General questions
Where can I find new car and truck pricing?
Where can I find used car and truck pricing?
Why doesn't the price on your Web site match the price on the window sticker of the vehicle I am looking at?
Why Can't I find the Car I am looking for?
What's a fair price to pay? Invoice, Sticker, or somewhere in between?
How do you evaluate vehicles?
What about vehicles with no Consumer Guide® rating?
Should I lease or should I buy?
How can you help me avoid buying a problem used auto?
Where can I find used car and truck pricing?
Why doesn't the price on your Web site match the price on the window sticker of the vehicle I am looking at?
Why Can't I find the Car I am looking for?
What's a fair price to pay? Invoice, Sticker, or somewhere in between?
How do you evaluate vehicles?
What about vehicles with no Consumer Guide® rating?
Should I lease or should I buy?
How can you help me avoid buying a problem used auto?
Where can I find new car and truck pricing?
ConsumerGuide.com lists both retail and dealer invoice pricing for virtually every new vehicle. You can find that pricing in the New Car Pricing, Ratings & Review section Occasionally, we'll offer a Sneak Peek at a hot new product. Because we are offering this review so far in advance, retail and dealer invoice pricing may not be available.
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Where can I find used car and truck pricing?
If you are interested in used vehicle prices we list average RETAIL prices for most used vehicles sold after 1989 in the Used Car Pricing, Ratings & Review section. This pricing reflects average national prices. Because some vehicles demand higher prices during certain times of the year or sell better in different geographical areas, you should use these prices only as a guide or reference.
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Why doesn't the price on your Web site match the price on the window sticker of the vehicle I am looking at?
We list the most current pricing for new vehicles. Manufacturers generally raise prices several times a year on every model. Because of this, dealers often have models with the older window sticker on their lot. This obviously works to the buyer's advantage.
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Why Can't I find the Car I am looking for?
ConsumerGuide.com offers reviews of more than 400 new vehicles and 500 used vehicles. However, if you are looking for a very high-priced new vehicle or extremely rare used vehicle we may not offer a review at this time.
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What's a fair price to pay? Invoice, Sticker, or somewhere in between?
It's hard to say just what a fair price is when shopping new vehicles. Sometimes manufacturers will offer customer or dealer incentive. Because of this you can often find new vehicles for sale at under invoice price. At the same time, some vehicles are in very high demand and may command sticker price or above. The best way to guarantee they price you are paying is fair it to shop it to several dealers or buying services. This way you can compare their offers and select the lowest one.
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How do you evaluate vehicles?
Consumer Guide® Automotive has a staff of 10 full-time automotive editors. Combined these editors have nearly 150 years experience in testing automobiles. This team evaluates each new vehicle as the typical owner would--shopping, commuting, on long trips, and in stop-and-go driving. Though we do measure 0-60 mph times, braking distances, and interior noise levels on many vehicles, we downplay a vehicle's racetrack performance in favor of evaluating its ability to meet everyday needs--merging onto expressways or riding comfortably over potholes, for example. Similarly, we rate how easy vehicles are to get into and out of, how difficult it is to adjust the controls while driving, or how many grocery bags or suitcases it holds.
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What about vehicles with no Consumer Guide® rating?
The automotive editors at Consumer Guide® drive over 200 new vehicles each year. At the beginning of each model year we sit down in a round-table discussion and select Best Buys and Recommended models. Obviously we select only a few of these in each vehicle class. Often, vehicles that receive no rating are excellent choices that fall short of the class leaders in one or two areas. Use our Value in Class assessments to determine if the vehicles you are considering fall under this type.
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Should I lease or should I buy?
Leasing vehicles used to be the sole domain of large corporations and fleet buyers, but today it has become an attractive alternative for the average consumer. However, leasing is not for everyone. Here are some guidelines:
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- Leasing is most beneficial to those who claim their car as a business expense.
- A large down payment isn't required for most leases, and monthly lease payments also are generally lower than a loan payment for an equivalent car.
- While monthly payments may be lower on a lease, in the long run it is usually cheaper to buy and keep cars five years or longer.
- Lease now, buy later? To lease a car for a few years and then buy it at the end of the lease is probably more expensive than buying it in the first place.
- Most leases are for two or three years. Avoid leases that run longer than the car's factory warranty.
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How can you help me avoid buying a problem used auto?
You can buy a Vehicle History Report and find out what you need to know about that used auto before you make your purchase. With the Vehicle History Report you can check a specific auto for:
- Odometer fraud
- Extreme usage
- Salvage & Theft History
- Flood & fire damage
Acura
