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Costly "flooring plans" mean deals for you

We are in a difficult spot in the automobile industry right now. The three American automakers – GM, Ford and Chrysler – are struggling to sell cars. At the same time, dealers have tons of cars on their lots that aren’t selling. Dealers have what are called “flooring plans,” which means they pay another company to put cars on lots. And, there are liens on the entire inventory. Every day that a car is sitting on a lot, the dealer is paying for it. So, flooring costs are going up at the same time interest rates are going up. As a result, dealers are making all kinds of deals. If you check out Edmunds.com, you can see the “true market value” of a car. It gives you a target of what you should pay. Warehouse clubs and credit unions have car buying programs, as well. The car market does not have deals on fuel efficient cars, however. These days, people want cars that get 30 miles to the gallon or more, so getting a deal on those kinds of cars is tough. But you can get great deals. You can even go to carsdirect.com, where someone will help you buy the car you want for the price you want. Consider traveling if you’re going to buy a car. Prices vary quite by region. You can save as much as $2,500 depending on where you buy.

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This week's poll
The high cost of jet fuel has a lot of people staying at home this summer instead of traveling. Is there a "staycation" in your immediate future?
Yes, I just can't afford a plane ticket and/or hotel room right now.
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