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Don't Compare, Buyer BewareWith more than 50,000 miles on our 2001 Saturn, my hubby's been chomping at the bit to get behind the wheel of something newer. He's been so happy with our SL2 that when I suggested considering a Vue, he was all ears.Much as I figured I'd like the relatively small SUV, I insisted on doing what most folks do these days: researching the Vue -- and other possibilities in our price range -- online. Our first stop was Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) to find the estimated trade-in value of our SL2. You also can check the value of cars if you plan to buy from an individual, get new-car pricing reports and check for manufacturers' incentives, by the way.Then we went to AutoByTel (www.autobytel.com) to compare models of the Vue according to MSRP and invoice price. Then, using the trade-in value from Kelley Blue Book, the manufacturer's rebate and the down payment we were willing to make, we used the loan calculator to estimate monthly payments. While we were there, we compared the Vue with similar models from other manufacturers.I firmly believe that buying decisions, especially those that involve substantial amounts of money, are easier if you use the Web. Here's another example: Digital cameras. So far, we've purchased four, all after checking things out online before we shelled out the bucks. A favorite site is BizRate Shopping Search (www.bizrate.com), especially helpful back when I knew next to nothing about the gizmos.BizRate let me compare digital cameras by brand, product line, price and resolution. The first time around, my big concern was price; then, I compared features on several models to find one or two that met my criteria. For our next two cameras, we wanted higher resolution, so I started there and compared the results by price and consumer reviews.In the end, we bought the first two cameras online at www.cameraworld.com, a site recommended by a friend that also offered low prices. For the other two, armed with our preferred models, we watched local newspaper ads and made our purchases at stores in our own backyard (Staples and Best Buy, respectively).Everybody's concerned about the price of gasoline, and many folks are willing to drive a few extra miles to find the lowest price. The nonprofit GasBuddy Organization sponsors Web sites that tell you exactly that. You can go to www.gasbuddy.com (the Akron area includes prices in the Youngstown area). Or, go directly to www.akrongasprices.com. The sites include tips for conserving gasoline.Don't overlook the venerable Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org), which offers objective reviews and ratings on everything from from automobiles to travel as well as how-to guides and lots of other helpful information. Still other sites to consider when you're looking for the best bang for your bucks are mySimon (www.mysimon.com), Best Price [email protected] (www.aimlower.com), BigLion.com, PriceGrabber.com and the Google-owned Froogle.com.Oh yes: We didn't end up with a Vue. Instead, a fire engine red Pontiac Vibe, the spiffy little SUV developed and built in a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota that earned a "Recommended" rating from Consumer Reports, is sitting in our driveway now."