Caranddriver.com named their top 10 cars of 2012 recently and of many candidates the following were chosen.

1. Audi A6/A7 3.0T Quattro - This car looks great, drives great, and at what some consider a practical price of around 50k+ - it's a great all around pick.

2. BMW 3-Series/M3 - Sporty, sexy, and with an 8300-rpm V-8 this car has yet to be knocked off it's pedestal.

3. Cadillac CTS-V - Definitely a car with "swag." While it's not designed for a fast getaway it's definitely made for smooth sailing.

4. Ford Focus - Although the Focus has had its share of issues in the past we got to give to the the 2012 Focus for its sensational ride handling and admirable power/mpg index. Only warning: don't do the MyFord Touch system!

5. Ford Mustang GT/Boss 302 - Having the name Boss in your title says it all. This car screams "HOT"! Definitely a favorite. It's loud, it's fast, it's... perfect (and at a price tag of 41k it's also affordable).

6. Honda Accord - The name says it all. Reliable, affordable and trusted for decades the Accord is an old favorite that will never likely go away.

7. Honda Fit- This pint sized car packs a big punch. It has the most in-class passenger space compared to other smaller cars as well as a 5- speed manual that is "among the great ambassadors to the stick."

8. Mazda MX-5 Miata - Not a big fan of the body of the car. Looks very 90's to me, but I am impressed that the 2.0-liter, 7200-rpm four offers 167 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque

9. Porsche Boxter/Cayman - Hey if you can afford this, than go for it! This is a true sports car and considering it costs about 30k less than the Porsche 911, it's also a great deal.

10. Volkswagen Golf/GTI - Sporty and affordable are words used to describe this car. While I am not a fan of the look I can appreciate its engine and fuel mpg.

Which would you have added and which, in your opinion, should not have made the cut? Check them out and share your thoughts.

Caranddriver.com named their top 10 cars of 2012 recently and of many candidates the following were chosen.

1. Audi A6/A7 3.0T Quattro - This car looks great, drives great, and at what some consider a practical price of around 50k+ - it's a great all around pick.

2. BMW 3-Series/M3 - Sporty, sexy, and with an 8300-rpm V-8 this car has yet to be knocked off it's pedestal.

3. Cadillac CTS-V - Definitely a car with "swag." While it's not designed for a fast getaway it's definitely made for smooth sailing.

4. Ford Focus - Although the Focus has had its share of issues in the past we got to give to the the 2012 Focus for its sensational ride handling and admirable power/mpg index. Only warning: don't do the MyFord Touch system!

5. Ford Mustang GT/Boss 302 - Having the name Boss in your title says it all. This car screams "HOT"! Definitely a favorite. It's loud, it's fast, it's... perfect (and at a price tag of 41k it's also affordable).

6. Honda Accord - The name says it all. Reliable, affordable and trusted for decades the Accord is an old favorite that will never likely go away.

7. Honda Fit- This pint sized car packs a big punch. It has the most in-class passenger space compared to other smaller cars as well as a 5- speed manual that is "among the great ambassadors to the stick."

8. Mazda MX-5 Miata - Not a big fan of the body of the car. Looks very 90's to me, but I am impressed that the 2.0-liter, 7200-rpm four offers 167 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque

9. Porsche Boxter/Cayman - Hey if you can afford this, than go for it! This is a true sports car and considering it costs about 30k less than the Porsche 911, it's also a great deal.

10. Volkswagen Golf/GTI - Sporty and affordable are words used to describe this car. While I am not a fan of the look I can appreciate its engine and fuel mpg.

Which would you have added and which, in your opinion, should not have made the cut? Check them out and share your thoughts.

So Motor Trend has named the Volkswagen Passat the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. How did it win exactly? Yahoo attributes that to a few things including:

Advancement in design: According to engineering guru Chris Theodore the exterior is”tastefully executed with really tight shut lines and nice detailing.” The result is sort of a time-release appeal that blossoms upon close scrutiny or when hand-washing the vehicle. It’s a less flashy design than the Sonata’s, but way more cohesive than the Accord’s.

Engineering Excellence: Theodore again admits,  “It’s the best-tamed VW I-5 application ever. The thrashiness has been masked, and the engine is very quiet. A fine choice for middle America in real-world driving conditions.” Jim Hall, product expert, declared  “hands down, my favorite”

Efficiency: With a recorded fuel economy stat of 34.3 mpg,  exactly halfway between the EPA city and highway ratings of 22/31 mpg, no wonder it ranked #1.

Safety: Six airbags, tire pressure monitoring, brake-assist, among many other features. Reynolds proclaimed the Passat “substantially more integrated and driver-attuned than the Camry. In the figure eight, its braking, turn-in, cornering, and exit are all fluidly linkable with less roll and better road feel.”

Value: Base priced at 27k not a bad deal. And ownership costs are also further suppressed by VW’s Carefree Maintenance Program, which picks up the tab for all scheduled stops during the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Check out the Passat and let us know what you think. Is it a deserved win? If not, who else could have been in the running for this title? Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Impala?

So Motor Trend has named the Volkswagen Passat the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. How did it win exactly? Yahoo attributes that to a few things including:

Advancement in design: According to engineering guru Chris Theodore the exterior is”tastefully executed with really tight shut lines and nice detailing.” The result is sort of a time-release appeal that blossoms upon close scrutiny or when hand-washing the vehicle. It’s a less flashy design than the Sonata’s, but way more cohesive than the Accord’s.

Engineering Excellence: Theodore again admits,  “It’s the best-tamed VW I-5 application ever. The thrashiness has been masked, and the engine is very quiet. A fine choice for middle America in real-world driving conditions.” Jim Hall, product expert, declared  “hands down, my favorite”

Efficiency: With a recorded fuel economy stat of 34.3 mpg,  exactly halfway between the EPA city and highway ratings of 22/31 mpg, no wonder it ranked #1.

Safety: Six airbags, tire pressure monitoring, brake-assist, among many other features. Reynolds proclaimed the Passat “substantially more integrated and driver-attuned than the Camry. In the figure eight, its braking, turn-in, cornering, and exit are all fluidly linkable with less roll and better road feel.”

Value: Base priced at 27k not a bad deal. And ownership costs are also further suppressed by VW’s Carefree Maintenance Program, which picks up the tab for all scheduled stops during the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Check out the Passat and let us know what you think. Is it a deserved win? If not, who else could have been in the running for this title? Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Impala?

It's a given!

Every dealer should have a website or some type of online presence. If I am looking for a car, the first place I am going to look is online. I am going to research the car I want first, than see which dealer in my area has that car, and then check out their website to see their inventory.

Don’t have a website? Is the inventory at least listed somewhere? No? Well OK than, you just lost me as a prospect.

An online presence not only lets prospects know you exist and what you can offer, it also gives you credibility. A website isn't the only way to have presence either. You can also try:

• * Facebook
• * Car inventory site
• * Youtube

Everyone is online now. We shop online, we socialize online, we get our news online, and some of us even work online. Posting your inventory in the Sunday paper is so 90’s to me.  I, personally, only buy the Sunday paper for the coupons, the “funnies,” and the crosswords. And besides, ultimately it’s cheaper to post online and easier to track your ROI.

So do you have presence? If not, I’d love to hear why not!

It's a given!

Every dealer should have a website or some type of online presence. If I am looking for a car, the first place I am going to look is online. I am going to research the car I want first, than see which dealer in my area has that car, and then check out their website to see their inventory.

Don’t have a website? Is the inventory at least listed somewhere? No? Well OK than, you just lost me as a prospect.

An online presence not only lets prospects know you exist and what you can offer, it also gives you credibility. A website isn't the only way to have presence either. You can also try:

• * Facebook
• * Car inventory site
• * Youtube

Everyone is online now. We shop online, we socialize online, we get our news online, and some of us even work online. Posting your inventory in the Sunday paper is so 90’s to me.  I, personally, only buy the Sunday paper for the coupons, the “funnies,” and the crosswords. And besides, ultimately it’s cheaper to post online and easier to track your ROI.

So do you have presence? If not, I’d love to hear why not!