A new report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and NASA has revealed that electronic systems in Toyota models are not to blame for sudden acceleration in some vehicles, despite widespread speculation.

In fact, the report, which was the result of a ten-month study by the groups, largely cleared Toyota of any wrongdoing in relation to the numerous crashes and accidents blamed on "sudden acceleration." Toyota eventually addressed the issue by recalling and fixing vehicles for sticking pedals and floor mats, but continuously denied any fault in the programming of the electronic systems.

The study found that the floor mats only contributed in one instance, where the mat became dislodged and trapped the accelerator. In the rest of the cases, it was actually driver error – hitting the gas rather than the brake – that led to the crashes.

"The jury is back, the verdict is in," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period."

Drivers who were holding off on purchasing a used Toyota may want to reconsider, as the report essentially deems the vehicles safe to drive. Those interested in these or any other vehicles may want to visit New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide variety of models at low prices.

Before purchasing a new or used car, most drivers engage in a significant amount of research. Thanks to the power of the internet, it's now possible for websites to track that data and see which cars buyers were most interested in.

Consumer Reports is one of the more popular websites, as the guide puts a focus on safety, reliability and value. The company has built a database of new and used car info that gives registered users the lowdown on each vehicle via "model overview pages." In order to detail some of the more popular vehicles for 2010, the company released data on which of these pages got the most hits throughout the year.

In terms of used cars, Honda vehicles were by far the most popular. The Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V and Pilot occupied the top four spots on the list, possibly suggesting that the brand has supplanted Toyota as one of the top used car choices in the wake of this year's recall scandal.

However, Toyota wasn't completely left off the list. The Camry and Highlander came in at #9 and #10 on the used car list, respectively, while the RAV-4 placed eighth on the new listing.

The used BMW 3 Series continues to be a year-in and year-out top seller for the German automaker, earning one of the rare sedan spots on the list. The vast majority of the spots were awarded to SUVs and crossovers, many of which were seen on both lists. The Acura MDX and Hyundai Santa Fe appear on both, with Hyundai's Sonata also placing eighth on the new car list.

There was also a correlation between the website's own "top picks" and which cars got the most clicks. The Subaru Forester, for instance, was the top-rated new car and also had quite a few people searching for new models after it was recommended by the guide in April.

Interestingly, all of the cars on the used list were foreign, while domestic automakers posted a stronger showing for new cars. The Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Traverse each made the new car list, with cars from Chrysler noticeably absent.

Drivers considering purchasing a vehicle should be sure to do comprehensive research ahead of time in order to make an informed decision. They should also keep in mind that by shopping used cars for sale, they can save significantly off new ones.