CAR SHOPPING FOR PROS

Shopping for a new car can be a hair-raising, nail-biting, frustrating experience for anyone. You see the shiny new car of your dreams on the lot, so you pull in. You walk up to it, peek in the window, admire the paint job, kick a tire, and the next thing you know? Here he comes; the car salesman. He straightens his necktie, flashes you his biggest smile, shakes your hand, and assures you that THIS is the car for YOU!

While you're taking it out for a spin, he tells you that he has the best finance guy in the business, and that YOU will get the deal of the year. You think to yourself that you know all the tricks; that you won't get suckered in by this guy.

But, these guys know their stuff! You're outnumbered by professionals who know how to get every dime they can out of you. Before you know it, you've bought a new car! You thought you got a great deal, but did you? If you had been armed with some simple knowledge before you signed on the dotted line, you could have saved thousands of dollars!

Shopping for a new car is NOT the time to give in to impulse buying. Look around at what other people are driving. Do you have kids? Do you need room to haul things around? Do you need something that is easy to climb in and out of? What about gas mileage and safety ratings? Do your research on the Internet. Read consumer magazines. Talk to your friends. Knowing what you need and how much you can spend, and sticking to your guns at the dealership will keep you from buying a car that you'll regret a couple of months down the road.

Did you know that buying a car at the right time can save you money? Of course, the end of the month is when salespeople are trying to make their quotas, so they are more willing to go that extra mile to get a favorable deal that will make the sale. There are even better days to buy. Most people car shop on the weekend, so if you go during the middle of the week, you'll get the undivided attention of your salesperson, they'll spend as much time with you as you need, and they'll be anxious to make a sale during an off-peak car buying day. Knowing the right time to buy will save you big bucks!

There are many more tips and strategies that you can take with you to the dealership that will make it easy to recognize what the car dealer is doing so that he can have more of your hard-earned money. Read up on what a former car salesman has written about the tricks, loopholes and pressure they use to sell you a car. Just a little knowledge, and YOU'LL be calling the shots at the dealership!

READ: "TAKING THE HOUSE EDGE: INSIDE THE DEALER'S PLAYBOOK"

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The persuasion tactics they'll use to push you onto colors, features, and sometimes even a whole different car that you normally wouldn't want. Know how to spot and overcome their influence tactics to push you onto things you aren't interested in.

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