Wednesday, January 7, 2009

DealerRater.com Helps Auto Dealers Turn User Reviews Into New Business

With more than 60,000 dealership reviews, the reputation management Web site is changing the way car dealers build and maintain their reputation. Dealerships are sending customers to write reviews on third party Web sites.

Waltham, MA (PRWEB) January 7, 2009 -- DealerRater.com, the nation's premier car dealer review Web site, announced today that the Web site has gathered more than 60,000 reviews written by DealerRater.com users, many of whom were referred by car dealerships.

"Dealerships around the country are sending their customers to www.DealerRater.com to report on the experience they had at the dealership," explains Chip Grueter, president of DealerRater.com. "Car purchasers have shared this information with other online users in the DealerRater social networking community since 2002, but we are now seeing many more dealerships use our Web site as a reputation management tool."

In the past, car dealerships have relied on referrals from satisfied customers who tell family and friends in conversation. Customers are now logging onto third party review Web sites, like DealerRater.com, to publicly share their experience or to research perspective dealerships.

Dealerships, like Acton Toyota in Littleton, Massachusetts, receive new business leads from DealerRater.com users' referrals. "Viral marketing is successful because people pay attention to messages from other customers, not just the message from the dealership," states Mike Hills, General Manager, Acton Toyota. "Even though we knew we were providing very good customer service based on information collected for us in manufacturer surveys, we did not have a way of effectively sharing this information with potential customers. DealerRater is a resource for our customers to express their satisfaction. We suggest to customers that they visit DealerRater to see how customers rate Acton Toyota and other dealerships during the sales process, and invite them to write a review about us after their purchase is complete."

Research gathered from DealerRater.com dealers' best practices indicates that dealerships who are successful in building and maintaining their online reputations are committed to asking customers to write reviews. Dealerships using DealerRater have incorporated the review writing request into their emails to customers, promotional materials and showroom signage and promote their ratings and review quotes in advertisements and on their own Web sites.

About DealerRater.com:
DealerRater.com was founded in 2002 as the first car dealer review Web site worldwide. DealerRater.com is committed to providing a central collection point for informative reviews. The site currently features more than 24,000 US and International car dealers and over 60,000 user reviews. DealerRater.com provides the opportunity for users to search for car dealerships, read current reviews, write their own review, and find car deals - all for free. Car dealers are rated on the criteria of customer service, quality of work, friendliness, price and overall experience. DealerRater.com users also have the option to recommend the dealer to other users and provide a descriptive review. Web site users and car dealerships may post free auto classified ads. DealerRater.com visitors may request vehicle quotes and Certified Dealers receive free vehicle leads.

About Chip Grueter:
Chip Grueter is the president of DealerRater.com. Mr. Grueter founded DealerRater.com LLC in 2002 as a way for Web site users to share their sales and service experiences at automotive dealerships with other Web site users. Mr. Grueter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science from Boston College. Mr. Grueter's favorite dealership customer service perk is free vehicle loaners.

About Acton Toyota:
Mike Hills is the General Manager of Acton Toyota, located in Littleton, Massachusetts. Acton Toyota received the DealerRater.com Dealer of the Year award in 2007 and 2008. The dealership has more than 450 reviews and is rated 4.8 out of five for customer satisfaction.

For DealerRater.com information or to interview Chip Grueter, please contact Michelle Oldershaw at 800.266.9455 or visit www.dealerrater.com.

See Also:

[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 3:45 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Why Invest in a Car Cover

A car is one of the biggest purchases a person makes next to the price of their home. Just put it in the garage, you say? If your garage is typical it is already being used to store everything else in your home except the car. Most homes barely have enough room left in the garage to store a bicycle, let alone a car.

Vandals often target cars in the driveway as they are convenient targets. Using a car cover makes it less visible and tells them the car is being protected. They are much more likely to pass your vehicle by instead of mess with it.

Some car covers have a cable with a lock to secure it in place. A car thief has no desire to mess with trying to unlock the car cover, then the car door, an alarm, then the ignition. If they cannot get the car quickly, they will pass by.

Leaving a car in the driveway exposed to the elements is also detrimental to your investment. Leaves, pollen, tree sap, dust and other things blow onto the car even in the most gentle of winds. Any car owner who has had the displeasure of trying to get sap off their vehicle will tell you that it is much better to invest in a car cover. In a storm, debris can be picked up and tossed against the paint job. Branches also can be blown against the car leaving ugly scratches in the finish. The car cover will take this beating instead of your car.

Price ranges vary from the inexpensive to deluxe models. Some are generic and can fit over most vehicles, while there are covers made just for your particular make and model of car, SUV or truck.

Some for the larger vehicles can be partial- say to cover just the front end of a frequently driven vehicle or just the cab while others will cover a full sized pickup and a shell to boot.

For those cars which are awaiting the funds to be repaired or rebuilt as a hobby a car cover can preserve their very existence. Some city ordinances prohibit non-driven vehicles from being visible from the street. A full car cover fills the requirements of the ordinance and protects the vehicle while it is being worked on.

Why not just use a cheap tarp? The answer is simple- a car cover is made with fabrics that will not scratch or react with the finish of the vehicle. A tarp can make no such claim. Besides a tarp really does look tacky- any wind flaps it around pounding it against the paint. It also requires being held down on all sides by rocks or bricks lending to the look of a junk vehicle or a trashy yard. And if the wind is strong enough the whole thing can come flying off, landing in a place it is definitely not wanted.

After spending thousands of hard earned dollars it makes good sense to invest in a product that will protect your investment for years to come.

About the Author

Clark Covington is a public relations specialist working with Show Off Cars, the perfect place to show off your precious investment. More information can be found at www.showoffcars.com

See Also:

Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

3 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Motor Scooter

So you're ready to get started in the world of motor scooters? I can guarantee that the trip will both save you money and expand your travel experiences in some fun ways. But buying a motor scooter can be a big investment, and you want to make the right choice.

So how do you find the scooter that's ideal for you? How do you choose the right model and type? The scooter market can seem intimidating at first glance, but have no fear! By answering three simple questions, you'll be well on your way to discovering the perfect scooter.

First, who will drive the scooter? Will it be you (the homeowner, vacationer, urban professional, retiree, student, etc.)-or will it be your children? Or maybe a variety of people? Motorized scooters designed for kids are intended to bear a lot less weight and travel shorter distances. As a result, they cost considerably less. When you start shopping for motor scooters, make sure you're in the appropriate market, kids or adults. If you're in the adult market, make sure you choose a model with an appropriate weight rating. If you weight 180 lbs. or less, you don't need to worry about this--any adult scooter you buy will be able to carry you.

Second, how far do you want to ride? This pertains to the distances you'll typically travel in a day or week. Consider: Will you use the scooter mostly on off-road trails? On a campus? For an urban commute? In a residential neighborhood? If you need to drive further than 12-15 miles at one go, you may well need to look at gas powered scooters, because electric scooters beyond the 12-15 mile range become very costly and somewhat difficult to find. A number of factors influence range ratings for motor scooters (rider's weight, hilly terrain, tire pressure)--but usually the manufacturer will list a "range rating" that reflects the scooter's ability under optimal conditions.

Third, how fast do you want to drive? I'm serious! The ability to put the pedal to the metal may seem like an afterthought for scooter use--until you're sitting on your scooter, watching joggers pass you. Electric scooters aren't known for their speed, and usually fall in the 8 mph to 25 mph range. If you want to go much faster than that, or ride on highways, you'll probably want to consider a gas powered or hybrid model. Otherwise, prepare yourself to shell out some cash for a speedy electric scooter. Again, a number of factors come into play when companies hand out speed ratings. But as you would guess, a manufacturer's rating will reflect the scooter's speed under ideal conditions.

Starting to make sense of your options? If so, you're getting closer to choosing the right scooter--just make sure you also take things like carrying capacity and terrain into account. That's right, there's more stuff to consider! But don't worry. By thinking through these questions, you're moving toward a scooter buy you won't regret.

About the Author

AJ Vanderhorst writes about motorized scooters for today's travelers. A world of cutting edge design and money-saving fuel economy awaits your discovery. Accelerate into the fast lane at http://www.motorizedscooters.arieljvan.com.

See Also:

Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Dry Flow Cold Air Intakes

There are several types of cold air intakes on the market today. Most of which people call K&N no matter who makes the kit. Today we aren't going to talk about the standard oiled K&N type air filter. We are going to talk about dry flow filters and their differences from the standard oiled filters on the market today. We are going to talk about the AEM brand dryflow filters, and the AFE brand Pro Dry S filters.

There are many people out there that have complained about messing up their mass air flow or MAF sensor due to an oiled filter. They never have any troubles when they first start using the kit. It always seems like it is later on that they begin to have trouble. The reason for this is one of a couple of things. All of the reasons come back to not properly cleaning and re-oiling their filters. When cleaning an oiled filter you have to let it fully dry after washing it. This takes time. Most people are impatient and don't want to wait for it to dry before re-oiling the filter and as a result end up messing up their MAF sensor. The other main reason is over oiling. Many kits today come with measuring tools to measure the correct amount of oil. If you over oil, the filter doesn't work as it is designed to do.

The Dry flow filters bypass getting oil on the MAF, because they don't use oil. To clean a dry flow filter, usually you'll bang out the big debris on the ground and then you wash it. You have to wait for it to dry fully before using it. But you don't have to worry about oiling it. You just let it sit out and dry and then drop it back into the intake system. The dry flow filters filter almost as well as the oiled filters and bypass the worries of over oiling or not oiling properly. The AEM brand and AFE Brand intakes are the only ones that have dry flow filters, but I'm sure many will follow. AEM does dry flow filters exclusively. AFE offers a 5 layer oiled filter, a 7 layer oiled filter and a Pro Dry S dryflow filter.

In conclusion we have found in our experience in the industry that a majority of people these days are starting to use dry flow filters so that they don't have to worry about improperly regenerating the filter element of their cold air intake kits. Those who have had experience with the oiled filters in the past typically like to stay with what they know.

Out of all the air intakes that are out there on the market we prefer to use the dry flow filters. Partially because they are easier to clean and reuse since there is no messy oiling and you still get excellen filtration out of the filter as well as good performance and fuel economy gains.

About the Author

http://www.parleysdieselperformance.com/site/988369/page/925617 http://www.parleysdieselperformance.com/site/988369/page/699661 Nathan Young is a diesel performance enthusiast

See Also:

Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Airaid Diesel Intakes Vs Volant Diesel Intakes

In an effort to get a little bit more knowledge out there about the diesel aftermarket we are going to do a quick comparison on the Airaid diesel intake kits and the Volant diesel intake kits that are on the market. There are so many different types of what seems to be the same thing out in the market that it's easy to get confused and not be able to tell the difference between two items or if there are any differences at all.

Both the Volant intakes and the Airaid intakes are oiled filters. Most people refer to oiled filters as a K&N style filter. Talk about branding. Even if someone is looking for a different brand, they still call it by the name of the industry leader. Airaid and Volant intakes both have purple filters that look very similar to the K&N filters. Airaid filters are tuned to provide maximum power and fuel efficiency gains, and are made with a computer aided design. They also use airaid's patented Synthaflow filter that is made of a synthetic nano fiber material that captures debris that other standard cotton gauze filters can't stop. It is also constructed of a urethane body that you won't ever have to worry about cracking, curling or shrinking due to heat, or weather.

The Volant intakes take a different approach to generating gains in power and fuel economy. Volant seals their intakes in a box that has more air volume than the factory units have. By doing this they eliminate the chance of any hot engine air from getting into the intake charge. The competing intake kits in the industry use heat shields that block the hot engine air but they do just that....block the heat. They don't lock it out.

Cold air intakes for the diesel trucks in general are increasing the airflow into the engine which increases both power on horse power and torque as well as increase fuel economy and are able to do even more if used in conjunction with a chip, programmer, or module of some sort. Cold air intakes are a basic mod for pretty much any vehicle, but are especially popular on the diesel trucks as well as any other diesel in the industry that they are available for.

Increasing air to the engine is an important part of increasing power and fuel economy numbers. It is important to get colder air as well as colder air is denser and takes up less space, so more of it is able to get into the engine. There are many options out on the market that will achieve this, we have just talked about a select few number of the air intake options. Air intakes also work more efficiently if you change the fueling parameters with either a chip, module, or tuner of some sort. That way, the two items are able to work in conjunction together.

About the Author

http://www.parleysdieselperformance.com/site/988369/page/925785 http://www.parleysdieselperformance.com/site/988369/page/1295835 Nathan Young is a diesel performance enthusiast.

See Also:

Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Choosing an Automotive GPS Navigation System

Tired of getting lost while your family is on vacation? No idea where to make your deliveries? Wish you had known there wouldn't be another gas station for 200 miles?

All of these hazards, and more, can be avoided with a dedicated gps for your car. Once used only by the military, civilian GPS has been adapted to the consumer's needs for the better part of the last decade. Precise location fixes and powerful trip computers are now standard with just about any GPS device. Manufacturers such as Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and TomTom have expanded the capabilities of GPS from a simple readout to specific street-level directions for any address in North America. Automotive GPS models range from $150 on the low end to over $1000 for top-of-the-line, fully functional complete navigation systems. So how do you choose the one that's right for you?

When picking a GPS system, the most important question to ask is "What am I going to do with it?" Nearly any automotive GPS unit available on the market will tell you where you are and where to go and make sure you are able to get to where you need to be in the shortest possible time. The first factor to consider, price-wise, is how much map you need. Most value-level models include maps for the continental United States; you'll have to upgrade to a higher model for maps of Canada and Alaska. In addition, some manufacturers have European maps available. Models such as the Garmin nuvi 770 and TomTom GO 920 include maps of both North America and Europe built-in, so there's nothing more to add!

Another important feature to look for is "text-to-speech." Most voice-prompting GPS devices will give an audible command such as "Turn right in 200 feet" or "Take next exit." A unit with a text-to-speech function will not only give directions but the street name as well: "Turn left on Main Street in 500 feet" or "Take Exit 38B." This is a huge help for many people, as they can avoid missing important turns and exits or navigating those confusing intersections. You won't even have to take your eye off of the road to know where to go.

A new feature to consider is live traffic service. Available in larger cities, a subscription to a traffic service gives you real-time, up-to-the-minute updates on traffic and road conditions. Your GPS will notify you of potential problems and offer an alternative route. Often there is a free trial period, then monthly fees which typically cost about $5/month. Some Garmin units also offer MSN Direct, which provides not only traffic but weather, movie times, Starbucks locations and more. With some of the newest models such as the Garmin nuvi 780 and nuvi 880 adds the above features plus news, stock tickers and event listings.

One of the newest additions available on a new automotive GPS navigation system is the integration of a Bluetooth chip. If your cell phone and GPS unit are equipped with Bluetooth technology, you can pair them up for hands-free calling, dial-a-POI features and more, making your take-it-to-the-streets-for-work-and-play-combo completely integrated.

So which is the "best?" That depends entirely on your needs and how much you want to spend. There are enough models to choose from that will suit just about anyone's taste for features as well as your budget.

About the Author

http://www.TrackItGPS.com. Helping you choose the right GPS system.

See Also:

Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

CarZen Calls on Women to Become More Auto Savvy During Women's Self-Empowerment Week

Women have new & powerful tools when they search to buy a new car using online vertical car search and buying sites like CarZen.com. It's a new year and a new dawning for women who finally want to achieve "auto enlightenment." With a waning economy, auto manufacturers and dealers are offering incentives and deep discounts that have not been seen for half a century, CarZen is a powerful way to help women make the best decisions about a major car purchase.

New York, New York (PRWEB) January 6, 2009 -- It's a new year and a new dawning for women who want to buy a new car and achieve "auto enlightenment." With a waning economy, auto manufacturers and dealers are offering incentives and deep discounts that have not been seen for half a century, making online car search engines such as CarZen, a powerful way to help women make the best decisions about a major car purchase.

News Image

What better way to start the year than achieving auto empowerment during Women's Self-Empowerment Week - a week long observance from January 5 -11. This is a time for women to reflect on and feel good about their accomplishments, role in society, as well as establish new goals for the future. Why not make one of the goals to learn the tools needed to research the best car based on your wants and needs, or to negotiate with dealers when making your purchases? For consumers who qualify for loans or have the cash to buy outright, the time is ripe to pick some of the best car deals in a decade. In fact, to clear last year's inventory, the industry is now offering great deals on new cars, in the form of both incentives and rebates.

CarZen - the most efficient and powerful car search tool on the web - is well poised to help you make the decision to buy a new car. CarZen provides the simplest and most personalized experience that is "pain free" - unlike competitors that inundate women with useless jargon, pages of content, stats and figures, CarZen streamlines the process through its CarConsult consultative auto personalization tool. Within minutes, CarZen provides consumers with their perfect "car match," which enables the laser focus they need in this challenging environment.

Consider these facts as they relate to women and car buying:

  • Women spend $83 billion annually on new cars.
  • As of 2004, more than 68% of all women use the Internet to research product information and resources online.
  • Women are directly responsible for nearly 45% of all new vehicle sales in the United States, including sales of trucks, and influence 80% of those sales.
  • When it comes to a couple or family purchasing a new car, women influence the decision by 85% and display 95% of the vetoing power against a car (Woman Motorist, 2000; Road and Travel, 2004).
"Once visitors use CarZen to select the right kind of cars based on their individual wants and needs, they are equipped with the tools to help negotiate when speaking to car dealers, ultimately leaving them empowered and with a feeling of "Auto Enlightenment" -- CarZen's mantra," said Lauren Fix, CarZen's female mascot and Automotive Editor in Chief. "For women, this is particularly important, as it is widely known that women pay more at car dealerships than men and need to be more educated when searching for cars. Women tend to be more practical, and have very pragmatic needs that CarZen can help them navigate. Men, on the other hand, tend to base decisions on automotive pictures and performance specs."

Regardless of gender, using CarZen is simply the best way to search for a new vehicle. And in these difficult economic times, it is even more important to use a robust and appealing car search site with that will give consumers the tools they need to give car dealers a run for their money.

About Us: CarZen is the most efficient and powerful car search tool on the web that provides the simplest and most personalized experience. CarZen is focused on delivering content better and faster and providing pain-free experiences that empower consumers to make better car-related decisions. CarZen is auto enlightenment. For up to date auto-related postings, visit the CarZen blog. Media Contact: Andrea Martone, 917.929.0527

See Also:

[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 6:45 AM 0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)