Mike’s Car Blog

The Volkswagen new Beetle has become the car that buyers researched most frequently over the Internet, according to BlueKai, a data-exchange and online-marketing company. The Beetle replaced last year’s winner of this spot, the Toyota Camry, which fell to 13th place on the most-researched list. The Toyota Prius, another high-ranker in year’s past, fell completely out of the top 20, according to BlueKai.

These results weren’t too difficult to predict. Toyota, which formerly could do little wrong, has had a terrible 2010. The company has recalled eight models of cars, a recall that began in January of this year. Since then, it’s been a steady stream of bad publicity for the Japanese automaker.

The question many car buyers now have is a simple one: Is it safe to buy a new Toyota?

It’s a difficult question to answer. Toyota has certainly ramped up its efforts to correct the potentially dangerous flaws that led to the vehicle recalls. The company is sparing no expenses, either, to repair its damaged image among the car-buying public.

The company has also rolled out several incentives to encourage buyers to return to Toyotas. Consumers who do want to buy a Camry, Corolla or Prius today will certainly find that their dollars will stretch farther than ever.

But how comfortable are customers today with Toyota? Do they trust the automaker? The company formerly had a sterling reputation as an automaker that manufactured vehicles that were not only safe, but would last for years. The theory was, consumers who bought Toyotas wouldn’t need to spend much of their dollars, or their precious time, in their local repair shops.

That image has been severely damaged, of course. Still, there has to be some goodwill left over from all those years that Toyota reigned as the most reliable automaker, right? Many motorists are still driving Toyotas that were built years before the recalled models, and those vehicles are performing well. Is there a feeling out there that Toyota has gotten its big mistake out of its system, and that the company’s engineers will now be steadier and more reliable than ever?

It comes down to personal choice: How much risk are consumers willing to take on behalf of a now struggling automaker? The guess here is that many consumers will come back to Toyota sooner rather than later. After all, Toyota has been a top company for years, and U.S. consumers have a history of both forgiving and forgetting.

You know that it’s time for a new car. Your current vehicle spends more time in your mechanic’s parking lot than it does in your driveway. You’re beginning to factor in an extra $300 to $600 every month in car repairs.

But knowing you need to buy a new car and actually doing it are two different things. Buying a car is never easy. You’ll have to deal with pushy salesmen, misleading vehicle ads and countless test drives.

You’ll also have to answer the question that every buyer faces: Should you buy a new car or a used one?

Not surprisingly, there are pluses and minuses to each choice. A used car, of course, is cheaper. However, you never know exactly what problems you’re going to face. After all, there’s usually a reason that the car’s owner is selling.

A new car costs more. But the odds are good that it won’t need many, if any, repairs soon after you buy it. But, you never know. You might get stuck with a lemon. That’s an expensive problem to have.

The key to deciding between buying a used and new car is to take a long look at your own situation, both financial and personal.

Look at the finances first. If you don’t have a lot of money to spare on a new car payment each month, a used car might be the better choice. If you’re not sure if you’ll still have a job next month, then a used car is definitely a better purchase.

However, if you do have a stable stream of income, and if your job is solid, you might consider buying a new car. New cars are more reliable. You won’t have to worry about waking up to find out that your car doesn’t feel like starting. If you need to commute to your job every day, a new car is less likely to let you down.

Whichever way you go, though, make sure to do your research before buying any car. You’ll need to test drive your vehicle, even if it is being sold by your neighbor down the street, before making an offer on it. And you should visit online car-rating sites. There are plenty on the Internet, and most of them will list the positives and negatives of any car you bought.

Don’t forget to consider getting a warranty, too, even if you’re buying a used car. You can usually convince a seller to sign a contract stating that a purchase is null if the car needs a major repair in the first three months or so after the sale has been made. If a seller won’t agree to this, that might be a bad sign that all is not well with the car.

This isn’t a great time to be looking for a job. It’s a terrible time to be selling a house. And running a small business? This economy is far from forgiving. But if you’re looking to buy a new car, this might be the best time in decades.

Car dealers are desperate. That means that they are offering better deals than ever. Offers of zero-percent financing for three years or more aren’t unheard of. Manufacturers are willing to offer a host of incentives to move cars off of their dealer’s lots.

It’s all enticing stuff, especially if you’re driving an older model car that has a few dinks and dings. After all, every time you flip on the TV, there’s a gleaming new car ad urging you to plunk down your hard-earned dollars for the latest models. And then there are those amazing incentives.

But despite the incentives and the relative affordability of most reliable cars today, this still might not be the best time for you to buy a car. Sure, your dollars will stretch further at the car dealerships today. But if you’re not ready financially to buy a car, all the incentives and bargains in the world won’t make this the best time to buy.

Before stepping into that dealership showroom, take a long look at your personal financial situation. Is your job stable? Or has your company been laying workers off? If you’re not confident that you’ll have a job next month, this might not be the best time to purchase a new car.

If your annual income has taken a hit, whether through unpaid furlough days or an elimination of overtime pay, you might not be able to afford even a small monthly car payment. Remember, your other expenses won’t be going away. Can you afford paying $300 to $500 a month in a new car payment?

On the other hand, if your income and job are both secure, this might be the best time in years for you to buy a new car. Dealers are willing to negotiate on prices today. They don’t want to turn any potential buyers away. Because of this, you’ll be able to land some impressive deals.

Don’t forget to look at your existing car, too. Is it reliable? Or is it an adventure every time you try to start it up? If you need a reliable car to get to work every morning, you might need to replace your older model car with a newer one. If your old car, though, hasn’t given you trouble, maybe there’s no reason to upgrade. A reliable car is a great gift; you shouldn’t give up on one too easily.

It’s happened again: Your car, which you’ve owned for nearly a decade, is in the shop again. This time it’s a starter. Last time it was the brakes. The time before that the engine light popped on and wouldn’t turn off. You’re beginning to think of the mechanic’s shop as your second home. It leaves you facing the big question: Should your fix your car or buy a new one?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question. Making this decision requires that you take a close look at your own financial situation and how you use your car.

There are plenty of reasons to avoid buying a new car. Auto payments aren’t cheap. In today’s difficult economy, one in which most people aren’t sure that they’ll still have a job in the next month, taking on a large monthly expense is a risky move. And there’s no guarantee that your new car won’t come with problems of its own.

On the other hand, buying a new car sometimes makes sense. If your current car is becoming unreliable – you never know when it’s going to start or when something else is going to go wrong – it might be time to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with driving a more reliable new car. Today’s new cars usually boast better fuel efficiency. This means you’ll be spending less time, and money, at the gas station.

New cars are safer, too. Older cars, including yours, might not include the wide array of safety features that manufacturers today build into their newer models.

It’s important, too, to look at the current economy when deciding whether you should fix your car or buy a new one. In bad economic times, car dealers often offer deep discounts or other incentives. It might cost you less to buy a new car today.

Take a look, too, at how you use your car. Do you need a car for short trips, such as to the train station or the local grocery store? Or do you need to commute 45 minutes every morning to get to your job? If you don’t use your car much, you can probably get away with an older model, even if it is in the shop occasionally. If you need a car every day, though, it’s probably better to trade up to a new car.

Of course, the most important factor is your own financial situation. Buying a new car may make sense for you. But if you can’t afford the new-car payments, you’ll have to make do with your older vehicle.