In your search for a new car, this Buyer's Guide is your homebase. So bookmark the page, and keep coming back whenever you are ready to take the next step in the car buying process. We're with you every step of the way.
As you move from site to site, following our links to independent online reviews, have a ballpark idea of what you are looking to spend ($20,000 to $25,000, for example), and identify two or three different models that you think you'd be happy with. But don't just go by what you read, test-drive prospective models before you buy; you can make an appointment for a test drive over the phone.
If you can't seem to get a good deal on your first choice, move on to your next. But if you have your heart set on one particular car model, that's okay too.
TIP: Don't forget to consider insurance costs when choosing among models. Call your insurance agent for rates or check out these online auto insurance resources.
The following links and tools can help you narrow down your search:
1. Browsing for a Model
Just enter your criteria, and Kiplinger's Car Finder spits out suggested models.
Browse cars by category in Microsoft's Carpoint.
Find unique rankings, including most fuel-efficient cars, most likely to be stolen models, even best-selling colors, at Cars.com.
2. Best and Worst Lists
J.D. Power and Associates best initial quality listings
Consumer Reports online($2.95 a month to subscribe -- and worth it) talks up ""good bets"" as well as lemons.
Intellichoice best overall value winners. (you can select model year and vehicle class; also best cars over and under $20,000 and best truck over and under $18,000)
3. New-Car Reviews and Road-Test Reports
Kelley Blue Book also has highly respected, independent reviews.
Consumer Reports' graphical comparisons show you at a glance how car models stack up against their competitors, plus new car reviews and new car reliability forecasts ($3.95 a month)
No comments:
Post a Comment