SIX STEPS TO A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CAR DEAL

SIX STEPS TO A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CAR DEAL Consumer Reports April issue steers you to car-buying tools you can use

YONKERS, NY – Buying a car doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. In “Smart Maneuvers: How to get the right car-buying information so you can take control of the deal,” the April 2001 issue of Consumer Reports takes you through six easy steps that will help you make the right decision in new car purchasing or leasing. The editors at Consume reports have also compiled a list of web sites that allow you to research a car online. Thanks to the article “Four Wheels in Two Hours Car Shopping Online,” the cyber-road less traveled has never been so accessible. Having the right information when looking for a car gives consumers an edge in choosing the vehicle and getting the deal that meets their needs. Following these steps, you can ride at ease, knowing you have negotiated the best deal for you. 1. Narrow the field: The crucial first step is to settle on two or three promising vehicle choices. In Consume Reports April auto issue you will find our top picks in nearly every category, you’ll also get essential information in out profiles of 203 new cars. The profiles offer unbiased expert opinions as well as detailed test, safety, and reliability information. The April auto issue includes the new CR Safety Assessment of about 80 vehicles, the reliability histories for 216 makes and models drawn from readers’ experiences, ratings of recently tested vehicles, plus detailed reliability forecasts for the 2001 cars. To help navigate successfully, through the huge used car marketplace – whether buying, selling, or trading in – there’s a used car selector, Consumer Reports’ unique reliability data, tips on inspecting a used car, and good advice on how to sell your present car, all free of charge through the Auto Hub link on www.ConsumerReports.org home page. 2. Drill for details: Gather all the pertinent information on features, prices, safety equipment, financing and insurance options for the cars on your short list. Consumer Reports’ April auto issue is a great place to start. Subscribers to our web site, www.ConsumerReports.org, have access to the information in this magazine plus e-ratings of automotive web sites. You can also order Consumer Reports New Car and Used Car Price Service reports online. We found that it’s possible to do thorough car-shopping research online in about 2-1/2hours. Look for a list of helpful web sites and ideas on doing your online search in Consumer Reports April issue. 3. Decide whether to buy or lease: You will most likely fiancé the vehicle by leasing it or by borrowing money to buy it outright. Do you prefer driving a late-model vehicle or the economy of having a used vehicle you find reliable? Do your driving habits make you a suitable lease customer? Look for lease-or-buy quizzes in CR’s April Auto Issue to decide which alternative will be best for you. The auto leasing interactive quiz and the auto leasing calculators are also available free of charge in the Consumer Reports New Car Price Service section of Consumer Reports Online, www.ConsumerReports.org 4. Nail down the price: Regardless of whether you’re buying or leasing you should start by negotiating the lowest possible price for the vehicle. Resist the temptation to look solely at the monthly payments. Consumer Reports New Car Price Service provides the Consumer Reports Wholesale Price, which gives a close approximation of the dealer’s real cost, taking into account holdbacks, dealer incentives and rebates. You can view the report online at Consumer Reports New Car Price Service at www.ConsumerReports.org or order it by calling 800-205-2445. 5. Bargain like a pro: With the wholesale price of the car you want in your hands, you are ready to visit dealers. Keep the deal simple. Be firm on the fact that you just want the best price on the new car without going into detail about financing arrangements. Don’t state how much you are willing to pay. Bargain up from the Consumer Reports Wholesale Price, not down from the sticker price. If the price doesn’t satisfy you, be prepared to take a walk and keep your options open as long as you can. 6. Finish the deal: Once you’ve agreed on a price, work out the remaining issues such as the lease terms or a trade-in. Avoid a lease that extends past the vehicle’s basic warranty. You don’t have to accept the dealer’s terms on trade-ins. You may get more for your old car if you sell it yourself.

The April issue of Consumer Reports will be available March 20th, wherever magazines are sold. To subscribe to Consumer Reports call 1-800-234-1645. Information and articles from Consumer Reports can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

CONTACTS: Maria Teresa Arce (914) 378-2434 arcema@consumer .org Joan Eve Tripi (914) 378-2436 tripjo@consumer.org