There is an easier way. With a few clicks of your mouse, you can browse through virtual car lots, research car models that meet your needs and locate and even finance your prospective vehicle -- without spending a penny on gas. Here's how.
I really want a sports car…or a minivan
Maybe you're not committed to one type of car. Or maybe you know exactly what type of car you want but don't know if it's practical. Handy online tools can help you understand what your needs look like on wheels.
If you're shopping for a used vehicle, try the online version of Auto Trader Magazine (www.autotrader.com). Begin by narrowing down the field with The Decision Guide, a tool that asks you to set a budget range and prompts you to rate options, such as transmission (manual or automatic) and engine size.
After entering your selections you're presented with a list of vehicles that matches your needs. Although the specific vehicles on the list are located in the United States, you'll get a good idea of the makes, models and years of the vehicles you should be looking for.
Websites to help start your car shopping
A good place to start is Autotrader.ca, but there are loads of other sites, such as www.autonet.ca, http://ca.autos.yahoo.com and www.ebay.ca.
Or just enter "cars for sale" or the name of a car manufacturer or dealer in a search engine, such as Yahoo (www.yahoo.ca) or Google (www.google.ca), and limit your results to Canadian sites.
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