Thinking of Trading In Your Car This Summer? Here are some tips

Tips for Trading In Your Car

Thinking of trading in your car? It’s a great way to save on a new (or new-to-you) car purchase or avoid the hassle of selling your car privately. Taking these steps before setting foot on the lot can help you get a better deal on your car.

1. Assess your car.

Be realistic. How well have you maintained your car? What’s the mileage? Are there repairs that need to be done? Are there dings, dents and scratches outside, or stains inside? All of these factors will influence your car’s trade-in value.

2. Do your research.

Once you have a good idea of your car’s condition, find out what other cars in similar condition are selling for in your area.

3. Understand the market.

Regardless of the numbers you discover during your research, there are several variables that will affect the offer you receive:

·      The time of year (Are you selling a convertible in wintertime? You may get a better deal if you wait until springtime.)

·      Current gas prices (A small, gas-efficient car may fetch a better price than a big SUV when gas is expensive.)

·      The dealer’s current inventory (Do they have similar cars sitting unsold on the lot?)

The typical dealer wants to make about 2 – 4% profit on a resale transaction. They may also need to do repairs to get your car up to snuff, so once you come up with the amount similar cars are retailing for, take these two variables into account to determine a fair trade-in price.

A great place to start is Borcherding’s Trade-In Estimator, powered by PureCars. Just enter details about your car and you’ll get a free estimate of what you can expect to get for your car from a dealer in about 30 seconds!

Our gift to you! A Buick/GMC and thousands in cash under the tree!

Get the best offers of the year on select vehicles during Borcherding’s Holiday Event from December 24, 2014 through January 2, 2015.

Plus, take away a check for thousands and add some serious cash to your holiday. Get deals on:

·       A 2014/2105 new Buick Enclave and Verano in stock the longest AND 20% cash back of MSRP including Destination Charges*

·       A 2014/2015 new GMC Sierra Light Duty Double Cabs in stock the longest AND 20% cash back of MSRP including Destination Charges*

It’s the best holiday gift you’ll buy and may be the best deal you’ll get all year!

Happy holidays from your friends at Borcherding!

* On oldest 15% of inventory as of 12/22/14 while stock lasts. Not compatible with special finance, lease and some other offers. Take delivery by 1/2/15. See dealer for details.

Kim’s Speedy Thanksgiving Potatoes it's a Borcherding Thing!

Kim’s Speedy Thanksgiving Potatoes (10-minute prep, 15-minute cooking time)

We all know the holidays can get crazy—and quickly! That’s why shaving off as much time as you can with certain dishes is helpful. If you’re in a time crunch this Thanksgiving, check Kim’s recipe for Speedy Mashed Potatoes.

Ingredients (serves 4):

1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, skin off or on and cut into 1-inch cubes

1 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons salted butter

White truffle oil, to taste

Directions: 

·       Place potatoes in a large pot with water, add salt and bring to boil.

·       Reduce heat slightly and cook potatoes for 12-15 minutes.

·       In a small pot, heat milk and butter to a simmer, then remove from heat.

·       Drain potatoes, return to pot and add half the milk and butter mixture.

·       Mash with a potato masher or electric beaters until mostly smooth, then fluff with a fork.

·       Add remaining milk and butter mixture and mix until incorporated. 

·       Drizzle mashed potatoes with White Truffle Oil, to taste.

·       Serve immediately.

Halloween Driving Safety Tips from Borcherding Buick GMC

Halloween Driving Safety Tips

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, October 31 may be the scariest night of the year for kids—and not because it’s Halloween.

Children are four more times likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s one of the top three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and deaths.

Usually, our biggest fear on Trick-or-Treat is our kids taking candy from strangers, but safety on the streets might actually be the biggest danger.

Here are a few trips for drivers and Trick-or-Treaters to keep them safe this season.

For Drivers

·      Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, don’t cut through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be walking. (Source: AAA)

·      Look for kids everywhere. Realize that candy-hungry ghosts and goblins are probably not following crossing rules and may be walking boldly through the streets. In fact, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, only 30% of Halloween accidents occurred at intersections and crosswalks. Watch for kids everywhere--on roadways, medians, curbs, yards and front porches. Also, realize they may be dressed in dark clothing and hard to see at night.

·      Slow down. Slow down in residential neighborhoods and pay extra attention to traffic rules and signals. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit, since excited trick-or-treaters may run out in front of your car. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they're hit by a car traveling at 35 mph instead of 25 mph. Just 10 mph can be a saving grace.

For Parents and Kids

Know the most dangerous hours. Most fatalities occur from 6-7 p.m., while 60% of fatal accidents occurred from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Fatality Analysis Reporting System)

·      Don’t text while walking. Teen injuries have increased in recent years, possibly due to texting.

·      Wear retro-reflective tape on costumes and treat buckets for night visibility.

·      Avoid facemasks because they block your vision. Use face paint instead.

·      Stay on sidewalks. If the street has no sidewalks, stay to the left side of the road and face traffic.