Depressed car sales mean deals are on the way

The car market is going through some tough times right now. Sales are the worst they've been since the financial crisis of 1998. Toyota has reported lower sales for three months in a row, especially with their trucks. Ford's sales are down 20 percent over the last month and 14 percent over the whole year. GM is probably doing the best, which in this case means their sales are just on par with last year's figures. Meanwhile, dealers are scrambling because they're overloaded with '07s on their lots and the '08s are already in place. Add all of these factors up and it's clear that consumers are in charge of the car market.

People often ask Clark for a recap of what they should know when buying a new car. First off, get your financing in place before you buy. You'll usually get the lowest rates from a credit union or an online bank. Keep this rule of thumb in mind: If you can't afford a car on a standard 48-month installment plan, you're overbuying. Once you have your financing in place, check out Consumer Reports for recommendations about quality vehicles. Then check prices in the marketplace. Look at CarsDirect.com where you'll get a guaranteed price on a car. You should also test drive the car you want before buying. Visit a car rental business and see if you can rent one for cheap over the weekend. That way you'll have two days to decide if you like driving the car, not just 10 minutes. If you have to interact with a car dealer, try doing it by e-mail to avoid high-pressure sales pitches. And make sure the Internet price you get includes all junk fees like documentation charges.