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Used Car Buying Guide 2001
Buying a used car is a greater risk than buying a new one, but can also be the best automotive deal around. The 2008 edition of "Used Car Buying Guide" will help anyone in the market get the best price - and minimize risk - when buying, selling, or trading in a used vehicle. As it is best to be armed with as much information as possible before stepping onto a used car lot, this book will provide everything needed including:
Unbiased reviews of every major model from 2000 - 2007Exclusive Reliability Ratings based on over 1 million vehiclesLists of the best and worst used vehicles and how to avoid a lemon A checklist of what to look for when inspecting a used carBest used cars for gas mileageTips on negotiating the best priceRecalls and crash test informationMaking sense of safety informationHow to get the most money when trading in your current carPLUS profiles of more than 260 cars, trucks, and SUVs, presenting all major 2000-2007 models Each profile contains a photo from the representative year, a write-up of the vehicle, reliability history, crash-test data, and the model years when key safety gear was added and when a major redesign was made.
- GenresNonfictionReference
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 4, 2008
i just finished a lengthy car purchase, and I have to say that this book was indispensable for me. There are approximately 250 different car models on the US market at any one time, even more when you include the different trim lines. If you are like me, and are not a car nut, this book is great for getting you pointed in the right direction. Each model is given a half-page to strut its stuff. CR provides a picure, a comprehensive list of reliability ratings, and the prices for each model year. This last one is important if you want to avoid excessive depreciation. You can actually pinpoint the years when a particular model declined precipitiously in value (usually when the car is about 3 years old. it happens to them all!).
The used car guide has its own peculiar fascinations. It lists cars that have been discontinued (including the Chevy Camero, which I did not realize was gone). It also list some Plymouths and (sniff) some Oldsmobiles produced in the waning years of those once ubiquitous brands. It also notes the passing of the big 2-door coupe from the marketplace, a sad development for someone whose high school car was a '76 Olds Omega.
The real value of this book is that it makes you focus on the quality of the cars as consumer products, rather than as extesnions of their styling, or their image (not that those aspects aren't important). This results in some surprises. For example, Buicks are highly regarded for their reliability and quality. You would never learn this from Buick's absurd commercials. However, CR convinced me to go out an test drive some Buicks, and I found them to be excellent. I could say the same for Lincolns. More surprising is CR's tracing of the long decline in quality at Mercedes, a development that many of my car sachems have also noted. I know that these are performance cars. but even their electrical systems are dinged as unreliable. This is amazing to me, as I remember when Mercedes ads in the 70's emphasized the fact that their cars could last for 300,000 miles or more, which seemed miraculous at the time.
The best thing about this book is its no-nonsense quality. If the car is unreliable CR will tell you how, and for what years. In another way it's also non-judgmental; it treats every car the same. A mini-van or SUV will be reviewed in the same sober tones as a Porche or Jaguar. If all you can afford is a chevy Cobalt, then CR will tell you about its attributes without making you feel like a loser. If you want attitude, you are better off sticking with "Car & Driver."
The used car guide has its own peculiar fascinations. It lists cars that have been discontinued (including the Chevy Camero, which I did not realize was gone). It also list some Plymouths and (sniff) some Oldsmobiles produced in the waning years of those once ubiquitous brands. It also notes the passing of the big 2-door coupe from the marketplace, a sad development for someone whose high school car was a '76 Olds Omega.
The real value of this book is that it makes you focus on the quality of the cars as consumer products, rather than as extesnions of their styling, or their image (not that those aspects aren't important). This results in some surprises. For example, Buicks are highly regarded for their reliability and quality. You would never learn this from Buick's absurd commercials. However, CR convinced me to go out an test drive some Buicks, and I found them to be excellent. I could say the same for Lincolns. More surprising is CR's tracing of the long decline in quality at Mercedes, a development that many of my car sachems have also noted. I know that these are performance cars. but even their electrical systems are dinged as unreliable. This is amazing to me, as I remember when Mercedes ads in the 70's emphasized the fact that their cars could last for 300,000 miles or more, which seemed miraculous at the time.
The best thing about this book is its no-nonsense quality. If the car is unreliable CR will tell you how, and for what years. In another way it's also non-judgmental; it treats every car the same. A mini-van or SUV will be reviewed in the same sober tones as a Porche or Jaguar. If all you can afford is a chevy Cobalt, then CR will tell you about its attributes without making you feel like a loser. If you want attitude, you are better off sticking with "Car & Driver."
July 25, 2011
Obviously, a little out of date. Some good checklists for things to note about the next car, things to ask the seller, etc. Info on specific makes/models, although a little conflicting information on one I was looking at--VW Jetta. Listed as a car with low reliability ratings, then listed as good to excellent on almost all of the standards of ratings. Probably the most helpful of all the books so far.
A note--in the list of things to ask sellers, it recommends you start out with the question "what color is the car", as an icebreaker. I firmly believe that if you are a youngish female, that question is going to give the wrong impression of you. I tried it when calling a seller listed in the classified, and instead of being an icebreaker, the guy clearly thought that I was someone to whom the color is important...he even brought it up again at the end and finished the conversation with the phrase, "It's a wicked pretty aqua blue". Um, no thank you. Never again. I think it's better, especially for females probably, to start with a question like, "Can you tell me how's it equipped" and asking about things like ABS or the transmission or something.
A note--in the list of things to ask sellers, it recommends you start out with the question "what color is the car", as an icebreaker. I firmly believe that if you are a youngish female, that question is going to give the wrong impression of you. I tried it when calling a seller listed in the classified, and instead of being an icebreaker, the guy clearly thought that I was someone to whom the color is important...he even brought it up again at the end and finished the conversation with the phrase, "It's a wicked pretty aqua blue". Um, no thank you. Never again. I think it's better, especially for females probably, to start with a question like, "Can you tell me how's it equipped" and asking about things like ABS or the transmission or something.
January 22, 2009
It has great information about specific makes/models/years of used cars to buy. It doesn't have very much general information about buying a used car. I am glad I consulted it though.
May 13, 2011
Great resource if you want to buy used car
July 23, 2008
In the market... great resource... love these guys for buying anything...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews