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Tag: best car for money

  • Toyota Prius Ranked “Best New Car Value” Again

    Thinking about buying a new car this holiday season? According to Consumer Reports, the Toyota Prius will give you the best value for your buck. In fact, this is the second year in a row that the eco-friendly hybrid has been ranked as the magazine’s “Best New Car Value.”

    The Prius runs about $29,230. Consumer Reports liked the performance and reliability of the car. However, the incredible operating cost of only 47 cents a mile probably tipped the scales in terms of overall value. They wrote, “The Prius is extremely economical, averaging 44 mpg overall, and 55 mpg on the highways in our tests. With light throttle input it can quietly drive on electric power up to 25 mph. The ride is firm yet steady, and handling is sound and secure, but not particularly agile.”

    Consumer Reports publishes reviews by comparing products. A consumer can find reviews on everything from baby monitors to coffee makers to airline travel to sunscreen. To create its top ranked best value in cars report, the company tested over 200 different automobiles.

    Other well-valued cars on the list included the 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited for best value in Large Cars. Also, the 2014 Lexus ES 300h topped for best value in Luxury Cars. On the other end of the spectrum was the Nissan Armada, which ranked as the worst value, the SUV only gets about 13 miles per gallon.

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  • Year End Car Deals – Great Time For A New Car

    Who doesn’t love buying a new car with that “new car” smell – and at Christmas, a car is the perfect gift. In light of the deals that are spreading like wildfire throughout the nation, it might also be the smartest time to buy.

    Local dealerships are overflowing with this years models trying to make room for 2014 vehicles, and they’re anxious to move them out… red tagging, negotiating and giving deals like no other time of the year.

    “We have a lot of inventory right now,” said Tammy Darvish, vice president of Darcars Automotive Group, a 21-dealer group in the Washington, D.C., metro area that sells Toyota, Ford, Kia, Chrysler, Volkswagen and others.

    Normally you can get 5 to 6 percent off the sticker price when dealing, but that could rise to 8 or 10 percent this month, said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. That means, for instance, you can get roughly $1,880 to $2,351 off a 2014 Chevy Malibu 1LT with a sticker price of $23,510.

    With U.S. sales increasing and expected to reach 15.6 million this year, compared to just 10.4 million in 2009, it looks like automakers might have the best year in a long economic struggle.

    To find the best prices, dealers say that it depends a lot on what car, SUV or truck you want to buy. The all time best deals now are in the small and midsize cars category.

    Some great deals can also be found in pick-up trucks – Gutierrez stated that Ford is offering up to $8,500 off a 2013 Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab with a sticker price of around $30,000.

    If you wait it out, the model and make you are anxious to take home will be on sale sometime during the year-end car frenzy. It might not start out that way, but bargains are to be had in every car dealer this time of year.

    And timing is everything – wait, if possible, until the very last week of the year for the very best deal of the year.

    If you wait until next year you run some risks. Interest rates may rise and trade-in values are likely to drop a bit, Gutierrez said. “You’re not leaving a ton of money on the table” by waiting, he said. “But really there’s no time like the present.”

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