How to buy a car (or any other big ticket item for that matter):
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NEVER fall in love with a single car. There are plenty of others just like it that can be had elsewhere.
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NEVER get emotionally involved in the buying process. As soon as you feel your emotions get involved, walk away from the deal, you are open to being screwed. This is extremely important and is the #1 way that car dealers stroke people over. Seriously. Hear my words of wisdom after 10 years in sales. The 2 most powerful sales techniques are (1) the "Harm 'n' Flip" which involves telling the potential buyer first why they probably couldn't get the product elsewhere and then second why they can get it there, and (2) the "Take Away," where the sales person asserts a position of strength in the transaction by appearing that he no longer wants to sell the product to the customer. Both of these are very emotional sales closes. Beware compliments as well as "harms," they are meant to throw you off guard and make you feel slightly conceited and comfortable.
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Know exactly what it is you want to buy BEFORE you buy. This is crucial to car buying. Do not let the dealer decide for you because they will try to put you in their worst selling car for top price. Research, research, research. Sitting down at the dealership is the LAST step to car buying. Before you decide to negotiate price at a dealership, you should already know EXACTLY what you plan on buying, right down to the make, model, color, options, and (most importantly) price. The internet is an amazing research deal. I strongly recommend pricing the car out on the manufacturers' website, checking out
Edmunds.com (their TMV price is the MOST you want to pay, not the least, I got my last car for $500 under their TMV), and contacting car buying services like
Carsdirect.com (unlike most internet car buying services, Carsdirect will let you price out and option the car in advance, and their target price is very indicative of the best price for that car in your area).
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Never be afraid to walk away. Or to be rude for that matter. As the customer, you are the boss. I'm not saying to be rude unnecessarily. That is not only wrong but will weaken your position in the process. When walking car lots, I am very nice to the salespeople, but very upfront as well. If I am just there to test drive, I tell them that right away and caution them against wasting their time. One of the first things that I do is inform them that I will be extremely honest with them, and that I will expect the same from them as well. I warn them that I will not tolerate any lies, and that the first time I catch them in a lie, ESPECIALLY a small one, I will walk. Which I do.
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Control the buying process. Have you ever noticed that salespeople are always asking questions? Have you ever wondered why they do that? Seems kind of strange,
doesn't it? You don't know why they always ask questions,
do you? Well, duh, it's so they can control the conversation and the buying process. Everytime you say "yes" you are committing yourself further and further into the deal. So YOU ask the questions. Also, have you ever wondered why they keep you waiting unnecessarily? Same thing, control and (most importantly) investment into the buying decision (via your time). Don't do it. 15-20 minutes waits are one thing. Get left alone for 30 minutes, walk to the front desk and announce who you are, who your salesperson is, and that you are leaving, and then proceed to leave (but remember to never be emotional, even when the salesperson chases after you, which they will). Now you are in control.
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Never pretend to know something that you don't actually know. Salespeople are NOT smarter than you, but they do have a lot more practice and experience than you do. Remember that. For example, as a mortgage loan officer, I take more loan applications IN ONE WEEK than any of my customers ever will in their entire lifetime. Do not be arrogant or tell the salesperson how to do his job. Through constant practice and experience, he/she actually is better at you than this and, if you piss him/her off, they just might be inclined to spank you just for fun or spite. Do not invite this.
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The salesperson is not your enemy. I'm going to (in my usual fashion) break all conventional wisdom at this time. When shopping for a big-ticket something, you are not looking for the best price or the best deal. You're looking for the best, most hard-working, most honest salesperson you can find. The person who does it all for you, finds exactly what you want when you want it, who never lies to you, and who makes you feel good about the buying process and what you are buying. Believe it or not, this is what you really want (and is why salesperson won't go away and why internet buying sites have not and never will be successful). And those type of salespeople do not work for free (do you?). In fact, it's important to remember that only desperate, incompetent salespeople work for free.
Good Luck.
Oh, and I could suggest the Subaru WRX? If you're a "driver," it's an amazing car for the money.
edited: formatting
