Buying a new car is always exciting, but the process can be stressful. Am I getting the best deal? Where should I buy it? Did the fast-talking salesman take me for a ride? We feel the pain. Thankfully, there are ways to make smarter, informed choices before buying the car of your dreams. Here are a few that will ensure both you and your wallet stay sane through the process.
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Emails and Phone Calls A little due diligence never hurt anybody. Make a list of several dealers and email them on their best drive-away prices. They may ask you to come in but show interest in doing so if they offer their best price in writing. It saves you the stress of dealer hopping. You can also compare prices for similar vehicles at different dealers before zeroing in on your dream car.
Steer Clear of Advertisements Have you ever received a fun-looking mailer with click to win adverts? Avoid these ads like the plague. Dealers prey on aspirational car owners looking for seemingly lower payments. Car owners will never know the true value of the car since dealers drag the terms out indefinitely.
Avoid Haggling The chances of you beating salesmen at their own game are slim. They sell for a living and will eventually get their way. But you can change the rules of the game instead. Avoid haggling and get dealers to compete against each other by sending you their best offers.
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Time Your Purchase Well Similar to the end-of-season retail sales, dealerships typically need to make room for newer models too. The end of summer usually means Black Friday in car shopping – lower prices on older models. Potential car owners will find a series of discounts or offers such as zero percent interest. You can also wait till the end of any month. Dealers need to meet their sales quotas and may be more inclined to offer you a sweeter deal.
Don’t Divulge Your Trade-In Getting straight information from car dealerships is challenging. Revealing a trade-in up front opens car owners to a world of additional pain. Salespersons can inflate trade allowances to pressurize you to buy. Their focus is on what vehicle owners want to get for their trade, which leaves no room for price negotiations on the new car. It’s a common tactic to confuse car buyers about how much they’ll get as part of the deal.
Shop at Different Places Whether you’re looking at one brand or many, it’s always a good idea to check out different dealerships. You can compare various offers and price points. You could even end up with something fabulous you hadn’t considered before.
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Go with Company Bring along a family member or friends, whether for second opinions or someone to bounce off ideas. Like most things, car shopping is more fun with company.
