Verified answer

As for as your used cars, Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book is a good resource. As far as new, you're too far away. By next fall the 2008 model year will be arriving, with deeper incentives on remaining 2007 cars. In addition, they're still setting pricing structures for the 08's and any research you did on prices you'll just have to do all over again.

Compare cars at:

Yahoo Autos

http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/comparison/select.h...

and

Edmunds

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleCom...

and

JD Power http://www.jdpower.com/autos/compare.asp?activeLis...

Also at JD Power, look at these press releases to see how the companies compare in their surveys. These are the Vehicle Dependability Study and the Initial Quality Study.

http://www.jdpower.com/global/press-releases/press...

http://www.jdpower.com/global/press-releases/press...

Personally, I like Honda. They rate highly in JD Power and Consumer Reports (some of their online content is free, others are not free -- check your local library or Borders). Honda and Toyota have high resale values and good dependability, besides being among the most fuel efficient. This may offset their high up-front cost. Hyundai is cheap and rank high in Initial Quality, but slump in Vehicle Dependability (long term quality). To gain your confidence, they'll cover you with a 10 yr / 100,000 mile warranty, and warranties to cover rust and roadside assistance. Incentives like cash back and coupons that make things like oil change are also very attractive.

Everyone has an opinion, but I find that surveys show you what most people think about the models that they own. With JD Power and Consumer Reports, you get the opinion of tens of thousands, and you can see the *average* experience of owners.

Used cars? Edmunds has areas to help you there too.

www.nada.com