Remember the days when the car-buying process was only slightly less excruciating than being pulled apart on a medieval torture rack?

You would go to a dealer and be accosted by a chatty, smarmy salesman who would stick to you like chewing gum on a shoe. If you were fortunate enough to find a vehicle you liked, then you had to endure the agonizing back-and-forth involved with negotiating the price.

When the anguishing process finally ended, you would drive off of the lot in your new (or used) car. But instead of feeling satisfied with your purchase, you would want to go home and take a shower - and you still weren't really sure whether you got a good deal or not.

Thankfully, the era of car negotiation is on life support - and is about to flatline completely. Today, there are so many online tools available which help you get all of the information you need about the vehicle you're looking for (much like shopping for auto insurance quotes over the Web). As a result, modern car buyers are walking into dealerships armed with prices, option packages, and other data which remove the need for haggling and dealing.

Here are five such sites:

1. Cars.com. You may have seen the commercials where you can pick out the make model, and year of the vehicle you want - and then get a price and a dealer near you where you can get it.

1. Kelly Blue Book. This book once held the closely-guarded proprietary numbers by which used cars were priced. But now with a few mouse clicks, you can get access to the same information that the dealers have.

1. Edmunds. This site computes the MSRP, invoice price, and true market value of all new cars and trucks - so you can be armed with those figures when you step onto a car lot.

1. CarsDirect.com. Perhaps the most versatile site, it lets you pick out new or used cars and accessorize them with the options you want - and changes the target price accordingly.

1. Trucar.com. This new site not only gives you MSRP and invoice, but also tells you what the dealer cost is and provides you with a market average price - so you know what a good deal looks like.

The next time you're in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle, take a few minutes to check out one (or all) of these online tools before you head for the car lot. Although the process still won't be as pleasant as watching a sunset on the beach with a fruity drink in your hand, it will almost certainly be better than the last time you dealt with a car salesman.

"Wow! I didn't have to pull my hair out or anything!"

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.

Image credits: tudorstuff.wordpress.com, misspinkslip.wordpress.com, carsnew.org.

SafeAuto's "Do The Jingle" contest is nearing its conclusion. After accumulating a record number of votes (quickly approaching two million) the competition is extremely tight heading into the stretch. You can still vote for your jingle until February 29, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM EST at http://www.dothejingle.com.    

Remember, the top five finalists will receive cash prizes while places six through ten will receive a roadside assistance kit.  Of course, the first place winner will obtain a featured role in a SafeAuto Insurance commercial! Additionally, SafeAuto is giving away an iPad2 on our Facebook page! Click Here To Win an iPad!

You have less than 48 hours to catapult your jingle to the top of the competition! Have your friends, family and social networks continue to vote for your jingle. Let them see your talent and creativity before the competition ends.

Current Top 10 Standings:

1. Michael Jade, Yuriy Sardarov, Derek Weissbein, Alexis McMahon, Lucas Marx

2. Adam Shero

3. Bruce Hansen

4. Arnie Borowsky

5. Sponjetta Parrish

6. Jerry Carmon

7. Tinikka Pratt, James Augusta, Patty Kennedy

8. Deke Garner & Devlyn Tyree

9. Shelby Edge

10. Faded Jeans Band

Good luck and happy voting!
The SafeAuto Do the Jingle Team

America loves stories about ordinary people who are discovered one day to have extraordinary talents - and who then turn into household names practically overnight. Like a famous actress being found in a soda shop. Or a video of a homeless man with a golden voice going viral.

Jess Secord might become one of those "instant fame" stories - and you may be part of the reason that it happens.

Secord was at Navy Pier in Chicago recently on a visit from her current hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan when she spotted the SafeAuto "Do The Jingle" display. Seeing an opportunity, Secord quickly created a jingle and recorded a video of her singing it right on the spot. The result? A pure, soulful performance which showcases her unique voice and her winning smile.

As you might have guessed, Secord is no stranger to performing. She has sung the national anthem in front of crowds on numerous occasions, including at the National Gymnastics Championships, Youth Special Olympics, and several sporting events at Western Michigan University (her alma mater). Secord has also appeared on television as a featured performer on WLGN-TV in Chicago as well as a musical guest on the TV program "Rock Anthem."

But Secord's talents do not stop at her vocal cords. She is an accomplished pianist and also knows how to play guitar. She has amassed an impressive resume of stage acting, including such productions as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" In addition, Secord has appeared in some television commercials and print ads for Kellogg's, and her face has also been displayed on countless Kellogg's cereal boxes. Secord has even appeared in a couple of feature films: "D2: The Mighty Ducks" and "From Justin to Kelly."

Success in SafeAuto's Do The Jingle Contest could certainly help Jess Secord's musical career. In addition to her vocal performances, Secord would love the opportunity to collaborate with other singer/songwriters and perhaps create songs, albums, or other commercial jingles. Secord admits that the first prize of $5,000 would go a long way toward the remodeling of her home, which she shares with her husband and two-year old twin daughters (and soon a third child! Congratulations!)

Could Jess Secord's Do The Jingle performance be the spur-of-the-moment break that she has been waiting for? If enough people vote for her video, it might just happen - so be sure and check it out!