YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE FOR WEST CENTRAL NEBRASKA | THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 | C1
NEW CAR NOT IN THE BUDGET FOR MANY FAMILIES Having a family, owning your own home and driving a new car is a common goal of many people. But at least one item on that list has now become much less affordable for the average person. Now that many of the auto-buying incentives instituted to help reinvigorate the auto industry have expired, the average consumer is being priced out of a new vehicle. According to data from TrueCar.com, the average automobile -- at a cost of $30,500 in 2012 -- is now more expensive than ever before. Furthermore, information from a 2013 Car Affordability Study conducted by Interest.com said that most households across America cannot afford a car payment on a new vehicle. In fact, it was determined that only residents of Washington, D.C., with an annual income of roughly $86,000, could afford the average sticker price of a new vehicle and the roughly $550 per month it would cost to finance that vehicle. When factoring in housing costs, insurance and the cost of food, only average citizens in San Francisco, Boston and Baltimore are within spitting distance of being able to afford a new car.
and certification on preowned vehicles that not only make them more affordable but also offer peace of mind to owners worried about buying a lemon. Furthermore, many preownedvehicles are lease turn-ins that are only three years old and have few miles on them thanks to mileage restrictions common to many leasing agreements. Consumers looking for an affordable vehicle might want to downsize their next car or go without certain options. Cars rolling off of the assembly lines are packed with many features that some buyers can do without. If you desire all of the bells and whistles in your vehicle, you may want to consider a compact car that boasts the desired features instead of a midsize one. The smaller vehicle might have a lower sticker price, and you will still get the options on your list.
Many families are finding it increasingly difficult to afford a new car, truck or van.
The Interest.com research used certain qualifiers in determining the maximum amount the average family could pay for a new car. Researchers calculated 10 percent of the monthly, median gross household income for each metropolitan city and subtracted the average monthly insurance premium. The site also considered three key factors, often referred to as the "20/4/10" rule, which involves a down payment of at least 20 percent, auto financing lasting no longer than four years and principal, interest and insurance not exceeding 10 percent of a household's gross income. Using that as a foundation, the study determined most households cannot afford the mean price of $30,000 for a new car and must look to other options, including previously owned vehicles or leasing a vehicle. Dealerships now offer warranties
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WEST CENTRAL DRIVES
C2 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Motorists who still adhere to the old standard of changing their vehicles' oil
long espoused by the auto industry. But advancements in technology have
TRUCKSHOPPING TIPS FOR SOON-TO-BE RETIREE
allowed manufacturers to recommend longer intervals between oil changes,
BY RAY MAGLIOZZI
every 3,000 miles are likely wasting their money. The majority of today's auto manufacturers now build vehicles that can go twice as long, if not longer, between oil changes. Many automakers now call for oil changes every 7,500 miles, and some go even further, recommending oil changes every 10,000 miles. Some vehicles can even go as long as 15,000 miles before needing an oil change. Vehicle owners should consult their owner's manuals for advice on how often their vehicles' oil should be changed. When establishing an oil change schedule for their vehicles, many drivers are hesitant to abandon the conventional 3,000 mile interval schedule that was
which benefits motorists' bottom lines and even the environment. Rather than needlessly wasting perfectly goodoil every 3,000 miles, in many instances motorists can now continue to use that oil twice as long, if not longer, reducing waste-oil dumping as a result. When consulting an owner's manual for recommended oil change intervals, owners should resist the temptation to follow the "severe" schedules listed in many owner's manuals. Such schedules are rarely applicable under normal circumstances, and only serve to waste drivers' money and oil.
1005 Cars
BUICK 2000 LESABRE CUSTOM sedan, V6 3800 engine, excellent condition, tan exterior, cloth interior, 54,000 miles, like new, $7600. (308) 534-8607
2012 Hyundia ELANTRA Touring SE leather, sunroof NADA $14,525
SALE PRICE $13,577* #E030A
2007 Toyota AVALON XLS
2011 Toyota AVALON Limited
2011 Toyota AVALON Limited
leather, sunroof NADA $20,100
leather, sunroof NADA $21,475
SALE PRICE $18,877*
SALE PRICE $19,877*
SALE PRICE $8,277*
#EO97A
#E290A
#D251A
2012 Chevy SILVERADO LT
leather, sunroof NADA $12,250
Z71, 4x4 NADA $32,075
SALE PRICE $10,877*
SALE PRICE $29,877*
#E077C1
#E273B
2009 Chevy SUBURBAN LT
2008 Saturn VUE XE
DVD, 4x4 NADA $24,650
AWD NADA $9,125
SALE PRICE $22,577*
SALE PRICE $7,677*
#E269B
#D276C
2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited leather, sunroof, 4x4 NADA $25,425
2009 Chevy IMPALA LT NADA $9,475
2010 Ford F150 Lariat leather, 4x4 NADA $30,375
SALE PRICE $22,877*
SALE PRICE $28,877*
#E130A
#P4988
2008 Toyota SIENNA XLE leather, sunroof, DVD, nav NADA $16,175
2003 Ford EXPEDITION Eddie Bauer
4x4, DVD NADA $7,350
SALE PRICE $14,977*
SALE PRICE $5,577*
#E225A
#E151B2
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Dear Car Talk: I'm retiring soon and will lose the 38year luxury of having a company vehicle. I am looking for a good, used, 3/4-ton, 4-by-4, extended-cab, long-bed pickup. Question is: How far back can I safely go to have a decent electronic ignition and fuel-injected vehicle in the major makers Chevy, Ford or Dodge? -Mark Well, fuel injection and electronic ignition have been around since the 1980s, Mark. So unless you're looking for something you saw on "Sanford and Son," you'll get electronic ignition and fuel injection. So the real question is, How far can you go back and get a good, reliable used car or truck, in general? If you're looking for a truck that you're going to keep for a while, I would suggest that you stay within the past decade. It's not that there aren't exceptions; there are some great, low-mileage older cars out there. But once you get beyond 10 years old, most vehicles are not far from stepping onto the stairway to heapdom. If your budget allows, I would actually suggest that you stay within the past five years. That way, you also can be up to date on the latest (or almost latest) safety features, like stability control, better impact protection and occupant-sensing air bags. You'll probably get better fuel economy, too, as six-speed (and more) automatic transmissions have become increasingly common lately. And, last but hardly least, if you get something within the past five years or so, you'll be able to plug your iPhone into the stereo system. And isn't that what really matters now? Two caveats: One is that I'd suggest you avoid the '04-'07 Ford F-150s with the Triton engines. They had the unfortunate habit of fusing their spark plugs to their engine blocks, making a spark-plug change a $2,500 job sometimes. It may not happen to you, but it's happened to a bunch of people, and since you have so many years and makes to choose from, I'd steer away from those. And the second caveat is: Whatever truck you consider, have it checked out thoroughly by a mechanic of your choice before you buy it. Any particular Chevy, Ford or Dodge truck from the past five or 10 years could be a wonderful truck, just as any particular truck could be a disaster about to happen. You won't be able to tell which is which. But a good mechanic will. So spend $100 and have any potential purchase gone over professionally and carefully before you plunk down your money. After all, you don't want to be squandering your retirement savings on car repairs, do you, Mark? No. You want to be squandering it on much better stuff. Got a question about cars? Write to Car Talk in care of this newspaper, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com. (c) 2014 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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