Know the money before you fall in love with the car

A common starting point is about 20% of the price up front. Save a little each week toward that and your down payment is ready when you are — no scramble, no big loan to cover the gap.

The sticker is only part of it. What matters is the fair price you actually pay, what the car may be worth when you sell it, and the running costs in between. Each car guide lays out that full picture in plain language.

Some cars keep far more of their value than others after a few years. Every car guide shows what that car may be worth later, so you can see which ones lose the least before you fall in love with one.

Paying a fair price instead of the sticker can keep real money in your pocket. Each car guide shows the typical fair price and how much less that is than the sticker for that exact car.