spidernut wrote:I'm a financial counselor and teach car buying and selling classes. I agree with the majority of the advice that has been given. There are some smart people on this forum!!!
John,
I really appreciate all the professional advice you're sharing. Beers are on me if you're ever in Hershey Thanks!
baltobernie wrote:It's tough to buy a bad mid-size sedan nowadays. The relentless "sink or swim" pressures have pretty much weeded-out the weaklings. Just remember never to buy an "A" model from anybody.
What's an "A" model? Is it the first year of a new model?
Yeah (munch, munch) genuinely new models have much higher rates of recall than (burp) models who've been on the market for a few years. A giant PITA for folks who use their car for work.
An example of an A model is the new Fiat 500. It tied with Smart for 2 for the highest number of initial defects according to JD Powers. Not a good way to start, but it is a very common problem. A models of the Ford Focus were junk. The newest A model of the Honda Civic fell off of the Consumer Reports best buy list due to initial quality (and handling) issues. Most first year models have plenty of bugs in them that need to be worked out. It is usually best to wait until model year 2 or 3 to see if the problems can be corrected.
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
You do know that Consumer Reports rated the X1/9 unacceptable because it had "unsafe handling"? I never paid any attention to anything they said after that.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
About 2 weeks ago, my wife traded in her 01 Altima (without making any repairs to it) on a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Thanks to everyone who offered advice.
You do know that Consumer Reports rated the X1/9 unacceptable because it had "unsafe handling"? I never paid any attention to anything they said after that.
Oh yes, I remember that, too. I laughed all the way to the dealership to buy my '74...
Thanks!
