Monday, Mar 28, 2011
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Experts differ on timing of car purchases By Jerry Hirsch LOS ANGELES TIMES
LOS ANGELES — To buy or not to buy? That is the question facing many car shoppers these days. That’s because rising gas expenses and a looming shortage of Japanesebuilt hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles are starting to pump up prices for gassipping autos. But analysts at auto information company Kelley Blue Book say that with all this turmoil
in the marketplace, consumers should think twice about jumping to buy a new car. They say it’s a mistake to pay a premium for a fuel-efficient car when gas prices could easily drop in the coming months and the price of the vehicles come back down. Likewise, the earthquake in Japan has upended auto production, with both Toyota and Honda having closed factories there temporarily. But they
will probably be back up in weeks or several months, and inventories could rise soon thereafter. “Don’t run into the marketplace and purchase a new vehicle unless you absolutely have to. Wait for gas prices to come down and the Japanese earthquake to no longer be an issue,� said Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book. Flores notes that crude oil is abundant. Prices
Current sales incentives being offered by manufacturers run through the end of the month. Consumers might as well take advantage of them because the deals might not be as good next month. Jeremy Anwyl chief executive of Edmunds.com are up because oil traders are nervous about the political instability in the Middle East and Persian Gulf rather than because of a surge in demand or
shortage. “These fuel prices are not sustainable,� he said. Kelley Blue Book foresees “soft� prices for small and hybrid cars two to
three years out, he said. But other analysts aren’t so sure. With the possible exception of the Toyota Prius hybrid, “I cannot imagine a scenario where there will be more cars to choose from or lower prices months from now than what we have now,� said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of auto information company Edmunds. com. See TIMING, pAGE 4 / CARS
‘08 CHEVROLET
‘09 KIA Spectra
‘09 MITSUBISHI
Colorado 5 cylinder, a/c, 2wd ext cab 125.9� lt w/1lt, abs, tilt- adjustable steering wheel, cd
Gem Mazda
$10,495
4 cylinder, a/c, tiltadjustable steering wheel, cd, pw, pdl,
Gem Mazda
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$10,495 1-888-432-2914
‘07 HONDA
‘03 MAZDA MX-5
Element
Miata
4 cylinder, a/c, 2wd 4dr mt lx, abs, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, cd, pw, pl, cruise,
1.8l i4, a/c, pw, leather seats, cruise, spdproportional power steering, 1.8l,
$11,995
‘07 JEEP Liberty
Eclipse
Gem Mazda
1-888-432-2914
$11,995 1-888-432-2914
4 cylinder, a/c, alloy wheels, abs, tilt wheel, cd, pw, pdl, cruise, ps, 2.4l,
True MotorCar Collection
$13,990 1-888-903-8118
v6 cylinder, a/c, alloy wheels, 2wd 4dr limited, abs, tilt wheel, cd, pw, pdl, cruise,
True MotorCar Collection
‘08 NISSAN Altima
$15,990 1-888-903-8118 ‘08 HONDA ACCORD EX SDN
3.5l v6, a/c, alloy wheels, abs, tilt wheel, sun roof, cd, pw, pdl, cruise, ps, 3.5l,
True MotorCar Collection
$18,490 1-888-903-8118
‘06 FORD Freestyle
‘07 NISSAN Xterra
‘08 ACURA TL
v6 cylinder, a/c, 4dr wgn limited, abs, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, pw, pdl,
4.0l v6, a/c, abs, tiltadjustable steering wheel, cruise,
v6 cylinder, a/c, alloy wheels, 4dr sdn auto, abs, tilt wheel, moon roof, sun roof,
4 cylinder, a/c, alloy wheels, 4dr i4 auto ex-l, abs, tilt wheel,
True MotorCar Collection
$18,990 1-888-903-8118 ‘07 GMC Sierra 1500 Classic
Gem Mazda
$12,995 1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$18,495 1-888-432-2914
True MotorCar Collection
$22,990 1-888-903-8118
5.3l v8, a/c, alloy wheels, abs, tilt wheel, pw, pdl, cruise, ps, 5.3l,
True MotorCar Collection
$23,490 1-888-903-8118
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