You can pimp your ride with the car manufacturers’ help. Auto manufacturers have caught on that many young car buyers want their car customized.

From a CD changer to rims, customizing makes a car uniquely your own but it also invalidates your warranty, said Mark Perleberg, lead auto expert for NADA Guides. But now, manufacturers will build you a tricked-out car or will give you ideas as to how your can tune the model of your choice.

“You can customize your vehicle to make it uniquely your own, almost at point of purchase,” said Brian Chee, editor of autobytel.com.

“This phenomenon started with kids taking Honda Civics and customizing them. Automakers said “Look at what they’re doing to their cars. We need to get on this train.”‘

Dealerships are willing to offer financing to young car buyers.

That wasn’t always the case, Perleberg said.

In the 1970s, companies “weren’t willing to finance kids. They weren’t interested in that kind of business.”

What has changed? “Manufacturers are more aware of future branding,” Perleberg said.

“They’re willing to finance you because they’re trying to build loyalty.” Take the offer, but only if the rates are competitive.

Use the Internet to your advantage.

“You’ve gotta take a research-centered approach” to the car buying process, Chee advises, and the Internet generation should do their research where else? on the Web.

“The most significant difference between young car buyers and the older generation their parents is they would not think about buying a car without researching on the Internet first, ” Chee said.

Dealers, in turn, expect young car buyers to be a much savvier car-buying bunch than other car buyers, who traditionally go to the car dealership to gather their information and window shop.

Take advantage of the wealth of information on the Internet, keep your expectations realistic, then head to the dealership.

You’ll feel more in control of negotiations when you and the dealer know you’re well-informed.

Examine the total cost of owning a particular vehicle. Some cars including large SUVs and high-performance sports cars carry higher insurance premiums and guzzle gas.

Chee said some inexperienced drivers may not be able to handle the power of high-performance cars, resulting in accidents or injury.

Edmunds.com has a True Cost to Own feature that helps to calculate the five-year costs you may not have anticipated.

Don’t let your excitement cloud the decision-making process.

“Young car buyers have a tendency to want the first thing they see,” Perleberg said.

“The more excited you get, the less practical you become.”