I totally get how enticing it is to own a sleek new car that exudes cool, but if I offered you an investment that was pretty much guaranteed to lose 60 percent, would you take me up on it?

I seriously doubt it.

Sadly, that's the cold truth about owning a car: It is a guaranteed money loser.

The simple fact is that the minute a new car is driven off the lot it loses up to 20 percent of its value. And it just keeps losing value each day you own it. After four years you'll be lucky if a $50,000 car gets you $20,000 at trade-in.

The reason a car isn't a good investment is simple: Cars aren't investments at all. They're simply tools to get you from point A to point B. Real investments are meant to take you toward wealth and security. An expensive automobile may make you feel like you've arrived, but that's an illusion. If anything, it's likely to carry you farther away from the financial destination you're trying to reach.

Fuel for Thought

Nowadays, with gas prices soaring, you can't afford not to do everything you can to offset what's happening at the pump. It can cost as much as $60 to fill up the tank in many new cars -- and a lot more in some SUVs.

Since there's no way you can control the cost of gas, how about a used new car? No, that's not an oxymoron. I'm talking about certified pre-owned cars (CPOs), which are a year or two old, have limited mileage on them, and come with a factory warranty. The price can be at least 15 percent cheaper than a new car, but you've still got a lot of the new car benefits.

If you go the CPO route, the savings on the sticker price could offset the rising price you're paying at the pump. That way you can have your car and afford to drive it, too. And hey, if gas prices ever come back down again, you'll have extra money to put toward your future.

Don't Let Them Sticker It to You

Your car needs to fit into your financial priorities. If you have a penny of high-rate credit card debt, are still paying off student loans, don't have an eight-month emergency cash fund, or haven't been able to save up enough for a down payment on a home, I'm thinking you aren't exactly in the best position to drive an expensive car.

Sure, it might cost you a few style points in the office parking lot to drive something less flashy, but keep reminding yourself of the lousy "investment" value of your car. You're going to win big by spending less on your car so you have more money to use for other financial goals.

For those of you who are going to buy a new car no matter what, it pays to do some homework before you walk into the showroom.

To get a good deal you need to focus on the right number. Dealers want to negotiate based on the MSRP, or Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. I suggest you ignore it. You want to negotiate based on the Invoice Price -- this is what the dealer paid to get the car into the showroom. The MSRP includes the markup.