Finding the best family car means more than just counting seatbelts and cup holders. Even what qualifies as a “family car” isn’t so clear cut these days. Minivans are an obvious choice, but not if you don’t need all that space. SUVs are great, but that extra cargo room’s a waste if you don’t use it. Then there’s the good ol’ family sedan: Would you like that in regular midsize, or upgrade to full-size? On the flip side, just because something’s big on the outside doesn’t mean it’s useful for families inside. So we had our work cut out for us when we decided to identify the Best Family Cars available in America for 2014.
Happily, we had a good place to start. Based on our Expert Ratings of all the vehicles – more than 300 of them – that we test each year, we gathered the 21 vehicles from across classes we believed had the stuff to be top-shelf family haulers. The selection of the 21 was a rigorous process itself. Each of our nine editors received a list of candidates, then individually voted for up to 20 of them, and they were given the opportunity to nominate any additional vehicles that they felt should be included. We culled the responses, tallied the votes, and the vehicles that received four or more votes were invited to participate in our driving-and-usability test. We requested mainstream models from each manufacturer for our test, and most complied, although we did receive a few fully loaded exceptions. We were careful not to give added advantages to those heavily equipped vehicles, because we wanted the test to be as “real-world” representative as possible.
The resulting list included seven sedans, six small SUVs, five midsize SUVs, two minivans, and one hybrid wagon, from a total of 11 different brands. With these all on premises at our Kelley Blue Book offices our staff installed and uninstalled car seats, loaded up the cargo area with various objects, and even brought their kids down to climb in and out, and maybe test out the rear-seat entertainment. When we were done, we tallied up our results, compared notes, and picked what we thought were the best of the bunch.
When we present our customers with a large repair estimate for their older car, the question I get over and over again is: Should I keep this old clunker or buy a newer car?
When you’re faced with a large repair bill, it’s natural to dream of getting a better car, a newer model or just a more reliable vehicle.
However, most of us live in a practical world of hard financial decisions, and the purchase of a newer car is not to be taken lightly. So, when should you repair your car, and when should you buy new transportation?
This is obviously a subjective question without a clear, right or wrong answer. Many factors figure into this decision. If you figure that the average driver purchases perhaps only five to 10 cars in an entire lifetime, it’s not like deciding whether to buy a new pair of jeans.
First, you’ll need to ask yourself some questions. If money is a finite resource for you, as it is for most of us, have you properly budgeted and examined how much you can afford to spend on repairs as opposed to buying a new car? Please don’t forget to factor in the cost of sales tax and the insurance payments on a newer car.
In addition, you will obviously need to determine the nature of the malfunction. What broke down? Is it serious? What’s the total cost of parts and labor? What’s that expense compared to the total outlay of a down payment and new monthly payments on a replacement vehicle?
In most cases, you save significantly by fixing your current car as opposed to purchasing a new vehicle.
Be aware of how much new cars cost these days regardless of whether you buy or lease. Even moderately priced smaller models (like Honda Civic, Toyota Echo and Ford Focus) can carry a sticker price of $15,000 loaded. If you lease the vehicle and add in the various related fees, the total amount spent climbs higher and, you’re left with no equity after the lease period.
If the body of your current car is in reasonably good shape (check the underbody to see how rusty it is) and the car suits your needs, take it to your mechanic and find out how much it would cost to bring it into mechanically good condition. You may find that, even if it needs transmission or engine work with new tires and shocks, these repairs may cost less than the sales tax on a new car. Check out your present vehicle thoroughly, then decide.
Beyond your personal budget for repairs, another way to check on whether it’s reasonable to repair your car is to check its current Kelley Blue Book value. A general rule of thumb is that if a cost of repairing your current car is less than 15% to 25% of your car’s total Blue Book value, it’s still worth repairing. Obviously, if you are finished making installment and your car is now an asset and payment-free transportation, it becomes an even wiser move to keep the car.
If you do choose to drop your old car, should you buy new or used? A two-year-old used car will cost significantly less than a new car and, in many cases, it will look the same. Body styles change only once every four to six years, so you won’t be able to distinguish a three-year-old car from a new one.
On the other hand, there is the concern about buying a used lemon. Always have a used car inspected by a good mechanic before you purchase it. They will be able to tell you if it had been in an accident and what repairs and maintenance need to be done so it will be safe and reliable. You should also check the reliability rating for the car you are looking at in an unbiased publication such as Consumer Reports. Remember that a properly selected and well maintained used car kept for five years will give you just as good service as a new car for about half the price. For help buying a great used car, you can go to my website at www.usedcarexperts.com and down load my book for $14.95.
The question of repairing, buying or leasing comes down to personal preferences, finances and driving needs. When you make your final decision, try not to overreach yourself, and don’t give up on Old Faithful before her time.
Safe and Happy Motoring,
Amy Mattinat
There are some terrific advantages to driving an old car, including cheaper car insurance and owning your car outright. But old cars need repairs, especially those that are five years old or older. So when you are suddenly faced with a costly repair for your old car, does it make more sense to repair it or replace it with a new car?
While it’s almost always cheaper to repair your used car instead of buying a new one, you need more information before you can make a solid financial decision. Find out the answers to these questions:
How much is your car worth? Check the value of your current car at several third-party car information websites such as Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book or NADAguides.com to determine what it’s worth, assuming it’s working properly.
What would it cost to replace it? Assume for a moment that if you replaced your old car, you’d buy a new car that’s a similar make and model. Do a bit of research online to determine what the new car would cost. Chances are it’s at least $20,000 and possibly a lot more. Then use Bankrate’s auto loan calculator to estimate your monthly payment.
How much does the repair cost? Get a couple of quotes on the cost of the job. You can call mechanics or dealers in your area and ask them to quote the job for you. They can do this without seeing the car as long as you know what repair is needed. Have them give you the estimate in writing or try an online quote service such as RepairPal to get estimates. While the cost of the parts is not likely to be much different — if it is, ask why — labor rates can vary from shop to shop and you can possibly save some money by choosing a different mechanic.
October is Fall Car Care Month. Why not take a little time to be car care aware and make sure your vehicle is ready for the harsh winter weather ahead? Taking a few simple steps now can save you the headaches and cost of an emergency breakdown later, says the Car Care Council.
Here are five proactive steps to make sure your car is ready for winter driving.
Battery – Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Cold weather is hard on batteries, so it’s wise to check the battery and charging system. Because batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail, it is advisable to replace batteries that are more than three years old.
Heater, Defrosters and Wiper Blades – Check that the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system are working properly as heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons, such as defrosting. Fall is also a great time to check your air filters. Wiper blades that are torn, cracked or don’t properly clean your windshield should be replaced. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months. When changing the blades, be sure to also check the fluid level in the windshield washer reservoir.
Tires – Check the tires, including the tire pressure and tread depth. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly as tires lose pressure when temperatures drop.
Brakes – Have the brake system checked, including brake linings, rotors and drums. Brakes are critical to vehicle safety and particularly important when driving on icy or snow-covered roads.
