In this down economy a lot of people need the excitement of a drive in a sports car to get them through the day. But the purchase of a speedy ride doesn’t have to break the bank.

According to MSN autos, there are a number of sports car that can be had for under $35,000 and in this market, and buying a used one can be even more frugal.

Although a number of the cars on the MSN autos list are foreign, the website does focus on a couple of the next generation of American muscle cars, including the iconic Ford Mustang.

Considering the history and power of the Mustang it can still be had for well under $35,000, even when searching for a used GT with a v8 engine. Unlike a lot of other sports cars on the market, the Mustang is also a car that can be used day-in and day-out as it can actually fit passengers in the back and room for some groceries in the trunk.

But for the more pure sports car, the site suggests a Pontiac Solstice or its twin, the Saturn Sky, a rare American two-seater.

This might be the best time to purchase a used sports car as Dow Jones recently reported that the prices of used cars fell 8 percent last year.

Find Used Ford cars in New York Tri-State Area with New Jersey State Auto.

In the slumping economy, many Americans are turning to used cars as a smart way to save money on the purchase of a car. Cars.com says it has had a record number of people using its site to look for their new used car purchase and has some advice on which cars to choose.

It seems that the people at Cars.com think Fords make a good used car purchase with the website picking five Ford vehicles in its top ten used cars. One of them is the always popular Ford Taurus.

The 2005 Ford Taurus was mostly sold as a fleet vehicle, but according to Cars.com, that might be a tribute to the strengths of the car. The website also suggests looking for a Taurus with the side impact airbags which may be hard to find as only 10 percent of the 2005 models came with them.

The site also recommends the Hyundai XG350 which it says established Hyundai as a maker of luxurious cars. The one thing lacking in the car is its fuel economy which the site says is around 19 miles per gallon.

According to Dow Jones, the price of used cars fell 8 percent in 2008 meaning this might be a better time than ever to make a used car purchase.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

It appears that Ford feels that American car buyers are in the market for more muscle as the company has announced it will release the SHO version of the popular Ford Taurus next year.

The 365 horsepower Taurus SHO will revive the high-powered model that was sold for ten years with the last units hitting the roads in 1999.

An advanced V6 engine will give the SHO about 100 more horsepower than the traditional Taurus and some say the company is smart to look past today’s economic situation with the hope of more prosperous times ahead.

“It’s important for an automaker to look beyond the current situation and have some exciting models,” Stephanie Brinley of consultant Auto Pacific told the Detroit Free Press.

But while Fold cites a decrease in gasoline prices as a reason to bring back the SHO model, some critics say the company is quickly forgetting the recent spike in prices and more consumers looking for fuel efficient vehicles.

“It sounds like Ford’s got muscles where its brains should be,” Dan Becker, director of the safe climate campaign at the Center for Auto Safety in Washington told Reuters.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

The car is expected to get an estimated 25 miles per gallon with prices starting at $37,995.