When buying a used vehicle, it’s crucial that you get a pre-purchase inspection before signing anything. A pre-purchase inspection is performed by a qualified third-party mechanic, who will look for any needed repairs, unreported repairs, or other issues with the vehicle. Buying a used vehicle without getting a pre-purchase inspection isn’t much better than buying sight-unseen. Here’s a list of 8 pre-purchase inspection services in the Alexandria, Virginia area.

2018 Mazda MX-5 by Vauxford - CC-BY-SA-4.0 There are few experiences that are more pure than the feeling of rolling down the road with the wind whipping in your hair and your favorite song blasting on the radio. For those that love to really drive, a convertible is a must. Although they have lost their allure a bit in some recent years, there are still a great handful of convertibles that are designed to get your heart racing.

Sometimes bigger doesn’t mean better. There are a variety of smaller trucks on the market that can do most of the job that the big boys can do - and still fit in a parking space. Although they have waned in popularity, they’ve enjoyed a great resurgence in popularity for buyers looking for a “just big enough” truck for their families. This article will cover the best small trucks ranked based on their reliability, overall capability, and overall value.

2018 Subaru Impreza by EurovisionNim - CC BY-SA 4.0 If you live in a part of the country where winter is a stark reality for you every year, or you frequently go offroad or down dirt trails, an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle is hard to beat. The good news is that there are a lot of excellent deals on nearly-new SUVs if you know where to look. Whether you are looking for a more basic, compact car or a full-blown luxury machine, there’s an all-wheel-drive vehicle for every buyer.

Some quick statistics that might surprise you: 85.4% of vehicles purchased in America are financed. The average length of a car loan in America is 67 months. These staggering numbers coincide with the ever-rising price of the average new car as more and more Americans struggle to afford everything from higher rents to increased healthcare costs. This means longer loans, lower interest rates, and higher-priced vehicles. Pair that with taxes, fees, and depreciation and you may find yourself owing more on a car than what it’s worth.

The station wagon used to be the backbone of American motoring. Families would pile in, strap some luggage to the roof, and careen off on a vacation to Walley World. OK, maybe that’s the plot of National Lampoon’s Vacation - but still, the station wagon once occupied a coveted space in many American driveways. SUVs have all but killed the station wagon, but believe it or not, there are still plenty of fantastic station wagon options on sale today.

What’s more American than a truck? These “do it all, haul it all” vehicles have become the backbone of getting things done. Although new trucks can easily crest the $70,000 mark, you can find a great truck that will do everything you need it to do and more for far less money. Sure, you’ll give up some modern details, but the core of what a truck is and what it can do are the same regardless of fancy toys.

Trafficjamfrustration by Raysonho - CC BY If you’re reading this article you’re really tall, and you’re familiar with how hard it can be to fit in a small car. Luckily for tall drivers, there are several vehicles that can easily accommodate them - and they don’t always need to be super-sized to be comfortable. This article will help you determine the best-used cars for tall people in a variety of different vehicle classes, focusing on front legroom and front headroom.

The landscape of the family car has changed drastically over the course of the past 10 years, as SUVs have slowly but surely taken over as the car of choice for increasing numbers of American families. This isn’t to say that the family sedan is dead in the water, especially since there are several sedans that are standouts at performing family duties and being fun to drive as well. Regardless of what your personal style is, there are several awesome choices.

If there’s one thing that many college students absolutely depend on, it’s their car. Whether it’s running to class, going out with friends, or driving home for holiday breaks, having a vehicle that is reliable, cheap to run, and tech-focused is incredibly important to the modern college student. When choosing a used car for your college student, there should be a few main things on your mind: Vehicle price Mileage / Reliability Safety Cost of ownership This article will examine the best cars for college students, broken down into a few categories.