We recently bought a car to serve as our “family car”, to replace a 2006 Toyota Avalon. We were overdue. The money had been set aside, but the turmoil in the car market, distracting personal busyness and just plain, feet-dragging laziness about shopping kept us from doing the deed. Finally, we set about doing our research. We started from scratch, because we knew almost nothing about the choices. We wanted a sedan, but the pickings were slim in the price and comfort range we chose. We first checked Consumer Reports for reliability ratings, then Edmund’s, Kelly Bluebook and internet ads for price information. Armed and ready, we set out to start test drives. After a number of drives, re-drives and frustrated car salesman, we wound up liking a new Honda CR-V, which was surprising given our goal when starting the search. My wife discovered a feature of the seat construction was irritating to her trochanteric bursitis, however, so we were stalled for a couple of weeks. The nice salesperson learned more about anatomy than she wanted to know. We finally settled on a 2020 Honda Accord for about $12,000 less than the new vehicle. Our slow buying paid off—the dealer dropped the price of the Accord by $2,000 from our test drive day to our decision to buy. Everyone is satisfied with the result.
Buy used. A demo if it must be newer. If you absolutely MUST have a new car, try this: Find a reasonable number of dealers in your area to go to. At each dealer, explain that you’re visiting each dealer in the area once to get written quotes, and then re-visiting only 1 dealer to buy the car that same day.
We recently bought a car to serve as our “family car”, to replace a 2006 Toyota Avalon. We were overdue. The money had been set aside, but the turmoil in the car market, distracting personal busyness and just plain, feet-dragging laziness about shopping kept us from doing the deed.
Finally, we set about doing our research. We started from scratch, because we knew almost nothing about the choices. We wanted a sedan, but the pickings were slim in the price and comfort range we chose. We first checked Consumer Reports for reliability ratings, then Edmund’s, Kelly Bluebook and internet ads for price information.
Armed and ready, we set out to start test drives. After a number of drives, re-drives and frustrated car salesman, we wound up liking a new Honda CR-V, which was surprising given our goal when starting the search. My wife discovered a feature of the seat construction was irritating to her trochanteric bursitis, however, so we were stalled for a couple of weeks. The nice salesperson learned more about anatomy than she wanted to know. We finally settled on a 2020 Honda Accord for about $12,000 less than the new vehicle. Our slow buying paid off—the dealer dropped the price of the Accord by $2,000 from our test drive day to our decision to buy. Everyone is satisfied with the result.
Don’t buy one.
Low mileage, one owner 2 to 3 year old used cars. I check Consumer Reports for
the most reliable vehicle in my category (SUV) and start there.
Buy used. A demo if it must be newer. If you absolutely MUST have a new car, try this: Find a reasonable number of dealers in your area to go to. At each dealer, explain that you’re visiting each dealer in the area once to get written quotes, and then re-visiting only 1 dealer to buy the car that same day.
Or do this via email.