| Buying a new car has always been a bittersweet | | | | do not sell at least a similar model and can't at least |
| experience for me. While it is great to drive away in | | | | come close to meeting the price, you would just as |
| a brand new vehicle with that new car smell, getting | | | | soon move on. Make sure to make a note of the |
| what you consider the best deal can be excruciating. | | | | name of the salesperson and that they will be there |
| The new car buying advice I am giving here may not | | | | when you visit the dealership. |
| get you exactly what you want, but it should get | | | | Tear out the ad and take it with you to the |
| you closer to the deal you want faster and with less | | | | dealership. Meet with the salesperson you spoke with |
| time and energy expended. | | | | on the phone and say you would like to see the cars. |
| Let me qualify this first by stating that I have always | | | | If the salesperson says they do not have similar cars |
| bought cars in a big city market. So whether or not | | | | or can't meet your price expectations, do not under |
| this will work in small towns I will leave up to you. | | | | any circumstances, let them steer you toward |
| The last thing you want to do is just start walking | | | | anything else. If this happens it will result in a huge |
| into car dealerships without a plan. Unless you just | | | | waste of your time and, most likely, cost you |
| happen to find the perfect one first, you will waste a | | | | money. Just leave. That way you, even though this |
| lot of time and energy going nowhere. Instead, open | | | | experience did not go perfectly, you wasted a |
| your local newspaper to the automobile classifieds. | | | | minimal amount of time on a dishonest dealership. |
| Depending on the market you are in, this may not | | | | Regroup and approach the next closest dealership. |
| matter, but Friday is a good day for this. However, if | | | | However, if things go well and they are indeed |
| you come across good ads on Sunday or Monday it | | | | motivated to work with you within the terms you |
| could mean some dealers in your area are very | | | | proposed, you will have started your position in the |
| motivated to move inventory. | | | | price negotiation at or near the lowest price point. |
| Find the best advertised deal on the car you want. It | | | | This is because newspaper ads are expensive and |
| doesn't matter if the dealership running the ad is too | | | | dealerships are not going to waste them advertising |
| far away for you to shop at. Then, starting with the | | | | anything but the lowest prices. |
| dealership closest to you, start calling stores that sell | | | | At this point, if the dealership has your car but is not |
| the same car brand, asking each if they will meet an | | | | able to completely match the deal for whatever |
| ad price. | | | | reason, that's okay. You can probably consider their |
| This is where it gets interesting. Car dealerships go to | | | | reason legitimate because, after all, the price you |
| considerable effort and expense to get customers in | | | | asked them to match was the lowest available. So if |
| the door. And, at this time, they are still on the | | | | they come back with an offer that is a few hundred |
| outside looking in when it comes to getting you in | | | | more, take it. It is the best deal possible and did not |
| their door. So you should be very explicit that if they | | | | require a lot of back and forth negotiating. |