Car Shopping Insights

I used to drive by a local dealership and see the salesmen standing around outside waiting for a customer. My husband once joked that they looked like vultures waiting for a victim. No wonder neither one of us looked forward to buying a new car.It was one of those situations where I felt like they knew what they wanted to sell a car for and I was blindly hoping to come up with that magic number. Things are different today. Now I have learned to do some research in advance and approach the car lot with confidence.

Before You Shop

A successful car shopping expedition starts at home. There is a wealth of information on the internet. Research the finer points of the cars that you are interested in. Find out what their invoice price is and what people are advertising them for. Sit down and determine what you realistically need in a new vehicle. What add-ons if any should your next car have? Determine your budget. Write it down and refuse to go over it regardless of what a salesman says. You will be paying this bill, not him.

At The Car Lot

Before you seriously look for your next car, drive several different models. Have fun comparing how they look and drive. Sometimes a car looks great on paper but doesn't feel right when you get behind the wheel.

Take your time and refuse to be rushed. If for some reason you don't like your salesman, leave and come back when you can talk to someone else. Most dealers do not want you to leave because they know you can go down the street and buy from someone else so don't be surprised if they try to stall you.

When it's time to negotiate, start with a figure that is low but fair. Remember, in the current financial climate, car dealers need your sale. Be willing to walk out if you feel that they are pressuring you or that you aren't getting the deal you expected. There are other dealerships and the deal may be better across town.

Remember to be firm and confident and refuse to let your emotions push you into something that you don't want to do. It's not your problem if the salesman has a child or spouse in the hospital. If they can tie up your emotions, you won't think clearly and just maybe you will buy more than you intended to. This is a business transaction. Treat it like one.

When my husband and I helped our son buy his first car, the deal was finalized and then the salesman wanted to know how we were going to finance it. My husband pulled out his credit card and the salesman's face fell. You see, it costs them to charge a vehicle. They would much rather finance it. We refused to change the deal or back off charging it because we had a 0% interest rate at the time. You could tell the salesman didn't like it but the deal went through and Pj got his car.

Would you like to have a secret weapon when you go car shopping?

My friend, Jennifer, clued me into a book that has all the inside information on making a car purchase. This report is packed full of solid information. If you want to know everything from what psychological tricks they routinely employ to why the bathrooms are usually all the way in the back of the salesroom, this book has it. Every Loophole, Pressure Technique, & Financing Secret is revealed! If you want the House Edge, please check out Inside The Dealer's Playbook.. You will be so glad you did.