Any recommendations?!?

Question

After picking up my Jeep Grand Cherokee this afternoon from the shop, I will be trading it in at some point this week. My sister in law is going with me, and wants to know what I'm looking for.

The thing is, I have NO idea whatsoever. Does anyone have any recommendations for a well priced, reliable car? I must note that I have a 5 year old, and a baby on the way, so a sports car just isn't doing it for us!

If anyone has recently purchased a car and has some rave reviews, please let me know. I'm basically going into dealerships blindsighted and need some help! Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi,

You can try the following site for reviews:

http://www.edmunds.com/

Also ask the dealer if the vehicle had any of the following problems:

1. Accidents
2. Salvage tittle
3. Engine issues
4. Burning oil
5. Clear tittle

Also, the best way is to see for yourself. Here are 10 of the key things to look for at the dealership or private sale:

First, check out the body of the car, looking beyond the styling and paying attention to the details.

1. Look at the seams. Check the gaps between body panels. Are the gaps uniform throughout? A well-engineered and constructed car will show the same body gaps around the doors, the trunk and the hood. Pay particular attention to this on vehicles that have been significantly redesigned or are all new to the market. Although the old adage about not buying a redesigned model in the first year generally no longer applies, varying body gaps may indicate the assembly process needs some adjusting.

2. Match colors. Pay attention to the places on the body where different materials are used, such as where a nose made of a composite plastic material meets the steel of the rest of the body. The paint should not noticeably change hue from one surface to another.

3. What lies beneath? Look under the car to see what protrusions, particularly at the front, could get hung up on parking berms and rip free. Most cars have some sort of air dam underneath the vehicle at the front to aid in cutting aerodynamic drag. But such air dams should be mounted far enough back so parking berms won't rip them off or should be mounted in such a way as to bend rather than break when encountering an object.

4. Under the hood. Even if you're no mechanic, closely inspect the engine bay. Most cars have a cover that surrounds most of the top of the engine. Make sure it's mounted securely -- you shouldn't be able to shake it. The same test should apply to any battery covering. Look at the wiring. It should be either covered or tightly bound together to prevent anything from coming loose. Check for engine and transmission oil leaks.

5. Eye the glass. Look at the window glass and see how the side windows fit against the rubber gaskets when closed. Anything less than a perfect fit will result in wind noise that will only get worse as the car ages.

6. Door "thunk". Open and close the doors, looking for how many so-called "stops" are built into the hinges. A vehicle's door should have two settings so that it will stay open in a half-way position and fully opened. Shut the door and listen for any sort of hollow boom, which could indicate there's less sound-deadening material in the door, which will mean greater road noise.

7. Interior design. Check out the finish on the interior panels. While plastic is the industry norm when it comes to door panels and dashboards, there's a wide variety of grains and finishes applied to the plastic. The dash and panels should have a rich-looking color and have a textured feel to the casual touch. As with the body, the gaps between interior panels should be close and uniform. Look especially where the air bags are hidden.

8. Exposed wiring. If the car you're interested in has power-adjustable front seats, feel under them to see how the wiring and motor coverings are secured. Loose wires or coverings could lead to problems in the future.

9. Little things mean a lot. Pay attention to things like seat latches. They should work with minimal effort and all handles should feel secure, not prone to bending or twisting. Check the stitching and seams of the seats for any loose threads or less-than-straight sewing. Open the trunk and see how the floor covering is secured and whether it's made of a material that will stand up to carrying heavy or dirty cargo.

10. Serious test drive. Lastly, when you've all but settled on the vehicle you want, take an extended test drive, not just a spin around the block. Drive at freeway speeds and pay attention to wind and road noise. Pay attention to how the automatic transmission shifts. It should change gears smoothly and quickly. On a manual transmission, feel where the clutch starts to engage and how long or short the pedal travel is. It should engage gradually and not have any abrupt lurches. Find a safe area to test the brakes. You're not so much looking for what the car will do in a panic stop, but rather how the brakes feel when you apply the pedal. Depending on how far the pedal travels, the feel of the brakes should inspire confidence that the vehicle will stop in a relatively short distance.

All of this may sound like a no-brainer step to buying a car, but according to a recent study, more than 40 percent of new car buyers closed the deal without even taking a short test drive.

Smart buyers will pay attention to every aspect of a car in order to get a vehicle that will deliver value.

Good Luck!

Mike
car enthusiast
http://www.europautoparts.com

Answer 2

I read and write a lot about cars, and you can't go wrong with a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. However, take a look at the Mazda3. It's a fun, zippy car and should work fine for a small family. A couple domestic cars worth checking are the Ford Fusion and the Chevy Malibu Maxx. I've rented the Malibu Maxx a couple of times and was very impressed at its family car qualities. One other car you should consider is the PT Cruiser. It has lots of family room.

The domestic cars will be less expensive than the imports but quality is up across the board at all car manufacturers. Good Web sites for research include Edmunds (www.edmunds.com), Epinions (www.epinions.com) and TrueDelta (www.truedelta.com).

Answer 3

I am American 100% and don't drive anything else, but I also work in the automotive field and I am gonna be honest with you, if you are buying used I will have to recommend Honda Civic,Accord, or Toyota Camry, or Nissan Altima. These cars seem to hold up the best of anything on the market, they are gas friendly and so long as you keep up the maintenance on them you usually don't have any problems.
For the American automobiles, most of the parts are made in Mexico, so they really aren't USA cars now are they.
If it was me I would check out the Chevy Cobalt or Buick anything, I drive a Buick Roadmaster, I absolutely love my gas hog. Oldsmobile have good cars (mid size).
Word of advise, have a man go with you, sales people aren't as likely to try and bullshit you, hate to say it, but it is true (unless your sis-in-law is extremely knowledgeable in vehicles).

Answer 4

Just dont get a kia they are junk cause I have one and I do not like it, it always has something wrong with it like transmission engine brakes you name it, it has all gone bad at one point or another I would go for the Toyota Camry also dont get a pontiac grand am cause they are bad to my brother in law has one and it also has nothing but problems. I hope this will help you find the car you are looking for

Answer 5

Lexus RX350 with navigation.

It has a rear-back up camera and power open/close rear door which can be great when you have a baby.

Well I recently got a Dodge Ram and I DO NOT LOVE IT. It was fine for 3 months then started having problem after problem. Finally blew its head-gasket costing me $1200. But it's fine now. But I DO NOT LOVE IT.

Answer 6

Get a 1991 Buick Century.

Answer 7

a small car or truck from ford or toyota

ford and toyota tend to create pretty reliable vehicles, at least in my opinion

if nothing else, try researching some on small vehicles on consumer's reports' website and/or magazine

Answer 8

As long as you get a Dodge you'll be fine and love it.