It’s finally time to get everything together and go to the dealership. This section is the longest section of them all, but you must read every section to save the most money. We are just going to visit the car dealership to test-drive the models we are interested in and write down the options that are typically on the vehicles. Tell them you are just pricing out the vehicles you are interested in, and even if they started giving out cars for free, you wouldn’t take one. Salesmen are trained to keep you at the dealer until you buy. Some will even take trade-in and not return until you have signed a purchase contract.
Use a Notepad to Track Features and Compare Models
When you visit the dealer, look at all the options offered. Take a notepad with you and write down all the options that come with the vehicles you are interested in. Be sure you take the quotes that you received from Car–Buying–Tips, Consumer Guide, Autobytel, Auto Web, Cars Direct, Ford Direct, Car Smart, MyCar, and Car Prices
Test Drive Tips
| Heading | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Drive on Real Road Conditions | Make sure you test drive every vehicle you are considering and don’t take the vehicle on the dealership’s assigned route. You should test ride the vehicles on the same road conditions you will be driving every day. |
| Check Vehicle Performance in Different Situations | Go up hills, stop and go traffic, and make sure you test out the brakes in all kinds of conditions. Also try not to have the salesman accompany you they could distract you from your purpose test riding the vehicles you priced out at home with Car-Buying-Tips, Consumer Guide, Autobytel, Auto Web, Cars Diret, Ford Direct, Car Smart, MyCar, and Car Prices Now that you test drove the vehicles you like it is time to take our notes of options available on the models we are interested in and go home. |
| Avoid Dealer Pressure Tactics | Don’t fall for any of the dealer’s stalling tricks or believe them that the deal they have can only be done today! |
Compare Your Test Drive Notes With Online Research Platforms
Make sure you test drive every vehicle you are considering and don’t take the vehicle on the dealership’s assigned route. You should test ride the vehicles on the same road conditions you will be driving every day. Go up hills, stop and go traffic, and make sure you test out the brakes in all kinds of conditions. Also try not to have the salesman accompany you they could distract you from your purpose test riding the vehicles you priced out at home with Car–Buying–Tips, Consumer Guide, Autobytel, Auto Web, Cars Diret, Ford Direct, Car Smart, MyCar, and Car Prices Now that you test drove the vehicles you like it is time to take our notes of options available on the models we are interested in and go home. Don’t fall for any of the dealer’s stalling tricks or believe them that the deal they have can only be done today!
- Enter the options available on the models at the dealer and print these quotes out.
- These are the finalized quotes! If you are weak at negotiation, I suggest taking the lowest quote and accepting it as final.
- Negotiating with a seasoned car salesman is not for the we; having your teeth ripped out with no Novocain is probably easier.
- If you would like to see if you can get a better price, just take the finalized quotes and go back to the car dealership.
Consider ordering your new car if you don’t see what you want on the dealer’s lot. This may involve a delay, but cars on the lot may have options you don’t want, and that can raise the price. However, dealers often want to sell their current inventory quickly, so you may be able to negotiate a good deal if an in-stock car meets your needs. Remember, you should never have to pay extra for the dealership just to factory order your new car.
Why Test-Driving or Viewing the Car First Is Essential for Big Purchases
If the dealership offers to order the car you want off another dealer’s lot,ot make sure you never sign a purchase contract before you get to see the vehicle yourself. They may try to make you sign a contract before you get to see the vehicle, but refuse. Consider visiting the dealer that has the vehicle yourself and buying directly from them. With a purchase as costly as a new car, it would not be in your best interest to purchase without a test ride or at least looking at the car personally.
Learning the Terms
Negotiations often have a vocabulary of their own. Here are some terms you may hear when you’re talking about price.
- Invoice Price is the manufacturer’s initial charge to the dealer. This is usually higher than the dealer’s final cost because dealers receive rebates, allowances, discounts, and incentive awards. Generally, the invoice price should include freight (also known as destination and delivery). If you’re buying a car based on the invoice price (for example, “at invoice,” “$100 below invoice,” “two percent above invoice”), and if freight is already included, make sure freight isn’t added again to the sales contract.
- Base Price is the cost of the car without options, but includes standard equipment and factory warranty. This price is printed on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). M Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) shows the base price, the manufacturer’s installed options with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the manufacturer’s transportation charge, and the fuel economy (mileage). Affixed to the car window, this label is required by federal law and may be removed only by the purchaser.
- Dealer Sticker Price, usually on a supplemental sticker, is the manufacturer’s suggested Retail Price plus the suggested retail price of dealer-installed options, such as additional dealer markup (ADM) or additional dealer profit (ADP), dealer preparation, and undercoating.
