Isn't it always nice to see a car, even though it may be five, seven, or even ten or more years old, that is clean and well-taken-care-of? And you can always tell - the car is just as clean on the inside as the outside. Some of us would even venture to say a clean car runs better! There may be something to that statement so, I asked Jody Victor  to give us some tips in three-parts, on keeping our older (as well as newer) vehicles in top condition.

Jody Victor: There are two ways you can go about keeping your car nice; pay someone to do it, or put some elbow grease into it yourself on a regular basis. Here are some tips for doing it yourself.

Outside Appearance - The first stop to getting the body looking good is to give it a thorough cleaning with car-wash soap and water. Once it's completely dry, look over the paint surface and assess any damage. Note any scratches, stone chips, dings and dents in the sheet metal.

You can touch up small scratches and chips with touch-up paint, available for a few dollars at your car dealership and at some auto-parts stores. Make sur eyou get an exact color match. Touch-up paint usually comes in a small bottle with an applicator brush in the lid. Otherwise, use a small, pointed artist's brush and cover the scratch by going over it in tiny dabs. Let this paint dry for at least a day or two before polishing the car.

To remove or mimimize the many fine surface scratches most cars accumulate, you can have the car professionally buffed at a body shop or car wash. This buffing will take out minor scratches and greatly improve the car's overall appearance. But for a buff and touch-up, you can expect to spend about $200.

If you want to do the job yourself, consider polishing the car by hand if you don't have experience using an electric buffer. Old T-shirts make good polishing cloths. If you still want to use and electric buffer, you can borrow, rent or even buy one. Good ones start at about $40. If you don't know what you're doing, though, it's easy to mark or even burn through the paint with a buffer.

Most cars made in the past 8 to 10 years have a "clearcoat" paint finish. That means a thin color layer is coated with a thicker layer of a clear, lacquerlike coating. Whether you are polishing with a buffer or by hand, make sure the polish you use is safe for clearcoat finishes if that's what's on the car. You shouldn't use the old-fashioned, abraisive polishing compounds on them.

Thanks, Jody! We'll keep these tips in mind!

Joe Victor

So, you've finally decided you need to buy a new car. You even did your homework and know all about the car you want. Now comes the interesting part - going to a dealership to make the purchase. Unless you don't care how much you pay for the car, it does make a difference what you do and say during this negotiation. I asked Jody Victor  for some tips to make the purchase go smoothly and insure you get the best deal.

Jody Victor: Families think in terms of their monthly budgets, but most experts agree that's not the way to price out a car. Don't let an attractive monthly payment make your decision for you - a $400 monthly payment can be made into a $300 payment by stretching the loan out a year or two but cost you thousands in interest. Before you walk into the dealer, know the maximum you are willing to spend over the life of your loan.

Couples buying a vehicle should have a very good idea of what model vehicle they want, what options they are interested in and how much they are willing to spend before they walk into the dealership. If unforeseen issues pop up that merit further discussion, don't be afraid to ask the dealer to give you some time alone for discussion before making a decision - better yet, sleep on it - then come back.

Don't discuss a trade-in until you've settled on a price for the car you're buying. Do some research on the value of both vehicles and get the right price on the car you're buying before you even mention the possibility of a trade in. You might want to think about selling the car yourself - you'll almost always get a better price.

If you're thinking of financing, don't let the rate of a loan influence the price of the car. Settle on the price of the vehicle you're interested in before you bring up financing.

If you've already decided which car you are interested in, great! But let the dealer make the first offer - don't give a way your target price too soon.

Think twice abut buying an extended warranty. Closely compare the terms with what you might get from the dealer with a third party guarantor. If that doesn't offer you enough peace of ming, check with your insurance provider. Usually, policies from insurance companies cost around $100 or so per year.

Never show desperation. Your biggest bargaining chip in any negotiation is that you might not take the deal.

Know your credit score before you go to the dealership - that way there won't be any unpleasant surprises.

Thanks, Jody! Great tips for car buying!

Joe Victor

With the new demand for more fuel-efficient cars, it makes sense that smaller cars would fill the bill. Smaller cars are simply cheaper to run than bigger ones. I asked Jody Victor to tell us about some small vehicles with 40 mpg or more fuel efficiency and their availability in the U.S.

Jody Victor: In the automakers market, European and Japanese cars have always come out way ahead in the small car arena. As you will see that has not changed. U.S. automakers will have to do double-time to catch up. In the meantime, there are cars that meet the 40 mpg plus criteria.

Toyota Prius - The Toyota Prius is the reigning champion for fuel efficiency in the U.S., and has been since 2007. The EPA rates the 2009 model at 45 mpg highway, 48 mpg city. In addition to saving you money at the pump, the Prius ranks as on of Consumer Reports' most reliable cars.

Honda Civic Hybrid - Like the Prius, the hybrid Honda Civic has an electric motor that shares the work of the gasoline engine. Though not quite as miserly as the Prius, the gas-electric Civic still reaps a respectable 40 mpg city and 45 mpg on the highway.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic - Ford's ECOnetic Fiest packs a 1.6-liter Duratorque turbodiesel engine that offers more than 60 mpg. But due to stringent emissions standards it will not be sold in the U.S. for now.

Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI - According to Mercedes, the C250 can get 45 miles from a gallon of diesel and has a top speed of 155 mph.  This luxurious car is not available in the U.S. due to a diesel issue.

Smart fortwo - The fortwo CDI makes the efficient smart car even smarter. The diesel version delivers more than 70 mpg - but only in Canada and Europe. It doesn't meet U.S. emissions standards to be sold here.

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - Another fuel sipper to venture out beyond 40 mpg is the VW Polo BlueMotion. The Diesel Polo can't boast much in the way of speed or backseat legroom, but its 1.4-liter 3-cylinder engine gets around 60 mpg. Too bad it's not available in the U.S. VW does offer several models of its turbocharged diesels in the U.S. but they can't top 40 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Citroen C2 - The French-made Citroen C2, the only purely gasoline powerd car on this list, gets 42 mpg by EU standards.While cars with the same start-stop technology will likely show up in the U.S. within a few years, the C2 probably won't.

Toyota iQ - Toyota syas the iQ is the smallest four-passenger car in the world. The gasoline version claims about 55 mpg, the diesel version around 57 mpg. Even though it's not available in the U.S yet, there is strong evidence that the iQ will appear under a Scion nameplate soon.

Ford Ka - Twelve years after it was first introduced, a newly fashioned Ford Ka was unveiled at this year's Paris Motor Show. Fuel economy for the gasoline version hovers in the low to mid 30s, but a newly anounced diesel option bumps the Ka up to 45 mpg. Most likely will not be available in the U.S.

Toyota Yaris Diesel - Though the gas-powered Yaris (with an EPA rating of 29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) doesn't deliver 40 mpg, its diesel twin can get 70 mpg. But again it's the diesel issue.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be looking forward to better mpg cars in the future.

Joe Victor

L.A. is usually the auto show with the most concepts and fun cars - this year not as much. But the somber mood of automakers didn't stop them from unveiling a number of exciting new production models. I asked Jody Victor to give us some highlights with a look into the future.

Jody Victor: The L.A. Auto show had some great takes on old models and some new concepts to visually stimulate our auto appetite.

Number one on my list would be the Mustang. For 2010, the Pony car is all new, relatively speaking. At a glance, it closely resembles the current model in size and shape. But up close and personal you'll find refreshed exterior styling, a vastly improved interior and more power under the hood.

2009 Nissan 370Z - This is the first major redesign of the legendary Z car since it returned to America in 2003. It is completely new inside, outside and under the skin. As the name indicates, the latest Z gets a 3.7-liter V6 that puts out an impressive 332 horsepower. Shorter but wider than its predecessor, the 370Z has true sports car proportions with an aggressive stance.

2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible - With the popularity of Infiniti's sporty G37 sedan and coupe soaring, it was only a matter of time before the lineup expanded to include a convertible. The new G37 convertible sports an attractive 3-piece hardtop that folds into the decklid at the puch of a button, headrest-mounted Bose speakers with top-down volume adjustment, a rear windscreen and climate control that has the ability to compensate for top-down conditions by adjusting fan speed based on top position and vehicle speed.

2009 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder - This latest Gallardo Spyder is distinguished from the previous version by more prominent lower, larger air intakes up front that increase the flow of air to the engine. And a center spoiler has been added between the intakes to imprve aerodynamic balance at high speeds. Able to gallop from zero to 60 mph in around 4 seconds and boasting a top speed over 200 mph, this car redefines wind in your hair.

2009 Mini E - Already a lot of fun to drive and fuel-efficient, the popular Mini Cooper will soon gain even more favor with environmentally conscious drivers. The Mini E electrocar is powered by a 204 horsepower electric motor and will reportedly have a driving range of 150 miles. The Mini E will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 95 mph.

2010 Nissan Cube - The Cube is finally coming to America. More than just a box on wheels, the Cube features an asymmetric design with a wraparound window on the right rear. It may look small on the outside, but it is surprisingly roomy inside with seating available for five and plenty of space for groceries. Nissan expects the cube to achieve more than 30 mpg on the highway when it goes on sale next spring.

2010 Kia Soul - A new compact crossover with urban-chic style, a budget-friendly price, and econocar fuel-efficienty, the Kia Soul is aimed straight at the heart of young car buyers who wish to make a statement with their behicles. The Soul offers a unique style with an angled window line, rounded nose, large headlights and chrome grille.

Thanks, Jody! They all sound like fun!

Joe Victor