There are three different new 2012 models, the pure coupe, the passion coupe, and the passion cabriolet convertible. An all-electric model is coming soon.

The smartfortwo cars are built by Mercedes-Benz and even though small in size, are one of the safest vehicles on the road with stability control, anti-lock brakes, a protective “safety cell” with eight air bags for superior crash protection.

They get excellent gas mileage (38 MPG on the highway), are comfortable, have plenty of head and leg room, and come with a unique automatic/manual transmission. They come in a number of stylish base colors, with interchangable color body panels.

The company is currently offering a $99/month lease deal on the 2012 smartfortwo pure coupe. It’s for 36 months and requires $999 cash down. This is the cheapest lease payment we’ve ever seen on a brand new car for 36 months. If you are in the market for a great little first car at the lowest monthly payment, this is the one.

You can go slightly more upscale with more features on the smartfortwo passion at $139/month for the 2012 passion coupe, 36 months, $999 down, or $199/month for the 2012 passion cabriolet, 36 months, $999 down. These are great lease deals as rated by LeaseGuide.com.

If you prefer not to lease, all these vehicles can be purchased with a 0.0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months.

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Car companies often select certain models and styles for these rebates, and the selection can change from month to month.

Dealers can use factory-to-dealer cash (sometimes called “marketing support”) in almost any way they choose but most pass it along to customers in the form of price discounts. Some dealers might advertise the low prices (not the rebates themselves) or simply offer a discount to customers during the buying process. He may choose to give all or just some of the total rebate.

Most customers are not aware of which vehicles have factory-to-dealer rebates, or the amounts. Therefore, it is difficult to factor in those discounts in the negotiating process. However, our sister web site, Best Car Deals, provides such information.  Some of these rebates are very large and represent a significant discount off of sticker price. This is particularly true for last year’s leftover models that dealers must sell in order to make room for this year’s incoming models.

If a dealer gets a factory rebate on a particular model and gives it to customers as a price discount, he still makes his usual profit on that car, even though customers may be getting a great deal. Smart customers will expect the dealer to contribute some of his usual profit as an additional discount — which makes an even better deal. In many cases, customers can buy a car for less than dealer invoice price, which is only possible if the car manufacturer is helping with the deal.

In summary, factory-to-dealer rebates can be a large factor in making new cars — especially first cars — more affordable. Look for vehicles with the largest factory-to-dealer rebates.

You can get free price quotes for any vehicle at Edmunds.com. The prices you get will contain any current price discounts and manufacturer incentives that are available.

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If you simply want the fastest answer to that question, without explanation, we would say the Honda Civic is the best all-around car for teens. The Toyota Corolla would be a close second.

If you don’t like the Civic or Corolla there are other cars with similar characteristics and different styling that might suit you better.

But what is it about the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and similar models that make them great as a first car for teenage drivers?

First, they are economical — relatively inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to insure, and inexpensive to drive.

It doesn’t cost much to buy a new or relatively new Civic. Used models might be a little higher priced that other brands but that works in your favor too. When you get ready to sell or trade, Honda and Toyota vehicles hold their resale value better than most.

Second, these cars have outstanding gas mileage, better than some hybrids, as much as 36 miles per gallon. And they run on regular fuel, the least expensive kind. Maintenance doesn’t cost much because the cars are so reliable — far more reliable than many other brands. The cars are relatively small and are driven by 4-cylinder engines that perform as well as many 6-cylinder models.

Next, the Civic and Corolla are safe. Many people equate small size with poor safety. Not true. The Civic and Corolla have “Top Safety Pick” ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and consistently score well in Government crash tests. Both cars come with better than average safety features. Some models have Stability Control Assist, which is especially important for inexperienced drivers, and is highly recommended for all teenagers.

Finally, the Civic and Corolla are relatively inexpensive to insure, especially for teen drivers who pay the highest rates anyway. Four-door sedan versions are less expenisve to insure than 2-door coupes.

We’ve discussed our choices for best first car for teens. If you should decide on a different make or model, whether you buy new or used, make sure it has most of the same characteristics of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

You can get free price quotes for any of the mentioned vehicles at Edmunds.com. The prices you get will contain any price discounts and manufacturer incentives currently available.

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What is a good first car?  Which car is the best buy? Which is more reliable? Which gets the best gas mileage? Should I buy a SUV or pickup? Which car is safer? Which is more economical? Which is cheaper to insure?

What car should I buy as my first car?

If you were to ask this question and you gave no other information about yourself or what you wanted, we would suggest you buy either a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, two of the most popular and most purchased first cars in America.

However, if you already know you don’t want a Honda or Toyota, stay with me. I’m not going to try to convince you that these are the only brands you should consider. I’m just using them as a starting point to help you choose the right car for you.

Why the Honda Accord  and Toyota Camry? Because these two cars have an almost ideal blending of all the following characteristics — the characteristics that most people want in a vehicle:

Honda/Toyota Benefits

• Excellent quality and reliability
• Attractive styling
• Easy handling
• Great performance
• Good gas mileage
• Outstanding safety rating
• Good value for the money
• Affordably priced
• Luxury features standard
• Roomy and comfortable
• Good cargo capacity
• High resale value retention

However, as good as the Accord and Camry are, they are not the right vehicles for everyone.

All of us have different likes, dislikes, needs, and finances. But if you have no idea what car you should buy, and are flexible as to the brand and model, and need a good starting point, these two vehicles are excellent candidates.

First time buyers like Honda Civic

One of the most popular cars for teenagers and other first-time buyers is the Honda Civic. It’s smaller and more economical than the Accord and it’s easy to find used models in good condition. Insurance rates are relatively low and it’s inexpensive to drive. It’s also very reliable and safe.

For those who like to customize their cars, there are thousands of after-market appearance and performance products for the Civic. Used Honda Civics are affordable and dependable.

Other cars for first time buyers

The Kia Rio is a good choice with a base price of just $11,395. It is ranked high in quality and safety, and is very economical to drive. Beware of used Rio’s however. Have them inspected before you buy.

The Toyota Corolla is legendary for it’s dependability, great performance, quality, and lots of standard safety equipment. It’s the smaller sister to the Camry. Used models are usually in excellent shape and hold their value well.

The Mazda3 is popular with first time buyers because it looks good, is roomy, has good performance, low fuel cost, and doesn’t cost as much as other cars with similar features. Used models have excellent reliability.

Other cars, both new and used, that are popular with new teen drivers are the Ford Focus, Honda Fit, Nissan Sentra, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Mustang, and Scion models.

What if I have different needs?

Using the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry as a base of comparison, what would you want to be different?  Why doesn’t the Accord or Camry work for you? Do you need a different type of vehicle? Do you want a lower price? Do you need a smaller size? More performance or speed? Larger with more passenger and cargo capacity? More luxury? Sportier look?

Vehicle buying is a very personal experience. As such, it is almost impossible for us to tell you exactly which vehicle you should buy.There are many vehicle makes and models, and style variations, called “trim levels”, within each model. And then there are options that can be added. The result is that there are thousands of different combinations from which to choose — which is a big part of the problem of deciding.

Recommendations as a first car
Certain vehicle makes and models consistently rank high in owner surveys and ratings. Here are our suggestions of recommended vehicles in different categories, based on overall quality, reliability, safety, performance, and value for the money:

Some of the factors that you should consider before making a final decision are in the following list. Rank them as to which are most important to you.

Important Factors in Making a Car Buying Decision

• Reliability / Dependability
• Safety Rating / Features
• Price – Rebates and Incentives
• Styling / Appearance
• Passenger and Cargo Capacity
• Comfort / Luxury Features
• Performance
• Resale Value and Depreciation Rate
• Operating Costs and Fuel Economy
• Routine Maintenance Costs
• Insurance Costs

The resulting prioritized list will help you in determining the vehicle that will best fit your needs.

My first car – new or used?

Even if you have the money or finances to buy a brand new car, it’s often smarter to buy used. But not always.

For example, in a tough economy such we are experiencing right now, car manufacturers and dealers are desperate to sell cars. As a result, most brand new cars currently have heavy incentives, rebates, low-interest loans, and large price discounts. This means that a current-year model car can often be purchased for less money than a used car of the very same make and model. See the following web site for a list of current new-car incentives and rebates:  Best Car Deals

See the following article for more advice about buying new cars versus buying used: Your First Car: New or Used?

Narrow your choices and get prices

Try to narrow down your list of cars to no more than three. Then research the cars on the Internet, shop at dealers or online listings, and finally make your decision.

If you are considering a brand new car, you can get pre-discounted online price quotes at TrueCar. Prices are usually lower than dealer invoice price.

You can look at used cars online at dealers in your area at UsedCars.com. The prices are already discounted.

If you have credit problems, or no credit, look at Drivetime.com, a dealership that has locations around the country.

Caution for online car buyers

Watch out for common car scams if you are considering buying your car online. Dishonest sellers often advertise used cars at unbelieveable low prices, take your money, and disappear. It’s always best to buy from a local source where you can see and inspect your car, and meet the seller face-to-face.

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Of course, the real answer as to what is the best car can vary, depending on your own personal needs, preferences, and finances. Some people place a great deal of importance on reliability. Others might think safety or cost is more important. And others might feel that the best car should have great looks and high performance. 

Many people believe that to get the best car, you must spend a lot of money — that the best cars are the most expensive one. Strangely, this is just not true. Actually, some of the best cars are the least expensive — and some of the most expensive cars are the least reliable and the least efficient.

One of the best automobiles, overall, is the Honda Civic. Why? Because it has the most perfect combination of all the factors that most car buyers look for — cost, fuel efficiency, reliability, cost of operation, cost of insurance, style, performance, resale value, riding comfort, luxury features, and handling.

Now, we know that the Honda Civic is not the best car for everyone. Some people need more interior room (try the Honda Accord sedan), or more performance, or more luxury, or more cargo space. Some people need a pickup truck. Others want a sports car or convertible. Some just want something other than a Honda (?).

There are certainly other alternative cars that offer the same or nearly the same qualities as the Civic. Following are some of those that have garnered “best car” nominations in their classes by respected automobile reviewers such as Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, Car & Driver, JD Power, and others. We list them here in no particular order.

• Hyundai Sonata
• Hyundai Elantra
• Hyundai Genesis
• Ford Fusion
• Ford Focus
• Ford Taurus
• Honda Fit
• Honda Civic
• Toyota Prius
• Toyota Camry
• Nissan Altima
• Mini Cooper
• Scion tC
• Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Mazda5
• Toyota RAV4
• Honda CR-V
• Acura TSX

Notice that Ford is the only American car maker in our list. Ford has made tremendous strides in improved quality, reliability, and styling.

In summary, the best cars are those with the best combination of qualities that most automotive consumers are looking for.

You can get free price quotes for any of the mentioned vehicles at Edmunds.com. The prices you get will contain any price discounts and manufacturer incentives currently available.

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In normal years, we would tell you that the best time to buy a car is when sales are slow at the end of the month, end or the year, or during vacation season. We would tell you that you might still have to negotiate your prices because dealers aren’t just going to give you a good deal because they like you.

BUT……..things are much different now. Sales have been slow for over a year and are still slow right now. As a result, we are now seeing some of the biggest and best car incentives on new cars that we’ve seen in years. Nearly every car manufacturer is now offering a combination of large factory-to-customer rebates, low-interest loan deals, 0% APR loans (even on long 72 month loans), special lease deals, free maintenance, and “secret” factory-to-dealer rebates that dealers usually give to customers.

Why has 2011 become such a good time to buy a car?

For a number of reasons.

First, the economy seems to be improving, if every so slowly, and car makers and dealers are anxious to give things a little push. They are offering attractive incentives as a way of convincing potential buyers to take action.

Second, even though there are people buying new cars, the market is smaller than a few years ago. This means there’s fewer cars to be sold and the competition among dealers and car makers is tremendous — to the benefit of automobile consumers.

This is a good time to buy because many of the deals are the about as good as they can possibly be. You can’t get lower than zero percent interest on a loan. You can’t get lower than a manufacturer’s cost to build a car and expect them to stay in business. You can’t much better on special car lease deals that give you a deeply discounted price, combined with a low money factor and high residual. Some even kick in free scheduled maintenance for a couple of years.

Another factor creating the outstanding car-buying opportunities right now is the “Toyota Situation.” Toyota’s unfortunate problems and Japanese earthquakes have caused a big slowdown in Toyota car sales. Most other car makers have tried to capitalize on the situation by offering some very attractive incentives. It’s like a feeding frenzy. Now Totoya, who is solving their problems, is offering some of the best incentives in their entire history in attempting to restore customer confidence and recover sales.

If you are looking for 0% APR loan deals, nearly every manufacturer has them on at lease some of their models and styles. Even if 0% is not available, other very low-interest loans are being offered.  Furthermore, the deals are being offered even on long-term loans, which has been rare until now. You might already know that you’ll need a good credit score to get these 0% APR deals. If you don’t know your latest credit score, you should. You can get your free credit score from FreeCreditScore.com that you can view instantly with a quick signup.

If you’re looking for great lease deals, Honda and Toyota come to mind. In fact, nearly all non-American brands have special car lease deals now. American brands (Chrysler, Ford, GM) haven’t quite come back to leasing after losing so much money on leases in the last few years.

Big rebates, however, are available on many brands, including American brands, and especially on leftover 2009 vehicles. Chrysler, Ford, and GM rebates are very attractive, as are those from Hyundai/Kia, Mazda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. See Best Car Deals for more details on current new-car incentives and deals.

So if you are in the market for a new car and looking for the best time to buy your new car, NOW is a good time to buy. It might get a little better later in the year — and maybe not.

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We wondered about that question too. Are there certain cars that most people are buying, asking about, seeking information about, and asking for pricing on? What car makes and models are most popular? Are they the best cars to buy?

Well, we went to one of the most-visited used-car web sites, UsedCars.com, and found such a list. Actually, the site compiles a real-time list of the makes and models that their site visitors most often request information about, which is an indicator of the most popular cars.

The most-popular car list can change from day to day, but not by much. A vehicle that is #1 today might fall to #2 tomorrow, and vice versa, because the rankings depend on what online visitors to their web site are asking about and searching for on any particular day.  

Here’s the current list of most popular used cars at the time of this writing:

Notice that Honda is on top. Why? Because Honda is the most reliable brand of automobile. Used Honda cars will continue to run reliably almost forever if maintained properly.

The Ford F-150 is next. It’s the best selling make/model new vehicle of all time. No wonder it’s also in the top three of used cars too.

Toyota is just behind Honda in reliability and high-resale value, so it is no surprise the popular Camry model is on the list. Other Toyota models are popular too.

Then there’s the Ford Explorer, the most popular SUV, and the Ford Mustang, the most popular affordable performance car.

Finally, there are the Nissan Maxima and Altima, high in reliability and resale value, just not quite as high as Honda and Toyota. But many people like Nissan’s styling, particularly young people, better than Honda and Toyota.

Where to buy

If you prefer buying your used car from an individual private seller, you can find them in newspaper classifed ads, in free “auto trader” magazines at your local auto parts store or supermarket, and online on the Internet. We suggest you also look on eBay.com at their list of .

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