Earlier today, I talked about a good way to get rid of an old car ^[1]. As it happens, I wasn’t planning on getting rid of that particular car this week, or any time in the near future. But things happen, and now I find myself on the market for a new car in very short order.

So in the interest of the common good, let me share a tried-and-true method of buying a new car.

The most important thing to remember is this: Under no circumstance should you set foot on the car lot until you’re well along the path to buying a particular vehicle, preferably with a price quote, stock number and detailed description of the vehicle you are about to buy.

First, do your research on the Web and by looking around you and decide exactly what you want. Make, model year, model, trim level and options.

Edmunds.com ^[2] is a great place to compare cars side-by-side, feature-by-feature if you’re not sure of make and model.

Options are often bundled, so make a list of those you can’t live without and those you would prefer not to pay for, then go to the manufacturers’ Web sites and find the “build a vehicle” or some such link. Pick your trim level, color and options, and get the MSRP. Nobody should ever be asked to pay this price.

Instead, you should pay right around the dealer’s invoice or below, which is hundreds or thousands below MSRP. (Don’t worry, dealers pay less than that, I can assure you. They’re not giving them away.) You will never negotiate down to dealer’s invoice if you just walk onto the lot. The lot sales guys are working for commission, and they just won’t go that low. Again, never, ever just walk onto the lot. The conversation must begin electronically, with a request for a quote.

Contact all the local dealers that sell this brand via their Web site (some manufacturer’s let you do this through their site directly) and request a stock check and quote on the exact car you want. A metro area the size of Portland will likely have three or four dealers, more if you include Salem and Vancouver. They all have internet sales people now, basically extensions of the fleet department. They make their money on volume, not markup.

Tell them the “must-have” options in case they don’t have that exact package. Most dealers let you request a quote online, and will respond by phone. Ask them to e-mail or fax you a detailed quote, including the stock number and options.

Once you have quotes from at least one of them — and remember, this should be right around dealer’s invoice, and they should show you dealer’s invoice if you didn’t get it online — go drive one.

If it’s the one you want, figure out who has it in the color you want, etc., then ask the dealer that’s the most convenient to you to match the best price quote you’ve been given. If they can’t do that, ask the one with the best price if they can get it for you in the color you want.

Basically, pit them against each other. Tell them who you’re talking to, and share with them the prices you’re getting quoted. Then, finally, when you’ve settled on one, make an appointment to go buy it. Decline the extended warranty, undercoating and fabric protector, and drive your new car home, thousands of dollars less poor than you would be had you just walked onto the lot.