Preparation

Review the vehicle owner's manual for phone-to-vehicle pairing instructions and hands-free controls/features.

Don't be so dazzled by glass and chrome that you forget to choose a car that offers good fuel efficiency.

Today's cars are pretty simple. Put gas in them, change the oil and you're pretty much set. After all, modern cars have become almost maintenance-free because consumers don't want to spend time keeping their car in working order.

Don't be so dazzled by glass and chrome that you forget to choose a car that offers good fuel efficiency.

As gas prices rise and consumers look for relief at the pumps, a host of cheap gas offers flood the market. Grocery store chains and discount warehouses are jumping into the gas business with lower-than-the-competitor's prices. Meanwhile, oil companies and even credit cards, offer gas-buying incentives, to lure loyal customers. But is this where the real savings is for motorists?

How Far Would You Go For the Planet? Part One

The era of hybrids has arrived, and more than two dozen models in the U.S. auto market use a combination of a battery pack and a gasoline engine for propulsion. As the hybrid market matures, technological advancements — including further mileage gains — have become only incremental, and some new offerings are disappointing "me-toos." This makes careful shopping important.

As gas prices rise, drivers are paying closer attention to the fuel economy gauges that are found in most late-model cars as part of the trip computer. The only problem is that the gauges are inaccurate. In fact, Edmunds testing reveals that one such gauge claimed fuel economy 19 percent higher than the actual result.

Using This Comparison:This "leasing versus buying" comparison is an educational tool to make general comparisons of these two methods of obtaining a vehicle. It is not an advertisement for and does not describe a particular lease or loan. It does not include all of the terms of a lease or a loan. In many places, the identified costs do not include all fees and taxes. Please refer to the specifics of the lease and loan you are considering for the actual terms. To reduce the complexity of the comparisons, the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a vehicle for cash are not included. However, most statements applicable to financing a vehicle also apply to purchasing it with cash.

When an auto loan deal goes wrong, it's often because of problems that occur when the contract is prepared in the finance and insurance office (the "F&I" room). It's here that a car buyer can see much of the potential savings regarding his or her auto loan go up in smoke.