Consumerist
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used and abused
Man Puts Deposit Down On Used Car, Backs Out, Can't Get Money Back
Back in April, Nait put a $500 refundable deposit down on a used car, then decided he didn't want to buy it anymore when he found it needed $10,000 in repairs. Five months later, neither the dealership nor Capital One, will refund his money. He gives a blow-by blow here. More » -
carfax
Buyer Says CarFax Report Didn't Let Him Know Car Was All Messed Up
CarFax provides a useful tool for used car buyers, tipping them off about the myriad abuses their prospective rides once suffered. But Gyorgy says the service failed him, failing to report a number of modifications and indignities that voided the ride's warranty. He writes: More » -
cars
Ask The Consumerists: When An "As-Is" Car Isn't What It Seems
Trisha in Oregon bought a great new-to-her car from a used car dealership. Unfortunately, the problem with buying a car "as-is" is that the dealer may not be up-front with you about how the car actually is. More » -
auto bailout
The New Car Deals Are Piling Up — But Do You Care?
BusinessWeek did a little math and discovered that if you lined up all the new financing deals, tax incentives and discounts — a new car might actually be cheaper than a late model used one. But do you care? More » -
Best And Worst Used Cars Buying a used car is often the best choice for consumers. If well-maintained, it can be a good value and later models have many of the newer safety features as well. Consumer Reports has listed the cars with the best and worst reliability history in the 10 years (1999-2008) covered by their Annual Auto Survey.
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cars
Top 9 Most Reliable Small USED Cars
Consumer Reports' annual car issue is here, and with the death-spiraling economy in mind, they've identified the most reliable used cars for all of you value-conscious consumers. Hey, there's even an American car on the list! More » -
used cars
Top 10 Recent Model Used Car Deals
Consumer Reports has put together a list of the quickest depreciating new cars so that you bargain hunters can snatch up a lightly used car for a good price. In case you weren't aware, new cars take a big hit in depreciation in the first few years of ownership — a smart buyer lets someone else pay that "new car" tax. More » -
car shopping
Consumer Reports: 10 Car Shopping Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Consumer Reports has compiled a list of common car shopping mistakes from their Smart Buyer's Guide to Buying or Leasing a Car, which, of course, you can find in bookstores. More » -
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National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
After 16 Years, Justice Department Ordered To Build Used Car Database
A federal judge ruled last week that the Department of Justice has until March to establish a used car database as directed by Congress 16 years ago. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will warn potential buyers if a used car was stolen or totaled, and will instantly verify the car's title and mileage. Here's how it will work... More » -
fuel economy
The 7 Most Fuel Efficient Used Cars Under $10,000
You're sick of your SUV and thinking of getting a car that's new to you, but which ones get the best gas mileage for the price? Consumer Reports has the answer — a list of the 7 most fuel efficient used cars for under $10,000. More » -
buying a car
6 Things You Should Never Say To A Car Salesman
There are few things in life that will test your mettle more than a savvy car salesman. He is a master manipulator and has a PhD in messing with your head. Even if you have checked out some confessions of a car salesman and carefully studied the evil "four-square" technique, there are still some things you could say that tell a salesman you are a soft target. CNN Money and Edmunds.com have put together a list of 6 things you should never say to a car salesman. The list, inside... More » -
automobiles
10 Best Resale Value Cars
At fifty thousand dollars, buying a new Corvette can hurt—but on the plus side, after five years it will still retain a value of around 50% . That puts it among the top 10 best cars for resale value as compiled by CNN Money and based on Kelley Blue Book figures. Or if your budget is smaller, a Honda Civic Sedan costs around $19k and retains 52% of its value. More » -
used cars
3 Confessions From A Former Used Car Salesman
Patrick is a former used car salesman who grew a conscience. He has three tips to share with us: More » -
four square
Dealerships Rip You Off With The "Four-Square," Here's How To Beat It
Former used car salesman Alan Slone grows a conscience and reveals one of the major strategies dealership use to screw you when buying a new car. More » -
automobiles
UPDATE: Drove My Chevy to the Levy But The Dealer Left Me Dry
An investigation into the Bill Heard used car dealership reveals a history of complaints over customer intimidation and harassment. More » -
cars
Confessions of a Car Salesman
Our cyberoptic umbilical to our Internet mother may be on the fritz, so we can't exactly tell you if Edmunds.com's Confessions of a Car Salesman is an Internet classic. But it should be and it's a must read for anyone looking to purchase a car, whether new or old. Know thy enemy. More » -
cars
HOW TO: Buy A Car Without Putting A Shotgun In Your Mouth
Browsing Metafilter, we found this excellent post detailing the smart way to make a purchase from those plaid-skinned abominations who lurk in the primal shadows of every consumerist's nightmares, grinning their straight razor smiles and beckoning us to sign contracts in bilesome blood: the car salesman. More »
used cars
New York, 9:12 AM
Sun Nov 22
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