Power at Your Fingertips

For the 2015 model year, GMC redesigned the Yukon and the Yukon XL.  Great features abound in the new models.  One of the most noticeable changes, however, is the addition of power-folding 2nd and 3rd row seats.  When folded down, the seats turn into a flat cargo area.

Check out this video to see a demonstration of the power at your fingertips.

If you would like to see more about the features available in a GMC Yukon or Yukon XL, please shop our inventory at www.schwancadillac.com

Tips to Get The Best Value for Your Trade-in

You may love your car and may be willing to overlook its flaws; the dealership manager who will be appraising your car does not feel that same attachment. He or she will be looking at your car with an objective eye and will be considering whether or not it will be profitable to resell. What can you do to increase the odds of a love connection between the dealership and your trade-in vehicle? Here are tips you can follow to present your vehicle in the best light possible and, hopefully, to get a better price for your trade.

Managers know that potential buyers notice how a car looks, smells, and runs, so they check those things when appraising a potential trade-in vehicle.

On the outside
Wash your car, and look it over in good lighting. If you notice any paint chips or scratches, consider having those fixed with a quality repair. But if you think you may make a mess with the touch-up paint, leave it alone. It is better to leave a few gravel chips than to have noticeable blotches of touch-up paint. If there are small dents, check into having those fixed with PDR or paintless dent repair.

If the car needs to have scuffs or minor body work addressed, have those taken car of before having your car appraised.

On the inside
Clean your car thoroughly. Even wash out the cup holders and vacuum under the seats. Vacuum the trunk or cargo area, too. If the seats or carpets have stains or tears, take care of those as much as you can. Carefully wash the engine area as well. A car that looks as though it has been well cared for is likely to sell better. Give your vehicle the "sniff test" to determine if it smells like dirty socks or like a car another person may want to buy. Air fresheners may be helpful, but stick with those which neutralize odors rather than covering them.

Under the hood
Gather your service records and repair history. Providing documentation that you have taken care of your vehicle may improve its value. If your vehicle has an fluid leaks or mechanical issues, either fix them or reveal them. You want the dealership to be honest with you, so you should be honest with them as well.

In your mind
Do your research. Using various tools, gather information about what your vehicle may be worth as a trade-in vehicle. When inputting information into an online form, be brutally honest about your vehicle's flaws and blemishes. If the online tool you use gives a range of likely trade-in values, prepare yourself mentally for the dealership to make you an offer toward the lower end of the scale. The after-market customization you added to your vehicle will likely not add to its value. The dings or drips you think do not matter may actually matter quite a bit. The dealership will also take into account what the market is like and how quickly they will be able to match your trade-in vehicle with another customer.

So in the end, you are setting up your vehicle on a blind date of sorts. You love that vehicle, you value it, and you think everyone else will see the same great features you see. Do what you can to give it a "spa day" before the big date, and then step back and see if the dealership will have an instant love connection with your vehicle.  Who knows? Maybe you will rekindle your own love for the vehicle and will decide it is a keeper.


Suggested Online Appraisal Tools:
Kelley Blue Book
Edmunds
NADA Guides

An Insider's View: What I Learned About Car Dealerships

Are there aspects of car dealerships or the car buying process which remain a mystery to you, no matter how much time you spend at a dealership?  Let me clear up some of those mysteries for you.

I am Chandra, the internet manager at Schwan Buick GMC Cadillac.  I have been working at the dealership for slightly under two years.  I joined the team with a lot of experience in customer service but no experience in the auto industry or in a sales atmosphere.  During my time as a dealership employee, I have learned answers to many of the questions I used to have about the process of buying a vehicle and how car dealerships operate.  I hope I can clear up some of your questions as well.

Why does the sales consultant want my name and contact information? I just want to look at cars!
A dealership may not have the exact vehicle you are looking for, or pricing on the vehicle you are considering may change.  A good sales consultant will let you know when similar vehicles arrive or when incentives change in your favor.

I want to take a test drive, but I am not ready to buy.  Can I still drive the car?
Taking a test drive is the best way to determine the value a vehicle brings.  Please let the sales consultant know that you are still narrowing down your options but that you are considering this vehicle.

I don't like the numbers the sales consultant gave me, or I do not like the way the sale consultant spoke with me.  Can I work with someone else?
Typically, it is the managers who determine the numbers a customer sees for a trade value or a purchase price, so working with a different sales consultant will likely not change the numbers.  However, if you feel that your first sales consultant did not have your best interests in mind or did not treat you respectfully, please ask a manager to connect you with a different sales consultant.  Do not be hesitant to tell the manager why you are requesting the change.

Will I get a better price if I pay cash instead of financing?
For the purchase of a used vehicle, the price you pay will not be impacted by whether you finance or pay cash.  With new vehicles, sometimes there are incentives which apply to cash sales but not to financed sales, and vice versa.

I have looked at comparable vehicles at two dealerships, and both dealerships have appraised my trade.  Why are the numbers I have received for my trade so different?
The first thing is to make sure the two vehicles you are comparing are equivalent.  In new vehicles, even a premium paint color can make a difference in the starting price.  Then compare not how much you are being quoted for your trade but what is being presented as the trade difference.

For example, Dealership A may start the math with the MSRP (for example, $40,000) and then present you with a large number for your trade (for example, $15,000) leaving you with a trade difference of $25,000.  This is called over-allowing for a trade.

Dealership B may start the math with a discounted price (for example, a $40,000 MSRP and then subtracting a $2000 dealership discount) and then present you with a lower number for your trade (for example, $14,000) leaving you with a trade difference of $24,000.

In this example, Dealership B is theoretically allowing you less for your trade, but you would have a smaller amount to finance or to give out of your pocket in order to drive away in a new vehicle.

Do you have any remaining questions about the mysteries of a car dealership?  Please ask them in the comments.