AutoBuying101.com Staff's Blog

The American Automobile Association has released its annual ‘Your Driving Costs’ study. The study shows a 1.9 percent increase in the cost of owning a car. This translates to an average cost of $8,946 per car per year, which includes things like fuel, maintenance, insurance, and finance repayments.

This news is not entirely surprising, given the rise in fuel costs over the last year. Pump prices are up almost 15% since last year’s report. The cost of tires has also risen 4.2%, an increase mainly caused by a rise in the cost of raw materials.

The findings in the AAA report were based on a driving cycle of 15,000 miles a year.

More and more people have gas prices and fuel economy on their minds. This has in part resulted in a surge of interest in hybrid and electric vehicles and now we’re seeing another interesting shift - more people are considering a diesel vehicle. A mainstay in Europe, diesel vehicles have often been overlooked in North America - considered to be noisy and not worth the dollars at the dealership - but this perspective is slowly changing.

 With this in mind, we thought it would be useful to take a closer look at the diesel vehicle market and highlight a few vehicles that you may not have realized do come with a diesel option.

In every industry, perception and what we think of specific companies, brands and logos goes a long way in contributing to our purchase decisions. When it comes to buying a new car or truck, this brand awareness and perception goes a long way in how we research our vehicle purchases and ultimately in the vehicle we choose to buy.

In-vehicle innovation has come a very long way. It used to be that having a DVD player or MP3-enabled sound system was considered cutting edge. This was also when heated seats and automatic sunroofs were reserved for high-end vehicles. Well, things are changing and in keeping step with the technological changes we’ve seen with the Internet and communication - similar advances have been introduced to the latest vehicles on the market.

10 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs and Crossovers

It doesn’t look like gas prices are going to get any lower any time soon... And when you’re interested in buying an SUV or crossover vehicle, the price of gas is a big factor in your purchase decision. It is one thing to pay the monthly payments and insurance costs and when you add in the cost of gas, it can make owning a larger vehicle an affordable challenge.

Typically we post blog posts here about buying a new car and the best new vehicles on the market based on awards and innovation. Today we’re going to talk about used cars and how to sell your used car. Let’s face it, many people really just feel overwhelmed by the thought of selling their used vehicle.

It can be time consuming. You have to understand pricing and how best to advertise your vehicle. You have to deal with people who aren’t really serious about buying your vehicle but take up your time anyway. Yes, selling a used vehicle can be considered to be a hassle but in today’s automotive market, selling your vehicle privately can be a very smart decision.

We often focus on new cars and buying new cars on this blog but today we’re going to take a look at buying a used car. For many of you and for many reasons, a used car makes the most sense. Used cars often make the most practical sense when you need a second car, need a car for your teenagers or a vehicle for city driving. As well, if you make a smart buy, your used car can result in a much better purchase than buying a new car.

Having kids and a family means you’re on the go. You’ve got to drop the kids off at school, pick the kids up at the end of the school day, take the kids to music, dance, and sports lessons and then there are the trips to the mall or out to dinner. And all of this family activity is dependent on having a reliable vehicle. A vehicle that can fit your family, the gear you need to bring, and one that gives you the confidence and comfort in knowing you and your family are safe and well-protected.

Buying a new vehicle should be a smooth and simple process. The more you know before you visit the dealership and the more you’re prepared to ask - the better your new vehicle buying experience will be. We’ve put together a list of 10 pieces of advice that will help you with your new vehicle buying experience.Know the dealer price

The dealer price as listed on the dealer invoice is different from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). You have the right to ask about the dealer invoice. Some sales people might be hesitant to provide you with this, so be prepared and do your online research before arriving at the dealership.

It is awards season for the automotive industry and in today’s blog post we’ll take a look at the recent awards handed out by the Consumer Guide Automotive. Some of you might wonder about the impact of these awards on the automotive industry - well these types of awards are a great way to track the pros and cons as well as highlights for the year in automotive. While there are a lot of different awards given out, it is the criteria used to rank and rate vehicles that is super useful for you when it comes to making buying decisions.

A jury of 50 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States chose the winners of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards recently. These prestigious awards were announced at the North American International Auto Show.

The Hyundai Elantra won the 2012 North American Car of the Year Award.

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque won the 2012 North American Truck of the Year Award.

Wednesday was a big day for the auto industry - it was numbers day. On February 1, the major automakers released their sales numbers for 2011, their profit numbers, January sales numbers for 2012, and their predictions for 2012 overall.

A search of the Internet will reveal multiple articles that detail the sales numbers for each and every automaker. Yes, the numbers are important but for this blog post, we’ll focus on the big three U.S. automakers and try not to get to wrapped up in percentages.

We all spend a lot of time in our vehicles. Driving to and from the office, dropping off and picking up the kids from school and their activities, running errands around town, traveling during vacations, and of course all the time spent stuck in traffic. This adds up to a lot of time being spent in one smallish space and translates into having less time to take care of some of the important realities of life.

We all want more from our vehicles. This includes better fuel economy, reliable acceleration and braking power, and features that keep us warm and safe. But the one thing we all really want is improved fuel economy. The further you can drive on a tank of gas really does translate into more money in your pocket and frankly more positive feelings about your vehicle.

We all want to get a deal. The trick with getting a deal on a new car, truck or SUV is ensuring that you’re still getting the best value you can for the money you’re spending. Sometimes a good deal doesn’t necessarily translate into the best use of your hard-earned cash.

This week, U.S. News Best Cars, released results of its study and analysis of the value data associated with 2012 cars. The goal of this study is to help you determine the best way to spend your money in the new car market. U.S. News Best Cars is part of U.S. News & World Report and is a well-respected and trusted car advice website and provider.

It is the time of the year when folks are making plans, setting goals, making changes and planning ahead. This is also the time of the year when we like to make predictions about what the year ahead just might hold. When it comes to auto sales and consumer buying habits, all signs are pointing towards a strong year of auto sales for 2012.

Building on the growth we’ve seen for the past two years, the trend in increased and growing auto sales numbers is expected to continue. The final numbers for 2011 are still being finalized but according to Edmunds.com, 2011 hit a three-year high with 12.8 million vehicles sold. This is continued growth from the sales numbers of 11.6 million in 2010.

In amongst the last-minute Christmas shopping and preparing for the holiday festivities, we received some sad news in the automotive industry. We’re sure you’ve heard by now, but last week Swedish Automobile AB, filed for bankruptcy in a Swedish court.

This announcement by the parent owner of Saab came after General Motors Co. refused to allow a bailout sale to two Chinese companies. For Saab who has not been able to pay any bills since March or its employees since August, this is a tough way to go out.

The big questions out there about this announcement include:

It can be hard to know who to trust when it comes to researching and buying your next vehicle. It seems that whomever you talk to, you’ll hear a story of a shady car salesperson or a stressful visit to the car dealership. But the thing is, with proper research and knowledge, you can make your next car purchase a pleasant and relaxing experience.

If you ask a teen driver or new driver what kind of first car they want, they likely will answer with something along the lines of “it has to be cool”. A cool car - who doesn’t want a cool car? Problem is that typically a cool car comes with a hefty price tag. Well, just in time for the holiday season and for the best month to buy a car, we’ve got a list of the 10 coolest cars available for under $18,000.