Buying a Good Used Car Takes 3 Important Steps

Whenever it comes to car shopping, we almost always recommend that shoppers purchase a used car versus a brand-new one. For a couple of years, it was hard to make that recommendation due to the overblown price in the automotive aftermarket. Now that used car prices aren't getting hit by the pain of the supply chain's ripple effect, prices are coming down. Couple that with the near $50k average new car price, and it points you in the direction of getting a good used car for your next vehicle...

What Wheel Drive Should You Choose?

Most car buyers don't pay much attention to what wheels are driven in their vehicle, and that's too bad because it makes a difference for the kind of driving you do most, as well as where you drive and what you do with your vehicle. At the very least, the percentage of car buyers who choose all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) is just about half of all passenger vehicles sold today. Keep in mind that the number and location of the driven wheels make a difference in how your...

Can You Still Get a New Car for Under the Sticker Price?

When it comes to buying a car at the dealership, most people get intimidated. The sales pitch, the push to buy, and then there's trying to understand the price. The toughest part is when it comes to negotiating that price you see on the window sticker, that's if you can negotiate at all, which some dealerships no longer even engage in. Many dealerships stopped during the pandemic when prices jumped due to supply chain delays. But the market is mellowing out, so it's not the same as it was just a year ago.

Should You Buy a Minivan or an SUV?

If you have more than two kids, there's no question you need something a bit larger than your average two-row vehicle, whether it be a sedan, wagon, or crossover. Gallup polls shows that 28 percent of U.S. families have two kids, 15 percent have three, and 7 percent have four. With all of those family members, you need something bigger, but should it be a minivan or a large SUV? We weigh in. You've probably been thinking about upsizing to something significantly larger as your family grows (in quantity and physical size).

What You Should Look for in a Good Infotainment System

Infotainment is commonplace now. A screen (or screens) that combines “Information” and “Entertainment” spans numerous vehicle operations: navigation, music, restaurant guides, traffic, weather, climate controls, lighting, you name it. We can't think of a single automobile made today that doesn't have some kind of infotainment screen. Some are small (Subaru Forester, 6.5 inches), while others are enormous (Lincoln Nautilus, 48.0 inches), and everyone else falls somewhere in between.

Why You Should Spend Money on a Good Set of Car Tires

Most people hate spending money on car tires. Not only are they expensive, they're just not especially sexy or appealing (unless you're a gearhead like we are). Tires seem to be the least prominent aspect for most car buyers. They care about the way the car body looks, the upholstery, the infotainment system, the audio system… just about anything but the actual tires. Some car owners even scrimp on tires and buy the cheapest ones they can (my mother-in-law buys used ones from junkyards!)...

Three Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy the First Year of a Redesigned Model

What's not to love about a brand-new vehicle, especially one that's been completely redesigned? Case in point, the brand new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The South Korean brand just turned their midsize crossover from a conventional design to one of the most attractive boxy SUVs on the market, an Asian Range Rover, if you will. Redesigned models are the latest and greatest manufacturer offering, often their pride and joy. Most totally redesigned new vehicles incorporate the most advanced designs...

How to Test Drive a Car You Want to Buy

When it comes to buying a car, we always recommend that you test drive the vehicle before your purchase, even if it's a brand-new vehicle. Why? Well, it's one thing to read great reviews about a car or see it on the road. You need to experience it for yourself. According to Kelly Blue Book, 39% of Americans experienced buyer's remorse. Not test driving a car or not understanding as much as you can about the make and model contributes to that feeling.

Everything You Should Budget For When Buying a New Car

You’ve purchased your first new car in years, and you’re overjoyed because it’s exactly what you wanted and needed. You’ve researched numerous makes and models, and you’ve whittled it down to the one vehicle that suits your lifestyle, space needs, driving habits, and your style preferences. The monthly payments fit within your budget of no more than 10 percent of your monthly take-home pay, and you were able to get financing with a very reasonable interest rate...