10 Common Car-Buying Mistakes

[Scorpio]

10 Common Car-Buying Mistakes

Many shoppers blunder through the car-purchasing process and regret it later. Here are 10 common missteps and how to avoid them.

By Matthew de Paula of MSN Autos



Salesman and buyer talking between two cars. (© MSN)

Walking onto a car lot can feel like a train wreck in slow motion: At every turn you get a little more derailed, until finally you're off the tracks entirely and the dealership has what it wants: your entire bank account.

Part of the problem is the sheer number of variables involved in negotiating the sale: the price, the options, the financing, the monthly payment, maybe a trade-in. You should methodically research and consider every conceivable scenario before setting foot on a dealer's lot. Otherwise, dealers will do everything they can to tilt the transaction in their favor.

"They're looking at making money off you in stages," says Jeff Bartlett, deputy online editor for autos at Consumer Reports, "so it's important for customers to keep the stages separate and not lose track of what's going on."

To help you do that, we talked with several experts about the most common mistakes that car buyers make and what you can do to avoid them.

The goal is not to pull one over on dealers — they're hard-working folks trying to earn a living, too. It's about arming yourself with as much information as possible to make the best decision on what is for many people the second-largest purchase of their lives.

Bing: Car-Buying Nightmares

Buying Unnecessary Add-Ons

Some dealers might try to sell features they add on themselves, such as rust-proofing, VIN etching or fabric protector. Avoid them; they're unnecessary, Bartlett says. If the vehicle you want already has them, negotiate their cost down as much as possible. Research features you do want online and print out the information before heading to the dealer. Bartlett recommends pricing several different variations in case the dealer doesn't have the exact model you want. This can help avoid being up-sold to pricier models or to ones with features you don't need or want.


Not Enough Cross-Shopping

Many car shoppers focus on a few popular brands or models, to their detriment. "On average, people only shop about three vehicles," says Steve Witten, executive director of U.S. automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "If someone's shopping a midsize car, there are probably at least 10 different vehicles that would meet their exact specifications and needs," he says. In terms of safety, reliability and features, there are very few lemons for sale anymore. So don't get stuck on one brand and put blinders on about others because of old perceptions. Cast a wide net when comparing models online. Otherwise, you might miss a good value or overlook your ideal car.

Bing: Cars For Sale

Settling for What Is on the Lot

American car buyers are impatient. Only 5 percent special-order a vehicle through a dealer and wait for it to be delivered, according to J.D. Power. The other 95 percent either find exactly what they want on the lot, or settle for something that's not quite what they wanted. There's no reason to do that when making such a large purchase. If you're set on a specific model or feature that you don't see in stock, dealers can search nationwide inventories and have vehicles shipped from several states away, Witten says. They can also custom-order exactly what you want from the factory.

View Slideshow: Automotive Turkeys for 2010

Skipping the Test Drive


Consumer Reports' Bartlett hears family and friends complain about uncomfortable seats, poor visibility or a stiff suspension in vehicles they have just bought. It's because they did not perform a thorough test drive — if they did one at all. He recommends spending 30 minutes driving the car, entering and exiting the highway, taking it on roads like those you drive every day. Be sure to take competing models for a spin, too. "It will reaffirm that you made the best decision ever, or you might find that you like one of the other ones better," Bartlett says.

Bing: How to Test Drive a Car

Focusing on the Monthly Payment

One of the first questions salespeople ask is, "So, how much were you looking to spend per month?" It's to your benefit not to focus on that number, because doing so can make the final price of the car a moving target. Adding "only $50 a month" to get leather and more power might sound tempting, but it will add thousands to the bottom line. Part of this goes back to knowing what you truly need or want. The other part involves negotiating the total price of the vehicle, not the monthly payment. Breaking up the buying process can help: Part one is choosing the car; part two is settling on a price; part three is financing. Be clear with the salesperson what you want to focus on for each step so you don't get sidetracked.

more:
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/lista...mentid=1171403

[Not Sure]

Never go solo! Always have a knowledgeable, forward family member/friend to keep the salesman at bay, while you focus on what's important to you.

The active tag-teamer in my social circle is usually me, with me doing "fact checks" on the salesman's claims. Once, I had a salesman arrogantly insist, against my explanation, that an engine was a V-6, and I said, "open the hood." 8 plug wires...ooops.

The active tag-teamer is also great when you get to the finance department. They help with the "don't focus on monthly payments" recommendation cited.

[<SLV>]

I won't buy from a dealer. HATE the slimy feel of all car dealerships. I'd rather shop the country and fly to Texas to drive back a better deal from Ebay.

[GOLDZILLA]

I usually buy one that has a nice dent in the fender or rear quarter because that means the guy who sold it most likely was embarassed to be seen in it rather than because the tranny or engine is about to blow. Also usually go for the biggest car with biggest motor because prev owner probably sold due to gas prices and not mechanical troubles. I also decide beforehand how much I will pay and take exactly that much in cash and show it to the dealer. If he passes on it which is about 10% of the time I give him my phone number in case he changes his mind (and he always does).

[Goldhedge]

In college had a roommate years ago. His dad bought cars like this:

He'd do the research and learn what the dealer paid for the car.

He'd walk into the dealer and when the salesman approached he'd say, "Let me talk to your boss."

This of course, put the sales guy in the lurch. If he wouldn't get his boss, he'd walk out.

When he got to talk to the bossman, he tell him, "I know what this car cost you. How would you like to make
$250 in the next 15 minutes?" and he'd tell him the price he would pay.

If the boss balked, he'd walk out and go to the next dealer.

More often than not, he got his price.

[lhslancers3270]

Like anything else in this world never start shopping for a car when you need one.

Another tidbit for ya. Always go to a pick up bar with a female friend.

[DodgebyDave]

Carfax has been a game changer, don't be afraid to ask for one, even on a brand new 1.1 mile on the clock sweety.