CarsDirect.com's New and Used Car Comparator Supercharges Vehicle Research with Unlimited Side-by-Side Comparisons

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2003

Business Editors & Automotive Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2003

Online Research Tool Helps Car Shoppers Identify Best Car

at Best Price Among Countless New and Used Car Options

CarsDirect.com, the leading multi-brand online car buying service, today announced the debut of the CarsDirect.com New and Used Vehicle Comparator. This powerful new research tool is the first to offer shoppers the ability to compare any number of new or used vehicles for important purchase criteria, such as new car invoice price, used car trade-in value, standard safety and exterior features, optional equipment, warranty information and more. With its ability to make unlimited side-by-side comparisons on one page and the flexibility to compare new vs. new, new vs. used, or used vs. used, the CarsDirect.com Comparator goes significantly beyond more fundamental research tools that only allow comparisons of three or four vehicles at one time.

"CarsDirect.com's Comparator is arguably the most useful tool for deciding which car to buy and how much to pay," said Bob Brisco, CarsDirect.com CEO. "For instance, a late-model used vehicle can be an excellent alternative to a comparably-priced new model, offering the opportunity to `step' up to a more exclusive brand or better equipped model for the same or lower price. The CarsDirect.com Comparator is a super efficient tool for assessing just how far a new car budget will stretch."

Comparator Tames the Chaos of New Vehicle Trim Levels and Pricing

Once a buyer selects the models to be compared, he or she can choose ten different ways to view the vehicle data. Categories include:

-- MSRP

-- Invoice price

-- Trade-in value

-- Current private party or dealer retail price range

-- Equipment groupings, including safety, exterior, and comfort and convenience features

-- Seating and interior dimensions, such as leg and head room numbers

-- Powertrain statistics, including performance measures

-- Steering and suspension data

-- Warranty details

Shoppers can also choose to compare all available data categories simultaneously.

Whether comparing three or 30 vehicles, the CarsDirect.com Comparator is designed to quickly search and prioritize high volumes of data, even for slower dial-up connections. For example, a 2003 Ford F-150 truck is currently available in 31 different trim levels. While that level of personalization is a win for consumers, drilling down to what equipment and costs differentiate the various styles can be labor-intensive. By putting the CarsDirect.com Comparator to work, consumers have the power to contrast all 31 styles on one single page for fast decision-making.

While narrowing down new vehicle choices, consumers can also take advantage of additional CarsDirect.com Research Center tools, such as independent car reviews and buying guides, or real-time consultation with a CarsDirect.com vehicle specialist. In addition, customers can quickly check on current guaranteed retail prices and vehicle availability within their zip code, as well as submit a new vehicle purchase request.

Used Shoppers Find Vital Statistics Dating Back to Vehicle's "Birthdate"

With 42 million used vehicles exchanging hands in 2002 alone, previously owned car inventories are immense and purchase possibilities literally endless -- making for countless hours of research without the CarsDirect.com Comparator. When specifying models no longer in production, for example, CarsDirect.com Comparator users get important facts such as original MSRP and warranty, current average trade-in values and dealership and private party retail price ranges. Matching "when new" prices to current retail ranges for several models, for example, can give shoppers a good gauge for how a vehicle's value has withstood time.

"The vast number of new car models, combined with a glut of used cars on the market today, can make selecting the right vehicle a daunting task," continued Brisco. "The CarsDirect.com Comparator takes the hassle out of researching the purchase and helps car shoppers make more informed buying decisions."

True to its philosophy of delivering a seamless car buying experience, CarsDirect.com has also added one-click access from the Comparator page to its inventory of over 425,000 private and dealer-owned vehicles. While comparing used vehicles, buyers can quickly review all available models that meet the selection criteria, pre-sorted to match the chosen model year and trim level.

About CarsDirect.com

Los Angeles-based CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com) is the leading multi-brand online car buying service, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing and in-demand aftermarket products including extended warranties. CarsDirect.com is the first online car provider to offer visitors three distinctive car buying options: buying a new car online through the company's award-winning direct channel; being matched with a top-quality new car dealer of their choice via the CarsDirect Connect channel; or locating and purchasing a previously owned vehicle through the CarsDirect Used channel.