Diesel fuel seems to be making something of a come back in recent years. Diesel is more efficient than gas and new technology makes it much easier on the environment. Diesels hold 2.6% of the market share currently, and are expected to grow to 8.0%, according to auto analysists J.D. Powers and Associates. German carmakers in particular are pushing diesel as a green alternative.

Hybrids, which have gotten all the press lately, currently hold about the same market share as diesel fuel and are expected to grow to 8.7% by 2015. Hybrid technology is maturing and new generations of hybrids could get over 100 miles per gallon.

Plug-in electric cars are the latest rage, especially as embodied in Tesla’s Roadster and Chevrolet’s soon-to-be unveiled Volt. While electrics can potentially get great gas mileage, they are not expected to gain significant market share in the near term. One obstacle is that because the vehicles are plugged in to charge, the nation’s electricity grid has to be updated to accomodate this new demand.

Despite the promise of these green technologies, analysts expect the gasoline engine to remain dominant over the next decade. Fuel is still relatively cheap, the infrastructure already exists to support gas vehicles, and the alternatives are still too costly.

But with General Motors’ announcement last month that it was closing its Saturn division, the independent era abruptly came to an end. So what happened?

The Penske Automotive Group was rumored to have been close to saving Saturn, but a last minute deal fell through. Published reports suggest that Nissan Motor Company’s board of directors nixed a deal to supply Penske with a line of new Saturns once Penske took over from GM. Also hampering a potential deal was GM’s view that spinning off Saturn into its own company under the auspices of Penske would only create yet another competitor with which GM would have to do battle.

In the end, Saturn start-up culture was no match for parent GM’s hidebound ways of doing business. Will Detroit have another chance to change its way of doing business? Doubtful.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, here are the top 10 most stolen cars in California. Surprisingly, the lists consists not of high-end exotic cars, but older, mass market vehicles, mostly by Japanese manufacturers.

1. 1991 Honda Accord. The most stolen car in California is not some flashy sportscar or SUV – it’s the lowly but dependable 1991 Honda Accord.
2. 1995 Honda Civic. Honda has the dubious honor of having the top two most stolen cars in the Golden State.
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1995 Acura Integra
5. 1994 Nissan Sentra
6. 2007 Toyota Corolla
7. 1988 Toyota Pickup 4×2
8. 1992 Ford F150 Pickup
9. 1995 Saturn Si
10. 1997 Nissan Altima

The crime bureau recommends using common sense when parking your car. Take you keys out of the ignition, close your windows, lock your doors, and park in a well li spot.

This is Toyota’s largest recall ever and comes amidst a severe downturn in the U.S. car market which has generated large financial losses for the automaker. The recall includes many of Toyotas most popular models including Camry sedans in the 2007 to 2010 model years, and Prius hybrid cars from 2004 to 2009. The recall also impacts Lexus luxury vehicles as well.

The recall was prompted by a crash on Aug. 28 near San Diego that killed four people. Investigators said the accident could have been caused by an improperly installed floor mat. The car was a 2009 Lexus ES 350.

Here are all the models involved in the recall: 2007 to 2010 Camry; 2005 to 2010 Avalon; 2004 to 2009 Prius; 2005 to 2010 Tacoma; 2007 to 2010 Tundra; 2007 to 2010 ES 350; and 2006 to 2010 IS 250 and 2006 to 2010 IS 350. If you own one of these cars, just remove the driver’s side floor mat – there is no need to come into the dealership at this time.

• Compare rates. Spending a few minutes online comparing rates from different carriers can make a huge difference in your monthly premiums. Sites like Really Cheap Car Insurance allow you to instantly compare rates from multiple insurers in your area. They have particularly useful information on getting cheap car insurance for young drivers, a group that is particularly difficult to insure. Insurance companies focus on different geographic areas and different types of drivers, so a few minutes shopping around can pay off handsomely.
• Check before you buy a new car. Your car insurance rate is determined by your personal profile and the type of car you drive. While you might not be able to do much about the fact that you’re young and single, or have a bad credit record, you can make smart decisions about the car you drive. Not surprisingly, sports cars or SUVs with bug engines can cost a fortune to insure. Compact cars are much more affordable to insure, but there can be big differences between models. A two door model can be more costly to insure than a similar four door model. Check with the Highway Data Loss Institute list of cars to see which have the highest and lowest rates.
• Ask for discounts. Insurance companies often have a wide variety of discounts available to drivers, but you have to ask for them when shopping. Safe driver discounts and low mileage discounts are two of the most common, but there are also potential discounts for military personnel, people in certain professions, and drivers who have taken defensive driving courses. these discounts can knock 10% off your premium, so be sure to ask.
• Increase your deductible. If you are comfortable with a higher deductible, increasing it to $1,000 or more can significantly reduce your car insurance premiums. Of course, in the even of an accident you will be out of pocket more money, but that can be more than made up for by the lower premiums you will have been paying.
• Check your medical insurance. If your existing medical insurance provides adequate hospital coverage, you may want to consider reducing he medical portion of your car insurance. Be sure to talk this over with both your health insurance company and you car insurance company to make sure there are no gaps.

Spending just a bit of time thinking about your car insurance coverage and comparing rates can save you money in the long term.

There have been numerous lists of good cars for college students, but one of the most thorough I have found was published by Smart Money Magazine last year. The criteria was the car must be low cost (under $18,000 MSRP), safe, and at least reasonably cool. While the list might be a tad old, the list of cars is still on the mark.

The Mazda 3, with an MSRP of less than $15,000 ranked as the best value. The car got high marks for features and great handling.

The safest car on the list was the Subaru Impreza which offers all-wheel drive and front, side, and rear airbags. It’s also one of the heaviest small cars which might not be great for gas mileage, but does make it a safe ride.

The Ford Focus ranked highest in fuel economy while the Honda Fit was tops in reliability. And if your kid is holding out for a flashy car, the coolest on Smart Money’s list was the Volkswagen Rabbit.

GasForFree matches advertisers with car owners – what the site calls “drivertising.” The company creates a custom vinyl wrap for your vehicle that resists scratches and can last years (although GasForLess says that most wraps will be replaced within two years).

To quality you must:

• Own a vehicle that is between a 1998-current model year.
• Drive an average of 1250 miles per month.
• Be the registered owner of the vehicle.
• Have a valid drivers license.
• Have a clean driving record.
• Have valid insurance.

And, of course, you have to be willing to plaster your car with ads, which you might not always like. One of the examples on GarForFree’s site is a Honda minivan decked out with a Casino ad. Probably wouldn’t go over too well at the country club, if that’s your kind of thing.

But there are a few cases where leasing could make sense:

• If you are self-employed and can write off leasing as a business expense.
• If you absolutely, positively need a new car every couple of years.
• If you need to defer a purchase decision for a few years.
• If the only way you can get into a new car is via a lease.

But there’s a reason why 80% of consumers buy rather than lease their cars. When buying a car you generally will have a 60 month loan after which you own the car free and clear. So if you can handle five years of car payments, buying a car will leave you in better financial condition.

In contrast, with leasing you have to trade in the car every two to three years. While the idea of having new wheels on a regular basis might sound appealing, realize that if you continue leasing your monthly car payments will never end.

As the name implies, car brokers takes on all the hassle of locating and negotiating for your new car. A car broker knows al the ins and outs of financing, fees, add-ons, and taxes so you don’t have to. Brokers can often get you a better price than the “best price” offer you get from a dealer.

Unlike the average consumer, car brokers have extensive experience with a variety of car dealerships, so they know how long a car has been on the lot and how hard a bargain they can drive.

Beware, however, because not all car brokers are created equal. You want to find a consumer-driven auto broker that works just for you. These folks often work out of a small or home office and charge a flat-fee to provide buying services to any consumer. Make sure your car broker does not receive a commission from a dealership or sells your name as a lead.

The savings to you for not having to buy a car may be obvious, but your child can end up saving money as well. The first consideration is car insurance. Young drivers are among the most expensive groups to insure. Whether you or your kid will be paying the insurance, it will likely be $100 or more per month.

The high cost of gas is another consideration. With the stop-and-go driving of college campuses, even fuel efficient cars can rack up high gas bills. Add on the cost of parking passes or meters and you’re looking at another $100 per month in expenses.

These days most college campuses have excellent shuttle systems that can take your child around the school easily. So think about all the money both you and your child will be saving before agreeing to a campus automobile.