Re: buying cars
I agree 100R, no substitute for test driving the car and seeing how it feels to you.
but test driving would not really tell you what type of problems the car can have long term. and thats where quality reviews by experts come in handy, because they are not just opinion but are based on data.
Good point about the long term problem, but what if you sell it much earlier? I mean I love my current car but I am selling it so that I can get a newer model, different brand etc.
More importantly, I never buy 'zero mile new' because of the depreciation loss. I brought my current car back in 04 with 6,000 miles on it, but at a price 27% below the new model. I brought it in August of 2004 and made out like a bandit with full warranty and a scheduled service plan (another feature that the Jap cars lack).
So this time around, I am doing the same thing. My parameters are:
- European Manufacture
- Less than 10K miles
- At least 20% knocked off the 'new' price
- 2006-2007 model
So I pretty much avoid any and all long term problems. Even American made cars can do up to 50,000 miles without a hitch. Besides, I keep the car well serviced and in top shape, so they look like new, when I sell. My strategy is not exactly original but it is guaranteed to work, unless you're driving a pinto or something.