With winter on its way, many people are asking: what are the benefits of winter tires vs. a set of all-seasons? The popularity of online, no-haggle car services like Carvana, CarMax, and CarSense has grown in recent months, but can you really get a good deal without visiting a car dealership and negotiating on price? We discuss using these services to buy a new or used car, as well as the high cost of replacement key fobs; the benefits of using premium fuel over regular in cars like the Volkswagen GTI and Mazda CX-9; the emergence of sometimes confusing electronic shifters from carmakers like BMW, Volvo, and Genesis; how CR awards points for standard advanced safety features, and if a Mazda6 is a good replacement for a dad who is losing his Acura TL to his teenage drivers.

 

 

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SHOW NOTES

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00:00 - Introduction

00:47 - Question #1: What are the benefits of winter tires vs. all-seasons?

05:45 - Question #2: Why key fobs are so expensive to replace?

10:08 - Question #3: Is it possible to get a good deal with no-haggle service like CarSense and CarMax?

13:57 - Question #4: What are the benefits of using premium fuel over regular?

16:26 - Question #5: Why car manufacturers are moving towards push-button shifters?

20:57 - Question #6: How does CR award points for safety features to various car models? 

23:41 - Question #7: Is Mazda6 a good replacement for an Acura TL?

 

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Coronavirus Resource Hub

https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/

 

New All-Weather Tires Outperform Some Snow Tires

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JfEcVZvQEA

 

Consumer Reports 2016 Tire Top Picks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ofmriTaWL8

 

Getting your tires ready for winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hixD6srMlP0

 

Winter Driving Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtakpDFGtU

 

Essential Winter Driving Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWVRbr15ek

 

Prep Your Car for Winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3rczMZsN0g

 

How to Replace Your Car’s Key Fob

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/how-to-replace-your-car-key-fob/

 

Does Car Buying Make Your Head Spin?

https://www.consumerreports.org/buying-a-car/does-car-buying-make-your-head-spin/

 

Regular Gas vs. Premium Gas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdcPEk3ldzc

 

When It Comes to Gear Selectors, Drivers Prefer the Simplicity of Old-School Shifters

https://www.consumerreports.org/automotive-technology/car-gear-selector-satisfaction-survey/

 

Best Car Safety Features

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46trYHfg5-k

 

Two Advanced Safety Features Every Cr Should Have

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H5s6WvOUeo

 

2018 Mazda6 Quick Drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dANxqmrKcnc

 

2017 Audi A4 Quick Drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXQj4tCxxI

 

2017 Honda Civic Si

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyKF6jsVIug

 

2018 LA Auto Show: 2019 Mazda3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRfZ-oO3qpM

 

2015 Volkswagen GTI first drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVL-IczHyl8

 

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