Car Buyer Q&A: 2010 Kia Soul

Being an automotive journalist, I get asked all the time for advice on what new car someone should buy. And it’s not just family members who come to me; friends, co-workers and even people I have just met want to know what I think.

I'd say my advice is heeded about 25% of the time. Recently, one of my wife’s online social network pals asked about some recommendations for her family's situation. She wanted a second car that wasn’t too big and could handle kids in a pinch but not daily. They were thinking of the Hyundai Elantra as an economical and affordable compact.

I suggested a few more versatile suggestions, like the Scion xB, Kia Soul and Subaru Forester. And wouldn’t you know it, they actually got a Kia Soul. But when I asked the dad of 3-year-old twins, Dan Connelly, what swayed his opinion, it certainly wasn’t just my name dropping.

Car Buyer Q&A: 2009 Pontiac G8 GT

Joe Bruzek of our own Ask.cars.com happened to mention that his cousin Mark recently bought a brand-new Pontiac G8 GT and was really happy with it. With the Pontiac brand recently given the ax by GM, we thought it might be interesting to talk to someone who wasn't hesitant about pulling the trigger on buying a new car from a dying brand. The 31-year-old accountant from Schaumburg, Ill., filled us in.

KickingTires: Why did you decide to buy a car in this down economy? Needed a replacement? Needed to upsize? Came into money unexpectedly?
Mark Bruzek: There were several factors. The No. 1 reason I bought a new car was coming into some money unexpectedly. I was also driving around a car that was a little embarrassing for someone my age to drive. Pontiac was also still offering 0% on most 2009 models. I figured now is as good as any other time to purchase a new car.

Car Buyer Q&A: 2009 Ford Flex Limited

I was reading one of my favorite blogs — GeekDad — the other day and saw a post by the editor talking about the new car he’d just bought, which has Ford’s Sync system, and how he was testing it out. Of course, being all geek-focused, editor Ken Denmead didn’t even mention which Ford he had just bought. I contacted him and asked if he wanted to share his experience. The 40-year-old father of two from Fremont, Calif., was happy to oblige.

KickingTires: Why did you decide to buy a car in this down economy? Needed a replacement? Needed to upsize?

Ken: My wife's car — an '02 Saturn Vue, which was her commute car and the de facto family car — had suffered through the first seven years of both our boys' lives, plus acted as transportation for two dogs who steadfastly refused to stay behind any kind of pet barrier. With 110K miles and an interior that looked like the inside of a concert hall after a Gallagher show, it was no longer in a respectable state. We came into a little surprise money at the right time and went looking for deals.

Car Buyer Q&A: 2009 Chevy Traverse

A month ago, 33-year-old Vince Ferrari posted on his personal blog about a bad experience he had trying to buy a new Chevy Malibu. The tale caught fire among consumer blogs, reinforcing many people’s negative feelings toward car dealers. We contacted Vince via Twitter to see if he’d be interested in telling us how his car shopping went after that experience. The Bronx IT professional ended up purchasing a new 2009 Chevy Traverse — that's it pictured above — but from a different dealer.

KickingTires: Why did you decide to buy a new car in this economy?

Vince: Recently, my company merged with another company, and my daily commute doubled.  I wanted something I could depend on a little more than my eight-year-old 2001 Malibu LS (which was, for the most part, a very reliable car for me). The economy didn't really come into it, honestly. My company is stable and I knew I wasn't leaving my job. I've been at the same place for almost 13 years now, so it wasn't a real concern for me. Plus, the deals in general on new cars are pretty good right now. It isn't a fire sale like people exaggerate it to be, but it does seem like a good time to buy.