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More and more consumers are singing the praises of subscription car services.
By Sarah Lee Marks
When my Uncle Sal returned from his annual six-month spring/summer break in Cape Cod, he called me with a five-word request: “I need a new car.” Having left his 2014 Subaru back in Massachusetts, he was anxious to pick up a new 2018-19 vehicle for his winter home in Las Vegas. We made a plan to test-drive some new luxury cars and SUV’s to see what struck his fancy. Our first stop was the local Cadillac dealership. As we pulled in to the lot, he asked, “What do you think of these subscription services?”
All right, Uncle Sal! Always surprising!
“How much do you know about these programs?” I asked.
“My friends are driving some sweet rides,” he shrugged. “They say they drop the car off at the dealer for all the services. The insurance and registration are covered in one payment. When they get ready to go back east, they turn it in, no penalty, and get something else in New York. Do they have that everywhere?”
“Every program is different and, between them, the variables can be quite confusing,” I said. “Let’s see what you like driving first.”
Vehicle subscription programs offer an annual contract for high-quality credit clients, starting at around $1,000.00 a month, depending on the model. Outside of major metropolitan areas, most of these plans are limited to luxury vehicles. At our first stop, we inquired about the Book by Cadillac plan, which was advertised as a “simpler, smarter way to drive.” Unfortunately, they were not accepting any new members at that time.
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TECHNOLOGY brings driving to a New Level!
Fully Loaded –
by Sarah Lee Marks
Forget new car smell…new car safety features have become the industry’s most powerful selling tool.
by Sarah Lee Marks
As dinner-table proclamations go in our family, this was a huge one: “It’s time for a new car,” my 83-year-old mother said
“Why?” we all asked, in perfect unison.
“Your car has barely 21,000 miles, and it’s only four years old,” I pointed out.
“Six years old,” she corrected me, “and I want my last car to be fancy.”
I briefly considered demanding that she surrender her keys altogether…but then pictured my life as an official taxi driver. “Let me check my schedule for Tuesday,” I sighed.
I wanted some time to do my research before venturing onto a car lot. I started at the NHTSA.gov and Safercar.gov websites for the latest recalls, updates, and consumer complaints. My next online stop was www.iihs.org, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety website. The drop-down menu on the crash avoidance page allowed me to compare cars—by year, make and model—for safety features. Then off we went.
MyCarlady Tip of the Day: Forward collision cameras alerts and brakes
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