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Q. I'm interested in buying my first car. Unfortunately I know little to nothing about cars. I do know that when buying a used car that it should have good milage. That's all i know. If you could tell me what type of cars would be good for a new owner or some helpful hints in what to look for so I don't show how obvious it is that I know nothing to the seller I would really apperciate it.
Answer
I may ramble so stay with me.
The best way to know if someone is a rube is if they don't know or incorrectly use the "lingo".
This is as true of cars as almost anything.
The second best indicator is they seem uncertain what they want.
The choices they make are wildly different. Sports car,the SUV,then family sedan, you get the idea.
Finally the "deer in the headlights" glazed look that's says "take my money,just don't hurt me".
Fortunately, the solution to all three is the same, it's free,anybody can do it and it can be loads of fun.
Still with me ? Good.
Im going to give you some tips and you are going to go out on a nice day have lunch out and go car shopping.
Not buying, shopping.
Get educated.
What kind of car do you need ? What will you be using it for most of the time ? How many people will it have to serve ? How many different needs ?
2.The lingo.
Car types
A Sedan has 4 doors and a trunk.
A Coupe has 2 doors and a trunk.
A Hatchback has 2 doors and the whole back opens.
A SUV is a truck with an enclosed body,unlike a pick up which has an open box in the back.
Engines and transmissions.
Most engines are either 4,6 or 8 cylinder. 4 is the most economical, 8 the most powerful, 6 is a good compromise for must sedans and coupes.
Transmissions are either automatic or manual. Automatic is simpler to operate and very common but costly to repair.
What to look for.
The mileage you describe is how far the car has traveled. 12K miles a year is average.
Typically a car will last well past 100k miles before expensive repairs will be needed.
Everything should work. Every switch and lever should function.
Under the hood, have someone "check the fluids". Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, typically they should appear opaque and not have a burnt smell and be full to the limit.
The car should track straight,not pull to either side on a flat road either under braking or
just going foward.
The tires should match for brand and size (brand should be at least 3 of 4).
Measure tread with a penny. If the tread covers the top of Lincolns head it's OK.
It should recover quickly when it hits a bump.
Fluid stains under a car could indicate a leak or at a dealership that cars are moved to hide leaks.
A musty smell in the trunk or carpet indicates water damage.
A small magnet from your fridge and help you find rot and body repairs to metal parts as it wont stick to body filler or fiberglass. The place to check is around the wheel arches on the sides or anywhere the paint doesnt match.A lot of cars have plastic or fiberglas body panels these days so keep that in mind,
Try this out at a delaership where you know you won't buy a car.
Makes it easier to resist sales pressure. Be prepared to tell a dealer NO and mean it.
Last thing, check out Edmunds.com, Kelly Blue Book.com and E Bay motors to see what you like and about what it costs.
Good luck, now wasn't that a lot ? Hope it helps.
I may ramble so stay with me.
The best way to know if someone is a rube is if they don't know or incorrectly use the "lingo".
This is as true of cars as almost anything.
The second best indicator is they seem uncertain what they want.
The choices they make are wildly different. Sports car,the SUV,then family sedan, you get the idea.
Finally the "deer in the headlights" glazed look that's says "take my money,just don't hurt me".
Fortunately, the solution to all three is the same, it's free,anybody can do it and it can be loads of fun.
Still with me ? Good.
Im going to give you some tips and you are going to go out on a nice day have lunch out and go car shopping.
Not buying, shopping.
Get educated.
What kind of car do you need ? What will you be using it for most of the time ? How many people will it have to serve ? How many different needs ?
2.The lingo.
Car types
A Sedan has 4 doors and a trunk.
A Coupe has 2 doors and a trunk.
A Hatchback has 2 doors and the whole back opens.
A SUV is a truck with an enclosed body,unlike a pick up which has an open box in the back.
Engines and transmissions.
Most engines are either 4,6 or 8 cylinder. 4 is the most economical, 8 the most powerful, 6 is a good compromise for must sedans and coupes.
Transmissions are either automatic or manual. Automatic is simpler to operate and very common but costly to repair.
What to look for.
The mileage you describe is how far the car has traveled. 12K miles a year is average.
Typically a car will last well past 100k miles before expensive repairs will be needed.
Everything should work. Every switch and lever should function.
Under the hood, have someone "check the fluids". Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, typically they should appear opaque and not have a burnt smell and be full to the limit.
The car should track straight,not pull to either side on a flat road either under braking or
just going foward.
The tires should match for brand and size (brand should be at least 3 of 4).
Measure tread with a penny. If the tread covers the top of Lincolns head it's OK.
It should recover quickly when it hits a bump.
Fluid stains under a car could indicate a leak or at a dealership that cars are moved to hide leaks.
A musty smell in the trunk or carpet indicates water damage.
A small magnet from your fridge and help you find rot and body repairs to metal parts as it wont stick to body filler or fiberglass. The place to check is around the wheel arches on the sides or anywhere the paint doesnt match.A lot of cars have plastic or fiberglas body panels these days so keep that in mind,
Try this out at a delaership where you know you won't buy a car.
Makes it easier to resist sales pressure. Be prepared to tell a dealer NO and mean it.
Last thing, check out Edmunds.com, Kelly Blue Book.com and E Bay motors to see what you like and about what it costs.
Good luck, now wasn't that a lot ? Hope it helps.
Where can I find a good web page with car seat ratings?
Expecting
We are looking to buy a convertible car seat for our 8 month old. Who's growing out of his infant car seat. If you know a web page that shows ratings and all that good information please post it on here.
Thank you.
Answer
Well, you won't find a website with safety ratings on car seats. In the United States, car seats don't receive 'ratings'. When they are crash tested they only receive a pass/fail grade. If its on sale brand new in the US, it passed. That's all the information we are given. In that light, all car seats are safe. Some things do affect how safe they are in reality, though.
When shopping Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money!
2)children need to stay rear facing as long as possible.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
A)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
B)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
C)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
D)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs.
So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And that's another misleading thing the box says - 5-100lbs. What the box fails to mention (you don't find out until reading the manual!) is that the harness only goes to 40lbs, NOT 100lbs! After 40lbs it must be used as a booster.And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy...Had to edit this part now, b/c Dorel has revamped the 3-in-1s, and if make sure you get an ALpha Omega Elite or 3-in-1 that specifically says up to 50lbs, its not a bad seat. The Triumph Advance and Britax Marathon install a heck of a lot easier, but the AOE is an ok option as long as its the new one.
The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different features. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. Top slots 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. Wide open belt path, easy to install. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. It can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode.
The Compass True Fit, same as First Years True Fit, is great too. 16.5 inch top harness slots, half inch shorter than the Britax Marathon and Evenflo Triumph Advance. Rear faces to 35lbs, forward faces to 65lbs, has built-in lockoffs, and you never have to rethread the harness to change harness height. The headrest is removable to fit better in smaller cars.
WHY REAR FACING:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/633.pdf
In the foreground is a forward facing seat, in the background a rear facing seat. You can see how much trauma the forward facing dummy has to endure. The rear facing child simply rides it out.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg
Here's another video. You can see how there is NO trauma to the baby, it simply sits there waiting for it to end.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view¤t=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv
The story of a child who suffered severe injuries from being forward facing when he could've been rear facing:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59783
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
Well, you won't find a website with safety ratings on car seats. In the United States, car seats don't receive 'ratings'. When they are crash tested they only receive a pass/fail grade. If its on sale brand new in the US, it passed. That's all the information we are given. In that light, all car seats are safe. Some things do affect how safe they are in reality, though.
When shopping Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money!
2)children need to stay rear facing as long as possible.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
A)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
B)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
C)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
D)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs.
So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And that's another misleading thing the box says - 5-100lbs. What the box fails to mention (you don't find out until reading the manual!) is that the harness only goes to 40lbs, NOT 100lbs! After 40lbs it must be used as a booster.And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy...Had to edit this part now, b/c Dorel has revamped the 3-in-1s, and if make sure you get an ALpha Omega Elite or 3-in-1 that specifically says up to 50lbs, its not a bad seat. The Triumph Advance and Britax Marathon install a heck of a lot easier, but the AOE is an ok option as long as its the new one.
The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different features. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. Top slots 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. Wide open belt path, easy to install. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. It can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode.
The Compass True Fit, same as First Years True Fit, is great too. 16.5 inch top harness slots, half inch shorter than the Britax Marathon and Evenflo Triumph Advance. Rear faces to 35lbs, forward faces to 65lbs, has built-in lockoffs, and you never have to rethread the harness to change harness height. The headrest is removable to fit better in smaller cars.
WHY REAR FACING:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/633.pdf
In the foreground is a forward facing seat, in the background a rear facing seat. You can see how much trauma the forward facing dummy has to endure. The rear facing child simply rides it out.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg
Here's another video. You can see how there is NO trauma to the baby, it simply sits there waiting for it to end.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view¤t=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv
The story of a child who suffered severe injuries from being forward facing when he could've been rear facing:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59783
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
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