Buying Your First Car

One of our newest members to the Uftring Auto Group tackles the world of car shopping

My name is Alyssa Reginetz and I have been working in the Marketing Department at Uftring for about a month and a half.
I'm 22 and the only car I've ever owned was a '98 red Ford Contour I've been sharing with my identical twin since we were 17. Currently sole custody of the Ford has been granted to my sister so I've been using my fiance's 2004 Chevy Malibu, while he finishes his last semester at Bradley University.With his graduation right around the corner, however, we know we need a new car.

This is going to be our first together so we've been doing heavy duty research on cars for the past month. There is A LOT of info out there and choices so my first word of advice would be to figure out your needs in a car, match them with a few models and then start more in depth research.

Our criteria helped to cut our options a little so we took a weekend to go to the Automall and the Nissan store to test drive a few cars. We went online to browse some inventory options and picked out a few cars we liked BEFORE getting to the lot. If we hadn't done that we probably would have wondered those lots for hours.

At the Automall we drove a new Ford Focus and a used Suzuki SX4. Test driving really helped to see the difference in the two cars. The SX4 was a little louder with more head room, testier gas and breaks, better upgrades (there was a space for your Garmin!) and less blind spots. The Focus was so quiet, drove smoother, had impressive breaks but stiffer steering. It really depends on what you're looking for but I was pretty much ready to buy the Focus after the drive. My fiance isn't quite as spontaneous as I am and he talked me into going to Nissan.

At the Nissan store we saw two really nice Sentras and a nice older Altima with tons of upgrades. The two drove about the same but the Altima had much better upgrades. Even so we liked the Sentra more because of it spaciousness, price and unique features. There was a little pop out garbage can and the cup holders swiveled so that you could make room for bigger cups. It also only has only 30,000 miles and gets about 34 mpg.

We've decided the Sentra is the car for us but we didn't do one important thing-get pre-approved. I thought the process would be quick and painless-we have great credit and a good amount of money in the bank-but we've been waiting now for two days to get some sort of approval.

Lucky for us the Nissan store is handling all the negotiations for us and were the ones to find us some rebates for new grads. (Recent/Upcoming grads should really check out the recent grad financing option on New Nissans). Almost all the manufacturers have programs or rebates so DO YOUR RESEARCH.

We hope to hear from the lenders tomorrow and to own our first car soon so wish us luck! If you have any tips or suggestions post them here.

Alyssa

The Corvette

What is it about a Corvette that makes you feel free?

The speed? The rumble of the engine? The wind in your hair?

This iconic Car was first seen in 1953-designed by Harley Earl. Since its inception the Corvette has truly become and icon of American Sports Cars. We here at the Uftring Group hold a special reverence for these machines and are pleased to announce the arrival of a new specially made Corvette.

The Jim McComb Dealership has been privileged to temporarily house a brand new Corvette. This Corvette is custom built with all the stops. The car will be on display at the dealership until it has been sold and will also be on display at the Central Illinois Auto Show. Corvette enthusiasts are welcome to
admire this beautiful machine.

Come by to appreciate one of the finest examples of the American Automobile.

Welcome to the Uftring Family!

Check out their NEW website!

We are excited to announce our newest location – Uftring Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in North Pekin. Negotiations with Joe O’Brien to purchase the former O’Brien Dodge Chrysler Jeep of North Pekin concluded on February 12th.

The return of the Jeep franchise is especially exciting for us, as we were long known for our Jeep sales and service expertise. The former Uftring Jeep serviced and sold more Jeep vehicles than any dealership in the area and was popular with Jeep enthusiasts throughout Central Illinois. We are really looking forward to getting back in the Jeep business and providing the same level of outstanding service and customer commitment.

Uftring Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep is located at 140 Radio City Drive in North Pekin, on Route 29 just south of I-474. The facility is newly reconditioned with Wi-Fi, refurnished spacious lounges and an accessory store. Currently, there are 21 sales, service and parts employees. In the future, we anticipate creating additional jobs as the dealership grows. The facility is now open to customers, with an official Grand Opening to follow.

Ford Fusion is Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 17, 2009 – The Ford Fusion – America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan – today was named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Car of the Year®. The award comes hot on the heels of Fusion setting record-breaking sales for 2009.

"Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers," said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. "The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America."

The prestigious award from MOTOR TREND comes at a time when Fusion sales are already at an all-time high, further positioning the vehicle as a formidable contender in the competitive midsize sedan market.
"The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. "Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup."

To win the coveted Car of the Year award, Fusion outperformed the competition – including the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan – in six new categories: design achievement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

"The Fusion brought a vast assortment of choice that has the potential to appeal to every type of driver, from the eco-conscious to the sport-minded," said MacKenzie. "The Fusion's combination of comfort, fuel efficiency, assortment and technology made it a clear winner among our panel of judges."

The 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are the most fuel-efficient sedans in America. The new models offer more power; class-exclusive technologies, such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) and Ford SYNC®; and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.

The Fusion lineup expanded in the 2010 model year to include all-new Hybrid and Sport models and a new selection of gas-powered engines – all paired with six-speed transmissions – that deliver even more horsepower and better fuel economy.

Used Land Rovers In Illinois

Jaguar-Land Rover of Peoria is excited to announce the launch of a brand new website exclusively dedicated to showcasing Used Land Rovers in Illinois. If you are in the market for a used, pre-owned or Certified Land Rover in Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, Rockford or St. Louis, then you should should start your search here. We have updated specials, Land Rover videos, detailed descriptions, multiple photos and all the information you need to make an informed decision about purchasing a used Range Rover or Land Rover from an experienced dealership in Illinois. Visit us today and save on a new, used or certified Land Rover. We will be happy to make your dreams come true.