| The cost of a new car nowadays equals about | | | | |
| what my parents paid for their first home. | | | | As far as trade ins go, do your research |
| It is not a purchase to be taken lightly. | | | | here, too. Knowing the value of your old car |
| You want to do everything possible to ensure | | | | makes it easier to negotiate a better price |
| you get a great deal. | | | | for it. Try not to talk about a trade in |
| | | | possibility until you get a purchase price. |
| Never rush your decision. If you are | | | | |
| completely without transportation, rent a | | | | I researched the value of my little red |
| vehicle until you find the right car. When | | | | Corolla and found that it was 3500 dollars. |
| you rush a purchase, you usually end up on | | | | One dealership offered me 1200 dollars |
| the losing end of the deal. | | | | because they would have to repaint it. |
| | | | Another dealership offered me 3500 dollars |
| Thanks to the Internet, you can uncover the | | | | and complimented me on taking such good care |
| typical retail cost of a specific make and | | | | of the engine. Stick to your guns when it |
| model. With a little digging, you can find | | | | comes to getting the value of your trade in, |
| out the wholesale cost as well. This | | | | especially if you have had your car serviced |
| information makes you a powerful negotiator. | | | | regularly. |
| | | | |
| You want a win win situation with the car | | | | You may want to advertise your older car and |
| dealership. They need to make some profit, | | | | sell it privately. Typically you can get a |
| and you need to feel you paid a fair price. | | | | better price this way, but it may take a |
| It is fair to negotiate to a price that is | | | | little time. |
| 500 dollars above dealer cost or about 20 | | | | |
| percent off the sticker price. So take along | | | | A service contract will likely be brought |
| your calculator when you shop. | | | | into the negotiation. The consumer |
| | | | information I have read discourages buying an |
| If the only cars on the lot have expensive | | | | extra contract on a new car, as it is not |
| options you do not care for, you might want | | | | likely a problem will occur during the first |
| to order a car to your specifications. You | | | | months of use. |
| might wait a bit, but will save money on | | | | |
| options you do not need. | | | | Whatever you do, always read the fine print |
| | | | of any contract before signing it. Ask a |
| Check with the dealership to see if you can | | | | bazillion questions about what certain |
| return the car if you do not like it. I did | | | | phrases mean if you do not understand |
| this once. The car I purchased ended up less | | | | something. |
| comfortable than my old car, so the next | | | | |
| morning I took it back for my check and my | | | | Simply because the car just rolled off the |
| trade in. Many dealerships now offer this | | | | factory line does not mean you should buy it |
| option. | | | | without asking questions. Keep on your toes |
| | | | during the negotiation process. There is |
| You may have heard the advice to shop the | | | | nothing like the thrill of getting a new car |
| last day of the month for better deals. It's | | | | and creating a win win situation for you and |
| true that you might get a better deal from a | | | | the dealer. |
| salesman then. | | | | |