Buying A New Car -- What You Should Know
By Philip Reed
You've decided to buy a new car. An image of your dream car hovers in your mind — it's shiny, colorful and purrs like a kitten at 70 miles an hour. But standing between you and your dream car is the car dealer. How do you get from here to there without having your wallet vacuum cleaned?
Two things will help you safely accomplish your mission: knowledge and preparation. If you follow the 10 steps we will outline here, you will learn everything you need to know to prepare you before you set foot in the showroom.
Sure, you've heard the negative stories about car buying. Or maybe you've been in the hot seat before, getting pressured by a sweaty guy sporting too much gold jewelry. Put all that behind you. Many dealers have cleaned up their images. Besides that, now you can shop using the phone, fax or the Internet. This time around it's going to be different. You can get a great car at a fair price. Deals are out there.
What's the best car for you? A car that meets your needs, is a pleasure to drive and is reliable, safe and economical. Is that asking too much? We don't think so. Cars have never been safer, more reliable and more exciting to drive.
Notice that we left out "economical." The price of cars has risen dramatically in relation to the average person's income. That's the bad news. The good news is there are a variety of ways to finance a new car. And the competition between car companies is red hot. So, in many ways, it's a buyer's market.
Now, here's more good news for buyers: you have everything you need to locate and research cars right here at your fingertips. Pricing, road tests, safety information, performance data—even photographs—are provided free on Edmunds.com.
So buckle up and get set for a new car-buying experience. Soon, you'll be driving that dream car.
Copyright 2001 by Edmunds.Com, Inc. All rights reserved.
