How to Take Advantage of Your Auto Salesman
Searching for a new car at the lowest prices? Don't let your auto dealer take advantage of you. Make them compete for your business.
Car salesmen will usually point to a car's "sticker price" as the amount you have to pay. However, the price the dealership is willing to sell a car for is often well below the sticker price. How do you know what to pay? The internet has created a valuable tool for car buyers called Market Value (MV). Based on actual sales figures, the average price buyers are paying (also known as the "transaction price") for a certain type of car in your area. Figures, found on The internet are adjusted for many factors including options, geographic region and color. To calculate MV, begin by looking up the car you want to buy on the internet. Follow the price with options for the exact car you are buying. Keep in mind that this price includes the destination charge, which is levied by all manufacturers. (However, the invoice price might vary in certain regions where advertising costs and other fees are included. We recommend paying the fees listed on the invoice, but questioning any advertising fees that appear on the purchase contract.) Now it's time to factor in the incentives and rebates you researched and printed in the previous step. Take the final TMV price and deduct the amount of the cash rebate. In other words, you create your best deal based on TMV, and then lower it by whatever the rebate is. If you are going to use low-interest financing, calculate your final buying price, then use a payment calculator to find your monthly payment. http://www.carworks.com/ Print these figures � the MV, the incentives and the monthly payment � and carry them with you for reference as you continue the car-buying process. Step 1: Starting out. Step 2: Using incentives and rebates. Step 3: Pricing the car. Step 4: Finding the exact car you want to buy. Step 5: Test driving the car salesman. Step 6: If you are trading in your old car... Step 7: Negotiating for your lowest price. Step 8: Closing the deal. Step 9: Reviewing and signing the paperwork. Step 10: Inspecting and taking possession of your new car. Checklist Funny sales phrases that salespeople like to use on you. Did they all take the same sales training course somewhere? "You're stealing food from my baby's mouth" "The web sites you got the prices from are wrong." "Everybody pays this fee" "This car won't be here tomorrow" "We're losing our shirt on this deal" "Do you want the car? What will it take to make you sign today?"