Fantasy Showroom

We’ve got a few questions from our users that we thought we would answer for everyone. See below and keep those questions coming!

Points are only awarded ONCE a month.

• Actual scoring will be calculated during the first week of each month which means the 10 cars in your showroom at midnight on the last day of each month are your final players for that previous month.

1. December’s scores (the first round of Showroom scores) will be ready the first week of January

• As long as you have your 10 cars selected, and you are comfortable that they are winners, there is no need to select cars more often than monthly but you are always welcome to change your strategy based on industry news etc

Vehicles will be scored at the make model level.

• This means the wagon Audi a4 will receive the same points as a sedan Audi a4 as they are the same model.

Vehicles can only be used for a maximum of three calendar months

• For example, if you buy a vehicle on December 31^st and sell January 1^st that will count as 1 month and the vehicle’s December points will be added to your showroom.




• If you buy December 30^th and sell the 31^st that will not count as a month, and that vehicle will not add any points to your showroom because it was not in your showroom at the time of months’ close (midnight on the last day of the month)

This is meant to be a competition

• Create or join a group and invite your friends to the challenge… like you would in fantasy football.

We want to try to make Fantasy Showroom a fantastic user experience and social tool for you to learn about the automotive industry.  Without your participation this wouldn’t mean anything, so we are curious to hear your thoughts and suggestions to improve it.  Hopefully we can get to them this season, and if not, we will revisit them for season two.

Thanks again, and as always, may the best Showroom win.

If you’re thinking about playing and competing, there are some market trends to keep in mind to harness the opportunity to score points and stake your claim as a vehicle aficionado.

• If green vehicles rev your engines then consider some of the hot hybrids on the market for your showroom. Hybrids are like the utility players on your fantasy team, capable of playing multiple roles and scoring points in a variety ways. Hybrid vehicle consideration has seen a steady growth throughout the year and vehicles like the Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid will score you some points. These hybrids have experienced sizeable growth in consideration over the past few months, upwards of 50% when compared to the first half of the year. If you feel like splurging a bit, you could go with the Lexus LS Hybrid or a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid These vehicles deliver a combination of fuel efficiency and luxury and are earning a lot of attention in the market from consumers.

• The flashy, outspoken and highly talented skill players are some of the most important draft picks on any fantasy team. These are the equivalent to the powerful sports cars on the market. Some of the Terrell Owens-type vehicles to make room for in your garage include the new Chevy Camaro, Cadillac CTS-V, and the Nissan 380z. These supercharged vehicles are creating buzz and generating interest from consumers and are sure to add points to your showroom. If price is no object to you, the new Porsche Panamera (with an MSRP price tag of $94,595.00) is turning heads and has people talking.

• Every starting lineup needs its role players to do the heavy lifting, so if you’re looking to round out your showroom with something practical and meant for everyday use you might consider the 2010 Hyundai Sonata, the new-look Ford Taurus, and the always intriguing VW Jetta. A couple of sleepers to consider are rising stars like Subaru Legacy and Mazda 6. This duo represents a mix of practical and cool, as consumers have engaged with and researched these vehicles extensively in the latter part of this year. These cars are essential to your roster, like a Pro Bowl quarterback is to a fantasy football team.

• The crossover is like a lineman that anchors the offense, keeping the quarterback safe and allowing the offense to perform at a high level. Crossovers similarly offer multiple passengers an enjoyable ride while keeping them safe and making plenty of room for cargo. The crossover segment has been on the rise for the better part of this year and you’re sure to reap the benefits of adding Subaru Forester, Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Buick Enclave, and Cadillac SRX to your lineup. These crossovers are generating considerable interest from car shoppers and have all experienced substantial growth in the fourth quarter of 2009.

As you’re building your roster of vehicles, keep an eye on the trends and listen to the experts like Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver, Bradley Berman of HybridCars.com, and Road & Track’s Matt DeLorenzo. Be sure to avoid the pitfalls of hype-driven vehicles that don’t deliver. After all, every fantasy draft has its share of sleepers and eventual busts. Make sure your showroom is well-balanced with a sound allocation of fun and practical vehicles.