Feb

Best Bang for the Buck Recession Cars

car-buying

Banks are closing closing left and right and the stench of recession is in the air. Are you still worried about getting a new car?

If your answer is yes, regardless of economic condition — simply means that people are still buying cars. There may be fewer compared to previous years, but carmakers are still eager to let everyone know that their showrooms are still open, and credit is still very much available for those who would take on a good risk.

Consumer Reports magazine recently came up with recommendations for best bang for the buck car deal for your ownership during these hard times. They assembled a list of what the magazine calls the “best value” new cars.

“A low price doesn’t necessarily make a car a good value,” Rik Paul, Consumer Reports‘ auto editor, said in a statement.

To determine find these “best values”, the magazine looked at road-test scores, five-year ownership cost estimates and predicted reliability ratings (based on survey data) for more than 300 cars.

Predicted ownership cost was divided by the road test score. Vehicles with the lowest cost-per-point and with above average predicted reliability were named a “best value.”

The Toyota Prius Touring, a frequent top pick, with a cost-per-point of $325, was named the best overall value.