Tips and Advice on Car Buying

1. Buying a car can be a tough experience. Aside from the fact that you simply need a car in order to move about and do your thing, you’ve got the heighten emotions of excitement, anticipation and longing for your dream car, as well as a financial commitment that probably comes in 2nd to a mortgage.
   
   It’s a big deal. Be smart about it and consider the following advice straight from the Source.
   Some of this may be obvious, but it never hurts to hear it again…

   1. Can you afford it? Review your finances and find out what you can afford. Know your budget. Not the fun stuff, but this can make you or break you.
   2. Know your credit score!!! This will determine what kind of kick ass or crappy financing you’ll get and this too can make you or break you.
   3. Time of year. Yes, it’s true; you will get better deals at the end of the month and end of the year. The sales biz is all about meeting quotas and the pressure comes a-knockin’ at month end and year end and you can benefit from this.
   4. No emotional attachment. Don’t get excited. Don’t goo goo gaa gaa over the car… it will end up costing you.
   5. Sex matters. If you are a female, take your husband, brother, father, guy friend with you. Unfortunately, if you are a female, then you may end up paying more.
   6. Go in there loaded and walk out (not drive out).
   a. Comparison shop. Go in there loaded with information about the car and make it known that you have checked out other dealers.
   b. Straight Shooter. Related to the above, go in there, be upfront and let them know you are ready to buy and that you have shopped around (be specific about which dealers). Be generally specific about the car that you want and put it on them to give you the best price. While you want to be clear about the car that you want, you don’t want to corner yourself in so make it clear that you are open to multiple options.
   c. Walk out. Give them your contact information and walk. Yes, leave. Let them work you back in the dealership with a great deal and not just a mediocre deal.
   7. Try not to commit to the deal before negotiating. How does this happen, you ask? The sales person will ask you question after question and it’ll go something like this:
   Sales person: Sir, you said wanted a white SUV, fully loaded?
   You: Yes
   Sales person: So you like the tan leather interior, right?
   You: Yes
   Sales person: Can we deliver today?
   You: Yes
   Sales person: So the most important thing to you is the monthly payments?
   You: Yes
   Don’t do this. You are trapping yourself and committing yourself to the deal without even knowing it.
   8. Don’t be lame and nitpick over small details. There is nothing worse than haggling over $50 bucks. Don’t do that. Negotiate smart.

   At the end of the day, the concept of a “good deal” is unique to each person and dependent on each person’s expectations and situation. So, go in there loaded with information about the vehicle that you want and do your research by comparison shopping. Your expectations may change and you will benefit as you load up on information. Otherwise, you may walk away paying $100 less than the sticker price on that Benz and think that you got a great deal ;-)

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   cat
   

   Reputation:45

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

2. well said! Would you like your new RX350? =)

   
   

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   azncow
   

   Reputation:1

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

3. Yes please :-)

   
   

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   cat
   

   Reputation:45

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

4. good points! i would emphasize on your #8 and #1. i heard a sales person telling a customer kindly to "go somewhere else" because he was nickel-and-diming for a Benz. You're already shelling out $50K for a luxury car, what's $50--that's probably not even a full tank of gas. you should know what you can and cannot afford.

   
   

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   jen
   

   Reputation:4

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

5. This is a great article. Keep 'em coming!

   
   

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   howtogeek
   

   Reputation:175

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

6. Bringing in a printout of other offers, the car value sites like Edmunds , and then tell them to match it, works.

   
   

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   crazygeek
   

   Reputation:11

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

7. Talking to buddies in the car industry, they told me that those with Edmunds printouts are like their dream customers. The price is almost always higher than what they can do, all is left to do is for them to play hard to get so the customer feel that they made out in the negotiation. Brining in a printout is a common mistake that people make.

   
   

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   vtzete0
   

   Reputation:26

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

8. You should always remember that there's probably another dealership around the corner selling the same exact car. At least price both of them out and see what deal they will give you.

   
   

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   Nacklele
   

   Reputation:5

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

9. @vtzete0 I didn't know that, but I guess it makes sense.

   
   

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   crazygeek
   

   Reputation:11

   Posted 6 months ago

   
   

10. Car dealerships are such a racket. Undercoating and scotch guarding and paint treatments and gap insurance and extended warranties and all that extra stuff they try to sell you.

    
    

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    Ittotani
    

    Reputation:5

    Posted 6 months ago

    
    

11. @Ittotani, I think consumers need to be smart about what they are buying. I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to make a profit.

    
    

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    cat
    

    Reputation:45

    Posted 6 months ago

    
    

12. It definitely is annoying to have to play the "game" to get the lowest price. With the right mind set, the experience can be rewarding.

    @Nacklele, I've also heard that some dealerships are on the same back-end system and can see the price that they've quoted you. This allow them to control the multiple quote method that many consumers do. All they have to is to edge the other quote and not have to give the farm away in competition.

    
    

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    vtzete0
    

    Reputation:26

    Posted 6 months ago

    
    

13. I agree with the above car buying tips. For me, walking out and doing research beforehand were key to getting a good deal. And don't worry about coming off as not being nice, you just have to do it. They will kiss up and if you're a shy person like me, you might feel bad saying no or putting your foot down, but you have to do it!

    
    

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    akishore
    

    Reputation:50

    Posted 6 months ago

    
    

14. Buying a new car is such a waste of money. Just buy something cheap that works and gets you from one point to another. Theres no need for a flashy car.

    
    

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    Kayasha
    

    Reputation:10

    Posted 6 months ago

    
    

15. kl i'll try and remember dis wen i'm getting my car although i'm only 16 lol but thanks!

    
    

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    ayokunle
    

    Reputation:1

    Posted 5 months ago