don't get a grand am. I've had two. one was used from my uncle, lost a bearing after about 110k miles, i had it for like 30k of it.

My new one that i have now normally runs fine but all the "luxuries" don't work. those include AC, both windows (one had bad regulator so i don't us it and the drivers side had a motor problem, then regulator problem and now regulator problem again) and the speedometer doesn't work often over the past 2 years. This one only had 100k miles on it and its a 1996.

I advise to just test drive a lot and make sure you don't make a rash decision. Decide what you DEF want in a car and then do research. Are you looking for brand new or used?

Do research on Edmund.com. Dont pay a dime over the "true value price". Or whatever they call it. Start shopping around the 20th of the month and buy on the last day of the month. You will be surprised how bad they want to sell a car on the last day of the month when they need to meet their quotas.

I got my last car for something like $800 below the Edmunds true value market price.

Carsdirect.com is great for pricing all the different vehicles you may be interested in and can get pretty good deals as well.

I know the vehicle that i want what I really need to know is how to deal with the salesmen and to keep them from sliding in hidden costs that do not need to be in there.

Refer back to my post about Edmunds. Their "true maket value" is the avg price for all of vehicles of that type that are sold.
I wouldnt pay a cent more that that no matter the salesman says. If you buy on the last day of the month, you'll be able to beat the price by several $100s

I wouldnt let him add anything to the final price except maybe a warranty depending on what you think about them. Even if you want it, tell him no and watch him lower the warranty price. You should be able to get it for around 1/2 of what he quotes you.

http://www.edmunds.com/

Figure out exactly what car you want and the exact options you want. Price it out at Edmunds.

Find out your credit score, and find out from your bank what sort of loan you qualify for.

Call up the dealerships in your area, tell them the exact configuration you want, and ask them what price they can give you with *all fees included*. Also ask what rates they're offering as far as financing (which you will qualify for if your credit score is above 680).

Take the lowest quote you get and call the dealers who were close and ask them if they can beat it (make sure to remind them the quote must include all fees). Repeat this process a couple times.

Go with the lowest and don't let them add any fees or change your loan rate. If they insist that they have to, politely thank them for their time and walk out (they probably won't let you get out the door before they change their minds, and if they do they couldn't get you that price to begin with).

Thanks everyone, a friend of mine works at Ford and he can get me the employee discount. So now the key is since no matter which dealership I visit the price will be the same its just a matter of who will throw in the most extras. I originally wasn't planning on buying another Ford I wanted a Dodge Ram but I got a close up look at one today and was not very impressed at all.

I did check out Edmonds.com and it was a real eye opener the price a vehicle has in the window and what you can get them for.