Style changes have proved historically significant for many auto models. Think Ford Mustang from 1973-on – compared with the classic 1960s models before them. It took Ford many years to learn from its mistake(s); and those who owned older versions were disinclined to sell a used car.

That can change the dynamics if you own a 2008 or older model of one particular car, and its redesigned version is not as popular. If you’re beginning the process to sell a used car, your older model might just get a bump up in value.

However if the redesign is a hit, prices of previous generations of the car can fall as buyers can gravitate toward the 2009 model.

As a used car owner you have little control over this, other than to send a note to the automaker either praising or cursing them for the changes. Are you in the market to sell a used car? Then it might behoove you to learn about model style changes.

Selling a Used Car vs. Price vs. Demand

The 2009 model year is interesting to watch considering the auto industry’s struggles not only the entire previous year but particularly in recent months. September and October sales were historically stagnant, and some automakers are fending off bankruptcy.

Despite slow sales, several automakers are standing pat with few changes, including Buick, Mercury, Jeep, Lexus, Scion, Smart, Land Rover and Volvo. Hummer will add only the new H3T pickup version to the H3, and Saturn added an upgraded hybrid option to the Vue.

Some auto industry experts disagree with Scion. They say the remade new Scion xB has far less character than original versions. If you’re looking to sell a used car and it’s an xB, don’t be surprised if offers exceed your expectations. Add to that the fact that more buyers are looking for used yet newer-than-classic cars.

Most automakers surprisingly plan to offer new products and multiple redesigns. Taking considerable heat is Acura, which tinkered with the 2004-2008 generation of its popular TL by adding a chevron grille. Critics say Acura is going overboard trying to present a more sporty visual appearance.

Selling a used car and you have an Acura TL from the past few years? There may be more buyers than expected.

 Yet Unknown in the Sell a Used Car World

The jury’s still out on several makeovers. They say in politics, charisma means an equal number of people love you as hate you. Here are some redesigned models causing a fuss among automotive watchers:

• Chrysler Sebring
• Dodge Viper
• Subaru, particularly the Impreza and Forester
• BMW, both 5 Series and 7 Series
• Mazda 6

Selling a used car today, if you own a modern yet older version of the vehicles above, keep an eye out for media reports regarding sales or prices. Beyond exterior styling changes, some new changes to known vehicles can have an impact, among them:

Ford Mustang enthusiasts might want to see the new glass roof option. Chevrolet’s large Silverado pickup will come in a hybrid version. Cadillac sets its new 556-horsepower, V8 engine into the CTS-V.

Saab’s 280-horsepower Turbo X SportCombi has been called a pseudo station wagon. And several large trucks or sport utility vehicles will come in hybrid versions, among them the GMC Sierra pickup, Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.

In fact, Barrack Obama’s new chief of staff mentioned the car industry specifically in an interview on the television program “Face the Nation,” calling it “an essential part of the economy.” Rahm Emanuel said the federal government should provide aid to the automobile industry to help the major automakers and their supplies survive the financial crisis, the New York Times reported.

The comments came after America’s largest automaker, General Motors, the week of the election stated it has been losing more than $2 billion a month and faces bankruptcy. The new President’s staff members are calling on the Bush administration to accelerate $25 billion in federal loans provided by a recent law to help automakers and suppliers retool to build more energy-efficient vehicles.

Obama’s team hopes to come up with ideas to help the industry while at the same time developing a new energy policy that will let America become less dependent on foreign oil.

Of course, gas prices are pretty much doing that anyway, as buyers are more inclined to purchase gas sippers. It remains to be seen how the federal government could boost sales of fuel-efficient cars.

Uncertainty Reduced, Helps to Sell a Used Car or Buy a New Car

All of this should be good news to those selling a used car or in the market to buy a new car or buy a used car. The end of the election has reduced “uncertainty” and should embolden consumers to open their wallets and increase spending overall, according to the Portland Oregonian.

“The uncertainty is gone,” said the chairman and chief executive for Lithia Motors in Oregon. “Especially as the fear of the economy collapsing and the inability of banks to lend goes out of people’s minds.”

It couldn’t have come soon enough for the embattled automotive industry. Cars.com already is looking ahead, planning to kick off its 2009 marketing campaign with a 60-second commercial to air during the Super Bowl on Feb. 1. It’s the second consecutive year the site for online car shoppers will advertise in the Big Game.

The campaign will feature auto shoppers confident in their new car purchase, because of preparation thanks to Cars.com.

 Financial Institutions and Selling a Used Car

Another area to watch if you are selling a used car, seek quick cash for used cars or buying a car is lending.Barack Obama -Search using:

The continued shoring up of the banking industry should help more Americans secure credit, the Lithia Motors executive said. That should help if you are in the market to buy a new car, and possibly even if you are selling a used car.

Then there’s federal government lending to major American automakers. Congressional Democrats want the Bush Administration to use part of the $700 billion financial industry bailout to help automakers. Under discussion is $25 billion in loans for fuel-efficient vehicles, planned to be distributed over several months.

But help to automakers will take a back seat to federal assistance for financial institutions. Again, that activity should help those selling used cars or buying new cars or even buying used cars.

Hopefully it will ultimately help General Motors, which saw its shares drop by 23 percent barely a week after the election. It’s hard to imagine General Motors declaring bankruptcy.

However there is some history involved – Chrysler was saved by a 1979 federal bailout. Only time will tell if the election results will help owners to sell a used car, buy a new car or buy a used car. At least lawmakers have acknowledged auto sales as a problem area, and something the new administration can focus on.

That may not be wise thinking, ultimately. For one, the way the car sales market is down today, you just might find a killer deal to buy a car. On the other side, selling a used car today means most likely a strong demand (and therefore good payments), as more and more people are holding onto their used cars longer.

Other wildcards are emerging, such as the end to the lengthy presidential election which – regardless of the outcome – will slowly rebuild certainty to the American economy and eventually should mean more spending by consumers. It might be a great time to sell a used car, for those seeking cash for used cars in general, and those in the market to buy a car.

Much depends on which vehicle you’re trying to sell, who you deal with, and timing. The end of the year, for example, is a perfect time for a parent to buy a used car for a new teen-age driver, the ultimate holiday gift. Those buyers might be prepared to offer top dollar.

Other Factors at Year’s End and Selling Used Cars

Where is the best place to start if you’re selling a used car or seeking quick cash for used cars at the end of the calendar year?

For automotive industry experts, it’s almost a game trying to figure out who will be the biggest winners once the economy turns around and people start buying vehicles in earnest again. For example, a company called wRatings Corporation recently announced results of its annual study of the most competitive auto companies.

The top vehicle company according to a score where 100 is perfect is Harley-Davidson, with a score of 87.2 – the second straight year Harley topped the category. It is followed by Honda at 64.9, Acura at 64.4, Lexus at 61.6 and Subaru at 58.6.

AutoNation took command of the auto retailers division, with an 81.7 score. It was followed by AutoZone at 72.6 and Advance Auto Parts at 71.8. You can see with the gap between the top company and its competitors what this independent competitive research firm thinks of AutoNation and its ability to thrive once the economy gets better.

Scores from the Competitive Strength Index combine how well companies meet consumer expectations, along with a company’s ability to generate economic profit. The quarterly survey is conducted with a representative sample of 25,000 American households across 12 industries.

You can use the results to your advantage, in terms of selling a used car to a company (AutoNation) that appears to be ahead of its competition; or which brands of cars should remain strong through the economic downturn. Selling a used car, it helps when the car you own is a trusted brand.

 Selling Used Cars and Timing

Some media outlets are getting the picture in terms of buying a car or selling a used car at the end of the year. For example, U.S. News & World Report in fall 2008 published a report entirely about “The Best Times to Buy a New Car.”

Among the findings:

• Buying a car in the fall means dealing with car manufacturers and dealers desperate to move inventory. The economic situation means low foot traffic at dealerships, so the result is strong rebate programs and other incentives on both 2008 and 2009 models.
• The end of a model year means you can buy a fairly new car, at a good price.
• Holidays and long weekends are good times to buy a car, whether buying a new car or buying a used car. Dealerships expect more customers and offer more incentives, rebates and financing deals.
• End of the month means more deals so salespeople can meet quotas. Ditto the very end of the calendar year. Cars.com notes, “Automakers often look to close the year with strong sales as they prepare for January and February – traditionally bleak sales months in the car business.”

Of course, some of these sales tactics hardly apply to selling a used car or getting good cash for used cars. However much of this information can be valuable, as you can see which vehicles might be in demand, and when. Set the right price point for your vehicle, and you might undermine area dealerships and sell a used car rather quickly and for a price you’re happy with.

In buying a new car, the tips offered by U.S. News & World Report appear valid. There is, after all, something to be said about the end of the year or even end of the month in buying a new car.

Add this to the pros if you’re in the market to sell a used car: customer service. Those who buy cars for a living are treating sellers and buyers alike much better.

Reports in the media abound. Said an auto dealership co-owner to the St. Petersburg Times in Florida in early November, 2008: “We know customers are the most important aspect, they are our lifeblood. Our job is to make customers happy, and then they keep coming back. They feel they know us, they trust us. It’s not like an adversarial scenario. They pick out car, and we see what we can do to make a good deal.”

For example, the dealership noted above offers buyers a warranty, a service ticket showing every maintenance action on the car through their shop, and free oil changes for two years. Think about it if you’re selling a used car: would you offer the buyer two years’ worth of free oil changes?

Battling for Customers to Sell a Used Car

The Wall Street Journal reported the same week of the St. Petersburg Times article that the National Automobile Dealers Association estimates 700 new-car dealerships will close this year. That’s up from 430 in 2007, for a 63 percent increase.

The Dealers Association reports that in September 2008 alone, 61 dealers closed, or downsized to a used car lot. That’s two every day that month.

But fewer auto dealerships means more demand for used cars, and if you’re working to sell a used car or get quick cash for used cars, this could work to your advantage.

Those dealerships still must compete against one another, and with fewer out there they will work that much harder. It’s essential to staying alive in this economy.

Selling a used car, this can work to your advantage. At least you’d think. Said a sales executive at a large Los Angeles Dealership to USA Today in late October, 2008: “Business is slower but hasn’t died. The dealers just have to work that much harder to get their customers into a car.”

New Tactics, Cons in Selling a Used Car Today

There is a potential downside in this economy and selling a used car or getting cash for used cars quickly. The same USA Today article quoted an economist at Moody’s Economy.com: “All the problems of the economy are wrapped up in auto sales.” The article noted that remaining car buyers are in no hurry to make a car-buy decision, and are hunting for the best deal.

The USA Today article noted the sentiment of an executive looking to buy a new car: “Even though he wants a new car, he says, he’s determined to get a good deal. So for now, like many potential car buyers, he says he’ll wait on the sidelines.”

In the sell a used car world, that could mean trouble. More time not only means you have to wait for the cash for a used car, but the potential that a buyer could change his or her mind mid-sale.

Are there any other options? Well, certainly, and online. There are companies established with websites that buy used cars, and often offer cash for used cars, and fast.

If indeed timing is most important, to get cash for used cars as fast as possible, it might be wise to tap the Internet and unload that vehicle quickly. Many of the services, such as www.cash4usedcars.com, will even send someone to do a free appraisal, and upon sale agreement you get cash for a used car on the spot.

Now, THAT is customer service!

Many automakers each November or December launch a “red tag” sale, or other incentives to boost sales as the new model year begins and before the holiday season when most families are focused on smaller purchases.

If you were thinking about getting some cash for used cars, or just selling your one used vehicle to position yourself to purchase a different car, the timing couldn’t be better.

Couple the cash gain from selling a used car with an incentive or special program offered by automakers, and you could be surprised at what kind of deal you can get buying a used car or even a new model.

While automakers arrange red-tag sales and other incentives at the end of each year, this season they seem to be competing even harder due to terrible new-car sales figures in October.

Sell a Used Car and Parlay the Earnings into a New Vehicle

So where are these deals? To start, think of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, as the Big Three American automakers have suffered most in the economic downturn and have struggled to compete with Asian and European small- and mid-size car manufacturers.

General Motors was primed to begin its annual “Red Tag” sale at the start of November, with lower pricing and cash back for most of its new models. Usually the sale starts later in the year but General Motors moved it up to boost sales.

Chrysler will push incentive programs that mean cash rebates up to $6,000, and discounted financing on remaining 2008 model year vehicles.

Ford is even offering special programs for its smaller cars, even though they are selling better than most of the rest of its fleet. The Ford Focus currently carries manufacturer discounts through early November.

In many areas, you can get a 2009 Focus sedan with a manual transmission for less than $14,000 after cash back of more than $2,000. Ford also offers zero-percent financing for 36 months in many instances.

These are but a few examples of what’s out there if you were contemplating selling a used car or seeking cash for used cars to help exchange what you have for what you might want more.

Couple Incentives with Cash from Selling a Used Car

Some of the current special deals are regional. In Arizona, for example, auto dealers are offering deals that include up to $10,000 back on some vehicles, and zero-percent financing.

Even Toyota has tinkered with zero-percent financing, and some luxury brands are lowering prices. Nissan’s Sentra and Versa have $750 and $500 cash-back deals or financing rates below 5 percent.

AutoWeek on Oct. 20, 2008, listed some of the best deals. Among them:

• On a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2, get a $6,000 to $8,000 factory-to-dealer incentive on a new vehicle incentive on a vehicle with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $40,000.
• For a 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty, with an MSRP of $40,660, you can get $7,000, cash back or 0 to 3.9 percent financing.
• Get $8,500 to $9,500 cash back, or 0 to 1.9 percent financing, on a 2008 Lincoln Mark LT suggested to retail at $39,565.
• A 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class with MSRP at $45,475 can come with $7,000 to $9,000 factory-to-dealer incentive.
• You can get $7,000 to $8,000 cash back or 0 to 1.9 percent financing on a 2008 Lincoln Navigator priced at almost $50,000.

Think about cash for used cars that you could generate, or the payment for selling a used car, and how you might be able to tag that onto one of the incentives mentioned above to get yourself into a fine new, or almost new, car.

At the start of each new model year each fall, Consumer Reports, a trusted source for all things consumer, releases its Car Reliability Survey. Not all car owners stash away the survey because most owners have no idea when they might be selling a used car.

But its results can be telltale whether your used car sale will go smoothly, or if you’re in for a prolonged effort.

Used car buyers want a vehicle that is dependable enough to get them to work, school and play, consistently.

The Consumer Reports survey looks at new models, but with information gathered during the spring of the previous model year. The survey this year considered responses from Consumer Reports readers for more than 1.4 million vehicles.

That’s an enormous amount of vehicles and indicates the survey results are trustworthy, particularly if you’re in the mode to sell a used car.

Most Reliable Cars and Selling a Used Car

The magazine’s top picks in each segment is interesting to look at:

• Small Car: Scion xD
• Family Car: Toyota Prius
• Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles: Lexus SC
• Upscale/Luxury Car: Infiniti M35 (rear wheel drive)
• Wagons & Minivan: Toyota Matrix
• Small SUV: Honda Element
• Midsized SUV: Honda Pilot
• Large SUV: Toyota Sequoia
• Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra (V6)

Think about how many of the most reliable vehicles are Toyota’s: four from its parent brand, plus Lexus is the Japanese automaker’s luxury wing, and Scion is its small car maker. Additionally, every single top pick is an import.

While not in the top picks list, Ford proved to be the most reliable American brand, Consumer Reports reported.

When you start the process to sell a used car, understand its pros and cons. If a notable source such as Consumer Reports notes that it’s reliable, or very fuel-efficient, or just plan cool, show it off to potential buyers. After all, you want the most cash for a used car as possible, right?

For example, the current Consumer Reports survey also ranked automakers as a whole. The list this year was topped by Scion, followed in order by Acura, Honda, Toyota and Lexus.

 Applying Reliability Reports toward Selling a Used Car Wisely

It’s clear that if you have a Toyota or any of the company’s spinoffs, the reputation is built strongly to use reliability as a key selling point. In selling a used car, you are marketing its strengths and must rely on them to get top dollar.

Something new in the Consumer Reports survey is a first look at hybrid vehicles. So many people bought them last year, and so many are brand new models, that few reports are out there yet.

Consumer Reports had sufficient information about nine hybrid models, and they all rated above average in predicted reliability. For the American cars, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid small sport utility vehicles rated above average in predicted reliability.

Being fair to the Americans, some Japanese models were singled out in the survey. For example, three Toyota models fell to below average - the Camry V6, Tundra V8 four-wheel drive, and the Lexus GS all-wheel drive.

For Chevrolet, the redesigned Malibu fared well. Elsewhere in General Motors, the Buick Lucerne V8 and Pontiac C6 were rated above average for reliability.

Used cars and reliability walk hand in hand when you’re trying to sell a used car. Not everyone does the research before buying a used car, so it is up to you to inform them. Learn about how your used car stacks up, and let it be known.

It has permeated the mainstream media, including a story by the Associated Press on Oct. 21, 2008 titled “At pawn shops, the cash-strapped trade in memories.” It goes beyond pawn shops, explaining how more people are trading in their gold to deal with the challenging economic times.

Why just settle for gold? You might have a goldmine sitting right under you – a used car. Businesses offering cash for used cars have been around for years, and many have become sophisticated with websites and services such as quick appraisals and cash on the spot.

Worried that if you sell a used car that you would just have to spend the money on another, because you need a vehicle for work or school? Well, many people are downsizing, such as to a smaller more fuel efficient car. You might just be able to swap cars and end up with some cash in your pocket. Cash for used cars doesn’t always mean parting with owning a vehicle in its entirety.

Economic Demands and Cash for Used Cars

Rising prices for gold have allowed services such as Cash for Gold USA, an Internet site offering customers a check if they mail in pieces of gold, to grow and thrive. People can send in anything, from class rings to dental fillings.

Add to that the recessionary economy, and people are turning to such services to meet their personal cash demands.

Same can go with cars. During the economic boom a few years ago, many households purchased an extra car, maybe for commuting, maybe for a growing child.

With today’s sluggish new-car market, you might be amazed at deals car dealerships or car-sales organizations will offer. Cash for a used car might be easier than you think.

Numerous media articles in October 2008 indicated used car sales are up as new car sales have slid the entire year. People are just going for better prices, even if it means buying a used car.

“We’re doing very well with used car sales,” one dealership general manager told the Houston Chronicle on Oct. 19.

 Expanding Market Bolsters Cash for Used Cars Market

What’s this mean for someone who needs cash for used cars, and fast? It means there is a demand. Demand means more potential buyers for your used vehicle. The more demand, the better the price you can set.

This is especially true if you have a newer model, or a car that’s highly desirable, such as any Toyota used car, or a Ford Mustang. People want reliable or even sexy cars, even if it means used.

And the thing about cash for used cars compared with cash for gold is you’re probably going to get more overall for a used vehicle. Unless, of course, you’ve stashed a ton of jewelry at your house over the years.

Plus, a spouse may balk at parting with family heirlooms, or even old earrings. Not so much if it’s dealing with an old jalopy parked out front.

When will used crossovers begin hitting the market, in case you’re interested in buying a new car, or have one and are selling a used car, or need cash for a used car fast?

Sure they might not be SUVs, but is the improved fuel efficiency that much better?

Are there areas where crossovers might be selling hot now, as new, but where owners soon may decide to move on?

The answer to question No. 1 is, any day now. For a variety of reasons – gas prices continuing to be just too high, despite recent drops, for example – crossover owners eventually will get that vehicle on the used car market.

One reason might be so many new models and versions are unveiled each year, and the start of the new model year at the end of 2008 no different. Another might be that, in adult toy-heavy areas like the San Fernando Valley in Greater Los Angeles, people just want the newest plaything.

Too Many Crossover Vehicles to List for 2009

How many more crossovers are out there for the 2009 model year? There is no definitive list, but let’s take a look at some that have generated headlines.

You have the Ford Taurus X, a six- to seven-passenger mid-size crossover formerly called the Ford Freestyle. It replaced the Taurus station wagon in Ford’s fleet – and next year will step aside while the Flex dominates Ford’s crossover marketing strategy.

The Flex is more station wagon or minivan than an SUV, but its shoebox-yet-sexy design is attracting at least some buyers – along with neat features such as a large roof window, a capless fueling system, and the Microsoft-powered Sync that integrates functions of navigation systems, mobile phones, satellite radio, DVD and compact discs.

It also has a refrigerated console between second-row chairs. Built in refrigerator! It’s not your mother’s SUV.

How the Crossover Utility Vehicle Might Perform in Southern California

Not all CUVs – for Crossover Utility Vehicle for the uninitiated – are brand new. Of course, the term crossover is loosely applied to a variety of vehicles as the auto industry tries every marketing tool available.

But you have models such as the Toyota Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe, two vehicles now somewhat related due to a unique partnership between Toyota and General Motors. The Vibe was introduced at the end of the 2002 model year, the Matrix during the 2003 model year.

Back then they were basically among the smallest SUVs. For the 2009 model year, however, both Toyota and GM aim squarely at fuel economy.

The two car-making behemoths together own the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif., where the Toyota Corolla sedan and Tacoma pickup are produced – and the Vibe. The companies are working together to further expand the new CUV horizon.

It is said that crossovers save gas due to their lighter weight, the result of unibody construction as opposed to body-on-frame, truck-based SUVs.

Is the savings enough, though? Let’s take a brief look at driving conditions in certain Southern California communities, compared with some CUV mileage ratings.

The San Fernando Valley can present challenging suburban driving conditions for any soccer mom. Will the new Chevrolet Traverse keep her happy with just 17 miles per gallon away from freeways?

A great percentage of those who live in Ventura County must commute to jobs in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas. Is the 23 to 24 miles per gallon on freeways for the Honda Pilot or MDX, Nissan’s Murano or Infiniti’s FX good enough for long-lasting ownership?

Buying or selling a used car in the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County and outlying areas such as Santa Clarita means the availability of used vehicles out there, which is dependent upon how happy current owners are with their property.

As people get more used to crossover utility vehicles, and start to see more new, improved models, more and more will become available. Or, you may already own one and need cash for a used car quickly. The market right now probably will never get hotter for a used crossover.

For those seeking cash for used cars in Ventura County, this is an advantage, because without a significant public transportation system, almost every worker (and many students) need cars.

Also helping the cause to get good cash for used cars in Ventura County is a relatively small number of car dealerships. There are some behemoths in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, but again, since the towns are so spread out they mostly cater to the immediately surrounding area.

That limits your competition and increases the odds for good cash for used cars in Ventura County.

Drawbacks can include relatively few advertising outlets, compared with Los Angeles. There are a few newspapers and radio stations, and one prominent cable television news station based in Santa Barbara County that reaches into Ventura County, but it can be costly.

After all, if its quick cash for used cars you seek, you probably don’t want to be spending cash for marketing car sales.

A Closer Look at Cash for Used Cars in Ventura County

It might be strategically wise to take a close look at the population and demographics of the area to secure good cash for used cars in Ventura County.

For example, Oxnard is by far the largest of 10 cities in the county, with a population of about 200,000. The more people, the more potential customers to get you cash for used cars, in Ventura County and anywhere for that matter.

Population-wise, Oxnard is followed by in order Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura and Camarillo. The other cities – Santa Paula, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme and Fillmore – are medium- to small-sized.

Don’t overlook Moorpark. It is very affluent, so buyers might have money to spend, and it’s the only Ventura County city without an auto dealership. Though only about 35,000 people large (Camarillo is about 50,000), Moorpark might be a strong target point for cash for used cars in Ventura County.

The big cities all have major auto dealerships right along freeways – very attractive for folks looking to buy a used car, which steers eyes away from you. Thousand Oaks has one of the largest around. Those are the main entities you will vie with in seeking cash for used cars Ventura County.

 Competing Hard for Cash for Used Cars in Ventura County

Those dealerships have marketing budgets to reach out and draw potential buyers in. How can you compete best to get good cash for used cars in Ventura County?

Let’s go back to the media. The biggest print publication is the Ventura County Star. They have multiple sections, so if you don’t want to pay for a countywide ad run, pick your location and an ad representative will help you.

Much more affordable are local weeklies, such as the Acorn in various East County communities, or VC Reporter in the west end. With the Acorn you can specify an edition, such as Moorpark, and take advantage of affordable ad rates.

Remember, though, that your ad will run only once a week, on a Thursday or Friday depending on the edition, and may not be as effective as daily ads toward getting cash for used cars in Ventura County.

Electronic media such as cable television or radio probably would prove cost-prohibitive, unless you have numerous vehicles to sell for cash for used cars in Ventura County.

Lastly, think about going grassroots. Stick a sign in a car’s window, or start a word-of-mouth campaign among those you know. You might be surprised at the effectiveness.

The story focuses on the credit crunch, and how it not only has made it difficult for potential car buyers to secure a loan, but also for auto dealers to keep funds coming in and to deal with inventory.

For those seeking cash for used cars, some of the article’s information and quotes offer great tips:

• One used-car dealer said so far sales have been decent, but there are worries that 2008 model year used vehicles will change that.
• “It’s the guy that was making $200,000 a year last year who’s now making $90,000 a year that’s the problem,” a general manager for a New York dealership said. “They can’t make the BMW payments anymore, so they’re turning to used Chevrolets.” Read: the market for used cars may be expanding.
• The same dealership noted a trend of stocking up on more affordable cars. Whereas a year ago the average price was $28,000, now he wants cars that cost $15,000 to $18,000. See above: used cars might become a hot commodity very soon.

Other Roadmaps for Cash for Used Cars

So assuming you seek cash for used cars, which models and makes will be most attractive?

The Fox News article hints at anything other than a truck. “Hondas are selling. They’re just on fire, because Honda is not in the truck market,” one used car manager said. “The cars and the SUVs, I can’t keep them.”

What are other media outlets saying?

According to the Orlando Business Journal, there may be a demand for hardly used General Motors vehicles, because the company no longer owns its financing wing, GMAC, and that lending operation is focused on making loans rather than selling cars.

That makes buying a new GM model that much more difficult, and could steer buyers to used versions.

If you seek cash for used cars and happened to buy a two-passenger Smart ForTwo once they started being sold in America in January 2008, you might be in business, according to information from Automotive News.

No major changes are planned for the gas-sipping ForTwo in coming years, and gas prices are hardly expected to drop significantly. Penske Automotive Group, the U.S. distributor of the car, sold 18,156 ForTwos through August 2008.

 Competition Shrinking to Get Cash for Used Cars

Also helping your cause is the demise of auto leasing in America. Think reduced competition from other car sellers, expanding your potential market to get cash for used cars.

Domestic auto dealerships are feeling the pinch when American automakers started dramatically cutting back or dropping entirely car leasing as a sales option, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times in October 2008.

One Ford dealership said 30 to 40 percent of his business was from new-car leases just five years ago.

Add to your cash for used cars quest the fact that used car-selling powerhouses like CarMax are shrinking due to poor sales.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle in early October 2008, CarMax – operating 99 used car superstores in 46 markets in America – plans to eliminate 600 associates from its service operations work force at production superstores nationwide.

That is, of course, due to poor sales of new and used cars. The bad news for those seeking cash for used cars is the company’s sales of used vehicles fell 12.5 percent the past 12 months.

It may be an indication that used car sales are down overall, which could impact the ability to collect cash for used cars as a private seller.

But the bottom line from recent media reports is competition overall has eased, always a good thing from a used car sales perspective if you’re in that business.