Go to the follow websites: intellichoice.com edmunds.com kbb.com. These sites will allow you to enter the information on your car and give you a price. Remember, used car pricing is not a science. Also check your local dealers to see what they are selling similar cars for. Enjoy the journey. eal51 in western CT

You can just buy a used instrument cluster with the mileage you want it to show from a wrecker. I don't believe that'll work for some of the digital ones, at least not the GM ones, because they store the VIN inside all of the computer modules and that may include the instrument cluster. At power-on all of the modules compare their VIN with each other, if one doesn't match the vehicle may not even start. Supposedly the GM modules aren't reprogrammable once the VIN has been stored. But I noticed that rebuilt units are available, so I would think that someone has figured it out. So I guess the correct statement would be that they're not field-reprogrammable.

Yes, I am tempted. I will probably hold off for now though. I do like a new car, and although there is the issue of depreciation, whenever I have bought used cars, I always ended up with lemons that needed a lot of expensive work. I just don't seem to have the knowledge/experience to buy a decent used vehicle. It just works out much better when I buy a new one. But I have to admit, I take some joy in having a new vehicle. We bought my Rendezvous new in 2004, we did not finance it. I weigh the pros and cons of financing, and keeping my investments in place or buying one out right and not dealing with a monthly payment. I'm a pretty conservative spender in most ways, and feel if I want a new vehicle and can swing it, that I should just do it. But I haven't made a final decision yet. Strangely, this economy gives me some job security. I am a social assistance administrator. Unfortunately, we are preparing for our caseloads to quadruple. In one year it is expected that our area will be in deep economic trouble. It's very sad.

Socks, not to worry.....I'm still driving my cop car, and still loving it after 17 years. I'm trading in my 4Runner. Both of these vehicles have 8 cylinders, which is why I was thinking I should get a 6. I couldn't imagine adjusting to a 4. But I believe I'll have to adjust my thinking instead. Dees is right....nobody has a 6-cyl. Subaru for sale. I drove two 4-cyl. Subarus on Wednesday--a 2011 Outback and a 2011 Forester-- and liked them both pretty well. Then today I drove a 2011 Outback Limited, and loved it. I like to think I'm a smooth driver, and this car felt like we were in synch. The price was higher, of course, and I'm getting nervous about how much I should spend. I wish I had a firm dollar amount that knew I could work with. This is the first time I've gone car shopping without a job. I also drove a 6-cyl. 2010 Toyota Rav4, and didn't like it at all. Hard to explain, but I didn't feel like I was driving it; I was sort of there to steer. And when I had to back into a parking space--something I'm usually good at--the visibility was so bad I was practically paralyzed. I'm beginning to wish I'd started this process during the summer, because I have a lot to think about. I LOVE driving my big Chevy "cop car," for the comfort, for the amazing steering radius that enables me to make U-turns in tight places, and for the big engine that can handle anything I throw at it. My 4Runner, too, can get me up to speed on a highway in the blink of an eye, which keeps me out of the way of trucks bearing down at ridiculous speeds. But everything's a trade-off, and I can't buy vehicles like those anymore. The Certified Pre-Owned cars (like the ones I've been looking at) come with nice warranties, of course, and they look terrific. The Subaru I drove today has only $28,000 miles. I've seen them as low as 8,000 miles. I find it hard to understand why someone would trade in a car with such low mileage, but that's just me. Mare, I was in W-B this week. Could have gone to MotorWorld, but I get so tired if I do too much in one day. I'll definitely be back. I may have to think about getting an older car with higher miles.....and then I start worrying about getting one that was flooded in Hurricane Sandy. I was right about one thing: Car shopping is exhausting!