You don’t live in Southern California. You don’t live in Florida. You live in the state of Washington where it rains a good 200 plus days a year (give or take some crazy summer). So when it comes to looking at buying a convertible car in Seattle, you ARE taking a chance. Rag top or hard top? The answer is simple, considering the convertible will be closed most of time, better make it a hard top. The last thing you want is to have a slight rip and you find a puddle in your passenger seat in mid January.

So if you must have a convertible for the summer months, here’s a list of some stylish ones that will make you the envy of Seattle, for at least 2 and half months.

2010 Ford Shelby GT-2dr Convertible (5.4L 8cyl S/C 6M)-The quintessential muscle car

2009 VW Beattle-2.5L Blush Edition 2dr Convertible (2.5L 5cyl 6A)-Not REAL manly, but gets the job done in the “fun” department.

2009 Smart Fortwo-BRABUS cabriolet 2dr Convertible (1.0L 3cyl 5AM)-Could offer the best MPG of all convertibles.33/41 MPG

2009 Porche Boxster-S 2dr Convertible (3.4L 6cyl 6M)-A classic.

2009 Mazda Miata-Sport 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 6A)-It’s small but feisty

2009 Mini Cooper-S 2dr Convertible (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)-You either love it or hate it

2010 Honda S2000-CR 2dr Convertible (2.2L 4cyl 6M)-Honda reliability in a convertible

2008 BMW Z4M-2dr Hatchback (3.2L 6cyl 6M)-Can’t go wrong with this one.

2009 Cadillac XLR-Platinum 2dr Convertible (4.6L 8cyl 6A)-A head turner.

2009 Maybach Landaulet-4dr Convertible (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 5A)-Had to have a ridiculously expensive one. At $1.3 million… it is.

Don’t forget to take a look at some of the protection incentives from Ford and GM. These will essentially pay your monthly car payment if you lose your job. Be aware that each car maker has different rules for their plans, such as owning the vehicle for a few months before it actually kicks in.

If you don’t like the dealership experience, check out the SeattleAuto.net buying service, as we have teamed up with a customer focused auto buyer. Email cam@seattleauto.net with the make, model, year, and color you are looking for. The more specific you are the better help we can give you. We can find essentially any new/used car at a great price and you won’t have to step foot into a dealership.

Here are some great deals that will come to an end this month.

Buick, GMC,
Cadillac,Chevrolet,
HUMMER, Pontiac,
Saturn, Saab- 0%  APR financing for up to 60 months on many models.  New GM Total Confidence Plan includes payment protection, some protection against negative equity.  Expires: 4/30/09

Ford- 0 % APR  financing for up to 60 months, plus rebates up to $5000 on many 2009s, plus payment protection under new Ford Advantage Plan- Expires: 6/30/09

Toyota- Many models have 0% financing and cash back offers. However deals vary depending on region. Cash back rebates can reach up to $4000 on certain models- Expires: 4/30/09

Mazda- 0 – 0.9% APR financing for 36 months, can also be combined for cash back offers on certain models- Expires: 4/30/09

BMW- 0.9% APR financing (up to 60 months), plus no payments for 60 days on most 2009 models Expires:  5/31/09

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep- Employee Pricing Plus Plus sale – 0 % APR financing for 36 months, plus employee pricing discounts, plus cash back offers varying by model

Volkswagen-0% APR financing (60 months) on 2009 Passat Wagon, Routan, and Toureg 3.9% APR financing on most models- Expires: 4/30/09

 

The insurance company’s local ads have been memorable and effective in capturing the different kinds of people in the Northwest.  While some might be close to instigating a Seattle stereotype, such as Profile #76 – Super Long Coffee Orderer – they are creative and well thought out.

The ads poke fun not only at pecular Seattlelites, but find targets throughout the state. You may see Pemco ads featuring such dubious profiles like the: “Walla Walla Wine Woman”, “Tri Cities Select Sports Hostages”, and “Quiet Everett Aerospace Engineer” to name a few.

As the largest local insurance company that only operates in Washington, Pemco decided to hire an outside research firm to do an in-depth analysis to find what makes us Washingtonians tick. Their results?  Washingtonians enjoy their um, uniqueness.

“People here in Washington are a little different and they’re proud of that,” explains Jon Osterberg, Pemco’s Marketing and Communications Manager. “They value their individuality and celebrate their differences.”

Loaded with that information and the desire to distinguish themselves from bigger national insurance companies, Pemco hired DNA Brand Mechanics of Seattle in 2007 to come up with ”something different”, which coincidentally, turned into their slogan “We’re a Lot Like You, a Little Different.” The company even has a tongue-in cheek acronym for the ad campaign: WALLY.

“We wanted to say something no other insurance company could say,” says Osterberg. “All of us [at Pemco] live here in Washington. We can relate to the customers because we’re the same people. And so when we poke fun of people in the Northwest, we’re really poking fun at ourselves… I am absolutely the ‘Blue Tarp Camper’!”

Chances are, you either know someone who fits one of the many Pemco profiles- or you ARE one of these profiles. How many “Relentless Recyclers” have you come across at the PTA meeting?

Since these Pemco ads are for insurance after all, the humorous profiles naturally include the type of vehicles that us Northwest people drive. The “Bumper Sticker Idealist” drives a 80’s era 2-door Mazda (aka Mazdaratti), while the “East Coast Transplant” rolls down 520 in the BMW.

Well thought out and uncanny in their accuracy, the Pemco WALLY ads have struck a nerve.  

“We hear from people, that they love such and such a character,” claims Osterberg. “They say ‘That’s Me!’”

There are numerous profiles to be seen. Check out the We’re A Lot Like You site for the complete list.

Here are the unofficial top 5 Pemco profiles, courtesy of the Seattleauto.net staff:

1. Accidental Tech Millionaire
Spotted: Getting Testa Rose Detailed at the Country Club.
Vehicle: American SUV
This guy hit the dot com jackpot and doesn’t have to work again. This is number #1 because it sounds like people we know at SeattleAuto.net.

2.4 Way Stop, You Go. No You Go. No You Go Guy.
Spotted: When you least have time for it.
Diet: Anything out of a slow cooker
Vehicle: If you’re behind it, you’ll get a good long look.
Everyone gets the right of way, in this passive-aggressive display of patience and politeness.

3. Marymoor Off Leash Dog Lady
Vehicle: Station wagon with a head out.
Diet: Iams and a double latte.
Could be seen saying to a dog, “You’re so attentive, and best of all you never interupt like some silly selfish self centered man would. That’s a good boy. That’s a good, good, good, good, good, good boy.”

4. First Snowflake Freakout Lady
Vehicle: 4×4SUV, with snow chains, flares,and an extra 200lbs of sand in the back.
Perfectly good AWD’s… abandoned! More bundled up than an Iditarod winner. Visiting Alaskans and Spokanites want to slap her.

5.Pony Tailed Software Geek
Vehicle: Aging Japanese sedan.
Diet: Nacho chips and highly caffeinated soda.
An avid fantasy gamer. Proficient in many languages such as C++, Javascript, and as an added bonus speaks fluent Klingon.

You’ve got your car requirements down: that was the easy part. Now comes one of the hardest aspects of buying a used car, finding the car you want.

In our Craigslist search for our $1,000 car, our query came up with over 1,000 results. Information overload? Just a little. But we’ll show you how to sort through the junk and find the real diamonds in the rough. Here’s a sampling of actual listings that came up for our search:

1987 Honda Accord – $600 (Suquamish)
new clutch and tranny. needs brake pads. has tabs till April 2009

Not “bad”, but certainly lacks details. No odometer reading, no pictures and no other information whatsoever! The owner saying that brake pads are needed is a luke warm sign, as they are being honest, but we also have to wonder if that also means new drums or rotors will be needed. Passing up for now.

1998 Honda Civic – $750 (Black Diamond)
Front end damage. New Tranie (spent over 1000.00), Automatic, Good Motor, Make offer

This listing includes a picture of the car with a smashed front bumper and bent hood. This isn’t even street legal at this point, with who knows what kind of damage to the engine compartment. Even with the supposed good motor and transmission, this is still a pass.

88 jeep cherokee – $800 (graham/parkland)
i got a 88 jeep cherokee for sale it has the 4.0 4wd auto siting on 30×9.5 high millagge 262,000 has no carpet no headliner it use to be my off road rig its not the perfect rig it has dents dings but it still starts and drives like a champ it might nedd a new ac pulley but i got that in the back of the jeep

So far, the best out of the three highlighted, this seller has put down a good amount of information and has claimed that the car drives well. The problem with an off-road car is that it is driven hard and has probably accumulated lots more muck underneath the car body than most other cars – which means a high risk of rust.

1991 Acura Integra LS – $900 (Seattle)
Red DA 91 Acura Integra/186k miles/Automatic/Power Everything/Ac and Heater/Runs and Drives great/Clean Title/Clean Straight Body/Just needs distributor and it doesn’t have the back seats.

Now, this listing doesn’t sound like a bad deal on the surface if the listing is honest about only needing a distributor cap. A distributor is an easy fix, but will also require the vehicle to be towed back home or to a shop to fix it first. That alone will be $200.

Checking on Kelly Blue Book, this car in fair condition goes for $1,435, though that also means the car is in reasonable running condition. Assuming this Integra does need work, the cap and tow will probably cost about $500, so this car is being sold for a fair value. Not a great deal, but still too much for us.

1989 Toyota Corolla Wagon – $700 (Seattle)
1989 Toyota Corolla Wagon, DX
White, good condition, runs great & reliable.
Gets great gas mileage.
240,000 miles.
Has new starter, battery, & wheel bearing as well as some other misc things.

Now this looks like a pretty good start. The buyer is honest about the recent fixes, the car is said to be running well, it’s a Corolla – a reliable model, and is also a wagon. Why is the wagon a bonus? It means that in the history of the car, it probably was owned by a family, rather than a single individual. We like the idea of a family owned car because adults tend to treat cars better both in maintenance and how they drive the vehicle.

I send an email off to the owner asking about the VIN and a time to check out the car – but get a quick reply from a lady that the car has already sold.

Geo Prizm, 5sp, new tune-up and tires – $995 (Monroe)
Toyota built 4cyl. with no mechanical issues for less than a $1,000.00 Interior and exterior are both average, miles are just over 200K but like I said she runs flawlessly. Needs tabs, clear title and as far as I can see, all painted areas are original so no accidents.

This listing seems very close to the last listing, with a few pros and cons. The nice thing is that it’s 5 years newer and also has 40k less miles, while being only $200 more. For those who don’t know, the Geo Prizm is actually a Toyota Corolla, just with a different label, much like the GMC Yukon and Chevy Suburban or Mitsubishi 3000GT and the Dodge Stealth. Sometimes, car companies work collaboratively on projects.

If you’ve been observant, you’ll already notice the warning flag with this listing: the lack of tabs. If this car won’t pass emissions, we might as well be dumping money down the drain, so it’s important to get that squared away.

I call up the owner and am met with a man on the other end. I tell him that I am inquiring about the Prizm and would like to know the VIN number and also when the tabs expired. He gruffly replies that “this isn’t the kind of car you need that for” and proceeds to tell me that it’s pointless to title check a car that “isn’t at least $10,000.”

Of course, that is completely false – you should check the title history for every car you’re thinking of purchasing. It does validate what we’ve said however that if the paperwork isn’t in order, there’s probably something fishy going on. I wouldn’t be surprised if this car couldn’t pass emissions or had some broken history.

1994 Ford Escort Wagon – $500 (duvall)
I have a 1994 Ford Escort Wagon with 1.9 motor. Good running order all around.
Car is great gas saver, 153,000 miles. This is a 5 speed, Light Green in color,clean inside and out.

Looks like a solid listing for the price. The 150k miles is a plus compared to a lot of the 200k+ listings that we’ve been looking at, so I shot off an email asking for a VIN and other details and got it back pretty promptly.

1998 Chevy Prizm – $1200
1998 Chevy Prizm. Has 224k miles but runs great. In good condition too.

This is short and sweet, but to the point. Good model, only 10 years old, is said to run great and is $500 below Kelly Blue Book for a “fair” price. Shot off email asking for VIN, any major vehicle work and if the car is manual or automatic.

1998 Ford Escort ZX2 Sport (Puyallup)
I am selling my 1998 Ford escort zx2 sport. It is in good condition with a newer transmission and alternator. I am asking $1200 but I am willing to negotiate. Ask for T****.

While it might look like we’re selectively choosing Escorts and Corolla’s – it just happens that these cars are being listed. But it’s also a good sign, because it means that these two models are fairly long lasting if there are multiple listings for these types of vehicles. This listing says a newer transmission was put in, which is great (if verified by receipts). KBB puts a fair market value on this at $900 assuming 150,000 miles, so this listing may be a bit high, but the seller indicates they are willing to negotiate. Sent an email off here and we’ll see where we are.

geo PRIZM toyota corolla fuel efficient … automatic – $700 (lakewood)
This car is a gas saver. It has a 4 cylinder toyota motor replaced at 125k so right now it has about 60k miles on it and the body has 182k. 4 door. passed inspection/emissions. good tabs till sept 09. Heater and ac both WORK excellent. IT starts right up.This car runs and drives. . This is my daily driver. have old reciepts of new battery starter alternator etc. it has good tires aswell.cd player included theres a tiny crack on the winshield but does not affect the view at all.and the axel might need to be changed.makes some noise

This sounds like a strong description, but then ends with that little “axel [sic] might need to be changed”, which is most certainly not a good thing. An odd noise can be many issues that only a mechanic should diagnose, so this is probably the reason it’s listed at a low price for this Prizm.

1992 Mazda MX-6 – $1,395
Brand new clutch passed emissions test runs great and gets 30 to 35 mpg

Higher than we want to pay for, but Mazdas also have a fair amount of reliability – short of the early RX series where they started using their rotary motor. The exterior pictures look good, the car is loaded and the new clutch and emissions passing is nice. The mileage is a bit high as is the price (KBB says $900 for the priced out features), but this may be a possibility.

hyundai accent coupe 1999 (redmond)

EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH 97K MILES,NO PROBLEM WITH ANY PARTS OF THE VEHICLE OR ITS BODY,CD AUDIO PLAYER,BEEN USING CAR FROM PAST 10 MONTHS N THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING,GOT REGULAR CHECK.SELLING IT ONLY BCOS IM LEAVING THIS PLACE AND YOU CAN GIV ME A CALL AND THEN WE CAN TALK ON THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE
I HEREBY ATTACH THE PICTURES

This seller put their full name into the listing, so we Googled their name and found out that they were a software developer with Microsoft. This is a perfect low risk type owner that we like, while the seller did not post a price. KBB says about $1,100 for Accent in fair condition, so this may be a great deal if we can bargain. Low miles, Hyundai is fair in reliability (good engines, not so great transmissions).

Now with all these listings, a few more we didn’t list and a few good prospects, it’s time for the waiting game to hear back from everyone. After that, we can evaluate the cars and go out and check them out for the inspection.

Next: Used Car Inspection 101 (coming soon)

Recently at the Seattle Autoshow, mini vans made a small and brief impression. Maybe it’s just the sign of the times and what local car buyers are looking for.

“They just seem past their prime,” explains Dan Wheeler who was looking at an American made mini van with his two sons. “They put a lot of stuff into them, but most of it is unnecessary and I wouldn’t want to spend that kinda money on something like this. I don’t like the way it looks. I like the Ford Flex or the Volvo(XC90) better.”

Automakers like Volvo, Ford, and Mazda have other family vehicle options these days. Considering the price and fuel efficiency, the mini vans are not the first option for many family buyers anymore, there’s just more to choose from.

A list of mini vans at the Seattle Autoshow

• Volkswagen Routan SEL  17/25 MPG-Approximately $39,000
• Toyota Sienna 17/23 MPG-Approximately $29,000
• Chrysler Grand Caravan 17/25MPG-Approximately $38,000
• Chrysler Town and Country 17/25 MPG-Approximately $43,000
• Chevy Traverse AWD 16/23 MPG-Approximately $45,000
• Honda Odyssey 17/25-Approximately $29,000

These were just the mini vans observed at the Seattle Autoshow. Some had more bells and whistles than others, thus the price differences. However they all received attention, people still looked at them, but the consumer observations were eye opening.

“It just seems like they’re trying to cram a motor home into these,” says a mother of three from Bellevue.  “If I were buying today, it would be something else.”

A list of popular mini van alternatives

• Ford Flex
• Volvo XC90
• Mazda CX9
• Honda Passport

Here’s a sampling of some of the cars that will be at the show:

Eight cars at the show under $25k

1. Mazda MX-5, $21,305
2. Dodge Charger, $21,995
3. Chevy Cobalt, $22,775
4. Honda Civic Si, $22,475
5. Pontiac G6, $23,100
6. MazdaSpeed3, $23,310
7. VW GTI, $23,670
8. Subaru WRX, $24,995

Ten high gas mileage cars (combined MPG)

1. Toyota Prius (46.6)
2. Honda Civic/Si (42.1)
3. Nissan Altima (34.1)
4. Volkswagen Jetta/GLI (34)
5. Toyota Camry (33.4)
6. Toyota Yaris (31.8)
7. Mini Clubman (31.4)
8. Mini Cooper (31.4)
9. Toyota Corolla (31.4)
10. Honda Fit (30.4)

Of course, what would an auto show be without some exotic supercars? Even with the dismal economy, it’s fun to google at some insanely fast cars that you can dream of owning:

1. Lotus Elise SC
2. Bentley GTC Convertible
3. Chevrolet ZR1 Corvette
4. Dodge Challenger SRT8
5. Ferrari F430 Spider
6. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4
7. Maserati GranTurismo
8. Nissan GT-R
9. Porsche GT2
10. Rolls-Royce Phantom

Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for college students with ID and children 12 and under are free with paid admission. Hours are: Wed-Fri, 12pm-10pm; Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 10am-7pm.

For more information, go to: www.seattleautoshow.com

Enter the Yoga Mom.

This defines today’s upper middle class (possibly career) woman, who obviously goes to yoga class, but could also include book clubs, happy hour with the PTA, and rolling up to an eastside Whole Foods in a Lexus 400h hybrid.

In the advertising world, one classification led to another. The term “soccer mom” was a broad marketing term. The yoga version is more specific yet harder to satisfy. Yoga moms are more exact in their needs and must have certain things. However, they’ll spend money to get it. Therefore, Yoga Moms are a goldmine and advertisers know it.

For automakers, this meant having to step up their game and make the family class vehicle worth buying, because Yoga Moms, by definition, are shrewd spenders.

Yoga Mom Vehicle Needs

The northwest yoga mom needs a little more of everything. You can tell the difference between them and soccer moms based on what they drive.

• Style: It has to look nice, because no one wants the same thing. But even if it’s the same kind of car, it has to be a unique color.
• Efficiency: Gas Mileage and Green Vehicles are the biggest differences. Soccer moms never cared about gas, just fill it up! But northwest yoga moms are more earth conscious, and if they are going to drive an SUV, it better be a hybrid.
• Dependability: A yoga mom is busy, often times juggling career and family. The vehicle can’t be in the shop all the time, because the family must run like a well oiled machine.

Popular Yoga Mom Vehicles

• Toyota Prius
• Ford Escape Hybrid
• Lexus 400 H
• Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
• Mercury Mariner Hybrid

Soccer Moms Vehicle Needs

Soccer moms have different needs than the yoga types. However there can be some overlap.

• Size: There has to be enough room for at least 2 kids and all their things.
• Dependability: This is true for both soccer and yoga moms.
• Safety: If the kids are riding in it, it better be safe. The old thought was bigger is safer.
• Extras: It’s great to have a DVD and swivel chairs in the back of the Town and Country to keep the little ones interested.

Popular Soccer Mom Vehicles

• Toyota Siena
• Subaru Forrester/Outback
• Mazda 5 Touring
• Chrysler Town and Country
• Jeep Commander