Car Audio Blog

Overcoming car dealership pressure

Cars, like people, don’t last forever. Just about anyone finds themselves in front of the sales manager trying to figure out a deal. The office is hectic and there seems to be information coming from everywhere. The atmosphere of the place is part of their strategy, and the point is to distract you and make you feel pressured. You can get pressured to act fast by seeing a lot of customers come and leave with a new car. You must resist the pressure of your environment and slow things down with some simple, but important concepts.

Do your homework first

Information is never more powerful than at a negotiating table. Remember, even at “the sticker is the price” dealerships you are negotiating. You have just as much power as the other guy. They want to sell the car as much as you want to buy it; in today’s economy maybe more so. Take the time to compare prices and terms at area dealerships. Research industry journals and web sites that display sales prices, if they’re available. Having the information isn’t enough, however. You must know it well, say it with confidence, and let the salesman know you know what you are talking about.

Know where you want to end up

In order to end up in the right place, you have to know what your idea of a good deal is. After you’ve done the homework, figure out how much you’re willing to pay. At the table, don’t let the salesman switch units on you. Put it like this, if you talk price do NOT let the suit switch to monthly payment talk. Don’t let him switch to a car that’s similar but you aren’t familiar with. You have researched one car that you want. By switching over to a vehicle you know less about, he gains power of information. Don’t get distracted and keep the conversation on what you want.

Avoid slick and worthless add-ons

According to U.S. News and World Report Rankings and Reviews, apart from having a ridiculously long name, report several extras that only cost you more for no good reason. Number one on the list is extended warranties. Most warranties from manufacturers cover just about anything you need, unless you plan on keeping the car for twenty years. Furthermore, you don’t have to buy the warranty at that moment. It may be cheaper to contact a third party later when you decide you need the warranty.

Another unnecessary add-on is fabric and paint protection. Cans of fabric proctor go for $ 10 from a department store or auto parts store, and do the same job as the stuff the dealership wants to charge an arm and a leg for, those lepers. A third costly add-on listed by U.S. News is rust proofing. Most cars sold in the U.S. are well protected against rust for decades. Since cars use far more plastic these days, rust isn’t as big an issue – it isn’t as if you hear of plastic rusting. Once again, you can probably get any protection you want for less from a third party.

Stick to the deal at hand

The key to car negotiations and other negotiations is to keep focused on your target price and don’t budge. All that extra crap they throw at you is something dealerships do to distract you and make you pay WAY more than you should. If they can throw new things in the mix they erode your power of information and your bargaining position. If the distractions are becoming too much, don’t be afraid to walk away. You will feel better and find a better deal if you do.

Technorati Tags: Add-ons, buy a car, car deal, World Report Rankings

Buy or lease for a new set of wheels?

on a set of financial and personal considerations.

[Answers about buy or lease]

First, check your finances. It is important that you are able to afford the vehicle. Ask yourself, how stable your job is and how healthy you are financially. The short term monthly cost of leasing is definitely lower than making monthly payments on buying: you essentially pay only the portion of the car that you use up upon the time that you actually drive it.

If you have a lot of cash up front, then you can opt to pay the down payment, sales taxes – in cash or rolled into a loan – and the interest rate determined by your loan company. Buying effectively gives you ownership of the car and that feeling of “free driving” that goes on providing transportation.

similar to the interest rate on a financing loan.

payments will result in stiff financial penalties and can ruin your credit. You need to make sure you carve out the monthly lease payment in your budget for the foreseeable future, at least for the duration of the lease.   

car means to you: are you the sort of person to bond with the car or would you rather have the excitement of something new? 

If you want to drive a car for more than fives years, negotiate carefully and buy the car you like. If, on the other hand, you don’t like the idea of ownership and prefer to drive a new car every two to three years then you should lease.

Next, factor your transportation needs: How many miles do you drive a year? How properly do you maintain your cars? If you answer is: “I drive 40,000 miles a year and I don’t really care much about my cars as I don’t mind dealing with repair bills”, then you’re probably better off buying.

Leasing is based on the assumption of limited-mileage, usually no more than 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, and wear-and-tear considerations.

Unless you can keep within the prescribed mileage limits and keep the car in a good condition at the end of your lease, you might incurhefty end-of-lease costs.

Article by: [Mike B.] , find out more about [Here] .

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