Shopping for Cars on the Web
Almost two-thirds of new car buyers do homework first on the Internet, and it is predicted that Web research by car buyers will continue to grow as high-speed Internet access spreads to more households. Here are some tips:
* Explore your choices. If you have an idea of what you want--a small SUV or a mid-size sedan, for example--start by clicking on a category at Edmunds.com for choices and their list prices. For a more detailed comparison, click on the Features and Specs tabs at the top of the page.
* Check safety records. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives crash test results on its Web site at nhtsa.gov. More detail is available at carsafety.org.
* Find out the real price. All automotive sites give the list price or manufacturer's suggested retail price, as well as the dealer's invoice price. In negotiating, you want to aim to get near the invoice price. For a list of current manufacturers' rebates, go to Edmunds.com, kbb.com, Cars.com, and Carsdirect.com. Combine a rebate with low credit union rates and you have the best of both worlds.
* Locate that vehicle near you. Find a local dealer's Web site by putting the name into a search engine such as Google.com or Yahoo.com. About 70% of dealers post their inventories on the Web sites.
Talk to your Bear Paw Credit Union loan officer for loan pre-approval before you shop; it's the same as shopping with cash.
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