Franklin Sussex Auto Mall Blog

In today’s world, there is a warranty for everything … including your vehicle. Because the warranty is an essential part of buying a new or used car, the small print and countless terms can often be overwhelming and frustrating. To make it a bit easier, I’ve outlined a couple of the universal regulations and basics you can look for before signing on the dotted line.

Emission Controls
This refers to the parts of the car relating to the exhaust and the amount of carbon emissions your vehicle puts into the air when you drive. With new cars, federal government standards regulate the warranty (think about the new standards Congress is pushing through). This means the regulations in every state must account for repairing emissions equipment. The rules in California are different, but that’s because they are stricter.

“As Is” Warranty
With this type of warranty, the dealer and manufacturer have no liability for repairs. The owner has no recourse if the car breaks down or other problems occur. If the dealer promises to fix the vehicle, the buyer must have that in writing before trying to enforce it under an “as is” warranty.

Representation Of Warranty
According to federal law, dealerships cannot say a vehicle has a warranty if it doesn’t. This law also states that the owner or dealer cannot misrepresent the vehicle’s condition or other facts about the vehicle. Laws legally and ethically require sellers to inform potential buyers of any known problems with vehicles.

Overall, the easiest way to avoid having to worry about all of this is to check out our extensive line of pre-owned vehicles at Franklin Sussex Auto Mall. Before any of these vehicles arrive on our lot, they go through a rigorous 125+ point inspection that checks everything from the brakes to the radio inside. If there is something that needs to be fixed or replaced, we’ll take care of it before you have to!

When the time comes to purchase a new vehicle, there are many individuals that already know everything there is regarding the sales and purchase process. However, for those who may not know everything there is, we’ve put together a few quick tips on how to make your experience as easy and enjoyable as possible!

Research Your Target Vehicle
This seems like a no-brainer … but it is the most important part. Whether you are searching for a new car or a pre-owned vehicle, make sure you take some time to fully research the options, mileage rating, features and reviews. If you are in the market for a new car, be sure to give a call to Franklin Sussex Auto Mall for current specials and dealer incentives.

Browse Dealership Inventory
Once you’ve identified the vehicle that you want, check out our inventory to see what we currently have in stock. With over 700+ new vehicles and 250+ used vehicles in stock, we will probably have the vehicle you are looking for. Even if we don’t, be sure to contact us as we can always locate one for you and bring it to our lot for your convienence.

Prep Your Trade-In
The littlest details are often overlooked, but do make the difference. Before coming down to the dealership, take the time to make sure your vehicle looks good. Change the oil, empty out personal items from the car and give it a bath. While a full detail job isn’t necessary, making it appear as close to immaculate as possible is definitely preferred.

Have Fun!
With the past reputation of some car dealers, that might not sound possible. However, at Franklin Sussex Auto Mall we strive to provide a professional and personal experience to each one of our customers. Our sales, service, parts and finance staff are always pleasurable to deal with and will go above and beyond to make your experience at the dealership enjoyable.

After The Deal
Once the deal is complete and you have driven off in your new or pre-owned vehicle, there are just a few more things to think about. Make sure that all of your paperwork has been filed together and is in a safe place. Set any important dates on your calendar – payments due, schedule maintenance, end of warranty, etc.

Above all else, make sure you let us know about your experience at the dealership. Write us a letter, send us an email or give us a call and tell us how you feel. We are always looking for ways to improve what we do!

Feeling crunched because of the spike in gas prices? Unfortunately, we all are!

So with our pockets being drained, how can we save a few extra bucks at the end of the month without cutting into our ways of life? Its simple! Go online for insurance!

A lot of insurance companies now offer ways to get a quote with just a few clicks of the mouse. Just by savings a few hundred dollars every six months, you’ll have enough cash to stick back into your pocket for a weekend getaway or that new toy from Best Buy!

Here are a couple insurance companies that have made it quick and easy for you to get an online quote!

Geico Car Insurance – Who can resist that little English lizard?

Progressive Car Insurance – Easily compare their rates to others

eSurance – Quote, Buy, Print! Its that easy!

When the time comes for you to upgrade to a newer and safer vehicle, what are you to do with all of the money that you still owe on your current car loan?

Ideally, you want to be at or near the point of having equity in your vehicle. This is defined as the point where the value of your vehicle is higher than the amount you still owe on it.

So how do you find out where this magical point of equity is?
If you review your current invoice from your auto loan bank, it should display the payoff amount somwhere on the bill. This amount needs to be equal to or less than your current vehicle value for you to have equity.

So what is the current value of my vehicle?
There are many tools available online, like Kelly Blue Book, that help you determine an approximate value of your vehicle. However, it should be noted that these figures can often be a bit too generous as they cannot fully account for everything that a much more thorough visual inspection would cover.

Many dealers on the East Coast, including Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, obtain estimate used car values using a service called Galves. This service provides average values for vehicles sold at used car auctions around the country, which is a more accurate representation of what your trade-in is worth.

Overall, the most accurate value you can get from your trade-in comes from visiting the dealership and having the Used Car Manager appraise the car. When the Used Car Manager can see and touch your vehicle, he or she can tell you exactly what you can expect to get for your trade.

So don’t be afraid to come down to the dealership to see what your current vehicle can be appraised for!