Buy, Sell - Featured articles:
Vehicle quality up, but in-car technology baffling
An annual survey shows strong improvements in vehicle quality over the first 90 days, including some US-built car winners, but many find stereos and navigation devices confusing. More »
Should we cut gasoline use 50%?
A U.S. proposal would add $1000 tax on vehicles that fail to meet a standard fuel efficiency of 30 mpg, aiming to reduce foreign oil dependency. More »
Could cash-back incentives hurt consumers?
What would you rather have on your new car--cash back, or new safety and convenience features? That may be the choice facing manufacturers. More »
The depreciation dilemma
Looking for a good investment? Don't buy a new car. But if you insist on owning one, check out a new service that predicts its resale value. More »
Auto loan refinancing
Want to save money on your existing car loan? Many consumers are surprised by how much they can save by refinancing. Here are some tips. More »
Ditch that lease
If you are stuck driving a leased vehicle that you no longer want to drive, a new service offers lower prices for terminating your lease early. More »
Get the right car loan
Recent news stories have decried the profit that many car dealerships make when they arrange car loans at a higher price than the financing cost them. However, by shopping around, for a lower offer, you could save big. More »
Check out that dealer
A new consumer-led auto dealership rating and comparison service has launched online. Drivers can now list, rate, and review any auto dealership by state, city, and brand, based on their own direct experience. More »
Used car prices to go up in North America
Fewer vehicles coming off leases means higher used-car prices. More »
Sticker price fiction
Every car buyer keeps watch on the MSRP--the "sticker price." For the savvy buyer, it's the place from which negotiations begin, but for a surprising number of less educated buyers, it's the price they pay, no questions asked. More »
Getting top dollar for your used car
Before selling your car, consider how much your time is worth. Once you do that, you can sell your car yourself, and make a tidy profit. Here are tips to maximize your used car or truck's selling price. More »
You are being watched
Car manufacturers are increasingly studying car consumer habits, using survey techniques to gauge future production needs. But automotive consumers are proving to be fickle, and hard to pin down. More »
Toyota Prius ‘Best Engineered’
The 2004 Toyota Prius was awarded the "Best Engineered Vehicle of 2004" by Automotive Engineering International because the fuel efficient car "blazes new trails in hybrid passenger car technology and engineering." More »
Getting the most for your car dollar
Looking for a new car? Here are the 18th annual Best Overall Value of the Year Awards from over 1,000 vehicle models. The analysis considers price, depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing, and insurance. Toyota, Honda, and Chevrolet take some top awards. More »
Please no gizmos
A survey of auto consumers shows they have little interest in new gizmos such as navigation and GPS. However, hybrids, sports cars, better safety features, and better fuel-efficiency topped their list of preferences. More »
Do you know your car's true identity?
Identity theft has a new wrinkle. That car you are driving might not be what you think it is, and the difference could end up costing you thousands of dollars. The new scam is called "VIN cloning." More »
Savvy car shoppers use Internet
The Internet is influencing auto buying decisions, according to researchers who found that nearly one-half of new-vehicle buyers in 2003 say the Internet affected their make/model purchase decision. More »
Sharing a car … to buy a condo
The idea of sharing ownership in a car is not new, but using it to help fund your purchase of a condominium apartment is. More »
Is your odometer lying?
There are more than 450,000 cases of odometer fraud per year in the USA, according to a research report from the NHTSA. More »
Is your car as reliable as your computer?
When you purchase a car these days, automotive electronics and computers are a big part of the deal. But the failure of a 10-cent part in a $30,000 vehicle can be disastrous. Future car electronics may have to achieve space shuttle reliability to make the grade. More »
Money Magazine's top seven car buys
Here are Money Magazine's descriptions of their Top Seven 2002 vehicles with editorial comments on each of their selected cars. More »
2002 Chicago Auto Show
In the clash of titans, the Windy City is ready to fight. With reports on several new vehicles. More »
Which auto brands are most satisfying?
An annual survey of new-vehicle buyers confirmed that consumers continue to prefer a hassle-free experience that features non-negotiable retail pricing. More »
SUVs--not so tough, not so rugged
New crash tests show a little bump could cost a lot of money, depending on which SUV you buy. More »
Car-sharing teams with transit
Subway users in Washington DC will soon be able to use a car for an hour or two at the end of the train ride. More »
Sport f/utility?
New emissions regulations may reduce production of SUVs, but the author suggests that rising fuel prices, awareness of reduced safety, and guilt may slow sales, too. More »
Catching a plane to your auto dealer
Some car buyers in the USA are flying thousands of miles to pick up their new automobile. More »
Enviro-friendly cars: consumers want them, manufacturers lag
Thirty-eight percent of Canadians would pay more for environmentally friendlier cars, though sales are slow. More »
How much do we spend on cars?
How much are we spending on our cars? A report from Canada's official statisticians may surprise you. More »
Automobiles online: biggest thing since Henry Ford's production line
For auto manufacturers, the Internet is turning out to be the biggest thing since Henry Ford's production line. More »
Car sharing: an idea whose time has come
Car sharing—cooperative ownership—is an increasingly attractive alternative, when the circumstances are right. More »
Ford Focus beats Jaguar and Mercedes for comfort, says survey
Is the Ford Focus hatchback more comfortable to ride in than a Mercedes-Benz? More »
Street driving and the gas pedal
Throttle response and acceleration ability for merging or passing are more important than overall "power" or 0-60 ratings. More »
