#276 Winter Tire Performance; Are Online No-Haggle Car Services a Good Deal?

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.     -----------------------------------   Have a question for our experts? Leave a comment on this episode, or reach out to us directly!   From your iOS device, iMessage us at [email protected] to send a photo, video, or text directly to the Talking Cars team!   We love to feature our viewers on the show, so submit video questions at https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-talking-cars/   Subscribe to Talking Cars on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Jr8wJRJyN9v8T6LC1fQQ6     SHOW NOTES -----------------------------------   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?   ----------------------------------    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   -----------------------------------   Check out http://www.ConsumerReports.org for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1Nlb1Ez    Follow Us on Social: Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1IQ2w5q Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Yf5Fh2 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1P37mM9 Instagram: http://bit.ly/1I49Bzo Google+: http://bit.ly/1Md3gfQ