Most Common Extras at Closing
 

As you can see, these extras add up quickly and will impact your bottom line.  If at all possible you should avoid them altogether. Not that the dealer doesn't deserve to make a profit, but they are worth far more to the dealer than they are to you.

By now, you should know everything you need to know in order to get the best possible deal on your new car.  You've also learned the inside secrets of the scams the dealers will attempt on you. A lot of research and experience went into preparing this guide to help you avoid the pitfalls of walking into a car dealership unprepared.  

This is the only guide that you will ever need when you get ready to buy a car. Read it again and print it out for review in the days before making your trip to your local car dealer to start the process of getting your new car. A little homework will pay you back many times for your efforts. 

You’ve learned:

• The various tricks (scams) dealers will use on you.
•  Advertising tricks and misleading marketing (more scams).
• How to get the best price for your car by doing homework.
• How to negotiate your opening offer
• How to negotiate in person
• How to calculate your opening offer; have a written "will not pay more than" number before walking into a dealership.  (don't let them see this, though.)
• What the difference is between the factory invoice and MSRP sticker price.

If you feel you've been "taken for a ride" by a car dealership, call the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).  They are the part of the Federal government that is the watchdog for unfair business practices.  You can file a complaint on the Federal Trade Commission website is or by phone at 1-800-FTC-Help (1-800-382-4357). 

Editor's Notes:

There is another "intangible" benefit to doing your homework and successfully negotiating the absolute best deal possible for your new car.  Yes, the time you spend preparing for your dealer visit will pay off in savings of thousands of dollars...Money that you can use for a vacation or whatever. 

But you will also walk away a changed person:  You see, it is a very empowering feeling to know you've walked into a car dealership and been totally in charge and come away a winner.  Not just in charge in your own mind---thinking that you didn't get ripped off just because you didn't let the salesman intimidate you.  But because you actually did get the best deal possible; you were, truly, in charge and the results bear that out. 

Keep in mind that a good car salesman knows that car salesmen, in general, have a bad reputation.  So they'll go out of their way to seem as non-threatening to you as possible.  They know that you're likely to be automatically intimidated when they approach you for the first time. They'll do their best to get on your good side and if they're successful at this, you may not even be aware that any of these scams are  being pulled on you. 

They'll pull them on you in such a non-threatening way such that you may not even care if they're trying to make an extra buck or two.  The problem is, it's not just an extra "buck or two" that they're getting out of you...once you've come to your senses later, you won't be able to look at yourself in the mirror for being such a pushover.  Now you're looking at years of higher payments for your dumb naivite.

Don't be a victim!  The dealer is still making plenty of money off of you.  Believe me.  I've been in this business for quite some time...

But there's no need to be defiant, rude, or combative with a car dealer; if you are prepared you can be cheerful and confident---and when the dealer keeps pulling out another tactic to try to "break" you (with a warm, friendly smile on his face) you can watch in amusement.  Because these strategies will seem familiar to you---it's like watching a show!

Just don't budge on your "won't pay more than this" number---but never, ever, let him know what this figure is!

So go get that new car you've wanted!  (No, not that red Corvette or other new muscle car unless money is no object!)  Few material things in life are as fun to get as a new car.  The dealers realize this, and they capitalize on that fact.  Now you can have your cake and eat it too!

Have Fun,

Chuck B., editor

P.S.  If you feel you've gotten some good info out of this guide, do your friends and family a favor and point them in the direction of buying-new-car.net too!  If any of them are thinking about buying a new car, they'll be grateful and you'll be a 'hero' ;-)  

Good luck on your search and congratulations on sticking with this guide---now you will have much more money for your new car!

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