MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING A CAR Please Note: The majority of the sites listed are from companies who offer you free information Their other products and services may be provided for a fee, either paid directly by you or indirectly by the companies they represent. The Library neither endorses nor recommends any of these companies; USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.     CHOOSING A NEW CAR/TRUCK/SUV MANUFACTURER INFORMATION Autoindex: http://www.autoindex.org/ --Directory of manufacturer sites and international subsidiaries  QUALITY / VALUE VEHICLE RATINGS / EVALUATIONS J.D. Power Ratings: http://www.jdpower.com/global/content/ratingsguide.asp Intellichoice Best Overall Values: http://www.intellichoice.com/best_values/bovy Car & Driver 10 Best Cars / 5 Best Trucks 2004: http://www.caranddriver.com/tenfivebest/ Ward's Ten Best Engines Awards: http://wardsauto.com/reports/2006/tenbest/ Automobile Journalists Association of Canada Car of the Year: http://www.ajac.ca/english/ccoty/ccoty_info.asp?lang=1 E-Pinions.com: http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make Strategic Vision: Total Quality Awards, Total Value Index and Most Delightful Vehicles: http://www.strategicvision.com/auto_research.php Strategic Vision Ratings: http://www.strategicvision.com/ratings.php Consumer Reports (subscription):  http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/index.htm Car Review.com Owner Reviews: http://carreview.com/Automobiles/PSC_3645crx.aspx Consumer Search: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automotive/ MSN Reliability Ratings: http://autos.msn.com/home/reliability_ratings.aspx?src=warranty CarSpace Forums: http://www.carspace.com/csGroups   ROAD TESTS AND REVIEWS: Detroit News:  http://info.detnews.com/autosconsumer/autoreviews.cfm Auto.com (Detroit Free Press): http://www.freep.com/index/autoreviews.htm Motor Trend Magazine: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/ New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/automobiles/reviews/index.html Car and Driver Magazine Comparison Tests: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=7248 Car and Driver's User Road Tests: http://www.caranddriver.com/userroadtest/ Popular Mechanics Long Term Tests: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4199769.html Edmunds Auto Reviews: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/ Auto Channel New Car Reviews:  http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicles/new/reviews/?VEHICLES Woman Motorist: http://www.womanmotorist.com/index.php/news/main/event=viewCat/311 New Car Test Drive Magazine: http://www.nctd.com/ PBS MotorWeek: http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/roadtest.shtml USA Today Reviews: http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mareview.htm USA Today Reviews: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/index.htm Car Connection Reviews: http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicles/new/reviews/?VEHICLES Microsoft Carpoint Reviews: http://autos.msn.com/home/reviewerspage.aspx?src=Home&pos=Res4 CarReview.com: http://gallery.consumerreview.com/car/gallery/carquotes/ --message board reviews. Chicago Tribune Columnists (including Jim Mateja): http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/columnists/ CarSurvey.org: http://www.carsurvey.org/ COMPARISONS OF VEHICLES AutoSite: http://www.autosite.com --Comparison of 2 models by price, statistics, and equipment; click on category on left menu. J.D. Power Information Center: http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/comparator/v2/comparison-fs.cfm Automobile Magazine: http://automobilemag.com/buyers_guide/index.cfm?area_id=5 --Comparisons of 2 vehicles The Auto Channel Compar-a-Graph: http://theautochannel.com/db/newcars.html?DB GENERAL PURCHASING ADVICE Car Talk Survey Results: Repair Costs: http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/ --Survey by make, model, and year CarTalk Car-o-Scope: http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/Psychographics/caroscopes.html J. D. Power Automotive Ratings : http://www.jdpower.com/auto/jdpa_ratings/FindJdAwards.jsp Money Magazine: http://www.money.com/money/depts/autos/ Motley Fool: How to Buy a Car: http://www.fool.com/car/car.htm?source=LN Productopia: http://www.productopia.com/1c/0,1524,1-M-3,FF.html --Includes user reviews and ratings Deja.com Before You Buy: http://www.deja.com/auto.shtml Carprice/Negotiation Dynamics:  http://www.carprice.com/negot/ --Negotiating tips  Automobile Magazine: Ultimate Layman's Automobile Manual: http://automobilemag.com/pages.cfm?area_id=0&page_id=336&template=3 1StopAuto.com: http://www.1stopauto.com/ Woman Motorist New Car Buying Handbook:  http://www.womanmotorist.com/handbook/handbook.shtml --Includes the process, choosing a car, lease vs. purchase, test drives, negotiating, and other issues California State Automobile Association: How to Buy a Car:  http://www.csaa.com/automotive/vpurchasing/howtobuyacar.asp --General advice Autopedia: http://www.autopedia.com --General advice Motor Trend Magazine Buyers Guide:  http://www.motortrend.com/buyersguide/ Edmund's Consumer Advice and Information:  http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/consumer.html Kiplinger's Car Finder 2003: http://www.kiplinger.com/php/cars/2002/ U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Purchasing Tips.  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/automobiles/consumer.htm U.S. Center for the Study of Services. How To Get A Great Deal On A New Car  http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/cars/cardeal/cardeal.htm http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/press/fcfdeal.htm Popular Mechanics. 2003 New Car and Truck Buyer's Guide http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars_trucks/2002/10/new_cars_intro_page/index.phtml --General buying and leasing suggestions Chicago Tribune: http://cgi.chicago.tribune.com/autos/referenc/costref.htm --Includes dealer cost and new car pricing, reading the window sticker, borrowing information  How To Beat the Car Salesman: http://www.beat-the.com/secrets/ --Brief information from a book. Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org/ --Choose “Autos”, then “New-car buying advice: A step-by-step guide” Car Buying Tips: http://zim.com/ejo/gm.htm --General information  U.S. Federal Trade Commission: New Car Buying Guide Fast Facts:  http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/cars/newcar/newcar.htm U.S. Department of Agriculture: How to Get a Great Deal on a New Car:  http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/cars/cardeal/cardeal.htm Automobile Magazine Buyer's Guide:  http://automobilemag.com/buyers_guide/index.cfm?area_id=5 New Car Shopping Tips: http://www.cardata.com/shoppingtips.htm Center for Auto Safety: http://www.autosafety.org/ --Ralph Nader’s foundation for lemon aid Planet Feedback.com Complaint Letter Search (by Company only): http://www.planetfeedback.com/sharedLetters/0,2924,,00.html UGetHeard.com: http://www.ugetheard.com CarPrice.com Depreciation Calculator: http://carprice.com/loandepr.html Car Connection Online Buying Guide: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=163&sid=163 USA Today Calculators: http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/calculators/calculator.htm#autos  Automobile Magazine: Ultimate Layman's Automobile Manual: http://www.automobilemag.com/laymans_guide/pages.cfm?area_id=0&page_id=336&template=3   PRICE INFORMATION: RETAIL PRICE AND DEALER’S COST Kelley Blue Book: http://www.kbb.com N.A.D.A. Guide: http://www.nadaguides.com/  Edmunds: http://www.edmunds.com/ AutoSite: http://www.autosite.com/ Intellichoice: http://www.intellichoice.com/ic2/ Auto Channel New Car Buyer's Guide:  http://www.theautochannel.com/db/newcars.html?DB --Includes photos and links to reviews, recalls, crash ratings and rebates. AutoWeb: http://www.autoweb.com/researchnew/default.htm Microsoft Carpoint: http://carpoint.msn.com/ --Includes reviews, photos CarsDirect.com: http://www.carsdirect.com/ --Includes prices from Pace.Buyers' Guides. CarPrices.com: http://www.carprices.com/ CarPrice.com: http://www.carprice.com Car Connection: http://www.theautochannel.com/db/newcars.html?DB --Includes comparison of up to 4 vehicles Vehix.com: http://vehix.com/ PRICE INFORMATION: CUSTOMER REBATES, DEALER INCENTIVES AND HOLDBACKS AMI AutoWorld Weekly Rebates: http://www.autoworldweekly.com/rebates/index.cfm AutoByTel Weekly Auto Market Report:  http://www.autobytel.com/index.cfm?id=abt&sction=research&url=/contentFrame/research/wamr/custin.cfm Autopedia: http://autopedia.com/html/Rebate.html AutoSite Rebates and Incentives: http://www.autosite.com/new/grabbag/rebatet.asp AutoWeb Rebates and Incentives: http://www.autoweb.com/rebates/default.htm AutoWeek: http://www.competitionpress.com/incentives/incentives.htm   Edmunds Dealer Holdbacks, Incentived and Rebates, Subsidized Leases:  http://edmunds.com/edweb/holdback.html PRICE INFORMATION: LEASING U.S. Federal Reserve Board: Keys to Vehicle Leasing:  http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/cars/key2leas/default.htm Autopedia Leasing vs. Purchase Comparison: http://www.autopedia.com/html/LeaseCompare.html AutoSite: http://www.autosite.com/new/grabbag/rebatet.asp Automotive Lease Guide Residual Value Award Winners: http://www.alg.com/news-information.asp?page=news_alg_RVA Motor Trend Magazine Buying and Leasing:  http://www.motortrend.com/bl/bl_f.html --Includes a searchable buyer's guide database  Woman Motorist New Car Buying Handbook:  http://www.womanmotorist.com/handbook/handbook.shtml --Includes the process, choosing a car, lease vs. purchase, test drives, negotiating, and other issues Automobile Leasing: The Art of the Deal: http://www.leaseguide.com/index2.htm How to Lease a New Car and Avoid Scams: http://zim.com/ejo/lease.htm U.S. Federal Trade Commission Leasing Tips: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/automobiles/consumer.htm LeaseWizard.com Auto Leasing Library: http://www.leasewizard.com/cp/index.cfm?affiliate=102 --Includes Lease vs. Buy Calculator LeaseSource.com Leasing Library: http://www.leasesource.com/library/ Motley Fool Lease vs. Purchase Calculator: http://www.fool.com/calcs/calculators.htm#auto  AAA Leasing Lesson: http://www.aaa.com/news12/Automotive/leaselesson.htm PRICE INFORMATION: FACTORY-SUBSIDIZED LEASE PROGRAMS Intellichoice: http://www.intellichoice.com/ --Lists leases with the lowest overall interest rates, updated monthly. Click "leases" on the header. Edmunds: http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/lease.html LeaseSource: http://www.leasesource.com/matchmaker/lease_specials.cfm --Lease specials from selected manufacturers by AAA-Auto Ease. VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY U.S. Department of Energy Fuel Economy Site: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ --Includes links to the 2000 car, truck, and SUV fuel economy guide. Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Guide: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/vehicles/home.cfm   VEHICLE DEFECT AND SAFETY INFORMATION U.S. National Highway Safety Traffic Administration:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ --Includes searchable lists of recalls, technical service bulletins, defect investigations, and consumer complaints. National Highway Safety Traffic Administration: Rollover Resistance Ratings Information: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hot/rollover/Index.html Florida Attorney General: http://myfloridalegal.com/consumer --Includes Lemon Law information and a searchable list of vehicles "bought back"  Florida Statutes Chapter 681: Motor Vehicle Sales Warranties: http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/ National Highway Safety Traffic Administration: Buying a Safer Car:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/ --Crash test results  Highway Loss Data Institute: http://www.carsafety.org --Driver death rates by make and model  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:  http://www.hwysafety.org/ --General information and results of 40-mph and low speed crash tests. CrashTest.com: http://www.crashtest.com/ --Results of car safety crash tests from a variety of sources. Center for Auto Safety: http://www.autosafety.org/ --Ralph Nader's organization  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm --40 Mph Frontal Offset Crash Tests, Side Impact Crash Tests, Low Speed Crash Tests, Head Restraint Ratings Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ictl/ictl.htm --Injury, collision & theft loss information Lemon Car Page: http://www.defect.com/ ALLDATA: http://www.alldata.com/consumer/ --Provides manufacturers' technical service bulletins and recalls  NRMA Insurance Crash Test Results:  http://www.nrma.com.au/Page/Public?PageId=Crash_Test_Search --Australian automobile association test results for many models not yet tested in the U.S. NCAP Offset Crash Test Results: http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/mpaine/ncaplist.html Also: http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicle-safety/ancap/index.html --Australian test results; most vehicles available in the U.S. Euroncap: http://www.euroncap.com/ --European crash test ratings. Road Safety Links: http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/mpaine/roadsafe.html AAA: Buying a Safer Car: http://www.aaa.com/news12/Automotive/Safer_car/safe-car.html VEHICLE THEFT INFORMATION Highway Loss Data Institute: http://www.carsafety.org/ --Injury, collision and theft losses by make and model VEHICLE INSURANCE Progressive Auto Insurance Rate Comparison: http://www1.progressive.com/icr/auto.cgi Insure.com: http://www.insure.com/index.html#auto --Includes basics, insurance shopping tips, State Farm and Allstate ratings, repair costs, injury and theft data. InsWeb: http://www.insweb.com/auto/default.htm --Includes competitive quotes, coverage analyser, insurance company ratings, FAQs, and glossary FINANCIAL CALCULATORS Kiplinger's Calculator: http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/spending --Includes calculations for new vs.used, lease vs. purchase, depreciation, finance vs. cash, monthly payments, down payment, term of loan, home equity vs. finance and rebate vs. special finance rate, and length of ownership. AutoConnect Affordability Calculator:  http://www.autoconnect.com/finance_insurance/calculators/calculators.jtmpl Finance Center: http://www.financenter.com/consumertools/#auto Bank Rate Monitor: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/auto_home.asp Webfoot's Loan Payment Calculator: http://www.webfoot.com/cgi-bin/loan.pl Carprice.com Calculator: http://carprice.com/loancalc.html --Ownership cost, loan payment, fuel cost, miles per gallon, and depreciation calculators. Rate.net: http://www.rate.net/index.htm --Tracks rates from financial institutions by geographic area Autopedia Loan Payment Calculator: http://www.autopedia.com/html/Loan_Calculator.html FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS  Broward Schools Credit Union: http://www.bscu.org Bank Rate.com:  http://www.bankrate.com/ E-Loan.com: https://www.eloan.com/ Edmunds Auto Loan Calculator: http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/loan/calculator.html GMAC: http://www.gmacfs.com/ --Includes credit application, payment calculator, and leasing guide  Ford Credit: http://www.fordcredit.com/ --Includes budget planner, payment calculator, and credit application  Chrysler Financial: http://www.chryslerfinancial.com/   --Includes credit application, leasing and loan information  CarFinance.com (NationsBank): http://www.carfinance.com/crl/fin.mcgi Wachovia Bank:  http://www.wachovia.com/personal/page/0,,325_494,00.html GiggoCar Online Auto Financing: http://www.giggocar.com/ NEW CAR SEARCH ENGINES: Dealernet.com: http://www.dealernet.com/ AutoNation: http://www.autonation.com/ GM Buypower.com: http://www.gmbuypower.com INTERNET BUYING / LEASING SERVICES AutoBuy.com: http://www.autobuy.com/ AutoByTel:  http://www.autobytel.com/ AutoMall.com: http://www.automallonline.com/ AutoNation Direct: http://www.autonationdirect.com Autopedia Interquote Request for Purchase: http://autopedia.com/html/InterQuote.html  AutoVantage:  http://www.autovantage.com/ CarPrices.com: http://www.carprices.com/ CarTrackers.com: http://www.cartrackers.com/ CarWizard: http://www.carwizard.com/ Car.com: http://www.car.com/ Cars.com: http://www.cars.com Cars Direct: http://www.carsdirect.com CarsEverything: http://www.carseverything.org/ CarSmart.com: http://www.carsmart.com/ Car Trackers.com: http://www.cartrackers.com/ Costco Auto Program: http://www.costcoauto.com/  Greenlight.com: http://greenlight.com/ Iderive.com: http://www.iderive.com/ InvoiceDealers.com: http://www.invoicedealers.com/ Microsoft Carpoint:  http://carpoint.msn.com/buynew  OpenAuto.com: http://openauto.com/ Priceline.com: http://priceline.com/ Vehix.com: http://vehix.com/

The UCL Library assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information and no liability for any errors and/or omissions. If you would like to contribute a site or find a broken link, please contact Neil Linger at nlinger@broward.cc.fl.us Revised 8/03