Do any of these descriptions fit You?
*You think a "blue book" is a dirty novel.
*Your last dream car turned into a nightmare.
*You would sooner arbitrate an international peace accord than negotiate a sales contract.
*You don’t want to be one of the many who lose several thousands of dollars on a lease deal without even knowing they’ve been ripped off.
*You can’t decide whether to keep your old vehicle, buy a used one or a new one, lease one, or forget the whole thing and take the bus.
*You’re afraid of being carjacked or having your car stolen, but you don’t want to live in fear either.
*You’re sick and tired of paying big bucks for insurance only to have your claims denied, your premiums raised, your vehicle confiscated, or your insurance canceled when the time comes to collect the coverage you paid for.
*You’ve ever found that the car you rented cost almost double the price quoted after all the little "extras" were figured in.
*You’ve been bowing and scraping to your mechanic in the feeble hope that repairs won’t cost more than you’d pay to have your appendix removed.
*You’ve ever failed to get satisfaction on a legitimate complaint.
*You own, or want to own, a vehicle. If you already have one, maybe you’re thinking of selling it or trading it in for a newer model.
*You know enough to find out what you don’t know. You (rightly) suspect that you can improve your chances of getting a better deal if you learn the tricks that experts know and, too often, don’t reveal.
*You want to protect yourself and your best interests. When you’re dealing with cars, whether you’re buying, selling, insuring, or just driving, you need to protect yourself from a lot of people and situations from the dangerously ignorant to the downright dangerous.
*You want to spend the major part of your time thinking about things other than cars and car deals. In other words, you have a life and you want to enjoy it!
Part I: New or Used: Deciding Which Option Is Best
If you can’t decide whether to give up your old vehicle in favor of a newer one, or you’re having a hard time deciding between "previously-owned" and brand-new, you’ll find the pros and cons about both new and used vehicles and get an eye-opener about how much your current set of wheels really costs you.
Part II: Auto Recycling without Tears: Buying a Good Used Car and Getting Rid of Your Own
Too many people think that buying used means buying trouble. Well, it ain’t so if you know what to look for and how much to spend after you find something you like. In fact, buying a good used vehicle often makes more financial sense than buying new. Here’s everything you need to know to get a good deal on a previously owned vehicle: You’ll discover where to find the best potential buys, what to look for, and how to negotiate the best deal possible.
If you want to get rid of your current vehicle you can find that information here, as well. From selling, to trading in, to donating to a charity, this part explains what you need to do to get the most out of your old vehicle.
Part III: Untried and True: Buying a New Car
The allure of a new vehicle is very hard to resist: the smell, the shine, the unstained carpets. But if you never get beyond the thrill of it, you’re bound to make some very expensive--and easily avoidable--mistakes. Part III can help you think logically about this decision. With the checklists and advice you find here, this part can help you determine exactly which features and options you need, figure out what the going rates are, shop without sabotaging your budget, and negotiate a deal you can live with.
Part IV: Money, Money, Money, Money
For nearly everyone except the fabulously wealthy, buying a new set of wheels ranks right up there with other major expenses: mortgages, college tuition, weddings. Because getting a vehicle often means dealing with large amounts of money, you’ll most likely need to finance the purchase. The chapters in this part take the mystery and risk out of leases and other forms of financing and help you to determine which option is best for you.
Part V: Insuring Your Car: How to Protect Your Automotive Assets
If the only thing you know about insurance is that you need it and it costs an arm and a leg, this is the part for you. By understanding the things that affect your rates, the types of insurance available, what you can negotiate, and how you can save money on premiums, you may discover that, although still not cheap, the right insurance doesn’t have to break the bank. This part gives you all the information you need to find a policy and company that you trust. It also explains how you can protect yourself when things go wrong, and what you can do if your claims are ever disputed.
Part VI: Protecting Your Investment
Buying insurance isn’t the only way you can protect your vehicle; with chapters covering everything from warranties to car thieves to repair shops, Part VI proves it. This part explains what you can expect from warranties and why extended warranties and service contracts may not be worth the money they cost. You can also find the most common car scams and what you can do to protect your vehicle--and yourself--from thieves and carjackers, as well as a survey of the latest antitheft devices. And if you ever need to take your car to the shop (and you will), you can discover how to find a good repair facility, attain "favored customer" status, and get satisfaction on any complaint.
Finally, in the event that you ever need to rent a car, you can find information on the process and pitfalls of renting a car, including a detailed list of discounts to request and extra charges to avoid that can save you almost half the standard rate. You’ll also find out what questions you need to ask and what kind of insurance you should have before you hit the road in a vehicle that isn’t yours.
Part VII: The Part of Tens
This part contains several fun but informative chapters that offer information in short, snappy bursts. Covering things you shouldn't do during negotiations, Web sites where you can find new and used vehicles for sale, ways to tell if a car is a lemon, and more, this part is one you don’t want to miss.
