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Site subscribers get unlimited access to our extensive archives, including full road tests, as well as an interactive vehicle selector for new and used cars. The free area of our Autos section provides an array of articles, ranging from the latest trends and technology to in-depth expert advice on buying, leasing, safety, and more.
CR New Car and Used Car Price Reports, with model-specific information, are designed to help you get the best deal on your vehicle purchase, and can be ordered online.
The CR and Used Car Buying Kits gives consumers the tools to choose the right vehicle based on their own needs and preferences.
Compare models side by side, go behind the ratings to read our engineer's assessments, and customize each vehicle with the
options and packages that mean the most to you. You get unlimited pricing information for three months when you sign up.
PRICING: NEW & USED CARS
Look here for new-car retail prices and used-car values. Some sites also provide dealer invoice prices and incentives.
AutoSite autosite.com
Edmunds edmunds.com
IntelliChoice intellichoice.com
Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
National Automobile Dealers Association nada.com
VMR (used cars only) vmrintl.com
VEHICLE REVIEWS & COMPARISONS
Different sources have varying points of view. Read a range.
Automobile automobilemag.com
AutoWeek autoweek.com
Car and Driver caranddriver.com
Epinions epinions.com
Motor Trend motortrend.com
MSN Autos autos.msn.com
New Car Test Drive nctd.com
Road & Track roadandtrack.com
Truck Trend trucktrend.com
NEW & USED-CAR BUYING & SELLING
Some sites can provide prices for specific models and put you in touch with participating dealers. Other sites have online
classified ads that allow you to search over as broad an area as you like.
Autobytel autobytel.com
Auto Trader autotrader.com
Autoweb autoweb.com
CarBargains checkbook.org
Car.com car.com
Cars.com cars.com
CarsDirect carsdirect.com
DealerNet dealernet.com
ebayMotors ebaymotors.com
InvoiceDealers invoicedealers.com
MSN Autos autos.msn.com
Usedcars.com usedcars.com
Vehix.com vehix.com
LEASING DEALS & INFORMATION
Automotive Lease Guide alg.com
Federal Reserve Board federalreserve.gov/pubs/leasing
IntelliChoice intellichoice.com
LeaseSource leasesource.com
AUTO LOAN RATES & LENDERS
Bank Rate Monitor bankrate.com
Capital One Auto Finance capitaloneautofinance.com
E-Loan eloan.com
LendingTree lendingtree.com
VirtualBank virtualbank.com
CREDIT REPORTS
Annual Credit Report annualcreditreport.com
Equifax equifax.com
Experian experian.com
FICO myfico.com
My Credit mycreditfile.com
Trans Union transunion.com
MAINTENANCE/OWNERSHIP COSTS
IntelliChoice intellichoice.com
Edmunds edmunds.com
SAFETY/CRASH-TEST RESULTS
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hwysafety.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nhtsa.dot.gov
NHTSA crash tests/rollover ratings safercar.gov
VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS
Carfax carfax.com
DMV dmv.org
Experian autocheck.com
FUEL ECONOMY/EMISSIONS
Federal fuel-economy estimates fueleconomy.gov
EPA Green Vehicle Guide epa.gov/greenvehicles
AUTOMAKER WEBSITES
Acura acura.com
Audi audiusa.com
BMW bmwusa.com
Buick buick.com
Cadillac cadillac.com
Chevrolet chevrolet.com
Chrysler chrysler.com
Dodge dodge.com
Ford fordvehicles.com
GMC gmc.com
Honda hondacars.com
Hummer hummer.com
Hyundai hyundaiusa.com
Infiniti infiniti.com
Isuzu isuzu.com
Jaguar jaguar.com
Jeep jeep.com
Kia kia.com
Land Rover landrover.com
Lexus lexus.com
Lincoln lincolnvehicles.com
Lotus lotuscars.com
Mazda mazdausa.com
Mercedes-Benz mbusa.com
Mercury mercuryvehicles.com
Mini miniusa.com
Mitsubishi mitsubishicars.com
Nissan nissanusa.com
Pontiac pontiac.com
Porsche us.porsche.com
Saab saabusa.com
Saturn saturn.com
Scion scion.com
Subaru subaru.com
Suzuki suzukiauto.com
Toyota toyota.com
Volkswagen vw.com
Volvo volvocars.com
DOS & DON'TS OF ONLINE SHOPPING
Do:
Shop for more than one vehicle. There are usually several comparable competitors. Changing market conditions may make one or another a better deal.
Keep your options open. Often, you'll wind up buying a vehicle from a dealer's inventory. If you don't find the exact features you had in mind, stay flexible.
Use e-mail and the phone. Gather all the information you can by phone or e-mail before venturing to the dealer lots. Keep records. Print out any spec sheets and price quotations you obtain.
Be specific. Ask for precise information, including all the vehicle's features and options. Get the final, out-the-door price. Ask for the exact date when the vehicle can be seen, inspected by you, and delivered into your hands.
Keep notes. Write down the name and date of the people you contact at any car-buying service or dealership. Make sure the vehicle is really the one you asked for. Sometimes dealers tell you they have exactly the car you've specified when what they really have is something more or less close.
Ask for the vehicle's VIN number. This will tell you if the salesman is giving you a price for a specific vehicle on his lot. If he can't supply it over the phone, assume the car isn't at the dealership.
Don't forget local dealers. They may beat any price you dig up on the Internet.
Don't buy sight unseen. Make a personal, up-close examination of the vehicle before agreeing to take delivery.
Don't pay for dealer extras you don't need. These can include rust proofing, extended-service warranties, paint sealant, and fabric protection.
