AC And DC Motors Reviews

Fact No. 1 -- Today's cars may cost more, but you get more. The average cost of a new car topped ,000 in 2012, but that figure just doesn't tell the whole story. True, you may get sticker shock when you shop for a car, but if you expand your horizons, there are new cars that retail for as low as ,000 and many more that come in for under ,000. Today's cars come fairly well-equipped too and may offer air-conditioning, an audio system, power windows, power door locks and Bluetooth connectivity as standard equipment. Some models bring in leather seating, navigation systems and a rear back up camera, and can do that for under ,000. Check out the Kia Soul as one example of getting more vehicle for less money.

Fact No. 2 -- Your safety features may amaze you. Front crumple zones, reinforced side doors and airbags are commonplace in todays' cars. But, that is just the beginning. Many vehicles come with front active head restraints, an important way to reduce the impact of whiplash sustained injuries in a rear crash; offer automatic braking when sensors detect that your vehicle is too close to the car in front of it; may come with various lane departure warning and blind spot detection assistance tools to help you avoid a crash; and so much more. New frontal offset testing offered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are also being rolled out, helping manufacturers to build cars that are better able to withstand the types of crashes that can hurt or kill you. Importantly, the better safety ratings for many of today's vehicles translates into lower insurance rates for consumers.

Fact No. 3 -- Fuel efficiency is through the roof. Are you looking for top fuel efficiency? If so, then today's models will not disappoint you. A fleet of electric vehicles are now on the market offering the equivalent of more than 100 mpg and an electric-only range of 62 to 88 miles and beyond. Hybrid models typically top 50 mpg and even a midsize gasoline model, such as the Nissan Altima, gets 38 mpg on the highway. If you want a car that gets 40 mpg or better, your choices have expanded greatly in recent years.

Fact No. 4 -- Model choices continue to expand. There is some consolidation taking place in the auto industry, as manufacturers collaborate on model platforms, share engines and transmissions, or co-develop technologies. Yet, there are more models, trim levels, sub models and variations available to consumers than ever before with new manufacturers and nameplates hitting the market. Recent additions include the CODA sedan, the Chevrolet Spark, the Ford C-Max, the SRT Viper and Tesla's S Model. A few manufacturers such as Suzuki and Mitsubishi have pulled back in recent years and may eventually exit the U.S. market.

Fact No. 5 -- Your car may be fully recyclable or close to it. Do you think that your car will eventually find its way into the junk yard? Don't be too sure about that. Happily, car manufacturers are making vehicles that offer more recyclable parts including seats that use soy-based materials, make use of natural materials in the dashboard, the door trim and carpeting, and are comprised of parts that can be used again such as aluminum, steel, rubber and other materials. Some manufacturers, such as Smart, are building cars that are as close to fully reusable as you can get. That's great news for buyers that want to minimize their impact on the environment.

Car Considerations

If you have not purchased a new car in more than a decade, you may find that today's vehicles are far more advanced than the one you currently own. Online connectivity, side curtain airbags and self-parking capabilities are just a few of the goodies available in some cars today, features that you may want to consider when shopping for your next car.