Five '70s Cars That Plain Suck

(NEWSER) - Buick and Jaguar are the most dependable all-around car brands this year, the Detroit News reports. A study by JD Power and Associates looked at the average number of problems that crop up in 2006 models to make its estimation, which could be more influential as the recession has drivers holding onto cars longer. Joining Buick and Jaguar—which tied—in the top five are Lexus, Toyota, and Mercury. More»

Auto bailout throws good money after bad, goes against US capitalism itself

(NEWSER) - American prosperity relies on creative destruction—the failure of nonviable companies and their replacement by defter rivals. The government endeavors to protect the worker in periods of transition, writes David Brooks in the New York Times, but not the firms themselves. That’s why the auto-industry bailout is a bad idea: Extending the life of the Big Three means preserving their unworkable business models. More»

Sales have slipped from half a million annually to 168K last year

(NEWSER) - Once a four-wheeled icon of cool, Ford's Mercury brand is steadily losing traction and may soon be parked for good, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ford has not yet announced a plan to scrap the line, but one key stockholder is urging the company to let it go. "Mercury has one more product cycle left in it, and then will almost certainly be retired as a brand," one analyst said. More»

US automakers say cheap dollar, low-cost labor puts them in driver's seat

(NEWSER) - The dollar’s declining value, lower labor costs, and other terms of new UAW deals have US automakers looking overseas as they attempt to reclaim market share and profitability, reports the Wall Street Journal. About half of US vehicle exports in 2007, which totaled $50.66 billion, went to Canada and Mexico, and automakers now are looking to emerging markets in China and Latin America. The weak dollar "improves export competitiveness and potential profitability," says GM's president. More»

Don't sacrifice your bank account to the wheel with gas and insurance costs

(NEWSER) - Affordable cars start at the sticker price—the lower the better. But over time, insurance payments and gas costs add up. Forbes searches out the 10 vehicles that will leave the smallest footprint on your wallet.

1. Toyota Yaris
2. Honda Fit
3. Toyota Corolla