Here Are This Week's Best Car Buying Post

There’s a fine line between driving a sleeper and insanity. This matte black monster of a 2020 Audi RS6 Avant is more than a few toes over that line, delivering 1,100 horsepower of all-wheel drive with fire-spitting big-turbo fury. The turbos are so frickin’ big that they pop right out of the hood, and the exhaust dumps out right there in front of the passenger. The people who built this refined German longroof with secret speed into a kaiju-fighting mecha left that line behind miles ago. Some of the car’s previously invisible vitesse is leaking out, but maybe that makes it all the better. - Bradley Brownell Read More

It can seem impossible these days to find a car that’s cheap, reliable, safe and new — but I assure you, good deals do exist. To prove it to you, we’re sharing a great study from Consumer Reports; the publication has found some of the cheapest cars in America based on transaction price. Yes, there are still cars out there that are selling for under MSRP! And, according to CR and partner TrueCar, many of those cars are actually even good. - Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

Tesla’s “no haggle” direct-buy pricing model was once heralded as the future of how Americans would buy cars. Several years later, the dealership system is still going strong. Now, according to a recent study, Elon’s insistence on adjusting MSRPs based on market conditions has had detrimental effects on Tesla’s resale value. - Tom McParland Read More

Nigel is an Aussie living in California. He has a Subaru Ascent lease that is about to expire, and the car has needed three transmission replacements. He is looking for another family crossover that can also tow about 3500 lbs. What car should he buy? - Tom McParland Read More

Despite its somewhat compact dimensions, today’s Nice Price or No Dice Olds wagon offers seven seats across three rows. Let’s see if its price tag proves equally accommodating. - Rob Emslie Read More

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice GS300 was branded as a Lexus in America, but it went by the name Toyota Aristo when sold in Japan. Let’s see if this low-mileage four-door can now be called a bargain at its current asking price. - Rob Emslie Read More

Save for a gas turbine; you won’t find an engine smoother than the V12 in today’s Nice Price or No Dice XJ-S. Let’s find out if this classic convertible is also priced to make a smooth move. - Rob Emslie Read More

Korean automaker Kia wasn’t exactly known for building quality desirable cars in the 1990s, when it was mostly cranking out economically sound vehicles like the Mazda-based Sephia and Sportage. These were a step up from the Kia-built Ford Festiva and Aspire, but barely. The brand was on the lookout for new ways to deliver a prestige halo model to bring traffic into dealers, and when Lotus ended production of the M100 Elan in 1995, it found what it was looking for. Kia purchased the tooling and production rights from a cash-strapped Lotus and created the Kia Elan/Vigato. - Bradley Brownell Read More

This week’s reader has $45,000 to upgrade from an aging Subaru Forester to something electric.

Hyundai is hoping its Ioniq 5 N will usher in a new era of electric performance cars that drive just as well as its beloved gas-powered N cars, just with the added benefit of clean — and instant — electric power delivery. Now after what’s seemed like years of waiting, we finally know how much it’ll cost. Including $1,375 for destination, the Ioniq 5 N will start at $67,475 when it goes on sale later this month, making it the most expensive vehicle Hyundai has ever made. - Lawrence Hodge Read More