How To Get A Great Deal On A New Car

Money-Saving Help

Choosing the car

Most public libraries and major bookstores have extensive information to help you select the type of car that will fit your needs. Three good sources of comparative information on cars, each of which is published annually, are The Car Book by Jack Gillis, Consumer Reports magazine's April issue, and the December issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.

Getting a firm price commitment

The Center for the Study of Services offers the CarBargains service (800-475-7283), which will get at least five dealers in your local area to bid to sell a new car of the make, model, and style you want, using the methods described in this pamphlet. You get a price commitment sheet for each dealer. There is a fee for this service. You can also reach the Center for the Study of Services on-line (http://www.checkbook.org).

Many credit unions, local American Automobile Association (AAA) chapters, membership warehouse stores, and employee associations have lists of dealers who have agreed to sell cars at a fixed markup from invoice. You can contact local organizations to see what programs are available. The dealers that participate in these programs may or may not pay to be listed, depending on the specific program's arrangements.

Getting general car price information

Most libraries and bookstores, and many banks and credit unions, have books published by Pace Publications, St. Martin's Press, and others showing list prices and invoice prices for new cars, and showing resale value estimates for used cars. Automotive News, available in some public libraries, gives information on rebate and incentive programs. You can also order up-to-date information for quick delivery to you for a fee from several sources, including --

• Consumer Reports (800-933-5555) offers new car invoice and list prices that you can use in doing your own shopping. Also offers used car valuations.
  
  
• Car Price Network (800-227-3295) offers new car invoice and list prices that you can use in doing your own shopping. Also offers used car valuations and sells a report on current rebate and incentive programs on all makes. Can be reached on-line at http://www.carprice.com
  
  
• The Center for the Study of Services (800-213-7283) also offers the Best Price Car Kit, which reports new tar invoice and list prices, current rebate and incentive programs, and the actual target price recently paid by an expert shopper for the make/model/style you want. Kit also includes valuation of your used car and information on lowcost extended service contracts, financing, auto insurance, and leasing strategies.

Additional on-line sources of information include Autosite (http://www.autosite.com) and a site maintained by the publisher of the Edmunds price guides (http://www.edmunds.com).