Car shopping? Luxury models with stratospheric stickers abound. But buying is actually more affordable than ever, thanks just in part to

cheap financing, according to Investor's Business Daily.

An average new car takes just 20 weeks of a family's pay to buy and finance, down from 30.7 weeks in 1991. Industry figures adjusted for inflation show the average retail price of a new vehicle has risen 1.2 percent from five years ago.

This year, prices are on a slight decline, Investor's Business Daily said. Lately buying has tasted better to consumers, who get some good deals, than to carmakers, who give up per-car profit for sales volume as they try to move inventory.

Down the road, some economists see tax cuts

and better consumer sentiment spurring more demand for cars. Others see a wash, Investor's Business Daily noted.

July U.S. sales put the industry on track to move 16.3 million new vehicles this year, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). The outlook is on par with June, but up from May. Some 16.8 million new vehicles were sold amid heavy incentives in 2002, the fourth best unit sales year ever.

NADA chief economist Paul Taylor credits the

stock market recovery for helping spur luxury car sales in July. Pickup and SUV sales also rose, thanks in part to incentives, tax refunds and business demand, NADA says. Despite incentives, American automakers still face an uphill battle for market share against popular imports, according to Investor's Business Daily.