The first thing to remember is, a car is a set of wheels. Unless you are an absolute automobile enthusiast buy what you need and not what you aspire for - that can come later. Here are some more tips on getting the best deal:

• Shop on a rainy day. Car dealers will be roll out the red carpet and throw in goodies when the model in question is not moving out of showrooms. Models that has been in the market for a while and those that are about to be replaced by a new car are sure shots in this regard. You will probably get a better deal and more for that trade-in.
• Buying a car and maintaining it over a longer period of time may turn out to be cheaper than leasing out cars.
• Plan to make a down payment of 20 per cent or more and don't finance longer than four years.
• Go to an autoexpert whom you can trust to get your current car valued.
• Search online to find the lowdown on pricing and financing options on the car you'd like to buy. Visit several web sites to compare everything from sticker price to customer rebate information.
• Diesel cars are expensive to buy though cheaper to run - consider a diesel only if you use the car for more than 1500 km a month.
• Ask about special offers in your area. You could save hundreds, maybe thousands more, by snapping up a regional incentive.
• Take someone with you for negotiating support and make sure you don't end up disagreeing with each other.  No impulse buys and no discussion of exactly what you are prepared to pay.
• Let car dealers haggle with each other. E-mail, fax or phone several car dealers. Make it clear that you're contacting several dealers and you'll buy from the dealer that makes the best offer. Remember, it is your money.
• Be prepared to walk away from a deal. You know within a few thousand rupees what you should be paying for the package. Do not waste time.
• Get the necessary approval for an auto loan before car shopping. That way if a dealer wants your financing business, he's going to have to beat the best rate you've found on your own.
• Bite the bullet. Sell your old car privately, get someone else to assume the lease or stay with the thing until it's paid off. While selling to freinds and relatives can get sticky, classifieds are a much easier and safer bet.
• Shorten the length of your car loan by making biweekly payments. Since the auto loan is a simple interest loan, you reduce the amount of principal with each biweekly payment that's made.

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