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  • How Should You Sell Your Car? Get the Most for Your Old Ride

    How Should You Sell Your Car? Get the Most for Your Old Ride

    When it comes time to sell your old ride, what avenue do you take? Do you sell it to a buddy of yours, or do you trade it in at the dealership?

    Maybe you’re wondering if you’re getting the best deal when you sell your car. Today we’re going to help you figure out how to get the most from selling your old car.

    How Should You Sell Your Car?

    Sell it Yourself

    The most obvious and direct way to sell your old ride is to just sell it yourself. Figure out what a car of its age and condition is worth, throw up a few ads online and try to get a good price for it. When it comes to selling yourself, though, you’ve got to consider how time-consuming it will be.

    When you’re selling the car yourself, you’re looking at a lot of time meeting with potential buyers and haggling. You have to put the car’s history report up and be truthful about its condition. Likewise, the awkward nature of having strangers come up and test drive your old vehicle is somewhat odd.

    Dealership Sales

    When it comes to getting money for your old wheels fast, you’ve got a few options. The most straightforward way to do this is to go through a dealership. Dealerships can buy your old ride after an appraisal and give you cash the day you roll up with it.

    After an appraisal, you can choose to take or leave the offer. If you take it, you’ll have cash in hand. Often you can haggle for a bit of a better price if you’re trading the old ride in for a new vehicle. Keep in mind, in any event, you’ll end up getting less for a vehicle you trade-in to a dealership than just selling it yourself.

    Other Services

    There are also services that can help you sell your car. These services, like CarMax and Auto Trader, have their own setups for picking up the vehicles and paying you out for it. This is a bit of an in-between from selling it to the dealership and selling it yourself.

    With these services, you’ve got a bit better chance of getting more for your old car. However, you do pay for the convenience, as you’ll get a bit less than if you just sell it yourself. It’s up to you to decide how much your time is worth when it comes to selling your car.

  • Top Car Insurance Providers: Who is the Best for Your Ride?

    Top Car Insurance Providers: Who is the Best for Your Ride?

    When it comes to driving, you simply have to have car insurance. That’s not just poetic, either, you’re literally legally required to have insurance. Jokes aside, you might as well pick a good insurance provider, since you legally have to have one.

    Today, we’re breaking down some of the top car insurance providers to help you find the one that’s right for you.

    Car Insurance Providers

    Nationwide

    Nationwide, well-known for their goofy commercials starring football players and country music singers, is a solid car insurance provider. While they offer insurance on numerous things, like life and home, today we’re focusing on their auto insurance.

    This company offers rates that are, often, quite competitive with other auto insurance providers. They’ve got a number of features you’d expect from an insurer, including roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and vanishing deductible.

    Erie Insurance

    Erie is a highly-rated insurance company, noted by publications like NerdWallet, J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. They have very high consumer satisfaction ratings, competitive auto insurance rates and great customer service. They’re one of the most well-regarded auto insurers due to their generous offerings.

    Notably, Erie insurance offers its policyholder’s rate lock, letting them lock in their insurance rates. Other great features of this insurance provider include new or even better car protection, allowing you to get a vehicle of the same year or newer if you total yours.

    Travelers Insurance

    Travelers is a long-standing name in the world of insurance. They offer insurance on a number of things, though their auto insurance is particularly noteworthy. They offer a great range of benefits for policyholders, including things like Gap Insurance.

    Policyholders also get the benefit of premier new car replacement if their brand-new vehicle is totaled. Travelers offers ridesharing insurance for people who drive for Uber or Lyft in Colorado and Illinois. They also offer accident forgiveness once every 36 months, and minor violation forgiveness on that same time frame.

    Amica Mutual

    A very highly-rated insurance company, Amica is considered one of the very best auto insurers by many publications. J.D. Power, Consumer Reports and NerdWallet have all ranked Amica highly, noting their various programs like depreciation consideration, free airbag replacement and free lock replacement.

    Notably, Amica even offers reimbursement for earnings loss if you go to court at Amica’s request. This, along with full glass coverage, advantage rewards, identity fraud monitoring and prestige rental coverage for Platinum Choice Auto members, makes Amica a popular pick.

  • Chevrolet Malibu Review: The Right Car for You?

    Chevrolet Malibu Review: The Right Car for You?

    Today we’re taking a look at the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. We’re going to be digging into its design, its standard features, the price and the value of the vehicle.

    If you’ve been tossing up what kind of vehicle you want, you probably know what sorts of features you’re looking for. Today we’re going to tell you what works and what doesn’t with the Chevrolet Malibu.

    Chevrolet Malibu Review

    Design

    The Chevy Malibu is a sleek-looking vehicle, sporting a slick design that makes it look elegant. The Malibu is a four-door sedan with a svelte design, a mean-looking grille and clean lines. If you like an elegant, upscale look then the Chevy Malibu is a good pick for you. It won’t turn any heads, but it’ll look slick.

    Performance

    The engine performance in the Chevy Malibu is solid. The base trim sports an engine with 160 horsepower, though higher trim levels could offer as much as 250 horsepower. The vehicle sports a respectable 22-27 miles per gallon in the city, and a solid 32-36 miles per gallon on the highway.

    The handling of the vehicle is good, as it can handle turn with an agile and responsive turning action. While you won’t be tearing up any race tracks, this is a solid vehicle for road performance. If you’re looking for something dependable and sporting a good engine, you can do worse than the Malibu.

    Safety

    One of the strongest points of the Chevy Malibu is the safety ratings. The vehicle has a Teen Driver mode that allows parents to set limits for their young drivers. Ample airbag coverage, emergency braking, excellent crash test ratings and more make this a great pick for younger drivers.

    Upgrading to higher trim levels can get you a number of great safety features, too, including a 360-degree camera. You can also upgrade to a Wi-Fi hotspot in the vehicle, smartphone integration and an excellent infotainment system.

    Pricing

    There are a number of trim levels available, and the Malibu starts at $21,680. However, you’d do well to discount the base trim, as there are very few standard features that are worth it at this price. Adding an extra $1,500 and going to the LS trim offers a ton of great features for your money.

    Wi-Fi, infotainment and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are all available with the LS trim. We’d recommend starting there if you’re looking for a solid, modern vehicle.

  • 2019 Subaru Outback Review

    2019 Subaru Outback Review

    The 2019 Subaru Outback is an interesting pick when it comes to a full-sized SUV. It’s in a competitive price range, it offers ample features, and it’s great for families.

    Does it stand out compared the competition, though? Today we’re breaking it down in our 2019 Subaru Outback review.

    2019 Subaru Outback Review

    Design

    There’s no mistaking the 2019 Outback for anything but a Subaru. The front grille design, the soft lines along the body and the general aesthetic all give it away for being a Subaru. That’s neither a compliment nor a condemnation: Subaru has a distinct look. Fans of this design will like the Outback, and those who find it dorky will continue to do so here.

    New Features

    This year is mostly an iterative upgrade over 2018, though the new model comes with some new bells and whistle. Namely, the EyeSight driver assist suite is now standard. More standard safety features is never a bad thing! Along with that, the base 2.5i trim now has more USB ports for everyone to charge their devices.

    What You’ll Love

    The cabin is huge and comfortable, and you’ve got tons of space to put all your stuff. On top of that. The vehicle offers great visibility, sporting very small blind spots. You’d be hard-pressed to get into an accident in the Outback, between all of the standard safety features.

    The loading heights for the cargo and roof are also notably lower than on other SUVs. In short, the Outback is short! That’s not new for Subaru, however, as their cars are, by-and-large, rather squat.

    What You Won’t Love

    Unsurprisingly, the 2019 Outback doesn’t sport a terrible great engine. The acceleration is lackluster and the handling is okay at best. That said, you’re not likely to be considering the outback for competitive street racing, so these drawbacks might not matter to you.

    Bottom Line

    In its class, the Outback is what you’d expect. It’s a spacious, comfortable SUV with ample safety features and a somewhat silly appearance. It sports a sub-par engine, middling handling and bad acceleration. But, then, what do you expect for an SUV that starts at $26,345?

    If you’ve got a big family that you need to get around town safely, and in comfort, then the Outback is a great pick. If you’re looking to impress your buddies with the speed and handling of your new ride, well, you already weren’t thinking about picking up an SUV.

  • 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

    2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

    The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact SUV with a smooth ride, spacious cabin and ample features. Whether you’re a hardcore fan of Volkswagen or just looking for a good SUV for your family, the Tiguan has a lot to offer.

    Today we’re going to break down whether the Tiguan is a good pick for you and your family. Here’s our review for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan.

    2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

    Design

    The Volkswagen Tiguan doesn’t pack any surprises into its appearance. The design is smart, economical and tight. This is a compact SUV through and through, sporting a small profile and clean lines that are sleek and unassuming. If you’re the kind of driver who doesn’t like drawing attention to themselves, this is a great design.

    However, if you’re looking for something more bold or aggressive, you’ll likely find the Tiguan wanting. Those who prefer a bolder design should look elsewhere.

    Performance

    This lack of punch applies to the Tiguan’s engine, too. You’re not going to get that satisfying rumble or roar when you punch the accelerator. Turns are taken wide, the acceleration is nothing to write home about, and the handling could be described as “floaty”.

    However, with all of that said, the Tiguan does offer a very quiet, smooth ride. What it lacks in power and flash it more than makes up for in comfort. If you’ve got kids or you’re just looking for a nice, quiet SUV, there’s a lot to love about the Tiguan. For people who don’t need the most aggressive or punchy vehicle in the world, sometimes a quiet ride and nice interior are a welcome sight.

    Life as it Comes

    The Tiguan offers a great amount of cargo space and tons of legroom and space for its compact profile. This smart use of interior space is wonderful for people who have kids and need to tackle life as it comes. Loading groceries, soccer equipment or whatever else you need is easy as can be.

    Likewise, the ample infotainment features are great for people with busy lives. Using the system to quickly set up your preferences is a breeze. It’s easy to forget just how nice a good user interface can be!

    Bottom Line

    Starting at $24,295, the Tiguan is a great pick for families. If you’re not worried about a dorky design or pokey engine, there’s a lot to love with the Tiguan. A quiet ride, tons of cargo space and useful features can more than make up for the otherwise boring design features.

  • Does AAA Offer More than Roadside Assistance?

    Does AAA Offer More than Roadside Assistance?

    AAA is a federation of various motor clubs that offers a number of benefits to members. The most notable of these benefits is roadside assistance, such as flat-tire replacement, lockout services and towing. However, AAA offers more than just roadside assistance to its members. Today we’re taking a look at everything AAA has to offer its members.

    AAA is More than Just Roadside Assistance

    Memberships

    There are a number of different membership levels available through AAA. The classic membership runs between $40-$70, on average, depending on the benefits you want. There are also Plus and Premiere memberships, which offer more miles of towing, fuel delivery and other great perks. These, of course, come with higher monthly rates to compensate for the higher level of benefits.

    Discounts

    Something many people don’t know about AAA is that membership with them entitles you to a number of discounts with associated businesses. Everything from oil changes to repair work with affiliated body shops is on the table. There are even discount movie tickets and discounts on moving trucks and electronics that some members can take advantage of.

    AAA Insurance

    Another discount available to members is the discount on AAA’s auto insurance. You have to be a member to join, but the discounts often cover the fees associated anyway. Sometimes you can also bundle this insurance with life and home insurance, too, allowing you to keep your costs down across the board in some situations.

    This isn’t true in all situations, though. Not all AAA clubs offer insurance, so make sure you do your research before you join a AAA club on that premise.

    What Else does AAA Do?

    AAA is also a lobbyist to the US Government. They lobby for automotive businesses like body shops and dealerships. The membership fees collected by AAA primarily fund their lobbying efforts. This is an important thing to keep in mind when you’re considering AAA roadside assistance, insurance and discounts.

    If you’re not a fan of funding a lobbying group, there are alternatives to AAA. You could go through your auto insurer for roadside assistance, though this could increase your premiums. Your cell phone service provider likely has a roadside assistance service you could add to your plan, too. Some car manufacturers even offer roadside assistance if your vehicle is still under warranty.

  • Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Does anything beat that new car smell? Yes, we’d say, the smell of money in your wallet beats that new car smell. See, when you’re saving money by buying used, you’re coming out with a lot more cash in your wallet. Today we’re running down the best reasons to buy a used car when you need a new ride. Make the right call when you hit the dealership!

    Top Reasons to Buy a Used Car

    Car Values

    It’s no secret that new cars cost a lot more than they have any business costing. That’s why a new car depreciates by 50% in the first three years after it rolls off of the lot. This really stinks when you buy a new car and go to trade it in a few years later. The thousands of dollars it’s lost in value is essentially gone, and you’re about to sink the excess value into another new car.

    Stretch your Money

    It doesn’t have to be that way, though. If you go to a used car dealership and look for a 3-year-old vehicle, you can get a nice, modern car for half the price of a new car. Beyond that, once a car is three years old, it’s stopped depreciating at such a dramatic rate.

    That means, after you’ve driven your used car around for a few years, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a hard time selling it for a similar amount that you spent on it. This goes double if you’re buying used cars with lots of options, like infotainment systems, safety features and the like.

    Insurance

    Driving a new car is expensive for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons, on top of the sheer cost of a new car, is the insurance. Insurance on a new car can be as much as double the price for the same vehicle that’s three years old.

    Here’s the thing: you won’t feel the difference driving a three-year-old car around the road unless you’re a professional driver. Your insurance company, however, marks that difference in cold, hard cash. Cash that you could save for fun stuff like going on vacation or just for putting in your savings account.

    Choices

    Most dealerships have much wider varieties of cars that are used. After all, the newest cars have to appeal to a very specific kind of driver. If you’re looking for the right car for you, your best bet is going to be looking at a used car. Make your budget go farther for you by buying used for your next car.

  • Why Buy Infiniti SUVs?

    Why Buy Infiniti SUVs?

    Infiniti is well-known for their luxury vehicles. The most common of these, of course, are their high-end luxury compact cars. However, Infiniti also produces excellent luxury SUVs that are well-worth your consideration. Why should you buy an Infiniti SUV? Because, frankly, they’re one of the best values in luxury you can find on the market today.

    Why Buy Infiniti SUVs?

    Luxury

    There’s nothing quite like getting in the car, cranking it up, and enjoying a quiet, gentle ride, even over rough road conditions. While there are a lot of brands that offer that, no one serves it up in the same amount of comfort, and for as low a price, as Infiniti.

    The value of luxury varies from person-to-person, but if you enjoy a big infotainment system, a great sound system and comfortable seats, Infiniti has what you love. Notably, it has all of these features at an incredibly competitive price.

    Price Point

    Infiniti’s SUVs are rather affordable when you consider how luxurious they are. The Infiniti QX30, for instance, starts at $30,945, while the high-end QX80 starts at $66,795. That’s before you get into trim levels, upgrades and various appearance and performance packages.

    Even when taking those into account, though, Infiniti remains a highly competitive luxury automaker. When compared to the likes of BMW, Audi and Cadillac, it’s easy to see what makes Infiniti such a popular brand. For those who love the balance of both power and luxury, Infiniti SUVs are a a great value.

    Performance

    While no one buys an SUV to race around the track, Infiniti’s SUVs have fantastic performance. When the time to hit the highway comes, you’ll delight in the horsepower and acceleration of the otherwise responsible and elegant Infiniti vehicle. The best part is that this performance doesn’t come at the expense of the luxury the vehicle offers up.

    Across the lineup SUVs, Infiniti offers up tight performance, great torque and awesome acceleration. While you’ll find vehicles that are faster or more powerful, you won’t find them with the balance of value, luxury and performance that you get with Infiniti.

    Buying Used

    Another great aspect of Infiniti’s stable of SUVs is how they retain their luxury and value well after their initial release. Even four, five and six-year-old Infiniti vehicles remain luxurious, attractive choices for car buyers. Finding them for an even better value used is common.

    In short, there are a number of reasons to buy Infiniti SUVs, even when they’re used. Hopefully we’ve made a believer of you with some of these reasons!

  • Best Luxury Compact Cars

    Best Luxury Compact Cars

    Luxury and compact aren’t two things that are commonly found together with cars in 2019. However, not everyone wants to drive an SUV for their luxury ride.

    So, in order to help you find your dream car, we’re looking at some of the best luxury compact cars. Sometimes good things come in small packages!

    Best Luxury Compact Cars

    Infiniti Q50

    The Infinity Q50, which starts at $35,550 is a great pick for luxury in a small vehicle. It’s got tight handling, agile performance and a nice ride. The cabin is described as “refined” and “tasteful,” and you’ll always feel like you’re riding in style in this luxury compact.

    While not the most powerful car on this list, the Q50 brings a ton of style to the luxury compact category. It’s worth noting that the Q50 has somewhat below-average fuel economy, though this is largely mitigated by the agile handling and straightforward luxury of the drive.

    If you’re looking for a downright stylish luxury vehicle and don’t mind gassing up more often, the Q50 is a great pick for you.

    Genesis G70

    What’s not to love about the Genesis G70? The sporty, aggressive look and stellar engine performance pair perfectly with the smooth, quiet ride quality. When this vehicle takes off, you’ll feel the power. However, you’ll also feel the comfortable seats and unrivaled handling of a Genesis vehicle.

    The only real downsides to the G70 are its below-average fuel economy and small trunk space. The infotainment system could use some refining, but this is a minor nitpick. That said, coming in just under $35,000, this car is a great value for your money. After all, it sports more style than the average SUV and handles like a dream. There are few cars like it on the market.

    Tesla Model 3

    The storied Tesla Model 3 is the very definition of a chase vehicle. Tesla’s name is synonymous with “cool” for some people, as these all-electric cars sacrifice no power to untether themselves from the gas pump. Gorgeous design, a spartan interior and unparalleled handling for an electric vehicle all set the Model 3 apart from the pack.

    The Model 3 has stellar performance for an electric car. It’s got 271 horsepower and handles like a dream, feeling like a conventional car in all ways but the sound. Thanks to the electric engine, the Tesla runs as quietly as possible. Pricing for the Model 3, and other Tesla models, can be found on their website.

  • 2019 Infiniti Q50 Review: Is it Worth the Price?

    2019 Infiniti Q50 Review: Is it Worth the Price?

    In 2019, you don’t tend to think “compact” when you hear the word “luxury”. In this day and age, luxury seems to be synonymous with big SUVs, or, at the smallest, maybe a sporty crossover.

    Infiniti’s 2019 Q50 has a lot of interesting things going on. Is it worth the price tag, though? Let’s look into it.

    2019 Infinity Q50

    What’s New

    The 2019 model of the Q50 has a few new tricks up its sleeve. For one, forward collision warning and emergency braking have both been made standard. This is in addition to some general quality-of-life improvements, though the 2019 Q50 is largely similar to last year’s model.

    Notably, this time around there is no hybrid model of the Q50. Instead, the gas-only version is the only configuration on the market.

    What’s Good

    There’s a lot to love in the Q50. The ride is comfortable and quiet, and the cab is luxurious. The seats are quite cozy, and taking the Q50 around the block is wonderful. For those driving around town often, this is a wonderful vehicle.

    The handling is quite tight and zippy, allowing for quick turns and lots of responsive motion. This goes hand-in-hand with the fast response from the V6 engines. While the V6 isn’t standard on the Q50, we recommend the upgrade: it really makes the ride wonderful.

    What’s Bad

    It’s not all good news, though. There are plenty of other luxury cars that sport more muscle and oomph than the Q50. It’s not quite as strong as you might expect for its price point and size. To add to that, the fuel economy doesn’t make up for this relative lack of power: it’s got a below-average MPG. The lack of a hybrid option stings more due to this.

    The infotainment interface is interesting, with its dual-screen design. However, it can be distracting and difficult to learn. Those who haven’t used infotainments systems like this before might be lost by this complex set up.

    Bottom Line

    The 2019 Infiniti Q50 starts at #35,550 and options can bring it up to $53,250, making it a firmly luxury car. For that price, you could opt for a Tesla Model 3 or even a BMW with fewer options. As such, it becomes a bit harder to recommend this vehicle for those looking for performance or gas mileage.

    That said, this is still a great luxury vehicle for the ride. If you don’t mind the slightly low MPG and the price tag, you can have a great ride with the Infiniti Q50.