One of the first things you need to do is decide what you want. Are you looking for a brand new car or a used model? What sort of car brand are you interested in? Do you need a large car for family, or are you looking for something smaller and sporty? Once you know more about the type of car you want, you can then explore your price range and budget and whether or not you desire a new or used model. Knowing as much going into this hunt is important because it will help you narrow down your hunt.

Take the time to figure out the average price of your desired vehicle. You can figure this out by consulting with a local bank or just by averaging the quotes you see online. Once you know the general price of a car, you will be able to spot a deal once you see it!

Next, take the time to visit a price comparison website. You can no doubt find listings upon listings of cars this way. Take the time to look to see what features are offered with which prices. If the car is used, pay attention to its history and how many miles it has on it. You want a car that is sure to last more than a year. Thus, pay attention to the details so that you can find a stellar car!

Visit local dealership websites if you want to find a cheap car online. This website will often explain what cars the business has in stock. Thus, you can find both used and brand new models by perusing these websites. Often, the prices of these cars will be listed. Compare such prices to the quotes you found elsewhere and remember that you will most likely be able to negotiate a slightly lower price once your on the dealer’s lot.

Lastly, don’t count out visiting classifieds-focused websites and online auction websites. This is a great way to find cars for sale from individuals. Finding a car this way may very well be a way to find some great deals!

1. Honda Accord 2003-2007

The Honda Accord has always been an excellent investment for used car buyers. It’s rare for a vehicle to hold 80% of its value after five or more years, but a Honda Accord in excellent condition, with fewer than 80,000 miles, will retain most of its value.

2. BMW Z4 Series 2006

German engineering values precision, power, and style, making the BMW Z4 Series an excellent investment. Although the Z4 Series is not the best family car due to its compact size, for those single buyers or weekend pleasure drives, a Z4 with about 65,000 miles is the best option for your dollar.

3. Toyota Camry Wagon 1994 LE Wagon 4D

Few 16 year old vehicles can boast the kind of impressive, long-standing value of the Toyota Camry Wagon. In the 1990’s, Toyota was renowned for its virtually flawless engines and excellent performance record. In a rare example of a car outperforming its mileage, a Camry with over 120,000 miles is far more valuable than other vehicles in this category.

4. Honda Civic 1998 EX Sedan 4D

Although the Accord has garnered recognition as the top of the line Honda vehicle, the Civic offers buyers great features at an affordable price. The best part: the Civic holds its value even at 90,000+ miles.

5. Subaru Legacy Sedan 1995 4D

Subaru values excellent engineering and solid, durable design, making it a joy to drive, even as it ages. With a solid value at 90,000+ miles, this used Subaru retains its financial charm.

One final note on purchasing excellent used cars: a manual transmission can be a better investment than an automatic, mainly because the repairs to a manual are usually cheaper than having to replace an entire automatic transmission.

Some vehicles maintain their value for many years after the purchase. By choosing wisely, the buyer not only gets a new car with many bells and whistles, but gets a better return on their investment when the time comes to sell that car. The following cars consistently receive top recommendations as good purchases time and again.

Honda and Toyota are known for making good quality vehicles, which has been proven by the sheer number of cars they have repeatedly listed on the high resale value lists. Among these cars, purchasing a Honda Accord, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Fit or Honda Odyssey provides the purchaser with more bang for their buck. These vehicles have been proven great front-runners in their classes for performance and resale value as indicated by research and consumer reports. Some additional vehicles to take into consideration for high resale value include the Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester as well as the Lexus LS 460 and the Lexus RX 350.

New car buyers need to research their intended purchase to see if the model and maker of the vehicle have a history of manufacturing cars that retain their value. Speaking with a local mechanic or with a variety of sales people can also assist in that decision.

Check blue book values and scour consumer guides. Sometimes vehicles that traditionally cost the consumer less in up-keep and maintenance tend to retain their value longer. When it comes to spending hard earned money on a new vehicle, a little research can go a long way to ensure the right investment decision.

Virtually all new vehicles are now being advertised with significant incentives available such as cash back offers or guaranteed trade allowances. Car manufacturers are offering rebates to the dealers and are making every attempt to increase the sales figures. The incentives are not just limited to the price, however, and many car dealers actually have liberal financing options available as well. While some of the zero interest vehicle loans are virtually impossible to obtain, many of the auto manufacturers offer other competitive programs that can help bring the total cost of a new vehicle well below that of a used one.

While the purchases of new cars have almost always included warranties in the past, comprehensive programs are becoming more and more competitive and the exclusions are becoming fewer. Many new vehicles are boasting warranties that may actually cover all of the components for five to ten years and up to 100,000 miles or more.

With all of the new incentives and pricing structures that are causing the price of new vehicles to decrease, many consumers are questioning whether a used vehicle is still a wise decision. The used car market has always proven to be profitable for car dealers as there is often much more wiggle room with the price, but the slashing of new car prices has made it more difficult to competitively price used vehicles. The warranties available with a used car purchase are often limited and may not provide coverage for nearly as long as that of a new auto. Many people speculate that the used car market will find it difficult to rebound and that buying new cars may become the norm.

Every teen looks forward to getting their first set of “wheels”. This is one giant step towards their independence and a leap for parents into higher insurance rates and sleepless nights waiting for our newly licensed driver to arrive home without incident. Though we always cringed when seeing teenagers pulling into the high school parking lot with nicer and more expensive vehicles than those being driven by the faculty, we do want our teen to have a safe vehicle as opposed to an unreliable clunker. So how do we determine the right first car for our teen to drive?

Of course every teenager has a “dream car” in mind, but most realize that they are going to be lucky to have any vehicle to call their own. Sure, they want it to look cool, but we want it to be safe. We’re all in agreement that the car should be reliable. It needs to be in good shape, not have excessive mileage, and be thoroughly checked out by our family mechanic before purchase.

While our teen wanted a sportier two-door car, 4 door sedans are more practical have lower insurance rates and are safer rides. We decided that buying from an individual owner as opposed to a dealership will give you more for your money. We used CarFax run to checks for undisclosed accidents and asked for the current owner’s records of maintenance on the car. We were targeting cars owned by one previous owner, as well as features like side airbags on both driver and passenger sides and anti-lock brakes.

The fewer miles the car has on it, more likely it is to hold up and not need too many repairs. Because we bought a used car for our child, we also invested in a solid roadside assistance program, AAA. This is the beginning of their driving experience. All of the time that went into researching the right car we hope will pay off for our teen in terms of a good car and for us in terms of reducing our anxiety.

2. Ask for invoice. When you enter a dealership, ask them to see their invoice on the car. This is what they have paid before mark-up. Without even negotiating you have already entered into a conversation about price that is well below what most dealerships are selling that same car for. So you are already ahead of the game. Use this invoice number and call other dealerships that sell that same model. Occasionally, you can get better price if you are flexible on specific features, style, and colors.

3. Obtain your own financing. Unless you are taking advantage of an incentive that offers a low rate specifically through dealer financing, obtain your financing from a local or reputable bank. Dealerships make money by providing financing for a purchased vehicle. They are allowed to, and often mark up customer interest rates, making money per point charged as well as a flat fee for using the chosen financing institution.

4. Time your purchase. The closer you get to the end of a month or the end of a year is the time a dealer will be more flexible with price and work harder to gain your business. Car dealerships are consistently in a month to month war. They are always in competition with other dealerships in their area or zone, while management and sales staff have goals and bonuses to reach. This is perfect leverage for a potential buyer, and the more open you are to taking a vehicle already on their lot, the better the deal may be.

5. Be ready to make a move. If you have contacted other dealers within the area and have a pretty good idea of what you’ll be paying for your new car, rest assured that you will have back up should you have to walk away if something is not right. At the same time, if the dealership is satisfactory and you feel good about your purchase, be ready to buy. Your readiness to purchase is also one of the best negotiating tools you have, as the dealership wants your sale sooner than later.

6. Beware of the finance office and be prepared to continue negotiations. The finance office is a place where lost money for a dealership can be made up with the sale of after market items. It is highly recommended that you kindly turn the items down at first. You will be offered a lower price, as the finance manager also has sales goals. Expect to be offered items such as; extended warranties, paint or interior protection, tire protection, service contracts, and gap insurance. With the exception of Gap Insurance, which is regulated in some states, there are mark-ups in all of these items. Gap Insurance in non-regulated states can have a mark-up in excess of $500.00.

7. Examine the numbers on the contract you are signing. It is your responsibility to read a contract before signing it. You cannot alter the price of standard fees, such as document fees, registration and titling or tax. You may, however; refuse to pay for paint protection that was never discussed with you. Small charges or errors that aren’t caught will cost you extra money, so be sure to bring a calculator and ask questions.

Starting with the most popular brand of American car, the Chevrolet, let’s revue what can go wrong. Not surprisingly, the four-cylinder cars have the most issues with durability. Because these cars were cheap not a lot of money was spent on assembly quality. Even with regular maintenance these engines rarely last more than 100K miles. The good thing is that these cars are totaled whenever the are in an accident,so there are lots of serviceable engines in the salvage yards. This situation pretty much applies to the four-cylinder engines of all other American manufacturers, as well.

Chevrolet’s V8 and V6 engines are more reliable, but can be expensive to repair. Of all these engines, the best are the 90-degree V6s. Although built to the same plan and using the same parts as the V8, the V6 is more durable. This includes the 262, 229, and 200 cubic inch engines.

For GM’s other divisions the call is simple. Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Cadillac V8s of 350 cubic inches and larger are bulletproof. The only other engine is the Buick FWD V6. They come in 3.0, 3.3, and 3.8 liter sizes. These are sturdy engines, but they need regular oil changes to remain healthy. There are early years when the fuel injection system wasn’t worked out, but they are easily repaired.

With Chrysler products it’s simple. The V8s never break, and the V6s are difficult to work on. The pushrod V6s, which come in 3.3 and 3.8 liter sizes, are the most reliable. The American-built OHC V6s are not bad, though, and will give better gas mileage.

Ford is like Chevrolet in the engine department. Both of the V8s, the OHC and the push-rod version, will give good service for many years. They are cheap to fix and the salvage yards are full of them. The V6 engines in Ford’s FWD cars are remarkably sturdy due to the high degree of precision employed in their assembly.

To sum up, look for a FWD V6 that has had the oil changed regularly. Listen to it run. If it sounds quiet and there are no loud clicking or clacking noises, then it is probably a good bet to go another couple of years.

In many ways, the automotive industry is the same way. Many dealerships are finding themselves with a huge excess of inventory left over from the previous year. As the new year models role in, dealerships are forced to cut their tag prices by a significant margin in order to keep moving their inventory. This can put the potential car buyer in a fantastic position to negotiate a killer deal, even better than in previous years. Someone argue that because of the recession there is no better time to buy a car than now. Even private sellers and small-time dealers are having such a hard time selling cars that they’re willing to cut several thousand dollars from their price points in order to make working deals. Many of these dealerships are made even more desperate by the fact that so many people are afraid of the economic recession. Too many consumers have a tendency to hold onto their cash whenever times get tight, and the truth is that on the large scale that only contributes to the problem.

Not only does it benefit you as a buyer to take advantage of these deals, but as responsible consumers, you’re doing a service to the economy by keeping the flow of fiscal resources moving. The thing that’s going to pull America out of this recession is more consumer spending, which means that you’re not just helping yourself by taking advantage of fantastic deals on great budget vehicles, but in a way you’re helping everyone. Regardless of what your budget may be, you’re going to have an easier time getting a car with the features that you want for less money. If you’re setting aside a certain amount of money for a car, and that the price point is nonnegotiable for you, then it may simply mean getting a better car than you might otherwise have in previous years. Either way, you win as the buyer.

Paying a couple of grand extra for a used Honda or Toyota that will last five years longer than a similar Ford or Chevrolet just makes fiscal sense. Everything about them, from their average gas mileage to how solid their drive trains are, is designed to make every single dollar you spend stretch. It’s no wonder that the American makers have been running so many year-end specials lately in an effort to try to attract more buyers to their deals. Anybody that’s owned a Ford or a Chevrolet past 120,000 miles or so can tell you that things simply break, and any money that you save in the initial purchase is going to be more than made up for by repairs and maintenance fees accrued over the course of the life of your car.

It makes much more sense, especially if you’re on a tight budget, to get something that’s not going to surprise you by suddenly not starting on some cold winter morning some time in the future, even if you pay little bit extra for it up front. Issues of reliability aside, both Honda and Toyota have come a long way in making the design of their cars much more stylish in the last decade, as well is offering many modern features that are able to compete with nearly any other offering on the market. The truth is that the sport-utility vehicle fad is coming to a very swift close. People simply can’t afford them the way they used to. Anybody veteran car buyer will tell you that it’s much more practical to go with a more conservative car that gets good gas mileage. While your SUV-driving friends are stuck in the shop or having to gas up twice as often as you, you’ll still be going strong

Do your homework. Compare prices by starting with the online travel agencies like Travelocity and Expedia. They often offer the lowest and most competitive rates.

Check the national rental car companies directly like Hertz, National, and Enterprise Rent A Car. Search for special deals, and promotions. Some rental companies provide more extensive service. For example, National offers the convenience of renting a car from one location and then allows you to return it to another. And Enterprise offers to pick-up before and drop-off after your rental.

Get creative with your bargain hunting. Try paying with a credit card, because most cards have discounts or points you can earn. If you belong to AAA, they often have AAA discounted rates for card members. Try calling the local car rental offices in your destination city and ask them for the “manager’s rate.” Or see if they can do better than a rental rate you saw advertised from another car company. You’ll be suprised how often they will.

While Priceline is a great tool for finding cheap car rentals, beware when you place a bid — it’s a binding contract. Be sure all of your info is correct, because you won’t be able to make changes to the details once your low-ball offer has been accepted.

Splurge on the insurance. Yeah, we know it’s a drag to pour your savings into full coverage, but it is well worth it. Before you do though, make sure you check with your credit card. Often times if you read the fine print – credit cards will cover car rental insurance automatically.

Soup-up your rental ride with a GPS unit and drive like a native.

Put the ragtop down, hit the accelerator, and enjoy the drive.