How to buy a car, new or used...without being screwed
Filed under: Shopping, Simplification, Transportation
This video has been around for a while but Rob Gruhl does such an excellent job at explaining how to purchase a car that it is well worth your time even if you aren't in the market just yet. Even though the focus of the talk is on how to buy a new car, you can easily adapt most of this advice to the used car hunt as well. I've lamented my last car purchase on WalletPop before and I wish I had watched this video before we set foot in the dealership last year.
My favorite piece of information from this video is to remember that you as the buyer have the power when you go into the dealership. There were numerous times during out purchasing that we thought things were iffy but we didn't walk because we got too attached to the car and forgot that we held the power in the transaction. Something that I don't think most people realize when they go in to purchase a car is that, unless you are buying a first edition Dodge Charger, there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of almost identical cars out there for you to purchase.
I wish we had remembered that when we went shopping, instead I got in the mindset that this is the only one we will ever find in our price range and began justifying this and that to ourselves, eventually purchasing the car and getting suckered into GAP insurance and dealer financing. Both of which we ended up switching within a month and saving a bundle. Remember, "If you're doing it right, you'll feel like an ass."
Check out our previous coverage on "How not to buy a car" by Zac Bissonnette
My favorite piece of information from this video is to remember that you as the buyer have the power when you go into the dealership. There were numerous times during out purchasing that we thought things were iffy but we didn't walk because we got too attached to the car and forgot that we held the power in the transaction. Something that I don't think most people realize when they go in to purchase a car is that, unless you are buying a first edition Dodge Charger, there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of almost identical cars out there for you to purchase.
I wish we had remembered that when we went shopping, instead I got in the mindset that this is the only one we will ever find in our price range and began justifying this and that to ourselves, eventually purchasing the car and getting suckered into GAP insurance and dealer financing. Both of which we ended up switching within a month and saving a bundle. Remember, "If you're doing it right, you'll feel like an ass."
Check out our previous coverage on "How not to buy a car" by Zac Bissonnette
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-15-2008 @ 8:03AM
Mark Kopp said...
This video points out the hard work necessary to save money when buying any large ticket item including a new vehicle which required a manufacturer millions of dollars to develop. I would love to see this guy use those same negotiating tactics with a hospital or pharmacy when he needs their services to live a normal life. You might disagree with my anology, but ask yourself when was the last time you went 6 months without reliable transportation or a normal body temperature.
Reply
8-15-2008 @ 8:09AM
Josh Smith said...
Mark, you sound as if he is stealing it form the dealership. It did take a lot of money to develop and it is or at least should be priced accordingly.
As for negotiating with a hospital, I know a lot of people who do this b/c they can't afford the "list price".
Then again maybe I am just bitter b/c the last car we bought, we didn't follow most of those instructions and now have a vehicle that routinely won't start. Not something you expect when buying a 2005 Chevy.
Thankfully at least hospitals provide care after the "sale" the dealership didn't care that the car began showing problems and needed another grand worth of work in the first 2 weeks of ownership.
Finally, the dealer always has the option of not selling at the lower price and waiting for someone else.