Car shopping is one of my favorite things to do. When I was sixteen my dad sent me to the dealership with a $6,000 budget and told me to see what I came up with. This came about after shopping with him and failing to agree on anything together. In frustration he sent me to our local dealership thinking I would learn a valuable lesson — the opposite happened. I negotiated a three year-old pre-owned vehicle for $4,000 under sticker! My dad was in shock! I actually told the dealer that I had to have the car for $5,000 instead of the $6,000 so I could talk my dad into giving me the leftover cash. Which, he did… in the form of a gas card.
After I was married, I was excited when my husband asked to go look for a new truck for him. Although he had heard my dealership story dozens of times he, sadly, didn’t let me do much talking. I sat politely (sweet new wife I was) as he walked out paying more than sticker for a truck I wanted to leave on the lot…. he learned a valuable lesson that day and so did I. He learned to listen to his wife, and I learned that being a good wife doesn’t mean being quiet with your family finances.
During our next family vehicle purchase my dad decided to join us. He (giggling like a little girl) held my husband back and said “watch this!”
It was an impressive scene, of course. Again, I walked out of the dealership paying $4,000 less than sticker.
After witnessing my negotiation skills first hand, my husband agreed that I am the one who buys our family vehicles. I have bought and sold almost ten vehicles in our seventeen years of marriage. Each time leaving him speechless. I think buying cars has become my hobby because I love the look of amazement on my husband’s face each time I close a deal.
How I Shop for Cars
There are several things I look at when I am buying a new car. First, I shop at dealerships that don’t have a strong used car clientele. Dealers who aren’t in the “used car business” don’t want pre-owned vehicles on their lot taking up valuable space.
Second, I seek vehicles on their lot from auto makers that the dealership doesn’t specialize in. Again, they don’t want them.
Finally, I shop with cash. Shopping for cars using cash always gives you more negotiating room than when you are contending with a credit report. If you don’t have cash saved for your new car purchase, consider obtaining pre-approval from your bank before you shop. This is another way to make the car buying process smoother for yourself and the dealership.
