Any car buying tips ya'all can help me with?

Congratulations Peenky -

Buying a car is very exciting. Buying a car from a car dealership can be a very daunting task for most people. Before you rush out and spend that hard earned money, take a deep breath and ask yourself a few questions first.

Careful with some of the advice that's being offered to you in the above comments. Some of them are car buying myths that have been floating around for a long time. Car selling hasn't changed, however car buying has.

First off, ask yourself if you're wanting to buy a new or used car? There are pros and cons to both. What's important to you in your new car? How will you be using your new car? How long will you be keeping your car? Are you wanting to pay for the entire car in cash or are you going to start building your credit history by financing part of it?

If you're buying a used car make sure you have it thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic and make sure you get a vehicle history report. By doing this up front will save you money. Last thing you want is to spend your money on someone else's problems. One last thing, if you buy a used car you may want to think about shopping prices on an extended warranty for any problems that may arise in the future.

Time of day: Car dealerships are busiest during the weekends. Personally I would go early in the week, late morning or afternoon on a sunny day. This is when car dealerships are the least busy and don't sell many cars. By going at this time you will be treated like a queen with the salesperson's undivided attention.

Of course the later towards the end of the month the better because this is when salesman and Managers are trying to hit their quotas. Oh, going while it's raining to get a good deal is truly a myth. Car dealer's believe that you must really need a car if you're out shopping in the rain. Not to mention you'll get soaked.

Big dealer or small one: All new car dealers across the United States buy their new cars from the manufacturer for the same price. It's up to the car dealership how much they will discount the price for you. Some higher demand cars or hard to get cars may not get much of a discount or no discount at all. If this is the case you may want to choose a different model or wait until the popularity wears off.

There is no exact way to tell how much a dealer paid for a used car without having some insider information. There are ways to find out what a used car is worth wholesale and you can determine a price to pay from there. Again always have a used car inspected and get a vehicle history report.

Negotitating: Ablsolutely yes, however there are several ways to bypass the negotiating process all together. You can find invoice prices, rebates and incentives on a car without ever stepping foot into a car dealership. You can even have them send you discounted price quotes for free. Then use them to get even a better deal.

You can get quotes on everything from prices, financing rates, warranties, and even car insurance rates online absolutely free if you know where to look. Having this information puts you on an even playing field and will help you when dealing with car dealerships.

If you choose to negotiate the price of a new car on your own NEVER negotiate from the sticker price or MSRP. Always negotiate at invoice or below and work from there.

It's always good to take someone with you to a car dealership. A parent or close friend that puts your well being first is the best. As exciting as buying a car is, getting wrapped up in emotions when buying a car can be a very expensive mistake. Keep your wits about you at all times. Car dealerships are designed from the ground up to take your money.

Car salesman are professionals and are very good at what they do. Don't let them sell you something you don't want or better yet, can't afford. Take your time, do it right and you'll enjoy your car for years to come.

Take your time and do your research. Good luck buying your new car Peenky!

Hott or Nott, the best time to buy a car (new OR used) is at the end of the month, during bad weather.

If you have a large down payment, makes NO difference, actually, you can get a better deal if you finance.

How come?

Most dealerships have contests running and ending at the end of the month for sales made with salesmen/women(ladies, some are not so lady-like).

During bad weather because it has likely been a slow day (they are now hard-up).

If you finance the deal, the salesperson also makes a commission on arranging the finance agreement, so he/she tries harder, same goes for extra 'stuff' like undercoating, racing stripes, trunk liners, engine shampoos, and all kinds of 'perks' they can think of.

So, end of day, week, month.

During bad weather (if possible).

The more 'crap' you order, the better your chances of making a deal.

Financing is included in 'crap'.

PS: Whether you have a trade or not makes no diff, they simply adjust the wholesale and retail amounts to make you think that you are getting a GREAT deal, not so.

;-)

Top 'Do's" in Car buying:

1) DO drive and have the car you want professionally inspected before you buy it.

2) DO walk out of the dealership if the salesperson raises the price from what was previously negotiated via phone or email.

3) DO negotiate one thing at a time. - Purchase price of car, then trade-in value, then financing.

4) DO put the down payment on a credit card if you can. In case the dealer goes out of business, it is easier to recover.

5) DO make sure the dealer pays off your trade-in promptly. You are responsible for payments until it is paid off.

Top DON'T'S in car buying:

1) DON'T visit a dealership offering 'specials' where your car is 'a desired trade-in'. These are run by 3rd parties that maximize dealer profit.

2) DON'T purchase unnecessary extras like VIN etching,extended warranties,rust proofing and fabric protection.

3) DON'T take delivery of a vehicle before financing is final.

Buying a used car privately

Don't buy a car on 'private sale' terms if you suspect the seller might be a dealer.

If you call in response to an advert, say you're calling 'about the car you advertised'. If the seller has to ask which car, they may be a dealer.

Be wary of adverts quoting mobile numbers or numbers that appear in several ads.

Don't let the owner bring the car to you or meet you in a layby, petrol station or similar – view it at their home, in daylight.

Take someone with you for company and security

Does the seller really appear to be the owner?

Is it their home?

They should be familiar with the car and its controls.

Bring your daddy...seriously bring someone to keep you reserved and to help get ALL the details. Go in with a open mind as to the kind of car you want, NEVA seem anxious or TOO willing to focus on one car in particular. If you're considering a brand new one model, pick what you like/want and do it on line for the best price and play one against the other. Used cars, bring a mechanic check it out first.