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Hybrid delights, but at a price
Consider the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Whether buying a hybrid makes a statement is debatable, but it can be scientifically demonstrated that they are cleaner vehicles than standard cars.

Fuel economy also should be quantitative, but it has been controversial lately. Many owners of hybrids complain that their vehicles do not get the advertised 40 to 50 miles per gallon.

Blame it on cold weather, driving style, and a flawed EPA system for rating fuel efficiency. Still, hybrids do outperform their gasoline-only siblings.

The newest problem, as hybrid systems have moved into bigger vehicles, is that the price premium to own one has climbed into the thousands of dollars, even as the efficiency gap between the hybrid and traditional versions of the same vehicle has decreased.

Today's test vehicle is an example.

It had three rows of seats, a 3.3-liter V-6 engine mated to an electric motor, a continuously variable transmission (meaning virtually infinite gearing), and all-wheel drive.

The base price of $34,430 was about $3,000 higher than for a similarly equipped Highlander with standard gasoline power.

I have not driven a regular AWD Highlander in some time, but testing done by others has shown it is reasonable to expect fuel economy of about 19.2 miles per gallon.

During more than 1,000 miles of driving the Hybrid this month, I averaged 22.9 miles per gallon. That figure may be a bit low because most of my driving was in the suburbs and on the highway -- not on city streets, where hybrids perform better. Of course, who wants to rack up a lot of miles in the city with a seven-passenger, all-wheel-drive SUV? And I did not make any special effort, as some hybrid aficionados do, to maximize the hybrid technology. I just drove the rig.

So can you recoup your $3,000, given those performance numbers?

Yes, if you keep it a long time.

My calculations were made based on average annual mileage of 13,000 miles.

The standard Highlander uses regular gasoline, while premium is recommended for the hybrid.

At $2.117 per gallon for regular gasoline (the statewide average for Massachusetts last week), it would cost $1,433 to operate your basic Highlander for a year.

The Hybrid, running on premium at $2.363 per gallon, would cost $1,341.

That's a savings of only about $92 a year. Not exactly dramatic.

Still, if the nation's entire fleet of trucks and SUVs were to improve fuel efficiency by just three miles per gallon, lots of gasoline would go unburned.

And the Highlander has other things in its favor, such as room, performance, and ease of use. It is one of the finest SUVs on the market.

But I'm just not sure that using the hybrid system to maintain or increase power that we may not all need -- and Toyota is not alone here -- meets what should be a key hybrid goal: achieving significantly better gasoline mileage.

Manufacturers, in building today's standard gasoline-powered cars, have used important advances that, while giving us cleaner engines, also provide us with an increasing amount of horsepower, which is why overall fleet performance has not really improved in years.

Hybrids will miss the mark if they travel this same road

2006 Lincoln Town Car 2006 Mercury Monterey

But there also are deals to be had on 2006 cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs.

At Rodman Ford in Foxborough, for example, the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck, a perennial big seller, is being sold with $2,500 in incentives, according to Andrew Dale, the general sales manager. Ford, with its current ''Keep it Simple" program, also is offering $5,000 cash back on 2005 Explorer SUVs and $4,000 on the 2005 F-150.


2005 Ford Explorer 2006 Ford F-150

The incentives on new models are not limited to trucks and SUVs. According to the trade journal Automotive News, Ford's popular Five Hundred sedan and crossover Freestyle come with $1,000 rebates for 2006 (double for a 2005 model). The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria and 2006 Mercury Marquis are being offered with $2,000 and $3,000 discounts, respectively.


2006 Ford Crown Victoria 2006 Mercury Marquis

Sometimes the vehicles on sale are models scheduled to be discontinued, or they have lingered too long on a lot.

And while all manufacturers exclude certain hot sellers from discounting -- such as Chrysler's 300 series, General Motors' Hummer, or Pontiac's Solstice sports car -- most are offering incentives on many popular models through low interest rates, cash bonuses, or both.

General Motors is offering Northeast Region cash allowances of $1,500 on its 2006 Buick LaCrosse, $3,000 on the Buick Rainier SUV, 0-percent financing or up to $4,500 in cash allowances on a 2006 Cadillac Escalade, and even $1,500 on its small 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt.


See incentives offered by manufacturers

Those looking for a Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge will find such customer incentives as $2,500 on 2006 models of the Dodge Caravan wagon or Durango SUV, $2,000 on the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty, and $5,000 or more on 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

Chrysler is in the waning weeks of what it calls its Miles of Freedom program. Instead of the cost incentives, buyers can choose to receive a debit card good for about $2,400 worth of gasoline, an extended five-year, 60,000-mile warranty, and free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles. In addition, the debit card can be used for consumer purchases other than gasoline, said Lisa Barrow, a company spokeswoman.

Foreign automakers such as Mazda, Land Rover, Nissan, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Hyundai, and Kia have also joined in offering end-of-year incentives.

More on the 2006 Toyota Tundra

It was typical of the ''sweeter deals for many buyers" that are now available, said Jesse Toprak, a senior analyst who works for the automotive watchdog Edmunds.com.

Ciccolo, whose company sells Cadillacs, Hummers, Volvos, Saabs, and Hondas, said the aim is to overcome sales doldrums that coincide with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, when consumers tend to spend their money elsewhere and not think about buying a car. Many of the manufacturer incentives were launched in the fall, but become more valuable in the final days of the year because dealers often add their own enhancements.

This year, the holiday-season slowdown was exacerbated by high gasoline prices that hit truck and SUV sales hardest, as well as by a barrage of successful buying incentives rolled out during the summer -- such as promotions that offered consumers vehicles at the same price auto company employees paid for them. As a result, sales volume was up, but profits were not.

About 15 percent of the vehicles on dealership lots today are leftover 2005 models, Toprak said. For example, a 2005 Lincoln Town car features a $5,500 price cut and Mercury Montereys have been slashed by $6,000.

SELL YOUR USED CAR ONLINE - QUICK AND EASY!

Steps to Selling Your Car Quick and Easy

Family sedans, while unexciting to many, are in constant demand by people needing basic, inexpensive transportation.
SUVs are very popular right now and often move quickly, even older models.
The sale of convertibles and sports cars is seasonal. Sunny weather brings out the buyers. Fall and winter months will be slow.
Trucks and vans, used for work, are steady sellers and command competitive prices. Don't underestimate their value.
Collector cars will take longer to sell and are often difficult to price. However, these cars can have unexpected value if you find the right buyer.

Your first step is to check on-line classified ads to see how much others are asking for your type of car. Cars.com Used Vehicle Locator and other Internet sites allow you to search with specific criteria. For example, select the year and trim level of your car and see how many similar cars are currently on the market. Take note of their condition, mileage, geographic location and selling price so you can list your car at a price that will sell it quickly.
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Once you have surveyed the on-line classified ads, use Cars.com True Market Value pricing to determine the fair value of your car. Cars.com prices are adjusted for mileage, color, region, options and condition. Once you have followed the prompts and gotten a specific price, you can also generate a "For Sale" sign. An Cars.com "For Sale" sign will give your price an air of authority.

There are always some exceptions to the rules of pricing, so you should follow your intuition. And be sure to leave a little wiggle room in your asking price. Ask for slightly more money than you are actually willing to accept. If you want to get $12,000 for the car, you should list the car at $12,500. That way, if you get $12,500 — great! But if you have to go lower, it won't be a terrible loss.

You may have noticed how creative used car dealers get in pricing cars. Their prices usually end in "995," as in $12,995. Are we not supposed to notice that the car basically costs $13,000? There is a lot of psychology in setting prices. A product that doesn't sell well at $20 might jump off the shelf at $19.95.

When people come to look at your car, they will probably make up their minds to buy it or not within the first few seconds. This is based on their first look at the car. So you want this first look to be positive. You want your car to have "curb appeal."

Before you advertise your car for sale, make sure it looks as clean and attractive as realistically possible. This goes beyond just taking it to the car wash. Here is a to-do list that could help turn your heap into a cream puff:

Make sure it is washed, waxed and detailed.
Make sure your car is both mechanically sound and free from dents, dings and scrapes.
Consider making low-cost repairs yourself rather than selling it "as is."
Shovel out all the junk from the inside of the car. When prospective buyers go for a test-drive, you don't want them to feel like they've walked into your messy bedroom. Let them visualize the car as theirs.
Wipe the brake dust off the wheel covers and clean the tires with a tire gloss product.
Thoroughly clean the windows (inside and out) and all the mirrored surfaces.
Wipe down the dashboard and empty the ashtrays.
Have all your maintenance records ready to show prospective buyers.
If the car needs servicing or even a routine oil change, take care of that before putting it up for sale.
Have your mechanic check out your car and issue a report about its condition. You can use this to motivate a buyer who is on the fence.
Order a Carfax report and show it to the buyer to prove the car's title is clean and the odometer reading is accurate.

Check the History
Another telltale sign of potential trouble, though certainly not the only sign, is the number of safety recalls a used model has had.

The federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a recall database.

This database, for example, reports that the 2000 Ford Focus had an ominous ten safety recalls, and the 2001 Focus had six.

While at the NHTSA site, peruse the Technical Service Bulletins. They detail some vehicle problems that a carmaker has sought to share with dealers.

After finding a prospective vehicle, be sure to check over its mechanicals carefully via MSN Autos' Used Car Checklist. It's a good idea to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, too.

Also check the vehicle's history to ensure it hasn't been severely wrecked in a crash or stolen. Go to the MSN Autos Used Car Research page to use Carfax or AutoCheck to view the history of a car before laying any money down.

Examples of Exceptional Used Vehicles

Economical small sedans:

1996 Honda Civic EX, $6,000
2001 Honda Civic EX, $9,500
Sporty sedans:

1996 Infiniti G20 with manual transmission, $5,500
1998 Mazda Millenia S, $8,500
Family haulers:

1996 Toyota Camry XLE with V6, $7,500
2000 Toyota Camry XLE with V6, 12,000
1996 to 2000 Honda Accord LX with V6
1997 Honda Odyssey, about $8,500
Plush cruisers:

1999 Lincoln Town Car Executive, $11,000
1996 Acura RL, $10,000
2000 Acura RL, $19,000
1996 Toyota Avalon XLS, $8,100
2000 Toyota Avalon XLS, $18,000
Fun to drive:

1999 Mazda Miata, $9,800
1996 Toyota Celica GT coupe, $8,300
SUVs:

1998 Nissan Pathfinder SE, $11,000
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5, $13,500
1998 Subaru Forester L, $8,000
1998 Toyota RAV4 AWD, $10,000
Runabout sedans:

2000 Buick Regal, $9,000
1999 Ford Escort, $4,000
Source: Consumer Reports' 2003 Used Car Yearbook

Kelley Blue Book Best Value Holders among 2003 models
Acura MDX
BMW 3-Series
Chevrolet Corvette
Honda Civic
Infiniti G35
Jeep Wrangler
Lexus LS 430
Mercedes-Benz CLK
MINI Cooper
Toyota Tacoma

Best Used Vehicles

The 1996 Honda Civic is considered an exceptional used car value.

Used vehicle sales far outnumber new-model sales each year, but shoppers need to be well prepared and savvy to get the best used vehicle.

The 1998 Mazda Millenia is an example of an exceptional value sporty sedan.

The 1999 Lincoln Town Car is considered to be a great value as a plush cruiser.

The 1996 Toyota Celica GT is a great choice for a fun-to-drive used car.

With the average retail new-vehicle price now topping $30,000, many American consumers are choosing to buy used vehicles instead.
After all, the average price for a used vehicle in the United States is far less—around $14,000, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Buying used is more than just getting a lower price.

To get the best used model, a buyer has to do some soul-searching about what kind of vehicle he or she needs, decide on how much can be spent, and research which models have a reputation for holding up well.

After that, the shopping, test-driving—and purchase—can get under way.

Best Rated Used 4x4 Vehicles
Your Guide to 4-Wheel Drive / Offroading.
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Top SUVs and Pickup Trucks
Here are the best rated used SUVs and Pickup Trucks, recommended by a number of top expert sources. (The worst rated SUVs and Trucks are here.) These are so highly rated, you shouldn't hesitate about buying one of these used vehicles.
Consumer Reports' Good Bets
The following SUVs and trucks have performed well in Consumer Reports tests over the years and have had much-better-than-average reliability for multiple years. They are listed alphabetically (1997 through 2004 models).

Acura MDX
Honda CR-V
Infiniti QX4
Lexus RX300
Lexus RX330
Nissan Pathfinder
Subaru Forester
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Tundra
Edmunds' Used Car Best Bets
The SUVs and pickup trucks that are included here, earned their top ratings based on overall reliability through the years, as well as performance in crash test ratings.

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They are listed by vehicle category (1997 through 2002 models).

Mini-SUV: 1997-2002 Honda CR-V
SUV: 1999-2002 Nissan Pathfinder
Small Pickup: 1997-2002 Ford Ranger / Mazda B-Series
Large Pickup: 1997-2002 Ford F-150
Consumer Reports' Exceptional Used SUVs


1998 Nissan Pathfinder SE
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5
1998 Subaru Forester L
1998 Toyota RAV4 AWD
Car Connection's Recommended Used Vehicles
The Car Connection put together this list of recommended used cars, vehicles that tend to rise to the top after a few years of service.


Best Used Crossover: Lexus RX300
Best Used Small SUV: Subaru Forester
Best Used Mid-Size SUV (Traditional): Ford Explorer
Best Used Full-Size SUV: GMC Yukon
Best Used Small Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Best Used Pickup: Ford F-150
Good Used SUVs For Your Money
Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money". He has compiled this list of Top Five SUVs worth your consideration.


Subaru Forester
Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Pathfinder
Ford Explorer
Honda CRV

Should You Buy A Hybrid 4WD Vehicle?
Can you drive an SUV or pickup truck in good conscience these days? If it's a Hybrid you can. Before you buy one, here's everything you need to know about Hybrid cars and the future of Hybrid pickup trucks and SUVs, including the history of Hybrid vehicles, pros and cons of owning Hybrids, a little about how Hybrid cars work, and their 4x4 off road and towing capabilities.

Should You Buy A Vehicle Online?
Check here for a thorough review of the six (6) most popular Online Classifieds websites. Here are the pros and cons of each individual site, as viewed by a potential buyer interested in purchasing a good, used vehicle to use as a daily driver or a as an off road trail rider. Here's how AutoTrader, Cars, Yahoo, Carbuyer, Ebay Motors, and Autobytel did at finding a used 4WD Ford Explorer online.

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The class of midsize luxury sedans is among the most competitive in the market. So much so that an automaker would have to be masochistic to add a new car to the fray — or have a really, really good one. At first blush, it looks like Infiniti's 2006 M35 and M45 are really, really good cars, packed with more truly usable technology than any one car in recent memory.