Prudent Penny: Car Buying Tips

Show of hands. Who hates car shopping?

If I counted right, we've had 12 cars in 35+ years. Some had been used, but most were new. This is the one point where Greg and I differ like night and day. As long as he can afford it, he wants a new car. He will not negotiate with me on this.

So for the last couple of decades I've had to deal with new cars. Up until Tank came along, each of us drove sports cars. And I desperately wanted another one, but Tank is a little too big for a sports car, so it was a truck for me. 

Only someone like me would buy a car determined by the family dog. LOL.

Since we've done this shopping dance so often we go in prepared. Before we walk into the showroom we already know the stats, the price and the available warranties. The only thing left for us to choose is the dealer and the color of the car.

If you remember only one thing from this post, remember this: Ask the dealer what the drive-out price is, NOT the monthly note. The first thing they're going to do is sweeten the deal by showing you what a "low" note they can offer. Uh-uh. That's just a ruse. Get the total price first--then you can discuss notes.

And be wary of their tactics. They'll try to manipulate your emotional triggers, skillfully using your children, your gender, or your prestige as a motivator.

One slick young man tried to embarrass Greg when Greg refused his 'final' offer. I could barely keep from laughing when the kid counters with: Well, Mr. Zannini, maybe it's too much car for you. (It was a sports car.)

Greg never missed a beat. He got up and said: "You're right, maybe it is." And he motioned to me that we were leaving. We got as far as the showroom when Mr. Slick comes running after us (with his boss right behind him). He met our price within fifteen minutes.

Then there was another salesman who kept going on and on about the leather interior and the cup holders with me. I finally cut him off and said: "Let's see what she can do." And I took him for a ride he didn't soon forget. :grin: I was born to drive a sports car, baby! He stopped patronizing me after that and we talked about turning radii and gas mileage.

To be fair, we met an honest sales person once. We've bought two cars from him, and we'll likely buy others from him too. That's how decent he was. No pushiness. No mind games. He gives us his best offer upfront, which so far has always been lower than what we expected to pay.

There are still good people out there.

Here is my checklist for car buying:

• Do your homework before you enter the showroom. Know all the stats and prices so you'll be able to tell right away whether the salesperson is trying to pull one over on you.

• Put your game face on. It's your money. Don't let them tell you how to spend it. You are always in control. It's up to them to make it worthwhile to you.

• Drive the car and push it (but safely). Brake hard. Punch the accelerator. Turn it in a complete circle to see where the turning radius is. Get on the highway and see what it does at higher speeds.

I won't lie. I am very hard on my vehicles. If it can't keep up with my demands, it's not the car for me.

• When it's time to deal, ask for the drive-out price--not the monthly note. Pretend you're going to pay for it in full. And by the way, if you do pay cash, that's leverage. I think our last five or six cars we've paid in full. It always gets us a better deal if we take the notes out of the equation.

• How can we pay cash so often? We save for our cars. It's not that hard. The more you can pay at closing, the less you'll pay in the long run. That interest is a killer. I can do a lot with that money if I don't have to use it on a note. I'd rather do without a little now, so I don't have to do without later and for a longer period of time.

Saving requires planning. Decide how much you'll need for that new (or used) car and divide by however many months it'll take you to save. 

• The thing to remember when car shopping is that YOU are in charge. You know what you can afford. Don't let them push your buttons. 

• If you know you're a cream puff for the hard sell, take someone with you who's tougher. There's courage in numbers. The salesman will have to persuade two of you.

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What was your favorite car?  Mine was a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Loved that car. Never gave me a minute's trouble. And it was very, very fast. :grin: