| Before you even set foot at the car dealer, you should | | | | so you want to make sure that you get the best |
| have already calculated your baseline cost of the car | | | | overall deal... and not just the best price. |
| your wanting to look at. Especially these days with the | | | | Once you have completed your research, only then |
| power of the Internet, there is really no excuse for not | | | | should you venture out and actually start the car |
| doing this. | | | | buying process. Keep in mind that salespeople are just |
| Remember, the first rule of negotiating car prices is | | | | that. They are there to sell you a car. So, if at anytime |
| that you always work from your baseline cost up and | | | | during the process you feel like you need to do some |
| never from sticker down toward your baseline. | | | | additional research, you don't have enough information, |
| You'll not normally find any dealer that is willing to | | | | or the salesperson is just making you feel a bit |
| ultimately sell you a car below their actual cost, but a | | | | uncomfortable; stop the process and take a step back. |
| good place to set your baseline cost would be the | | | | So many people make the mistake of going out to buy |
| retail price minus the holdback and any manufacturer | | | | a car and don't quit until they do... even though it may |
| rebates or incentives. | | | | not feel right. They think that they don't want to have |
| So how far above your baseline cost is ultimately | | | | to start the whole car buying process over |
| considered a good deal on your car price? | | | | somewhere else so they just keep forging forward... |
| There really isn't a hard and fast answer to this | | | | and this can be a costly mistake. |
| because of all the market variables involved in just | | | | Remember, there is no rule that says just because |
| how much the dealer is willing to work with you. But by | | | | you started the car buying process you have to finish |
| in large the biggest factor is simply the supply and | | | | it that day. Go home, regroup, and get some additional |
| demand for the type of car that your are looking at. If | | | | research done if necessary, or just take a break until |
| demand is high and the supply to the dealer is good | | | | another day. |
| then you've got a much better chance to stay closer | | | | The biggest advantage that you have is that you are |
| to your baseline car price. | | | | the potential buyer and therefore you are in control... |
| So, having said this, your goal should be to purchase | | | | not the dealer. Without you, there is no deal. So take |
| the car at the best possible price you can find or deal | | | | advantage of this when car pricing and buying and |
| that you can work. But, as a reminder, there are other | | | | you'll come out happy and ahead. |
| costs associated with any car deal such as financing, | | | | |