AutoTempest Reviews

Vehicle Acquisition Network (VAN) is a purpose-built vehicle sourcing platform that enables car dealerships to acquire high-margin, fast-turning used vehicles directly from private sellers—bypassing auctions, reducing acquisition costs, and accelerating inventory turn. Today’s automotive market is more competitive than ever. Wholesale prices are climbing, auction fees are rising, and reconditioning delays eat into profitability. VAN solves this by giving dealers the tools and talent they need to target, engage, and acquire for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) vehicles in their local market with speed and efficiency. With VAN, dealers can: Access thousands of local private-party listings in real time Use AI-powered filters to find the most profitable cars Automate personalized outreach and follow-up with sellers Track communications, tasks, and acquisition progress in one unified CRM Eliminate auction fees, transport delays, and wholesale surprises For stores that lack time or staff to do this work in-house, VAN also offers a Managed Buyer program—a turnkey service where VAN’s expert acquisition team works on your behalf to find, contact, and negotiate with private sellers. It’s like hiring a full-time buyer without the overhead. Whether you're a single rooftop looking for more control or a large group scaling a private-party acquisition strategy, VAN adapts to your dealership's workflow and goals. Dealers using VAN regularly see faster turn times, higher front-end grosses, and more predictable inventory pipelines. Trusted by over 250 rooftops across the U.S. and Canada, VAN is how modern dealers compete with Carvana, CarMax, and other direct-to-consumer disruptors—by sourcing smarter, not just spending more.

For five decades, CDK has been delivering innovative solutions that empower dealers to manage their operations and forge stronger connections with customers at over 15,000 retail sites throughout North America. The CDK Dealership Xperience enhances the potential for dealers by offering a range of sophisticated solution suites that integrate smoothly with our Foundations Suite, thereby driving performance improvements. • Foundations Suite: This is the foundational element of the platform that provides essential, built-in capabilities necessary for effectively managing all dealership workflows while ensuring an exceptional customer experience from the outset. • Fixed Operations Suite: Recognized as the most extensive solution available, it enables dealers to cultivate customer loyalty, optimize parts and service operations, and enhance profitability. • Modern Retail Suite: This suite minimizes friction in the buying process and elevates customer engagement and revenue by streamlining and simplifying the purchasing experience that consumers now anticipate. • Intelligence Suite: It leverages the power of data-driven insights to enhance performance and foster customer loyalty through the use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In summary, CDK's comprehensive offerings are designed to address the evolving needs of dealerships and their customers, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly changing market landscape.

CarMax is the foremost retailer of used cars in the United States, offering a broad selection of high-quality pre-owned vehicles that customers can easily browse, compare, and purchase online or at any of its more than 250 locations nationwide. Famous for its straightforward, no-haggle pricing strategy, CarMax removes the stress of conventional negotiations by providing a fixed price for every vehicle, making the buying process more straightforward for consumers. The company sources its used cars from individuals, fleet auctions, and other channels, carefully refurbishing and inspecting them before showcasing these vehicles alongside detailed history reports to give buyers peace of mind. Moreover, CarMax improves the shopping journey with online tools that allow customers to explore the inventory, filter options based on make, model, price, and mileage, and even pre-qualify for financing without significantly impacting their credit scores. With its dedication to transparency and customer satisfaction, CarMax has established itself as a reliable name in the automotive retail sector, attracting a loyal customer base. This innovative approach not only simplifies the car-buying experience but also ensures that customers feel informed and confident in their decisions.