with us. So we’ll sell 150 of them a week. That car is in high demand right now.”
Pyle added the auction also holds a regular utility sale, with trucks, utility
vehicles and vans.
“We also have a lot of nice new-car dealer trades,” he said. “Those are $8,000 to $20,000 cars. They sell about everything they run.”
Best Ringmen – Bob McConkey, president of DAA Northwest, was happy with this award. Since it’s an area the auction trains for and works on, he wasn’t surprised.
“I’m happy that people recognize that we put an emphasis on working the ring,” he said. “So it afrms that dealers see it’s important to us.”
McConkey said we use our auctioneers to train ring staf and emphasize communication between the two groups.
“We also utilize the ring as a training ground for auctioneers,” he said.
Not only do up-and-coming auctioneers work the ring, but regular auctioneers rotate in the ring, as well.
“Nobody’s too good to work the ring,” McConkey said.
This helps with communication between the auctioneer, the ringmen, the buyers and the sellers, he said.
Best Online - Manheim Pennsylvania general manager Julie Picard was pleased with the award, especially since the auction strives to make its technology cutting-edge.
“I’m really proud of our customer service team and the work they do to support the online auction,” she said.
“We’re trying to continuously improve the customer’s experience.”
Having such large selection at such a giant auction feeds into the online success, Picard said.
“I think that really drives people to the site.”
Selection, service and support are the three parts of Manheim Pennsylvania’s focus for online sales.
The employees, management and staf are “very comfortable” in the online space,” Picard said.
Best Cafeteria – Ft. Wayne Auto & Truck Auction, voted the auction with the “Best Cafeteria,” has an actual
BEST AUCTIONS : Winners of the Used Car News annual “Best of Auctions” contest include (from top) Southern Auto Auction in East Windsor, Conn., Capital City Auto Auction in St. Albans, W.Va., and Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction in Hammond, La., along with seven other auctions on the facing page.
AND THE 2014 WINNERS ARE ...
chef cooking for dealers.
“We do have a fabulous chef,” said Chris Walsh, general manager. “His name is Ossie Martinez. He wears the wildest colors. He’s always got the music jacked up in there. It could be Motown, Pavarotti, Sinatra or Maroon 5.”
Martinez, who is actually a partner in the auction, spoils dealers with a menu beyond hamburgers and hot dogs.
“We have 22-ounce T-bone steaks, we have 16-ounce filets and shrimp scampi,” Walsh said. “We have prime rib on a weekly basis. Every French fry is hand-cut from a real potato every morning.”
Walsh said there is nothing better than handing a dealer – who may have had a rough day in the lanes – a nice prime rib.
“I have to credit our partner Carl Miskotten,” Walsh said, Continued on page 18
NEXT ISSUE: DEALERS - THE NEXT GENERATION
BEST OF CLASS : Auction winners include (clockwise from top left); Manheim Pennsylvania, Charleston Auto Auction, Mountain State Auto Auction, Carolina Auto Auction, Harrisburg Auto Auction, Ft. Wayne Auto & Truck Auction and DAA Northwest.
Public Wants Driverless Cars
Results of a new survey from Insurance.com find most consumers are comfortable with the idea of cars that can drive themselves.
More than three-quarters of 2,000 licensed drivers surveyed said they would be very likely to buy or at least consider buying a car with autonomous capabilities.
When the possibility of much cheaper car insurance as a result of improved safety was introduced, consideration rose to 86 percent.
Only 24.5 percent said they would never consider an autonomous car –and even that figure dropped to 13.7 percent if they could get cheaper car insurance.
Nearly a third of respondents –31.7 percent – said they would not
continue to drive once an autonomous car was available.
Yet the trust in technology is not solid, the survey found. Seventysix percent of respondents said they would not trust a driverless car to take their children to school, and 61 percent said they believe a computer is incapable of the same decision-making behind the wheel that a human is. Given a choice between hitting a pedestrian and hitting another vehicle head-on, for example, 79 percent of drivers said they would want their autonomous car programmed to hit the other vehicle.
Seventy-three percent said they don’t think the cars of model year 2040 will operate in familiar ways.
Deal Gone Bad Leads to Murder
A man accused of beating a Rhode Island junk-car dealer with a twoby-four over a deal gone wrong has been charged with his murder.
Forty-eight-year-old Daniel Lastarza was ordered held without bail. He is accused of killing I Buy Junk Cars owner Jonathan Stack, of 0Glocester.
It isn’t clear whether the 48-yearold Lastarza has a lawyer.
The 34-year-old Stack was badly
beaten July 23 in the parking lot of a bar in Providence’s Federal Hill. Police say he was trying to get back $400 he had paid for a truck that turned out not to belong to the seller.
Police say Stack and someone with him were attacked. Stack was knocked to the ground with the two-by-four. He died July 27.
– The Associated Press
67 Years Can’t Be Wrong.
Ally Sets Used Finance Record
increased 7 percent year-over-year.
Ally Financial Inc. recently reported that its auto finance division set a record for used-car financing in the second quarter.
Used originations totaled $3.1 billion for the period, the highest level in Ally history.
Strong growth in both new and used originations from diversified dealers were up 48 percent yearover-year, and now account for 20 percent of total consumer originations.
Consumer financing originations totaled $10.9 billion for the quarter, up 11 percent year-over- year, marking the second highest quarterly originations total in Ally history.
Average commercial auto balances increased to approximately $33 billion for the quarter, up 9 percent year-over-year.
Net financing revenue improved 14 percent versus the prior year period.
Automotive earning assets
Overall, Ally reported net income of $323 million for the second quarter compared to net income of $227 million in the prior quarter and a net loss of $927 million in 2013.
Tanya Povorozniouk, owner of Law Auto Group in Bensenville, Illinois, says NextGear Capital has provided her with many opportunities and resources to expand her business.
“We started with a small line of credit, and as the business grew each year, NextGear Capital was there to help us grow. The people at NextGear Capital are amazing. They worked with us to help make our business a success.”
Listen to more of what Tanya and other dealers have to say at nextgearcapital.com/why/opportunity
State Bans Dealer for Seven Years
A Maine auto dealer has been banned from doing business in the state for seven years.
Under the terms of a proposed consent judgment, Glenn Geiser and his used-car dealerships, My Maine Ride and Bumper2Bumper Inc., will be out of business until 2021.
Additionally, some consumers will be eligible for partial restitution for repair costs and may be eligible for forgiveness of loan balances on repossessed cars.
also pay some restitution for consumers whose vehicles failed inspection within 30 days of purchase or became inoperable or unsafe within 90 days of purchase because of a mechanical defect that was not disclosed.
The Maine Attorney General has reached agreements with seven finance companies that provided financing to consumers who purchased vehicles from Geiser.
The Federal Trade Commission’s “Holder Rule” subjects the finance companies that hold the consumers’ loans to the same claims that consumers have against Geiser for selling them unsafe and defective vehicles.
The finance companies that provided financing for Geiser’s customers – Persian Acceptance Corp., Westlake Services LLC, Mid-Atlantic Finance Co., Source One Financial Corp., Consumer Portfolio Services Inc., United Auto Credit Corp. and Credit Acceptance Corp. – have agreed to stop collection actions for consumers whose vehicles were repossessed – essentially erasing the debt – and to remove all negative information relating to these loans from consumers’ credit reports.
Maine’s version of the Holder Rule is in the Maine Consumer Credit Code.
Geiser will not be able to apply for the business licenses that are required to operate a car dealership, repair shop, or inspection station or work for one if it is owned or operated by a member of his household for the next seven years.
Geiser and his companies will
“We appreciate the willingness of these companies to provide relief to consumers who are stuck with loan payments for cars that were essentially worthless,” said Attorney General Janet Mills.
In addition, all have agreed that they will not provide financing for any future business owned or operated by Geiser.
There is separate civil litigation continuing against Bangor Car Care Inc., which is owned by Geiser’s mother.
GM Recalls Several SUVs from Defunct Brands
It appears General Motors aren’t the only ones putting too much weight on their key rings.
Volkswagen Advises Drivers to Lighten Key Fobs Volkswagen of America Inc. is recalling 18,526 Routans for a defect that can afect the safe operation of the airbag system.
Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable) should also be removed from the key ring.
Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning of the engine.
If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn of, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin this month.
Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 28G1/U8. This campaign is
an expansion of NHTSA Recall No. 11V-151.
Meanwhile, GM announced yet another recall, this one involving several SUVs it no longer manufactures.
The company is recalling 184,611 model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 20062007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles.
Fluid may enter the driver’s door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. The short may also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.
A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available.
GM will send an interim letter to owners in late August. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available.
GM’s number for this recall is 14309. This recall provides a new remedy for all vehicles covered by recall 13V-248.
Vehicles whose modules were modified but not replaced as part of the previous recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign.
In other recall news, Subaru of
America Inc. is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-05 Subaru Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles, as well as 2004-05 Subaru Impreza (including WRX/STI) vehicles, that are currently or have ever been registered in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and equipped with Takata-brand passenger side air bag inflators.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
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NAAA Convention Issue
Issue Date: Monday, September 15
Deadline: Thursday, September 3
Best – Continued from page 9
“who said he wants the cafeteria to be a place where dealers can sit down and have a good meal.”
Most Charitable – Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction took home “Most Charitable Auction” honors.
“I think we’re in an industry where people recognize it’s important to give back to the community,” said managing partner John Poteet.
One of the biggest traditions at the auction has been its partnership with Options Inc., a local group that provides services for people with developmental disabilities. Poteet even serves as the board’s president.
“We have sponsored their annual fundraising gala,” he said, “I think we’ve raised over $100,000 for them in just under 10 years.”
Poteet said the biggest single event they hold is a golf tournament in October that raises money for various causes. This year will be for the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
Through Poteet, the staf, dealers and other givers, the auction donates about $20,000 to $25,000 annually to various causes.
“It’s something that binds us together as a team,” he said.
Best Events/Promotions – Southern Auto Auction in East Windsor, Conn., which won Best Facility last year, was honored for its promotions and events in this year’s awards.
“It’s a great honor to be picked by your customers as the best of anything,” said Larry Tribble, owner/ president of the 67-year-old sale.
He said the auction often uses targeted promotions based on what consignors are selling.
Tribble tries to do diferent promotions for diferent customers.
“We look at what’s going on in the market and then decide what to promote,” he said. “We don’t take anything for granted here at Southern. That’s been my philosophy for years.”
The auction is building a new 200-seat, state-of-the-art cafeteria this year.
Best Reconditioning Facility – Carolina Auto Auction, in Williamston, S.C., earned the award for best recon center. Tommy Rogers, general manager, said his team was excited over the award because of the hard work they put into reconditioning.
“Out guys take ownership in what they do,” he said. The staf makes vehicles ready for the frontline before they leave the shop. Rogers quoted the auction’s owner, Henry Stanley, as saying dealers use their recon services because they know the team does a better job than any other shop around.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Manheim Names Digital
VP Manheim has selected Jenifer Eggert as vice president of digital services.
In this new role, Eggert will lead all of the company’s digital eforts, including OVE. com and Simulcast, and will be responsible for setting the company’s long-term plan in the everevolving digital space. Eggert joins Manheim from AutoTrader. com and began her new role on Aug. 4. She will report to Janet Barnard, chief operating ofcer of Manheim North America.
Eggert comes to Manheim with more than 12 years of digital experience, including the past three years as vice president of sales, west for AutoTrader.com. Based in San Diego, Eggert will work closely with teams from Manheim, AutoTrader. com, RMS Automotive and vAuto to create a customer-focused digital strategy that takes advantage of the deep expertise of these companies.
Since joining AutoTrader.com in August 2002, Eggert has held a variety of roles, including regional
sales director, regional director, northeast, regional sales manager, district sales manager and Internet consultant. She held several positions with Vector Marketing from September 1996 to September 2001, including branch manager, sales manager and district manager..
Creditor Hires Dealership Veteran
AFS Acceptance LLC announced the appointment of Michael Thacker as vice president of loan production, efective Aug. 4.
Thacker will preside over all operations for the underwriting, funding and dealer service departments within the company.
Thacker brings with him nearly 10 years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently as chief operating ofcer for Driversselect. During his tenure at Driversselect, Thacker was responsible for corporate support to store operations including sales revenue, stafing, compliance and establishing lender relationships.
Thacker has a bachelors degree in communications from Christopher Newport University.
Finance Company Taps Exec
Auto Financial Group Inc., an online provider of financing prod-
ucts for credit unions and banks, announced that Paul Marquez is joining its remarketing management team as director of remarketing & client relations. In this new position, he will oversee the remarketing department and help guide business development to expand into new markets.
Marquez spent nine years at HSBC, most recently serving as president and CEO of Countrywide Utility Billing Systems.
Marquez joins AFG as it comes of a string of successes and record growth in expanding its geographic footprint to more than 40 states. AFG plans to double the volume of its remarketing repossessions by 2015.
Firm Adds Ally Attorney
Peter N. Cubita has joined Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group in its New York City ofce.
Cubita has practiced consumer financial services law for more than 30 years, initially as an associate and ultimately as a partner at a major law firm and, beginning in 2008, as an in-house attorney at Ally Financial Inc.
Cubita is a co-chair of the legal committee of the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors, a member of the governing committee
of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law, and a member of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.
As a member of Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group, Cubita will represent clients in CFPB and other federal and state enforcement proceedings; conduct compliance, diligence, and fair lending assessments; provide the legal backbone for new financial services products and programs, including consumer-facing documents and program agreements; analyze and submit formal comments on proposed rules; and handle a broad array of joint venture agreements and transactions.
Auction Adds Board Member
American Auto Auction Group (AAAG) announced that Chuck Tapp, CEO of Primeritus Financial Services, has joined its board of directors.
AAAG operates physical and private label sales in California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi and Wisconsin. AAAG was recently acquired and recapitalized by Huron Capital Partners and AAAG management.
Tapp is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.
Jenifer Eggert
RETAIL MARKETS
AL AB AMA
Bryan Cooper, general manager, Morris Auto Sales, Birmingham, Ala.:
“We have one location and we’ve been at this location since 1988.
“There are about 70 units on the lot. That’s about the same as this time last year.
“Roughly we sell about 25 per month. That’s the same as last year. We’re consistent year-round.
“We just do straight retail sales.
“I buy vehicles from the auctions. I go to diferent sales.
“The average model year here is about a 2010 to 2011.
“Mileage has started creeping up a little bit. The average mileage is about 80,000.
‘We mostly carry domestic vehicles.
“Probably half of our (inventory) is cars and half is smaller sport utility vehicles.
“Our average reconditioning cost is about $200. I buy nicer cars so I don’t have to work on stuf
“We don’t have a service shop. We send out our
recon (work)
“You can advertise all you want to, but I just try to keep it simple. I use local newspapers and do a little bit of advertising on the Internet.
We have a web site.
“One vehicle I sold today was a 2001 model Chevrolet Equinox. It had 74,000 miles on it. I believe we sold it for about $14,600 tax, title and all.
“In terms of the market, it seems like it gets rougher everyday.
“I’m (on the board of directors for the Alabama Independent Automobile Dealers Association). It’s a great organization to be a part of. Our executive director, Randy Jones, is a super guy.”
VIRGINIA
Tom Lightfoot, president, Smithfield Family Automotive, Smithfield, Va.:
“We’ve been in business four years. I’ve been in the car business for 16 years.
“I left the franchise side of the car business to start my own dealership. I like to
say I left all the back-andforth games and now we sell cars the way they should be sold.
“I have one location.
“Our slogan is, ‘It’s all about the relationships.’ We didn’t come up with that slogan to be hokey.
“We came up with it to communicate a message that people would hear.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about the vehicle, it’s how were you treated.
“Everybody’s got used cars, but what separates us from a dealership down the street is the people that are here selling.
“We’re starting a finance company to help people that are struggling with their finances to get credit re-established. That’s not to be confused with a prototypical buy-here, pay-here. We’re starting our own lending institution.
“We want to help people get their credit re-established and actually report that to the credit bureau. It’s a business model I’ve been throwing around or a while now.
“A 520 credit score today, was a 720 score two or three years ago.
“I mean you have a guy with a 520 score, but he makes $80,000 a year and has $3,000 to put down.
“I want to help that guy. Eventually, his credit score is going to go up to a 590, then 620, then 690, etc., and he’s going to remember who helped him.
“We also ofer a threemonth, 3,000 mile warranty.
“We carry 30 to 35 vehicles on the lot.
“We sell 12 to 15 units a month. Right now we’re probably a couple of from this time last year.
“I get vehicles from auctions in Charlotte, Greensboro, Atlanta, and in Florida. I’m the buyer for the dealership. We go all around to find cars.
“We’ll go to auctions, but I’ll also go to closed franchise sales. Certain franchises might have a closed sale, but they might invite a certain number of dealerowners to also come. I’ll be invited since I used to be (at a franchise).
Compiled by Jeffrey Bellant
“Our median price is $13,800 and 90 percent of our inventory is under $18,000.
“I track everything from what color cars sell better to what kind of trucks sell better.
“The average model year is 2007. The average mileage is 103,000. In our first year the average mileage here was 96,000.
“Trucks and SUVs make up 49 percent of our sales.
“Seventy-three percent of our vehicles are domestic.
“Our import side is mostly cars. We don’t do that great with imported trucks. We do sell them, but you have to pay so much for them, it takes them out of our price point.
“My average reconditioning costs for 2014 have gone up over $100 from last year. It is $612 this year.
“We do our own service. Right now, we’re just servicing our own cars.
“For advertising, we only do television commercials twice a year, and that’s just to keep the costs down.”
• 23 year of collection experience
FDCPA compliant / Quality assurance department • Less overhead and time spent chasing customers • More time dedicated to selling cars • 9 convenient payment options for customers
ADESA Boston September 5, 12, 26
508-626-7000
ADESA Charlotte September 4, 18
704-587-7653
ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton September 2, 30 937-746-4000
ADESA Golden Gate September 2, 16, 30 209-839-8000
ADESA Houston September 3, 17 281-580-1800
ADESA Indianapolis September 2, 16, 30 800-925-1210
ADESA Kansas City September 2, 16, 30 816-525-1100
ADESA Lexington September 18 859-263-5163
ADESA San Diego September 18 619-661-5565
ADESA Tulsa September 12 918-437-9044
America’s AA-Chicago September 3 708-389-4488
Brasher’s Salt Lake AA September 9 801-322-1234
Columbus Fair AA September 3, 10 614-497-2000
Manheim Atlanta September 4, 17, 18 404-762-9211
Manheim BaltimoreWashington September 23 410-796-8899
Manheim Dallas September 10, 24 877-860-1651
Manheim Denver September 24 800-822-1177
Manheim Detroit September 4, 18, 25 734-654-7100
Manheim Fredericksburg September 11, 25 540-368-3400
Manheim Milwaukee September 10, 24 262-835-4436
Manheim Minneapolis September 17 763-425-7653
Manheim Nashville September 3, 10 877-386-5004
Manheim Nevada September 5 702-361-1000
Manheim New Jersey September 10, 17, 24 609-298-3400
Manheim New Orleans September 10 985-643-2061
Manheim Orlando September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 800-337-8491
Manheim Pennsylvania September 4, 5, 18, 19 800-777-2053
Manheim Phoenix September 4, 11, 18, 25 623-907-7000
Manheim Pittsburgh September 24 724-452-5555
Manheim Riverside September 23, 25 909-689-6000
Manheim Seattle September 17 206-762-1600
Manheim Southern California September 4 909-822-2261
Southern AA September 24 860-292-7500
Choose Chase on ADESA.com and OVE.com for quality bank-sourced vehicles. Contact auctions directly for current sale information.
Kevin Brown, general manager and owner, Missouri Auto Auction Inc., Columbia, Mo.:
“We’re celebrating our 14th anniversary this month.
“We have five lanes and we run four every week. We’ll run the fifth week periodically.
“We’re averaging about 450 to 500 units per week. That’s about the same as this time last year.
“Our average conversion rate normally is about 67 percent on average. It’s about the same as this time last year.
“However, over the past four weeks (July to early August) it was about 60 percent range. I think it’s just that time of the year.
“We average about 300 bidder badges per week. We’re pretty much dead on to where we were last year.
“Those bidders are coming from St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, Mo. We also get some out of Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and other surrounding states.
“We’re gaining more dealers from the cities. You get here in a couple of hours from anywhere in the state of Missouri. We’re in the dead center of the state, which is a real benefit for us.
“Most of our volume is dealer consignment. I would say it’s about 80 to 85 percent dealer consignment.
“On the commercial side, we get a lot of of lease vehicles. We also get vehicles from banks in our local market. We’re also fortunate to have an account with United Auto Credit.
“We expect to see some repos coming back by the end of the year. We also expect lease returns will be big going into next year.
“Our average price overall is right around the $5,800 mark. That’s a little bit up.
“On the last Friday of the month we do a public equipment sale, called the Missouri Equipment Auction. We just rebranded that. We sell for many accounts, including municipalities. Those (units) will range anywhere from a
bucket truck to a tractor and a work truck to a Ford Taurus.
“We’ll normally get anywhere from 50 to 100 pieces in those sales. Conversion rates are always 80 percent or better.
“That’s separate from our GSA sales. Typically, we’ll have six to eight sales a year. Those are great cars. We’ll get all kinds of low-mileage vehicles in the 2009 to 2011 range. We’ve been averaging somewhere around 100 units per sale. Those will be 100-percent sales. That’s all front-line, ready-to-go stuf.
“We just opened up a 12,000-square-foot addition to our facility. We did a 6,000-square-foot checkin arena. Then we added a 6,000-square-foot administrative ofce, with a new payment counter, bidder badge area and new training center.”
WISCONSIN
Kristie Grifn, owner, Greater Milwaukee Auto Auction, Milwaukee, Wis.:
“We just celebrated our 10th anniversary sale in
July. We have five lanes.
Compiled by Jeffrey Bellant
“We normally run 800 cars. But on our anniversary sale we ran 1,100 cars. It was the biggest sale we’ve ever run. We sold 641 cars, the most we’ve sold in a sale.
“During the summer, we average 57 percent conversion rates. The spring market percentage is stronger than that as is the fall market.
“Eighty percent of our volume is fresh, new-car trades. That’s what we specialize in.
“We also host Ally Financial, GM Financial, ARI and a GM factory sale.
“Our GM closed factory sale is held every two weeks. We’ll run about 200 cars. That runs every other Tuesday, separate from our open sales, which are weekly on Thursday.
“(This February), we also just finished a new reconditioning facility, with a body shop, service department, upholstery center and corporate ofces for our fleet accounts. We also have separate check-in lanes for our fleets and new-car trades.
“We’re seeing an im-
provement in the of-lease volume, which has been a blessing. We’re online in every single lane. Four factory sales are averaging 60 percent sold online.
“In our open sales, we’re seeing online bidders forcing the floor bidders to pay more. The online presence is strong. We’re starting to see it grow every week.
“We also take pictures of every single dealer-consignment car and post them online through Auction Pipeline. So we put our entire inventory online every week for dealers to view or buy. Whether it’s a $500 car or a $50,000 car, it goes online.
“We’re averaging 400 bidders per week. We have bidders online and in-lane.
“Our in-lane attendance comes from the tri-state area, which comes from Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. We do get some Iowa and Michigan dealers to drive in. Once in a while we’ll get some Indiana dealers driving in.
“New-car dealers say they’re doing great. They’re selling a lot of cars.”
Certified Pre-Owned Retail Sales
MONTHLY DEALER CONSIGNMENT AVERAGES
COMPA CT CAR
JAN 2014
$5,755 98,746
FEB 2014 $5,962 98,022
MAR 2014 $6,262 97,844
A PR 2014 $6,278 98,421
MAY 2014 $6,067 100,233
JUN 2014 $5,883 100,752
JUL 2014 $5,711 100,786
Y TD A VG: $5,995 99,245
FULLSIZE CAR
JAN 2014 $4,621 108,480
FEB 2014 $4,600 109,110
MAR 2014 $4,699 110,445
A PR 2014 $4,713 110,363
MAY 2014 $4,612 110,137
JUN 2014 $4,552 113,245
JUL 2014 $4,364 110,767
Y TD A VG: $4,596 110,317
L UXURY CAR
JAN 2014 $11,919 95,360
FEB 2014 $11,527 98,439
MAR 2014 $12,532 97,044
A PR 2014 $13,006 97,095
MAY 2014 $12,850 96,643
JUN 2014 $12,207 98,178
JUL 2014 $11,542 100,430
Y TD A VG: $12,242 97,560
MIDSIZE CAR
JAN 2014 $6,031 108,140
FEB 2014 $6,200 109,359
MAR 2014 $6,742 106,756
PR 2014 $6,651 108,045
2014 $6,593 108,354
2014 $6,360 108,718
2014 $6,142 109,258
TD A VG: $6,398 108,354
PICKUP
JAN 2014 $12,889
Source: Autodata Corp.
VAN
Mid-State AA
Auction Celebrates with Broncos
Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies held its 4th Annual Live Charity Auction Benefiting Family Tree this summer.
This year’s charity auction raised $13,000 to support the work of Family Tree within the Denver Community. Customers and employees stayed in the lanes after DAA Rockies’ regular sale to bid on over 30 items to help raise the money. All the items donated came from DAA Rockies customers, employees, and local businesses.
“This organization has provided innovative, life-changing services designed to end child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness in the Denver metro area for over three decades,” said Michele Noblitt, auction executive vice president. “The enthusiasm of our staf and customers to surpass the 2013 fundraising total was fantastic. Giving back to the community is a pleasure and a joy to everyone involved at Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies.”
Stacey Cook, the newly crowned Miss Colorado, joined bidders in the lane. Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot, also stopped by to take pictures and help out during the charity auction.
Sale Gives Check to Habitat for Humanity
On Aug. 1, Charleston Auto Auction presented Habitat for Humanity with a check for $5,000 and a commitment to help build a house.
Bryant Knepp, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County was on site to accept.
The donation and commitment was presented in front of 500 dealers prior to the start of the Friday sale.
Laura Taylor, General Manager of Charleston Auto Auction, also challenged everyone in attendance to help support Habitat for Humanity via monetary donations or time commitments.
“The whole team at Charles-
ton Auto Auction is excited to get started building our first house.”
She said dealers who regularly attend the sale have generously offered to help.
“We are proud and happy to be able to contribute to the great organization that is Habitat for Humanity,” Taylor said.
GIDDYUP!: Ashley, a Denver Broncos cheerleader, and Miles, the team’s mascot, joined dealers and consignors at DAA of the Rockies for a sale that raised $13,000 for charity.
Compiled By Jeffrey Bellant
Disconnected Jottings From Tony Moorby...
Television advertisements today, for the most part, treat you as though you are a total, blithering idiot with no sense of the ridiculous.
Locally a new-car dealer has a middle-aged man with bleach-blond hair (actu-
ally he looks like he dyes his roots black) dressed in bright, too-tight sweaters and pants that would do more justice to a skinny teenager, mincing around the showroom holding a sign with the dealership name. The sign is about three feet long by nine inches.
One expects him to walk through a doorway any minute and get stuck just like in the silent movies of old. It looks so awkward that you end up paying no attention to the message the
dealer is trying so expensively to put across.
Still on the subject of cars, both Nissan and VW seem to think that doing burnouts in the parking lot and power slides around town, in red cars of course, will at-
not to do!
Insurance companies in recent years have tried all kinds of silly tactics to persuade their audience that staid and stufy agencies and owners will throw money at you if you even think about making a claim, instead of the reality of clam-like tight fistedness.
require some sort of Valium derivative? Most of them seem to prattle on interminably for at least ten minutes, ironically most of that time is taken up telling you why you shouldn’t take them.
These adverts for everything from kitchen pans to black goop from a can that seals everything but the motherin-law’s mouth are anathema to most people.
tract anyone other than the fast and furious. This stock “running footage” may look a bit more exciting than a Suburban sailing through the countryside, but I can assure you that the neighbors in my subdivision don’t typically do reverse 180 spins out of the driveway on their way to the ofce.
The rebates may go some way to pay of all the tickets for these, admittedly awkward maneuvers and pay for driving lessons for the kids to show them what
Even though he’s cute, I still fail to make a connection with a gecko, which I assume has a genetic attachment to slimy lizards (ah, I may have something, after all) and an insurance company that had its foundation insuring government employees. His ersatz cockney accent makes him even more exotically removed from folks who simply want to insure a vehicle here in the antipodes.
What about that girl in the starchy looking white outfit who looks like a 1950s nurse? She looks more like an advocate for corporal punishment than a spokesperson for corporate protection!
Talking of nurses, don’t the medicine ads drive you to enough distraction to
CR R O O S S W D Sponsored by
By Miles Mellor
28. Crossover SUV slotting between a RAV 4 and a Highlander
30. Vitality
31. Quote
32. Dip
Across
1. Chevy that was manufactured for fve generations
3. Compact hatchback electric car
6. Dollars, in slang
10. Mid-size car from Hyundai
13. G.M. brand discontinued in 2010
15. Head___ (road illuminator)
17. Switch position
19. Scandinavian auto
21. Purchase sheet
22. Used car area
23. Former Saturn compact
25. Hawaiian necklace 26. Flying Spur or Mulsanne
33. Rolls-Royce model
35. Legacy or WRX ST1
38. Argument
39. Mirage or Lancer
43. Culturally signifcant
45. Take away, of paint when restoring a vehicle (2 words)
47. Caribbean, e.g.
48. Two man group
49. Old Ford that fopped
50. Executive, for short
51. Sorento and Cadenza
Down
1. Makers of the classic car from the 20s, the Ajax
2. Important number for a vehicle, abbr.
4. Letters for a Lexus
5. Brake ____
7. Best selling subcompacts
8. Changing gears
9. Important safety feature
11. According to (2 words)
12. Radio setting
14. Mercury model
16. Class of auto inspired by the Mustang
18. Adversary
20. ___ Arbor MI.
24. Original manufactured equipment, for short
26. Makers of the classic cars, Royale and EB 110
27. HD items
28. Pontiac models
29. Arrival time, for short
31. Copper symbol
34. Where an ATV can travel (2 words)
35. Go sliding
36. Single, prefx
37. Oil pros
40. Enclave or Verano
41. Czech auto maker
Why is it the ED ads come on at dinnertime? It’s not normally a pre-prandial discussion or even a subject for discussion until much later!
While we’re talking about it, have you seen those ads for the national fast-food chain, selling burgers? They have next-to-naked girls draped over muscle cars in provocative poses.
They normally come on around lunchtime. Nooners anyone? Perhaps they should run the ED ads a little earlier!
But wait! There’s more!
The host acts like an American abroad, raising his voice to be better understood. I’m willing to bet that what you pay “just for shipping and handling” is sufcient to cover the costs of that and the entire twofer.
Public broadcasting is a blessing. That is until they spend two weeks running programs to teach you how to save money, improve your heart health and reach retirement in a manner that will allow you to buy a new car, insure it and take the wife out for a hamburger dinner.
INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION S
42. Wheels
44. Cube’s frst letter
45. Light truck that was a descendant of the WW II Jeep and Land Rover
