Ever think of buying or wanting a new car? I thought about it all the time. Throughout high school I drove my family's 1995 Cadillac Deville. I begged for the opportunity to go out and look for cars.
Finally, after my freshman year in college my wish came true. Looking for an automobile was a strenuous task. But, in the end I learned a lot.
I've put together a few steps to help you make your first automobile purchase a success.
1) I know you want to head out to hit the dealerships BUT, wait. First, sit down and make a list of what you want in a car and what your budget is.
- Manual vs. Automatic
- Year
- Mileage
- Cloth vs. Leather interior
- Miles Per Gallon
- Warranty
2) Then, research models online that you like. Whether it be Toyota, Honda, Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai, etc. Narrow it down to a few cars you are interested in. Looking at consumer report.com helped me a lot. It was able to show me the ratings of mpg, safety, etc. on each car.
Talking with friends who own a car you like can help impact your decision as well.

3) Now, you're READY! You've narrowed down your selection to 3-4 vehicles. On this first day out: 1) don't make a purchase. 2) Ask a million questions. 3) Bring a parent/guardian with you to help. While looking at the vehicles test drive the ones your interested in. Used cars can have problems on the inside that you couldn't see/feel from the outside.

4) Tired yet? Go back online with the dealer prices you got and compare them to kbb.com (Kelly blue book). Was the price close? Then, search 100 mile radius on a used/new car site to see if the price varies far from your home.

5) After your research the choice is yours! Hopefully you've made a good decision and can call back whoever had the right car for you! When you do, always try and negotiate for the best deal possible!

After looking and researching cars for over 2 weeks I made my selection. I was able to knock off $3,000 from the original price of my car and I love it! Looking diligently pays off! Good luck shopping!