What a difference a year makes. 

Just  a year ago I was talking about the price war between luxury car makers, creating some serious deals in that class of car. 

But where are the deals happening now? Without a doubt, it’s the midsize market.

Toyota’s midsize stalwart, the Camry, a market leader for years, has been slipping a bit in sales. So it’s slashing prices. This is creating a real opportunity for you if you’re considering buying a new car during the next few weeks. And the other midsize makers are following suit, so you also should be seeing deals on Honda Accords, Nissan Altimas and more.

But if you’re going to benefit from this, do it in the right order.

First, if you’re not paying cash, get your financing in order. If you belong to a credit union, start there. Failing that, check out the rates from online banks, and even some auto insurers, some of whom are offering loans with less than 2 percent interest. You’ll get the best rate on a car loan at these places. If you insist on going to a traditional bank, start with community banks before the big banks. Either of these choices will save you big money over getting your loan at the dealership.

Once you’ve secured financing, do your homework online. Check websites, email car-buying specialists, look at warehouse club deals, etc. Compare prices on similarly equipped cars to get an idea of the true market value of your desired purchase.

Then call the dealership and negotiate the deal over the phone before you set foot on the property. If you want to save money, do not ever attempt to negotiate in person at the dealership — more likely than not, if you do that, you’re going to end up paying too much.

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Find more answers to your consumer questions at Clark's website.

-- Clark Howard -- Save More, Spend Less, Avoid Rip-offs -- for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog

Follow Atlanta Bargain Hunter Nedra Rhone on Facebook | Twitter | Email