Economical rides in big demand at used-car lots in Boulder Valley

Gloomy economic outlooks blast consumers from across the globe, but for some in Boulder County’s used-car business, things trend toward the rosy rather the gloomy right now.

Chris Hughes, pre-owned vehicle manager at the Boulder Toyota-Scion dealership, has seen up to a 5 percent increase in used-car sales in recent months.

“I think the economy definitely plays a part in that. People are looking for more of a value in pre-owned cars,” Hughes said. In uncertain economic times, many customers want to keep their payments low, and a used car can offer smaller payments with little compromise on vehicle reliability.

Toyota certified…