Used Cars Increase in Value during slow economy. The value of your used car has never been higher and may be a good reason to sell a used car rather than trade it in on a new car. Car dealers are paying top prices for six year old and newer used cars because they can't keep those quality used cars in stock. Check out this article By Jerry Hirsch that was printed in the Los Angeles Times

If you are planning to sell or trade in a used car, the next couple of months might be the most optimum time.

Prices of late-model used cars are expected to peak for the year over the next six weeks or so, according to analysts at the National Automobile Dealers Assn. Used Car Guide.

That's because auto dealers are trying to stock up on their used-car inventory for the busy spring and summer seasons and there is a shortage of good used cars, an echo effect of the recession.

Auto sales plunged to their lowest level in a generation in 2009, when Americans bought just 10.4 million vehicles after buying an annual average of well over 16 million for the previous decade. That removed millions of potential used vehicles from the market.

At the same time, the credit crunch and recession almost killed the car-leasing business, typically a consistent supplier of late-model used cars to the industry.

"The ongoing decline in the used-vehicle supply that began in 2009 has made it challenging for new-car dealers to consistently stock reliable, well-maintained used vehicles," said Jonathan Banks, a NADA analyst. "This means that dealers will be aggressive with trade-in offers for used vehicles that are in high consumer demand."

Analysts for the trade group said people selling vehicles in private party transactions will also get among the highest prices relative to new car pricing in at least a decade.

"Clean, late-model used vehicles under 6 years old with reasonable mileage will command top dollar," Banks said.

Used values for the compact and mid-size car segments grew by an average of $300, or 2.6%, from March to April, and values have grown by an average of $500, or 4.3%, since the start of the year, according to the NADA Used Car Guide.

For example, the trade-in value of a 2007 Kia Rio in decent condition was $7,700 in January. It is $9,100 as of mid-April, a 15% gain.

A 2009 Toyota Prius carried a $13,750 trade-in price in January. It now stands at $15,675, a 12% gain, according to the dealer group.

Other vehicles with double-digit increases this year include the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Ford Focus and Dodge Caliber.

The flip side of this is that what's good news for sellers is often bad for buyers.

"Consumers looking for cheap transportation are finding it more and more difficult to locate a used vehicle at an affordable price," said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst at Kelley Blue Book.

Prices are forecast to start to drop in June but will remain strong. NADA doesn't see the late-model used-car shortage easing until the last quarter of 2013.

With so many Americans out of work the demand for good used cars is at a high. Used cars have been increasing in value with no end in sight. Read the original article about increasing used car values in the Los Angeles Times.

Used Cars Increase in Value is a post from: Used Cars Online

It is about time that diesel cars and trucks gain popularity and are appreciated by US drivers for their fuel economy and trouble free maintenance requirements. I have been driving diesel cars since 1986. The real break through in diesel power was made by Volkswagen in the TDI diesel. I drive a VW TDI diesel and routinely get 42 miles per gallon in the city and 50 MPG on the highway. In an article by Dale Buss in Forbes the real truth about diesel power is finally brought to light.

American consumers are boosting their interest in — and loyalty to — clean-diesel engines at the same time they’re demonstrating more and more indifference to hybrids.

“Repurchase loyalty” for diesel powertrains increased by nearly 10 percentage points last year compared with 2008 while consumer repurchase rates for hybrid technology remained about flat at 35 percent, according to new data compiled by R.L. Polk. Diesel’s jump in repurchase loyalty as measured by Polk hasn’t been reported, while news about hybrid-repurchase trends was widespread yesterday.

Diesel-repurchase loyalty was up by about 9 percentage points over the three years, to 28 percent last year from 19 percent in 2008, reported the Southfield, Mich.-based auto-research firm. Meantime, the repurchase rate for diesels, as previously reported on Forbes.com, fell to 35 percent last year, back to about where it was in 2008 after a two-year rise that peaked at nearly 40 percent in 2009.

“Diesel represents a high-fuel-economy alternative,” Brad Smith, director of Polk’s loyalty-management practice, told me. “Diesel [fuel] prices are still pretty high, but the increased range you get, as well as some longevity factors with diesel powertrains, create some opportunities to retain loyalty for the diesel type.”

And Smith said he expects diesel-repurchase rates to climb even higher in coming years as American domestic manufacturers add selective clean-diesel options to their mainstream vehicle fleets, joining the German brands that have been the vanguard for the return of diesel powertrains to the U.S. market over the last few years.

“The more diesel product offerings are available, that creates more opportunities for owners to be loyal to the fuel type,” Smith said. However, he noted that a proliferation of new hybrid models hasn’t boosted Americans’ loyalty to hybrid powertrains.

So far, Volkswagen — both with its VW and Audi brands — BMW and Mercedes-Benz have provided all of the impetus behind the nascent clean-diesel trend in the U.S. market, with increasingly popular diesel-powered versions of the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf, Audi A3 and Q7, BMW x5, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class and R-Class. And the German marques, especially VW and Audi, keep doubling down on the diesel franchise.

Volkswagen, for example, has been stunned by the quick uptake for a brand-new clean-diesel version of the Passat mid-size sedan that it makes in Tennessee: 20 percent of new Passat sales are for VW’s Turbo Diesel Injection clean-diesel option.

“Considering it’s a new offer, that’s a remarkable rate of adoption,” said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen of America. “That’s great acceptance from the customer point of view and bodes well for continued demand for diesels across the marketplace as we go forward.”

Overall, Polk data show, diesel’s share of an important segment of the U.S. market, non-luxury compact cars, has skyrocketed from about 2.1 percent in 2007 to 23.6 percent in 2011. During that time, diesel also has taken a significant share of sales of German-made luxury SUVs. And it has continued to be a staple of the heavy-duty pickup-truck market, but mainly for reasons of additional power than for fuel economy.

Chevrolet plans a diesel version of its popular Cruze compact soon. And Chrysler has indicated that it plans to introduce diesel engines on new versions that cross much of its SUV lineup, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, and Dodge Durango. “”We think the market is ready to listen to a diesel story,” Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler’s CEO, recently told USA Today.

Among the advantages of clean diesel, increasingly understood by American consumers, is a typical increase of 25 percent to 30 percent in fuel economy over gasoline-powered equivalents, as well as increased torque. At least from their performance history in pickup trucks, Smith said, diesel engines appear to endure longer than their conventional counterparts.

For such advantages, American buyers typically are paying premiums of no more than $2,000 for a diesel version, while hybrids still demand prices that are up to several thousand dollars higher than equivalent gasoline-powered models.

“There’s healthy optimism that we’re probably looking at a 10-percent market share for diesels by 2015,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a not-for-profit group. “When you think about all the choices consumers will have, that’s a good level of growth.”

The biggest continuing obstacle for the wider spread of diesel in the United States seems to be the persistent volatility of diesel-fuel prices.Typically during the last several years, diesel fuel has demanded a 15- to 20-percent premium over gasoline during cold-weather months when there also is great U.S. demand on diesel as a heating fuel. And at points during 2008 — when gasoline prices themselves rose as high as $4 a gallon — the diesel premium was as high as about 30 percent, producing staggeringly intimidating numbers at the diesel-gas pump.

Understanding why diesel prices have been so volatile is even more demanding than understanding the same about gasoline prices lately. Diesel interests have been predicting the likelihood of less long-term volatility in pricing of their fuel and a closer gap between it and gasoline. According to the federal government’s latest numbers, U.S. on-highway diesel fuel prices rose to an average of $4.15 a gallon last week while gasoline prices averaged $3.94.

For discerning vehicle purchasers, Smith said, diesel is increasingly attractive “because it comes down to a total business case: your driving patterns, relative maintenance costs, and knowing the prices at the pump and the potential fluctuations in prices at the pump.”

Learn more about the VW TDI clean diesel and other diesel cars by reading the original article about the growing popularity of diesel cars in America by Dale Buss on Forbes.com.

Diesel Cars and Trucks Gain Popularity in USA is a post from: Used Cars Online

The 2012 Ford Focus Titanium is Fords redesign of the Focus that comes close but just misses the mark in many areas. The shifting of the automatic transmission isn't up to par, the position of the touch screen isn't quite within reach of the driver. One good feature is the direct injection engine which allows the new Focus to get over 30 MPG. The 2012 Ford Focus price on the new Titanium model is in the $27,000 to $28,000 range depending on options.

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2012 Ford Focus Titanium is a post from: Used Cars Online

Ford Focus electric Pic from Wiki

With the push toward alternative energy Ford is participating in research and development but is taking a cautious approach to entering  the electric car market. The technology is not quite at the level needed to make the electric cars a viable alternative. The problem I have with the electric car concept is first that Volkswagen has been marketing the 50 MPG TDI diesel for almost two decades, The TDI gets 50 MPG on the highway and well over 40 MPG driving in the city.  have been driving a 50 MPG Volkswagen for the last tens years and don't have any desire to drive an electric vehicle at this time. The second problem I have with the electric vehicle is that the batteries have to be recharged and that electricity comes from the electric grid that is in most cases powered by fossil fuels. Brad Berman, editor of PluginCars.com, has commented on Fords entry into the electric car market. The Ford Focus electric car is an initial electric car offering by Ford.

"Ford says that sales of its first electric car, the Ford Focus Electric, are "on track." Green Car Reports reported that there have only been 10 sales of the Focus Electric since going on sale in December, a number that Ford has not confirmed.

"We are on track with the Focus Electric launch," said Wesley Sherwood, a Ford spokesman, in an interview with AutoBlogGreen. "We began by selling a small number of vehicles to a few fleet customers. We are now ramping up retail production to begin selling vehicles to retail customers in New York, New Jersey and California in the first half of this year. We then will expand sales to 16 other markets later this year."

Ford is taking a decidedly broad-based approach to vehicle electrification, in which it views pure battery electric cars on one end of the spectrum that includes conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids. “Electric transportation is still expensive," Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of vehicle electrification, said in October 2009. “We cannot overpromise and underdeliver and hype this. Because what could happen is you damage the reputation of the technology.”

Last year, Ford Motor’s chairman Bill Ford expressed doubts that a ground-up electric vehicles would appeal to enough consumers. He worried that the company would need to put big incentives on a dedicated EV in order to “shove them out the door, somehow." The consistent message from Bill Ford, CEO Alan Mulally, and Ms. Gioia has been that Ford will produce as many Ford Focus Electric units as customers demand.

So, maybe reports about very modest EV sales should not come as a surprise. Yet, in the past, Mulully has hinted that demand would be strong. “These are going to be the most affordable electric vehicles you can get,” and produced with “more scale than anybody else,” said Mulally. But apparently he was referring to all cars with an extra battery, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV.

With the Focus Electric available only in its initial three launch markets through most of this year, and mostly to select fleet customers, the speed of Ford's ramp-up will be limited, compared to competitors. "We continue to expect sales of all-electric to be small even when we ramp up retail production," Sherwood told AutoBlog Green. "This is new technology, and it takes time to take hold." That's clear. The remaining question: How small is small?"

Read the original article and get more information about the Ford Focus electric and Fords approach to the electric car market here on the Plugin Cars website.

Ford Focus Electric is a post from: Used Cars Online

2010 Ford Focus Gas Mileage  - Based on fuel mileage ratings recorded during testing and listed by FuelEconomy.gov the 2010 Ford Focus has a fuel capacity of 13.5 gallons. Average driving will provide 24 MPG city and 35 MPG when driving on the highway and provides an overall average mileage of 28 MPG. The 2010 Ford Focus has also proven to be very reliable as well as economical.

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Ford Focus SE Focus 10 FORD 20L AUTOMATIC CLOTH CD ALUMINUM WHEELS ONE OWNER CLEAN CARFAX 23K MILE $14,991.00 Time Remaining: 23h 18m Buy It Now for only: $14,991.00

Ford Focus 2010 Ford focus sel $8,000.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 34m

Ford Focus S Sedan 5 SPEED MANUAL ONE OWNER CLEAN S SEDAN A C CD POWER LOCKS SIDE AIRBAG CLEAN AUX $4,050.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 21h 9m

Ford Focus 2010 FORD Focus SEL LEATHER SYNC SUNROOF $5,000.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 22h 58m

Ford Focus 2010 Ford Focus $5,600.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 6h 10m

Ford Focus 55282A 2010 FORD Focus 4dr Sdn SEL $8,963.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 17h 14m

Ford Focus SE 2010 FORD FOCUS SE 14K MILES BEST BUY WOW $3,405.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 7h 23m Buy It Now for only: $9,500.00

Ford Focus SE Low Reserve cruise Power Locks Windows Keyless Entry AM FM CD player $1,200.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 16h 10m

Ford Focus 2011 2010 09 2012 Ford Focus SEL 8k ONLY Voice Direction SYNC Bluetooth Fog Light Like New $14,450.00 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 24m Buy It Now for only: $14,450.00

Ford Fiesta 2010 2012 Focus 2011 Ford Fiesta SE 17k Like New Cruise Control Alloy Wheel 7 Airbags Sun Roof $11,450.00 Time Remaining: 9d 4h 1m Buy It Now for only: $11,450.00

Ford Focus S Sedan 20L l4 35MPG 23K Low miles Keyless entry We Finance and Ship $15,995.00 Time Remaining: 18d 16h 33m Buy It Now for only: $15,995.00

Ford Focus SE Sedan Keyless Entry 41k Miles Spoiler Cruise Control 15 Alloy Wheels Duratec $14,963.00 Time Remaining: 19d 17h 5m Buy It Now for only: $14,963.00

2010 Ford Focus Gas Mileage is a post from: Used Cars Online

2009 Ford Focus MPG - Based on fuel mileage ratings achieved during tests and listed on the FuelEconomy.gov website the 2009 Ford Focus has a 13.5 gallon gas tank capacity. Typical driving habits should yield about 24 MPG city and up to 35 MPG highway. This gives an average fuel consumption of 28 miles per gallon. The Ford Focus not only gets good fuel economy but is also a reliable car.

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Ford Focus SE SE 20L Adjustable Front Seat Head Restraints Belt Minder Safety Belt Reminder $2,525.00 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 20h 47m

Ford Focus WE FINANCE 2009 FORD FOCUS SE CD AUDIO 15 ALLOY WHEELS 49K MILES $1,675.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10,980.00

Ford Focus 2011 2010 09 2012 Ford Focus SEL 8k ONLY Voice Direction SYNC Bluetooth Fog Light Like New $14,450.00 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 24m Buy It Now for only: $14,450.00

2009 Ford Focus MPG is a post from: Used Cars Online

The Ford Focus Hatchback for 2012 is one of the most popular cars. The Ford Focus has an excellent record of reliability and also gets good gas mileage. Find a quality focus hatchback for sale by owner or dealer listing and save. New technology offered in the 2012 Ford Focus really set it apart from othe cars in this category. The Focus for 2012 has a rearview camera to improve safe backing, and the coolest innovation which is Fords automated parking assist which makes it easy for even the most inexperienced driver to park at the push of a button. Add to this Ford's latest innovation of  hands-free Sync technology and the new MyFord Touch system that replaces the need for buttons and knobs with a touchscreen and voice commands.

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Ford Focus 5dr HB SE NORESERVE HATCHBACK SPORT PKG 38 MPG FLA $15,100.00 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 2h 55m

Ford Focus 5dr HB SEL 201212Focus SEL Moon Cruise Cd Abs Save $1,000.00 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 51m Buy It Now for only: $19,155.00

Ford Focus 2012 Ford Focus SEL Hatchback Well Equipped Hail Damage $13,900.00 Time Remaining: 14d 2h 40m Buy It Now for only: $13,900.00

Ford Focus 5dr HB SEL sunroof leather pwr windows locks mirrors alloys automatic SYNC 12278 $20,995.00 Time Remaining: 14d 17h 2m Buy It Now for only: $20,995.00

Ford Focus Hatchback 2012 is a post from: Used Cars Online

Honda is well known for building reliable and durable cars that provide cost saving service over many years and that is why buying a used Honda can save a lot of money over the long term. Here is an excellent article about the 2009 Honda by TED LATURNUS of the Globe and Mail that puts fourth a good argument about why the Honda is an economical and durable used car. The article points out some reasons why buying used car and specifically buying used Honda makes sence in the present economy.

Honda is well known for building a reliable and durable engine. The small four cylinder Honda engine has been engineered to be economicle, and long lasting. What many people don't know is that the Honda standard and automatic transmission has also been engineered and proven over the years.

Even though buying a used Honda is a smart move no used car is without a few problems. Service bulletins have been issued for loose fuel line clamps, clunking sound when turning on some cars, and a problem with the heater fan. But these few issues aside, buying a used Honda still beats purchasing a new car in this economy.

 

In 2009, Honda offered five variations of its best-selling Civic sedan in Canada. Adding the Coupe and hybrid models brought it up to 11 different Civics on the market, which was the most of any car in this category for this year.

The middle-of-the-pack Sport model, for example, replaced the LX. It featured 16-inch wheels and tires, front and rear disc brakes, a 60/40-split folding back seat, front power windows with one-touch-up/down controls, air conditioning, power sunroof, sporty exhaust and various interior bits and pieces.

Like most of its stable-mates, the Sport was propelled by Honda’s tried-and-true VTEC four-cylinder engine. In this configuration, it developed 140 horsepower and featured four valves per cylinder and a single overhead camshaft. This powerplant was arguably the industry benchmark when it came to usable power, smoothness, thrift and linear power delivery. It felt more powerful than it was, and returned outstanding fuel consumption into the bargain.

Plus – and this has been true of many Honda engines for years – it’ll probably run forever and can tolerate all kinds of abuse. Honda got its start manufacturing small auxiliary motors for bicycles after the Second World war – at one point using pine tar for fuel – and has turned the under two-litre four-cylinder engine into a virtual art form. They just do not come any better.

You could choose either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, and either one worked fine in this application. Again, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more agreeable pair of gearboxes than these two; the majority of buyers opted for the automatic.

But nothing is perfect. The restyled, eyebrow-shaped digital speedometer atop the dashboard was cause for concern. Displaying speed, fuel level and engine temperature, it was ergonomically clumsy. The steering wheel rim obscured it and the whole arrangement made consulting the instrumentation more taxing than it should be. Both Honda and Acura adopted this interior feature on many of their models and it has received mixed reviews, to say the least.

Another drawback to this iteration of the Civic is its low roofline and resulting lack of headroom. This applies to all versions, and large people will find entering and exiting a little tricky. in addition, it can be snug in the back seat, and road noise is more excessive than it should be – a common problem with many Honda products.

But it doesn’t matter. The Civic remains Canada’s car of choice, and it continues to be the top-selling vehicle in Canada, year after year.

There is just one safety recall to report and it involves both 2008 and 2009 iterations of this car. The problem has to do with a possibly loose fuel hose connector, which could leak in the event of an accident. It is easily repaired, with a locking nut installed on the fuel feed hose bracket by dealers.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has 14 technical service bulletins on file for the ’09 Civic, and these range from the fuel hose clamp issue, to a horn that can randomly go off when turning a corner, to a “clunking, popping or clicking noise” coming from the front wheels, to a sketchy heater fan.

Nonetheless, Consumer Reports is glowing in its appraisal of the 2009 Civic. It gets this organization’s coveted “good bet” designation and the highest grade possible for predicted reliability. With the exception of the braking system, it receives top marks in every area. Some comments from owners: “Seats could offer more lumbar support,” “Nowhere to rest my right knee,” “Great little car, would purchase again” and “Standard transmission works well.” Excessive road noise is a common complaint.

Market research company J.D. Power is not quite as effusive in its praise of the 2009 Civic, giving it a just above average rating for overall dependability. High points include features accessories quality, body interior quality and overall mechanical quality, but according to this group, there’s nothing outstanding about the 2009 Civic sedan.

You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a deal here. Despite the fact that a brand-new 2012 Civic starts at less than $15,000, used models have held their value well. The Sport is priced in the mid-teens and even a base DX is valued in the low teens.

Get even more information about buying used cars and to read the original article by TED LATURNUS of the Globe and Mail. Learn why buying a used car online is a good money saving idea.
Check out these Used Honda Values

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Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Certified Pre Owned 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID $15,981.00 Time Remaining: 42m Buy It Now for only: $17,468.00

Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Certified Pre Owned 2010 CIVIC HYBRID $16,981.00 Time Remaining: 42m Buy It Now for only: $18,968.00

Honda Accord EX L 2008 Honda Accord EX L Coupe w CDC Heated Sts Moonroof One Owner $7,400.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 52m Buy It Now for only: $17,995.00

Honda S2000 2004 Honda S2000 Convertible Yellow Great Shape or Best Offer $15,400.00 Time Remaining: 2h 3m Buy It Now for only: $15,400.00

Honda Accord EX L V6 EX L V6 Leather Seats Park Sensors Bluetooth Clean Carfax 4 Wheel ABS $18,500.00 Time Remaining: 2h 15m Buy It Now for only: $19,965.00

Honda Ridgeline rt 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE RT AWD 130K SAVE $6,300.00 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 18m

Honda Accord Cpe 2012 HONDA ACCORD EX AUTOMATIC COUPE 10k MILES WHITE First 21800 $21,800.00 Time Remaining: 2h 40m Buy It Now for only: $21,800.00

Honda Accord lx NO RESERVE super clean 83k original $2,951.00 (34 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 40m

Honda Accord Coupe EX L V 03 Honda Accord Coupe EX L V 6 Auto LOW 87K MILES PRIVATE OWNER NO RESERVE $8,000.00 Time Remaining: 2h 58m

Honda Prelude SH Rare Original Low Mileage Clean Sporty and Reliable $3,900.00 Time Remaining: 3h 17m

Honda Odyssey EX EXCELLENT RUNNING 2 OWNER ODYSSEY EX FULL POWER $2,226.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 19m Buy It Now for only: $4,000.00

Honda Accord 35 EX V6 35 EX V6 Moonroof 6 CD Changer 17 Wheels Adjustable Steering $13,995.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3h 21m Buy It Now for only: $14,965.00

Buying a Used Honda is a post from: Used Cars Online

Diesel Cars Get Best Mileage. 99.24 MPG Not Bad For A Diesel Vehicle. Something diesel owners have known for many years and I personally have learned since I started driving diesel cars in 1986 is that diesel cars get superb fuel mileage. My first diesel was a 1984 Volvo station wagon. But my diesel experience leaped to a mush higher level with the purchase of the Volkswagen TDI in 1997.

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Volkswagen Golf 2003 VW Golf TDI GLS Euro Spec Performace Tuned $5,250.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 21m Buy It Now for only: $8,500.00

Volkswagen Jetta 4dr DSG TDI Certified Pre Owned 2010 VW Jetta TDI DSG Clean Excellent condition Low miles $18,660.00 Time Remaining: 15h 40m

Volkswagen Jetta 4dr DSG TDI Certified Pre Owned VW Jetta TDI DSG Low miles Excellent condition $18,999.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 15h 40m

Volkswagen Jetta Sptwgn TDI BRAND NEW VW Jetta SportsWagen TDI DSG Warranty Fuel Economy $23,102.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 15h 40m

Volkswagen Jetta TDI 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI Diesel Manual 20L Turbocharged FWD MOONROOF $13,500.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 55m Buy It Now for only: $18,988.00

Volkswagen Jetta TDI WOW 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI DIESEL 83K MILES ONE OWNER XTRA CLEAN $15,000.00 Time Remaining: 19h 10m Buy It Now for only: $16,500.00

I have been driving the VW TDI diesel powered cars ever since. To give you an example of what it is like to drive the Volkswagen TDI diesel imagine your car gets 42 to 43 MPG in the city. Now take a trip and while driving on the highway your car gets 49 to 50 MPG. Other cars stop for gas at about 350 miles. Your VW TDI diesel routinely travels 550 to 600 miles between fillups and that is if you drive all your miles in the city. When you fill the 14 gallon tank it only takes about 13 gallons because you still have a gallon of reserve left. This has been my driving experience since 1997 when I bought my first Volkswagen TDI.

Smart for Two Diesel picture courtesy Wikimedia Commons

As further proof of the benefit of driving a diesel car take a look at this article by Steve Duda written about the little Smart for Two powered by a fuel sipping CDI diesel engine. The Smart diesel achieved almost 100 MPG to win the MPG Marathon in the United Kingdom.

The MPG Marathon is the UK’s best known and longest running economy driving event. Now in its eleventh year, the MPG Marathon is where drivers team with automakers to squeeze every drop of fuel economy out of their cars, and is also seen as a proving ground where automaker’s mileage claims are either bolstered or seriously questioned. Organized by Fleet World magazine, the Marathon also recognizes those drivers and their cars which record the greatest percentage improvement over the manufacturers’ published fuel consumption ratings.

The event took place earlier this month, with participants putting their economy driving skills to the test around a 370-mile route that included steep hills, twisting country lanes and inclement weather in southern England.

The “Overall Best MPG” winner of the event was a smart fortwo CDI. This particular smart vehicle is a tiny micro car that features one of the world’s smallest turbo-diesel engines – an 800cc, three-cylinder gas sipper. The smart notched a rating of 99.24 MPG over the two day event, the best figure ever recorded. This year makes it three wins in three tries for the smart CDI in the “Overall” event. Their winning mark was more than 15% better than the official combined fuel consumption figure of 85.6 MPG.

In the hybrid class the Infiniti M35h earned top marks. The car returned 36 MPG, which was seven percent better than its official combined figure of 33 MPG. Most of the other hybrids who participated in the competition, both diesel and gasoline powered, fell short of their official combined fuel consumption figures. The Infiniti M35h cruised on electric power for 185 of the 370 mile route. Basically half the route was completed with the 3.5-liter gasoline V6 engine switched off. On one 54 mile stretch of the economy run, the M35h ran for 30 miles on power from the lithium-ion batteries and electric motor. Read the original article by Steve Duda at at EarthTechLin.com.

What is even more interesting is that the diesel powered Smart even outran the hybrids by a margin of almost 3 to one. Just think, if more people drove the new fuel efficient clean diesel cars such as the Volkswagen TDI there would not be the fuel crisis we find ourselves in today. Do something good for your pocketbook and start driving a diesel car today.

Diesel Cars Get Best Mileage 99.24 MPG is a post from: Used Cars Online

Tips for buying a used car can help you make a good deal. Buying a used car can be a good financial decision that can save you money. Some advice to keep in mind when shopping for your next used car. Don't be in a hurry. Don't "fall in love" with a car. Always be able to walk away when the circumstances are not right. Also understand that you are buying a used car. In all probability it will need new tires, widshield wiper blades, brakes, and a battery. These are all consumables that need to be replaced during routine maintenance intervals. If these items have recently been replaced then consider that when pricing any used car. Here is a valuable article written by Kathryn Sucich and published in The EveningTribune.com.

Tips for Buying a Used Car

"If you’re in the market for a used car, you need to be an informed buyer. Patrick Olsen, editor in chief of Cars.com, says, “All cars will look new to you. Don’t be seduced by the first one you see.” Here are his tips for buying a used car:

1. Do your research. Read Consumer Reports to find out how well a certain make and model year has performed over time. Look online at the cars you’re interested in, and find out the price range for the model year and mileage you’re looking at. (You can do this via the Kelley Blue Book, or kbb.com.) Look for cars that are not at the top of the price range, but also not at the bottom, since that means something is likely wrong with them. Olsen says, “If you find a car for nothing, you’re getting nothing.”

2. Take it to a mechanic. Olsen says to take a car you’re interested in buying to a trusted mechanic to make sure nothing is wrong with it. This is no matter whether you’re buying from a private party or a dealer. It may cost you $100, but Olsen says it’s worth the money to make sure that the car runs and is worth what you’re paying. Also obtain a Carfax report to find out a car’s history and, if buying from a private party, ask for complete service records.

3. Take a test drive. Never take someone’s word on how well a car runs. Turn off the car radio and listen to the car, noting whether it makes weird noises. Check the acceleration and braking.

4. Know the right time to buy. There’s no right season to buy a used car, but if you’re buying from a dealer, there is a right time of the month. Olsen says to go toward the end of the day at the end of the month. Dealers are more likely to negotiate since they need to hit their monthly quotas.

5. Be prepared to pay a little more than normal. Even though buying a used car is generally a better financial move than buying new, prices are at a high. Olsen says this is because there was a 40 percent drop in new car sales from 2007 to 2008, and far fewer leases. This means a low supply of used cars a few years old, but high demand because of the uncertain economy. This is why it’s even more important to do your research and be patient to make sure you’re getting the right car for your needs." Read the original article about to get Tips for Buying a Used Car here at the The EveningTribune.com.

You may find that used cars are scarce in some areas and that used car prices are higher. A used car purchase makes good financial sense as long as you do your homework. Remember these Tips for Buying a Used Car when buying your next car.

Tips for Buying a Used Car is a post from: Used Cars Online