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Some Older Cars Get Better Gas Mileage
2008-05-14 18:55:00
Here's a great article from CNN that shows how some older cars are a better investment in terms of fuel economy. Imagine -- paying a fraction of the price of a new car for better fuel economy. This is a great maneuver for the fledging used car guru!57 mpg? That's so 20 years agoWant to drive a cheap car that gets eye-popping mileage? In 1987 you could - and it wasn't even a hybrid. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writerNEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Car makers are confident they can meet new government rules calling for a national fleet average of 35 miles per gallon. But it will take a big technological push, they say.You might wonder why, since twenty years ago the car that got the best mileage in the nation was a real techno-wimp compared to what's on the road today. It wasn't even a hybrid. But it got better fuel economy than any car sold now - even the Toyota Prius.Looking back at the 1987 Honda Civic CRX shows us why cars use so much more gas today and about the trade...
More About: Cars , Mileage

Color Matters in Used Cars!
2008-03-03 17:54:00
Here's a question for all you apprentice used car gurus: how do you pick your car color? If you said you choose your favorite color, you get a lashing with a wet noodle. There have been several studies that associate car color with accident rates. Studies in New Zealand and in Spain have both confirmed that silver cars are less likely to be involved in passive accidents (i.e., someone smashing into you) than other colors. White cars were next in line in terms of avoiding passive accidents. Blue, red, dark grey, green, black were all significantly more likely to be involved in passive accidents.Why is this? Hard to say for sure, but darker colors are harder to see at night, and often blend into the background (trees, buildings, etc). There's another reason to choose a used silver car (or especially a used white car) over darker ones: depending on where you live, insurance companies will discount rates for white or light colored cars based on the studies above. The final knockout? W...
More About: Cars , Color , Used Cars , Matters

Save thousands by choosing 2WD
2007-07-09 22:26:00
If you love SUV's and pick-ups (like I do) and want to save a fortune, choose a two wheel drive model over the four wheel drive. As a used car guru, you're looking for a model that is not popular on the used market - that's where the bargains are found.Two wheel drive vehicles get better fuel economy and require much less in the way of maintenance and repairs (no expensive transfer case to deal with). And the best part? You can make a two wheel drive perform as well as a four wheel drive.Unless you know you will be doing some serious off-road driving (and most people plan to do so but never do), you won't miss the 4WD.How? Simple, one word: tires. Buy 2 sets of tires.One set of aggressive tires for gravel roads, getting to the cabin and so forth. Something like a BFG/AT or Bridgestone Revo would do fine. These tires can get you through any backroad (serious mudding aside). You'll be shocked how far you can go on a quality set of aggressive tires.For winter, a good set of winter...
More About: Save , Sands

An awesome family hauler
2007-07-06 17:12:00
So many families automatically trundle down to a dealer and pick-up a minivan without thinking. Problem is that minivans are overpriced, underpowered and notoriously unreliable (Caravan transmissions, Windstar headgaskets, Sienna sludge). Well, my dear friend, those folks are not used car gurus in training.As a budding guru, you should be looking for that diamond that no one else is looking for. And for a family, that diamond is a 1998+ Grand Marquis (or Crown Victoria, which is the same car without some of the fancy doodads)."But that's a grandpa car," you say."Have you ever driven one?" I ask."Uhh, no," you say.When you see cops chasing down criminals on high-speed chases on TV, what car do you suppose they are driving? Yes, the mighty Crown Victoria. Would cops use a grandpa car to chase crooks?"But cop cars are different," you say.No, they are not. They have some heavier duty brakes, shocks and starters, but they are the same car as the civilian model. The one that seats 6, has...
More About: Family , Awesome , Some

What's the most expensive aspect of running your car?
2007-07-06 07:11:00
When I ask people what's the most expensive aspect of running their vehicles, I get the following top 3 answers:1. Gas2. Repairs3. InsuranceGuess what? All 3 are incorrect. The most expensive aspect of any new car is depreciation, something people never consider as a real cost but it is real indeed. The average depreciation for a car driven 13,000 miles per year is 20% the first year, and 12% thereafter. So a $30,000 car is worth roughly $13,000 in 5 years (if you're lucky and have no accidents, scrapes, big dings, etc.). So that's a $17,000 loss, or $3,400 per year. Gas is roughly $1500 to $2000 per year, insurance about $1000, and maintenance about $1000. Here's more: that $17,000 has what's called "opportunity costs" meaning the cost of doing something else with that money other than paying for depreciation. So for example, in this bull stock market, $17,000 would be $34,000 in 5 years. So that shiny new car you paid $30,000 had a real cost to you of $34,000 in 5 years.Ouch...
More About: Running , Most Expensive

Used cars can change your life
2007-07-05 17:02:00
I've started this blog to encourage people to purchase only used cars. In the coming months, we'll explore the endless advantages of used cars, including:- How used cars can build your investment portfolio- How used cars are good for the environment- How used cars can make you money- How used cars can let you drive in style- Which used cars are the best buys (hint: not Toyotas)- Which used cars are best for families- Much, much moreSo subscribe, enjoy, debate, and join the used car movement -- it can change your life!
More About: Life , Cars , Change , Used Cars , Chang