Buying a Car? Here's How to Save $10,000

What's more exciting than driving off an auto dealer's lot with a beautiful, brand new automobile, complete with that wonderful new car smell?

Well, how about the excitement of saving up to $10,000 on a new car? It's possible. In fact, it's easy, if you just define "new" as new for you but not necessarily brand new.

The best deals today by far are on cars coming off a two-year lease or "program" cars, that is, cars that have been part of a rental fleet.

Here's a personal example. Two years ago, I decided it was time to find new wheels. I used a site called cars.com to search for the car I wanted -- a Chrysler Sebring. I had chosen this car because I had rented one on a business trip and liked its looks, maneuverability and gas mileage.

Edmunds.com, another site I like, lists the price of a 2005 Chrysler Sebring as $19,595. I