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Does it handle well on a test drive? Does the paint look good on a dry day? (Rain tends to make even bad paint look good.) Does the owner have records of oil changes and other mantainence? Check it out as much as you are able before you spend the money on a mechanic's inspection.

You can also go to Carfax (www.carfax.com) and get a history of the vehicle. They can tell you if there are any title problems, if the car was salvaged etc. After every major flood slimy dealers try to sell cars ruined in the flood without telling the buyers the vehicle history.

So do your homework and you should be able to get a good used car.

Now what if you really want a new car and can afford it? Obviously you need to decide what you want in that car, one advantage of buying new is that you can order what you want. However remember that all the add-ons like fancy stereos and seats add a lot to the price. Mark-up on those is more than that on the basic car. For that reason, be prepared for a sales person to try to talk you into a more expensive model than you intend to buy - he gets a higher commission.

Once you do that, my technique for the only new vehicle I ever bought was to send to every dealer in the area, and some out of the area known for low prices, a "request for quote." I simply wrote a letter with "Request for Quote" on the top. I described what I wanted and asked them to quote their best price on it. Of course I gave a closing date. I also indicated that I retained the right to reject any or all quotes. I got back several responses and took the best one. I've been very happy with that vehicle.

Whatever you do, don't let a sharp sales person talk you into a hurried decision or something you really don't want or need. Use the above tips and you should get a good vehicle at a fair price.

Learn more about this author, Hal Lillywhite.
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