How to Keep Your Car's Resale Value High

Once a car leaves a dealer's lot, its resale value starts to decrease. There are a few key factors that determine resale value, according to experts at Black Book and Vincentric, two companies in the used-car valuation business. They are:

• Age, which automatically decreases a car's resale value with each passing year.
• Mileage affects value if it's higher or lower than the average for your car. Extremely low mileage can affect a car's value, too, as it may hint at a problem that prevents it from being driven, or may lead to problems from not being driven regularly.
• Condition is determined by visible paint or body damage, interior damage and signs of wear, frame damage, mechanical operation, tire condition and accident history. The condition of your car is an important part of resale value, and cosmetic damage instantly decreases it. It also indicates that it's more than likely that there are some mechanical issues, too. If there are both cosmetic and mechanical issues, the value will drop rather quickly.
• Market condition is another thing to consider, according to Vincentric President David Wurster. Market condition sets the resale price at the point where supply and demand meets. For example, there will be a higher demand for hybrid and fuel-efficient cars when gas prices are high, which increases their value, while convertibles will see more demand in the spring and summer months.
• Location is only a factor if a vehicle is more or less popular in a certain area. Trucks, for example, are more popular in Texas; compact cars are more popular in New York. The value of your car won't be as high in lower-demand areas where it may be harder to sell.

The downward march of a car's value is a phenomenon that, for the majority of cars, can't be stopped. There are, however, steps you can take to make sure your car is worth as much as possible when you want to sell it.

• Perform regular maintenance and follow your car's maintenance schedule. This includes oil changes, tire rotations and cosmetic upkeep.
• Save your service records. These will verify that you have taken good care of your car, and they can also help determine when it will need to be serviced again.
• Make sure all damage is properly repaired before you try to sell or trade in your car.
• Keep the exterior and interior clean. Excessive wear and tear will decrease the value even if the car runs perfectly. "No one wants a scratched car with a sticky interior," Wurster said.
• If possible, park in a garage, which will reduce the chance of weather damage and vandalism. If garage parking isn't an option, a car cover can provide some protection from the elements.

While resale value is partly determined by factors you can't control, like high gas prices or a forthcoming redesigned version of your car, if you take the time now to show your car some tender loving care you can have extra money in your pocket later.

Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep Recalls: What Owners Should Do

Part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's civil penalties on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which could amount to $105 million, involve several programs for owners of affected Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. If you have an older Jeep Liberty or Grand Cherokee, a late-model Ram or Dodge Dakota pickup truck or a 2009 Chrysler Aspen SUV or 2009 Dodge Durango SUV, this applies to you.
Related: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to Pay Up to $105 Million in Recall-Related Penalties
NHTSA's consent order requires FCA to conduct three separate programs, the most significant of which has the company buying back tens of thousands of trucks and SUVs from owners. None of the programs will apply to owners who already got their cars fixed for a fuel system recall on the Jeeps or a suspension or steering system recall on the others.

• The first program is a $100 incentive for Jeep SUV owners to get their recalled vehicle fixed.
• The second is a trade-in bonus for a smaller group of SUVs.
• The third is the buyback program for certain Ram and Dodge pickup trucks plus the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUV.

How do I know if my car has been fixed for these specific recalls?
Find your car's vehicle identification number, which is usually etched in the windshield's lower driver's side corner, and enter it onto NHTSA's VIN search tool vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/vinLookup. If your vehicle has an open (that is, unfixed) recall under campaign numbers 13V-038, 13V-252, 13V-527 or 13V-529, then it's eligible for these offers. We strongly suggest you get the recall taken care of as soon as possible.
What cars will get the $100 incentive to have their recalls fixed?
The consent order requires FCA to offer $100 gift cards toward owners of these vehicles:

• 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs
• 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty SUVs

The Liberty and 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee are under a formal 2013 recall for problems in the fuel system that could cause fires in certain rear-end crashes.
The 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee is not under a formal recall, but NHTSA is requiring FCA to extend the $100 gift card to owners of those SUVs to have similar repairs made. A FCA spokesman said the company will repair these later Jeeps "as part of a customer satisfaction initiative" beginning in September.
Which cars get the trade-in bonus?
Only the 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee get the trade-in bonus offer. NHTSA's consent order requires FCA to offer $1,000 over market value for those SUVs "in lieu of accepting" the recall repair. The trade-in bonus must be used toward the purchase of another FCA vehicle or toward parts or service.
Can I spend the trade-in bonus on a used car?
NHTSA's order didn't specify whether the bonus applies to new cars only or both new and used. We asked FCA spokesman Eric Mayne, and he said the automaker is "still developing the program details."
Which cars are in the buyback program?
The buyback program applies to the following vehicles:

• 2009-2012 Ram 1500 pickup trucks built from Feb. 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009, through Oct. 20, 2011. These were recalled in 2013 for rear suspension problems.
• 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota pickups built from Feb. 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2011. These were recalled in 2013 for rear suspension problems.
• 2009 Dodge Durango SUVs built from Jan. 3. 2008, through Dec. 18, 2008. These were recalled in 2013 for rear suspension problems.
• 2009 Chrysler Aspen SUVs built from Jan. 3, 2008, to Dec. 18, 2008. These were recalled in 2013 for rear suspension problems.
• 2008-2012 Ram 4500 and 5500 heavy-duty trucks built from Feb. 20, 2007, through Dec. 22, 2012. These were recalled in 2013 for problems with the steering system.
• 2008-2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups with four-wheel drive, recalled in 2013 for problems with the steering system.
• 2008-2012 Ram 3500 chassis-cab pickups with rear-wheel drive, recalled in 2013 for problems with the steering system.
• 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab pickups with four-wheel drive, recalled in 2013 for problems with the steering system.

You can usually find the build date by month on a sticker around the driver's doorjamb. FCA has 60 days to notify owners of the buyback offer, NHTSA says.
How much will I get for my car?
According to NHTSA, the buyback program requires FCA to give a refund of the purchase price minus depreciation plus an additional 10 percent.
What if I modified my vehicle? Will the modifications be refunded in the buyback program?
Not unless they were on the car when it was new. Any modifications made after the vehicle's retail sale won't be calculated into the purchase price, according to NHTSA.
Will these repurchased cars end up in circulation?
Some will. FCA "may remedy and resell any vehicle repurchased" under the buyback program, according to NHTSA's consent order. The automaker intends to do that for the vehicles it will buy back, Mayne said. But it won't do so for the cars that got the trade-in bonus because "they are, many of them, over 20 years old," he said. "It doesn't make economic sense to do that."
Can FCA dealers still sell unfixed vehicles?
That's unclear, as it's "subject to regulation," Mayne said. But NHTSA's order requires FCA to "develop and implement a process to deter dealer sales of unremedied vehicles subject to recall." That process must include dealer training and financial penalties from FCA.
Need to find a dealer for service?
Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.


Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep Recalls: What Owners Should Do

Terrafugia digitally renders TF-X.

Terrafugia claims to offer the future of transportation but that point still looks to be years away, if ever. The company's Transition flying car has shown itself able to fly, but the even more ambitious TF-X has been in development for years with promises of vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. So far, we've only seen renderings of the sci-fi craft take to the skies, and that hasn't changed with the latest video showing the newly updated outer mold line design.

The TF-X's revised shape features a sleeker, more car-like front end design and wraparound glass. Terrafugia is still making some absolutely monumental promises about the aircraft's capabilities, though. The four-seat plane uses an engine and two electric motors for propulsion. For take off, the wings fold out from the body, and propellers on swiveling nacelles let it take to the sky vertically like a V-22 Osprey. The props then fold back once airborne, and a ducted fan starts providing thrust, at least theoretically. Terrafugia claims the TF-X could cruise at 200 miles per hour and would offer a 500-mile range.

Shelby will build 50 new Daytona Coupes for 50th anniversary

• News Source: Shelby American

Carroll Shelby's continuous effort to stay at the front of the racing pack won his tiny team the FIA World Championship on July 4, 1965. The Shelby Daytona Coupe is the car that did it, the hulking shark of a race car designed specifically to achieve a higher top speed than was possible with the Cobra roadster. To celebrate the feat, Shelby American is building 50 total continuation coupes in aluminum and fiberglass.

The company picked one of the six original race cars, each one slightly different, to base the continuation models on. The aluminum versions are built to the original blueprints with a tube-frame chassis, leaf spring suspension with aluminum control arms, cold-air intake, and Wilwood brakes. Fiberglass versions get air conditioning, power steering and windows, and a coil-over suspension. The interior is black leather, set off with a big wood-rimmed steering wheel.

The cars come as rolling chassis, meaning you'll need to sort out an engine. Shelby's got you covered there, offering a 289-cubic-inch aluminum motor for extra cost. You'll need to add that price to the $349,995 for the aluminum model, or the $179,995 for the fiberglass number. They'll greet the public at Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival during Pebble Beach week on August 12, then go on display at Laguna Seca for the weekend before heading to the UK for the Goodwood Revival. The images above have all the beauty, the press release below has all the details.

SHELBY AMERICAN ANNOUNCES 50TH ANNIVERSARY COBRA DAYTONA COUPE SERIES

- 50 total 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes will be built
- Authentic aluminum and updated fiberglass versions will be offered
- America's only FIA Sports Car World Championship Celebrated

LAS VEGAS – July 15, 2015 – To celebrate the 50th anniversary of their FIA World Championship, Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) will offer a limited series of continuation Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes. Only 50 cars, available in either aluminum or fiberglass, will be built. Both versions of the car will debut at California events in August 2015.

"The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe helped a small American team beat a racing giant," said Joe Conway, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Shelby American. "The tenacious Shelby American team fielded six sleek Cobra Coupes against the Ferrari juggernaut, winning the FIA Sports Car Championship on July 4, 1965. That is still the only time that an American team has captured the crown. To celebrate that achievement, we're launching a limited series of anniversary cars that bring the legendary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe back to life."

With only six original Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes built, the racecar became one of the most coveted vehicles in the world. Worth millions of dollars each, ownership of one is almost impossible.

"After the success of our 50th anniversary edition Shelby Cobra big block roadster program, we were bombarded with requests to offer a limited edition Daytona Coupe that celebrated this important milestone," said Keith Belair, Shelby American Chief Operating Officer. "We spent the last year carefully planning an aluminum car that is faithful to the six built during the 1960s. In addition, we developed an anniversary edition fiberglass version that is true to the spirit of the Coupe, but reimagined as if it had remained in production over the years."

A combination of the 50 total specially badged anniversary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes will be built. This is the first time that Shelby has offered an aluminum continuation Daytona Coupe.

Each aluminum Coupe (serial numbers CSX9950–CSX9999) incorporates safety and performance improvements without sacrificing integrity, as they were built from original blueprints and measurements. Since each original competition car was slightly different, Shelby American chose one specification for the continuation cars that best represents all of the Coupes.

From the leaf spring suspension and tube chassis to the wooden rimmed steering wheel, the cars are period correct. While a variety of exterior colors is available, each will come equipped with a premium black leather interior, special badging, modern disc brakes and a stronger frame.
Each is a component vehicle that is built to order and can be finished by a customer or an authorized dealer; it is delivered as a rolling chassis. An aluminum block 289 c.i.d. engine that can include a Coupe's serial number is also available separately from the Shelby Engine Company.

"The legend of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is amazing," said Gary Schechner, Shelby American Vice President of Marketing. "When Shelby American began racing the lightweight Cobra roadster, they were dominant except on the high speed straightaways of the European circuits. Shelby American tasked Peter Brock with designing a sleeker body for the small block chassis. The result was one of the most radical and now, iconic, racecar designs of all time. Peter's design not only yielded greater top speeds, but also made the car incredibly aerodynamic and efficient."

Shelby American began work on the first Daytona Coupe (CSX2287) in Los Angeles during 1964. It quickly proved to be a winner, enabling Shelby American to dominate and win its Le Mans class that year and capture the International Manufacturer's GT Championship in 1965.

The fiberglass and aluminum cars will be unveiled at Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival on August 12 and be displayed throughout the weekend at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion inside Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. An aluminum car will be displayed at the Goodwood Revival in the U.K. to help celebrate the anniversary of the FIA World Championship where the original Daytona Coupes will be reunited.

"Now for a limited time, a few more people will be able to enjoy a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe," said Conway. "Whether they choose an aluminum continuation car or fiberglass version, each anniversary Daytona Coupe will be issued a Shelby American serial number for documentation in the official Shelby American Worldwide Registry. This is a rare opportunity to snag a piece of performance history."

The price of the base aluminum Shelby Daytona Coupe, not including drivetrain, is $349,995. The fiberglass continuation cars start at $179,995, not including drivetrain. Information is available at http://www.shelby.com/daytona.asp or by calling (702) 942-7325. Shelby American will be accepting deposits on a first-come, first-served basis.

 Shelby will build 50 new Daytona Coupes for 50th anniversary

Chevy Gives Silverado New Look, Transmission for 2016

To say the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is on a roll is to horribly understate the point. Amid the high-visibility plays both Ford and Ram have made with their 2015 pickups — the all-new F-150 and Ram Rebel, respectively — Chevy has quietly been plugging away, producing some of the best monthly truck sales numbers it's had in many years. According to some reports, Chevy is winning the Half-Ton Pickup Truck War.
To take advantage of that momentum, the Silverado 1500 is getting a subtle face-lift to keep the truck looking fresh. The new look is restricted to the front of the truck with a bulging new hood, a more color-integrated grille and several reshaped design cuts to the headlights and bumper.
Although it doesn't look like there will be any significant powertrain or undercarriage changes, it is possible the 2016 models will include some trim package additions and adjustments. As expected, the new eight-speed transmission (previously only available on the 6.2-liter V-8) will move through various 5.3-liter V-8 models, but will not be standard on all V-8-equipped trucks. We're guessing that's to keep the six-speed 5.3-liter Silverado prices as low as possible.
Whether this massaged look will spread to the heavy duties or to the smaller Colorado remains to be seen. Regardless, this midmodel design refresh — along with new available driver connection technology like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — should give new buyers a few more good reasons to feel like they have something unique.
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