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Before making a purchase, especially a large one, most buyers 
ponder an equation that goes something like: What is it going to cost me, and will that equal what I am going to get? 

Consider that equation when buying your next four-wheel drive. Naturally, you want to get the most vehicle for the money you spend. Here are several tips that will help you to lower your transportation cost.

First, and foremost, consider eliminating some of the steep depreciation cost incurred during the first few years of vehicle ownership by purchasing a 2- to 3- year-old used four-wheel drive. 

The price can be further reduced by paying cash. However, if you need to finance your next four-wheel drive purchase, consider doing the following to keep its cost closer to the "as if you were paying cash" figure.

• Take the time to carefully identify your current and your future transportation uses, and choose an appropriate four-wheel drive vehicle that can get the job done. 

The more closely that you match your driving needs with the four-wheel drive you buy, the better it will be able to handle a job and meet your expectations. Thus, you will like want to hold on to the vehicle. When you reduce unnecessary vehicle trades, you save money. 

If you can't fully identify your transportation needs or the four-wheel drive that can best satisfy them, consider consulting the April issue of Consumer Reports at a public library.

The publication groups vehicles into categories, provides frequency-of-repair information for many four-wheel drives, and gives vehicle price information. 

It is a good idea to identify at least 2 vehicles in a particular category that meet your transportation needs. This enables some latitude when looking for a four-wheel drive. 

• Identify how much you can afford to spend per month on transportation. A rule of thumb suggests that the cost to rent an apartment per month should not be greater than 25 percent of your monthly net pay.

The cost of a loan for a four-wheel drive should not exceed 12 to 14 percent of your monthly net pay. 

In some instances, leasing a four-wheel drive could be a better option than taking out a loan.

• The vehicle down payment should be the largest possible, and the amount of money barrowed the 
  lowest possible. In addition, barrowing money for the shortest period of time (i.e., a 24-month loan rather than a 48-month loan) will reduce the overall cost of the loan.
• Identify the various loan sources such as banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and national lenders. For example, go online to ask jeeves.com and specify "vehicle financing sources." 

In regard to national financing vs. local financing, it can be useful to determine what the cost of a 
loan would be from the national sources, but accept a loan from a local source if the loan cost is comparable or nearly comparable between the two. 

Compare the APR (annual percentage rate) that each of the sources will charge for the loan. 

The cost of a loan is negotiable. Therefore, be certain to inform each source what the others have to offer. 

In addition to the loan's APR, remember to also compare the other costs associated with a loan, such as loan insurance and loan processing costs, etc.

• Be certain to read and understand any fine print contained in the loan contract. Insist that the loan contract gives you the option of making payments early and that the payments will be applied on the loan principle with no penalty or extra cost if you payoff the loan early.
• Do not settle for a four-wheel drive that does not entirely meet your transportation uses because of low dealer or manufacturer incentive financing. Sometimes dealers or manufactures offer extremely low APR financing on vehicles that the dealer is having a hard time selling.

That's why it helps to have initially identified the correct four-wheel drive before encountering the sales pitches and other influences of buying a vehicle.

Kyle Busch is the author of Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money. He has over 300,000 miles on his 1986 Volkswagen Jetta-a used vehicle that he bought in 1991 for $2,600. For more information call:1 800 839-86400 or visit: www.drivethebestbook.com. The web site accepts all transportation questions.