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Secret Banking Industry Data....Free For The Asking
That Will Help You Buy The Right New Car
Like most folks, when you're looking to buy a new or used car, you want to know what car, truck, van or suv should be on your list....and which ones should not.
I know, I know....you have a million different sources to look at that will give you advice on which cars are winners....and which are losers. For the most part though, all this advice is nothing more than personal opinions.
And when you talk about opinions there's one huge problem....everyone has one.
I don't know about you, but if I'm going to drop a large chunk-of-change on a new or used vehicle, I like to have some "proof" on which car, van, truck or suv I should purchase.
I get my proof from a little know company - ALG - Automotive Lease Guide. This company publishes what I like to call the "Bible". It's a tiny little book that can keep you from throwing away thousand of dollars when you buy a car.
How does it do that, you ask?
Well, the ALG will show you, in dollars, what car, van, truck or suv deserves your hard-earned money....and which you should avoid.
Basically, they calculate the market value for almost every vehicle sold in the U.S. The formulas ALG uses to calculate Values are proprietary - meaning they're not sharing it with just anyone.
I don't blame them - It's top-notch data. And almost every Bank in the Country spends a small fortune each year and buys this data from ALG. Why's that? Simple....
Banks are in business to make money - big money.
They're not going to rely on someone's opinion when they're calculating a complicated financial product like a lease. That's a sure way to go Bankrupt. Since 1964, ALG has provided the info that Banks use to write their leases.
Okay....So how can this info help you? ALG will essentially tell you which vehicle is a winner and which is a loser, by placing a marketplace value (A Dollar Value) on a particular vehicle for a given period of time - usually 24 months to 60 months.
Inside the ALG, each vehicle is listed along with the MSRP, and the what's it's worth at 24, 36, 48 & 60 months.
Here's an example of how this works - Let's say you're looking at two Mini-Vans, each priced right around $30,000.
The 1st has a residual value of 51% at 48 months. The 2nd has a residual value of 32% at 48 months.
That means at 48 months (4 years) -
- The 1st Van with the 51% residual will have a market value of $15,300.
- The 2nd Van with the 32% residual will have a market value of $9,600 - that's $5,700 less.
Which one would you rather own? The 1st Van? I thought so!
Remember, when it's time to get rid of that van (which you will at some point) one of these vans will be worth a bunch more - that means you get keep a bunch more of your money. Buy correctly and you'll laugh all the way to the Bank.
How To Get The ALG Data....For Free
There are 3 ways to get the ALG info.
1. Order it from ALG directly....for $120 or so, or;
2. Make a phone call and get it for FREE.
3. Visit a special website and get it for FREE.
You're willing to make a call....good.
When you're going to buy a car, make sure you pick up the phone and call a Banker or Loan Officer first.
Most of them have the tiny ALG book stuck in their drawer.
Ask them if they have a moment to answer a question or two about residuals. Ask them what the residuals/values are on the cars, vans, trucks or suv's you're considering for 36 months, 48 months and 60 months.
The vehicle that has the highest residual percentages at 36 months, 48 months and 60 months - is the one you should buy.
If you don't want to get on the phone and don't mind spending a few extra minutes, head on over to this car buying guide - all you need to know is the Make, Model, Trim Level and Transmission Type and you'll know exactly what car, truck, minivan or suv you should look at the next time you're going to buy a car.
So, to keep the most money in your pocket the next time you buy a car, ignore the rebates, the 0% financing offers, the gimmicks and the advertising.
Be smart - pick the best the next time you buy a car - use the ALG info and stop wasting thousands of dollars.
Tom O'Leary is an Automotive Portfolio Analyst, Author and has been called a modern-day "Robin Hood" for his efforts in helping the Automotive Consumer.
