For many of cash-strapped motorists in Charlotte, NC, buying a used car or truck, rather than a brand-new one, is an option based on sheer necessity. The average transaction price of a new vehicle is nearly $30,000 according to TrueCar.com, an industry research and forecasting company–a figure far too steep to absorb for many U.S. households. Consumers can indeed save thousands of dollars selecting a pre-owned car but buyer beware: shopping for a used vehicle can be in many ways far more difficult–and certainly more perilous–than buying a new one.
As Charlotte's premiere auto repair center, Carolina Tire & Auto knows a tremendous amount of information about all makes and models of cars we service and repair. So we compiled a short list of used cars to avoid, based on data from multiple sources including reliability surveys, resale values and safety ratings, along with our own real world Carolina Tire & Auto experiences of repairing and road-testing these vehicles. However, our selections are largely based on the most recent J.D. Power & Associates U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study which determines the least dependable three-year-old cars. The results are based on responses from more than 43,700 original owners of 2008 model-year vehicles regarding problems experienced during the prior 12 months. All of the models on our list were rated “below average” in overall reliability, specifically powertrain performance (engine/transmission/suspension); issues with the body and interior treatments; and failures with features and accessories.
Expensive and reportedly repair-prone, with fuel economy at a thirsty 12 mpg in city driving, suffering high maintenance and repair costs and facing a steep and costly drop in resale value between the third and fifth years of ownership, the negatives tend to far outweigh the positives as regard this moderately sporty British luxury SUV. Developed as a livelier alternative to its larger non-Sport Range Rover sibling, the 2008 vintage comes powered by a relatively lackluster choice of engines rated at 300 and 390 horsepower (versus 375/510 horses for the 2011 model). Laden with gadgetry, this generation of the Range Rover Sport remains plagued by what remain among the most confusing dashboard ergonomics in the auto industry. As far as repairs and service go, they are very expensive to maintain.
With a storied nameplate that was resurrected for the 2006 model year, the full-size Charger sedan comes wrapped in throwback exterior styling, while the Magnum was cast as an aggressive-looking station wagon. Both are related to the Chrysler 300, which boasts higher marks in the J.D. Power & Associates U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study for body and interior durability. Though enthusiasts may prefer the cars' rear-wheel-drive configuration for its inherently crisper handling qualities, they tend to slip and slide on wet pavement and become stuck in the snow; those fitted with the optional all-wheel-drive system fare better in that regard. A choice of V-6 engines afforded average acceleration, with a 5.7-liter V8 being the quicker, albeit fuel-thirstier, choice. The top SRT-8 model packs a wallop with a 6.1-liter V-8 but is rare and costly. Even when new these cars felt cheap and unfinished and can't possibly fare much better three years down the road, particularly if they were driven hard. It's too bad that Chrysler decided to put Goodyear tires on these cars, terrible decision as Goodyear is one of the worst performing tires on the road as far as we are concerned.
No comments:
Post a Comment