The Depreciation Dilemma
Don't let anybody kid you -- buying a new car is not a "good investment." A good investment is something that should appreciate in value or in some other way make you money. Well, one thing is sure, the new car you buy today is not going to gain in value over the course of time, so you are much better off looking at a new vehicle as an expense. And good business sense suggests that you should do everything you can to minimize your auto expense. But, of course, most people don't even come close to doing that. They have been brainwashed to believe that a brand-new car is an important symbol of their status and success and, further, that they need to acquire one of these totems every two or three years or so. That's great for car manufac ...

Buying Used
Today it's relatively easy to get a second-hand rose If you buy a used car, you're buying somebody else's troubles. That tattered bit of automotive buying advice has been making the rounds since Jack Benny bought his first Maxwell. While it might have been true in the heyday of planned obsolescence, the fact is some of today's smartest vehicle shoppers are buying used. There is no doubt that there has never been a better time to buy a used car.

Madison to buy cars, pay off leases
DANIELSVILLE - Madison County sheriff's deputies are scheduled to receive five new cars this year, and the county plans to pay off more than $230,000 in leases for older cruisers.

Feeling more secure, Iraqis with money ready to ride
BAGHDAD - Business, not bombs, is booming at Baghdad car dealerships, as well-heeled Iraqis are indulging in a passion long out of reach - spiffy, new cars.

Buy New or Fix Old?
"I'm going to buy a new car; I'm sick of paying for repairs." You hear this rationale presented all the time by people preparing to buy a new vehicle. Many people claim they will actually save money by getting rid of their current vehicle and buying a new one. Repair costs are eating them up, so they truly believe shifting to a new vehicle will be a financial boon, but does their thinking make any sense? A new study by the Automobile Club of Southern California indicates that buying a new car to save money is just a pipedream. Don't get us wrong; we think there are a lot of good reasons to buy a new vehicle -- additional safety, better efficiency, more carrying capacity are among them -- but thinking you're going to save money by purc ...

Cash for Clunkers Law Grabs Consumer Interest
Will the recently passed federal legislation that goes by the nickname "Cash for Clunkers" do much to aid the environment? Will it do much to limit our use of foreign oil? With all its environmentalist trappings, is it really designed to boost sagging new-car sales while the environment takes a backseat? You can argue those questions until the cows come home, but one thing is plain: The potential new-car buyers are very interested in the Car Allowance Rebate System, otherwise known as CARS. Enticed by the idea of the government offering them up to $4,500 for their gas-guzzling old car, they want to see if that dream can come true.

Cars Talking to Cars
As a driver, you have the responsibility to know and understand what the vehicles around you are doing and what threats they might pose to your safety. But in the future, your car might share that responsibility by sensing what other vehicles near yours are doing and giving you warnings that can help you respond to that information. And of course, beyond that, we might eventually see vehicles that assume the entire responsibility for dealing with other vehicles and the environment, while you sit back until you are delivered to your destination.

Car Buying 2001
Spring is upon us, and it is in spring that car lust comes into full flower. Ask any car dealer, and she or he will tell you that the spring is a great time to sell cars. Families are planning summer vacations and are worried about the reliability of their old clunkers. Others are just thankful their chariot has survived another hard winter. Still, others want a brand new vehicle to match the rebirth of spring. Face it: If you're going to show off a new car, spring and summer are the perfect months to do so.