Family Sedans you need to know about

   As a 9 year old, I always wanted my parents to get the fastest car out there. That Mustang or Camaro. When we decided to go buy a new “family” car, they mistakenly took me and I wouldn’t stop running around looking at everything “fast” and putting my two cents in.

   Then my mom told me something very important, “There is more to life than just a fast car, I have you.”  Which is why I’m going to say it, mini-vans are alright.

 
   Not just minivans, but all family cars.  Here is a list of the top selling family sedans that you should be interested in when considering your families safety and overall car value. Here are Low, Mid, and High priced family sedans that are safe and easy on the eyes.

1)      Volkswagen Passat – This large family car has a NHTSA safety rating of 4 out of 5. The 5-cylinder version will get 32 hwy, 21 city. The 6-cylinder sport engine gets 28hwy, 20 city. It also has an alternative diesel style engine, 4 cylinder 31 city, 43 hwy.  With plenty of cargo room (15.9 cu ft.) for all the soccer cleats you need, this is a family car with plenty of options, and if you’re in a rush it can get you there.  Base price: $19,995

 

2)      Acura TSX – This is the sporty and stylish family car.  It can come in either an inline 4 or 6-cylinder, which is a beefed up to 280hp. Base price: $29,610. A 5/5 safety rating. However, you are paying 10k more for a family car with 14 cu ft. of cargo room. This is less than the Passat.

3)      Saab 9-5 Aero – With a 5 star safety rating, and the most cargo room of the cars mentioned (18.2 cu ft.). This amazingly gorgeous car has bold styles, great lines, but comes with a hefty price tag. Base price: $49,565 and comes with a powerful 300hp turbocharged V-6 engine that gets 27hwy/17city mpg. With AWD (all-wheel drive) option on the V-6 model this car will get up and go for you. The 4 cylinder turbo only gets 28hwy/18 city.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/index.htm

   The website above has more information on the cars I mentioned above, and also any new or used cars that you want to review.

what you should consider when trading in your car/truck.

So, when you’re driving down the road and see that fancy Mercedes up ahead what do you begin thinking?  Well, I’ll tell you what mine is, “I want that car.”  Then you realize: Darn it, it just pulled up next to me and I’m in my Scooby-Doo van. Well, while you may feel a little discouraged about your Mystery Machine, don’t fret. Just trade in Scooby for a newer model, but don’t go without some advice.

   So here are a few things to consider for your trade-in and things that the dealers tend to look for:

·         Get an estimate first – You need to know where you’re standing before you go to the dealer. Go online to http://www.kbb.com/ ; this is one of the best sites to get a car’s value. Here on Kelly Blue Book you can factor in different variables to figure out an estimated value of your car. Knowing a little bit of your vehicle history may be required. This gives you a starting point, base price so to say. Now, when you go for you check-ups and encounter problems, you can subtract the cost of repairs from your total value to figure out if it is cheaper to fix your car, or just to go trade it in as is.

·         Looks – While you think those ten million bumper stickers are fashionable, the dealer just looks at that and thinks, “how much is going to cost me to get that 70s goo off there.”  Clean your car up a little because this can serve a cosmetic and financial benefit.  Who wants to buy a car that has paint peeling off of it ever since the 1980s ended?  I have even heard of cases where it was cheaper to buy the used car than repainting the old one. It is something you just have to look into. Would you eat a burger with a crushed bun?  Remember: looks sell. Your interior is a selling point too. Those tears in the seat are cheaper to sew than replace as a whole.

·         Dents – Dents take a huge toll on trade-in value, and also how the dealer looks at the car and you as a driver. Dents not only drop the value, but also can raise your rates on the vehicle you desire. Look into proper repair jobs by professionals. Replacing fenders, quarter panels, and hoods with dents can raise the value of the car on just cosmetic value alone.

·         Maintenance – That rattling under the hood isn’t always a good sign. You need to go to a local mechanic that you trust and fix/ service anything that may be a concern. A cracked muffler is easily replaced, but if the dealer finds that your engine block is cracked or you are leaking fluids, the price for your Van or any vehicle will significantly decrease. 

   These are just a few things I have encountered from my own personal experiences. Be prepared to do some research, if you want the most for your trade-in.

The ends and outs of being a Top Safety Pick

The candy red Toyota Prius drives around the sharp corner at a blazing speed. In reality, the Prius is moving just a hair over a slug’s top speed. The Prius stops. The car is positioned to show off the fancy brakes while “smoke” rolls off the tires.  So what’s the point? Well, obviously, it is to show that the Prius is a fast and safe car.  Then, in bright white letters, the slogan “Voted #1 for being a top safety pick” appears across the TV screen.

   Top safety pick (TSP), so what companies are saying is ‘hey come spend your money with Toyota and your chances of surviving a car crash will decrease.’ Because it uses the word safe of course.

   I have always wanted to know is who decides what is “safe” and what isn’t “safe”?

   The IIHS picks what is considered safe.  According to the IIHS, the organization is an “independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation's highways.” What is the job of the workers at the IIHS then?

   The site information explains the history, the tests, and goals they seek to accomplish which I won’t go into detail about I will that to you readers.  Cars like the Prius for example: the website declares a series of letters such as “G”, “A”, “M”, or “P” which stand for “Good”, “Acceptable”, “Marginal”, or “Poor”.  So in a front crash scenario, the Prius had received a “G” for example.  More details on the Prius review or other cars can be found here:  http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

   Is having a Top Safety Pick important?  Well, if you care about your family and or passengers, then yes. You get a TSP award if you pass all the sections that the IIHS in their four required sections. Their sections are based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.

   Just because your 2012 Ford Mustang didn’t get a TSP award doesn’t mean it isn’t a safe car.  Just according to the IIHS it has some areas for improvement.  There are even occasions when certain tests haven’t been conducted on the vehicles in question yet.  Just so you know I’m not bashing on the pony cars here they have a very good frontal crash rating.

   There is your insight into the world of what a Top Safety Pick is, how it is determined, and their grading scale.  Good luck and drive safely