Buying a new car can be a stressful experience: The process is expressly designed by car dealers to separate you from as much of your money as possible. However, if you're patient, prepared, and persistent, you can beat the dealers at their own game.
It's traditionally one of the slowest months of the year for vehicle sales, but most automakers reported higher U.S. sales in November compared to a year ago, despite continued consumer caution about the slow economic recovery.
General Motors, fresh off its initial public offering, reported today that November sales rose 11.4% compared to the same month a year ago. Among its four core brands, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet, GM said sales rose nearly 21%.
In a bid to revamp Lincoln's long-lost luxury image, Ford Motor will seek to reduce by about a third the number of dealers who sell Lincoln vehicles in the nation's top 130 metropolitan markets.
In a bid to better compete against European and Japanese luxury makes, Ford reportedly may seek to reduce the number of Lincoln dealerships in the U.S. Nearly 1,200 dealers sell Lincolns, five times more than sell Toyota's Lexus nameplate, the nation's leading luxury brand.
Eager for fresh products to sell to consumers, Chrysler dealers are vying for about 165 Fiat franchises. Fiat took over management of Chrysler last year as the carmaker was heading into bankruptcy.
