Car buying made easy on Web

March 27, 1998
Web posted at: 5:12 p.m. EST (2212 GMT)

By CNN Interactive Associate Producer Jenna Milly

(CNN) -- The Internet is hard to beat when it comes to jump-starting a car search. Consumers will find sites offering miles of information on everything from statistics and pricing to financing and insurance.

Research the dealer's invoice, then negotiate

Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guide is a comprehensive resource for car buyers who need advice on what to do, say and offer once they finally get to face to face with a salesperson. Edmund's new car search engine has detailed information about each model, including the estimated dealer's cost of the car and the compared MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). This range of price differences becomes the buyer's area of negotiation. The informative "How to get your way at the auto dealer" section will explain that painstaking process in great detail. Edmund's teaches the consumer how to bargain with professionals.

Leave the house -- only to pick up the car

Auto-by-Tel is an extensive car-buying site that enables online customers to purchase new or used cars without having to leave the confines of the keyboard. This site boasts a haggle-free mentality, allowing consumers to select the car they like, pick all the options, choose the color, order the extra accessories -- all without ever negotiating with a dealer in person.

Auto-By-Tel's FasTrak program pairs each customer with a dealer, helps with finance and insurance application procedures, then works with salespeople to approve the paperwork before the consumer even arrives on the lot.

Cruising the facts: used car prices

Even if you don't want to buy directly from the Internet, researching used and new car prices, performance reports and safety guides is an excellent way to improve your bargaining skills against those pesky auto-savvy salespeople. For the inside connection on official car pricing, Kelley Blue Book posts detailed cost reports and blue book values that help customers understand the dealer's range of negotiation.

Another great database for comparing retail and base value costs is Car Prices.com. This site is especially good if you are easily confused about the estimated costs of extra items like tilt wheels, anti-lock brakes, CD players and sun roofs. Car Prices.com provides an individual invoice for each used car, which illustrates exactly how much each feature costs. Use the used car pricing search for a quick look at wholesale and suggested retail prices of added options.

Insider's tips and statistical information

Paired with AIS (Automotive Information Systems), Microsoft CarPoint posts a reliability rating system, including a seven-point analysis system useful for extensive research. Additional information includes new auto reviews from individual experts. View extended reports on new model vehicles like the 1998 Volkswagon Beetle.

Consumer Reports Online is always a good starting place to browse detailed information about every kind of new car on the market. Subscriber-only features include articles about four-wheel drive, warranties and insurance.

Women's Auto Help Center caters to women's questions about cars, styles, pickups and all wheel drives vehicles. The Classic Auto Registry Service provides a cross-country search for vintage vehicles and even has a "cars wanted" page for hard-to-finds. Cars On Line: Classic Car Photo Ads has a calendar of upcoming car shows and auctions in the United States.

Related stories:

• Buyers can soon price vehicle options online - August 24, 1997
• Move over Detroit, car buyers are in the driver's seat - July 21, 1997
• Take the pain out of buying your next car - January 2, 1997
• No love lost for fixed prices among car-buyers - July 3, 1996

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guide
• Auto-by-Tel
• Kelley Blue Book
• Car Prices.com
• Microsoft CarPoint
• Consumer Reports Online
• Women's Auto Help Center
• Classic Auto Registry Service
• Cars On Line: Classic Car Photo Ads

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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