I like shopping online at www.edmunds.com or carmax.com.
At Edmunds you enter your zip code and get both dealer and private party cars. You can do very specific or general searches. Its given us a great idea of how much a car should be selling for and where. We also used it before contacting dealers.
At carmax.com you will pay a little more but the prices are still generally competitive and they are very up front about things. You can get an appriasal of your car right then, no need for an appointment or to come back. They also have all makes/models on the lot. We have shopped there a lot but didn't buy.
Of course always shop at the end of the month. Prices will miraculously drop 2-5k just because they want the car sold by the end of the day. I kid you not.
Nissan and Mazda are the decent (off-brand) imports. I don't think its worth paying the brand name premium for a Toyota or Honda when you are in your price range. At that point people trading in the car usually do so because its really DONE.
At Edmunds you enter your zip code and get both dealer and private party cars. You can do very specific or general searches. Its given us a great idea of how much a car should be selling for and where. We also used it before contacting dealers.
At carmax.com you will pay a little more but the prices are still generally competitive and they are very up front about things. You can get an appriasal of your car right then, no need for an appointment or to come back. They also have all makes/models on the lot. We have shopped there a lot but didn't buy.
Of course always shop at the end of the month. Prices will miraculously drop 2-5k just because they want the car sold by the end of the day. I kid you not.
Nissan and Mazda are the decent (off-brand) imports. I don't think its worth paying the brand name premium for a Toyota or Honda when you are in your price range. At that point people trading in the car usually do so because its really DONE.
