There are a few things you need to know before taking out a loan for a car. The automobile industry isn’t just about cars, it’s about car financing, too. Many dealers pocket more profit from providing you with a loan than from selling you a car. Here’s what you need to know to avoid decisions […]
Americans have been paying a steep premium for their ride recently. Fortunately, rising prices appear to be coming to a screeching halt. Car prices are due to come down fast from last year’s inflation-fuelled highs, giving motorists some welcome relief from the sticker shock. UBS estimates global car production will exceed sales by 6% this […]
Over the past 37 years, I bought a total of 8 cars. That’s not very many because I’m a firm believer in buying the right car and driving it for as many years as possible until repairing it is more expensive than it’s worth. Of the eight cars, I bought the first four used and […]
You’ve thought about it and ruled out walking, public transportation, Uber, and even renting a car only when you must. None of that works for you. You’re getting a car of your own, and that’s that. Your options are to (a) buy new, (b) buy used, or (c) lease new. Which makes the most sense? […]
It was predictable. I’m not talking about the spike in used-car prices, though that too isn’t surprising. No, I’m talking about the doomsday drumbeat about “through-the-roof” new-car prices. Here’s a representative sample of half-a-dozen pieces harping on that theme: Business Insider: “Why used and new cars are so expensive right now, explained in 3 charts” […]
It Can Pay Off in Surprising Ways to be a Contrarian… It’s fairly well known that transportation is one of the three largest expenses (at least for most Americans). Clearly, if you can get away with owning one car (for a couple), you’re better off than owning 2. If you can get away with not […]
For many people, getting a loan can be a nerve-racking ordeal. This is especially true for a large loan, such as for buying a house or starting a business. You have reams of paperwork, endless questions about income, assets and debts, and time spent gathering and organizing documents. But getting a loan doesn’t have to […]