A new report finds that the median age of cars is increasing, showing that the reliability of cars has increased over the last decade which may make a used car a smart purchase.

The study from R.L. Polk & Co. finds that the median age of the American car is 9.4 years, breaking the previous record of 9.2 years.

Trucks also saw their median age increase, although they still were slightly behind the age of cars. The age of light trucks increased from 7.1 years in 2005 to 7.5 years in 2008. Overall trucks had a median age of 7.6 years.

As automakers have increased the reliability of new cars over the last few years, it has trickled down to the used car market. Buying a used car today means that it’s likely more reliable than a used car was a decade ago.

“[Consumers are] realizing that the used cars of today are not the used cars of a few years ago, and that realization is not positive for new car sales,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst at Edmunds told Dow Jones recently.

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With the high price of gas and the fear that the world’s supply of oil is in decline, some automakers are looking to alternatives to power the next generation of automobiles including some outside-the-box ideas.

At the Geneva Motor Show this week French company MDI unveiled a car that it says can run on something that is in great abundance in the world – air.

The company says that the car, dubbed the AirPod, can travel for 137 miles on a 46-gallon tank of compressed air, according to the International Herald Tribune.

In order to refill the vehicles, the news provider says drivers can plug the car into any standard outlet for eight hours to recharge the tank or visit “air stations” which will fill the chamber in two minutes.

The three-wheeled car is expected to hit roads later this year for about $7,500.

Also unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show was Toyota‘s next generation of its gas/electric hybrid, the Prius. The company says the 2010 model will get an EPA rated 50 miles per gallon, making it the most fuel efficient production car in the U.S.

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You’ve purchased a great sporty used car and the first thing you want to do is take it out on the open road and see what’s really under the hood, but the next thing you know there are flashing lights behind you and a police officer says you were clocked going in excess of 100 miles per hour.

According to AOL autos, where you were driving could play a big factor in what’s in store for you.

For instance, in Virginia a driver can face up to $2,500 in fines and mandatory jail time if caught driving over 100, according to the website. But in New York a first time offender is likely to get a fine of $500 and two points on their license, although jail time is also a possibility.

However, some drivers can get a reckless driving infraction tacked on which could add to your problems. AOL autos says a third offense for reckless driving in Florida is a felony while in Virginia speeds over 85 mph are considered reckless.

A study earlier this year from Quality Planning Corp found that, contrary to popular belief, sports cars are not the most ticketed by police. That distinction goes to the Hummer H2 and H3.

Many people believe that they’re better off buying a car of any color besides red since it’s the most to insure, or avoid buying a sports car since they get the most tickets from police. But according to Insure.com, those are just two of the car insurance myths that many Americans believe.

The company says that the color of the car plays no part in how much it is to insure. Instead, insurers are more interested in the engine size, model and age of the car.

Many people also believe that thieves are more attracted to newer cars – Insure.com says that’s false. The company says the statistics show it is actually the other way around with more thieves targeting cars from the ’80s and ’90s like the 1989 Toyota Camry and 1995 Honda Civic.

It’s also untrue that an insurance company will automatically pay for a car that is stolen or vandalized. Insure.com says without comprehensive insurance a car owner is not covered.

And as for the most tickets, according to Quality Planning Corp, the vehicles that get the most violations from police are the Hummer H2 and H3. In what some may find a surprising twist, the Jaguar XJ gets the least amount of tickets.

The auto industry is reeling from the economic downturn with GM announcing the end of the Saturn line along with most of Pontiac. But according to Wired magazine, there are a number of other cars that should die as well.

Although Chrysler has said it will soon be rid of the PT Crusier, Wired says it shouldn’t stop there and suggests offing the Dodge Nitro which it says looks rugged and tough, but has a “puny” engine under the hood.

Another vehicle ready for the scrapheap is the Chevy Avalanche whose demise – it says – should be obvious to Chevrolet based on horrible sales figures.

“Even three years before $4 a gallon gas, sales of the Avalanche began falling faster than, well, an avalanche,” writes Wired. “From a 2002 high of nearly 90,000 trucks sold, a mere 35,003 Avalanches made it off the lot in 2008.”

However there are some good used cars drivers should look to when making a purchase. According to Consumer Reports, Honda and Toyota dominated their list of the most reliable used cars with the Honda Civic and Toyota Echo leading the list of best small cars.

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It appears that the downturn in the economy has changed many Americans outlook on the automobile with a growing number investing in used cars over new.

Dow Jones reports that the increase in the sale of used cars may be having a negative effect on automakers as more and more Americans find it unnecessary to look at new cars for reliability and safety.

“People no longer feel they have to have the nicest, newest car on the road,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst at Edmunds told the news provider. “They’re realizing that the used cars of today are not the used cars of a few years ago, and that realization is not positive for new car sales.”

The number of people moving to used cars is only expected to increase. Tom Webb, chief economist with Manheim Consulting told Dow Jones that the leases of 2.6 million cars and trucks are expected to come due this year, meaning an influx of late model used cars onto the market.

Used cars have also seen their prices drop over the last year. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the prices of used cars across the board dropped in 2008.

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Family-friendly features to look for in used cars

When looking for a new vehicle, families on a tight budget might be in the market for a used car to ease the financial burden. MSN Autos says there are some features every family should be on the look-out for.

From safety to entertainment, even used cars today have a number of family-friendly features that can keep the kids occupied while easing parents’ minds.

Some of the latest features to save the sanity of parents and keep kids occupied during long trips are entertainment systems like rear seat DVD players and television.

For a few dollars a month, Chrysler vehicles equipped with Sirius Backseat TV can keep the children quiet as they watch programs from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel. The website says more mainstream channels like ESPN may be offered soon.

Another factor is safety. Most late model cars will come equipped with air bags, anti-lock brakes and stability control, but concerned parents can go the extra mile and look for cars with side curtain airbags and even a rearview camera which can help make sure the little ones are not behind the vehicle as you back up.

Earlier this month Edmunds reported that a half million people who would have normally purchased a new vehicle bought a used car in the past three months.

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If the country is to truly get away from fossil fuels to run its automobiles it’s yet to be determined what alternative energy source will take its place. But if hydrogen is the way of the future it’s likely that New Jersey will lead the way.

According to Jim Henry, writing for Examiner.com, the home of BMW North America is in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey where the company is in the process of building the first hydrogen refueling stations in the U.S. which will service the company’s test fleet of hydrogen-powered cars.

The proponents of hydrogen say it’s the cleanest of all the alternatives, producing only water as a byproduct. But critics say the technology is not yet feasible and question the safety of the fuel.

Iceland is already working towards using the product as the main fuel in the country. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Iceland had hoped to convert the entire country to hydrogen by 2040, but delays in car manufacturers producing hydrogen-powered cars has placed them behind schedule.

“If somebody were to say to me today, ‘I’ll bring 20,000 hydrogen cars to Iceland every year for the next five years at the same cost as a conventional car,’ it would not be a problem for us,” Jon Bjorn Skulason, general manager of Icelandic New Energy told the news provider.

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The influx of quality used cars on the market makes it a good time for people to purchase a used car at a reasonable price, but there are some things to look for before handing over the cash.

According to Car and Driver, there are some telltale signs of a bad used car that every car buyer should know.

The first tip from the magazine is to avoid any car without a service history. It’s very easy these days to get the background history on a used car, but if a car doesn’t have one it should raise a red flag.

“Look for a long service history in any used car, with most of the servicing done by the same mechanic or dealership over time,” suggest the magazine. “There are simply too many good used cars out there with such a background to settle for anything less.”

Another thing to look for, according to the magazine, is brush strokes on the paint. If a car looks like it hasn’t been maintained well on the outside, that’s probably a sign of the same on the inside, says Car and Driver.

It appears that now is a good time to make a used car purchase with the Dow Jones recently reporting that used car prices dropped 8 percent across the board in 2008.

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Recent reports show that the number of people turning to used cars instead of new is up as people try to get more for their money. But when making a used car purchase, there are some good cars and some bad cars to keep in mind.

Consumer Reports recently released its list of the best and worst used cars from 1998 to 2007 and one thing the magazine noted is the increase in reliability of used vehicles.

This is a result of the rise in reliability of new cars which should make consumers more comfortable buying a used car than they would have a few years ago.

The magazine says that it did not say that any particular carmaker is better than others, with some making the best and worst lists.

“We have the Buick Lacrosse as a good bet, but we have the Buick Rendezvous and Terraza as bad bets,” Jeff Bartlett, deputy editor online for Consumer Reports told AOL Auto. “And with Nissan, some good bets are the Altima, Maxima and Murano, but we have the Armada and Titan listed as bad bets.”

It should be a good time for most people to look into purchasing a used car as Edmunds reported last week that more than half a million people bought used cars last year who would have normally bought new.

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