Automotive: What Are the Top Rated Vehicles for 2024?

Modern shopping is full of conveniences that were unheard of just a few years ago! However, there’s still no shortcut when it comes to buying a car. That takes research. While dealers have made browsing easier than ever, shoppers still need to put time into finding the right cars. This snapshot of the best vehicles for 2024 is a great starting point.

Top-rated Vehicles for 2024

No list takes the pulse of the current vehicle market like the Edmunds Top Rated Awards list! For 2024, the company looked at 500 vehicles to identify the cars offering the best performance and value. Here’s a look at the winners by category:

  • Best of the Best: 2024 Kia EV9
  • Top Car: 2024 Toyota Prius
  • Top Electric Car: 2024 BMI i5
  • Top SUV: 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid
  • Top Electric SUV: 2024 Kia EV
  • Top Truck: 2024 Chevrolet Colorado
  • Top Electric Truck: 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning

This list represents the strongest picks for cars, trucks, and SUVs that customers can buy today. However, the casual observer might also notice that there’s a lot of range between these vehicles. Working your way backward by starting with the features that are the most important is a good way to narrow down the winners in your own personal category.

What Features Are Most Important?

Bells and whistles can certainly create an inspiring driving experience! However, safety remains the most important feature for most car buyers today. Consumers are increasingly seeking out high-tech features that help to increase visibility and awareness of the road. For example, new automatic emergency braking systems that prevent collisions when other vehicles are sensed can help to either prevent or reduce impact on the road. Similar systems can also detect pedestrians. Warning alert systems for blind spots are also making the must-have list for many shoppers. While rear-facing cameras have been around for a while, car buyers are increasingly looking for 360-degree surround-view camera systems that give the driver the ability to see the vehicle from a bird’s-eye view. This feature delivers unprecedented visibility to help drivers avoid hitting objects or people when backing up or parking.

Some must-have features for 2024 carry over from previous years. For instance, drivers still rely on built-in navigation systems for the safety and convenience they offer. Keyless entry and zoned climate systems are also holding steady as highly desirable features.

How to Get the Best Deal When Purchasing a New Vehicle

The best way to avoid overpaying for a new vehicle is to show up at the dealership knowing exactly what you want. After carefully researching the vehicle you want, narrow down the trim level and features that are right for you. You can use this information to set the price that you’re ready to pay for your new car. While a buyer’s ability to negotiate purchase price varies by dealer, all dealers base asking price on a vehicle’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Knowing the MSRP of the model you want to test drive allows you to avoid the time and hassle of a dealer “upselling” a pricier model.

The area where the buyer has the most control over a vehicle’s price is interest rate. If you’ll be financing a car, make sure you know your credit score ahead of time to gauge the types of rates that could be available to you. Like homebuyers, vehicle buyers are free to shop around for rates from different lenders when purchasing cars.

Finally, trading in a current vehicle can be a way to slash the price of a new vehicle. It’s important to go in with an understanding of the current value of your vehicle. Be sure to base your assessment on actual market data instead of making assumptions stemming from your personal attachment to a vehicle. Many shoppers go in with inflated hopes about how much they will get for a trade-in vehicle because they aren’t taking an objective, market-based view.

Electric or Gas Powered: Which Type of Vehicle Is Best for You?

The question of electric versus gas is becoming increasingly relevant for new car buyers. A driver’s lifestyle is often the biggest factor when determining which choice is best. When making the decision, it’s important to weigh your long-term financial and sustainability goals against what is feasible in terms of both budget and mileage capacity.

Electric and hybrid vehicles offer eco-friendly driving that can help drivers to ditch high gas prices. However, shoppers can’t ignore the fact that shorter ranges, long charging times, and higher initial expenses can put these high-tech vehicles out of reach for someone who simply needs a daily commuting vehicle that won’t break the bank. A traditional gas-powered car allows drivers to fill up easily without any anxiety about long ranges. Of course, this familiar choice comes with the burden of high fuel costs. Some drivers are also eager to get away from dependence on oil for environmental reasons.

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Five Ways to Renovate a Used Car, Make it Sparkle Anew

Reconditioning an old car is a great way to save some cash. Slightly changing just a few things can make a used car look just like new. Not only can you make your car look better, but you can also improve its functionality. Here are five approaches to reviving used cars and making them look like new.

1. Freshen Up the Paint Job

The most apparent way of refurbishing a used car is through repainting. The paint on a car can chip and fade with time, making the vehicle look old, but a fresh coat of paint completely changes that. You can allow a professional to do it for you or decide to take the challenge on yourself. If you choose to do it yourself, make sure you clean and sand the car before painting so that there are no bumps. You can experiment with custom paint kits to add a personalized feel. There is a wide range of colors and patterns that you can select to make your car unique to you.

2. Upgrade the Interior

The interior quality of a car is essential to those who ride in it often. If the seats are worn or there is a crack on the dashboard, it can make the car look old. This can be easily fixed with interior upgrading. First, vacuum and polish the inside of your car–especially on the carpeting. If the seats are beyond repair, consider getting them reupholstered or adding seat covers for a different modern look. You can replace any cracked or faded plastic panels on the dashboard as well as add accessories, such as new floor mats or a steering wheel cover, to provide an updated look.

3. Install New Headlights and Taillights

The headlights and taillights are important from both a visual and safety standpoint. Over time, these lights could fade, becoming foggy and making them inefficient. When changing them, you can decide between the same stock lights or switching to the energy-saving LED ones. Consult the car manual to ensure that the lights you buy will connect properly to your car. This change will not only make your car look better, but it will also give you a clear night view.

4. Add New Wheels and Tires

The wearing out of the wheels, tires, or both has a massive effect on how a car appears. The switch to contemporary wheels and tires makes your second-hand vehicle look more stylish as well as elegant with a single sweep. You can opt for various designs and sizes depending on your car’s style and size. In addition, upgrading to good quality tires can also boost the performance and safety of a car on the road.

5. Repair Mechanical Defects

Restoration of a secondhand car does not only mean cosmetic changes. Mechanical repairs are just as important, if not more so. Have your car fully checked by a mechanic if it hasn’t been run in some time. This will allow you to detect any potential issues and thus fix them before they get worse. Minor repairs like fluid replacement, worn-out belts, and switching out old filers can improve your used car’s efficiency and safety.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for Liquid Concepts

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Market Place: Top Considerations Before Selling Your Boat

Being able to entertain friends and family on a boat has its benefits. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your vessel or make a few bucks, learning the top considerations before selling your boat provides you with the best strategies. 

Understanding the Current Market

Before listing your boat, you may have a target price in mind, but it may not match what the market dictates. The state of the market always trumps the boat’s condition, no matter how immaculate it is.

Thanks to all the resources shoppers have at their disposal, they are more knowledgeable than ever. It’s easy for them to look at similar vessels and compare prices, giving them possible leverage in a negotiation. 

Make a Listing That Stands Out

Considering the multiple avenues that potential buyers can view, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. For starters, any listing must have an enticing title. If you don’t feel confident in your writing skills, speaking to an experienced copywriter can help.

Additionally, several listings have pictures of the vessel, but you should go the extra mile and produce some high-quality photography content. Regardless of the product, making it look good pays. 

While a picture can say a thousand words, informing buyers of your boat’s specifications helps answer any questions they may have. Buyers will want to know about the service records, how old the boat is, and if there are any substantial upgrades you made. 

Get a Professional Inspection

Nothing is more frustrating than arranging a trip to the coast only for the boat to have mechanical complications, stranding you in the middle of the water. To prevent selling a lemon that angers the buyer, get a professional to inspect all components of your vessel. 

A thorough inspection alerts you of any underlying concerns that may rear their ugly heads in the not-so-distant future. Upon completion of the inspection, you can repair and fine-tune anything on your boat. Consider adding a new outboard motor—just make sure you understand how the motor works!

Let Your Vessel Give an Excellent First Impression

Whenever someone wants to sell their house, they stage it to provide a vision for the buyer of what their home could be. You can use that same strategy for your boat because first impressions mean everything. 

A pristine, well-kept boat should allow buyers to envision themselves with their hands on the throttle. Neglecting your boat is off-putting, causing others to look for a boat elsewhere. You should get the return you are seeking by waxing, painting, and cleaning the vessel, inside and out. 

Knowing the top considerations before selling your boatpoints you in the right direction before putting it on the market. Putting in all the effort to appeal to multiple buyers may create a bidding war for your impeccable boat, bringing a smile to your face.

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Preparing for Full-Time RV Living: What you Need to Know

Living the RV lifestyle full-time is an exciting adventure! That said, there are a lot of preparations that you need to make before you hit the road and start your new life. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of things to do before you begin this exciting new chapter of your life.

Set a Date

It’s best to set a date for departure before you dive into the finer details of preparing for full-time RV living. We understand – doing this first might seem premature. After all, there’s no way to know when you’ll be ready to hit the road. But it helps to give yourself a deadline.

If you’re a homeowner, account for the time it takes to sell or rent your home and move out. In any case, setting a deadline for yourself will make your need to plan real and urgent. Plus, it’ll help you develop each milestone you need to hit along the way to set out for a new life on the road.

Make a To-Do List

An integral part of preparing for full-time RV living is making a to-do list. When you sit down to make this first list, consider adding the following things to it:

  • Find an RV
  • Start decluttering and organizing a garage sale
  • Research earning mobile income and health care
  • Discover where to camp
  • Choose a mail service and cancel utilities

Checking all these things off your list will ensure that you’re well prepared when the time comes to leave your brick and stick home behind. Plus, you can glean a loose picture of what those first couple of months to a year on the road will look like.

Simplify Your Life

After you make your big to-do list, it’s time to pay close attention to one bullet in particular: start decluttering and organize a garage sale. RVs are compact mobile homes with only so many appliances and unique features.

So there are a few things you’ll have to give up once you’re ready to take your life in this new and exciting direction. And it’s up to you to decide what those things are. But there are a few helpful strategies you can use to try and sort through it all, including:

  • Make time for daily decluttering
  • Focus on one area of your home at a time
  • Be decisive about your giveaways

Of course, you can hold onto anything that might help you make your RV feel like home. But the point is to get rid of any clutter that will complicate RV life rather than make it easier.

Outline Your Necessities

Lastly, it’s essential to outline your necessities. Once you declutter and figure out the logistic side of taking your life on the road full-time, knowing what your actual needs will be is much simpler. You’ll need clothes, kitchen supplies and basic toiletries. You’d also need groceries, first aid kits, bedding and cleaning supplies.

Later on, you can figure out which extras you might have room for. Regardless, prepping for a life on the road means planning and knowing how to let go of certain things to have the simple life you desire. Hopefully, we provided some valuable information on how you can do that.

Backyard
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Four of the Most Beneficial Motorcycle Modifications

There are plenty of modification options when it comes to motorcycles, but not all of them are worth considering. Riders need to be a bit more careful when modifying their bikes because the small size of the bike makes it easier for things to go wrong. However, here are four of the most beneficial motorcycle modifications and why you should consider them.

Fender Eliminator Kit

Many riders don’t like the way natural motorbike fenders look, so they invest in a fender eliminator kit to give the back of their bike a bit of pizazz. When installing a new fender, the most important thing is ensuring that you hook everything up correctly. Less expensive models or ones that installers neglect to put on correctly often have issues with rear lighting. It’s good to install your fender elimination kit properly to avoid getting into any potential trouble with authorities over a faulty taillight.

Fuel Tuner

The two things many people think about when they hear the word “motorcycle” are power and speed. Modifying your bike to have a fuel tuner ends up improving both. Fuel tuners adjust the air/fuel ratio in your bike for increased power and a few other helpful benefits.

Battery Tender

Some of the most beneficial motorcycle modifications aren’t the most glamorous to look at, but they’re the most practical. A common annoyance with motorcycles is that their batteries tend to die off quickly. The cold winter months, when many bikes sit idly in a garage or shed, are especially tough on the battery. Battery tenders are easy to install, and you plug them in when you’re not using your bike. With this, the battery should last for several years and won’t die on you in about 18 months.

New Tires

This one is entirely up to you, but most manufacturers put the most generic mid-range tires onto a motorcycle unless you’re getting a custom bike. Depending on the terrain you plan to drive on, or how regularly you drive, it’s good to invest in a new set of tires to fit your personal riding needs.

Motorcycle

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Toyota C-HR: This Car Has Excellent Styling, Roomier Than It Looks

Over the last two decades, Americans are buying fewer hatchbacks and station wagons than they used to. But data has shown the public likes them if they ride a bit higher, with optional all-wheel drive and have the feeling of an SUV, which has given room for the crossover market to take off. Toyota answered with the hugely successful RAV4, and they are hoping to continue that success with the all-new 2018 Toyota C-HR

The C-HR is smaller and less expensive than the RAV4, and was originally designed for Toyota’s Scion brand.  The car is quite sporty and has excellent handling. It also has an extensive list of standard safety features, which alone are good reasons to consider the C-HR.

The Toyota C-HR is well-equipped in its base XLE form, with dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights,  and traffic-adapting cruise control — as all standard. The C-HR starting price does cost more than the competition in its class, but we do recommend the XLE Premium trim. But it doesn’t cost much more than the XLE and includes features such as heated front seats and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.

The car’s sporty styling delivers. It’s fun and nimble when going around turns, but the engine’s 144 hp doesn’t provide much torque.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive and tested well when driving over 100 miles on one trip. The vehicle does have a lot of tire noise.

The dashboard ergonomics are easy to use, and very pleasing to the eye.

If you want lots of storage space, you won’t find it here. Aside from a small bin in the front there is cargo space behind the second row, but it’s not substantial.

Overall, the car is fun to drive, with excellent handling and great styling. People notice when you come around the corner.

C-HR Photo Gallery

We brought the 2017 Camas 11/12 All-Stars to have some fun with the C-HR. As you can see, a lot of people can fit into the car. 🙂

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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2016 Toyota Highlander: A Top Safety Pick

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Limited PLT we tested proved to be a nimble, powerful, and practical vehicle that meets the needs of every day running around, while also providing a capable vehicle for touring the mountains, the snow, and even camping.

Its design is more rugged than previous generations, but it still is more of a car than a truck, such as the rugged 4-Runner. It proves to be a nice balance between the 4-Runner (the Highlander has more room) and the smaller RAV-4.

Our model came with the 3.5-liter V-6, with 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. It got us where we needed to, and quick. Toyota also offers a four-cylinder option, as well as a Hybrid. The all-wheel drive worked nicely in the Cascade Mountain snow.

Its interior is part-truck, part-car. It does have a truck feel, but the Teutonic-themed dash board, along with the dashboard’s lines and textures are pleasing to the eye.

Toyota Highlander: A Top Safety Pick

The 2016 Toyota Highlander has received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It’s in good company with the 2016 Honda Pilot and 2016 Nissan Murano, which are also mid-sized SUVs.

The Toyota Highlander also earned the award last year, but testing requirements have changed. To earn the Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must score a “Good” rating in all five of the IIHS crash tests.

Toyota made structural modifications to change performance, and meet the IIHS’ higher thresholds. During testing, the dummy hit the front airbag. Last year, the head slid off the airbag during testing.

It should be noted that the 2016 Toyota Highlander also scored an Advanced score in optional front crash prevention technology.

What we like:

  • Styling (Exterior and Interior)
  • Storage capacity
  • Second-row room
  • Overall vehicle quality and refinement

Dislikes:

  • Third row is cramped

Features:

  • 270 horsepower, 3.5L DOHC V-6 engine with dual VVT-I
  • 6-speed automatic transmission, 5,000 lb. towing capacity
  • 19″ chromatic wheels
  • Platinum package (Driver technology packaged, heated second row seats, leather second-row captain’s chairs, rain sensing windshield wipers)

Price as tested: $44,490 (MSRP). Fuel economy is 24 MPG highway/18 city.

To learn more, go to www.Toyota.com

Toyota Highlander

Interior of the Toyota Highlander Limited PLT. Photo by Toyota.

 

Toyota Highlander

We took the Highlander into the snow, and it handled very well.

 

Toyota Highlander

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Limited PLT AWD we tested made its way through the snow in the Cascades and around the Columbia Gorge.

 

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander has plenty of room for gear.

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Downtown Camas Classic Car Show Coming July 5

The 8th Annual Historic Downtown Camas Car Show and Rock & Roll Night is coming up on Friday, July 5, from 5:00-9:00 pm. Last year, 200 classic and specialty cars lined the streets of charming Historic Downtown Camas and thousands of spectators turned out to enjoy the beautiful evening and autos. This year, event organizers have extended the street closures to make room for additional cars.
Westlie Ford is the title sponsor of this year’s event. Additional sponsors are Camas Burgerville, Columbia Ridge Assisted Living, Country Financials – Courtney Wilkinson, IQ Credit Union, Journey Community Church, and Prestige Care and Rehabilitation.
 

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2013 Nissan Sentra: Loaded With More Style

For the last 30 years the Nissan Sentra has been an able car with good gas mileage and a proven reliability record. It was the car seen at the high school student parking lot, in front of college dorms, on daily work commutes or driven by young families.

It’s been the car that COULD, and has been a very practical part of the American scene.

The completely redesigned 2013 Nissan Sentra continues that tradition, but it also earns some serious style credentials. It almost feels like the car grew up, and is ready for a different phase in its history as it competes in the small sedan market. Its nose gives it a more sophisticated presence while the redesigned taillights have an Infiniti aura. And it also has a more aerodynamic look than the previous model.

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This new model rests on an all-new platform that is about two inches longer and 150 pounds lighter.

The SL model we tested had a gray interior that was practical, surprisingly roomy and cleverly designed. The dashboard ergonomics were impressive, but also simple, with a fun-to-use touch command center. You instantly felt comfortable and in control of the car’s electronic features.

Nissan engineers were generous with interior space, giving the car plenty of head and legroom with enough space leftover for a nice size trunk. It was enough to haul four baseball gear bags, catcher’s gear, and four school backpacks with room to spare.
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We tested the Sentra on winding Pacific Northwest roads and freeways, and spent a lot of time touting it around the city. Though no racecar, the Sentra has adequate acceleration and a solid ride for 1.8L four-cylinder vehicle (putting out 130 horsepower). It moved when we needed it to, and we arrived at each destination in style. It handled corners well.
The CVT transmission was designed to be more compact and economical and it performed quietly in both city and highway driving.
Sentra
The SL model starts at $19,590 MSRP and touts 39 mpg highway/30 city. We feel that’s a very good price point for a car in this class. During our weeklong test period, the Sentra averaged 29.2 miles per gallon. And we did a lot of city driving.
Nissan offers the car in eight exterior colors with seven interior trim options. The SL comes with the following:
  • 4-cyl. engine
  • Continuously variable transmission
  • Up to 30 cty/39 hwy mpg
  • Bluetooth
  • iPod input
  • Satellite radio
  • Side/curtain airbags
  • Stability control
  • Traction control
  • Navigation system (optional)

It also had a kicking sound system with Bose speakers.

The Sentra comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control, front and side curtain airbags, as well as active front head restraints.

Our verdict: The 2013 Nissan Sentra has stepped it up a couple of notches in terms of style, design, space and comfort but has maintained its roots as being a practical car with good gas mileage.

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Lacamas Magazine Automotive in Full Gear with Scion FR-S

It’s fast, fun and sporty! The 2013 Scion FR-S kicks off our first auto video review as part of Lacamas Magazine Automotive. You’ll love it! Coming soon …

 

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