Nothing is worse than buying a new or used car, only to have it conk out on you before a year of ownership. That’s why one of the most important things you can do when investing in your next set of wheels is to do your homework.
Researching cars is not as difficult as one may think. With nifty tools like Kelley Blue Book online, researching your next hot rod is a matter of a few simple clicks. Then, there’s also Consumer Reports magazine and a few others who do the job of looking into and comparing cars for you. Just bear in mind – the cost of a used car does have a major influence on the value of the vehicle.
Four Cars are on top of the list ‘Worst Cars’
According to 2012 Consumer Reports Best and Worst Cars of the year, four cars top their list as the worst cars tested for the road. The numbers represent how well a vehicle performs in a variety of areas including braking, accelerating, fuel economy, comfort, and cargo space.” Lowest performers in these areas were as follows received points out of 100.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited received a low score of 20. Jeep Liberty received only 27 points. Smart forTwo – 28 points! Does that surprise us?The highest in the low category was, surprisingly a Toyota model. The FJ Cruiser broke the twenties mold by receiving a 36…although it is very ugly and bad on fuel economy!
Though the Smart fortwo’s 2012 debut is marred by its low consumer reports scoring, it didn’t make the list of the most toxic or least fuel efficient cars by entities like the U.S. Department of Energy or Men’s Health. Neither has it seen any recalls so far this year.
Research before you buy!
Consumer Reports is an excellent source to find out about recalls. They reported about Ford Escape’s recall based on a stuck throttle concerns in late July, and in early August – they reported on Toyota RAV4 SUVs and Lexus HS25h hybrid recalls due to loose nuts.
Avoiding a bright and shiny motorized lemon is as simple as having used cars inspected prior to purchase. If you’re buying from a dealer, check the dealership out with the Better Business Bureau before you sign on the dotted line. It also wouldn’t hurt to make sure your investment is under a decent warranty before leaving the lot.
Purchasing from independent owners is a little trickier. But assessing the value and researching whether or not the car has been totaled is as simple as looking up the car’s VIN number with the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
It’s also wise to check out the U.S. Department of Energy to see the fuel efficiency in the car your heart is set on before you even leave home to shop. Their fuel economy tests are performed at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory with state of the art federal testing procedures. A pretty nifty step-by-step photo guide on how it’s done can be found on their website.
Just for knowledge sake, check out the undercover-lemons on sale at your local dealership. Remember, this information is for your benefit!
Top 3 Worst For
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U.S. Department of Energy
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Men’s Health News
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Forbes.com
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Feel free to share your opinion..this is just a list compiled base on stats and other published lists! So, don’t get offended if your car is here. Everybody has a taste and it doesn’t need to match ours!
