Don’t
leave the house just yet. Once you approach that salesperson on a dealer’s lot,
you are going to be under considerable pressure to buy a car from him today,
right there and then, and you haven’t yet gained all the information needed to
properly negotiate a purchase. Here is the opportunity where you use the
Internet to get pricing information on the various automobiles you are
considering. Make sure you evaluate the different levels of features from model
to model, and cross-check with other manufacturers to see if you are getting
the same included elements at specific price points. One car model might have a
multiple-CD system, power moonroof, and leather seats while another has just a
single-CD player, no moonroof, and cloth seats, for example.
Old
Method: Look at the sticker price on the car window and ask the salesman for a
‘good deal’ (and he’ll go to the manager and come back with any random number).
New
Method: Research the full sticker price (MSRP = Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail
Price) and also see the actual “dealer invoice price” as well as what factory
incentives are available (including special interest rates on loans sponsored
by the manufacturer). These figures are available on various buying-service
websites, such as KellyBlueBook.com
AutoGuide.net CarPrices.com and
many others.
Then,
with this pricing information in hand, click your mouse to Obtain a Dealer
Quote. Who gives you that Quote? It will come from a dealership Internet
Associate, a real live salesperson at a dealer near you. But this is not a
shady car salesperson from the ‘Old Days’! You are now going to get a positive
car-buying experience and save some money, without even trying very hard.