How to buy a used car

While buying a new car is always exciting, looking for a used one can be a nightmare. No matter what there's always a concern when you drive that car off the lot, no matter what kind of deal you might have got in negotiations, that it's a lemon.

There are some tips you can follow to help your used car buying experience be a little more pleasant and hopefully tilt the odds in you favor. Ultimately however, your instincts are your best guide. If something about the car or the deal doesn't feel right, then go with that and walk away. There's another one right around the corner that won't leave you stomach turning when you sign those papers.

Preparation is the most important thing you can do to make your experience a positive one. It takes a little more time, but in the end you'll be grateful you did it.

Knowing when to buy is also key in this process. And the first thing to remember here is that the best time to buy a car is when you don't really have to. If your present car is breaking down or it's already gone then you're buying under pressure to hurry up and purchase a vehicle. Buying under those circumstances can never work in your favor. Buying when you don't have to gives you more negotiating power, enabling you to wait out a seller or even walk to find something better.

Determining your budget before hand is always smart. Knowing how much you want to and can spend will influence the type of vehicle you buy. But the important thing here that many people don't do is making sure you stick to the budget you've set. Buying a car stirs up emotions that aren't always sensible. Don't get caught up in these and end up with a higher payment then you committed to.

Car buying 101: buying a new car in a few simple steps

All too often, many of us go to the dealer with the idea that we''ll get the best deal for our money, only to be tricked and manipulated into paying more or buying a model that we don''t want. In tac(Continue Article)

The new hustle: more rappers are moving from lyrics and videos to booming new business ventures. But too many have figured out the quickest route to riches

It''s Friday night. I''m riding down the Long Island Expressway to New York City in my girl''s new ''05 Trailblazer, channel-surfing her factory-installed ...(Continue Article)

Car talk: the auto financing game is getting tight, and banks are playing harder or sitting it out

Zero-percent financing from automakers and rising interest rates are forcing bankers to either aggressively pursue more car loans or simply back away.(Continue Article)

Classical education: for the company car driver who wants something that will stand out from the crowd, Charis Whitcombe believes she has the answer …

A classic car as a company car? On the one hand, it''s an imaginative perk with fairly substantial tax advantages. On the other, it''s a potentially terrifying ...(Continue Article)

Get new-car: savvy online: thanks to the internet, buying your next car could be a hassle-free, haggle-free experience

The first time Alva Foster bought a car, she negotiated a price on the sales lot, took the dealer financing and, at the salesman''s suggestion, purchased ...(Continue Article)