I'm going to buy a brand new car for the first time and I need a little help getting started?

"Do you have any general advice for someone in my position?" Yes. First decide what kind of vehicle you want to buy before you even think of going to a dealer. Decide what options you want on the vehicle. Once you have decided what you want and what options you want, then you need to go to your bank or credit union and ask to speak with a vehicle loan officer. Tell the loan officer what you want and what the options you want. Then the loan officer can tell you what you should be able to buy the vehicle for. Since the loan officers do this on a daily basis, they will know what a good/fair cost will be. Once you have the numbers from the loan officers, then take those numbers with you and start looking for your vehicle. You can start with the lowest figure and work up to the most you want to pay. If the dealer will not go for any of your numbers, then say thanks and then go to the next dealer. By knowing what you want and having the numbers in hand before you go to a dealer, you won't have to be pressured by the dealer to buy some other car they want to sell. If the dealer keeps telling you they can make you a better offer on another car that you don't want, tell them you have already told them what you want and stop with the games. I try to go to at least three different dealers to see who will give me the best deal. Sometimes you can get a couple dealers bidding against each other and you can get the vehicle cheaper.

You do not need an appointment. I suggest you join a credit union that can give you a good interest vehicle loan and can also get you a reasonable discount from MSRP. You can research manufacturer's rebates on the web and then try to negotiate on your own if you like. I usually would recommend starting at 10% below adjusted MSRP(List price after manufactuer rebate) Good Luck

Shop around online, get a feel on which car you like first before setting foot at the dealership. Most dont care if you set an appointment to test drive a car but almost all have a mindset that once you drive it, they need to sell it to you or sell a car to you. Most try not to let you leave cause if you leave, you may buy elsewhere But look online & compare prices is pretty much all you can do. Say no on any fabric protection or undercarriage protection crap. But search online for dealership scams & cons they tend to pull on you. Read the fine print before signing anything. Do the math when they show you the numbers on the car