Could the American love affair tied in to the purchase of a new car be losing some of its luster? Perhaps, it seems, as ever-increasing gas prices impact U.S. driver's pocketbooks, J.D. Power and Associates is reporting a decline in new car owner satisfaction for the first time in five years. Despite the fact that consumers have been reporting mileage numbers in line with the EPA's newly-revised ratings, the cost of filling up the tank is doing nothing but increasing. Interestingly, though, it is not the fuel-sippers that are scoring the highest. Luxury and performance brands are still getting the highest overall marks. We surmise that this could have something to do with the fact that those individuals who can afford a Porsche or BMW can probably afford to put gas in its tank.

Overall, the average score for all new vehicles dropped by two points to 770 out of 1000 possible points. Porsche was the highest ranked brand, while Ford's redesigned small car, the Focus, posted the largest single-model increase in owner satisfaction and Buick make the largest brand-wide increase. Be sure to click past the break to see more specifics.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

How much per month are you willing to pay for your car? Rising gas prices and the worsening economy have many people reconsidering their automobile purchases. Think of it this way: if you had $400 budgeted per month for your car payment and gasoline, the more you spend to fill up, the less you have to pay for your car. These types of issues have been causing some car buyers who would normally purchase a new car to shop the used market instead. According to a recent survey by Wachovia, dealerships are selling more used cars than they had expected to, and significantly more than they sold last year.

Interestingly, it is the more expensive vehicles that used car shoppers seem to be considering, if web statistics are anything to go by. Perhaps consumers who are used to a certain level of luxury need to spend less but don't want to buy a cheap car.

Why should we care whether new cars or used cars are being purchased? The newer the vehicle, the more likely it is to meet the latest and most stringent emissions regulations required by the government. Put simply, new cars are often cleaner than older cars. So, as more miles are put on older cars, more pollution is emitted from their tailpipes.

[Source: Business Week]