Shopping for a car can be...no, it is torture. These days, there are so many things to consider. It all starts with which cars attract your attention -- is it the family van, the sport coupe, the bold full-size truck? Once you have that narrowed down, which makes and models tickle your fancy? Most likely you'll picture yourself in more than one. This is actually a good thing.

If you narrow yourself to only one vehicle, you may be setting yourself up for extreme disappointment. I'll admit, the aesthetic look of the vehicle is a very important consideration, but equally important is how the vehicle drives. It is good to compare vehicles. You may dislike the touchy steering in one vehicle; the brakes and constricting cabin space in another. Yes, test-driving is often the key to narrowing down your search.

If you aren't planning on buying right away, though, test-driving can be a bear. You'll have to ward off the salesmen's selling tactics and concentrate on the task at hand: finding the vehicle that is perfect for you. Expect an interrogation: "Why aren't you planning on buying today?"; "What if I showed you the dealer invoice and knocked $1,000 off of that?" Stay strong, don't submit. A good stall tactic is to slap them in the face by telling them the competition's vehicle looks and drives better.

Now, what about practicality...what is the vehicle going to be used for? For example, if you are mainly going to be driving it in a downtown area, and you already have trouble parallel parking your Ford Festiva, you might want to stay away from the new Ford Excursion or the Chevy Suburban. (Uh oh, now you'll have to start your search all over again.)

You finally find the vehicle that will fit practically into your every day life, with the perfect look and comfortable drive. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you still have a long way to go!

Here are more decisions to plague your mind:

What options do you need? Just do it. If you need them, you need them.

What options do you want? Be careful here. You very steadily can raise the price of your vehicle. (Are the onboard navigation system and the heated leather seats really that advantageous?)

Buy or lease? Personally, I'd stay away from the leasing option, but you need to weigh these two choices carefully for yourself. More to worry about!

Are you pulling out your hair at this point? I know I am. And the car-buying process still isn't complete. Next goal is to find the best price. There are car-buying services, online price quotes, new- and used-car classifieds -- the list goes on. Find one great deal, and then a better one pops up around the corner. What a tiring process!

That perfect car with the perfect price has alluded you long enough. You finally have it pinned down. It is over, right? Almost. There is also the little matter of payment afflictions: car financing; down payments; a one-, two-, three-, four-, or five-year loan. And what about insurance? It costs a lot more to insure a sports car or a gas-guzzling SUV.

By this point I'm completely exhausted. Aren't you? Then once you drive the car off the lot, you'll second-guess yourself about whether or not you made all the correct decisions. Ah, the psychology of the whole process. But at least it's over, and you can worry about all of life's other choices...til next time!