Fresno Bullied to the Bottom of Another List

February 22, 2013 Updated Feb 25, 2013 at 10:01 AM PDT

So just how accurate are these lists?

The question is... Why is some silly website, or magazine, or Hollywood movie writer, always picking on Fresno?

Well, Fresno's latest bully, you might say, is Cargurus.com.

Forbes Magazine dubbed Fresno 2012's dirtiest city in America, based on poor air and water quality...

But in a central valley that's been suffering from a drought... It's no wonder.

In 2011, Fresno was listed as one of the least literate cities in America.

That study was based on book sales and newspaper circulation... Which has been generally impacted by a little thing known as "the internet."

Thanks to Central Connecticut University, clear across the country, for that one.

In 2010, Men's Health Magazine named Fresno the drunkest city in America.

That study accounted for DUI collisions and arrests.

Statistics show law enforcement is doing its job.

Chief Jerry Dyer, Feb. 1, 2010: "There is absolutely no way that Fresno is the drunkest city in America. I've been to Boston. That's not true."

Well, here we are in 2013, and now another study is giving Fresno a bad rap.

Cargurus.com has placed Fresno in its list of the top 10 most expensive cities to buy a used car. Number 7, actually.

They got that number by comparing the national average of all used car deals with the average cost of a deal here.

Some say that number spikes high because of all the truck sales in the central valley.

Fresno Lexus general manager Caren Myers saw the Cargurus report, checked her inventory, and showed us a used Lexus for sale on the lot.

"They're showing it's offered for $35,988. In fact, it's offered for $33,971, which is $1662 below what they say is a good deal."

Myers says it's a good idea to check the internet when you're shopping for a used car.

About 90% of customers spend a good 11 or 12 hours doing so.

But she says, not all lists like this one are a good reference.

Stick with sites like Cars.com, or Auto Trader.

"The pre-owned cars is the hardest of all for internet buying services to price."

...and that's why you should peruse your local dealer's lot instead.

"You're getting a quality vehicle that you're paying a price that puts dollars back into the community and provides jobs for families here."

We should also point out that this particular list does not take into account the negotiating part of a used car transaction.