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Winning the car-buying battle

Know your price range and stick to it
When you look at buying a new car, make sure you factor in all the monthly costs like insurance, gas and maintenance. This is where your affordable car can become a money pit if you're not careful. Once you know how much you can carry each month, stick to your guns and don't go over your budget. That may mean looking at a lower model of car or going to the used lot for the vehicle you really want.

Research and be prepared
Researching the vehicles that interest you and arming yourself with this knowledge will bring you half way down the road to your purchase. And most of this preliminary study can be done without even setting foot outside your front door.

There are more and more car-buying tools available to consumers on the Internet. There are several Great Canadian auto sites that have vehicle quote information and research libraries with consumer reports and test drive results. You can also go directly to the car manufacturer's sites to get safety information, vehicle quotes and search for the nearest dealer. Once you have a few cars you know you like, we can help you see what the insurance costs will be for each one.

If you have a trade-in, know its value before you go to the dealer. Don't let the dealer tell you what your car is worth. Sometimes you may think you are getting a great deal on the new car, but they are undercutting you on your trade-in.

The test drive
It is customary to go for a test drive before you do any negotiations. Most dealerships require that you bring a sales person along with you. This can be intimidating, but don't let it stop you from trying all aspects of the car. Make a checklist of the things you want in a car (e.g. comfort, acceleration, handling…) and take the list with you to the dealer. Go over it while you are still in the car and everything is fresh in your mind.

Negotiations
When you sit down at the sales person's desk, don't be nervous. Stay calm. You are the one in the proverbial driver's seat here. Remember, the sales person needs your money far more than you need his vehicle.

No matter how you intend to pay (e.g. lease, finance, and cash) make sure you negotiate on the full price of the vehicle. Some sales people will try to offer you a price by outlining the payment plan because it is easier to hide extra costs and confuse the buyer. Don't stand for that. You can let them know how you're going to pay for the car AFTER you have the price you want.

When you're making an offer on your car, negotiate up from the invoice price. Do not go down from the price on the window. Invoice prices in Canadian dollars are available on the Web for a price at www.carcostcanada.com, but could be well worth the investment of $30 if you save hundreds on the deal.

Beware of add-ons and extra charges
Decide what you can live with - and without - on your car. If you decide you only need the economy package, don't let the sales person talk you into anything else, no matter how attractive it may sound at the time. Besides, most dealers will throw options into the deal if they think it will make the sale.

Great Canadian auto sites:
www.autonet.ca
www.carcanada.com
www.globemegawheels.com
www.caa.ca
www1.sympatico.ca/Contents/Automotive
www.vicc.com
www.carsmart.ca
www.carcostcanada.com
www.where-can-i-buy-a-car-online.com

US sites:
www.intellichoice.com
http://autos.yahoo.com
www.edmunds.com
www.informational.com/automall.htm
www.autoweb.com
www.autoguide.net
www.autotrader.com
www.kbb.com
www.auto.com/reviews/