NAVIGATION
Introduction
Step 1: What kind of car do you need?
Step 2: How much can you afford?
Step 3: Should you lease or buy your next car?
Step 4: Have you considered all vehicles in that class?
Step 5: Have you considered all of the costs of ownership?
Step 6: Research options.
Step 7: Schedule an appointment for a test drive.
Step 8: How to test drive a car.
Step 9: After the test drive.
Step 10: Getting ready for the buying cycle.
Checklist

PHOTOS

(Enlarge photo)
"Walking the lot" isn't the fastest way to find the car you need. Use the Internet and telephone to speed up your search. (Photo by Scott Jacobs)


Buying Tips

10 Steps to Finding the Right Car for You

Step 6: Research options.
By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor
Email

By completing steps one through five, you should now have a good idea about what car will work for you. Maybe there are a few cars that fit your criteria. It's time to narrow it down.

Car buyers have been trained to visit local dealerships to find the car they want. In the Internet age, this is a waste of time and money. You can quickly cover more ground by shopping on-line. Car dealers are waking up to this new breed of shopper and have created Internet departments within their dealerships to serve the educated buyer who already knows what he wants and what he's willing to pay. The only thing you have to do in person are test drive the car and sign the contract. And in some cases, you can even have the car "delivered" to you by the salesperson.

Edmunds.com is your link to the automotive world. By reading our Web site you can not only educate yourself about cars, but also find local dealers, check interest rates for buying or leasing and calculate your exact monthly payment. Before ever heading out the door, you can answer almost any question you may have by searching Edmunds.com. Remember, you don't want to go to the dealership until you're really ready.

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