Do remember that setting up the car's engines, audio and
detail accessories will not necessarily boost the resale value of your car
Do think about safety when buying a car
Don'ts
in buying and selling a car
Don't too rush
Don't abuse the negotiation
Don't scream or yell to the
car dealer
Don't smoke or drink on site
Don't go wild with it
3 Secret
Tips Before You Buy A Used Car
I have always purchased my cars used. And every single time,
I got a great deal because of a few secrets that is easy to do.
These secrets will save you money. And the good news is there is no luck
involved.
If you follow these steps you are guaranteed to save lots of money, so
please pay attention.
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #1 - Check Consumer Reports on the safest cars
out there. Looks are one thing, but never ignore safety.
Here's what you do: Go to a reputable car repair shop and ask if you can
bring the vehicle by for a look-over.
There is a 99% chance they will say "yes".
While you're there, ask what cars they have to repair most often. Also, ask
what the inspection includes, how long it takes, and the price. Always get
this information in writing - just to be safe.
Once the vehicle has been inspected, ask the mechanic for a written report
with a cost estimate for all necessary repairs.
Be sure the report includes the vehicle's make, model and VIN. If you decide
to make an offer to the dealer after approving the inspection, you can use
the estimated repair costs to negotiate the price of the vehicle.
Do you see how easy it is?
Are you going to purchase from an individual? If yes, then here is your next
tip.
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #2
Remember, private sellers generally are not covered by the Used Car Rule and
don't have to use the Buyers Guide. However, you can use the Guide's list of
an auto's major systems as a shopping tool.
It's simple.
You can ask the seller if you can have the vehicle inspected by your
mechanic. If he/she says no... beware. No matter how nice the car appears,
something fishy is going on.
Now, a private sale likely will be on an "as is" basis, unless your purchase
agreement with the seller specifically states otherwise. If you have a
written contract, the seller has to live up to the contract.
The car also may be covered by a manufacturer's warranty or a separately
purchased service contract. But that doesn't mean that the warranty and
service contract are transferable.
Plus, other limits or costs may apply. Before you buy the car, ask if it's
still under warranty or service contract, and review that baby carefully.
Some states will require vehicle sellers to pass a vehicle inspection before
a sale is made. That's not always the case, though. To find out what your
state requires, contact your state Attorney General's office or a local
consumer protection agency.
Hey, it's just a phone call. And it will take less than 5 minutes.
Whether you end up buying a used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a
neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car:
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #3
Examine the car carefully yourself using an inspection checklist. You can
find a checklist in many of the magazine articles, books and Internet sites
that deal with buying a used car.
Once I bought a used car in August, and never thought to test the rear
defroster. Guess what? Come November, I found out it didn't work. If you're
shopping in the summer, don't forget to check the heater. And if it's cold
as ice outside, still turn that air on full blast and make sure it works!
Test drive the car under varied road conditions--on hills, highways, and in
stop-and-go traffic.
Ask for the car's maintenance record. If the owner doesn't have copies,
contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done. They
may share their files with you.
Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar
with the car's history.
Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.
There you go.
Follow those three "used car buying" tips and you are guaranteed to save a
ton of money buying a used car.
4 Tips To Save A
Bundle On Your Next New Car Purchase
Many of us have been at the car dealership and have been
drained by a salesperson during price negotiations for the purchase of a new
car. Most people give in too easily or do not negotiate at all to avoid the
dreadful act. This only means more money in the car dealers’ pocket, while
you are out of several thousand dollars! Yes, they make that much in profit
per car.
This article unveils the dealer’s selling tactics and how you can get around
them. But before we dive into the new car buying tips, we need to understand
what makes up the dealer’s profits.
In addition to the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price), which is the
dealer’s cost for the car plus an additional 20-25% profit, a dealer also
gets financial incentives from the manufacturer when a new car is sold. This
is called Holdback.
Depending on the car, dealers can make hundreds on each car through
holdbacks. Dealers also get additional incentives and bonuses on selling a
car before the end of the month and/or quarter.
A shrewd dealer can make several thousand on a new car even by selling it at
invoice price. This is how new car buying can become tricky for the
consumer.
Ready to learn how not to put a dent in your wallet on your next car
purchase? Here are four tips to get you started. Each one is a dealer tactic
to watch out for.
1. The Guilt Trip
As you may have noticed, every desk in a dealership has photos of the
salesperson’s family, instead of photos of cars. Midway in the negotiation,
the sales person will bring them up and make it look like his little
commission check can hardly pay for his daughters college and little
Bradley’s braces.
A seasoned salesperson will soon have you feeling guilty for driving the
price down and hurting his commission. Watch out not to fall for this
tactic, since you already know about holdbacks and incentive programs from
manufacturers.
2. Wearing You Down
Come prepared to spend half a day at the dealership or pay whatever the
dealer asks for. Car Dealers are trained to delay and tire you out to the
point where you give in and accept their price just to get out of there.
After you make your offer, sales people typically claim they would have to
run it by their manager. You may then have to re-start negotiating with the
manager, who is also a seasoned salesperson. This dance goes on for a while
until you give in.
Remember, there are multiple dealerships in a city, so they need you more
than you need them. Demand to speak to the manager after a certain time
period or threaten to leave.
Because you are devoting a lot of time to bargain with the dealer, they know
you are a serious buyer, so they will not let you leave. The earlier you can
speak with the manager, the faster you can leave.
3. The Test Drive
We all enjoy a good test drive and look forward to it. Although it is
essential to test drive a car before you buy it, remember to not show your
absolute love for the car to the salesperson. Their goal is to get you
emotionally attached to the car, so it becomes a must have for you. I have
learned it the hard way.
To hide your emotional tears from the salesperson, mention the features of a
competing car in the same class, like the new shape, light, leg room, resale
value etc. This will make the salesperson a little vulnerable.
4. Monthly Payments
This one is to confuse you. Dealers will start talking about monthly
payments rather than the total price of the car. They will start by asking
how much you are willing to pay per month and how much of a down payment you
are willing to pay. Since people don’t want to look like they cannot afford
a certain car, they will usually give a higher number. Big Mistake!
You have left little room for negotiation when this happens. Always steer
the conversation to the total price of the car and do NOT mention any
trade-ins at this point. Only after the total price of the vehicle is
completely negotiated then talk about interest, monthly payment and
trade-ins.
General Rule;
As a general rule, remember to only focus and negotiate on the Total Price
of the vehicle. Everything else is pretty much the car dealer’s trough.
If the above new car buying tips seem like a lot of hassle, yet you still
want to get the best price in town, there are some websites that do this for
you. www.AutoAuctionBids.com
for example is a great website for this because you can collect price quotes
from multiple local dealers for a particular car as well as its competing
car models (like Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus) and compare
them.
The website then allows you to send back the lowest quotes received for each
car make to all participating dealers in your area through the website
itself.
Dealers view this price and continue to submit new lower prices over a 3 day
period. By putting local car dealers in such a price competition allows you
to avoid the dreadful face to face negotiation and yet gets you the lowest
price in town for up to 3 competing car makes.
The best part about AutoAuctionBids.com is that it is absolutely free for
you and there is no obligation to buy after the new car auction is over.
About the Author
Prashant Desai, author of various consumer tips articles and industry
expert for AutoAuctionBids.com. Email him at p_desai@autoauctionbids.com to
sign up for e-Newsletter and visit
www.autoauctionbids.com for more information.
