How to Shop for Your Next Car
Should You Buy a Newer Car?
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USED CAR BUYING GUIDE CR.ORG/CARS
troublesome as they age. To determine whether you should replace your car, think about cost, safety, and connectivity. If your mechanic is spending more time with your car than you do and your repair bills are like monthly payments on a newer car, it’s probably time to trade up. The only older cars worth keeping are ones that are reliable and safe. At a minimum, an older car should have electronic stability control and curtain airbags. Both are lifesavers. And if you’re looking for the latest electronic convenience and entertainment systems, you’re probably going to want a new car, or at least an almost new one. Certain features, such as Bluetooth capability for hands-free calls, can be added to an older car with aftermarket equipment but may lack the integration and ease of use of a factory system. In the end, there are 2- and 3-yearold used cars that can give you many desirable features. Just be sure to choose from our list of reliable used cars, starting on page 26.
If you want to save money.
Is your car a gas guzzler?
Yes
Would you save a lot of money with more mpg?
No
No
Are annual repair costs more than car payments?
Yes
Yes
No
Keep your car for a few more years.
ILLUSTR ATION: RYAN VULK
ARE YOU ITCHING to replace your car? It may be surprising, but the one you’re driving right now could be a keeper. Here’s why: Cars built in the past decade are more reliable than ever. With proper care, many newer cars will provide trouble-free service for 200,000 miles or more. If your car is only a few years old, keeping it will free you from a new cycle of payments and save you a bundle in insurance, taxes, and other expenses—primarily depreciation. Today’s brand-new cars lose 46 percent of their value, on average, in the first three years. It seems reasonable to replace your car with a newer model and enjoy improved fuel economy. But low gas prices blunt that impact, and you need to save a lot of money at the pump to make up for those depreciation and sales-tax hits. Now, your current ride probably doesn’t have the latest safety and convenience features, and your warranty has probably expired. And even the most reliable models grow
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