the new cars

New or used? Peace of mind is a crucial factor

It's hard to remember when there was a better time to consider a used car instead of a new one.

The record number of new cars and trucks sold in recent years -- fueled largely by extremely attractive rebates and low- or no-interest financing -- has created an overabundance of used cars. That gives the used-car shopper a lot of choice.

The flooded market also means depressed prices on used cars -- bad news for new-car buyers trading in their old models, but good news for bargain-hunting used-car shoppers.

Furthermore, an increasing number of certified pre-owned car plans have cropped to provide consumers with peace of mind when it comes to buying a used car.

In the end, the decision to buy new or to buy used boils down to what you can afford and what will give you peace of mind.