Disposable Cars

The era of disposable cars may be over, at least for a while.  The trend of trading in before the new car smell wears off is fading fast.

Many drivers had a very short-term mentality about their ownership.  Two years, it needs to go. It’s old. Used. Something shiny and new was available.  Rather like a very expensive cell phone or handbag. 

Times have changed quickly and drastically in the world of auto sales.  Most people can no longer afford to trade in or up.  Financing is elusive and not nearly as attractive (read: more money down).

What do we do? We keep our cars and maintain them to last another two or three years, or more. 

I remember rebuilding a carburetor for my 1966 mustang (among other self-repairs) because I was young and broke and could not afford a mechanic. Today, good luck just finding where to add oil or windshield wiper fluid under the hood.  I had to get the manual out to find where the jumper cables attached when the battery died in my 2006 BMW 330i.

So here is how we all get through it.

First, if you are out of warranty or nearing the end, consider investing a few thousand in an extended warranty.  The cost of repairs over the next three years may be so much more than the cost of the warranty (which you can pay monthly on a credit card, and transfer or cancel if you sell the car).  The catalytic converter for my 2003 BMW (thankfully under warranty) was $3,000, of which I paid nothing.  After-market Warranties can be purchased from dealers approved to sell them, including Aspen Luxury Motors.

Get to know your car. When is the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals? Have you exceeded the time for routine oil changes? How about transmission, cooling and power-steering fluids? It’s all in the book that is taking up space in the glove box.

We all know that correct tire pressure yields better gas mileage.  But proper wheel alignment yields better tire wear.  Which in turn provides a safer ride.

Do some research about the repair before having it done. There are some interesting sites that provide general information on pricing of specific repairs for your year, make and model car and give advice on finding a repair facility as well.  Check out DriverSide, RepairTrust and RepairPal for starters. And don’t be embarrassed to get a second opinion on a large expensive repair.

Dealer vs. Local Shop repair – up to you.  You can get a poor mechanic in either place – its the luck of the draw.  If you have a warranty in effect, the likely choice is the dealer.  If you have an older car, out of warranty, do you really need the factory part?  Will another supplier’s part work for less money?  Remember that if you are paying, hourly labor rates vary from about $60 to $100 for local shops and $100 to $150 for dealers.

Here’s something I’ll bet you did not know.  Paint.  When you finally go to trade in your car, if there is “new paint” somewhere, like a door or fender repainted, be prepared for the dealer to offer you less money than you thought.  New paint, while quite attractive to you, means an undisclosed “accident” to the dealer.  So if you have dings and scratches, quickly use touch-up paint to prevent rust.  Only repaint if it really needs it.

If you can keep it garaged, great.  The less exposure to the elements, the longer life overall.  Hand washing is not only cheaper, but less abrasive to the car. 

There will always be something out of the blue that could go wrong, and much earlier than you expect in the life of your car.  So be prepared with knowledge, insurance, warranties, whatever it takes to lessen the financial impact over the time you expect to own the car. If you are uncomfortable about the car the older it gets, look into a roadside service plan. 

While we take care of these cars to last a few more years, we can dream about that shiny new car waiting for us at the end of this road.

Safe Cars For Teens II

Last year I wrote an article listing safety criteria and features that are key to choosing a car for the new and inexperienced driver.  While those points are still valid, I wanted to revisit the 10 models I suggested with regard to price. 

Given the global economic crisis and the overwhelming problems of the auto industry, I updated the average retail pricing information in my original blog.  I was surprised that any drops in prices from the 2005 models I reviewed to the 2006 prices were not as dramatic as I would have envisioned, with only a few exceptions. 

You may read the original, full article posted elsewhere in my blog, which not only provides critical decision-making criteria for your purchase, but gives links to the government crash and rollover testing and rating sites, where you can make your own safety evaluation of the potential vehicle purchase.

These were the same 10 models from the prior article, which consistently do well in all of the tests and consumer ratings for safety and reliability, as well as popularity with teens for looks and features like handling, sound systems, and opportunities to customize with cosmetic upgrades. We put together this list based on the results of the safety crash tests done annually by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and for the affordability of the vehicle’s cost as a 2- or 3-year old pre-owned vehicle (2006 coming off of manufacturer lease). Most are recommended in the 4-cylinder model (sounds sluggish, but they are actually quite peppy and handle well). If your teen is paying the bills he or she will appreciate the fuel savings of the 4-cylinder choice! The benefit of a car less than 5 years old is that most desired safety features are now standard.

1. Honda Civic – Honda consistently tops these lists of safety and reliability. The 4-door model received 4 and 5 star ratings. The 4-door Civic can easily be found with a 4-cylinder engine. Comfortable, reliable, sporty-looking, and affordable (which is a relative term). Honda is a mid-ranged priced vehicle as compared with the others on this list. Current average retail for the 4-door EX model is approx $15,000.
2. Honda Accord – Also available with a 4-cylinder engine, a perennially well-rated car for safety and reliability in both the 2- and 4-door models. Sporty looks have improved considerably over the years. Current average retail for the 4-door EX is approx. $16,500
3. Toyota Corolla – The 4-door model is well-rated and affordable with an average retail price of $11,500. The Toyota Avalon (also 4-door model) is also well-rated but cost about $5,000 or more than the Corolla.
4. Mazda 6 Hatchback – with Side Airbags, this is also a highly rated model for safety. The hatchback gives it a sporty look with a bit of interior room. Usually costs slightly less than the Honda Civic, in the average range of $14,000
5. Acura TSX 4-door with side airbags – 5-star driver front and side crash test, 4-star rollover test (2-wheel drive model). A higher-priced choice, at about $18,900.
6. Scion tC – very roomy coupe, 160-hp 4-cylinder, with other standard features like sunroof, 17-inch allow wheels and many safety features. A 3-door hatchback. Well rated, and reasonably priced. A Toyota product in the $14,900 range.
7. Volvo S40 – Volvo has always enjoyed a reputation for safety. On par with the Hondas for pricing.  Average retail is currently about $14,500. 
8. Pontiac G6 – the 4-door model is well-rated for mid-size cars. A 4-cyl model was newly available in 2006. Average retail cost is currently around $11,000.
9. Subaru Forester AWD – well-rated SUV, 4-cylinder turbo. The 2006 model is hard to find.  If you can, it should run approximately $15,000 retail.
10. Honda Pilot – Highly safety-rated, with Honda reliability. Good visibility, roomy interior without excessive exterior size. But a bit pricy for a first vehicle at approximately $18,000 current retail.

All of the vehicles that we chose to include on this list are the 2006 models, and none have any crash or rollover ratings less than 4 stars, which we feel is an important criteria for the inexperienced driver.

You can also print the NHTSA annual publication “Buying a Safer Car” which provides great detail about each model tested for that year, including safety features (the 2006 brochure is still available). This will give you a condensed list on which to make notes at home with your teen while narrowing down your search for the perfect vehicle for your needs.

Buying your teen a car can be a fun family experience.  Just don’t lose sight of the important safety factors and make an emotional decision.  Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death amoung teenagers.  So choose wisely and drive down that statistic. 

Happy Motoring!