Budget Car News

When you think about it – this year has been all about green cars.  The automakers have completely switched their gears and have moved themselves from gas-guzzlers to completely gas-free cars.  Electric cars are here and they are coming in bulks.

To be honest, I think that this is the best – the very best idea ever – an electric car.  The cool thing about electric cars is that they open up an entire new market and if you buy one, you might actually be eligible for discounts with your car insurance company.

If you are looking to save a little cash this year, an electric car might be the answer to all of your prayers!

We all know that when you are dealing with GMC, it is all about the trucks – seriously – all about trucks.  Well, I can tell you now that GMC is actually switching gears a little bit and they are moving themselves away from that particular line and moving onto things like SUVs – smaller ones.

Take the brand new GMC Granite Concept that was debuted at this years Detroit Auto Show and I can promise that it is going to be smaller and less rough-and-tumble than any other vehicle that GMC has ever come out with.

Another great thing about the brand new GMC Granite Concept is that if it does go through, the price is going to be lower, which in this day and age is always nice!

As we saw last time, Toyota is a grand brand of automaker for those buyers who are on a budget.

Now, as most of us well know, you can often save quite a bit of money if you are willing to buy a vehicle that is a couple of years old. So, with that in mind, that is why we are now taking a look at the Toyota Venza of 2008.

This is a crossover sedan with the kind of sleek, smooth exterior that makes the car look like a more luxurious model. The interior is refined and the utility features are by all accounts excellent. If you lead an active life on the road, then this is the vehicle for you.

Toyota has long provided affordable vehicles, and thank goodness for that. With the economy still pretty iffy and many people simply not making as much money as they really need, affordable vehicles — and automakers that provide affordable vehicles — are a must.

So, speaking of Toyota again, let’s take a look at the Toyota 4Runner. The fifth generation of the vehicle was recently revealed by Toyota at the auto show in Los Angeles.

The fifth gen. features a brand new design, which is said to embrace especially its strong identity as an SUV, much more than the generations which have come before it. In this way, it is also distinguished from the urban, sleek Toyota Highlander we just saw recently.

Way back when, when the cars were all of the rage and SUVs were really nothing … the Toyota Land Cruiser was created.  Well, I have to tell you that this little SUV has actually been released just in the UK but in 2010 – that all changes.  The Toyota Land Cruiser is going to be coming to America, finally.

While back in the day the Toyota Land Cruiser was all about sharp edges, it has now gained quite a body and certainly an interior that is pretty damn cool.  In recent generations, it has also become more luxurious, which from Toyota, that is a big step.

So if you are looking for the latest and greatest from Toyota in the states this year – the Toyota Land Cruiser is certainly the best!

I was searching for budget cars for this post, and found something absolutely amazing. Okay, so maybe the Hyundai Accent at entry level is not the flashiest car or the sportiest model, but you know what? The base price is just about ten thousand dollars, and even with add ons and options, it does not get much more expensive than that.

Finally! A car that does not cost as much as or even more than the yearly tuition for an affordable college! Who would have thought?

And this car has some great standard features, such as a CD stereo with six speakers; a steering wheel wrapped in leather; air conditioning; pretty stylish metallic accents; and a B&M manual sport shifter.

For 10K or so, that’s really not so shabby!

These people must have really, really thought that the Cube was a cool car – however I don’t.  I think that it is definitely an ugly car and honestly, it did not seem like it did very well, seeing as I do not see them advertising anymore.  However, the Daihatsu Deca Deca Concept is developing the super cube – it is actually a car that you can live in!

This little funky cube actually has a flat floor and pretty much flat everything else – pillarless doors that render the interior kinda strange.  There are fold-up seats, a table and even an LCD TV, which is pretty damn cool.

The room inside the Daihatsu Deca Deca Concept is actually amazing too, because really … this little concept car has a heck of a lot of room inside of it.

Speaking of used cars, you also have to realize that there is a time and a place where buying a used car would be the worst idea in the world.

More often than not, that occurs when you absolutely need a vehicle right that second.  You may not be in the best position to buy a car then.  Of course, that does not really help, does it?  If you need a car, you need a car, period.

However, you are in a vulnerable place at a time like that, and you may wind up buying a car that does not run so great simply because you are in need.  When that happens, you are most likely going to have to take advantage of the Lemon Law pretty quickly.

Try to take as much time as you can to really be able to test drive a used vehicle and make sure it does not have any problems that are going to pop up and bite you as soon as you drive off the lot.

By far, one of the biggest decisions that you, as an adult is going to have to make is finding the right car for you.  I know that whenever I pick out my car, it is going to be used and it is going to be a huge decision.  If you are thinking about buying a car – there are a few steps and tips that you should follow, especially if you are buying a used car.

Used cars, in this day and age tend to be the best option, if only because they are cheaper and they tend to be a better deal.  After all, you could drive a used car for quite a while and save all sorts of money where if you lease a car – you are always stuck with a car payment.

Whenever you are buying a used car though, you always want to make sure that you run it through carfax, that way you will not be surprised if the car has any problems or to find out if it has been in any accidents.

If you are the type of person that has been waiting … and waiting and waiting for a brand new VW to come out … here is a sneak preview for you!  The Frankfurt Motor Show is right around the corner and seriously – the brand new Volkswagen Golf R20 had to leak out at some point right?  This car – while it might have a small fan base in the US is certainly gaining more and more attention.
 
The Volkswagen Golf R20 is going to be powered up with all sorts of upgrades and feature a 2.0L engine with 265 HP and 258 lb-ft, likely the exact same engine as the Scirocco R20 and it is all kinds of awesome!

To me – VW is the best brand in the world – the cars last and to be perfectly honest, they look incredible.  So if you are looking for something chic and inexpensive – VW is always the best option!