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QUICK HITS
Advice for Car Buyers
For Women:
BUYING
RULE ONE: NEVER fall in love with a car before you own it ! This is just like dating…you date someone because they appear to have the characteristics of someone you could care about, but you don't propose (or accept) on the first date!
v Always have your own financing before deciding on your next vehicle. Not only will this save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, it alerts the dealership that you are focused and ready to pull the trigger. In other words, if they trifle with you, you might take your pre-approved loan anywhere else at any time.
v Always pretend to keep your significant male friends in the loop…or they will insist on explaining to you how much money they could have saved you if only…(Only you need to know that they could not).
v Investigate completely which vehicle will make you smile every day just by looking at it. Try www.myproductadvisor.com. This site features an eclectic mix of products, and 'new cars' is one of them. It utilizes an intuitive and progressive questionnaire, and will spit out twenty options for you. It deals only with new cars, which I recommend only for those who have too much money, but it will certainly point you towards makes and models.
v Investigate pricing to determine a good price and a great price. Use the vast databases of Autotrader.com and Cars.com to determine what the average market prices are, and check out any regional variances. You will not need to ask anyone what a fair price is, because you will know what they are selling for.
v Deal only with the internet department. They are used to negotiating a deal over the phone and are a bit less likely to mislead you or jerk you around.
v Always be ready to leave when they mislead you and jerk you around. If you make everything crystal clear and have your own financing in place, your contract should be simple and straightforward. Expect to pay for registration, a paperwork handling fee ('Doc. Fee'), and tax. That is it. Tell them in advance that you will leave right away if it is not correct, and be prepared to do so.
v Spend more time making your game plan and less time with the dealer. Remember, you have the leverage at the dealership until you have invested hours of your time.
SELLING
RULE ONE: You mustn't trade in your old car. No matter what year, what car, what condition, this represents thousands of dollars.
v Make a timetable for your next purchase. This will give you time to do your research on the next one, and enable you to properly price this one.
v Detail the car. Make sure it looks as good as it can look. Remove old Starbucks product.
v Research how much cars like yours are selling for. Kelly Blue Book is okay, but it is theoretical. Look at Cars.com and Autotrader.com and find out what these cars are selling for in the country, then the region.
v Price it according to your timetable. Add a thousand dollars so you can play the game when you are ready to negotiate. Always wait for an offer, never cut your price prematurely, and always counter halfway.
v NOW, you can make a guy feel somewhat useful…let him show the car to prospective buyers, particularly if it is after dark. However, don't let him 'negotiate' for you. EVER. Well, unless it’s your Dad…then, you really have no choice…
Peter W. Robinson is the owner of Movinmetal, Inc. and the author of the upcoming CAR FU: Self Defense for Car Buyers. He is dedicated to improving the car buying experience, and can be reached for free advice at 760-688-6398 or through www.movinmetal.com.
©Copyright 2007 Peter W. Robinson All Rights Reserved
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