Hi Member's,
Do you agree with their choices ? ****Note, these are not space's picks. I think they were picked
by a group of people at US NEWS at a local bar/lounge/party spot...LOL

2012 Best Cars for the Money Awards


Looking for a great car that's also a great value? We can help.

<CITE sizcache="65" sizset="123">By the editors of U.S. News & World Report</CITE>





More From U.S. News & World Report

• <LI class=first sizcache="65" sizset="136">In Pictures: The 2012 Best Cars for the Money
• U.S. News Best Car Rankings

Click to enlarge picture

Ford Fusion





The 2012 U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards help you navigate a confusing automotive market by identifying cars that hit quality and value from all sides. The awards combine the U.S. News Best Cars rankings with five-year total cost of ownership data from TrueCar.com. The award-winning vehicles have the best combination of praise from car reviewers, lower upfront costs and lower long-term ownership costs than their competition. The winners aren't just good cars or good values. They're both.
2012 Best Cars for the Money:

<TABLE class=datatable1 border=0 width=580 itxtNodeId="311" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="139"><COLGROUP itxtNodeId="317" itxtHarvested="0"><COL width=264 itxtNodeId="319" itxtHarvested="0"><COL width=308 itxtNodeId="318" itxtHarvested="0"></COLGROUP><TBODY itxtNodeId="316" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="139"><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="342" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="139"><TD itxtNodeId="344" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable 2-Row Compact SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="343" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="139">2012 Chevrolet Equinox</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="341" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="140"><TD itxtNodeId="347" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable 3-Row Compact SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="346" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="140">2012 Toyota RAV4</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="340" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="141"><TD itxtNodeId="350" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable Large Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="349" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="141">2012 Ford Taurus</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="339" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="142"><TD itxtNodeId="353" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable Large SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="352" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="142">2012 Chevrolet Suburban</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="338" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="143"><TD itxtNodeId="356" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable Midsize Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="355" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="143">2012 Ford Fusion</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="337" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="144"><TD itxtNodeId="359" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable2-Row Midsize SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="358" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="144">2012 Ford Edge</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="336" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="145"><TD itxtNodeId="362" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable 3-Row Midsize SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="361" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="145">2012 Mazda CX-9</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="335" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="146"><TD itxtNodeId="365" itxtHarvested="0">Compact Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="364" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="146">2012 Chevrolet Cruze</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="334" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="147"><TD itxtNodeId="368" itxtHarvested="0">Subcompact Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="367" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="147">2012 Ford Fiesta</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="333" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="148"><TD itxtNodeId="371" itxtHarvested="0">Affordable Sports Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="370" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="148">2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="332" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="149"><TD itxtNodeId="374" itxtHarvested="0">Compact Pickup Truck</TD><TD itxtNodeId="373" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="149">2012 Toyota Tacoma</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="331" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="150"><TD itxtNodeId="377" itxtHarvested="0">Full Size Pickup Truck</TD><TD itxtNodeId="376" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="150">2012 Ram 1500</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="330" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="151"><TD itxtNodeId="380" itxtHarvested="0">Hatchback</TD><TD itxtNodeId="379" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="151">2012 Ford Fiesta</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="329" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="152"><TD itxtNodeId="383" itxtHarvested="0">Hybrid Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="382" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="152">2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="328" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="153"><TD itxtNodeId="386" itxtHarvested="0">Hybrid SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="385" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="153">2012 Lexus RX Hybrid</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="327" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="154"><TD itxtNodeId="389" itxtHarvested="0">Luxury Compact SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="388" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="154">2012 Audi Q5</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="326" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="155"><TD itxtNodeId="392" itxtHarvested="0">Luxury Large SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="391" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="155">2012 Cadillac Escalade</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="325" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="156"><TD itxtNodeId="395" itxtHarvested="0">Luxury Midsize SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="394" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="156">2012 Lexus RX 350</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="324" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="157"><TD itxtNodeId="398" itxtHarvested="0">Minivan</TD><TD itxtNodeId="397" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="157">2012 Mazda Mazda5</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="323" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="158"><TD itxtNodeId="401" itxtHarvested="0">Off-Road SUV</TD><TD itxtNodeId="400" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="158">2012 Jeep Wrangler</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="322" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="159"><TD itxtNodeId="404" itxtHarvested="0">Upscale Midsize Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="403" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="159">2012 Buick Regal</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="321" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="160"><TD itxtNodeId="407" itxtHarvested="0">Upscale Small Car</TD><TD itxtNodeId="406" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="160">2012 Volkswagen GTI</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left itxtNodeId="320" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="161"><TD itxtNodeId="410" itxtHarvested="0">Wagon</TD><TD itxtNodeId="409" itxtHarvested="0" sizcache="65" sizset="161">2012 Subaru Outback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Winners:

The awards cover 23 automotive categories, and the 12 winning brands (split evenly between domestic brands and imports) illustrate that no single car company has a lock on value. Fourteen of the 22 winners are cars that have been introduced or significantly redesigned in the last three years, demonstrating that newer models offer good long-term value, and with the freshest technology and styling, they're more fun to own.
Ford took home the most awards, with five of its models selected as winners in six categories. Ford wins include the Ford Taurus, Ford Fusion, Ford Fiesta, Ford Edge and Ford Fusion Hybrid. Chevrolet and Mazda took home three awards each.
This year's awards also saw some new brands emerge as winners. The 2012 Subaru Outback, Audi Q5 and Jeep Wrangler are all first-time winners.
You do not have to choose between a great car and a great value. The 2012 U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards highlight cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans that are both easy to live with and easy to afford.

 

Bonus Post on `Gas Fuel ? ?
Grim Forecast for High Summer Gas Prices May Come to Pass

• By Rachel Smith
• 04:20 PM 4/20/12

In February, we reported that gas prices could reach $4 per gallon this summer, and that those living in metropolitan areas could see gas prices rise much higher. Tuesday, the federal government’s Energy Information Administration predicted that $3.95 will be the average price for a gallon of gas from April through September, but some analysts think these averages are too high.
According to the Associated Press, the $3.95 average is “an increase of 6.3 percent from the same period last year. ... The peak should come in May, when gas averages $4.01 per gallon, the agency said.”
While the government’s prediction meets early expectations that gas prices could reach $4 per gallon this summer, TIME and USA Today report that gas prices may have already peaked and are already falling. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report as of today says that the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.91 in the U.S., which is 3 cents less than it cost one week ago.
The price of a gallon of gas is falling more in some areas. “AAA Michigan says gasoline prices dropped about 13 cents during the past week to a statewide average of just over $3.90 per gallon,” the Detroit Free Press wrote Monday.
TIME says, “And prices are still dropping there: A gallon now costs $3.85 in Michigan, down from $3.90 on Monday. In Chicago, where a gallon ran $4.67 at the end of March, the average has come down to $4.33 per gallon of late.”
USA Today spoke with Patrick DeHann, senior analyst at gas price tracking website Gasbuddy.com, who says gas prices probably won’t increase more this summer. “By the behavior of the market, things are just running out of steam,” says DeHann. “Barring any major event — refinery problems, Iran — I think prices have peaked.” DeHann predicts that the national average could drop to $3.70 by early May, which is unusual because gas prices tend to peak before the Memorial Day traveling season.