Category: Used Cars

Used car buying guide: Mercedes 190E Cosworth

By on June 6, 2023

If you ever get the chance to drive or own one, don’t hesitate. You won’t be disappointed. What we said then4 January 1989: “The 2.5’s substantially shorter in-gear times reflect the power gain over the 2.3, setting it hot on the heels of rivals like the BMW M3 and Audi Quattro. Low-end torque is improved, but the smooth, free-revving engine still works best over 4000rpm. Brakes are powerful. It’s highly responsive but not nervous. The car has extraordinary chassis balance inherited from the 2.3. The limits of grip are high and progressive oversteer is easily countered. Body control is…

Used car prices remain stubbornly high as sales increase

By on May 31, 2023

Used car sales grew by just over 4 per cent in the first three months of 2023, following three consecutive quarters of falling sales, but there’s little sign yet of high prices easing as more cars change hands. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) a total of 1,847,149 cars changed hands in the first quarter of this year, compared to 1,774, 351 in the same period 2022. The SMMT says that growth in the new car market as the post-pandemic production delays unwind has in turn improved availability of secondhand stock. That…

Used car brands that have lost the most value in 2023

By on May 25, 2023

Used car prices are still elevated, but there are signs that the market is finally cooling. CarGurus’ used car price index shows that the average used pricing for most brands has fallen over the last year, with some seeing double-digit percentage drops. Tesla, which has reduced its new vehicle pricing several times in recent months, led to a charge with an almost 27 percent drop in used pricing year-over-year. The top 10 list:Tesla: -26.95% Wagoneers: -18.42% Fiats: -14.05% Jaguars: -13.47% Scions: -13.02% Land Rovers: -10.62% Infinity: -9.89% Subaru: -9.41% Alfa Romeo: -9.36% Nissan: -8.91%Some of the numbers are…

Why the Used Car Market Is So Bad, and Won’t Get Better Soon

By on May 22, 2023

America’s car market operates in a giant cycle. No one planned it. But an interruption in one part of the cycle affects all the other parts. Waves that rock the new car market ripple through the used car market years later. Americans have spent most of the past two years dealing with record-high new car prices. The average price paid for a new car recently fell below the sticker price for the first time in nearly two years. Even that good news can be misleading because sticker prices themselves are near all-time highs. why? Because, says Brian Finkelmeyer, “the used…

Experience Meets the Right Tools for Success: Bill Pittman Explains His Approach to Stamping Feasibility

By on May 22, 2023

Introduction Bill Pittman is the Stamping Feasibility Manager for the North American center of an international OEM. The job title can have varying interpretations in different corporate environments, and the tasks and objectives can change depending on the phase of the program and its application. With numerous years of experience at various automotive manufacturers, Bill possesses a solid foundation of practical knowledge. However, he believes that utilizing new tools is the key to further improvement and accuracy in his work. This article provides an insight into his daily responsibilities and his philosophy on his work and how global organizations can…

What Car Made You Do a Double Take at a Used Car Lot?

By on May 21, 2023

Photo: ChevroletI love driving past used car lots. It’s basically a spectator sport for me, which is thrilling and exciting, and full of hope but also disappointed. Every now and then, I’ll run into something unexpected, like a Chevy SS or Jeep Wrangler Unlimited LJ. When that happens, I usually spend the next few miles nursing my sore neck and shoulders due to the force of the whiplash. So, I want to know what car has made you do a double take as you drove past a used car lot? It doesn’t have to be a model that caused…

Used Car Prices Remain Stubbornly High

By on May 19, 2023

Anyone hoping that the used vehicle market will become more predictable or even the right-size itself in 2023 will likely be disappointed. Unique market conditions and a slew of new challenges are reshaping the market used in unexpected ways. After experiencing a meteoric rise in value, used vehicle prices have slightly inched back toward Earth with the return of price drops and seasonal depreciation but remain significantly higher than they were pre-pandemic. Given the price assumption of new vehicles, used ones still provide value to consumers seeking an affordable mode of transportation. That said, the main sources of used vehicle…

Join the AutoForm Global Webinar: A Smart and Systematic Approach for Tube Forming Engineering, 24 May, 2023

By on May 14, 2023

Systematic Process Improvement for Tube Hydroforming Tubing contributes to lower costs, advanced safety and lightweighting of automotive components such as chassis parts, shock absorbers, suspension arms, seats and instrument panel beams. Tube hydroforming is the process of manufacturing such critical components and the success of the tube hydroforming process depends on the best combination of material properties, process parameters, process sequence and die geometry. In this webinar we will focus on a smart systematic process improvement approach to find the optimum hydroforming solution for a high strength steel tube component efficiently in a shorter time. This can result in significant…