You need a car and you don’t want to spend a fortune on it, right? You want a new car though, you can afford to forgo the best deals and extra work warranted by used cars. Still, how will you know if you are getting the best deal possible? Can you trust a car salesman? What if you are no good at confrontation? I mean, the salesmen are trained how to read you and push your buttons to get the sale. So what can you do?
As hopeless as this may all feel, we are going to tell you exactly what you can do. Not every option will be right for you, so take the tactics you know will work with your style and ditch the rest. First though, do your research. The internet is a wealth of knowledge. Start your research with the specific model you want. Has it had recalls? Also, what dealerships in your area have the best reputation and what are they charging for the car.
Arguably, the best time to buy a new vehicle may be in the early fall. This is when the new year’s models are released and last year’s models are selling deeply discounted. If you can’t wait until then, that is fine. Try to find sales and offers that are straight forward. Convoluted sales offers that stack discounts might be worth the time, but be extra weary. It may be a ploy to make you lose track and have them come out on top at your expense. Write down the important details. Write down the features you deem most necessary. Write down the maximum you are willing to give for the down payment, monthly payment, and total price of the vehicle.
Now with your research in hand, head down to the dealership for a test drive. You can test the waters with the salesman after the test drive and see if you want to deal with them. They have to make a living too, just level with them and let them know what number you would like. Be respectful and do not low-ball them because it just won’t work. They are not going to offer you significantly less than the manufacturer invoice. If they do, something is wrong. Or you can do all this but the test drive from the comfort of your home. Most car dealerships these days have entire teams dedicated to internet sales. Contact each dealership, tell them what car you want and find out what price they will offer you for it. Tell them you are checking the prices within a specific radius and then do so. This will allow you to get the best price from the comfort of your home.
You may even be able to get some nice extras like oil changes, car washes, or gas cards out of some deals. The work isn’t done after you have reached an agreement on price though. You still have to go through the financing department and this can be the most brutal part of the entire deal. Read the fine print carefully. Make sure extra warranties, fees for car prep or storage, unwanted upgrades, etc. are not added onto your paperwork. Again, being completely honest and polite is often the best approach. Tell the finance writer that you will be reading through all the paperwork before you sign. If the area is distracting, do not hesitate to ask for a quiet place to do so. Let them know that if you find unwanted additions, you will leave and let others know how you have been treated.
With these tactics in your now powerful arsenal, you will be ready to purchase a new car. You do not at all have to stress, be assertive, rude, or even argue with anyone. If at any point a sales person makes you uncomfortable or pressures you, leave. You can always make the purchase from home. Many dealerships will even prepare and bring the paperwork and sometimes the car to you! You never know what might be possible until you ask.
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