Since opening our doors, Stadium Auto Texas has kept a firm commitment to our customers. We offer a wide selection of vehicles and hope to make the car buying process as quick and hassle free as possible.
Monday, December 15, 2014
1 in 5 motorists name their car, do you? | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
By Noah Joseph
We all know someone who's named their car. And chances are – let's face it – that person is probably a girl. We're not being sexist here: we're just looking at the numbers presented by a new study from DMEautomotive.
The industry research group conducted a study that indicates that one in five American car owners have named their vehicles. But that one in five is likely to be female and between the ages of 18 and 24. The study upsets certain notions of men being more attached to their cars than women, and millennials not caring about cars: at 23 percent, women proved more likely to personify their vehicle than men (at 18 percent), and car owners in their late teens or early twenties are the four times more likely to name their cars than someone over 55.
Because most women (by far) view their car as female and men are pretty evenly split, there's about twice as many "female" cars on the road as "male" ones (those identities having been ascribed by the vehicles' owners). But this part had us scratching our heads the most: apparently one in four cars that have names, have names that begin with the letter B: as the tidy infographic above shows, Baby, Betsy, Bessie and Betty (along with Black Beauty) rank among the most popular names for cars in America.
Of course some cars may be more susceptible to being named than others, though the study (whose findings you can read below) doesn't get into that. As our friends at Road & Track discovered, Mini dealers have devised a simple way of figuring out whether an owner may be interested in trading in: if they've named their Mini, chances are slim that they'll be willing to part with it.
Courtesy of
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/15/car-name-study-poll/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fautoblog+%28Autoblog%29
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Texas Winter Travel | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
If you must drive, please keep in mind that sleet or freezing rain can make driving and walking extremely hazardous. Roadway conditions motorists could encounter during adverse winter weather include:
- Loss of pavement friction due to wet, snow-covered or icy conditions
- Restricted visibility due to fog, falling rain or vehicle spray
- Lane obstruction due to standing water or plowed or blowing snow
- Infrastructure damage (such as a washed-out road)
- Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions
- Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice
- Watch carefully for snow removal equipment and stay at least 200 feet back if you are behind a snow plow
- Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas as they tend to freeze first
Check highway conditions at DriveTexas.
For additional road safety preparedness information and tips, download the TxDOT Safety Guide for Winter Travel.
Courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation
Friday, November 21, 2014
Stadium Auto Warranty | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
Protective's suite of innovative F&I products has been increasing revenue and customer satisfaction for franchise and independent auto dealerships for almost 50 years.
In addition to offering a wide range of service coverage plans for new and pre-owned vehicles, we also offer a limited warranty program, lifetime engine warranty program, maintenance program, GAP, credit life and credit disability insurance. Many of our vehicle service contracts include roadside assistance plans, tire and wheel road hazard coverage, paint-less dent removal and front windshield repair.
Our automotive product portfolio includes:
- Advantage
- VIP
- CostGuard
- Select
- Mileage Plus
- Certified Limited Warranty
- Lifetime Powertrain Warranty
- Lifetime Engine Warranty (LEW)
- Maintenance Pro Plus
Advantage is a vehicle service contract for both franchise and independent dealerships. Advantage offers coverage for both new and pre-owned vehicles. Product highlights include:
- Three levels of named component coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Eligible vehicles include current plus 9 prior model years
- Coverage terms up to 7 years/100,000 miles
- Dealer profit participation reinsurance and retro programs available
Advantage WRAP is designed to wrap around manufacturer coverage programs. Program highlights include:
- A named component level of coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Coverage terms up to 10 years/100,000 miles
- Dealer profit participation reinsurance and retro programs available
Designed for the franchise and independent dealer, VIP (Vehicle Increased Protection) offers coverage for new or pre-owned vehicles. Product highlights include:
- Four levels of named component coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Eligible vehicles include those up to 10 prior model years
- Coverage terms up to 7 model years/100,000 miles
VIP WRAP is designed to wrap around popular manufacturer coverage programs. Product highlights include:
- A named component level of coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Eligible vehicles include those up to 9 prior model years
- Coverage terms up to 10 years/100,000 miles
CostGuard is a vehicle service contract for franchise dealerships. CostGuard offers coverage for both new and pre-owned vehicles. Product highlights include:
- Three levels of named component coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Eligible vehicles include those up to 10 prior model years
- Coverage terms up to 7 years/100,000 miles
- Dealer profit participation reinsurance and retro programs available
CostGuard WRAP is designed to wrap around manufacturer coverage programs. Program highlights include:
- A named component level of coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Coverage terms up to 10 years/100,000 miles
- Dealer profit participation reinsurance and retro programs available
Designed for the independent dealer, Select offers multiple levels of coverage for new & pre-owned vehicles. Product highlights include:
- Two levels of named component coverage
- An exclusionary level of coverage
- Eligible vehicles include current plus 10 prior model years
- Coverage terms up to 7 years/100,000 miles
Mileage Plus is a high-mileage, mechanical breakdown program designed for pre-owned vehicles. Product highlights include:
- Three levels of named component coverage
- Eligibility includes Current + 10 model years, Current + 15 model years and All Model years.
- Coverage terms up to 4 years/60,000 miles
Our Certified Limited Warranty is a powertrain program that provides dealers with the opportunity to stand above competition while providing their customers peace of mind. New, extended eligibility and pre-owned plans are available to meet franchise and independent dealers’ needs.
- Enhanced eligibility, coverage, deductible options and more
- More additional benefits like roadside and car rental coverage included
- Various marketing materials available
- Dealer participation programs such as retro and reinsurance are available
Our NEW Lifetime Powertrain Warranty protects the major components of your customer’s vehicle for as long as they own the vehicle. The program provides dealers with the opportunity to stand above competition while providing their customers peace of mind. The program is designed for new and pre-owned vehicles in franchise and independent dealerships. Product highlights include:
- Protects the major components of your customer’s vehicle for as long as they own the vehicle
- No deductible
- Rental car coverage included
- Various marketing materials available
- Dealer participation programs such as retro and reinsurance are available
The Lifetime Engine Warranty (LEW) provides lifetime engine coverage for eligible vehicles. The program is designed for new and pre-owned vehicles in franchise and independent dealerships. Product highlights include:
- Protects the engine for as long as the customer owns the vehicle
- No deductible
- Rental car reimbursement for up to six days per covered mechanical breakdown
- Can be provided as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with a Protective vehicle service contract
- Dealer profit participation reinsurance and retro programs available
Maintenance Pro Plus offers scheduled maintenance service for any type of automobile. Product highlights include:
- Oil changes
- Oil filter replacement
- Chassis lube
- Tire rotation
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The Stadium Story | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
Our Story
The history of Stadium Auto began 23 years ago through the hard work, perseverance, and vision of the Rahmati family. With a limited budget and a dozen cars the vision was launched into a reality. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction, offering quality products and service at unbeatable prices, and exceptional customer service which is why choosing Stadium Auto is the greater value. Through hard work and customer dedication our inventory, staff and dreams have grown.
At Stadium Auto one of our prime goals is to build long lasting customer relationships. We know that all lasting relationships are based upon honesty, integrity, and trust and these are the ways we earn our customers' continued business. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is committed to providing a stress-free car buying experience.
Our Company
In 2007 Stadium Auto acquired its current location, an out of business Dodge Dealership in the need of some TLC. Mr. Rahmati, always known for doing it big and with some flare, decided to completely gut the facility and start over instead of simply remodeling. The result: a state of the art car dealership housing a dedicated team of nearly 100 with one clear vision.
Stadium Auto has continued to evolve as the automotive market has continued to change. We no longer advertise in the papers or in the classifieds. We cater to a national customer base and ship vehicles worldwide on a weekly basis.
Without a new car manufacturer pressuring us to produce a certain amount of sales on a certain make and model or shareholders pressuring a high level of profits, we are able to do business the way we would like to think others wish they could. We are not motivated on being a one purchase endeavor, but rather we want you to remember the experience with us and the value in your automobile purchase with Stadium Auto.
Over the years our inventory and direction continue to evolve and expand with the quote above being the core foundation of our business. Did you know that Stadium Auto is one of the largest internet car dealerships around? We like to think of it as some of our family members living further away, but still being able to create and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with one another.Stadium Auto is like no other car dealership in existence. When you walk in you will be greeted and not harassed. You will notice flat screens on the walls with the latest game on and couches to sit on rather than stuffy desks, unwelcoming chairs, etc. We pride ourselves on that next level of service and convenience that one may not expect but always wished existed in the car-buying experience.
Our Vision & Values
Principles which drive us onward:
Our vision at Stadium Auto is centered on a Customer Service Philosophy that puts our customers first. Furthermore, we provide these values:
At Stadium Auto we always:
- put customers first
- strive to provide exceptional service
- treat our customers as family
- are committed to continued loyalty to our customers and work team
- offer competitive and affordable pricing
- aim to establish long-lasting relationships built on trust, honesty, and transparency
Buy a car from us or just come say hello and catch the latest game on the couch. We welcome you to browse our searchable online inventory at: http://www.stadiumautotexas.com/. We will be here today to answer your questions, tomorrow to help you purchase the vehicle you most desire, and in the future for all your automotive needs.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
4 Things You Should Never Ask too Early | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
By Mark McDonald
One day I was
standing outside the showroom when a small, approximately 10-year-old
coupe came skidding around the corner at high speed and screeched to a
halt directly in front of me. The driver, who was about 40 years old,
long-haired, bearded, and wearing sunglasses, jumped out and did a
little Vanna White routine, gesturing to his car with both hands as if
it were a prize on “Wheel of Fortune,” and asked:
“Hey dude, how much can you give me for this?”
I’m thinking, “Did he just steal it?” But I said
“Um...what is it?” I honestly didn’t know. It kind of looked like a
Cavalier, but it could just as easily have been a Cobalt or a
Mitsubishi. The man told me what it was and repeated his question. “What
do you think I could get for it?”
I told him I didn’t know, but if he had the
time, I’d be happy to get an appraisal done for him. He looked at me
with a disappointed expression that said, “Really, dude? You’re going to
play that game with me?” But the truth was, I had no idea what his car
was worth. He hadn’t told me the model, the year, the mileage, what kind
of engine it had, the options, the condition, its history—nothing. Yet
he expected me to spit out a number. When I told him I wasn’t going to
hazard a guess until he gave my manager time to drive it and do a
professional appraisal, he gave me a disgusted look, jumped back in his
car, and sped off.
Folks, I’m sorry, but don’t ask me to put a
number on your trade after looking at it for a total of five seconds. I
may be in car sales, but that doesn’t mean I have an encyclopedic brain
full of accurate values for everything produced in the last 20 years.
There are zillions of cars out there, and a zillion different trim
levels, and a zillion different option combinations.
Plus, if I give you a number, it has to be a
number the dealer is prepared to stand behind. It won’t be a “suggested
value” like you get on a website. It will be a number that we’re
actually prepared to write you a check for. I’m talking cash money,
dude. That kind of number can’t be arrived at with a glance.
That is just one of the questions you should never ask a salesman while you’re standing in the parking lot.
“What kind of interest rate can I get on that?”
People ask as if it depends on the car, not the
buyer. “That depends on your credit,” I usually answer. “And your credit
is far too important for me to guess at. But if you’d like to fill out a
credit application, I can tell you exactly.” Of course, at the
beginning, no one wants to fill out a credit app because they’ve heard
it hurts their credit, and because they’re not ready to buy yet. So
rather than get a real answer, they’d prefer to ask a total stranger who
knows nothing about them—me—to use the WAG method and take a wild-ass
guess. Don’t ask your salesman what your rate is going to be until
you’ve settled on a particular car and you’ve filled out a credit
application. He can’t give you a meaningful answer until then.
“What will my payments be on this?"
Again, it depends on your rate, which depends on
your credit. And it depends on your final sale price, and the value of
your trade, and the pay-off on your trade, and the number of months
you’re willing to finance, and the money down—none of which have been
discussed yet. In short, there are too many unknown variables to answer
that so early. Later on I can tell you what your payments will be. But
not now. So don’t ask.
“What’s the best price you can do on this?”
This is the worst question of all. I’m not sure
why people ask this. They’re not ready to buy. They’re not even close to
buying. But they want to know your best price, as if that’s going to be
the trigger that causes them to buy. A variation on this is
“What’s the lowest you’ll go on this?”
In other words, how much money are you willing to lose? This invites a
smart aleck like me to fire back an equally silly question, like,
“What’s the most you’ll pay?” And where are we then? Nowhere.
Questions like this put your salesman in an
impossible situation. It’s a total lose-lose for me. Because no matter
what I say, it won’t be the right answer. And customers know that.
That’s why they ask questions like that.
Studies show that one of the biggest complaints
people have about buying cars is the inability to get straight answers
to simple questions. I agree that can be very frustrating. But here’s
the key: Customers must ask appropriate questions.
Any of these questions, if they’re asked too
early in the process, leave a salesman no choice but to sound evasive,
because he or she can’t answer them without more information. Much more
information than I can gather from just saying “Hello” and shaking your
hand. And if I do try to answer them without asking the proper
questions, chances are I’ll be wrong.
And what happens when a salesman turns out to be
wrong? Usually, it’s interpreted as deliberate deception. I lied to
you. I told you your payments would be “around $400 a month,” and they
turned out to be $678 a month. Of course, when I said that it was before
I knew about your $5000 negative equity, your foreclosure, and your
desire to finance for no more than 48 months. But you won’t remember any
of that. You’ll be thinking I knew from the get-go what it would be and
I misled you. See what I mean?
So if you want a direct, accurate, and detailed
answer to any question, allow your salesperson to take you inside, sit
down, and ask you a few questions. Otherwise, the answer you get is
going to be worthless.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Drivers Can Calculate Personal Driving Costs | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
Compare and Calculate Personal Driving Costs
Attempting to calculate the cost of ownership for a vehicle that requires gas can be confusing and inaccurate, especially with the fluctuation of gas prices, but for drivers who are contemplating switching to an electric vehicle, we would to show you a quick tool to compare and calculate personal driving costs.
The initial price of a vehicle is alone isn’t going to be all that you’re faced with, unless you plan on keeping it in your garage or using it as furniture. In order for it to serve its purpose, daily commutes to work, weekend getaways, or road trips, you’ll have to take into account how much fuel the vehicle will be using vs guzzling.
An electric vehicle already is going to be a more efficient option, but to show you just how much you save, the Electric Vehicle Explorer tool created by UC Davis can do just this. Moreover, it can be personalized and molded exactly to the driving being performed on average in your life.
The tool is entirely unbiased, and allows potential buyers and those curious about electric cars to compared up to four vehicles side by side at a time, while displaying the results in text and on a bar graph. In order to make the comparisons more applicable to nearly all drivers, the Electric Vehicle Explorer doesn’t restrict drivers to strictly electric vehicles, but allows them to compare all fuel types as well as the old and new vehicles.
Based on the starting and ending point you type into the system, you will be able to calculate how much you are and will be spending according to your vehicle’s fuel range. Want to get even more precise to increase the accuracy of your results? Plug in how much much gas costs by you or the electricity rates at your house.
http://gis.its.ucdavis.edu/evexplorer/
Monday, August 25, 2014
7 Defensive Driving Tips | Stadium Auto Arlington TX
Defensive Driving Can Reduce Motor Vehicle Deaths
The number of fatalities due to car accidents throughout the years has continued to increase, yet recently there has been a slight decrease in the statistics. Still, the total number of vehicle related deaths in 2012 is horrifying, 33,561. Here at Stadium Auto, we’re passionate about vehicles but more importantly, we care about the driver behind the wheel and believe that defensive driving can reduce motor vehicle deaths.
1. Far too many of these accidents could have been prevented had the driver not been impaired, and even though many of you have heard this far too many times, please do not drive under the influence.
2. Try to avoid all distractions, whether it might be futzing with electronics, juggling a four-course meal on your lap, or turning around to quiet down the kids in the backseat. Taking your eyes of the road for a couple of seconds is enough time to drift, or rear-end someone.
3. We know how irritating it is when the green light switches to yellow and you’re debating whether to accelerate or stop. Running red lights is too much of a risk because other drivers may not be paying attention to you, just the green light for them.
Always check blind spots before changing lanes.
4. Many of the new vehicles have preventative accident technology, including blind-spot warning detection. Don’t just rely on your mirrors, make sure to look over your shoulder and around your blind spots when turning, motorcycles and low riding vehicles can be difficult to see.
5. As tempting as it might be to “brake check” a tailgater, it’s best to just steer clear. Move over to the other lane if possible. Don’t bother speeding up because they will just push you fast, and you’ll be first inline if a cop is running radar.
6. Allow enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you. No matter how quick your reaction time may be, make sure you have enough room should the vehicle in front of you come to a sudden stop.
7. Roundabouts are one of the most dangerous places on the road because not everyone is familiar with them, especially older drivers and out-of-state drivers.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Car Salesman Confidential: How To Buy A Used Car
It's All About Who You Can Trust
By Mark McDonald | August 01, 2014
By Mark McDonald | August 01, 2014
In recent years,
with the transaction price of the average new car climbing past $30,000,
and the sluggish economy, more and more people are electing to keep
their cars a little longer, or buy used. So the question is, how do you
keep from getting stuck with a bad used car? Here are my suggestions,
as a ten year veteran of car sales:
1. Establish a Relationship With a Salesperson
Any time you buy from a person you've never met, whether he's a salesman for a dealership or some guy on eBay, it's a bit of a gamble. The seller may be a straight shooter, and the car he's selling may be perfectly fine. Or he may be a con artist and the car may have serious problems with it. In my opinion, a good strategy is to find a salesperson you trust -- maybe the man or woman you bought your last new car from -- and work through them. When it comes time to buy something used, call them up and tell them what you're looking for. If he's smart, your salesman will steer you to a car you'll be happy with, if for no other reason than he wants to sell you more cars in the future.2. Buy From a Large Dealership With a Good Reputation
I'm not knocking small "Mom & Pop" dealerships, because I have many friends who work at places like this and there's nothing wrong with the cars they sell. But I think you have a slightly better chance of finding a good used car at a large, well-established dealership. There are two reasons. First, large dealerships have service departments, whereas your local "dirt lot" probably does not. Chances are good that any car you find at a large dealership has at least gone through a basic Safety Inspection to make sure the tires are good, the brakes work, and nothing is wrong with the steering. Most dealerships will also check the fluids and change the oil. With a small lot you just have to take the seller's word for it that the car is mechanically sound, or arrange to have your own mechanic inspect it. Second, a big dealership has a bigger reputation to protect. They know that if they abuse you, you'll go on line and write a bad review or complain to their corporate office, and nobody wants that. So they go to greater lengths to make sure their used cars are sound, and they'll be more responsive to your complaints after the sale. Let me give you a quick example. A used car manager at a large dealership I know went to an auction and bought five used BMWs for a song. On the outside, these cars looked fine -- but every single one of them had frame damage. I'm not sure how this guy expected to get away with it, but his plan was to sell these cars without disclosing the damage and make a killing. But when their history was discovered this guy was fired – instantly -- and the cars never even made it onto the dealer's lot. A large organization just cannot afford to do business like that. A Cautionary Word About CarFax. CarFax is great . . . but don't put all your faith in it. CarFax only reports what's reported to it. If two people have an accident, but choose not to report it, it won't show up on the CarFax. Second, just because CarFax says the car has been in an accident, it doesn't mean it's a "bad vehicle" or you shouldn't buy it. Read the fine print. Was the vehicle unable to move on its own power, and had to be towed away? Or was it able to be driven away? The fact is, the collision might have been a minor incident with only minimal damage, but because the Police were called and a report was taken, it shows up on CarFax as an "accident." Third, even if a vehicle is involved in a collison, if the damage has been repaired properly there's no reason to avoid buying the car. See if records are available, and ask how it was repaired and by whom.
A Word About Rental Cars.
Many times, dealerships will supplement their used car inventory with vehicles from rental car companies. The reason is simple: they need the inventory. A dealership can't just sit around and wait for customers to trade in what's popular, so they go out and buy desirable vehicles from rental companies, or at auction. A lot of people are put off by this, but they shouldn't be. If a car is in good condition it shouldn't matter who the previous owner was. (In fact, you may even have a better chance that the vehicle was properly maintained because most rental companies perform regular maintenance.) Rentals will typically have a little higher mileage on them than comparable privately owned cars, but that also means they're priced lower. I have sold many a used car that came from a rental fleet and had no complaints yet.3. Buy a Certified Used Car
If you've been out cruising dealerships lately you may have noticed some of the cars have stickers on them saying things like "Certified" or "Certified Pre-Owned." What this means is that the car has gone through an inspection process, been serviced and, if necessary, repaired, and is being sold with an extended warranty. For example, if you come across a Certified Honda, it means that the regular 5 years or 60,000 mile drivetrain warranty has been extended to 7 years, 100,000 miles. This is a tremendous value. A certified car has a warranty on it that, in some ways, is better than the original factory warranty. Certification offers every used car buyer extra "peace of mind" that they haven't bought a lemon, and knowledge that the manufacturer stands behind it. Of course, a certified car will also cost a little more than a car that isn't certified, but in my opinion it's worth it. A Word About "As Is" Vehicles. Most of the used cars found on dealership lots have a sticker called the "Buyer's Guide" or "As Is" that tells you whether or not the car has any warranty left on it. Pay attention to this sticker. If it says "As Is," it means As Is -- you're buying the car just as it sits, with no warranty. There's an old saying in the car biz that, if you buy an "As Is" vehicle and you drive it off the lot and it breaks into two pieces, you own both pieces. The dealership is under no obligation whatsoever to fix that vehicle for you. Here's the thing. If you discover a problem with an "As Is" vehicle before you complete the paperwork or drive it off the lot, most dealerships will probably fix it for you -- depending on what it is. If it's a minor cosmetic issue, like a broken cupholder or soiled carpet, probably not. But if it's something major, like a bad headlight or mechanical issue, they probably will. Just be sure to get any promises in writing on the "We Owe" (that's the document the dealer uses to remind us of what we owe the customer). Verbal representations in the middle of a sale tend to get forgotten, or can be distorted by memory, so always get it in writing.Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Ford partnering with MIT, Stanford on autonomous vehicle research
Ask any car engineer what's the biggest variable in achieving fuel economy targets, and he'll tell you "the driver." If one human can't understand human driving behavior enough to be certain about an innocuous number like miles per gallon, how is an autonomous car supposed to figure out what hundreds of other drivers are going to do in the course of a day? Ford has enlisted the help of Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to find out.
Starting with the automated Fusion Hybrid introduced in December, MIT will be developing algorithms that driverless cars can use to "predict actions of other vehicles and pedestrians" and objects within the three-dimensional map provided by its four LIDAR sensors.
The Stanford team will research how to extend the 'vision' of that LIDAR array beyond obstructions while driving, analogous to the way a driver uses the entire width of a lane to see what's ahead of a larger vehicle in front. Ford says it wants to "provide the vehicle with common sense" as part of its Blueprint for Mobility, preparing for an autonomous world from 2025 and beyond.
By Jonathon Ramsey
Courtesy of http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/24/ford-mit-stanford-autonomous-vehicle-research/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)