Modern-day Classics

Everyone wants a classic car. And with the quality of cars that have been produced, classics no longer take 50 years to become classics. Thirty years from now, these are the cars you'll wish you still owned. In fact, you may want to own them right now -- not just because they're great drives, but because many of them are appreciating in value.  

Here are your soon-to-be modern-day classics.

·        Toyota Supra (1992-2002)- Road racers are no strangers to the Toyota Supra line. After all, versions of the coupe had starring roles in four different "Fast & Furious" films, and the final A80 generation is particularly sought after, especially in twin-turbo form.

·        GMC Syclone- There's a reason why the GMC Syclone is so sought after -- this high-performance pickup went from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, quicker than any Ferrari available in the US at the time.

·        BMW E30 M3 (1987-1992)- Simply put, the E30-generation BMW M3 was built to win races. Today, the values of these homologation specials are exploding, making them one of the hottest collector cars of its era.

·        Toyota Land Crusiser J40 (1960-1984)- The two-door Toyota Land Cruiser J40 is one of the sturdiest off-roaders ever made. These workhorses continue to see regular use in some of the harshest environments on Earth, from the African desert to the jungles of South America.

·        DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1983)- The DeLorean DMC-12 sports car, the only vehicle ever manufactured by the ill-fated DeLorean Motor Company, was not the most well-built car, nor was it the most comfortable or most powerful. But it was the car in Back to the Future, and that alone makes it awesome.

·        Acura Integra Type R (1997-2001)- Created as a racecar, the 195-horsepower Acura Integra Type R was sold in the US solely to meet homologation guidelines. As a result, this rare car was a hot commodity on both tracks and in the street racing scene, so it should come as no surprise it was heavily targeted by thieves and chop shops.

·        Ford GT (2005-2006)- Designed after the Ford GT40 racing cars of the 1960s, the limited-edition Ford GT was a huge hit with collectors when it was introduced in 2005. The 550-horsepower, two-seater sports car was so popular, in fact, that early versions sold for a $100,000

·        VW Vanagon Syncro Camper (1986-1991) The boxy Volkswagen Vanagon Camper has amassed quite the cult following, and it's no surprise why. Introduced in the US in 1986, the Westfalia Syncro was a four-wheel-drive camper variant of the VW Vanagon van.

·        Buick Regal Grand National GNX (1987) Shortly before discontinuing its Regal Grand National model, in 1987 Buick unveiled the one-year-only Grand National GNX as a send-off. It was built with a 276-horsepower engine and a larger turbocharger than the standard version.

·        BMW 1 Series M Coupe (2011) The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a high-performance variant of the BMW 1 Series Coupe that went on sale in 2011.

·        Land Rover Defender 110 (1993) When Land Rover brought the popular Defender 110 to the US in 1993, it did so in incredibly limited numbers. Just 500 of the 110-inch-wheelbase off-roaders were sold.

·        BMW Z8 (1999-2003) Inspired by the BMW 507 roadster (1956-1959), the retro-styled BMW Z8 is an all-aluminum convertible with a 400-horsepower V-8 engine. Only 5,703 BMW Z8s were built, with the majority being sold in Europe.

Keep a look out for these Modern-Day Classics here at Driver’s Choice! Contact us today to find your future Modern-Day Classics!

7 most popular used cars amongst Gen Z buyers

Today’s 18-34 year olds are called Generation Z.  Gen Z is a group of people who prefer to spend their money on clothes and going out to eat, then spending it on a car. Sometimes it even seems they prefer to drive an old jalopy. In the first four months of 2016, Gen Z purchased 182,000 used cars compared to only 28,000 new cars.

The trend from last year continues into this year, where Gen Z typically are only willing to pay a maximum down payment of $2,999 on their purchase. And they are going for older cars. Not just 2 or 3 year old models, but many on the vehicles are 10 plus year old. Some of them are cool, older sports cars, but these are cars where you can get a good deal.

Here are the 7 most popular used cars amongst Gen Z buyers.

      

•  Daewoo Lanos- Daewoo was acquired by GM. Many Daewoo models were repurposed as GM models. The Lanos experienced a second wind after 2008’s movie “Pineapple Express”. KBB price $2,400.
• Eagle Talon- Eagle was a brand under Chrysler, until 1998 when Chrysler discontinued the brand.  KBB price $2,700.
• Nissan 240SX- This sports car ran from 1989-1999 as one of Nissan’s performance vehicles. The 240SX lost its sales luster as consumers turned toward practical sedans and SUVs. KBB price $4,050.
•  Acura Integra- The model that helped launched the Honda owned luxury brand Acura in 1986. KBB price $4,300.
•  Honda Prelude- the Prelude had one of the longest production runs the cars on this list, 1978-2001. The 2-door sports car is still strongly in circulation today. KBB price $4,300.
• Mitsubishi Lancer- The only car on this list still in production. The Lancer has gained popularity as a racing car at an affordable price. New 2016 Lancer starts below $18,000.
• Acura RSX- The RSX was the Integra’s successor. One of the more popular cars on this list. KBB price $8,200. 
• Honorable Mention: Pontiac Aztek- Oh, the Pontiac Aztek, a vehicle that was ridiculed from the time it was released, saw resurgence in the last few years due to the very popular AMC show “Breaking Bad”. KBB price$3,900.

Check out our fine Pre-owned vehicles here at Driver’s Choice or contact us to set up an appointment today!

Buying a New-to-You Vehicle? Follow these steps!

Buying a New-to-You vehicle can be nerve racking. Honestly you never know what you’re going to get. You could luck out and end up with a gem or draw the short straw and end up with junk. Here are nine tips to help you need up on the right side of the coin and avoid getting ripped off.

Have the car inspected- Are you a mechanic? If not, take the car to one, before you buy the car! It’s better to find out there is something wrong with the car before you buy it than after.

Test drive the vehicle adequately- Don’t just drive the vehicle around the parking lot. Take it out on the road, get it up to highway speed, try out the accessories, run the A/C even in the winter. You don’t want an unexpected expense after to agree to the deal.

Never buy sight unseen- For some reason, people will buy cars off the internet without going to look at them first. Consumers have bought a car which did not match the pictures on the internet. Who'd have thought someone on the internet you have never met might be dishonest?

Check the title before you shake hands- After you inspect the car, be sure to inspect the title. People have shook hands and handed over money, only to be presented with a salvage title or one branded in some other way. You also need to make sure there are no liens on the title. 

Read and understand the purchase agreement- If you are buying from a dealer you will sign a Purchase Agreement or Buyer's Order which will govern the transaction. Most boilerplate Purchase Agreements contains paragraphs of legalese limiting your rights but reserving all of the dealer's rights. The salesman made a verbal promise to you that's not on the agreement? The salesman told you the car had a warranty but the purchase agreement says the car was sold as-is? And read the back side of the contract. The front often has a signature line saying that you have read both sides of the document and agree with all of it. Don't sign it until you have read it all and understood it.

Know who your buying from- Are you buying from an individual? Are you sure? Many dealers sell off lot in an attempt to make buyers think they are buying from an individual. But the documents then show the seller is a dealer

Never buy a car premised on repairs being made after delivery- I can't even guess how many times I have heard from buyers who noticed something wrong with the car before they bought it – and bought it anyway. "The seller said he'd fix it if I bought it."

No. Fix it, then I'll buy it. 

Know what “as is” means if you are buying a used car- a dealer can sell you a car "as is" and it means the car comes with no warranty of merchantability. The car can blow up the minute you start to drive home and there won't be much (if anything) you can do about it.

Understand the warranty, if you are given or sold one- When the seller tells you the car comes with a warranty make sure to find out what the terms of the warranty are. Aftermarket warranties for used cars come in all shapes and sizes and some are next to worthless. The seller should be able to provide you with some sort of contract, brochure or documentation showing who the warrantor is and how you will make any claims you might have.

Follow these tips and should hopefully be in the clear of getting ripped off.  One of the best pieces of advice is to buy for someone worth trusting. Driver’s Choice in Davenport, IA is your used car supercenter and can help you with any of your questions or concerns. Contact us today to get you next New-to-You vehicle!

Used Cars and Recalls- How to Protect Yourself

 

 

 

There is really no way around the fact that vehicle recalls have been on the rise lately.  From the Takata airbag issues, which have affected millions of vehicles from several manufacturers, to the Volkswagen diesel scandal, it seems as though it is as likely as not that a used car has had some sort of recall issued.

 

As a used car shopper, it is important to know if the vehicle you are buying has had the appropriate recall work done.  At Driver's Choice, we use the AutoCheck system, so you can know what work has been done.  As a consumer, put your own mind at ease- ask the questions.  We take pride in our systems to make sure that we are selling you a car that is safe, so we welcome your inquiries.  If you  ever encounter a dealership that isn't willing to answer questions regarding recalls, it should be considered a red flag.  You want your dealer to know everything possible about the vehicle they are selling you.

 

We have a state-of-the-art service department here at Driver's Choice, and we are certified to do recall work on the vast majorities of brands. If you own a vehicle, whether you purchased it from us or from somewhere else, our service department would be happy to run a VIN check on your vehicle to see if it has any current recalls that need to be addressed.  Or, you can use our simple online recall checker.