car_guide10

CAR GUIDE

A GUIDE FOR THE AVERAGE JOE – AND JANE

THE PROGRESS-INDEX FALL 2010

THE HYBRID REPORT: Fun and Fuel-Frugal IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: YOUR CAR, YOUR WAY

BEST NEW CARS

EVER WHY THIS SEASON, CAR SHOPPING FAVORS THE PICKY

DON’T BE A WIMP: TEST DRIVE TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS

SAFETY FIRST? NEW OPTIONS TO PONDER

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TOYOTA PRICES EXCLUDE TAX, TAGS AND $499 PROCESSING FEE. NISSAN PRICES EXCLUDES TAXES, TAGS AND $499 PROCESSING FEE. NISSAN PRICES INCLUDE ALL INCENTIVES AND DISCOUNTS, INCLUDING COLLEGE GRADUATE. KIA PRICES INCLUDES ALL APPLICABLE REBATES: RETAIL, MILITARY, COMPETITIVE OR OWNER LOYALTY. EXCLUDES TTL AND $499 PROCESSING FEE.*SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY. PRIORITIES FOR LIFE APPLIES TO NEW VEHICLES PURCHASED AFTER AUGUST 1, 2005. AS LONG AS YOU OWN YOUR NEW CAR OR TRUCK. PRIORITIES FOR LIFE OIL CHANGE DOES NOT INCLUDE SYNTHETIC OIL. ADDITIONAL CHARGE WILL APPLY. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. OFFERS END 9/30/10.

CAR GUIDE NEW CAR AHEAD?

3

HOW TO CHOOSE THE MODEL THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU PRUDENT BUYERS SHOP WITH THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS. HERE’S HOW TO SHOP SMART.

By DEB ACORD CTW FEATURES

F

or 14 years, Virginia Pulver of Santa Fe, N.M., drove a Dodge pickup truck she affectionately called “Dakota Jack.”

The truck fit her personality. “I bought it when I lived in Boston,” she says. The pickup “was an excellent vehicle for my life then.

We hauled lots of antiques home from auctions, and later lived in Texas, where Jack was quite at home.”

But Pulver’s life changed, and so did her transportation needs. She and her husband moved to Santa Fe to work for AmeriCorps VISTA, and they were living frugally. So when the Cash for Clunkers was announced in 2009, she decided it was time to retire her aging pickup.

She now is the proud owner of what she calls her “happy new car,” a Chevrolet Aveo subcompact in unapologetic rubber-ducky yellow. “It is a basic car but just perfect for where I am in my life and the lifestyle I’m living now,” she says.

In Woodland Park, Colo., Sean McDonough also was ready for a trade. McDonough’s 3-year-old Nissan Frontier truck needed new tires and several hundred dollars in maintenance. “All of a sudden,” he says he realized, “it was the same amount as a down payment.” And while economics convinced him to trade in his existing vehicle, sheer emotion drove his choice of new vehicle: a 2009 Toyota Tacoma pickup. “I always wanted a Toyota,” says McDonough. “They are known to be reliable, and I love the way they look.”

Both of these new-car buyers made their purchases with their heads and their hearts. And both are pleased with their purchases. That’s a good sign,

says Jeff Ostroff, consumer advocate and author of CarBuyingTips.com, where he offers advice to car buyers and owners.

A car purchase should mesh with a buyer’s lifestyle and also fit comfortably within what a buyer can afford with reasonable payments. Ostroff says the list of pragmatic factors a buyer must consider is short: “The right number of seats to accommodate your family, then engine size and trunk size, then gas mileage.”

“Four-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive really depends on where you live. If all you do is drive on flat roads, you don’t need four-wheel drive.”

Pulver has already taken a 1,000-mile trip in her new Aveo, and she says she makes frequent trips “down the mountain from Santa Fe to Albuquerque and lots of running around town.” McDonough lives in a mountain town and drives on steep winding highways to work and back and recently finished a road trip to Oregon and back in his new truck.

Both say they are happy with their purchases. “I love the color, size and how well it maneuvers,” Pulver says. “I also love that I am paying no interest [thanks to a cut-rate loan promotion], and the monthly payments are cheap, cheap, cheap.”

McDonough, whose Tacoma is a steel gray with a hood scoop, says he’s surprised by how many people tell him they like his truck, “especially the hood scoop,” he says. “I think that’s hilarious. It has nothing to do with performance.”

Both drivers shopped around for their cars, and neither bought on impulse. That’s the way a purchase should be made, Ostroff says. “By being a little patient, you can save thousands of dollars.”

© CTW Features

CAR GUIDE

4

Home AWAY FROM

home

FACEBOOK NEW FRIENDS, WATCH TV AND TELL THE IN-DASH AUDIO SYSTEM JUST WHAT TUNES TO PLAY. WITH NEW IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS, ALL THAT’S MISSING IS THE LA-Z-BOY.

By JIM GORZELANY CTW FEATURES

T

he average commute to and from work by car takes 48.8 minutes.

That puts the typical commuter behind the wheel the equivalent of more than a full week over the course of a year. And that’s not counting time spent running errands, visiting friends or relatives and taking vehicular vacations.

Fortunately, a growing array of electronics systems in the newest cars are dedicated to helping motorists and passengers not just pass all that time on the road but actually make it productive. Here’s a look at the latest high-tech in-car systems that can help make short work of even the longest commutes and road trips.

Today’s in-dash audio systems do far more than just tune in radio stations and play CDs. Many now allow users to connect and play iPods and other portable devices through the receiver; the best of them also offer full control and playlist displays with intuitive voice-command interfaces. Several cars also include a built-in computer-like hard drive in their top audio systems for digital media storage. The Cadillac CTS luxury sedan goes a step further, transforming its audio system into a device that functions like an in-car TiVo. It’s able to pause and rewind live broadcasts (it does so automatically when the radio is muted), which can be handy for rechecking traffic reports or pausing a baseball game play-by-play.

In-car DVD video arrays are nearly ubiquitous

among family-minded minivans and SUVs. The best of them include separate screens for secondand third-row riders. But the Sirius Backseat TV system (offered as original equipment in many Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models and as an installed accessory in other video-equipped vehicles) lets the kids leave the discs at home. Backseat TV delivers four channels of youth-oriented satellite TV programming for a $7 monthly subscription fee (in addition to a $13 monthly Sirius satellite radio fee).

And now grownups can avail themselves of a wider range of in-car video programming thanks to the just-introduced Audiovox FLO TV system. Initially sold and installed via new-car dealerships through Chrysler’s Mopar parts division, the $629 system offers up to 20 live and time-shifted TV channels, including CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV and NBC 2Go. A one-year subscription is included, although installation costs are extra.

While GPS navigation systems have long been offered to help motorists efficiently get from Point A to Point B and perhaps find a restaurant, gas station or ATM along the way, the latest systems bundle advanced travel information services that are ideally suited to road warriors. Ford now offers the Sirius Travel Link service in a variety of models that provides weather conditions and forecasts, sports scores, traffic information, gasoline prices and even local movie times along a route and at a destination.

Similarly, BMW is incorporating a Google Maps function into the 3 Series’ navigation system via a wireless Internet connection. This allows motorists

to search for restaurants, hotels, service stations, banks, supermarkets, cinemas and public facilities by keyword, then initiate route guidance at the push of a button or place a hands-free call to the selected site.

Those seeking bona fide in-car Web access can choose a dealer-installed Wi-Fi accessory offered for many Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC and Jeep models. It turns a vehicle into a rolling Internet hot spot that enables passengers with laptop computers and other Wi-Fi devices (like portable video game systems) to connect to the Internet via a wireless network. Supplied by Autonet Mobile, the unit costs $499 with a minimum $29/ month service fee.

If that’s not enough connectivity, Ford pickup truck and van buyers can now fit their vehicles with an in-dash computer and high-speed Internet access as part of the automaker’s Work Solutions system; the hardware costs $1,195, not including $25-$50/ month Web access fees. A proprietary Tool Link

system can be added for $1,220 that can alert a driver if he or she is missing a critical tool before leaving for a work site, via radio frequency tags that interact with the computer.

And finally, while a majority of new cars offer a so-called Bluetooth interface that allows making and receiving hands-free calls, Mercedes-Benz takes the concept to the next level with its new “mbrace” system, which links an owner’s smart phone (Blackberry, iPhone, etc.) to many current and recent Mercedes models. Among its 18 features, the system will notify an owner by phone if the alarm is activated and locate it if the vehicle is stolen, remotely open the car if the keys are inadvertently locked in and send Google Maps from the phone to the navigation system for a future road trip.

Clearly the idea of an automobile as merely a mode of transportation has gone the way of the horse-and-buggy.

© CTW Features

CAR GUIDE

5

Tips to a longer, better test drive

DON’T CLIP A TEST DRIVE SHORT. SERIOUS BUYERS SHOULD TAKE ALL THE TIME THEY NEED.

By JEFFREY STEELE CTW FEATURES

T

he average driver will log thousands of miles in the new car, pickup or crossover vehicle they drive home from the dealership.

Incredibly, most will spend only 10 to 15 minutes in a prepurchase test-drive.

“People usually spend more time staring at a TV they are thinking of buying than test-driving,” says Jesse Toprak, vice president for industry trends for TrueCar, a Santa Monica, Calif., company that tracks car-buying habits. “Driving around the block is not going to give you a good sense of the car.”

To make the best possible decision, new-car buyers should take time for a thorough, relaxed drive of any vehicle they’re considering for purchase. An ideal test-drive should last at least 30 minutes. However, if you need more time behind the wheel, simply ask for it. You may be pleasantly surprised. Some dealers let test-drivers take a car home overnight.

“The best experience you will have, ideally, is to keep the car as long as you can,” says Toprak. If the car is available for a rental, rent it for the weekend. That is the best test experience you’re going to get.”

The best test-drive should approximate the type of driving you expect to do in your new vehicle. “Go through your daily routines,” says Toprak. “Drive to work, to school, to the grocery store. Park in your typical parking spots. I would even bring everyone who is going to be in the car, as much as possible – especially if you have kids, to make sure they fit.”

The longer the test drive, the more time the buyer will have to notice crucial details. Aspects of style or functionality that might seem minor in theory can spring to life as major inconveniences when you sit behind the wheel.

“A car you’ve seen or heard about may have given you one idea, but once your body sits in that seat, it can be very different,” says Joni Gray, an automotive blogger for Examiner.com and former consumer advice editor for Kelley Blue Book in Irvine, Calif. A driver might be attracted to the

TOP TEST-DRIVE TIPS Best time of day: When the dealership isn’t busy – in the early morning on a weekday.

How long: As long as you can, but at least 30 minutes. Some dealerships will even let you take the car home overnight if they know you’re a serious buyer.

What route: “Go through your daily routines,” says Jesse Toprak of TrueCar. “Drive to work, to school, to the grocery store; park in your typical parking spots.”

With or without a salesperson: Without, to minimize distraction while you drive. Not all dealerships will allow this, however, so be sure to ask.

look of a sporty car. Experiencing its cramped cabin and feeling every bump in the road during a test drive, however, can bring a dose of reality to the buying equation.

When test-driving any car, buyers should take their time to see how it performs in the following areas: Ride comfort. Notice whether the ride is smooth or harsh and whether the driver’s seat feels comfortable. Are there any rough jolts or unusual vibrations? These can come from the engine, the shocks or from the way the car is engineered.

“The car can feel heavy or too light,” Gray says.

“There are different feels to a car and, depending on your druthers, it can be unpleasant or very likable.”

Noise. Test-drivers should note whether they hear cockpit noise, wind, the engine or perhaps a whistling sound from a closed window. “Is there some sort of rattle that you can’t determine the source of?” Gray asks. “If so, that’s not good.”

Power and acceleration. Does the car hesitate or lurch forward when pushing down on the gas pedal? These aren’t good signs.

As the engine shifts through gears, drivers should also observe its smoothness and strength.

“If it’s a small engine you’ll hear that engine work hard as you go up a hill,” Gray says. “A larger engine will have a much smoother shifting experience.”

Braking. All brakes aren’t created equal. In braking, buyers should note whether the vehicle slows down smoothly and whether the car feels responsive in a non-jolting way.

Handling. One of the best ways to test a vehicle’s handling is to determine how easy it is to maneuver into a parking space. This will show how the car handles at slow speeds and also how easy or difficult it is to turn the wheel.

Nitpicks. There are details to nitpick in any vehicle. How far away is the radio? Do both elbows rest at the same level? How does the blinker sound? How do you turn on the inside light?

How do the knobs and upholstery feel? Is the backlighting in the console pleasant? These little details can become big ones.

Christopher Adamson contributed to this report.

© CTW Features

CAR GUIDE

HOT NEW HYBRIDS Honda CR-Z

By JIM GORZELANY CTW FEATURES

W

hile they currently make up a little less than 1 percent of new-vehicle sales, automotive experts nonetheless predict a bright future for fuel-frugal gas/electric-powered hybrid models.

According to the investment banking division of J.P. Morgan, hybrids will account for 19.4 percent of the U.S. market by 2020, given stricter emissions and fuel economy standards, federal tax breaks and higher gasoline costs. J.P. Morgan further predicts that hybrid-car prices will likewise become more affordable down the road. Current hybrids cost around $5,667 more than a comparable conventionally powered model; that differential is predicted to fall to just $1,890 within 10 years.

To that end, automakers are continuing to develop new hybrid-powered models in both mid-priced and luxury segments. Here’s a look at the latest hybrids, including a few that will be arriving shortly as early-2011 models: • BMW ActiveHybrid X6. This sleekly styled “all activity” hybrid vehicle features a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 gasoline engine and two electric motors that combine to produce 480 horsepower with a 20percent improvement in fuel economy. A seven-speed automatic transmission, road-holding all-wheel-drive system and myriad luxury features are standard.

• Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrids. The new hybrid versions of the Fusion and Milan sedans boast an estimated 41-city/36-highway mpg in spacious midsize five-passenger packages. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine is mated to an electric motor/generator and a CVT automatic transmission to produce V6-like acceleration. A novel LCD instrument cluster can actually help drivers garner maximum miles per gallon.

• Honda Insight. Honda wraps its latest hybrid in sleek aerodynamic styling and teams a 98-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor/generator and a gearless CVT automatic transmission. Priced at just under $20,000, the four-door hatchback is the least-expensive hybrid sold in the U.S., and delivers an estimated 40-city/43-highway mpg. Look for another Honda hybrid to debut

6

SURE, THE NEW CROP OF HYBRIDS HAS ECO CRED. BETTER YET, THESE FUEL-FRUGAL VEHICLES BOAST SOMETHING MORE: SPORTY LINES, LUXURY APPOINTMENTS AND EVEN A DASH OF SEX APPEAL. during 2010, the all-new CR-Z two-seat coupe, to be followed by a gas/ electric version of the popular Fit subcompact.

• Lexus HS 250h. The traditionally styled midsize HS 250h sedan comes powered by a 147-horsepower gasoline engine and an electric motor/ generator that generate the equivalent of 187 horsepower, with 35-city/34highway mpg. Multiple high-tech accessories are offered, including frontand rear park-assist video cameras and a heads-up display that projects pertinent info onto the windshield in the driver’s line of sight.

• Mercedes-Benz ML450 HYBRID. The just-released hybrid version of Mercedes’ popular M-Class SUV should become a favorite among affluent eco-minded families. It combines a 275-horsepower 3.5-liter

CAR GUIDE

7

Ford Fusion

gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors to generate V8-like performance with an estimated 30 percent savings at the pump, which amounts to 21-city/24-highway mpg. What’s more, the automaker is rolling out a “mild hybrid” rendition of its top model, the S550 BlueHYBRID; a 15kw electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion battery pack modestly augments a 3.5-liter gasoline engine, though much of its savings (an estimated 30 mpg) are realized by an automatic start/stop function.

Porsche Cayenne/Panamera Hybrids.

Apparently, stricter carbon-emissions standards on the way (especially in Europe) can make even the likes of Porsche a “greener” car company.

The sports-car maker’s first two hybrid models are the quick and burly Cayenne SUV and the just-introduced four-door Panamera. Each fea-

BMW ActiveHybrid X6

tures a “parallel” hybrid system in which an electric motor is fully integrated into the vehicle’s powertrain, to provide Porsche-like performance with a 30-percent gain in fuel economy.

• Toyota Prius. The industry’s top-selling hybrid received a makeover for 2010, though it retains its “car of the future” appearance. It’s roomier, quieter and more powerful, yet boasts an industry-leading 51-city/48-highway mpg fuel economy. Advanced options include a solar-panel sunroof that economically powers the car’s air conditioning. A “plug-in” version will be added to the line next year that will feature extended electric-only power, along with a small hybrid SUV that will be sold under the Prius name.

© CTW Features

CAR GUIDE

SAFE IN SPITE OF OURSELVES DRIVERS DON’T ALWAYS NOTICE, BRAKE OR MANEUVER WHEN THEY SHOULD. INCREASINGLY, THERE’S A SAFETY DEVICE THAT CAN – AND WILL.

8

CAR GUIDE

9

By JIM GORZELANY CTW FEATURES

S

afety is a top consideration among new-car buyers, right up there with the pocketbook issues of reliability, price and fuel economy. Happily, today’s cars offer more safety features than ever, both “passive” devices like air bags and seat belts and “active” features, including antilock brakes and stability control. Drivers’ preference for added safety has reshaped the automotive landscape. While only 9 percent of all vehicles offered stability control in 1999, today 74 percent of cars and 100 percent of SUVs now offer it. Likewise, 90 percent of all cars and trucks now offer side-impact air bags, compared to just 9 percent a decade ago.

The proliferation of safety gear (along with greater seatbelt usage and stricter drunkdriving laws) has prevented fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 35,000 lives were lost in traffic accidents during 2009, which is down from 43,500 in 2005.

But 35,000 fatalities is still 35,000 too many. To that end, automakers are pushing the envelope of technology to produce advanced systems than can go far beyond air bags and stability control, to both protect a vehicle’s occupants in a crash and to help drivers avoid collisions in the first place.

Generally, the latest hightech features, safety or otherwise, first appear on high-end luxury cars, then filter down to moderately priced models as costs decrease and demand increases. The blind-spot detection system is one such feature that is becoming widespread on various model lines this year. Known by different names among various manufacturers, the technology uses rear- and/or side-mounted cameras to detect the presence of vehicles just to the side and rear of a vehicle. The system gives visual and audible notifications to alert a driver to an otherwise unseen presence. Ford launched its own ver-

sion of this system for 2010 that further includes what the automaker calls Cross Traffic Alert; this notifies drivers backing out of a parking space or alley when traffic is approaching from either side of the vehicle.

Another driver assistance feature that’s finding its way into more mainstream autos this year is the lane departure warning system, which helps keep inattentive drivers from inadvertently veering into another line of traffic and causing a collision. The system looks for highway lane markings and generates an audible signal if it determines the vehicle is about to cross them. On select Infiniti models, the system goes a step further by also engaging the

example, Mercedes-Benz’s Pre-Safe system will automatically tighten the seat belts and close the sunroof and windows and prime the brakes to full force – even engage them if necessary. Lexus’ top Pre-Collision System adds one video camera to monitor the road ahead and another to keep an electronic eye on the driver’s face; the system will set off alerts and reprogram the steering for maximum quickness if it “sees” an obstacle in the car’s path and determines that the driver isn’t paying attention.

Meanwhile, Volvo’s latest accident avoidance system, called City Safety, is newly offered in the 2010 XC60 crossover SUV. It works to prevent

vehicle’s stability control system to help nudge it back into the lane.

The next advanced system expected to trickle down from the luxury segment is the so-called collision mitigation system, which can actually anticipate, via speed and proximity sensors, when a crash is imminent and take the appropriate action. For

collisions at speeds up to 18 mph by automatically applying the brakes if the system determines the driver isn’t reacting fast enough to avoid hitting a stopped vehicle in its path.

Which safety systems can we expect to see in future models? For starters, Ford will be incorporating air bags into back-seat shoulder belts begin-

ning with next year’s Explorer SUV, eventually including them in all vehicles across its corporate product lines. They’re claimed to spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts. The shoulder belts are said to help reduce pressure on the chest and control head and neck motion, particularly among children and older passengers who can be vulnerable to such injuries.

Beefing up side-impact protection, European engineers have developed a system that protects occupants by instantaneously sliding a metal bar in place alongside the vehicle to strengthen its frame if it detects a collision is about to occur.

Automotive supplier Continental is developing technology to help make passing on two-lane roads safer. If sensors determine there isn’t sufficient room between the vehicle and incoming traffic as the driver begins to pass it will sound an increasingly urgent alert and activate the brakes if necessary to help avoid a head-on crash.

And researchers at Auburn University are working to integrate a car’s safety systems with a global positioning system like those used in navigation hardware. Providing information on a vehicle’s motion via GPS, the system will detect when a driver is about to lose control and communicate with the vehicle’s stability control system and other features to prevent a serious accident.

Unfortunately, no amount of technology can protect a vehicle’s occupants 100 percent from the follies of a careless or reckless motorist. So always drive responsibly, alertly, without unnecessary distractions, and stay sober to help ensure that every journey is a safe one.

© CTW Features

CAR GUIDE

10

A new

lease on life

LEASING IS TIP-TOEING BACK INTO THE MARKETPLACE. FOR SOME CAREFUL, LOW-MILEAGE DRIVERS, IT’S AN OPTION THAT MAY ONCE AGAIN ADD UP.

By JEFFREY STEELE CTW FEATURES

N

ew-vehicle leasing appears to have a new lease on life.

Both General Motors and Chrysler have returned to leasing programs and there is a flurry of advertising for new-vehicle leases on luxury models and more affordable rides.

Leasing took a hit along with the rest of the economy starting in the third quarter of 2008.

During its heyday in the mid-1990s, leasing represented 22 percent of all transactions and 40 to 50 percent of the luxury vehicle segment. By comparison, in September 2008 just 12 percent of all new vehicle transactions involved leasing. That figure remained in the 12- to 14-percent range for most of 2009, reaching what Jeff Schuster, Detroitbased executive director of forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates calls “an artificial low” of 8 percent in August. That’s when clunker-crazy America took advantage of a federal rebate program to cash in replacing gas-guzzling vehicles

with new fuel sippers.

Leasing’s precipitous tailspin resulted from a combination of factors. First, the economic meltdown had a profound effect on credit availability.

GM and Chrysler essentially pulled out of leasing, and others dramatically reduced their exposure.

“Ford didn’t cut out, but did cut back on, leasing,” Schuster says. “Across the board, we saw a general reduction in leasing.”

The value of autos – like that of America’s housing stock – also tumbled.

Vehicles coming off lease were worth less in the used car market than automakers had originally estimated.

Today, as the economy recovers and credit begins to ease, leasing is edging back up. Both GM and Chrysler are again dipping their toes in the leasing waters.

“It becomes a competitive disadvantage if you can’t offer different financing options, Schuster says. “As buyers come back into the market, it’s important to have leasing as an option, regardless of a car’s price.”

Leasing’s rebound does not mean that it’s the right choice for everyone. Buyers should do their homework to determine if this method is a financially smart move for them. Leasing can make sense for drivers who like to trade in their vehicles after two or three years for newer models. It’s also likely the best choice for those who seek the “most” car for the lowest possible monthly payment, says Jon Alain Guzik, editor-in-chief of San Francisco-based Driverside.com.

When purchasing a vehicle, a buyer may have to provide as much as a $10,000 down payment to minimize monthly payments, Guzik says. “But with a lease, you can put down from nothing to a few thousand dollars, and drive off with a brand new car,” he adds. “That makes sense for a lot of people.”

For any driver who logs substantial mileage every year, leasing is not likely to be attractive. Many leases contain a proviso that the car not be driven more than 10,000-15,000 miles annually, Guzik says. Beyond that limit, each mile adds considerably to the cost in terms of additional mileage charges. “You may wind

up paying thousands of dollars extra by the end of your lease,” he says. Ditto for those who tend to be “rough” on a car, as “wear and tear” costs are assessed for a returned vehicle that’s in less than a pristine condition.

Then, too, there may be generous incentives, such as zero-percent financing, that make the outright purchase of a vehicle too attractive to refuse, Schuster adds. “You have to look at all the deals available and decide do you want to hold on to the vehicle or have a newer car on a periodic basis,” Schuster says.

Guzik advises shoppers take a hard look at what they want and what they can afford – often very different considerations.

As for the road ahead, J.D. Power’s Shuster sees leasing continuing to gain momentum in the coming year, but doesn’t envision a return to 22percent market penetration. “Our view is that’s gone forever.”

© CTW Features

10/16/2010