As Labor Day approaches, many dealerships will be offering incentives on their 2010 cars for sale in order to make way for the 2011 models. But soon after, these cars will find their way to used car dealers as late-model vehicles, where they can be found at a reduced rate.

When deciding on a late-model used car, fuel economy is an important factor. Since the vehicle was only built in the last few years, it’s unlikely to have many miles on it and thus drivers will be depending on the car for a long time. The more miles that a driver puts on a car, the more they end up saving – if the car has great fuel economy.

The Environmental Protection Agency rates every car’s gas mileage each year and posts the results online so that shoppers can easily compare vehicles across brands. If a driver considers fuel economy to be an important factor in their car-buying decision, they might want to keep their eyes peeled for a few of these models on the used car lot.

The most efficient car in the country was again the Toyota Prius. The Prius has come to symbolize the ideal hybrid and has been at the forefront of the class in terms of awards and recognition. With 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 on the highway, average drivers can expect to pay just $780 per year on fuel costs.

That said, the Prius isn’t the only hybrid in the game. True, it has the best fuel economy by quite a bit. But fuel economy isn’t the only consideration when purchasing a vehicle.

Drivers who want a bit more power out of their hybrid, for example, might want to check out the Nissan Altima or Ford Fusion hybrids. Rather than the 1.8-liter engine found on the Prius, these both come with 2.5-liter engines. In addition, they’re both slightly cheaper than a Prius and have higher ratings in driver and passenger safety crash tests.

The Fusion clocks in with 41 miles per gallon in the city and 36 on the highway while the Altima gets 35 in the city and 33 on the highway. On average, this is about $200 – $300 more per year than the Prius, but drivers will have to weigh whether the cheaper price and additional features are worth it.

Another option is the Honda Insight. Like the Prius, the Insight comes as a hatchback, and though it only sports a 1.3-liter engine, it is $6,770 cheaper than its more famous counterpart. If a driver buys a used Honda Insight, they’re likely to save even more. The model still gets 40 miles per gallon in the city with 43 on the highway for an average of $952 spent on fuel each year.

The Prius might be the most well-known hybrid, and it still holds a 10 miles per gallon edge over its closest competitors. But when drivers really look at the numbers for a vehicle, the Prius’ competitors are all viable options as well, depending on what exactly a driver is looking for in a vehicle.

One of the great benefits of buying a used car rather than a new one is being able to get some classic luxury vehicles for a fraction of their original price. While a brand new Mercedes-Benz or Audi might be outside the price range of many buyers, lots of people are able to afford used BMWs every year.

James Bond has always been at the forefront of defining luxury and style, with the naming of a new Bond car typically enjoying just as much attention as the naming of a new Bond girl. Thanks to the reduced prices of the used car market, fans of the British superspy can now own some of his famous cars without paying the huge prices that they commanded when they were first introduced.

Cars.com looked at the top 10 vehicles to ever serve as Bond cars, and many of them may fit in the price range of modern car buyers.

Two of the Pierce Brosnan-era vehicles made the list, and both were BMWs. Bond used the 1997 BMW 750iL in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” where he drove it on a high-speed chase through a multilevel parking garage. Although the spy’s 750iL came equipped with rockets, tear gas, spike strips and magnetic flash grenades, drivers can likely find a used BMW with a few less options at an auto auction or used car lot.

Bond got a little more stylish for 1999, where he switched to a BMW Z8 for “The World is Not Enough.” This two-seater V8 coupe might move almost as fast as a missile, but most models unfortunately don’t come with the ground to air warheads that Bond had in his vehicle.

Some of the more classic cars on the list will likely be a bit rarer and tough to find. But if drivers find a 1975 Lotus Espirit from “The Spy Who Loved Me” or a 1961 Sunbeam Alpine from “Dr. No” they should try to snatch it up. The true classic, however, is the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from “Goldfinger,” which took the top spot on the list.

These vehicles might have been among the most expensive in the world back in their heyday, but their prices have likely fallen quite a bit in the past few years. Drivers looking for a used BMW should keep their eyes peeled for a 750iL, Z8 or even a Z3, which was used in “Goldeneye.” The top spy cars of yesteryear can become the bargains of today.

Once a driver has settled on a used car, the important question is whether they want to buy or lease the vehicle. While each strategy has its pros and cons, drivers will ultimately have to decide which one is right for them.

MSN Autos examined some of the considerations that drivers will have to think about when it comes down to closing the deal on their used auto. A driver who is informed about the procedure that goes into buying or leasing a car will be able to negotiate better at the dealership.

The news source writes that for many years, leasing was not an economically effective way to own a vehicle. Buyers were often better off and buying a vehicle that they could keep for several years. However, leasing continue to grow in popularity as it allowed drivers to not have to pay a lot of cash up front and change their vehicle every few years.

Now, the news provider believes that the economic changes in the auto industry have made leasing a viable option, both in terms of perks and finances.

An important thing to understand about leasing is residual value. At the end of the lease, the driver has the option to buy the car outright for the residual value. This is calculated not at the time the car is turned in, but at the time the deal is signed, based on the mileage allotment and other factors. By negotiating a desirable residual value, drivers keep their options open.

But because the dealer will more than likely end up with the car at the end of the lease, it is in their best interest to keep the car running. This is why many dealers will offer free maintenance for the life of the lease – a feature that no potential lessee should pass up.

Another big benefit of leasing is that the monthly payments are often much, much smaller. If a buyer doesn’t have the ability to pay cash on a car, they’ll be forced to get financing with interest, not to mention that they’ll be paying sales tax on the full price of the car rather than just the fraction that they would with leasing.

Yet the real reason that leasing has become an attractive option is the unpredictability of the economy. It’s no secret that the auto industry struggled during the economy and while sales are up as of late, many dealers will still do anything to move their cars.

This is where a residual value becomes important. Dealers are making their estimates based on the auto industry today, and they simply don’t know what will come of the future. In two years, the car might be worth quite a bit more than the dealer first predicted. If it’s not, a driver isn’t stuck with the car like he would be if he bought it – he can turn it in or buy it if he wants to keep it. But if it is, he can buy the car for the residual value, then turn around and sell it for a profit if he or she desires.

That’s not to say that buying isn’t a great option – especially if the buyer has the cash to buy it outright. With dealers offering incentives and a number of great used cars hitting the market at reduced rates, it’s a great time to buy – or lease – a vehicle.

Before drivers enter the market for a used car, they often have to sell their own vehicle first. While there are many factors that go into the price of a car there are a few things that sellers can do in order to ensure that their vehicle goes for the price they desire.

MSN Auto recently compiled some tips that explain a few good habits that will help drivers sell their car for a higher price. They talked to Charles Vogelheim, editor of the Kelley Blue Book, for some thoughts on the car selling process.

Although maintaining the vehicle and ensuring that it is in working order is obviously an important consideration, Vogelheim points out that aesthetics play a big role in influencing what the vehicle is eventually valued at.

“The most important thing is to clean the car inside and out,” Vogelheim told the news source. “If the car is older, a good wash and wax on the exterior and vacuum of the interior is probably enough. The extent of the detail will vary depending on the age of the car.”

Vogelheim says that the car doesn’t necessarily need a full detailing. For those who want to save a bit of money, one of the premium options at a full service car wash will usually do the trick.

That takes care of the interior, but for the exterior, Vogelheim recommends paying special attention to dents, chips, scratches and dings. These imperfections can severely affect a driver’s ability to sell a vehicle. This can be a quick fix, and if a car has multiple flaws, many repair shops will do the work at a reduced rate.

Beyond that, buyers should focus on repairing any damage, as this can also prevent a vehicle from being sold. Lights, mirrors and windshields are all highly-visible areas that should be repaired in order to ensure a better price.

“The difficulty with repairing body damage is that the greater the amount of damage, the less return on your investment you will get when you sell the car,” said Vogelheim. However, he cautions that these can often be dealbreakers, especially if the buyer is considering trading their car into a dealer rather than selling to a third party. “You don’t want to give a buyer a reason to not buy your car.”

Finally, drivers should be certain that they have a vehicle’s service records in order. This can go a long way toward assuring a driver that a vehicle is in working order. At the same time, Vogelheim cautions that a driver is not required to provide any type of warranty on their vehicle, and should set the terms of the agreement clearly in the bill of sale.

Your used Toyota may still be running great, but with advances in technology and a wide variety of cars for sale, it may be time to trade in for a different model. While many factors go into the trade-in process, by keeping a few things in mind, buyers can get a great price for their used car and be driving off the lot in a new vehicle in no time.

Edmunds.com recently talked to a dealer, salesman and their own data analyst to get their thoughts on the trade-in process. While each have different opinions on what to look for, their advice could be valuable in working out a great deal at the local used auto lot.

There are a few misconceptions that many drivers have about their vehicle. One that all three agree on is that drivers often overvalue their vehicle by looking at prices online. Often, people are tempted to see the highest quoted price and refuse to budge from that.

Kenneth Mills, a car salesman who has sold used Hondas for eight years, says that every used car is different and that factors into a dealer’s quote. The Edmunds analysts concurs, adding that a number of factors go into trade-in prices that are actually on the dealer’s end – such as the number of similar cars already on the lot, the time of the month and whether the salesman is one or two sales shy of making a bonus.

Bill Weismann, a used car dealer in Orlando, says he normally doesn’t check the Blue Book value, instead opting to search auto auction prices to get a true idea of what a consumer will pay for a vehicle. He also uses a service normally reserved for buyers – Carfax – to check the history of a vehicle. Weismann also cautions that the appearance of a car affects trade-in value tremendously – paint damage on the exterior or the interior of a heavy smoker’s car will fetch a lot less than a car in pristine condition. A custom paint job can also ruin a vehicle’s trade in value.

The three generally agree that a trade-in can heavily benefit a car buyer. Mills points out that in most states, consumers save on sales tax by trading in. If a customer was going to buy a $20,000 car, he’d normally pay a percentage offthat figure for taxes. But by engineering a trade of $12,000, he will only have to pay a tax off the remaining $8,000 – a move that could save hundreds of dollars.

While what’s under the hood is certainly integral in deciding which used car to buy, the aesthetics of a vehicle are also an important consideration. Many cars in the same class are very similar in terms of the parts inside, so how a car looks can be an important tiebreaker for car buyers.

With that in mind, MSN Auto recently listed some of the best cars at various price points in terms of aesthetics. According to one designer, there are various factors that go into making a car aesthetically appealing.

“A good-looking vehicle is a good-looking vehicle, whether it’s a $2,500 Tata Nano or a $220,000 Aston Martin Rapide,” Stewart Reed, chairman of the transportation design department at the Art Center College of Design, told the news source. “You may not consciously know why it looks so appealing, but a good design has a sense of surface refinement and authority. The light and reflections play over the surfaces, and that’s what people respond to.”

The winner for a cheap car with an appealing design was the Nissan Cube, priced around $15,000. The car’s boxy design makes it stand out from the pack of compact sedans and hatchbacks typically found in the price range. The car also features a sleek wraparound rear window. Inside, buyers can select from 20 different types of lighting colors in order to further customize the car.

Nissan had another winner a bit higher up in the price range, at $35,000. The unique design of the 370Z Coupe beat out strong contenders from Porsche and other luxury brands in the eyes of the news source.

“It’s not like other cars,” said Reed. “It has its own sense of sculpture inspired by a lot of things in popular culture, from stealth aircraft to motorcycles to Transformers.”

Both Nissans that were selected buck the classic trends of automobile aesthetics. Yet some drivers want a classic ride. In that sense, the BMW 335i convertible is the car that many buyers will gravitate toward in the $45,000 price range. Its sleek design is eye-catching while also calling back to sports cars of the past.

When a driver thinks aesthetics, station wagons don’t normally come to mind. But the Mercedes E350 wagon’s elegant design separates itself from the “woody” wagons of yesteryear – although it will set drivers back $60,000.

“It’s not the historic, stigmatized family wagon that was the precursor to the minivan,” said Reed. “It’s a sporty, sophisticated wagon.”

Although some of these cars are a bit on the expensive side, drivers can save a bundle by shopping on the used market. Those who want to look good while riding around may want to consider some used BMW, Mercedes and Nissan models while shopping for their next vehicle.

For many drivers, leasing is the most cost-effective option in order to ensure that their used car payments are manageable. But how does one get the best deal?

The answer is to comparison shop. Many dealers have standard quotes for leasing, but will lower the terms of the deal when confronted by a better price from a competitor. Drivers who do a little research and head to several different dealers can pick the best deal that works for them.

First up is identifying what kind of car a driver wants. There are many options here, but a good idea is to pick a class and stick to it.

Decide on a midsize sedan, or fullsize SUV, for example, then compare cars in that class across several different brands. Narrow this list down to four models or so before beginning negotiations. A savvy buyer might be able to find a used Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla all within the same price range. These cars are very similar, but after test drives and talking with salesmen, buyers can make a list, ranking the cars from their favorite to the least desirable.

A good idea is to set the terms of the lease ahead of time. Dealers will change up different offers, so set a few key terms, like 36 months, 36,000 miles, 1,000 due at payment. By giving these figures to several different dealers, buyers can then negotiate on the most important figure- the monthly payment.

Some dealerships offer incentives and bonuses for a limited time, and these should be factored in as well. Its worth going to dealers that are offering low interest rates, no money down or are willing to extend the terms of the lease.

One thing buyers might want to consider is that a lengthier lease means that a car may be outside its warranty. Longer leases also mean lower monthly payments.

Once a buyer has quotes for each model with the same lease terms, it’ll be easy to compare. It’s also worth taking the figures from competitors to each dealer to see if they will come down at all in price in order to beat one of the others. Perhaps the dealer who has a buyer’s favorite used car will lower the price in order to beat the cheaper cost of the buyer’s least favorite used car. Or maybe the least favorite car is also the most expensive, and a buyer can cross that model off their list immediately.

Leasing a used car has many benefits. For example, a car may lose its value significantly after three years, and those who buy will be paying more money up front for a car that will have little to no trade-in value. Rather than driving a used car into the ground, buyers who lease a car every three years or so can keep payments manageable and enjoy the variety of changing up their ride every few years.

When it comes to cars, “value” most often brings up negative connotations. But drivers who haven’t bought a new car in awhile should know that as technology becomes more affordable, the value cars of today are, in many ways, as powerful as some of the mid-range cars of yesteryear.

In this tough economy, it pays to save whenever possible, and that’s doubly true for large purchases such as cars. Many Americans opt to save money by going to a used auto dealer rather than a new one. Another advantage of a used car dealer is that they will frequently have a large selection of cars for sale. And when users head to an auto auction, those savings and selection become even greater.

MSN Auto recently listed its picks for the best value cars within each class. Using this as a guide in conjunction with the cars offered by their local used car dealer, consumers can get a great car at the right price.

The figures quoted here are the sticker prices that will be on display at most new dealers. It goes without saying that used car prices will be even cheaper.

The subcompact class has become increasingly popular because the vehicles always get great gas mileage. Although much has been made of the redesigned Ford Fiesta, the news source’s choice is the Honda Fit. In addition to its maneuverability, the Fit also has a ton of cargo space; 57.3 cubic feet, to be exact, which is the same as the much larger Nissan Rogue.

But some families will simply find subcompacts to be impractical for their needs. For these car buyers, there’s the minivan market. Those searching for a used minivan may want to look at the Honda Odyssey. This van has seating for eight and tons of configurations to fit everything a family needs, plus various powertrain options that can make the model quite powerful for a van. The best part about the Odyssey, however, is that Honda will soon debut its redesigned model, meaning many of these late-model vehicles will find their way onto the used car market.

Some car buyers may be looking to not only save on their initial purchase, but at the pump as well. These shoppers may want to take a look at one of the various hybrid models. But before drivers are drawn to the used Toyota Priuses, they should consider the Ford Fusion Hybrid, according to the news source. For about the same price, the Fusion boasts a much more powerful engine while still getting 41 mpg in the city.

Finally, some car buyers use the used car market in order to get deals on luxury cars that would normally cost an arm and a leg, like used BMWs. These potential car buyers may want to look at the BMW 3-Series, which has won acclaim as one of the best sports sedans on the market. In addition, there are a host of different variations to choose from, including sedan, coupe, wagon and convertible.

By knowing some of the top models available, car buyers can find value on the used market and drive home in a vehicle that’s right for them.

When buying a used car, one of the most important considerations is resale value. By their very definition, pre-owned cars have already been driven, and many drivers only expect used vehicles to be serviceable for a few years before trading it in for something different. When that time comes, no driver wants the vehicle’s value to have been completely depreciated.

There are many factors that contribute to the resale value of a car, including maintenance history, mileage and even aesthetics like color and interior trim. But the most important consideration is make and model.

Resale or residual values also contribute to the leasing of a vehicle. A car with higher resale capabilities will be worth more at the end of the lease, which means drivers have to repay less. That leads to lower overall monthly payments.

With these important considerations in mind, Cars.com helps potential used car buyers by maintaining lists of the cars with the best and worst resale values. While these values are for late-model used cars, those values generally dictate the value of older models within the same generation as well.

BMW‘s Mini brand is the big winner in overall resale value, with the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S taking the top two spots. Both models retain a whopping two-thirds of their value. BMW also takes the third spot as well with its 1 Series Coupe. In general, used BMW vehicles have high resale value because of the prestige of the brand name and the high standards of engineering that comes with it.

The Ford Mustang, Mazda3, Toyota Prius Hatchback and Honda Insight take spots seven through 10 on the list, with each of them keeping 60 percent of their residual values.

The news provider also organizes resale values by class. Those looking for utility vehicles might be interested to know that the Toyota Sequioa, Ford F-150, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Tacoma all placed at tops of their class. Other class winners include the Range Rover Sport, Lexus LS460 and Nissan Maxima.

However, there are also a few pitfalls in the used car market, which the news source lists on its Worst Overall Resale Value list. Generally, cars with 2WD have a much lower residual value than their 4WD counterparts. The 2WD models of the Mitsubishi Endeavor, Jeep Commander and Dodge Dakota, for example, all made the list.

The worst resale value in America is currently the Cadillac DTS, a full-size sedan. Other passenger cars that placed on the list include the Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis and Chrysler Sebring, all of which retain less than one-third of their initial value.

Considering the current state of vehicle prices, the difference between a car with great resale value and one with poor resale value can be thousands of dollars. In addition, resale value is often a pretty good indicator of the general quality of the vehicle. The point is that those in the market for a used auto should do their research before committing to any vehicle, and sticking with models with a high resale value is always a good decision.

Buying a used car can be tricky. While there is tons of information available on the internet and other resources about new cars, used cars bring with them their own special considerations.

For starters, every used car is different. Although potential buyers can look up information regarding how particular models tend to perform, two cars from the same model year with the same mileage may actually drive completely differently, depending on the vehicle’s history and maintenance.

Another consideration is reliability. Is the car considered to be a generally reliable model? Is it backed by a certified warranty? And if it breaks down, will parts be easy to obtain in order to fix it?

Finally, the most important factor for many consumers is price and resale value. These figures can fluctuate wildly depending on the make, model and overall market. A used BMW, for example, will most likely have better resale value than a used Toyota, simply because of the prestige that comes along with the brand name.

With that in mind, the most popular used vehicles differ quite a bit from the most popular new vehicles. According to data gathered during the second half of 2009 by Cars.com, there are significant differences between the two lists. The news source compiles the lists based on user inquiries and searches while shopping for a car on their site. And the results could influence car buyers in the market for a used vehicle.

Toyota and Honda dominate the new cars, for instance, with no other brand cracking the top 10. Toyota has six of the top 10 most popular new car models, including the first-place Camry. Other popular Toyota models include the Prius, Corolla, Rav4, Tacoma and Siena. Honda, meanwhile, has four of the top 10 spots, with the Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey models.

Yet the most popular used cars are considerably more varied. Honda and Toyota’s most popular models, the Accord and Civic and Camry and Corolla respectively, all make the list, but in different positions. The Accord is the most popular used car model, followed closely by the Civic – a big shift from their third and fourth positions on the new car list.

The Ford Mustang is the most popular domestic used car model, followed by its fleetmate, the F-150 pickup truck. The fact that these cars place so highly on the used car list but not the new car one suggests that car buyers look for performance and utility when buying a used car. Other entries on the list, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, also point to this conclusion.

Again, every used car will drive differently, and buyers should test out several models before deciding on a car that’s right for them. But the most popular used car list is a good indicator of the types of models that many buyers are satisfied with.