As things stand now, most sites receive purchase requests from customers and then check dealers' inventories. With CarsDirect's new system, customers will be able to browse through the inventory of one or more dealers in real time, looking at vehicles that are sitting on lots. This is an ability that only dealers and automakers have had until now, and Brisco said he believes it will be irresistible to buyers. The financing platform, which should be up and running by month's end, will let users configure the loans or leases they want. They can choose the length of the loans, the amount of down payments and how much they'd like to pay per month.
Users then rate their credit and submit loan requests.
CarsDirect compares the requests with the databases of its lenders and comes back with a set of results from which the users can choose. ZD Inc. ZDNet Logo is a service mark of ZD Inc.