Buying a car is a lot like going to the amusement park and entering the room of mirrors. Some people cruise right through, but most spend their time negotiating dead-end passageways. But that’s entertainment. Purchasing a car isn’t.
Let’s say the amusement park is having a contest and the person that goes through the maze with the fastest time wins $5,000. Now, let’s say your brother-in-law was on the construction crew that built the room of mirrors and he has a copy of the blueprints. Well, it would be unethical for you to enter the contest with his blueprints, but when it comes to buying or leasing a car not only is it perfectly ethical to have a copy of the dealer’s blueprints – it’s very costly if you don’t.
You can spend countless hours reading every book, buyer’s guide, and website related to car purchasing and still get taken. What’s really needed, in addition to the “dealer’s blueprint†for the car your buying, is industry knowledge and negotiating experience. Is there a “best time of year†to purchase a new car? Yes. Can the dealer on the south side of town have better “hidden†dealer incentives than the dealer on the north side of town (or visa versa)? Absolutely.
Should I let the local dealer “locate†a car for me since they don’t have the car I want on the lot? Absolutely not! You’ll over pay for sure and there are several ways for the dealer to increase their profits. Also, you’ll likely lose the ability to negotiate a lower price in this situation.
You have Kelly Bluebook and Edmunds dealer invoice pricing in hand and now you’re ready to enter the dealership right? Think again. Dealer invoice from these sources is only the tip of the iceberg. Don’t even think of entering a dealership until you have all the information you’ll need to get the best deal. Until you have all the information in hand, the only reason you should enter a dealership is to test-drive cars to determine which car you want to buy.
There are numerous dealer scams and many “ethical†dealers. Differentiating between the two isn’t rocket science, but you do need the right tools, the right information, and possibly a Car Buying Coach (CBC).
If you want a Coach with the knowledge and automotive experience to help you get the best deal, contact us. We are able to help on a limited basis (time permitting). We charge a nominal fee for CBC services and we’re totally upfront about our fees. You can save thousands and it doesn’t cost you anything to call us to find out more about our services. We hate to see people get taken when purchasing a car because there is absolutely no reason it should happen. We’re fighting for you, the consumer, and we’re winning.
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Any recommendations on a good approach/plan when buying a used car on the internet?
John,
I know several people that purchased their car on the Internet. All of them contacted someone local for mechanic recommendations and then had a local mechanic check out the car prior to the purchase. Or they new someone in a car club that they trusted to check it out for them.
You’ll likely need to pay for an hour of the mechanics time, but always well worth the cost.
What kind of car are you looking to buy?
If you’re looking for a “high-end” car, I work with a guy that locates fine automobiles for a fee. We also have an auction system to sell cars through out network (all qualified buyers). Hope this helps.