Smart maneuvers: buying.(Cars 2001)

Too much of a good thing is wonderful, Mae West once quipped. That's certainly true of the new-car market this year. U.S. automakers, buoyed by record sales last year, produced a huge inventory--just in time to see sales decline. The resulting imbalance in supply and demand has helped keep prices down, incentives high, and choices plentiful, particularly for purchases of domestic vehicles. That puts you in an ideal position to control the deal.

Today, it's possible to possess essentially the same information the dealer has before you even enter the showroom. That gives you an unprecedented edge in determining exactly which vehicle to get, how much to pay, and how you'll finance the deal.

But just sifting through all the information can be overwhelming. This report is designed to help you find the best information and use it to best advantage.

Take heart: Buying a car doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience. CONSUMER REPORTS recently conducted its second annual survey of people who had bought or leased a car in the past six months. Nearly two-thirds of the 1,001 respondents said that getting a new car was rather pleasant--even fun.

STEP 1 NARROW THE FIELD

Unless you're the very rare buyer who knows exactly what you want, the essential first step is to settle on two or three promising choices. You probably have the beginning of such a list in mind already, based on what you like and dislike about the car you now drive.

This issue of CONSUMER REPORTS is an excellent place to start researching the auto market. Not only will you find our top picks in nearly every category, you'll also get essential information in our profiles of 203 new cars, beginning on page 32. The profiles offer unbiased expert opinion as well as detailed test, safety, and reliability information. We also have a wealth of unique data: