Cars.com - New & Used Cars

When it works, it's great! Too bad it only works about 10% of the time. Crashes more often and works more slowly than any other app I have ever tried. Maybe the volume of information they provide is just too much for my little phone to handle. UPDATE: Not sure whether it was an upgrade to the software, or the fact that I got a new phone, but for the past several months (other than having the app freeze when you first open it, presumably while it is connecting to the remote servers) there has been no instability or any other issues. So, to quote myself, "When it works, it's great!" UPDATE 2: Really wish they would re-develop the app for iPad. Nice that the old version still functions. It’s just kind of odd to view because the iPad version looks as though you have set your phone on top of your iPad screen.

I use this app daily for the past 6 years. I’ve seen it improve to the point of being a useful tool and then it goes the wrong way. I’m wondering if they are using a different software company? Anyway the most effective tool for me is the filter/features after defining the make and model. Currently the most popular vehicles in the US are pickups, SUV’s and crossovers. The software does a pretty good job on SUV’s and crossovers. However, on pickups the features options available are missing some very important options. First, on half ton pickups we need an option of long or short bed. For example, the f-150 crew cab can be configured in 5.5 bed or a 6.5 bed. If I want to find a 6.5 bed, I’m SOL and will have to look at every single truck to find the few 6.5’ beds out there. It would also be nice to specify max trailer tow options or max payload options. These are important options and should be part of the options list.

Devs, when you select multiple features, it treats it as an OR operator instead of AND. That means that searching for cars with heated seats and a moonroof actually returns more results than if I just search for cars with a moonroof, since searching for both will return any car that has heated seats OR a moonroof. It doesn't work this way when using the website so I assume this is a mistake with the app. Also, it becomes more difficult to specify price as a filter after the initial search. While these bugs make the app less usable, it's overall much better than other apps. Not just because of better design but saved searches, alerts, and filter by auto-emergency braking are hugely helpful features that I haven't found elsewhere.

Overall this app is a great companion to the website. I have found the calculator tools especially useful in helping myself and friends find cars within our comfortable price range and being informed walking into a dealership. However, recently I have noticed that when I go to search sometimes the search terms (new/used, make, model, price, etc) change when I do my search, and typically these are cars I would never consider buying. For example, today I started a search for a Honda Accord but was confronted with search results for a Buick. The first time this happened I thought it was just an error, but in the numerous times this has happened since I have noticed that whatever my search changes to happens to be the same make and model of the ad displayed at the bottom of the main search page. An interesting, subtle, frustrating, and very unwelcome way to force advertisements on your users.

Whatever update y’all just did totally ruined the efficiency of the app and created bugs. Having to go back and choose the manufacturer before being able to choose the model , every single time, is ridiculous. It worked great before, with the manufacturer and model in 2 sections, why change it? I also noticed that since the update you can’t select the mileage option under the filter section, you have to go all the way back to advance search to use the mileage criteria. I’ve used this app nearly every day for the past 3 years and usually the updates are helpful and y’all seem to listen to your users, I hope you’ll listen this time when I say, you’ve made the app worse with this update. Also, side note, an iPad specific app would be great, just a thought.