Do you own one of the worst cars money can buy?
Though you wouldn’t know it by reading the news every day, now really is a great time to buy a new car. Buyers can find screaming deals around every corner, but I want to pass on a warning that some of those deals may be too good to be true.
U.S. News & World Report has issued its list of worst cars for the money, so if you’re determined to snag the deal of the century on a new car, don’t be fooled by these:
Guess how many G5s Pontiac sold in January nationwide: 10,000? 2,000? No, think lower. Like 767. Seems most of America already knows that the G5’s comfort, performance, and quality seriously lags behind the competition’s.
I’m a big Suzuki fan, but I still understand why the XL-7 made this list. Seriously, with a 5-year cost of ownership at $47,000, it’s hard to justify purchasing one unless you can get yourself a good half off of sticker. And good luck with that.
Turns out the only thing this Jeep commands is a 50- to 60-percent depreciation rate over 5 years. Who wants to take bets that this awkward monstrosity won’t survive past 2010?
I was disappointed to see the Titan on this list, but given that its fuel mileage doesn’t compete with other full-size trucks’ and it costs a good $5K more, the value factor just isn’t there.
When you’re competing with the likes of Infiniti, Lexus, BMW, and Cadillac, you sure as heck better bring your best. The S60 isn’t Volvo’s best… but let’s see what the 2010 version brings before making a final judgment.
We may get some hate mail for this one, but hey, we didn’t make the list, we’re just telling you about it. The Eclipse definitely has its fans, but its performance doesn’t stack up against other sports cars’.
Do you agree with this list? What do you think are the worst car values out there?
-tgriffith
Car Industry News, Car Minded, Domestic Cars, Foreign Cars, General Chat, Trucks & SUVs
One of the saddest things I’ve learned after twenty-five years in the car business is how utterly clueless the media is when it comes to cars, and that’s because so many people consider them to be authorities on the subject. And yes, I’d rate USNWR as one of the least credible.
On the other hand, is a vehicle that depreciates a lot a bad deal or a good deal? Depends on where you are in the chain of ownership, doesn’t it? This winter I bought a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer 4WD for 1/3 the original sticker price, and it wasn’t a beater or high mileage car either– and yes, I bought it from the dealer who sold it new. The price I got was had less to blame on the vehicle– The Trailblazer is a great SUV– but the economic conditions, time of year, my ability to get financing easily, and my (pat on the back) spooky ability to dicker down prices.
So don’t let the automotive press make your decisions for you. If you love the way the Eclipse looks and drives, or the way the Titan seats fit you, make your own decision. I can’t think of anything worse than driving a car I really don’t like for four years because a writer somewhere said it was the best one to buy.
This list, for the most part, is a pretty accurate. It sounds about right. I still feel like we are ignoring a lot of the appeal behind cars. One thing a Honda doesn’t have in my mind, aside from the S2000, is appeal. The Eclipse has an appeal that just gets me. So it is really hard for somebody to put out a list of the worst cars when there are people out there buying 70s muscle cars, and those don’t have reliability, good gas mileage, or even power steering.
I love my G5. No problems in the 2 years I’ve driven it. Fits me just right. Howver, it may be comfortable because I’m 5′ and 110 lbs. However, it rocks and the gas miliage is great. If you can’t afford a Civic and you’re gonna go US, I’d pick a G5.