Drive Time - Kiplinger

Get the Best Deal on a Used Car

Prices are higher than ever, but we help you get the most for your money.

Cheapest Cars to Own

In addition to price, car buyers should also factor in the cost of fuel, insurance and repairs when determining which vehicle will cost them the least.

How to Handle Car Dealers

Call several dealers in advance to negotiate prices over the phone and get firm offers via e-mail.

Automakers Drop Prices on 2012 Car Models to Help Boost Sales

Most Toyota Camry models will be cheaper in the new year, with savings up to $1,150 for the hybrid.

How to Use a Car-Buying Service to Find Deals on New Cars

The best prices often come from services that will do the haggling for you for a fee.

Data-Tracking Technology Can Help Lower Your Car Insurance

Technology lets you get a break on insurance premiums based on how you actually drive.

Green Cars Make Cents

Although the Volt and Leaf have stratospheric sticker prices, both have pretty low ownership costs.

10 Features Your Car Will Have by 2020

From social media apps to night vision, find which cool features your car will have in almost 10 years from now.

Cheapest Cars to Own

On Kiplinger's value scale, the Honda Accord is the clear winner over the Toyota Camry.

Auto Safety Gets a Makeover

When every car gets five stars it's hard to know which are safest. So the feds are raising the bar.

Get the Best for Less

The BMW 750i is a driver's dream. But Hyundai's new superluxury sedan, the Equus, is a value.

Electric Reality Check

Waiting lists for the Volt and Leaf are long, and early sales are confined to a few areas.

How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off for Auto Repairs

Nine in ten women believe they are treated differently at auto-repair shops than men are.

Less-Distracted Driving

Cell-phone bans haven’t reduced crashes because drivers keep using their phones even when it’s illegal.

Drive Time Review: Porsche Panamera

The four-door Porsche is a hit after all, and for 2011 it gets a $15,000 price cut.

Best Car for Your Teen

We pick our favorite new car for young drivers.

It's a Good Time to Lease

Even nonluxury brands are promoting leases. You can lease a Honda Fit for $210 a month.

5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Car

Show your car some love and skip the new-car payments.

More for Your Money

Carmakers have introduced a fresh marketing strategy to attract your business: lower sticker prices.

A Green Car for Every Driver

Which fuel-efficient vehicle is right for you? That depends on how and where you drive.

Safety Worth the Cost

Your next new car could come with safety features once
only dreamed of by science-fiction writers.

The Price of Saving Fuel

Measure the five-year ownership costs to see whether it really pays to buy a green vehicle.

Deep Discounts on Four 2010 Models

Great bargains on these soon-to-be-retired 2010 cars will remain until they're sold out.

In Search of the Real Dealer Cost

Knowledge will give you the power to drive a good deal.

Drive Time: Don't Count Out Toyota

If you're thinking about buying a Toyota, contrarian as it sounds, the time to act is now.

2011 Hyundai Sonata: Raising the Bar

Hyundai’s sixth-generation family sedan is a head-turner -- and a better value than its competitors.

Should You Buy a Toyota?

The recalled models are being repaired, but prices are softening -- creating tempting bargains.

GM’s Greenest Car Yet

Come along on our test drive of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Best Apps for Autos

See which car gadgets can make your drive a whole lot easier.

Used-Car Sweet Spots

The prices of used cars now reflect what they are actually worth.

Best 2009 Year-End Car Deals

You’ve seen the ads on TV. Now see where the biggest savings really are.

Extended-Warranty Warning

You must read the fine print on your car warranties.

Mailbag: Understanding Car Leasing Interest

Drive Time Columnist, Jessica Anderson answers your questions on deceased lesees, sales tax deductions and a Honda diesel.

More for Your Money

There are plenty of great deals on 2010 cars. Here are some of the best bargains.

Secrets of Selling a Used Car

Find out what tricks dealers and car buffs use to help you get top dollar for your vehicle.

Right Time To Buy A Saturn?

Several models are worth a look, as long as you're looking to hold on to the vehicle for the long term.

Crash Tests for Dummies

School yourself on the car tests and learn how to read the results.

How to Find a Deal On a 2009 Car

September is a great time to pick up a bargain on an outgoing model – but this year, you have to look a little harder.

The Payback on Diesels

I put three all-new diesel models through their paces and then applied the <i>Kiplinger’s</i> value test.

Don't Count on Cash for Clunkers

The long-anticipated program launches July 27, but it doesn't benefit very many car buyers

Keep Your Clunker

Don't get swayed by all the new dealer incentives. Bottom line, keep your car.

5 Essential Summer Car-Care Tips

Before hitting the road this summer, make sure your ride is in good condition.

Leasing Is Alive and Well

Despite great deals on new cars, leasing is still popular.

Carmakers Sweeten the Deal

Can you really return the car if you lose your job?

A Tough Call on Hybrids

With cheap gas on every corner, it's harder to justify the premium you pay for a hybrid.

Mini Review: 2009 BMW 335d

Drive Time writer Jessica Anderson TKTKTKTKTKTK

Should You Buy a Detroit Car?

Troubles in Motown are mounting, and that could mean a rough road for purchasers of a Detroit vehicle. My advice: Wait for the dust to settle.

It's All About MPG

A look at the rise of subcompact vehicles.

Real-Life Experiences in a Fantasy Car

Driving a Lamborghini that costs more than the median-priced U.S. home isn't all fun and games.

Hybrids Worth the Price

From a dollars-and-cents perspective, the decision to buy a hybrid is never simple.

Diesel Cleans Up Its Act

The New Models are green, fuel-efficient and may be a better choice than a hybrid.

Junk Your Gas Guzzler?

There's nothing like $100 fill-ups to put your big bruiser on the endangered list.

Save Big on New Cars

The economic slump has many vehicles going for near-invoice prices. Plus, rebates and low-rate financing deals abound.

Guilt-Free SUV?

Hybrid versions of the GMC Yukon and Cheverolet Tahoe get a test drive.

Car Review: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Great Compromise SUV

Car Review: BMW 535xi

Value, elegance and (unfortunately) iDrive

Five Myths on Leasing a Car

The truth about five common car leasing myths.

Detroit's Car Industry Shows Signs of Life

Will Motor City rev its engines for American car buyers?

The Accord Gets Comfy

Honda spins this growth much the way you'd tell a man he hasn't grown heavy, he's now "husky,"

Best Midsize Sedans

The models may look similar, but distinctions in value, power and comfort can be striking.

Dropping the Top on BMW

Safe? That's a given. With the 3-series convertible, you'll also get plenty of power, fun in the sun and not too much wind in your hair.

Best Value in Luxury Cars

The Lexus LS 460 created a buzz because it parks itself. But high style and top quality are the real reasons it is winning buyers' hearts.

What's New With Hybrids

Carmakers are responding to consumers who want more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Finally, Your Real MPG

Fuel economy ratings haven't always lined up with actual drivers' results. Now, new estimates for 2008 will reflect real-world miles per gallon.

ABCs of a Great Car Loan

A few simple strategies will prevent you from being fleeced in the dealer's finance office.

The Lure of the Crossover

These car-like SUVs are filling showrooms and winning drivers' hearts. Here are our favorites for 2007.

Detroit Auto Show: Tech and Environment in the Driver's Seat

Power and speed are no longer the mantra in Motor City. Reporting from Detroit, columnist Mark Solheim names six of the best new concept cars and shows you what to expect for the 2008 model year.

Street Smarts for Teen Drivers

To encourage save driving, consider adding an emergency-maneuvers driving course to your teen's training.

Hate to Haggle? Here's Help

If you don't want to pay sticker price for a new car but hate to negotiate, there are services that can snag a deal for you.

Dodge's New Compact Has Bite

The entry-level Caliber ain't got a Hemi, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's still bigger and delivers more power than its cutesy Asian counterparts.

Not Your Boomers' SUVs

The Acura RDX and Toyota FJ Cruiser are aimed at young men who want style, performance and utility.

Toyota's Latest: A Car of Compromises

The price and gas mileage of the new Yaris might be right, but this mini mobile lacks in style and amenities.

Two Segment-Busting Six-Seaters

Mazda's and Mercedes-Benz's latest offerings that are neither SUV nor minivan aren't flying off dealers' lots, but they're worth a look.

A Supersized SUV That's Hard to Hate

The new Cadillac Escalade won\'t help save the planet or save you money at the gas pump. But it will carry eight people in a comfortable and stylish ride.

A Mean, Green Machine

The Lexus GS 450h is not a tree-hugger hybrid. The electric motor in this luxury sedan is meant to maximize performance, not fuel efficiency.

Fill 'er up With Ethanol?

President Bush is pushing a new type of ethanol as the antidote to Americans' addiction to oil. But don't expect to see it at your local gas station any time soon.

A New Car That's Not Really New

Ford's latest crossover SUV hybrid, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, has little to distinguish it from the Escape. So is the higher sticker price worth it?

Ten of the Safest Cars on the Road

New safety awards by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety make it easier to determine which cars are the safest. See which ten 2006 models earned the organization's gold and silver safety awards.

Happy Holidays From the Big Three

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler roll out their year-end specials in an effort to clear dealers' lots and boost 2005 market share. Carmakers traditionally host year-end sales, but this year they have more at stake.

Don't Diss Diesels

Recent spikes in the price of gasoline have turned the spotlight on hybrids and other fuel sippers. But in the flight to fuel efficiency, clean diesels are often overlooked.

Deflating the Hybrid Hype

As gas prices soar, interest in fuel-efficient hybrids is growing. But these vehicles are unlikely to save you money over the long run.

Where the Deals Are

Thanks to employee-discount sales by GM, Ford and Chrysler, finding popular 2005 models is getting a lot tougher. Here's how to track down the car you want, or drive away in a low-cost alternative.

GM's Discount Worth a Test Drive

GM's summer clearance officially ends Tuesday, although it may be extended. If you're in the market for a new car, test drive five of our favorite GM models.

Clean Diesels Are Coming

Meet the Smart car, part of a new generation of fuel-efficient, diesel-powered cars that are also fun to drive.

A Hybrid Americans Can Love

The new gas-electric hybrid SUV from Lexus offers an impressive set of performance and safety features, and it\'s less harmful to the environment.

Audi A6: Quirky Luxury

This newly renovated sports sedan from Audi will give the BMW 5 series and the Mercedes E320 a run for the money, even if it needs a nose job and a simpler radio.

Best of Show

From muscle cars to quirky concepts, see which vehicles stood out from the pack at the Detroit auto show.

Buy a New 2004 or a 2005?

The new cars are sitting alongside last year\'s models on dealers\' lots. The deals look more tempting on the 2004s, but it\'s not always clear which choice would be the better long-term value. We show you how to decide between a new or semi-new car.

Next Time, Fill 'er up With Regular

Feeling the pinch at the pump? Forget premium gas. Filling your tank with the cheap stuff won\'t hurt your car, and it\'ll be easier on your wallet.

Acura Takes a High-Tech Turn

Acura has given its formerly ho-hum sedan, the RL, a whole new look and feel, adorning it with such cutting-edge extras as satellite traffic alerts and DVD-audio.

When It Pays to Fight a Ticket

Been caught speeding? More than half of disputed traffic violations are resolved in the driver\'s favor. Here\'s how to put your best case before the judge.

Dream Drive

The new Porsche 911 Carrera is so smooth, powerful and connected to the road that it feels as if it drives itself.

Gas Pain Relief

If fueling up the family vehicle is choking your wallet, these first-aid strategies can help.

Return of the Ragtops

They\'re fun, they\'re stylish, they\'re topless. A new group of convertibles are headed to car showrooms just in time for summer.

The People's Car Goes Upscale

The new ultraluxury Volkswagen Phaeton is a far cry from the humble Beetle. It sports a powerful engine, deluxe amenities and a $65,000 price tag.

Car Stars: Preview of the 2005s

The Detroit Auto Show is known for its glitz and hype, but expect the buzz about these vehicles to continue for months to come.

Great Values in Small Cars

Toyota\'s Prius and the Mazda3 offer big-car performance and features at a small-car price.

Technology to Control Teen Drivers

If your teen is driving too fast, and you\'re too furious, plug one of these black boxes below the dash to put the brakes on reckless behavior.

Fuel-Cell Vehicles Still Down the Road

Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells are quiet and clean, but don\'t expect to see them in a showroom any time soon.

New Models Coming Down the Pike

Carmakers are starting to unleash the 2004s. Our car guy gives his take on four that he\'s already put through the paces.

Avoid the 7 Deadly Sins of Extended Warranties

Finding the best deal on car-service contracts means comparison shopping and sifting through jargon-filled fine print. These strategies can help head off car-repair hell.

Cars With Star Power

Gas-miser hybrids are gaining celebrity status. But don\'t expect them to propel you into the fast lane.

Ease the Pain at the Pump

Use rebate cards, the Web or \'greener\' cars to reduce swollen gasoline prices.

Should You Take the SUV Bait?

Generous rebates make now a great time to buy an SUV. But before you bite, consider these costs and options.

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