Three of the Best, Cheap New Cars for 2008

For many, it's their first new car. For others, it's the only way to get their parents to chip in for a lease. Either way, 2008's offering of cheap, new cars is better than many think. Cheap cars used to be seen as just that; cheap. These cars now feature many of the simple but wanted benefits of the nicer cars at a fraction of the cost. These top three vehicles all start at aMSRP of under $15,000.

Ford Focus
The Ford Focus got a face lift. With that being said, this isn't the cheap car that many make it out to be. With a starting MSRP of $14,300. On Ford's Focus website, it claims that it is fully loaded at $17,000. Both the Coupe and the Sedan's base package offers air conditioning and acd /mp3 player. You do pay extra (somewhere around the figure of over 800) for an Automatic Transmission, and you will pay close to 400 dollars forAnit -Lock Brakes (ABS), but at a starting price of a under $15,000, you can still afford to add these options and have cheap new car with great mileage: 24 city, 35 hwy. With the proper leasing agreement (with the right amount of down-payment or vehicle trade in), you can easily lease a brand new Ford Focus for $190-$200 a month. All numbers found through Ford's Website.

Mazda3
The Mazda three is strewn across high school parking lots and college campuses nationwide. This sportier cheap new car comes has a startingMSRP of $14,530. The one small downside of this cheap new car, however, is that to have power locks, power windows, and air conditioning, you'll be adding on. Changing the transmission to Automatic adds on nearly $1,000. Air Conditioning and ABS adds $1,300. What is great about this car, however, is the reported performance, and the gas mileage. Mazda's Mazda3 site says that the car offers far better performance than what you would expect from the price. While the MPG is not AS good as the Ford Focus, the Mazda three does offer 24 city/32 hwy, which is more than decent. All numbers found at Mazda's Website.

Chevy Cobalt
I like to think of the Chevy Cobalt as a miniature Impala. While the Chevy Aveo is the Cheapest car offered by Chevy (at a starting price of around $10,000), the Chevy Cobalt fits in at a starting MSRP of $14,585. The base model feature an MP3/CD player as well as Air Conditioning and all available airbags. Power windows are included with one package-step up. With an average MPG of 24 city 33 hwy: one MPG less on the highway than it's cheaper counterpart. All numbers found at Chevy's Website.

All of these vehicles offer close to the same amenities. If you are looking for a sportier, performance driven vehicle, reach for the Mazda3. If you're looking for a Malibu/Impala baby brother, look for the Chevy Cobalt. And if you're looking for a MPG superhero, take a look at the Ford Focus. All of these Cheap, brand new 2008 cars offer a great alternative to spending the money on an older, less efficient car.