Car Minded

by tgriffith

Regular Cars That Cost as Much as Luxury Cars

Barring the stratospheric price of the Ford GT, the Blue Oval isn’t exactly known for high-priced luxury. That could be about to change, as an $80,000 Ford family hauler is now a reality.

Cars that cost upward of $60,000 and approach $80,000 used to be the realm of ultimate luxury and performance. We’re talking top-end BMWs and Jaguars that blend plush driving pleasure with spirited performance, not to mention a certain brand panache that justifies the price tag.

Today, the $80,000 price point is starting to encroach on mass-market brands. While we are not likely to see an $80,000 Taurus anytime soon, another Ford is dangerously close to breaking that not-so-budget-friendly milestone. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Selling a Car? Here’s How to Allow Test Drives

As you’re probably aware by now, CarGurus allows users to post cars for sale at no charge on the website.

Doing so lets shoppers from around the United States find your car and compare it to similar vehicles for sale. Listing your car on CarGurus will also let you know the Instant Market Value of your car and show you how competitively you’ve priced it.

Anytime you sell your car privately, though, you need to allow test drives for interested parties. That can be a daunting prospect, but follow this protocol, and it’s likely you and the potential buyer will have a positive experience. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Honda Civic Type R Priced, Proves Demand for Performance

2018 Honda Civic Type R

Dire predictions of an entire generation having zero emotion toward cars have fueled predictions of an unprecedented “buyers strike” in America.

That’s probably not going to happen.

A love, and a need, for cars will continue to dominate the landscape, even as younger folks grow into mature, car-buying adults.

I reference the ferocious new Honda Civic Type R as proof. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Tesla Remains Perfect, Audi Hopes to Follow Its Lead

Safety is quickly becoming a trademark quality for Tesla. The California-based electric carmaker builds the Model S sedan, which achieved the best safety rating of any car ever tested back in 2013.

Now it can lay claim to something else no other automaker has ever been able to accomplish: a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) perfect score for an SUV in its 5-star crash-testing system.

Yes, the Tesla Model X is now the safest SUV ever tested by the government agency. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Should You Be Worried About Replacing a Used EV’s Batteries?

2017 Chevy Bolt

One of the benefits of owning an electric car is not needing to buy gasoline. The cost savings add up year after year, even when you include the cost of electrons to recharge the batteries.

Two of the biggest concerns since the advent of hybrid and EV technology are electric range and potential cost of replacing battery packs.

Range anxiety has mostly been solved as EV range steadily increases to over 200 miles per charge. Replacing battery packs has, so far, proven to be a non-issue, but it’s bound to become one as the earliest EVs continue to age. How much should people expect to pay once the inevitable happens?

About half of what the car cost new, at least according to Chevrolet. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will Subaru Become the Next Toyota?

Last week a friend on Facebook shared a post from Toyota that compared the new 86 sports car to the classic 2000GT.

The comparison inspired a heated conversation, with most people arguing that the 86 is a cheap RWD sports car designed for proper weight distribution and mass production, while the classic 2000GT is an ultra-rare Jaguar-esque stunner.

Sitting next to the 2000GT, the 86 looked, in the band Train’s words, like “a crappy purple Scion.”

Then someone else said, “If Subaru made one, gave it AWD, and upped the power, I’d make it my daily driver.”

Subaru is on a 7-year sales march, with each year breaking the previous year’s record. The company certainly seems immune to sagging industry sales, and is in fact working on a new BRZ sports car. But is it the car everyone wants? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will President Trump Block German Car Sales?

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi are symbols of success and prestige.

Owning one is a goal more people are realizing, as BMW sold more than 2.3 million cars last year. Mercedes-Benz was just behind at about 2.2 million, while Audi unloaded some 1.8 million vehicles.

BMW builds its SUVs right here in the States, and Mercedes-Benz has a manufacturing plant in Alabama. Needless to say, German automakers contribute a fair share to the American economy, and well-off car buyers are taking home their wares in record numbers.

Yet the U.S. president is not happy and has vowed to block the “very bad” Germans from exporting cars to our country.

Never mind the fact that the president owns at least one Rolls-Royce (a company owned by BMW) and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Ram Readying for a Come-from-Behind Sales Victory

2017 Ram 1500 Rebel

I grew up with a staunch adversity to Chrysler products. It stemmed from my dad, who had a bad experience with a Chrysler Le Baron. And by “bad experience,” I mean an engine blowout before the 60,000-mile mark.

Since that day, mentioning Chrysler in conversation was akin to discussing poor bathing habits or certain political parties. It was simply not to be done in polite company.

I took that perspective into adulthood, but now that I’m older and considering a truck purchase, I’m re-thinking my attitude toward the company formerly known as Chrysler.

So, it seems, are thousands of other truck buyers in the United States. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

How to Travel for a Great Deal on Your Next Car

Would you drive 500 miles if someone paid you $2,000?

Most of us would say yes to that without any hesitation, yet when we search for a new or used car, we typically keep our searches narrowed to cars available within 25 miles or so. Expanding your search to other cities could save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

Car prices can fluctuate depending on the market. A 4WD Ford Excursion, for example, may cost less in Phoenix than it does in Minnesota. Here’s how expanding your search can help you find the best deal. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Your Next BMW: Built in China?

BMW 1 Series sedan: Made in China

If Chinese quality has become good enough for Buick, Volvo, and BMW, there’s a good chance it’s good enough for you.

Cars made in China have long been associated with questionable reliability, gaps in body panels, and sub-standard safety features. Those days may be behind us, however, as foreign automakers continue to invest in Chinese manufacturing.

The Buick Envision and Volvo S60 are the first made-in-China cars imported for sale in the U.S., and they are each getting mostly positive reviews from auto journalists around the country.

Now BMW seems ready to further elevate Chinese manufacturing and import models built in China for sale to customers in Germany and the United States. Continue reading >>>