car shopping

Paul and I are in the market for a car. So, we've begun to do our homework - deciding what we can afford, what type of vehicle we would like to buy, etc. For the past two years, we have been a one car family. This has rarely posed huge frustrations and headaches because we normally go just about everywhere together...work, church, grocery store, coffee shop, etc. We do go places by ourselves, but usually that happens when the other person is staying at home or is out of town or something. Sometimes we do have to get creative when we both need to be someplace different at the same time. But, with Paul's new job NOT being near my job, we are going to need to get a second car. Yesterday, we ventured out to take a gander at what our options might be. Now this isn't my first time to buy a car...I've been around the block a time or two, and some things just never change. Here are a few observations from my recent car-buying experience:
1. Your car (the one you are currently in) is your fortress of solitude...they can't get you while in it. You may wish to take up the "Maney Technique" of doing a drive-by before getting out of your car to look. This way, you don't have to deal with salespeople unnecessarily.
2. Should you choose to get out of your fortress of solitude, NEVER, I mean NEVER get separated from the person with whom you are buying the car. That is their strategy...pull you away from the pack and then take their prey.
3. ALWAYS say you are not looking to buy today - that will minimize the amount of "knowledge" you have to give up. Like - do you have a trade-in, how much are looking to spend, etc.
4. Speaking of knowledge - that is one of your only lines of defense...use it wisely.
5. Don't be mean to the salesperson (after all they are trying to earn a living), but you do have the right to look around without being followed.
6. We haven't gotten to this point yet. But, when you are ready to buy, KNOW your stuff...the internet holds a wealth of information that you can and should use.

I think we have ultimately decided to buy something fairly cheap that we can pay cash for. We want to move and would rather spend money each month on a bigger place than a car. This second car will be used for the sole purpose of Paul getting to and from work.