From the Dealer

(New & Used)

• First identify the car you want - that is within your budget to purchase and to maintain.

• Ask around the place, your colleague, your friends on which dealership in the area is the best, you can be as specific as the salesperson you want.

• Before you go to the dealer, try to arrange financing. If you have done enough shopping around for financing, chances are that you will find a lower rate compared to the dealer. If you are paying cash, that is much better.

• When you are ready to actually go look at your dream cars, bring along a friend how is experienced in the automotive world. You maybe a top-notch person yourself, but there is no harm having an extra set of eyes!

• Once you have  "chosen" the car you want. Talk to the sales person about pricing. This is where 2 people are better than one. Remember once the price has been set, read all the  documents and understand them. Read every line especially the fine print. Also make sure the salesperson includes all his verbal promises in the signed documents. Also take great note about the services and warranty that comes with the car.

• Buying a used car from the dealer? Follow the same steps about and checkout the right hand column for more "used car checks"  information

   

From a Private Seller

(used)

• NEVER buy a car without test driving it!

• Check auto and consumer magazines for information on the reliability records of various models. There are certain makes & models that are just prone to problems. Avoid trouble from the beginning.

• Run a Carfax report. NEVER buy a car without running a Carfax report. Based on my personal experience when trying to purchase a car, 2 out of 10 cars had problems.

• Find out the retail and wholesale price of the vehicle you're interested in buying. This will improve your knowledge of the price and you can better negotiate with the seller.
  
  
• As mentioned before, Test drive the vehicle you plan to buy and if possible bring it to a trusted mechanic, not the sellers mechanic
  
  
• Ask the seller if the car has ever been in an accident. Check for rust, dents, paint discolorations, etc. (These are signs of wear and tear and accidents.) Even though the carfax report may come clean, try to look out for odometer tampering, the symptom are the white lines between the numbers that do not line up, or there is vibration of the 1/10-mile numbers while the car is moving.

• Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate, this is the fun part. Depending on how much higher the seller's price is. Keep negotiating and "threaten" to walk away if he does not meet the price you want. usually sellers won't mind knocking of a couple hundred dollars as long as you say "I will buy the car right now if you take $X off". If you do not agree with the price, walk away. If he thinks your price is a good one, he will call you back.