Table Talk

Here is what I learned about car buying:

Most important - do all your car research before going to a dealer.

If you have multiple dealers of the same car manufacturer in the area find out which dealer is number 1 in sales. Then go to the other dealer.

Go at the end of the month. Salesmen and dealers are in a huge mess to try and make their numbers.

Talk specifically about a car on their lot. It gives you more power than if they have to find the car you want because they need to get rid of their inventory.

Whichever car you like on the lot, it doesn't have just every feature you want. There are multiple features missing that you don't like about it. Make that very clear.

The sticker price is just a number, you want to know the invoice price. I don't know the best way you ask to see this, but get it, it is how much the dealer is on the hook for for the car. I am sure it varies but employee pricing is basically $100 over the invoice price.

Even if you are happy with the first offer they give you, you are not happy with the first offer they give you. The other dealer, number 1 in sales dealer, is going to beat that offer by at least $100. Number 2 in sales dealer is very aware of this.

Leaving after sitting down with a salesman is your greatest power, not the money you have. If you get up and leave you got the hook out of your mouth and are gone, forever for all they know. Make it clear there is only one way for them to make you leave with a car before you get up and go shop around, visit the other dealers, look at other cars and think about your decision.

And that's how I own a new car.