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Helpful Car Buying Tips
Purchasing a new vehicle is a stressful chore for many people.
Ask the average person what they dread most and they will tell
you that "price haggling" is the worst aspect of negotiating a
price. Few people come away from the deal believing that they
got a fair shake; a significant minority will admit that they
got ripped off if you press the issue with them. Besides
shopping at a "no haggle" dealer - Saturn, for example - how can
you avoid an unpleasant experience? Better put, can you? Let's
take a look at some ways you can gain better control over the
car buying experience so that you can save yourself some time,
money, and a whole lot of aggravation.
Stay away from the hot sellers. Many Japanese brands are
sold at full price and bargains are hard to come by. Still, if
you do a little bit of research you should be able to shave
several hundred dollars off of the sticker price or secure a
very low loan rate should you choose to finance your vehicle. If
your dealer doesn't want to deal with you, go to another Toyota,
Honda, Nissan, etc. dealer to find a better deal.
Buy a left over. On the other hand, not all cars are hot
sellers and many models do not sell out when the model year
ends. If there is a particular car that you want, you should be
able to realize significant savings off of the sticker price.
Don't be "wowed" by an already reduced price touted by the
dealership. Likely, they are getting a secret rebate from the
manufacturer; learn what that rebate is and get as much of it as
you can. Remember: you are already buying a car that is a year
old. If it is a discontinued model or the latest version of that
model is significantly changed, you have additional leverage.
Arrange your own financing. When purchasing a car,
negotiate the lowest possible price before financing is
discussed. If you come into the negotiation with your financing
already covered, then you have additional leverage. If you are
paying cash for the vehicle, demand an even greater discount.
Go in equipped. Consumer Reports will sell to you a print
out of exactly how much a car should sell for. Purchase a report
on the model you want to find out what the dealer likely paid
for your car. The price you pay should be much closer to that
amount than to the sticker price.
Buy through a car club. Car clubs, including those
through warehouse clubs such as BJ's, can be an alternative way
to buying a car at a discounted rate without paying full price.
Each club has their own way operating, but in all cases you
should be able to pay less and leave the haggling out of the
equation.
If you are the type of person who enjoys haggling, then your
experience is not likely to be as bad. You know how to play the
game and winning for you is simply securing the lowest possible
price. For everyone else, a little outside help can save you
money. Do not let your emotions tell you, "I must have this
car," or you are likely to pay much more than you should.
Remember: dealer sob stories are just that; if they can't figure
out a way to make money off of a sale, then they shouldn't be in
business.
About the author:
Copyright 2005 -- Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the
http://www.racepages.com/parts/brake_pads.html>Race
Pages, a supplier of quality http://www.racepages.com/parts/brake_rotors.html>Jeep brake
rotors and http://www.racepages.com/parts/shocks.html>Jeep Shocks
for your Nissan or other quality vehicle.
Written by: Matthew C. Keegan
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