Blog
What Is ‘Quality’ When It Comes To A Used Car?
Twenty-five years ago, a book called, The Machine That Changed The World, offered a roundhouse dope slap to those automakers who were just preaching the quality gospel. Today I am honored to offer a new long-term quality study, over eight years in the making and over 3,000,000 vehicles inspected by professional mechanics from Connecticut to… Read This Article
Auction Day: Freeze Your Vital Organs Off Edition
A half-inch of snow and Tecumseh Sherman have only one thing in common. They can completely destroy the South without any resistance. Georgia simply doesn’t have any plows. You want to get from Point A to Point B when it snows here? You better have a toboggan or an incredibly high tolerance for idiots who… Read This Article
The Test Drive
Some guides offer 72 things you absolutely should do to a car before buying it. The problem is many folks can’t even remember three. Lists are complicated. Human beings are slightly harder to grasp, and figuring out the condition of a used car is a lot like trying to cup a drink of water with… Read This Article
Why Most Used Cars Should Be Sold As-Is
Last Friday I sold a 15 year old Pontiac Grand Am for all of $2000. Yesterday I got a call back from the new owner. New Owner: “My car won’t start.” Me: Are any of the lights turning on? New Owner: “No. The car is dead. Hey, are you going to pay for whatever’s wrong… Read This Article
A Gearhead’s Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas And my kettle was a boil Cuz I was in the ice cold Changing my motor oil I bought the quarts cheap And the filter was a Pronto Thanks to end of year closeouts At Advance and Rockauto Two dollars a quart And a dollar a filter Those… Read This Article
Hammer Time! Financing An Overgrown Kid
Customer on phone: “What about that silver sports car with the stickshift you got on your lot?” Steve: “That’s $4500” C: “Are you financing it?” S: “Nope. That one’s a cash deal fella’ but I have finance companies that will usually work with you to get the car bought. Is this for you or a… Read This Article
Why Cheap Gas Is Great For America
Americans are not only saddled with the financial debts of their ancestors, but also the almost unkillable parasites of old school crony capitalism. There is always a price paid for a loophole that keeps prices high and competition low. It’s been the American way of life for a long time. The cable and cell phone… Read This Article
Hammer Time: Two Steps To The Left
When you have over 120 pairs of eyeballs looking at the same exact vehicle at an auto auction, you know the price of whatever sells is going to be high. So what do you think this 2014 Toyota Prius with only 344 miles went for back in late 2014 when gas prices started to crash?… Read This Article
Why Boring Cars Are Beautiful
Two jobs. A $20 a week food budget. College courses designed to challenge your mind and bust your balls. And a boring car. What an awesome life! Well at first, it was… damn good. See a car to me meant freedom. Not only to emancipate myself to the South and get rid of my hideous… Read This Article
Hammer Time : An Intriguing Dilemna
Look at it. For just a quick second. Without cheating by looking at the details, tell me the very first automotive brand that popped in your head.