When you start thinking about buying a car, there are a lot of things to consider — and getting the best deal isn’t just about the sale price.
Steps to take before you even start shopping
Before you even start shopping for cars, the first thing you need to do is get your financing in order — credit unions, local banks and online banks are typically where you’ll find the best offers. Then once you know how much they’ll give you, you have to figure out how much you can actually afford. If the monthly payments will be too high, then you need to borrow less and buy less car.
One of the biggest factors to consider when you’re buying a car is what the car will cost you to drive it – so all the expenses in addition to the actual sale price.
This can be tricky since repairs can be unpredictable, which is why you must do some research on any car you consider purchasing. You don’t want to get distracted by the great deal you’re getting on a car and then figure out that every single little thing moving forward is going to cost you big bucks to fix and maintain.
Read more: Most reliable car brands
Reliability is a huge factor, because having a reliable vehicle can cut the cost of repairs way down over time. Unexpected car repairs can eat up a big part of you budget, so to keep the costs down, you want to make sure that you’re buying a reliable car!
With that said, below is a list of vehicles that you probably want to avoid buying.
Consumer Reports: The 10 least reliable cars
According to Consumer Reports’ 2016 Annual Auto Survey, here’s a list of the least reliable cars out there.
Fiat 500L
Price as tested: $24,595
Trouble spots: Slipping or lock-up transmission, power equipment, drive system, in-car electronics
Ford Fiesta
- Price as tested $16,595-$24,985
- Trouble spots Clutch replacement, rough-shifting or slipping transmission, noises and leaks, power equipment
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
- Price as tested $60,100
- Trouble spots Steering vibrations, power equipment, in-car electronics
Ram 2500
- Trouble spots Steering vibrations, emissions controls and sensors, 4WD components, power equipment
Tesla Model X
- Currently in test.
- Trouble spots Falcon-wing doors, locks and latches, power equipment, in-car electronics, climate system
Chrysler 200
- Price as tested $25,790-$33,620
- Trouble spots Slipping or lock-up transmission, rough shifting, drive system
Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
- Price as tested $69,790
- Trouble spots Slipping or rough-shifting 8-speed transmission, power equipment, in-car electronics, 4WD components
Jeep Renegade
- Price as tested $27,525
- Trouble spots Drive system, transmission, power equipment, radio
Ford Focus
- Price as tested $20,485-$40,990
- Trouble spots Clutch replacement, rough-shifting or slipping transmission, driveline vibrations
Cadillac Escalade
- Price as tested $87,360
- Trouble spots Transmission replacement, rough shifting, 4WD components, power equipment, in-car electronics
