One of the best ways to get a best buy used car is to narrow down your list of automotive candidates to a few up-and-coming models.

The best way to buy a car is to start by deciding:

• What kind of car do you want?
• what options do you want?
• yes color matters
• if it will be new or used
• will you rent it or buy it

What will you need your new car for? What kind of mileage do you want me to get? (Does a hybrid sound good?) If it’s going to be a used car, would you rather buy it from a private seller or from a car dealer? How old can the car be?

Before you talk to someone who can sell you a car, you need to write down what you would like. The more you know what you want, the better you can negotiate and the less likely you are to regret the car you buy or lease. So what is important to you in car safety? Number of doors? Automatic or manual transmission? Air-conditioning? anti-lock brakes? Airbags? Sound system? Electric windows? locks? Seating? Mirrors? cruise control? sliding roof? Upholstery material?

How to use the Internet to refine your search

There are many places to look for reviews on the web, but most promise more than they deliver. If, like us, you’ve decided you want an eight-passenger SUV with a high safety rating, that isn’t made in the United States, you can read what real people think about the few models available at epinions.com/auto . tab=1. We get nothing from this recommendation. This site has had more useful information on each vehicle we have searched than any other.

Real people, who have experience with the particular make and model you are interested in, and who have nothing to gain or lose by being honest, can be invaluable help. When my wife was researching our new car, she came across a negative comment about the Honda Pilot: that keys, pencils, or anything else that falls between the driver’s seat and the center console is almost impossible to remove. We can live with this. She read comments about other cars here that crossed them off our list. She loved everything about that car, except for this design flaw, and we knew it before our first test drive.

Once you’ve read what real people think about the cars you’re interested in, visit the websites of the manufacturers of the cars you’re interested in. In these you can:

• see the characteristics of the cars up close
• determine the cost of a car
• build your car online
• be able to find dealers in your area if you want to take a test drive

There are downsides to manufacturer and dealer websites, of course. Manufacturer sites are geared towards selling you a car. They will fill pages with the benefits and features of the cars, and will include graphics, testimonials, and other gibberish that are more helpful in grabbing your attention than providing useful information.

By the time you get to the dealer’s lot, you should have a good idea of ​​the model you want, the options and accessories you’re interested in, how you expect to pay for the car, and, if applicable, how much you’ll pay. it’s worth it. Getting the best used car buy can be broken down into four main steps: asking questions (mostly of yourself and your spouse), comparing prices, testing the cars you’re interested in, and doing your research.