It appears that the downturn in the economy has changed many Americans outlook on the automobile with a growing number investing in used cars over new.

Dow Jones reports that the increase in the sale of used cars may be having a negative effect on automakers as more and more Americans find it unnecessary to look at new cars for reliability and safety.

“People no longer feel they have to have the nicest, newest car on the road,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst at Edmunds told the news provider. “They’re realizing that the used cars of today are not the used cars of a few years ago, and that realization is not positive for new car sales.”

The number of people moving to used cars is only expected to increase. Tom Webb, chief economist with Manheim Consulting told Dow Jones that the leases of 2.6 million cars and trucks are expected to come due this year, meaning an influx of late model used cars onto the market.

Used cars have also seen their prices drop over the last year. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the prices of used cars across the board dropped in 2008.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.