Use sites like Edmunds.com, Autosite.com and MotorTrend.com to research and compare vehicles. Once you've narrowed down the car you want, shop around for the best prices. Edmunds' True Market Value will tell you the actual value of the car you want to buy, and dealerships will … [Read more...] about Do plenty of research & take time shopping before taking the plunge on a new vehicle

In addition to the fact that cars with manual transmission usually sell for hundreds or thousands less than their automatic counterparts, they are also more fuel efficient and, therefore, use less gas and thus are cheaper to run. Getting an extra 3 MPG with a manual transmission … [Read more...] about Buy a car with manual transmission to save thousands over the course of the vehicle’s life

Dealerships often advertise things like “no money down" or "low monthly payments” to get you in the door. Remember that the duration of your loan directly affects the total purchase price. A longer loan, therefore, may mean a higher purchase price regardless of what incentives … [Read more...] about Avoid overspending on a car loan by reading the fine print

If your car payments are no longer affordable, consider trading down to a cheaper vehicle. You'll take a loss on the value of your current car, but it might work out to your advantage if you can reduce your monthly payments, your insurance premiums, and the overall cost of your … [Read more...] about Trade down your vehicle if your car loan is too high

Luxury cars are nice, but that luxury comes at a steep price. Consider, for instance, if a fancy Lexus is worth the cost - or if the very similar Toyota (made by the same company and offered with many of the same options) will suffice. Similarly, consider if a gas-guzzling SUV is … [Read more...] about Buy only what you need and be realistic about what you can comfortably afford