Some Used vs. New Car Buying Pros and Cons
Buying a used car can make a lot of financial sense - with a few clauses and caveats:
* Higher interest rates on used car loans - and shorter loan periods...
Reader Question: ’98 Benz eKey Issue?
Here's the latest reader question, along with my reply!
David asks: I Recently purchased a 1998 Mercedes E300. It has 177K miles on the odometer. It was owned by a man who...
Automotive Affirmative Action
Would you buy a money hog?
Arguably, that's what any hybrid - or electric - car has become given what's happened to the price of gas. Hybrid and electric cars aren't selling well...
Reader Question: Worth Fixing?
Here's the latest reader question, along with my reply:
Tom asks: I have an '02 Accord with a dead transmission; the shop (which I trust) says it can install a rebuilt unit...
The Truth About “Planned Obsolescence”
Have you noticed how quickly new cars get old?
Buy it today and - three years down the road - an "all new" version is introduced. At that moment, your car becomes...
Event Horizon
Here's perhaps the single most important thing to know about any modern car (computer-controlled and fuel-injected; so mid '80s and newer) no matter the make or the model:
It will probably last a long time...
The Most Important Thing in the World . . .
If you want your car to last as long as possible - if you want it to deteriorate as slowly as possible - there is one "secret" that will make it...
Don’t Get Taken on Your Trade-in
Buying a new car is not the way most people end up paying more than they should have. It’s trading in their old car that often ends up costing them the...
A Better Way To Save Gas … ?
There's an easy, uncomplicated - and entirely voluntary - way we could cut our gas consumption by a third our more, without federal fuel efficiency dictates or pocket-picking gas tax hikes.
All...
Servicing the Semi-Retired Car
New cars come with maintenance schedules that give you time/mileage intervals for things like oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotation and so on. Follow these recommendations and - assuming a decent/sound car to...