Bailout affects local
car dealerships

MOBILE, Ala. - Local dealers say American automakers plan to keep on trucking despite their current financial woes. Mitch McConnell, General Manger at McConnell Automotive told FOX10 News, "We forecast 2009 to be a good year."

He says local dealers are feeling the heat, but they're optimistic a change will happen. McConnell added, "No matter what happens, we see Congress bringing positive news that if the plan is loans or if it's a bailout it will be a positive thing for us and for everyone that owns a car."

McConnell says some buyers have their reservations about future resale value or whether they can afford a car, but times are changing for the better. He says this is the best buyers market in history. And dealers are trying to build the market back. On the upside, many vehicles are now on sale and with gas prices dropping and the production of hybrid cars, consumers are getting great deals.

As for talks about automakers possibly going bankrupt, McConnell highly doubts that will happen. He said, "The worst case scenario seems to be a loan, or redistribution or reorganization is the best word, and in that case, the customer would be better off than they would be as if General Motors were to go forward as they are now."

He understands consumer concern, but says now is the time for American people to show their support. McConnell says, "The more education we feel people get on the market and what's happening out there with the automakers, the more confident people will be in making decisions to buy a car."

McConnell says local dealers have seen an increase in the service business. He says more people are spending money on their cars as they age trying to keep them in good shape so they'll last longer.