"Slant6" (slant-6)
09/14/2014 at 21:37 • Filed to: None
2
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"Slant6" (slant-6)
09/14/2014 at 21:37 • Filed to: None | 2
| 16 |
Got myself into writing a car buying guide for the students just getting their licences looking for cars. Give me some criticism. My editors will too, but they won't know if I'm wrong on any car stuff. I'm not done yet but here is what I have: (pic not related, but it is my first car)
It's here. The moment you've been waiting for since conception. You're in the market for your first car. The Eagle's Eye has compiled some car buying tips to help you pick out your first ride.
New vs. Used
Both New and used cars have advantages and disadvantages for high school buyers. The average new car in the US is $32,086 while typical reliable used cars come in at around $4000. What does paying 8 times as much for a new car get you? New cars have no problems at all, a manufacturer's warranty to cover any problems and better fuel economy. However new cars are generally too expensive to purchase for most high school families. Used cars offer a great value for the money. A dependable old car can be bought for as low as $2500 (lower if you have the time for some simple repairs). While new cars will be more reliable, most cars built within the past 25 years can run for more than 200,000 miles just with basic regular maintenance.
Body style
New drivers need a car that has handling that can be forgiving. For this reason I do not recommend students drive full size trucks or SUVs. While the ride height might make them safer in terms of crashes, the top heavy nature and lethargic handling makes them more likely to get into a crash in the first place. Most students will be just fine with a sedan, or even better a wagon. The wagon might not always look as cool as its sedan counterpart but it offers the same handling and millage with more usable space. The wagon's trunk also gives students a place to sit down and hang out at sporting events. On top of versatility wagons also sell for cheaper than sedans because they are less desirable.
Transmission
When you took drivers ed the car you drove was an automatic. The manual transmission has a lot to offer for the new driver. Parents like them for their student drivers because they make it harder to use cell phones while driving. The act of shifting gears also can make even the shortest trips feel like race car adventures. Cars equipped with manual gearboxes tend to be cheaper because less of the US population knows how to drive them. The ability to drive stick shift cars is an attractive trait to the opposite sex.
Where to buy
Cars are for sale everywhere. You can't go a mile on US 1 without passing at least 3 used car dealers. While these dealers may seem enticing with their low down payments and seemingly manageable monthly payments they are generally not good places to buy from. Ideally a used car should be bought from a private sale. Check Raleigh Craigslist for thousands of used car classifieds from the previous owners themselves.
jkm7680
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 21:40 |
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Seems pretty good, props for promoting manual transmission.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 21:50 |
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I don't think it's in any way accurate to say it's better to buy from a private individual than a dealer. Both have their ups and downs, you have to do research either way. But Craigslist is not the best place foe everyone to buy a car, and plenty of the time, a dealer is.
Clown Shoe Pilot
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 21:52 |
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You probably ought to put something about insurance in there. You could tie it in to new vs. used if you wanted. New cars are significantly more $$, and therefore more likely to be financed, and therefore will require comprehensive and collision insurance. That can put a serious dent in the wallet.
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Slant6
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/14/2014 at 21:58 |
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Thanks. Ill edit it to say something like that. I've only bought cars from private sale so I don't really know how dealers work.
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Slant6
> Clown Shoe Pilot
09/14/2014 at 21:59 |
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Thanks! That's another good point against new for new drivers.
PushToStart
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:01 |
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Let me say this: you say "this is the moment you've been waiting for since conception." Maybe change that. People don't generally like to think about their conception.
55Buick, Oversteer Scientist
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:02 |
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It's awesome. But in the first paragraph, you have "no problems" and "in case there are any problems" in the same sentence. It kinda contradicts itself. But other than that it's great!
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sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:03 |
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A distinction with a difference.
mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:06 |
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I prefer private sellers, but that's just me. I would also mention autotrader/ cars.com/etc .
Maybe mention the idea of a manual being a safer option, as it keeps you focused on driving more so than an automatic.
I second the insurance post below.
You could also mention that some foreign cars (Mercedes, audi, Porsche, etc.) may be "affordable" to buy used, but the upkeep/maintenance will cost much more than your average car. Maintenance is important to mention in general.
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Slant6
> 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist
09/14/2014 at 22:06 |
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I was going for contradicting. Sort of a way to let them know that all cars will have problems at some point and that warranty are only valuable if you need them.
Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:11 |
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Put something about how its better to buy in cash than with payments, I just bought my first car about a month ago for $2300 and we paid for it in $100 bills, you also save so much money on interest because you don't pay any, and if you ever want to get rid of it, you get to keep all of the money.
XJDano
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:13 |
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Wagon is more room for sax. That should be important to highschool kids, right? Safe sax.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> PushToStart
09/14/2014 at 22:16 |
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Also sounds vaguely unintentionally topical. Implying life begins AT conception? What is this, a protest outside of Planned Parenthood or a goddamn car blog?!?!? As you can see, I'm well trained in the ways of the internet :)
"The ability to drive stick shift cars is an attractive trait to the opposite sex." AND he's homophobic! ;)
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Slant6
> XJDano
09/14/2014 at 22:20 |
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We do have a pretty big marching band.
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Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> Slant6
09/14/2014 at 22:28 |
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or just reccommend everyone to buy an unreliable used car at CarMax
offyatindy
> Slant6
10/01/2014 at 01:04 |
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Not bad, but it could use some editing here and there. For example, mileage is spelled wrong, numbers under 10 should be spelled out, according to the Associated Press Stylebook (100 years ago) and you ended at least one sentence with a preposition.
However, the thing that would really make your article sing are a few "for examples." For example, I would love to know why driving a manual transmission makes you more attractive to the opposite sex....You might try something like this:
For example, Bobby Thompson, head of the Mayville High School Math Club got a date with Heather Turnupseed, chief cheerleader, because she was impressed with his ability to work the stockholder in his parent's Y-u-g-o (spell checker spells Hugo ! And stick shift is a stockholder! Ha! Tablets!).
In short, you may be the most knowledgeable auto writer in the world, but you need to impress this on your readers with examples to support your points. Quotes from experts or examples that show you talked to, visited or observed experts (last week, Jeff Gordon admitted his daily driver is a 1974 Fiat, when I interviewed him at the 500...) will establish your expertise, as well.
But again, good job.