The first place serious buyers go when shopping for a new vehicle is the Internet. A new study by J.D. Power and Associates found that of the 80% of new-vehicle buyers who use the Internet while shopping for a car, 88% will visit automotive Web sites before going into a dealership for a test drive.

Paul Taylor, chief economist for NADA, agrees that Internet sales are here to stay. "The Internet will continue to gain popularity as a device for consumers to educate themselves about new cars and trucks," Taylor said. "Overall customer satisfaction with the new car buying experience is up over the last two years and the Internet is part of that achievement."