Guides by Denis
13 articles
The Most Fuel-Efficient Used Cars, by Real MPG
Every time gas jumps I get the same question: what used car actually sips fuel without costing a fortune? So I pulled real EPA combined numbers from our data and ranked them. Fair
How to Check a Car's History Before You Get Burned
A used car can look immaculate in the photos and still be hiding a past that costs you thousands. I learned this the annoying way. The good news is that a car can't really hide, no
The Best Compact SUV, Ranked on Data Not Hype
The compact SUV is the default new-family car in America, which means the used lot is drowning in them. Good news and bad news. Good, because you have options. Bad, because "everyo
How to Read a VIN Number: the 17 Digits That Hide a Full Report
Those 17 characters on your dash look random. They're not. Here's how to read a VIN in about two minutes, and the one digit that catches fraud.
How to Calculate Car Depreciation, the Cost That Hurts Most
I got weirdly obsessed with depreciation math, then a little sick when I ran it on my own car. Here's the simple formula, and how to stop overpaying.
These Are the Most Reliable SUVs, Ranked by Real Data
Everyone says 'buy a reliable SUV.' Cool, which ones? I ranked them on our actual data instead of vibes. Here's what really lasts.
Camry vs Accord: The Data Finally Picks a Clear Winner
I get asked 'Camry or Accord?' constantly. So I stopped guessing and let our data settle it. The winner's closer than the reputations suggest.
The Cheapest Cars to Insure Aren’t the Ones You’d Expect
Everyone thinks their insurance bill is about them. I pulled the loss data, and it's mostly about the car. The cheapest ones surprised me.
Salvage Title Meaning: the Bargain That Costs You Thousands
I've walked away from more 'great deals' than I can count, and most had two words buried in the listing: salvage title. Here's what it actually means before you buy.
America’s Favorite SUV Has Bad Years: Toyota RAV4 Years to Avoid
There are two problem RAV4s, and they break in totally different ways. I pulled the data so you know which era to dodge, and which ones I'd buy tomorrow.
One Bad Part Haunts Certain Nissan Altima Years to Avoid
The Altima is a lot of car for the money, until one part turns it into a paperweight. Here are the exact years that part ruins, and the newer ones that fixed it.
Even the Bulletproof Honda Civic Has Years to Avoid
I've got one rule for buying a used Civic, and this is the data that proves it. Break the rule and you land on one of these years.
Not Every Toyota Camry Is Safe. Here Are the Years to Avoid
The Camry is basically a household appliance with wheels. But I dug into the complaint data and a few years genuinely surprised me. Here are the ones I'd skip.