I need extreme car-shopping tips. What things do I look at when looking for a new vehicle?

First, go to dealers that have cars you are interested in and pick up literature. Then go home and read it. Compare models - even write out what they have on a spreadsheet. Then look them up online and get reviews, specs, etc - Edmunds.com is a good place to start. Now go back and test drive it - really test drive it. Take it on the highway, do doughnuts in a parking lot, go somewhere you can accelerate to a high speed and hit the brakes - do it all. Take the test drive past a friend's house or your parents - have someone else look at it too. Get a list together of all the features you want, and do pricing on the internet. Decide exactly what you want. Check with your bank for financing, credit union, AAA if you belong, some insurance companies have buying services that you can use. Check with your insurance company as to what it will cost to insure - two models that are very similar in look may be radically different to insure because of thefts, etc. Don't go back to the dealership until you are sure and have done all your homework. Now check with dealerships about their hours for service, do they have shuttle service to public transportation, free loaner, etc. Because the greatest service in the world isn't enough - they have to be convenient to you as well. You can always take your car to a dealership other than where you bought it, but sometimes the dealership you bought from will offer perks that others won't. The dealership I bought mine from pays for inspections every year, details the car once a year, gives free loaners, washes the car when they service it, etc. Check in detail what the warranty covers, and also check what type of gas you need to use - premium costs more, remember. Some warranties are no good if you use other gasoline. If a dealership won't work with you through the process, find another one. Don't buy anything right away. Don't automatically use dealership financing. And think hard about color - many people make the car about the color, but when you are in the car and driving, you don't see much of the outside, so don't just buy one certain car because you like the color and another, better car doesn't come in that color. Remember that gas mileage will be lower than what's posted, so don't take that number as correct. Remember that a 6 cylinder engine doesn't have to work as hard as a 4, so if you can afford a 6 and the gas mileage that goes with it, consider it. Don't buy the lowest model unless you have to - its nice to have a few luxuries in the car. But pick the ones that are important to you - I don't care about a sunroof, but I do care about heated seats. Gee - I think I'm running out of suggestions...

I guess I and my husband are the exception to your little rule. If I let my husband have his way, I would have wound up with a gas guzzling SUV. I didn't want that, so I bought my car without him. Who goes to a dealership saying they only have $10,000 to spend on a car and then say well maybe $12,000? I was the one looking for the mileage, and the MPG that my car had. I didn't want some bulky SUV that would got horrible gas mileage. He was looking for looks and a brand new car that we probably couldn't afford the payments. I had to be the rational one, so I went there without him so I could get something constructive done. By the end I was paying less than what we figured a month, and they dropped the price of the car to add the extended warranty, and I did all of this with no credit on my name. Of course, I put $4000 for a down payment too. I am glad he wasn't with me or I would have probably been paying more for the car.

You won't get a good deal if you just browse from dealer to dealer without knowing what kind of car you are looking for. First, you need to decide what you want. If you need simple transportation to drive to work and back - a small sedan will be fine.

You want it to be cheap on gas? - it has to have a small engine (don't expect a V6 or V8 engine to be economical).

Are icy roads common in your area? - then you need a car with 4-wheel drive or all wheel drive.

You use the car for towing? - you need a more powerful engine and so on.

Once you know what you want, check the market, what's available with options you need and for the price you can afford.

After this you will have only a few models to choose from.

Get the Insurance quote for each model - it can vary. Compare reliability ratings, read reviews.

Good for you for doing research...When i go to a dealership Ive always don't my research on what I'm looking for...know the price before you go in so that you can negotiate the price.

make sure they have all the safety equipped like air bags , anti lock breaks...be sure that your family fits in . with leg room...if your tall make sure that you have head room .. Ive learned from experience that if you buy a car that is lower to the ground that its very expensive to repair...

I have checked with dealer ships in the area on line and have gotten pretty good response that way you know what they will be telling you when y ou walk in...Most important if you feel pressure that means its time to leave...good luck...oops and see if they will include the extended warranties at no cost...or at least a reduction of the cost...good luck...let me know what you get...