How to Get the Best Deal on a New Car

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Female – Hi Nicki here and you’re watching The Daily Idea. So you’re 993 Honda Civic finally putted out on you and you’re headed out this weekend to do a little car shopping, you only have a certain amount of money to spend and don’t want to get hoodwinked like you did the last time. Buying a car can be stressful even for the average Car and Driver subscriber, the problem isn’t deciding what you want to buy but shovelling your way through all the salesman bull to get to the bottom line. Well it just so happens that a crack team of researchers at The Daily Idea traded in the white coats for the car dealer plaid jackets and went undercover. They spent months wearing pit stains shirts and smoking two packs a day.

After we had them power washed they gave us their report. The researchers admit the car dealerships are in the business of making money. And really getting a steal or pulling one over on your salesman isn’t possible, but they assure us there are a few tricks to getting the car you want without the hassle you don’t, so for today’s Daily Idea we’ve got five sure fire tips on how not to get hosed by car salesmen.

First – New buy on your first visit. This is the hardest tip to follow because you’re excited about getting a new car, but to get the best deal for your dollar you should not only go to several dealers but make sure each to visit each salesman twice, if they see you once they think they can get you, if they see you twice they’ll die trying to get your business. By coming back you show them you’re serious about their car and their deal, but you’re smart enough to pass up the impulse buy.

Tip number two – get up and walk out – for a car dealer the worst customer is the one leaving without buying. If they won’t back up the hard sell or come down in price just say “Thanks for trying” and leave. They want your business and by showing them you aren’t afraid to take it elsewhere they’ll take you seriously the next time you come in. When you do return look for the same salesperson – they’ll know you’re serious.

Tip number three put the pressure on them. Chances are you’re going to hear the salesperson say something along the lines of “What if I told you you could drive off today and save this much?” or “What would it take to put you in this car today?” look them in the eye and say “Absolutely nothing and if you keep pressuring me, I’ll leave”. Tell them you are weighing your options and will not buy until you have visited several dealers and the best car for the best price will win your business. This makes the dealer think he has to earn the sale not sucker you into buying.

The fourth tip – Get your loan before you go. The single biggest bargaining chip a car salesman has is the loan. By going to your bank first and securing financing you take the negotiating power out of their hands. Now you’re only talking about the price of the car, besides once you agree on the price you can always see if the dealer can beat your bank’s interest rate. So head on out to the car lot this weekend armed with your new tricks. Follow them to the T and you will have the plaid jacket set jumping through your hoops and agreeing to give you the car you want on your terms. After all said and done you’ll have the car dealer feeling like he’s got hosed by a car salesman and that’s another Daily Idea.

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