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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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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For the second time in a month the same home was hit by an out-of-control car, leading authorities to call for the city to install a barrier to stop the crashes.

The owners of a home in Etobicoke, Canada saw a car crash into their house for the second in less than three weeks on Saturday when a 25-year-old man hit a curb sending his car flying into the home’s master bedroom and landing on the bed.

Earlier this month an elderly couple in their late 80s hit a snow bank which sent their car flying into the home’s living room and caused massive structural damage, according to the Star.

No one was injured in either of the crashes.

The couple who own the home said they have often thought of being hit by passing cars because of the sharp corner outside their home.

“We have joked from time to time that a car coming down Parklawn Road coming at high speed, if they didn’t make that corner, was going to end up in our house,” John Johansen told CityNews.ca after the first crash.

Unfortunately for the couple, everything they owned was being stored in the master bedroom following the first crash, according to the Star.

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With the economy continuing to struggle, many people who would normally buy a new vehicle are turning to used cars for their purchase. For those in the market for a luxury used car, Motor Trend has some suggestions.

The economy is making it a buyer’s market even for used cars with the Dow Jones recently reporting that used car prices fell 8 percent in 2008. With that in mind, Motor Trend says it might be possible to snag a great luxury car at a not so luxury a price.

In the supercar category, the magazine picks the 1990-2005 Acura NSX. Motor Trend says the car’s marriage of “supermodel personality with Girl-Scout reliability” forced Italian carmakers to up their game when the car was released.

For those looking for a car that can carry the groceries along with the kids and the dog, the website suggest the 2001-2007 Volvo V70 or XC. Volvos are known for their safety and this wagon is no exception but for people just driving in the city, the site says they might want to go for the “prettier” V70 version.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that luxury used car sales are up across the country and says the already good market should get better soon as three to four-year-old leases begin being turned in.

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Drivers in Minnesota learned a hard winter lesson this weekend when thousands of cars were towed after a snow emergency was declared.

Minneapolis spokesman Matt Laible told the Downtown Journal that 1,800 cars were towed to impound lots in order to make room for snowplows as the city was buried in snow following a three-day snow emergency.

Laible told the website that 862 vehicles were towed on Saturday, the first day of the Snow Emergency, with another 951 vehicles towed Sunday. It is expected that the final tally will exceed the 1,800 mark.

ABC affiliate KSTP says another 1,200 vehicles were towed in neighboring St. Paul, Minnesota causing residents of both cities to pay up to $200 to have their cars removed, which is hitting cash-strapped motorists hard.

“I don’t have a cell phone. I can’t afford that type of thing – just nuts and bolts right now,” Joel Wenz, one of the people waiting at the impound lot told KSTP.

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