14 | STYLE MANITOBA | summer 2012

summer 2012 | STYLE MANITOBA | 15

After 20 plus years in the Auto Industry, one of the greatest compliments I have received in business was from a new client who said “When I see your Nott logo on the back of a car, I peer in to see who is driving and think they must be SMART!” Now I plan on educating our potential clients further, to a level of ‘Bachelor of Smart Shoppers Status,’ with car dealership secrets!!

1. Dealers don’t own the cars! The majority of a car dealer’s inventory funds are advanced by the bank and margined by a varying percentage based on number of days in stock. This motivates the dealers to turn over the inventory quickly, to both avoid depreciation and to ensure they have the bank funding most of the value of the cars.

2. There is no such thing as 0% financing?True zero percent is as real as the Easter bunny! Ask the Bank of Canada if they offer 0%. Either the dealer or the manufacturer buys down the rate to help market cars. At the end of the day someone is paying. The banks do offer special lower rates through the dealer finance offices, but not a true no cost zero percent. 3. Car Salesmen are not human?Actually this is false! We bleed, cry, laugh and put our plaid pants on one leg at a time just like you. Truth is, like any workplace, sometimes staff become a product of their environment, wherein they have been surrounded and influenced by a fundamentally flawed environment and were poorly trained. At Nott Autocorp, we only hire ethical great people who happen to love cars and talking to people! We are curlers, artists, golfers, coaches, fathers and sons, the same as in other workplaces.

4. Cars depreciate and no one really knows how much?Many factors determine future resale market value, and only time and wear can determine the final value. Most appraised values are an estimated value depending again on many variables and factors. Reliability, overall condition, and market conditions such as economy and fuel costs also factor in to future resale values.

5. An $80,000 car does not really cost $80,000? What?! Why Nott? If you buy an $80,000 car depreciated for $40,000, drive it for 2 years and sell it for $35,000, 2 years later that car cost you $2,500 per year total? Amazingly, the depreciation cost to own a once $80,000 car translates into around $200 per month. At Nott Autocorp, we call this your (TCD) True Cost of Driving. We advise and position our clients in such a manner that we try to optimize the right time frame and depreciated price point to both own and to remarket the vehicle.

Auto Ideology

Secrets to shopping for a car revealed

Finally, a few words of advice when car shopping.

Simplify Your Car Shopping…

What do Buyers want?1. A reliable vehicle that meets the needs of your lifestyle at a very fair value.2. An ethical dealership that operates in a transparent honest manner and offers great trusted advice and service! Why Nott?! Visit us online at www.nott.ca or in person.

photography: Becky Fleury

Trevor Nott, President, NOTT AUTOCORP