None — A new report says new cars sales are rebounding stronger in metro Atlanta than anywhere else in the country.
One dealer is putting his money where his optimism is. Chevy dealer Steve Rayman is investing nearly six times more in his remodeling project that first planned.
"It was around $700,000. Right now we're probably pushing $4 million," he said while giving Channel 2's Jim Strickland a tour through a massive expansion that includes 17 air conditioning units and more than $300,000 in furniture.
"I think we hit the bottom. I don't think there's any way to go but up, and I'm going do what I can, I guess, to be ready," Rayman said.
"Atlanta is the No. 1 fastest-growing market," explained Kelly Remlinger of edmunds.com.
The website compared new car registrations in the first half of 2011 with 2010. Metro Atlanta drivers registered 19,136 more new cars this year than last. The 24 percent increase is best in the country, slightly topping Phoenix, Ariz.
"We're 30 percent to 40 percent over what we were last year," Ed Voyles Chrysler General Manager Drew Tutton said. He expects to sell 160 new cars this month.
"It'll be one of the larger numbers that we've had, and this whole year has been full of those that we've ever had at this store," Tutton said.
Julie Chang got the run through on the new Jeep she just bought.
"They were giving out a real good deal on these fabulous new cars with a huge amount of upgrades, so I just couldn't resist it," Chang said.
Remlinger said new cars are moving in part because used cars are in low supply and high in price.
"So, therefore it's cheaper and more in the consumer's benefit to buy a new car rather than a used car," Remlinger said.