One of the best deals currently has to be the Jaguar XF Sedan, with prices from $52,500 – $79,600 that is a reasonable price to pay for a car that offers so much in terms of ride and styling. One of the reasons for some great offers from dealers for 2011 models is due to the fact that they need to get rid of the old stock to make room for the new 2012 models. More details can be found here.

Another awesome deal is the Cadillac CTS-V Sports Wagon. The $62,360 price tag seems reasonable considering how much car you get. Dealers are offering 0 percent APR over 5 years, although you will need to have a healthy credit ratting in order to take advantage of this deal. Visit the official Cadillac website for more on this offer.

At first glance the Toyota Camry is a very nice car, and looking on their website there are some very healthy deals. However, the issue that we have here is that they do not apply to the hybrid model. Now we find this a little strange, as Toyota should be doing more to try and sell more of these fuel- efficient cars. Price is from $20,195 – $29,845, the choice is yours if you would rather pay a premium to have a hybrid.

We pointed out a great deal that Cadillac has, so now thought that we would share with you one of their bad offers. The Escalade costs from $63,455 – $87,660, which does seem pretty high for a vehicle that will only offer 13 miles to the gallon. The SUV was always considered a cool car, as there are/were a number of rappers with one, but it does not take too long before we get tired of seeing the same thing all the time. One has to wonder how long it will be before the automaker has to reconsider either styling or price?

These are four of what we believe to be the best and worst deals for 2011 models, but you had best hurry, because 2012 is fast approaching.

It is no secret that a number of these carmakers suffered from a number of issues that reduced their dependability rating, so it is refreshing to see that they have done their best to rectify these problems. However, let us not forget that this 2011 survey is only for 2008 models, so these results are only good if you plan to purchase a used vehicle.

The reason why this report is three years out of date is due to the fact that it takes time for owners of these 2008 models to offer their opinions. However, at least automakers can take this information and use it to build better models – well that’s the theory anyway. If that is the case, then how come we are still seeing certain models recalled?

The J.D. Power 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study is broken into 20 different categories, from compact car to minivan. Overall Toyota looks to be the most dependable vehicle, which does seem strange considering that they have had the most recalls in recent years. Lexus has normally taken the top spot, but for one reason or another has been knocked off by its parent company – well a win is a win.

Looking over all the rankings we can clearly see that Japanese vehicles have come out on top, with American models following. Surprisingly German cars did not fare as well as we had expected.

Some believe that you need to be aggressive when it comes to closing the deal, but this is the wrong approach. There are a number of ways where you can hold your own against a salesman to get the deal that is right for both parties. Just remember that these salespeople have their own tactics, so you just need to learn them and beat them at their own game.

The first and one of the most important things is to try and repel all the shady tactics that they try. They will do their best to say this and that a car, but if you go in with all details of that car, such as value, reliability issue and how safe it is, then all these could help shave a few dollars of the sticker price.

Before you even consider falling into the car dealer’s traps, always call ahead and ask them how much they are willing to drop by. This will catch them off-guard, as they cannot try all of their tactics in person. I have made a few mistakes in my time when it comes to trading in my car. If you do want to trade yours in do not let them see your car or that you want to trade it in. The reason for this is because they will have already looked at your car and then decided how much they will offer you and sell you a new or used car for. Once they give you a price, you then say you have a car to trade, and that is when negotiations begin once more.

Our final piece of advice is to not rush things, always hold out that little longer and do not be afraid to walk away. A dealer needs to shift as many cars as possible, so if you leave chances are you will get a call or if you do come back you will see how they slashed another few hundred dollars of that sticker price. We hope that these tips help; what tactics have you used to get that deal?

One of the most common issues when buying a car is not doing your research. There are those drivers who have their heart set on a car and will not waiver from that. The first thing you should always do is make certain that the car you want does not have reliability issues, and that the insurance is not expensive. A good suggestion for teenage drivers is to see what are the safest cars for you to drive, as this will keep insurance premiums lower.

Next up is price, how many times have you bought a car only to find that you have paid over-market value? There are a number of sources on the Internet that provide such a service, and will allow you to get a good deal. However, you will need to learn the art of haggling – something that I still struggle with.

Another mistake that we hear far too often is people buying cars that is not practical for them. This could mean buying a huge SUV when you only do town driving or an Electric Vehicle when you only do long journeys. Just do a little homework and see what you or your families needs are.

One of the most common mistakes when buying a car hits on something that we mentioned earlier, and that is not considering how much insurance you will pay. Some of us have our heart set on a car and when we do buy it that is when you are hit over the head with a huge premium. Some cars carry higher premiums than others, you just need to do your research first. If you do still go for your dream car, then do not forget to shop around, read our recent post for further advice on this.

We know that there are dozens more car buying mistakes, these are just a few of the most common. Please share with us some of the hassles you have had after buying a car.

Yes we did say annual, although of course the recommended period that car owners should take their motor in for maintenance is every three months. Having said that, how many of you can honesty say you stick to this timeframe?

However, one guide which is sure to assist you with your schedule can be found over at Edmunds. They provide an excellent DIY guide, where you can simply input the details, mileage of your car and zip code and then you’ll be presented with a break down of the average costs and items that you are likely going to have to pay for if you take it in for servicing.

Below is a quick example that we tried out, just to give you an idea of how it works:

Failing that, we’ve found a useful article over at Fastlanes which gives you some useful information on car maintenance, information which is vital that you know about before parting with your car. The last thing you want to happen is that you end up paying more money than you should, so it’s worth worth seeking a second opinion if you can.

How often do you take your car in for servicing?

Some of us always look to save money when buying a car, so instead of buying new we opt for used instead. This is a very good way to go about getting yourself a car, as you can often save just under 50 percent when the car is about 3 years old. The models that Consumer Reports looked at were made from 2001 to 2010, and you will see on the list that it is the Asian cars that offer the best used value.

Ford has also been another brand that seems to offer more of a bargain when buying used compared to the likes of BMW and Audi. We are not too certain why this is, but one would presume that these vehicles seem to age more gracefully than their Asian counterparts, such as Toyota and Honda. This is great news if you own a German vehicle and wish to sell, but not if you are the one in the market for buying.

We have to remember that it is not all about the value of the car, it is also about how reliable they are, and we can clearly see that it is the Honda Fit that is the best of the small cars. The Toyota Prius takes the top spot for best family and Acura RL for family car.

Its not all about the good ones though, some of the least reliable cars on the market include the Audi A6 (2.7T, 3.0T), BMW X5, Chevrolet Impala (V8) and many more. The list is pretty big, and for more details on the best and worst then visit the Consumer Reports website.

What have you found to be the best and worst reliable cars over the years?

Some of you will wonder why other vehicles did not have to pay Gas Guzzler Tax; and the reason for that was because the act was established in 1978, which meant that there were not that many SUVs on the road. However, that has now changed for 2011, so more vehicles will now be included?

You do not have to be a genius to know what the fuel-economy leaders are; so will pay less tax, as we have mentioned them many times. Top of the pile for 2011 models is currently and has been for a while the Toyota Prius, which as we know is a hybrid. Looking over on the government’s EPA website we can see that there are three cars all with the same fuel-economy rating, so should all pay the same amount of Gas Guzzler Tax; these are the Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD, Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD.

Now looking at the other end of the scale, those that will pay the most include the Bugatti Veyron, and with fuel ratings of 8mpg city and 15 highway, it’s not hard to see why. What made us laugh was how the 2011 Ford E350 Wagon was not that much different to the supercar above, with ratings of 10/13 for city and highway respectively.

More details on fuel economy ratings can be found on the EPA website, highest here and lowest here. Now that the Gas Guzzling Tax has been extended to cover the likes of SUVs and minivans we could finally see less types of these vehicles on the road?

Our vehicles are getting more advanced every year, and the likes of Volvo and BMW are always looking to future technology. Volvo stuck out in our mind because of their new “Pedestrian Protection System” and the hassles that they have had in its development. Thankfully this safety feature is now working and is part of the S60.

If we were to go back a few years some of the new safety features in those days were considered to be optional, such as Airbags, ABS and Brake Assist. However, most 2011 model cars come with two or all of the above as standard. You might think why would an automaker not charge the consumer for these safety features; well they do in a roundabout way. Although you have to remember that the best way to sell a car is making it as safe as possible, because the cargo that a mother or father has in the rear seats is priceless.

To give you an idea of this, I recently rented a small car while on vacation and was surprised that it came with a rear-parking camera. Even now most cars have this down as optional, but it will not be too long before this will be standard. This could mean that Volvo’s “Pedestrian Protection System” could be fitted to all of its models in 3 to 5 years time.

Knowing what are the top car safety features to look out for is tough, but you can be certain that this will be a huge topic of conversation during the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next week.

What is the most important car safety feature?

The first thing to remember is try not to do any sudden braking, as you will reduce your speed quickly and will then have to build up that speed again – something that my brother is constantly guilty of doing. The best method is to build your speed gently and try to stay at a steady speed, and also keep an eye on the traffic ahead. If you spot traffic in the distance, then all you need do is lift the gas pedal, no need for braking – well in most cases anyway.

Another important tip is to always make sure that you have the correct amount of air in your tires, if they are underinflated, then your engine has to work harder. Just think of it like this, you walk for a mile on the sidewalk, then do the same in the sand – it take more energy.

My third tip is to not carry any items that are not needed in the trunk, as this just wastes fuel. I have known some people to drive around with tools, golf clubs and other such items when they are not needed. Try to only use the A/C when needed, and if you do have it on then make certain that the windows are shut. That’s another thing, try not to keep those windows open if not needed.

My last tip, which is something that I make certain of doing, is keeping your vehicle fully serviced. If you have a car or truck with old spark plugs, oil etc then this will reduce the fuel-efficiency a great deal.

I hope that these tips will help you, if you have any more then please share then with our readers?

The most common problem that I know off is when these rigs go to overtake you, things are fine that is until they come in; there have been occasions when they get back into the lane too early and their back wheels clip your car. Charles Plueddeman from MSN Autos talks about the time when the same thing happened to Chuck Tannert, a MSN Contributing Editor.

Plueddeman has offered some valuable tips on sharing road with trucks, and how you can stay safe. He goes through a number of situations that we often find ourselves in. The first is what to do when a trucker is tailgating you; he explains that slowing down or speeding up will only make matters worse, so the easiest thing to do is a change lane.

The scariest moment is when two trucks pull side-by-side and you have this moving wall on either side. This is a fear that my father has, but I always tell him to stay calm, as being scared could make you lose control of your vehicle. This is the same advice that Plueddeman gives, so there has to be some truth to it.

For an even greater insight to staying safe on the roads, then who better to offer advice than professional truck drivers. There is an article on PRNewswire that talks about how professional truck drivers have been giving tips to young drivers when driving on the highway. They also got to climb inside a cab of a truck, just to get a trucker’s perspective and see just what they cannot see. This is certainly a great idea, one that is hoped to help both big rig truckers and car drivers be more aware of each other.

Get more advice and tips on a range of subjects here