by SanDee Winn

Created on: June 23, 2008   Last Updated: November 07, 2008

Buying a car can be a very intimidating experience, if you let it. Most customers approach buying a car or truck with the enthusiasm usually reserved for having your fingernails removed from the roots or having an arm or leg removed without anesthesia. They also give up all control as soon as they hit the car lot and just let salespeople run roughshod over them.

I was taken' by a car salesperson at the age of 18 and sold a car whose transmission blew up within less than 60 days after purchase. This was the days before the 90 day dealer warranty and used car certifications. After having my step-father intervened, I still had to come up with $1300, splitting the difference with the dealer to replace the engine. Of course I was paying retail and they were paying wholesale for the engine, so I'm pretty sure my half' actually paid for the whole thing without any real contribution by the dealership.

Later in life, I became a car salesperson and then a finance manager. Now I look forward to buying a car because I know how the game is played. I've had to buy a couple of cars for myself and have helped friends purchase new and used cars too.

When buying a car, whether new or used, there are some things you should do before they ever set foot on a car lot:

What payment can you afford? Typically lenders will allow a car payment to be 15-20% of your gross income. However, this doesn't mean you can afford this payment. Set a limit as to what you can afford and stick with it. Keep in mind too, that car insurance will be higher on a leased vehicle, than a purchased vehicle. Call your insurance company and find out what payments will be so you'll know before there are any ugly surprises after you've signed the contract.

Get pre-approved on financing. Go to your bank or credit union and see what financing they are offering and see what you qualify for. This will be important negotiating information later on. You can also checkout the financing available online at websites like Carsdirect.com, Carmaxx.com and capitalone.com. Good credit is important for financing, but even with credit problems, there is financing available for most situations, but buyer beware.

Educate yourself on what you want. With the evolution of the internet, there is plenty of information on all types of vehicles. Compare prices, features, mileage and consumer reports on safety. Find out if there are any recalls on the vehicle you are considering or if there are any types of issues with things like brakes,

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