Some buyers pride themselves in their deal making savvy, and are heard to brag about the good deals they got on a vehicle. Others sometimes wonder if they or the dealer got the better of the bargain. One thing is sure, with a wide array of models, trade in deals, financing arrangements, rebates, and the like, buying a new car can be a maze of complication. When you see many pages of dealer advertisements in the Sunday paper it can be confusing, but there is good news. The industry is among the most competitive in the nation. The more competition and the more choices you have, the more likely you will get a good bargain. Here are tips that may make it easier:

    Know what you want. Deciding on a whim to roam through dealerships may lead to impulse buying. First, think of how you plan to use the vehicle. A good car for dating or riding with friends might not be good to haul dirt or sheet rock. Will you have children to get in and out? Will you travel many miles every day or only once a week to the grocery store? Is safety your primary consideration? Are you large and likely to be uncomfortable in compacts? Have you checked the model's insurance cost? Narrow it down to a few choices likely to fill your needs.

    Do the research. Consumer Reports, Kiplingers and Money magazines run yearly articles on new cars, comparing all sorts of factors from braking distances to turn radius to safety ratings. Sometimes they report an approximate wholesale (dealer) price and a reasonable retail price with the dealer profit figured in. If you have a computer, a wealth of information is available. For example, www.consumerworld.org references a number of car pricing and comparison resources. Learn about warranties, dealer price, rebates and things such as hold-backs. If you decide to trade, learn the "blue book" (approximate trade price) for your old vehicle. Information like this is also available on the internet, and your lender or public libraries can make approximate prices available. Some have success selling vehicles directly through local consumer marketing papers. They may be able to get a bit higher than the "book" wholesale price and the buyer may get a bit lower than the retail price by avoiding the middleman.

    Line up your financing ahead of time. Dealers usually have financing programs available, but so do various lenders. Find the best deal for your model and price range. Often your lender can set up the paperwork in advance, and check your credit file to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises when you are ready to buy. Concentrate on term and Annual Percentage Rate.

    Only once you have narrowed down your choices and learned the values of your chosen car and trade in should you try to bargain with a salesman. Concentrate first on the cash selling price. Do not get confused by trade in allowances that exceed the actual value of your trade, which can disappear in the price or incentive terms.

    If you do your homework, there is nothing about the process that has to be intimidating.