Car Shopping

I have decided that it is time to start car shopping. My car is 10 years old now and it has started to "nickel and dime me to death", or so the saying goes. It has been totally paid for for the last 2 years but in that time every few months I have had to repair something at the cost of $300 here and $600 there. It would probably have cost less just to have my car payment. My problem is I don't really get all that car shopping lingo and the wheeling and dealing. I would like it to be like shopping for shoes. You find a really cute pair that you like, they fit, you check the price tag, yea! you can afford them, and you pay the clerk. Done deal! Easy as pie! Not with car shopping....I feel like there is some code that you're suppose to know but someone forgot to tell me. I just want a good dependable car that I can afford. No games and no sales pitch needed.