Things You'll Need:
- Internet access
- A notebook
- Your best poker face
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Step 1
This should be you. Times two.RESEARCH. Identify EXACTLY the car you want, down to the color of the friggin cupholder. This is the only thing I recommend using the dealer's website for. All of them have these wonderful programs which allow you to customize your vehicle. Use it, print out the cars you want, and then forget those websites ever existed.
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Step 2
You must properly prepare in order to kick the proper arse.PRICING Part I. Use Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) to find out what the TOP price you should even CONSIDER paying for your cars. Kelley will show you MSRP for exactly the features you want. Print out each of these sheets and keep them. But remember, the S in MSRP stands for "suggested." So we're not done yet. You can also work out monthly payments on their calculator. It's right there on the front page, so DO IT.
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Step 3
Turn the tables on them from the very beginning.PRICING Part II. Call the dealerships and ask each salesman, "I want X car with Y and Z features. Can you beat P price?" (Don't tell them where you got the price from.) They are going to ask you for information; they are going to ask you to come in. Don't give it, and don't go. Yet. You are GATHERING information, and you don't have to be nice about it, either. Anyone who beats the price you have, take their information. Keep calling and stairstep the price down as much as possible. Take the salesman's information who gives you the best price.
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Step 4
With all due respect, I don't care about your kids, sir. I'm here for my @#^%@#$ Mustang.GO IN. Armed with your research, and certainty about what you want, you are going in for one reason: To haggle the price down some more. After you test drive the car to make sure it's what you want, lay into that salesman. Don't ever let him control the conversation or get you sucked into that monthly payment talk. Remember, do that at home! You are talking "OUT THE DOOR PRICE" and that. Is. It. Tell that hapless sumbitch that the number you talk about better be the number at the BOTTOM of the page; no added fees, and no, you don't give a crap about the taxes they have to pay. They'll tell you they're not making any profit. They'll tell you your credit score's not quite there. They'll tell you anything. Ignore it all. OUT THE DOOR PRICE or SHUT UP. If you ever get confused or nervous, refer back to your folder of car prices and focus on that. NO extended warranties, especially in California. We have a Lemon Law!
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Step 5
Little did you know that's actually Optimus Prime you just sold for $900.TRADE IN. If you have a car to trade in, they'll try to get you to accept the auction price. NO! Unless your car is an absolute dog, like 20 years old, no engine, KBB "fair" value is the lowest you can go. Hold out on the whole deal if you don't get your way. Don't be afraid to walk out and wait. Remember, it's their job to sell you a car; it's not your job to buy one. They'll call back.
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Step 6
And then, he let her know what he REALLY thought.GIVE EM THE FINGER. Even with all these tips, the car salesman is one of the sneakiest, dirtiest tricksters in the book. He probably gotcha in some way you don't know, and more importantly, can't prove. So at the end, don't shake hands like you won - you're just giving him ammo to laugh at you over that watered down Bud Light he'll be having with his snake oil friends in the seedy, disease infested strip joint they frequent after haranguing the public. So ride, Sally Jo, ride into the wind knowing that at least you didn't pay sticker. Peace out!
