In years past, the Honda Civic has dominated the top of consumer car lists from established consumer advocate groups, but now, Consumer Reports magazine is saying that this model has slipped to near the bottom of their list.
A press release from 1 August shows that the magazine, a project of the Consumers Union company, has dropped next year’s Civic LX to the second to last spot in a survey of 12 small cars. Some of the items mentioned by Consumer Reports magazine include worse handling (a “choppy ride” according to reviewers) and lower in interior build quality. Road testers also found the Civic LX hard to stop and noticed some significant road noise while the vehicle was moving. Good mpg ( Honda is estimating 30 miles per gallon combined) and a spacious interior might help this model to sell, but generally, a black mark from Consumer Reports can influence purchases a great deal, and there’s a lot of competition on the 2012 market as other auto makers roll out their own models with higher and higher miles per gallon. Consumers are demanding high fuel economy, and many car makers, including domestic companies Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler, are responding. At the same time, hybrids and plug-ins are changing the game for wealthier buyers who want even more fuel savings from innovative green engines.
Looking at the most recent news from magazines like Consumer Reports can be a great resource when it’s time to visit your local dealer’s lot, but that’s not the only way to get more value for cost and reduce your total debt over time. Many drivers think about researching model years, but not everyone understands how good car financing can be an essential piece of the puzzle. When you take a more casual approach toward car buying, you can end up paying a lot more when dealers use the common “tricks of the trade” to entice you into signing high-interest, high-fee car financing agreements. Those who don’t read up on current market pricing can often end up paying much more than MSRP, whether it’s a dealer invoice issue (dealer claimed costs for selling) or marked-up interest on a car financing agreement. Look for the lowest interest rates from third party lenders, and steer clear of priced-up models that may not match their reputation. Both of these strategies will help you to profit from prudent car buying.