Car Buying Tips: 9.5 Tips Nobody Else Will Tell You

By J.D. Rucker

Sometimes the best way to buy a car is to think outside of the box. In this article, I'll show you how to turn the box inside out and have the absolute best car buying experience ever.

If you're reading this article, you are savvy enough to look for information before you undergo the root-canal procedure known as car buying. If you are the type of person who can keep an open
mind and maintain focus on the details, you should be able to use this information to quell any potential pains in the process.

 (1) Eat Before You Go The last thing you want to hear when in the heat of an important negotiation is your stomach. It has been scientifically proven that hunger can cloud our judgment and negatively affect our state of mind.

Eat. A car deal can take a long time to complete. Even those who pride themselves on being able to get in and out of a dealership can often run into the unforeseeable roadblock of waiting to get into finance to finalize the deal. A pleasant meal before embarking can eliminate a potentially unpleasant factor in the process.

 (2) Ask the Receptionist Most receptionists at car dealerships know more about salespeople, their styles, and their pitfalls than anyone. They are the least biased employees because their pay is rarely affected whether you buy a car or not.

Call ahead and ask point blank, "I really want an honest, pleasant salesperson to work with me. If you were buying a car, who would you want to buy it from?"

Some will answer. Some will need prodding. If you can get a response, it will most likely be a useful one.

 (3) Bring Donuts: First impressions are important whenever you meet someone new, especially those who can help you. Salespeople are primarily out to help themselves (as most people are), but that
indirectly means they want to help you to help them make money. If you don't buy, they made nothing.

Bringing donuts sets the tone. You will be instantly liked, not only by your salesperson, but everyone who indulges in your treats. It sounds insane, but when it comes down to those final negotiating dollars and cents, a considerate customer will receive more consideration from the dealership.

If they like you and want you to be their customer, there is a decent chance they will step out a little further to earn your business. If it saves you $50, $100, or $500, why wouldn't you want to spend $10 on a couple of boxes of donuts?

 (4) Prepare to Make a Day of It It's possible to buy a car in an hour or less. It's also possible to win the lottery. I would wager that the latter happens more often than the prior.

If you set aside a full day and start early, there won't be any time constraints that can ruin a car deal. If you are able to wrap it up in 3 hours, that's more time for the mall, golfing, or showing your new ride to friends and family. If it turns into an 8-hour day, at least you were prepared for it.

It happens every day. Someone goes to a dealership, finds a car, starts to negotiate, but has to leave for one reason or another. The next day, the car is gone. They can get mad, but the reality
is that people regularly promise to come back the next day and never show. Unless they put a deposit down, most vehicles cannot be held.

 (5) No Distractions Dealerships are rarely good places to bring kids. Buying a car can be long, tedious, and overall unpleasant. Don't make it worse by bringing your (or someone else's)
children if at all possible.

Set your phone to silent. If you can't, make sure the office and everyone else knows to only call for emergencies. Treat buying a car as if it is something important. That shouldn't be hard - it
IS important.

 (6) Take a Long Test Drive When you narrow it down to a vehicle that truly piques your interest, ask to take an extended test drive without a salesperson. With most state laws regarding insurance, your full coverage should cover it. Any dealership who won't allow it is one that doesn't like losing control of a customer, and thus probably isn't the right place to do business.

Drive it on the highway. Find an empty parking lot if possible and test the feel of the brakes (without putting yourself in danger). Spend some time with your favorite station/cd/mp3 playing. Spend some time with the stereo off.

After learning your car buying tips, check out an online resource here to buy your car now?

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