Whether you are getting ready to buy a new or used car, it will generally be for a good sum of your hard earned money. To make sure you get the most from your investment, it will pay to do a little homework before you buy and use any of these three main research tools to learn which car should be best for you and your budget.

World Wide Web

Head to the Internet for a goldmine of information, literally at your fingertips. Open your favorite search engine and find car tips from groups round the globe like the Automobile Association of American and find plenty of helpful articles by searching popular article directories like Isnare.com and IdeaMarketers.com.

Also search for car reviews, road test write ups, comparison sites like at Kelley Blue Book where you can research individually, too, all types of new and used cars.

What can help with research on the web is:

1) To use major search engines for maximum results to turn up, like Google, MSN or Yahoo.

2) Enter keyword phrases about what you seek, especially if you have makes and models in mind. For example, key in: "2000 Volkswagen Beetle review" to find review sites or articles on this specific type of car.

3) Fine tune your search for your area by adding your city, state and / or zip code. Simply add this to your search: "2000 Volkswagen Beetle Cleveland Ohio" and see how mnay pages come up with info on this topic.

4) Head to vehicle forums for help and to network: "Volkswagen forum" or "car forum."

Print Publications

Ask your local librarian to help you find print automotive magazines. These are excellent resources for road test results, vehicle reviews, articles and a lot more information.

Also look for free or cheap automotive classified ad newspapers and print magazines at places you stop for gas. They are usually by the door in a wire rack.

Experts

Seek advice from pros in the industry. Check local listings (and on the web) for car talk radio programs. Ask local automotive technicians for advice. Ask workers at local automotive shops.

The more homework you do, the better your chances for choosing a good vehicle for yourself. So dig in!