The truth is, though, that buying used affords you several advantages over a new car in terms of finding lasting reliability. Think about it: a new car is unproven. You won't find out until a few years later whether that fancy new transmission design has an irritating tendency to explode while downshifting. With a used car, though, you can easily read up on the model's history, and find out how its reliability record is shaping up.

So, how do you go about determining the reliability record of a specific used car model? The answer is to visit the appropriate owners forums. Simply search for "[my car model] forums," and you should find what you need. On these forums, users will be discussing an incredible amount of minutia concerning their beloved cars. Start reading around, and looking for trends.

What do I mean by trends? I'm talking about posts with titles like "Another '99 Transmission Explodes While Downshifting," and other similar headlines. Basically, if there is a known problem with a given model and year, the people on these forums are sure to know about it. Many forums even make up guides detailing the different flaws in different model years. Read through these, and see if you can find a particular model and year that has very few problems. You can then count on these to be fairly reliable across the entire used car market.

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions yourself. The people in these forums are passionate about their cars, so they're more than often thrilled to share with you. Just be sure that the questions you're asking haven't been clearly covered elsewhere, or you might catch some flack.

So, using car owner forums is just one way of finding a reliable used car, but in my opinion, it is one of the most effective. Trust me, this kind of research will pay dividends when it comes to actually looking through the listings and finding that perfect, super reliable used car.

To help mitigate this, many concerned individuals are buying high priced hybrid cars that get much better gas mileage than a traditional car of the same size. This all sounds very environmentally friendly, doesn't it? However, this thinking neglects one huge part of the picture: manufacturing a new car uses up tons of fossil fuels, and lead to a large amount of fossil fuels being consumed along the way.

Consider what actually building a new car entails. Iron, aluminum, and other raw materials must be mined, refined, and transformed into the raw materials to build a car. These materials have to be transported to a factory, where thousands of electricity powered machines work tirelessly to form the car. The car is then shipped across the country to the car dealerships. This leaves out all the energy consumed in many other parts of the business, but it is quite clear that new cars are not environmentally friendly.

Most people are sold on the benefits of recycling, but this attitude has yet to carry over into cars. When you're buying a used car, you are literally recycling a car. When you choose a used car over a new one, you save vast amounts of resources and energy from being consumed, and vast amount of greenhouse gases from being produced. Quite simple, the environmental savings of buying a used car will far outweigh the small efficiency gain from that shiny new hybrid.

Used cars don't have to be gas guzzlers, either. A used small displacement compact car can get 35 mpg, which isn't as impressive a hybrid, but is still a huge improvement over an SUV. Buying a used car with a manual transmission can also help out with mild hypermiling efforts, to ensure that you get the best MPG your car is capable of. Since manual transmissions are common on older cars, this also makes them appealing.

Of course, you may disagree with the view, and thats OK. However, if you're serious about protecting the environment, you need to consider the entire costs of your actions, not just the reoccurring ones. Next time you're in need of a vehicle, give used cars a good hard look.

To really get a good deal, though, you need to understand as much as possible about the car you're looking at. Identify exactly which cars you want, and make a list. Regularly check back on the auction listings to see what they go for on average. Once you get an idea of what your car of choice goes for, you'll be able to spot a good deal when you see one. Knowing what a deal actually looks like is the best way to spot one.

Another way to get a great deal is to be willing to perform repairs on the car you by. Since many people are afraid to repair a car they purchase, a car that requires repairs will be undervalued compared to a fully working one. If you are a competent mechanic, you might be able to save quite a bit of money by going with this option.

Other way to get a deal is to go without popular options. Can you go without AC? Drive a manual transmission? Going without can save you big, if you're willing to make the sacrifice. Give it a thought, and see what you can save.

So, if you're looking to get an extra good deal, take all these tips into consideration. Basically, getting a good deal on car boils down to understanding exactly what you do and don't want in a car, knowing the pricing perfectly, and watching the listings for the deal you want. Please come back, check out the listings, and begin shopping for the deal of a lifetime.

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Toyota Camry LE Camry 01 Toyota Camry Midsize Sedan LE 1 Owner Clean    US $5,991.00

Toyota Tundra Doublecab SALVAGE Toyota TUNDRA SR5 Repairable Rebuildable Damage    US $5,100.00

Toyota Corolla V V T i 2001 Toyota Corolla LE VVT i 119K NO RESERVE CLEAN    US $3,550.00

Toyota 4Runner Limited Toyota 4runner 4x4 limited leather NO RESERVE    US $2,650.00

Toyota Corolla 2000 Toyota Corola    US $2,700.00

Toyota Camry ce sedan black 99 toyota camry ce    US $2,550.00

Toyota 4Runner custom black and green 2 tone    US $2,300.00

Toyota 4Runner SR5 TRD 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER TRD 5 SPEED MANUAL ALOT OF EXTRA    US $5,100.00

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 1984 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER WITH ONLY 64K LOOOOK    US $2,800.00

Toyota Camry LE 2005 Toyota Camry LE    US $12,988.00

Toyota Corolla S 2002 Toyota Corolla S    US $7,000.00

Toyota Corolla CE 2005 Toyota Corolla CEClean TitleGas Saver    US $6,000.00

Toyota Tacoma TRD SPORT PG 2008 DOUBLE CAB TRD SPORT AUTO PWR CD TOW QUICK SELL    US $15,999.00

Toyota Tacoma SR5 1998 4x4 Extended Cab Toyota Tacoma Low Miles Clean    US $4,000.00

Toyota Celica GTS Celica 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTSLOADEDLOW MILESWOW    US $6,495.00

Toyota Solara toyota solara se 4 cylinder like new NO RESERVE    US $3,850.00

Toyota Camry SOLARA SE COUPE 5 SPEED 24L L4 AC CRUISE PEARL WHITE    US $5,400.00

Toyota Camry LE 2001 Toyota Camry One Owner great condition non smoker    US $2,650.00

Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla Only 14K Original Miles time capsule    US $4,650.00

Toyota Camry SE 2008 08 Toyota Camry SE NO RESERVE    US $9,200.00

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Pontiac Firebird Formula Firebird Formula 400 1976 with 455 engine 450 HP    US $4,950.00

Pontiac Grand Am 150HP DOHC 1996 Pontiac Grand Am 24L Twin Cam 59K ORIGINAL MILES    US $2,650.00

Pontiac Trans Am 1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM s MATCHING LOW ORIGINAL MILES    US $12,100.00

Pontiac Trans Am 2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 Convertibleonly 32k miles    US $13,200.00

Pontiac 6 Four Door Sedan 1937 Pontiac 6 Four Door    US $6,100.00

Pontiac Bonneville 1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible 1 of 736 left    US $1,800.00

Pontiac Firebird Formula 1980 Pontiac Firebird Formula Trans Am Camero BUEATIFUL    US $5,400.00

Pontiac Firebird Formula 1981 PONTIAC FIREBIRD FORMULA 14590 ORIGINAL MILE MINT    US $12,600.00

Pontiac Firebird 1969 pontiac Firebird    US $8,600.00

Pontiac GTO 1967 PONTIAC GTO NUMBERS MATCHING    US $14,900.00

Pontiac Sunfire BANK REPO NO RESERVE BELOW WHOLESALE    US $1,800.00

Pontiac Firebird Conv 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD CONVERTIBLEXTRA CLEANNO RESERVE    US $2,275.00

Pontiac Firebird Formula 1975 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 Matching    US $4,500.00

Pontiac Firebird Firebird 2002 Pontiac Firebird GT T tops Custom wheelsClean    US $7,375.00

Pontiac Grand Am SE 2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4 cyl Auto PL Newer Tires    US $1,525.00

Pontiac G6 GXP GXP | Leather | Chrome Wheels | Ipod | 252hp |    US $7,100.00

Pontiac G6 GXP 09 GXP Package Low Miles Mint Loaded Moonroof Monsoon    US $7,600.00

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If you can't find what you're looking for, please try using the search feature in the bar above. When browsing auction for cheap used cars, be sure to read the listing carefully and note any errors or discrepancies. You want to make sure you're getting exactly what you're looking for. Also, finding a local seller can help you get in contact so that you can look over the car beforehand and get any details you need. Basically, any extra homework you do will help you make a good purchase.

It's a fact, most people are spending a significant amount of their income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical household spends seventeen percent of their total household expenditures on car ownership costs. Take a minute and think about how much this number is for you. Better yet, go out and calculate what your total car ownership costs are. Be sure you're including everything, not just car payments. Include insurance, gas, repairs, registration, depreciation, taxes, and everything. I can almost guarantee you looking at this number will not be pleasant, but please take the time to go ahead and see what you're dealing with.

Done with that? You're probably quite shocked now at how much really spend on your vehicles, especially if you're a new car owner. Would you like to reduce that number drastically? It may not seem possible, but there is a really easy way to save an incredible amount of money on your car costs, and that is to drive a clunker.

"Great," I can hear many of you saying, "I could also cut down on food costs by eating only ramen." For many, what I'm proposing will never be a viable solution, and that's OK as long as they're happy with their finances. However, if you want to get serious about controlling your spending, read on to find out why I think clunkers are such wonderful things.

First of all, let me say that clunkers can be unbelievable cheap compared to what you might be used to spending on a car. For the past five years, I have been driving a 20 year old clunker that I picked up for $1500, which is obviously hugely less than any new car, or even any the large majority of used cars. It's a normal sized five seater, four cylinder car, and gets me an average of 25-35 mpg, depending on my total highway usage. I pay peanuts per months for the liability insurance required by law, and nothing more, as it doesn't make sense to spend more on a car this cheap. I spent almost nothing to buy the car (with no reoccurring payments or interest), my insurance is super cheap, my maximum depreciation is just the difference between the low cost of the car and its scrap value, and I'm getting great gas mileage. So affordable.

But, many of you are probably screaming at me in your heads right now about what I'm leaving out of this picture: repairs. Doesn't this thing need a new engine or transmission every year? The simple fact is that I've spent very little on repairs over the five years I've owned the car. The most expensive single repair was replacing a broken alternator, which I installed myself. Of course, there is always the chance of a catastrophic failure occurring, like a broken engine or transmission, but if something like this happens, I can either try to repair (which might not be that expensive), or simply spend $1500 on another clunker that will last me another five years. I'll still be way ahead of the game when it comes to car costs.

Many of you will just ignore the advice in this article. After all, who really wants to drive a clunker around all the time? And in fact, many people do have impressions they need to keep up that require a nice car (such as real estate agents), and thats fine. Many can afford a nicer car without a problem, and thats great. However, most people just use their cars as basic transport, without any need for the latest special features, or any of the benefits of a newer car. Buying an older vehicle will save you a lot of money over the years, and in today's tight times, thats something everyone can appreciate.