If you’re fixing to buy a new or used vehicle, please check out DealerRater.com in the LINKS Section. Open the link provided, click on your state and click on your preferred model vehicle. Find the dealership in your area and read what other people have to say about them. Use the link as a major part of your research. If you find nothing pertaining to that particular dealership, then log on to BBB link and follow instructions to reach your local branch. The Better Business Bureau has proved to be a fantastic guide to check out any business you are looking to do business with.

 When making a vehicle purchase, so much personal information must be provided to finalize the deal. I have actually had customers refuse to provide certain information necessary to complete their vehicle purchase. Dealerships are held highly accountable for personal information protection. There are laws and inspectors in place to protect you and to keep the dealership accountable. These laws are backed by very steep fines for both the dealership and the salesperson.

 There are several things you can do to protect your own identity. Remember to get your driver’s license and any copies back from your salesman before leaving the dealership if a deal was not completed. Observe and make sure your salesperson does not leave any of your paperwork out in the open while performing different tasks. There are numerous programs that can be purchased to aid in protecting your identity. In “Your Marketplace” you will see I provide LifeLock protection for those that may be interested in the service.

 I have heard some real horror stories from people who have had their identity stolen. I pray, you nor I will fall victim to such evil criminals. It is a sad state of affairs that has brought us to this point. Just be vigilant in all endeavors and keep in mind, there are EVIL people out there just waiting for you to let your guard down!

 I want to share my personal thoughts on buying certified pre-owned vehicles. I’m going to call them what they are here on out and that is used cars. With that said, when buying a used vehicle the factory warranty has usually expired or there may be only one year remaining. Unless you purchase an extended warranty program for that vehicle, you’re simply gambling that nothing goes wrong with it.

  When you purchase a certified used vehicle, you not only get the existing factory warranty remaining, but then your warranty coverage extends for an additional period of time. Most certified warranties read about the same. It usually is a bumper to bumper coverage for the first year following the expiration of the factory warranty. Then most programs extend the power train coverage to 100,000 miles. In my estimation this gives peace of mind of ownership, especially considering it’s a used vehicle.

 The price of a certified vehicle is approximately $1200 to $1500 higher than a non-certified used car. You get a lot of bang for your buck. The bang is twofold. First the dealership’s service department completes an inspection of the vehicle, usually covering 150 points of inspection. The vehicle must pass this inspection process prior to going on the lot for sale. Then second, should you experience any problems during the warranty period, repairs will be made at any certified shop without question.

 Just REMEMBER…. When signing your contract, make sure your contract states that it is being purchased as a certified vehicle and make sure you obtain all your certification paperwork at time of purchase. In most cases you will receive a warranty card within a few weeks of the deal to keep in your glove box or wallet, but until then your contract serves as your proof of warranty. Also, remember a certified vehicle can only be purchased from a certified dealership. What I mean here is: a certified Honda @ a Honda dealer, certified Ford @ a Ford dealer and so on.

 I have touched on this subject before, but it never hurts to say it again. While it’s more convenient, it’s also risky to simply sign and hand over the title when you’re selling a vehicle on your own. As the seller, you’re still listed in the state’s records as the owner. If you’re the buyer, you have no way of knowing if there is a problem with the vehicle’s title. The best way to protect both buyer and seller is to go to your local county tax office together and fill out the required paperwork to complete the sale.

I’ve stepped on toes before and I’ll continue to do so when I deem necessary. We as consumers are absolutely bombarded by advertising. Shoot, I advertise right here on my page and the dollars made from it allow me to continue operating the page.

 But, there are some things in certain ads that just make me angry! There are ads running right now, that consider us, the consumer, to be absolutely ignorant. The car ads that say, “Your job is your credit”. I’m sorry, but unfortunately this is so far from the truth when it comes to an auto loan. Come in this weekend and get the 2010 (blank) for only $179 or $199 a month. Bull*@!%!!!!!

 Unfortunately you MUST read the small print to receive the honesty of these commercials. The quoted price is for a vehicle lease and you must qualify and you must pay MSRP and you must pay at closing $2499.00 and only certain models apply. Most of us know this and unfortunately it was learned by some the hard way. You see where I’m going with this? More articles will be forth coming talking about these ad games. Stay tuned!

 On a lighter note: Have you seen the TV ad selling new mattresses? Your old mattress may weigh twice the original weight due to dirt, old skin and “dust mites”. Bugs in my bed? I’m having a little problem going to sleep at night and the critter nightmares are getting ridiculous.

Before You Buy…

Ask The Car Buy Guy!

1. Do Your Homework ( research/research )
2. Consider retaining the services of an Auto Negotiator
3. Choose your dealership
4. Decide your salesperson
5. Test Drive
6. Be careful what you say during test drive
7. Ask for best price with zero games
8. Expect the games
9. Counter the offers and refuse to speak to a manager

    10. Stand your ground, but

    11. Be willing to give some here

    12. Close your deal and get prepared for the finance manager

    13. Here is where you need the most preparation

If you are prepared, you can walk away feeling you made a good deal. If you’re not prepared they will eat you alive; I don’t care how good you think you are!!!!!!!!!!! Prepare to spend 3 to 6 hours at the dealership if on a weekend, before you drive home in your new vehicle.

 I’m known to step on toes occasionally and I’m probably going to do it again. Extended warranties offered by a dealership, plain and simple are nothing but 3^rd party warranties. The purchase of an extended warranty can be a life saver or it ends up being nothing but an insurance policy for your vehicle.

 The dealer extended warranty sounds like a great deal and it is a selling item. The first thing you have to do is once again, ask questions. Here is the best question: If I’m in Warren, Oklahoma and my car breaks down, am I covered? The answer is yes, but you have to take your car to Oklahoma City to have it fixed under the warranty provisions. Your wrecker bill is for 275 miles at $$$ per mile.

 Read the fine print and hold them to their sales pitch! Unfortunately it is a slow sinking ship and it does eventually sink!! If you happen to live in a large city and never venture beyond the city limits, then it may be a great deal.

 All I’m saying is read the terms and conditions and question, question, question!!!!!

C’mon, someone out there knows what I’m saying! Share your thoughts here!!! I know there are some war stories out there and they need to be shared.

 Ok, when they first came out in the U.S., of course we all kind of smirked. I’m talking about the Hyundai and the Kia models. Well, I believe their time has come and it has definitely been a hard row to hoe. Come on, 2 Japanese auto makers competing with the likes of Honda and Toyota?

 Well, I believe they have done it and are producing some outstanding models for this and the coming year. Face it, their power train warranties can’t be beat by either of the top dogs. In my estimation, that in itself is a major consideration.

 I believe the new Kia Soul will be some heavy competition for the Fit and the Versa. Have you seen it yet or better yet driven one? It’s a must see and do. Although every time I pulled up to a light I found my head nodding to the beat of the music, just like the vermin in the commercial.

 The Hyundai’s and Kia’s are taking MPG to the next level. They actually have their foot in the door and deserve some consideration.

 Forget about the horror stories of the 70’s and 80’s. Laws have been passed in favor of the consumer! Even with the protection of the law, we must still be vigil in our pursuit as consumers. I have to say that I am a believer in leasing of automobiles, BUT the deal must be properly negotiated, so as to be in your favor. Throughout this page, I will continue to provide additional information to help you, the consumer.

 The reading of a lease contract can be mind boggling to say the least. If you have a question, do not be afraid to ask. Stop nothing short of an answer that you can understand. Having someone on your side at this time can be very beneficial to you and your peace of mind. ( auto negotiator )

 If at all possible, never attempt to get out of your lease early. I’m working on getting approval by a company right now that offers help in getting out of your lease early. Please check [ Your Marketplace ] to find help in the future.

 In my opinion, it is never a good deal to purchase your vehicle after the lease term is concluded. Most people do not realize that in the beginning of the lease; tax, title and license fees are paid and if you decide to purchase after the lease is over, you will be charged TT&L all over again for the remainder of the balance or as they call it the residual amount. To me it is just a double dip by the state and should be avoided. Dealers love this because they are credited for another sale.

 There’s more about leasing to come, so keep checking back for all your leasing questions and answers.

 LOUISIANA MID-CONTINENT

 OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION

730 NORTH BOULEVARD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70802

 TELEPHONE (225) 387-3205 FAX (225) 344-5502

 E-MAIL CHRIS.JOHN@lmoga.com

Impacts of

President Obama’s Order Halting Work on 33 Exploratory Wells

in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

The Presidential Order does not affect the 4,515 shallow-water wells, and it
does not affect 591 producing deepwater Gulf wells.

Roughly 33% of nation’s domestically produced oil comes from the Gulf of
Mexico, and 10% of the nation’s natural gas.

80% of the Gulf’s oil, and 45% of its natural gas comes from operations in
more than 1000 feet of water – the deepwater (2009 data).

Suspension of operations means roughly 33 floating drilling rigs – typically
leased for hundreds of thousands of dollars per day – will be idled for six
months or longer.

$250,000 to $500,000 per day, per rig – results in roughly $8,250,000
to $16,500,000 per day in costs for idle rigs;

Secondary impacts include:

• Supply boats – 2 boats per rig with day rates of
$15,000/day per boat – $30,000/day for 33 rigs – nearly $1
million/day
• Impacts to other supplies and related support services (i.e.,
welders, divers, caterers, transportation, etc.)
 

Jobs –

Each drilling platform averages 90 to 140 employees at any one time
(2 shifts per day), and 180 to 280 for 2 2-week shifts

Each E&P job supports 4 other positions

Therefore, 800 to 1400 jobs per idle rig platform are at risk

Wages for those jobs average $1,804/weekly; potential for lost wages
is huge, over $5 to $10 million for 1 month – per platform.

Wages lost could be over $165 to $330 million/month for all 33
platforms

Secondary impacts: Many offshore workers live in Louisiana. The state is
going to see a decrease in income taxes and sales taxes that would normally
be paid by those employees. (The state does not collect a sales tax on
oilfield supplies and equipment used offshore.)

Companies Impacted:

Oil Companies Impacted -

Shell has seven (7) exploratory wells that will be impacted

Others include:

Chevron (4)

Anadarko (3)

Marathon (2)

Noble Energy (2)

Eni US Operating Co. (2)

ATP Oil & Gas (2)

Statoil (2)

ExxonMobil (1)

Petrobras America (1)

BHP (1)

BP (1)

Kerr McGee (1)

Murphy (1)

LLOG (1)

Newfield (1)

Hess (1)

The 33 gulf wells where operations are suspended were the ones inspected
immediately after the Deepwater Horizon blowout (per Interior Secretary
Ken Salazar); in those inspections, “only minor problems were found on a
couple of rigs”. Salazar believes “additional safety measures can be taken
including dealing with cementing and casing of wells and significant
enhancements and redundancies of blowout prevention mechanisms.
Although these rigs passed the inspections, we will look at standards that
are in place.”
 

Longer term impacts include -

Idle drilling rigs in the Gulf could mean that they will be contracted overseas
for work in other locations, and if/when the halt is lifted, rigs will not be
available for completing the work in the Gulf.

Loss of tolls on LA Highway 1 resulting from loss of traffic related to
deepwater operations; tolls go directly to retiring the bond debt for
construction of LA Highway 1 improvements, and if those tolls are lost, the
state of Louisiana – as the other responsible party on the bonds – will have
to pay to retire that debt, meaning loss of funding for some other programs
in the state’s budget.

A 6-month halt in new drilling would defer 80,000 barrels/day, or 4% of
2011 deepwater Gulf of Mexico production. (Wood MacKenzie)

Higher drilling costs might jeopardize exploration in frontier areas. More
immediately, estimates are that seven current discoveries could be rendered
sub-economic, putting U.S. $7.6 billion in future government revenues at
risk. Proposals to increase the cap on oil companies’ liability for oil spill
damages to U.S. $10 billion could exclude U.S. independents from offshore
Gulf of Mexico activities. (Wood MacKenzie)

Since these wells are not yet producing, there is no decrease in the available
oil supply. However, it could lead to a decrease in the availability of
domestic oil, and it is hard to tell how commodity speculators are going to
respond over the next six months; there is the possibility for driving oil
prices to levels well over $100 per barrel.

Prepared May 28, 2010, based on most recent data available; will be
updated as needed.