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That’s quite an issue with no easy answer.  There are two big questions. What do you expect from a vehicle and how will you use it?  If you are only satisfied with driving a pristine vehicle, want the absolute minimum of ongoing service problems, and the least amount of hassle when you change cars, then leasing may be…

For most people, something new is a lot better than something used, but there are advantages to buying a pre-owned car. Obviously, it will be cheaper. To begin with, you avoid the 30% depreciation that happens in the first year. On top of that, you gain the benefit of other consumer’s experience. While purchasing a…

Thinking of buying a new car? There is a lot to consider. Once upon a time there was only “the big three,” GM, Ford and Chrysler. Today there are over a dozen. Back in the fifties European cars started to make inroads in the Canadian car market, then came the Japanese. Now everybody is making…

The following is an introduction to our new series “A Guide to Cars”. The series will begin next week with the post “Buying a New Car,” followed by seven additional posts with more practical advice on buying, owning, and operating a motor vehicle. We will share insights gained in our thirty years of experience; information…

Vehicles are large financial investments.  Transactions today typically exceed $30,000, and can be $200,000 or more.  If you had a $30,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to handle it without the help of a certified accountant?  If you had a $30,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside…

Automobile safety has improved exponentially in the last 30 years, and it’s getting even better, with the big three German manufacturers leading the way. Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4PF74_Y_bMA good example of progress in this area is the Mercedes Pre-Safe system. Introduced in 2003, it ranks with earlier bell weather innovations such as seat belts, ABS (automatic…

You’ve heard it before, and it’s just as true today. Everybody loves a deal, but you rarely get something for nothing. Take online car buying for example. There’s dozens of online vendors out there, all pretty much the same. The offer looks like this. They will search for the best deal they can find, and…

“In the car business it is often said a car has three prices; the price you want, the price you can sell it for, and the price you can sell it for today.” (Hup Clark, Atlantic Euro Car, May 2012) To be serious, there are actually four values commonly associated with used-vehicle pricing; they are…

For most people, a new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase you will ever make. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average price of a new car is $31,200. If you are planning to shop for a new car or truck, the following tips will help you…