These last few weeks, I’ve been experiencing car lust. It’s come over me like a sickness, some strange mechanical version of spring fever, and I find myself becoming preoccupied by the existence of cars. Every time I take the subway, I do a mental calculation — would this be a better trip if I had [...]

The idea of buying a car online, in my opinion, is sheer genius. Being able to avoid dealers, while still having the luxury to view a car and select my options is an appealing concept to say the least. Regardless, I would still be somewhat nervous to make such a momentous purchase with a simple [...]

You’ve done the research, calculated your budget and narrowed down your list of prospective cars down to a handful. Now it’s time to take the finalists for a spin. This will likely be your first fully escalated interaction with salesmen, and your first hands-on-experience with the cars you’ve been reading about during the course of [...]

That said, the big advantage of buying a used car is that you’re avoiding a huge depreciation of value over time. The value of a new car drops significantly the moment it is driven off the lot. After that, most cars tend to depreciate by about 50% after three years, and then drop about 10% [...]

In their respective humiliation, they observed things that will be of interest to anyone currently in the market for an automobile. His Affecting an innocent, doe-eyed demeanor, and attempting to exude as much of a “rube” vibe as possible, I stepped into a certain foreign car dealership and, professing my automotive ignorance, announced that I [...]

Whether you’re buying or leasing, choosing new or used, here are some questions you’re going to want to ask yourself first: What am I willing (and able) to spend? The first thing you need to do is determine your budget. Make sure you know exactly how much you can afford to put towards monthly car [...]

If cared for properly, most cars will give you years of faithful service. However, there are a number of insidious forces that want nothing more than to reduce your investment to a useless, rusted heap propped up on cinderblocks in your back yard. These forces, though crafty and relentless, can be held at bay with [...]

Leasing has become increasingly popular over the last few years for several reasons: By leasing, instead of buying, you get to drive a brand spankin’ new car every two years or so. Lower monthly payments and up-front costs (usually limited to a security deposit). At the end of the lease, you can either buy the [...]

Before You Go Make absolutely sure you can afford it. Don’t get carried away with the euphoria of buying a car. Remember that this is a huge financial responsibility that you’ll have for several years. Gauge your needs and your means, and then narrow down your search to about three models. Remember, after making such [...]

If you’re looking to purchase a new car, most finance experts will simply tell you: “don’t.” No matter how you look at it, a car is not a profitable investment. Your newly purchased vehicle starts to depreciate the moment you drive it off the dealership’s lot. But, from a quality of life perspective, a new [...]