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For those uninitiated in the jargon and vernacular of the automotive industry, venturing onto the courtyard of a car dealership can be a particularly stressful experience. Whether you are one of the majority of women or the only slightly smaller group of men (truth be known), having absolutely no desire to know how a car works, but merely desiring to use it as the expensive tool it is, fronting up to purchase one may seem to put you on the back foot.

You couldn't be more wrong! Buying a car is not only one of the most significant purchases you can make, but in the current market situation for the foreseeable future, the one that affords you the most control and power. The primary focus of ANY car-yard salesperson, male or female, is to sell you a car. The more they can get you to pay for it the better, obviously, but THE most important thing is to sell you one. So knowing that, and what they are talking about, are the most important things to take with you onto the car-yard. In this day and age, significant information is available to you through the Internet and the following glossary of terms is intended to assist you in getting the best possible deal achievable from even the worst category of car dealer.

4WD or 4x4: (Four Wheel Drive) In standard vehicles the motor provides power or 'drive' to two of the four wheels, in a 4WD vehicle it supplies power to both pairs of wheels. This is only of importance if you will be using the vehicle in off-road situations. It is of no consequence whatsoever if you will only be driving on roads.

ABS: (anti-lock brake system) This is a significant modern safety feature. It ensures that in emergency breaking situations you have the maximum amount of control possible. All new vehicles should have this as standard; you should not need to pay for this as an added extra. It would also be preferable to purchase a used vehicle that has this but it may cost you more than a similarly aged vehicle that doesn't.

Acceleration Clause: This is a clause included in financial purchase and loan repayment documents often associated with "no payment down" purchases, usually of used cars. Effectively it means they can repossess your car if you fail to meet a single payment. It is definitely not a good idea to sign an agreement that includes an acceleration clause.

ACV: (Actual Cash Value) When you are intending to 'trade in' your current car as part of the deal towards your purchase of a replacement vehicle, new or used, this is the real economic

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