Mario James, Gleaner Writer

You've got the four-wheeled itch. The call of the open road is tugging at your medulla. You're about to start a family, or you're tired of your bus commute.

Whatever your reason, you and a huge, adorable 'four-door appliance' are going to come together in a union that is going to last at least five years, if you're like most people. But buying a car can be intimidating. How are you going to get that elusive 'best deal'? Here are a few tips to get you sitting proudly around that steering wheel:

1. Contrary to popular belief, the first step isn't to go window shopping at the nearest dealer. The thing to do is to visit the bank (unless you can afford otherwise) and find out how much car you can afford. If you are serious at this point, get a letter of undertaking from them.

2. Do your research. Find out about the cars you like. Strap on the digital surfboard and hit up www.edmunds.com, www.jdpower.com and such. Figure in your commute - that Daihatsu Boon you are so craving might work if you are a student that treks up and down Hope Road day in, day out - but it won't work so well if you have to lug that tiny 1,000cc engine to Rock Hall. Fuel economy is a relative thing; most auto engineers don't have the Jamaican terrain in mind when they design their vehicles! Think about it - some dealers do not publish MPG data, because they know that their estimates don't apply here. Word to the wise. One other thing to compare is what the vehicle costs to own. Some dealers (especially of the more prestigious brands) factor this cost into the cost of the car - and this applies to the whole warranty period; most only offer the first service gratis, and even then that cost only applies for labour. Parts are usually extra.

3. When the decision has been made, take your letter of intent/undertaking to your dealer of choice, and ask for a test drive. Most cars today do not have reliability issues; automakers know by now what works and what doesn't. So the test drive is more about what fits you. Take your spouse and see how he/she feels in the passenger seat. If you have high school/college kids, put them in the back and move the front seats to the rear — see if their knees touch the upholstery. If they do, it is likely that long country trips to grandma might result in a chiropractor's consultation. Ask to spend a night with it, some dealers might facilitate you! (Yes, in Jamaica). Try out the lights at night, and see how it fits in the garage.

4. Market time - This is where that bank letter is really gonna come in handy. Haggle. Some of these dealers have 3/4 million mark-up on their stock. That to you is a lot of wiggle room! And in these financially precarious times, let's face it, people aren't exactly beating a path to the dealer's door. Use that to your advantage — it is a buyers' market. Right now there are still '08 models in a lot of showrooms. Deals of a lifetime can be made on these.

Remember this mantra: whenever you sit in front of an auto sales rep to do a deal, a sale is made. Either he sells you the car or you sell him a reason you can't buy it. How profitably you fit in that equation is totally up to you. Be firm, be ready to walk out at a moment's notice, and you, too, can be smiling while driving out at the showroom!