A question from a reader: Q. I read your article about how much a new car should cost, and I checked pricing on TrueCar and the True Market Value pricing on Edmunds.com. Are these prices really accurate? How do I know that these prices aren’t inflated? If most people are bad at negotiating, these prices are […]
For many auto enthusiasts, advancing technologies in automobiles is a thrilling prospect – faster acceleration, higher top-speeds, better efficiency (and so forth.) Manufacturers release new models annually featuring all of these impressive additions and modifications; but for many drivers, the most important feature of their vehicle is how well it defends drivers in the case […]
If you’re buying a new car, you owe it to yourself to do three things: Read reviews of the vehicles you’re considering on Edmunds.com, ConsumerReports.org, Car and Driver, etc. Consult pricing information from Edmunds and TrueCar Review JD Power’s data on initial quality and long-term reliability Since the first two items are generally well understood […]
What’s the point of a car? It’s a just mode of transport that gets you from A to B, right? Wrong. A car is also a statement about who you are. If you drive something simple and plain (like a Toyota Corolla), you’re probably practical and responsible. If you drive something expensive or ostentatious, you’re […]
Car technology is rapidly changing. One of the next breakthroughs is cars that charge your smartphone wirelessly while you drive. How is this possible?
Nowhere in the automotive world are the differences between the bottom and top ends of a model range so pronounced as with pickup trucks. The most basic pickups have exactly zero frills, manual everything and interiors crude enough to be hosed out after a long day’s work. On the other end of the spectrum is […]
Everyone’s heard of “lemon laws” – laws created to protect consumers from bad or defective new vehicles. But how do they work? Are they for used cars or just new cars? How do I make a lemon law claim? Here’s what you need to know: Note: I am not a legal professional. This information is […]
Holdback is money that an auto manufacturer pays a dealership to stock their inventory. You’re probably wondering why a dealership needs to be paid to stock inventory. After all, if the dealer wants to sell cars, don’t they need cars on the lot? Why do they need to be paid for that? The answer is […]
Wondering how much a new car should cost? Generally speaking, the answer is a few hundred dollars more than the dealer’s invoice price. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. You need to follow a process if you really want to find out how much a new car should cost.
If you’re thinking about buying an all-wheel-drive (AWD) or a 4-wheel-drive vehicle (4WD), here are some things to consider: Safety: Most of the time AWD/4WD vehicles are just as safe as regular vehicles, but there are a few exceptions. Take a look at the government crash test ratings for the models you’re considering to make […]