Car Buying Tricks - The First Thing to Remember

When you go to buy a new car, the first thing to remember is your last poker game. Don't show your hand to the salesperson. He or she is not a "friend" who will honestly tell you which card to play. When you walk onto the car lot, the salesperson's basic initial goal is to get you to fall in love with a car - and to tell him or her about it. The minute you do that, you've lost that hand and the game.

One of the most subtle of all the car buying tricks is to gently guide you to a car with which you'll fall in love. . This emotional ploy will take you down the "feelings" path of buying and you will always pay for it handsomely. You'll do a much better deal if you stick to logic and facts. If you have some great cards to play (like great credit or lots and lots of time to eat up their day), hold them close to your chest. Take a bag of snacks and refreshments and get prepared for a long battle.

The dealer doesn't care about what car you and your family might need. The dealer just cares about finding the car you just have to have. It may not be the model you really need to drive. The dealer salesperson simply doesn't care about the need of your family. Which vehicle do you want...or crave? Matching you up with a car you just have to have is the first step in the long, drawn-out process of taking as much money from you as possible. The first thing to remember is to keep your mouth shut as much as possible and don't show your true feelings about your dream vehicle.

If you can truly shop for a car without emotional involvement, that's super. The second best ploy is to hide your enthusiasm for any one vehicle. Try not to talk too much about your desire for a certain car. Always keep multiple models (and, if possible, multiple dealerships) in play. The better you are at cloaking your true intent and feelings will keep more cash in your bank account.

Remember, you can stroll out of there at any time. If a dealer tries to keep you from leaving with unreasonable stall tactics (and you can't get access to your car), just call the police. Keep your cell phone charged and ready for just this purpose. Oh, and call a couple of media outlets at the same time. So you can walk away. I've done it as much as three times during one car negotiation (and I still suspect I got shafted). Leave the dealership in the dust. I'd rather be red faced than take another car deal that puts my finances in the red.

Please...don't let the dealer control you and the deal. You must take control of the transaction to keep your valuable and hard earned dollars.

Please...don't let the dealer control you and the deal. You must take control of the transaction to keep your valuable and hard earned dollars.

By Eddie C. Note