It appears that car owners have been taking better care of their vehicles in recent years, which means the purchase of a used car is more reliable than it was in the past.

Especially as the economy has sagged, more people have put money into their cars to make improvements that they might have ignored in prior years.

Time Purcell, owner of Christie’s Service Station in Westport, Connecticut told the New Canaan News that he has seen an increase in people spending money on the maintenance of their vehicles instead of just buying a new car.

Purcell told the news provider that people have become used to having their cars services regularly when they were under warranty. When the warranty expires, drivers continue to use shops like his to get extensive checkups.

The rise in maintenance of these cars combined with increased reliability of new cars over the last decade has made used cars more attractive than they once were.

“[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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In these tough economic times many American families are being forced to downsize, but it’s still necessary to have a vehicle that can make it back and forth to the store and still be comfortable for the whole family.

According to MSN autos, there are a number of vehicles families should consider if they’re looking to trade in the gas-guzzling SUV for a used car that’s more economical.

Jeff Bartlett, deputy online autos editor at Consumer Reports says there are a number of reasons families should consider taking a step down from the monstrous vehicles they thought they needed in more prosperous times.

“You save upfront, you save at the pump, you save in your annual maintenance and you’ll recoup a greater percentage on trade-in,” Bartlett told MSN autos.

One of the vehicles that makes the MSN auto list is the Toyota Rav4, which has been in production for over a decade. The site says the vehicle is tiny in comparison to other SUVs so it might be well suited for families with small children.

It appears that a growing number of people who would have normally purchased a new car are turning to used cars. A recent study from Edmunds finds that a half million people who would have normally purchased a new vehicle bought a used car in the three months leading up to February.

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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.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

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.