How to buy a car

 

Buying a car, whether used or new, can be a nightmare. You're up against the dealer, an opponent who's sole purpose is to get the most money out of your wallet, and he's good at it too. Truth be told, there are a few car dealers out there who have ethics, and are content to a fair commission of the sale, and if you're lucky you may run into one every once in a while, but for the rest of us, it comes down to a one on one battle of wits, us against them.

In order to get ready for battle, there are a few things that you must do. Without these preparations you don't stand a chance

1. Research. Get on your computer and open your internet browser of choice. You have to get a good idea of how much others are paying and asking for the car you want. You can check out sites like cars.com, autotrader.com and kbb.com. Make sure you enter your zip code (price varies from one state to another), make and model and in case of buying a used car, the mileage and the year of production. Then write down the average price.
2. Get Quotes. Still on your computer, find at least three dealers in your area that have the car you want, email them and write the exact make and model you want, ask them for a quote. Do not give out your phone number or they would be calling you day and night. Write down the quotes they give you.
3. Decide. Based on your research, decide on a price that you'd like to pay for the car.

Now you're ready for battle, go to the first dealership, find one of the dealers and tell him you want to go for a test drive. While driving, just get an overall feeling of the car, the detailed inspection will come later. When you get back to the dealership, you will be directed to the man's office to close the deal, here you begin negotiation. Start with a low price (a reasonable one) and gradually sweeten the deal, sometimes the man you're dealing with might not have the authority to accept a price lower than MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price). In that case, tell him to go check with his supervisor. Remember though, if you can't get the price you want and he kept asking for more than you'd like to pay, just get up and walk out (sometimes this walking out tactic has been known to make them agree to the deal) you head to the next dealership and start the process from the top.

When you get a price you're happy with, tell the man it's a deal, but before you sign anything, go out and check the car thoroughly from top to bottom, head lights, turn signals, tail lights, air conditioning buttons, radio, CD player, etc., leave nothing unchecked, when you're satisfied, go back and sign the contract. After this, the dealer will try to sell you a lot of junk that you may never need, like extended warranty, anti-theft devices and emergency roadside kits, say no to all of them. If you later change your mind, you can always get them online and usually for a lower price.

In a perfect world, buying a new car should be a fun experience, one that would leave you and the dealer happy and satisfied, but we're stuck in our imperfect world and as a result, buying a car is a battle which requires you to be prepared, focused and smart. Try these pointers in your next skirmish and you will get a better deal.