Auto buying tips | Car buying secrets

Snoops and Shops: Car Buying Secrets Revealed

The main idea behind any car buying scheme is getting the best car for the least investment. But with loan sharks and shady car sellers on the prowl, how can prospective buyers protect themselves and still get the best deal?

There are a good number of car buying secrets, and all they require are an understanding of the merchandise, the business, and money you have to pay.

Car buying secrets start out with the car itself. It’s easy enough to buy a new vehicle, but used ones will carry their own skeletons in the closet. The problem gets even bigger if you are buying a car from a private dealership, or from someone you know. In that case, ask the following questions:

Why is the dealer or former owner selling the car? Make sure that the person isn’t selling it because of an irreparable problem.

How long has the car been owned? A car buying secret exists on both fronts of the age question. If the car has been previously owned for a long time, chances are it’s been well cared for, but has suffered enough wear and tear. On the other hand, if a car has been previously owned for only a short time, it may be on the market because of an unexpected defect.

Does the car need repairs? Don’t walk away without knowing how much you will have to spend to recondition and maintain the vehicle. A car buying secret consists in making you spend more on the car, not on making it pretty.

How many miles are on the vehicle? Again, another car buying secret rests on both possible answers. You will want a low mileage car, but higher mileage ones aren’t necessarily worn out. Find a car with average mileage, and with fewest repairs needed.

Another car buying secret is to buy the car, and nothing else. Some dealers will insist that you need add-ons, like rust proofing or window etching. Other dealers will not only insist that you get them, but claim that they already came with the car. For the most part, this is pure sales talk, and you will have to pay a lot for these services even if they are hardly worth it.

Another car buying secret is taking care of your money. The key word here is negotiation, and the biggest car buying secret is learning how to negotiate relentlessly. For instance, you can get rebates when buying a car, but don’t introduce rebates into the negotiation until after you have made the deal. This will allow you to have a bigger discount, since your final price will include the selling price, sales tax, and title fees.

Keep away from what sellers call the “packed payment.” This packaged payment is fraught with fees like credit insurance, extended warranty, and the dreaded add-ons. Although it sounds like a good deal, a packed payment lets the seller get more money out of you, and is a typical car selling secret. Your car buying secret? Again, buy the car, and nothing more.

The most rabid sellers can be no match for well applied car buying secrets, and the rule of thumb in car buying is not “beware the car,” but “beware the car salesman.” Never stop negotiating, and never give them the upper hand. But most of all, show them that you know what you are talking about.

For instance, another car buying secret is knowing that cars can be purchased at a cheaper wholesale price. The person in charge of selling cars in bulk to companies such as rental agencies or construction firms is called the fleet manager. If you want the best deal for your car, spring that car buying secret attack the next time you walk into a car dealership, and ask to talk to the fleet manager if the dealership has one.

The fleet manager is the best kept car buying secret. After all, car sellers want to get maximum profit from you, and will steer you away from a lower price. However, if you do get the chance to talk to the fleet manager, chances are you can save yourself the stress of negotiating with a salesperson. Fleet managers are also generally better versed with their products and can give you better deals, and even a better color for the vehicle of your choice!

In the end, the best car buying deals arise from knowing basic car buying secrets. If you know what you’re talking about, and who you should talk to, you can get the car you want at the price you can pay.