2012 Worst Cars On The Market

There is nothing worse than purchasing a used or new car only to have it fail you within a year. Do your research before you invest in your next car.

It isn't as hard as you might think to research cars. It's easy to find the right car with handy tools such as Kelley Blue Book online. Consumer Reports magazine, as well as a few other publications that do the same job of comparing and researching cars, are also available. Remember that the price of a used vehicle can have a significant impact on its value.

The list of 'Worst Cars is Top Ten' includes four cars

According to 2012 Consumer Reports Best & Worst Cars, four cars are the worst. These numbers show how well a vehicle performs in various areas such as braking, acceleration, fuel economy, and comfort. The lowest performers in these areas received points out of 100.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited got a score of 20. Jeep Liberty only received 27 points. Smart forTwo - 28 points! Surprised? The Toyota model was the highest in this low category. Although it's ugly and poor on fuel economy, the FJ Cruiser broke all of those twenties models.

Despite the Smartfortwo's 2012 debut being marred by low consumer reports scores, it did not make the list of most toxic or fuel-efficient cars as compiled by organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy and Men's Health. It has not been subject to recalls this year.

Do your research before you make a purchase

Consumer Reports can be a great source for information about recalls. In late July they reported on the recall of Ford Escape due to a stuck throttle. In August, they reported on recalls for Lexus HS25h hybrids and Toyota RAV4 SUVs.

It's as easy as getting used cars inspected before you buy to avoid a shiny, motorized lemon. Before you buy from a dealer, make sure you check out the Better Business Bureau. Before you leave the lot, make sure that your investment has a good warranty.

It can be a bit more difficult to purchase from an independent owner. However, it is easy to assess the car's value and determine if the vehicle has been totaled.

You should also check the U.S. Department of Energy before you leave your home to shop for a car. The National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory performs fuel economy testing using state-of-the-art federal testing procedures. Their website has a very handy step-by-step guide with photos that explains how it works.

For information sake, take a look at the undercover-lemons available at your local dealer. This information is provided for your convenience!