Tips from my dad about buying a car
- Go in at the end of the month - Buy the model of the year right before the model for the next year comes out (dealers get desperate to sell the old models) - Refuse to put any money down. Say that if they ask you to put down money, you’ll leave - Seriously. If they ask you to put down money say you need to go and walk out - If there’s another dealership nearby, tell them that you’re walking there right after you leave - If a deal seems unfair but you really like the car, tell them you’re going to another dealership and leave. Chances are, they’ll call back the next day with a better deal - If possible, after the first call wait till the last few days of the month and they’ll likely call again with an even better deal - Look around for family and friends that need a car. If you buy more than one car from the same dealership you’ll get a much better deal - If a family member/friend is looking for a used car while you’re looking for a new car or vice versa, still get the used car from the same dealership - If you decide to buy a new car after a few years, trade in the old car and buy a new one from the same dealership. Companies appreciate loyalty and will likely offer you a lower price
UPDATED (My dad went to college for finance, more specifically he looked a lot at stocks and how to sell things for a maximum profit. He learned it from the perspective of the company but it also works in his advantage)
- When you walk into a dealership, the salesperson will immediately “be your friend”. They’ll act like it’s you and them against dealership - Sometimes a salesperson will offer to talk to the manager. This does not mean anything. Chances are, they’re going to have small talk for a few minutes and come back out - Carefully consider the usefulness of an extended warranty. You’re losing money unless there’s an accident or issue soon after you buy the car - This wasn’t so clear before, but you’re still going to have to pay a down payment. What you should refuse is a securing payment - The securing payment is a psychological trick. You feel more tied to the company so you’re more likely to buy from them - You’re extremely more likely to buy at the last place you go, but with the securing payment you’re less likely to go to another dealership due to a sense of commitment - A salesperson may say it’s a limited time deal. Most times, unless this is the last of that years model, or it’s a special event, the deal is not going away and will still be there if you decide to go back. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but you should be suspicious if it’s said to you - Save money by asking to buy the floor model. There’s no mileage on it, but it’s worth less because people have sat in it - Or, ask to buy the demo if you’re willing to buy a car with some mileage. The depreciation of the price is usually worth it - Each can get you a few thousand dollars off due to the fact that it is technically not a “new” car anymore - Always look at the websites and play around with the build a car, payment calculators, or anything other offered features. Make sure when you’re using it you look at the down payment and the number of months that you will be paying for the car over - Try to not buy a really obscure model because the trade in value will be lower - Get the maximum down payment you can afford to lower the interest cost - Look for a crash rating test. A 5 is going to get good trade in value, and is much safer
(This was written in NY so there might be exceptions in other states or countries)
I needed this thank you
