Want to Buy a Car This Weekend? Read This Before You Do


If you’re in the market for a new car and you absolutely cannot wait another day, the good news for you is that dealers are likely going to be open to negotiating as the year begins to draw to a close and bigger incentives take hold in an effort to clear out old inventory. Dealers don’t want to be stuck with 2019 models for much longer, which means that if you don’t want to be stuck with … whatever model you have much longer, we can help guide you. Check out our list of links below to better understand the buying process, plus a roundup of our latest reviews for cars that are hitting the market. Don’t make it harder on yourself than you have to.
Related: Which Dealerships Do It Right? Car Brands Ranked for Customer Service
What car should I buy? That depends on a lot of factors, and our reviews can help. Check out our recent additions:
Pickup trucks: GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Ram 3500 Tradesman
SUVs: Lincoln Corsair, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz GLC and AMG GLC63, Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Escape, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Ford Edge
Sedans: Honda Civic, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, BMW 3 Series, Kia Optima
Hatchback: Mini Cooper Hardtop
Hybrid: Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Wagons: Subaru Outback
Electric: Nissan Leaf
Performance: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R, Dodge Charger Scat Pack and Hellcat Widebody, Ford Mustang
Which cars have the best deals right now? Check out our top deals for November. As always, your discounts may vary, so see your dealer for specifics.
Should I buy new or used? Read up on the pros and cons of each. If you go used, review our used-car buyers’ checklist and consider whether you want a certified pre-owned car.
How much can I afford? Read our primer. Then use our Price Comparison Tool while you shop to find what’s right for you.
Should I finance, lease or pay cash? That depends, but this might help you decide. How do I get the best lease rate? Bone up on common lease terminology, plus our tips.
How do I get the best financing rate? Our game plan lays out some advice. While you’re at it, here’s what you need to know about auto loans and what you’ll need to get one.
Anything I shouldn’t do when I’m at the dealer? Yep. Avoid these pitfalls.
Should I get an extended warranty? That depends. Here’s what you need to know.
How do I sell or trade in my old car? Learn how to prep your car before you sell it to a dealer, how to trade it in and how to deal with taxes and other considerations. If you still owe money on your old car, read this. Finally, if you want to sell it private party, here’s how to create the picture-perfect ad and how to seal the deal.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Patrick Masterson is Chief Copy Editor at Cars.com. He joined the automotive industry in 2016 as a lifelong car enthusiast and has achieved the rare feat of applying his journalism and media arts degrees as a writer, fact-checker, proofreader and editor his entire professional career. He lives by an in-house version of the AP stylebook and knows where semicolons can go.
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