The Fast Lane to Car Buying

Flex Your Car-buying Muscle

Flexibility is a must when buying a new car. “It’s a mistake to put too much emphasis on one aspect of the purchase, like price or color,” says Chee. He suggests new-car buyers try not to focus on any single selling point. Instead key in on how you’ll use the car. “Buy a car that fits your lifestyle,” he says.

Size and efficiency are general topics to confront early, says Deanna Sclar, author of Buying a Car for Dummies and Auto Repair for Dummies. Sclar suggests people really question whether they need to drive in a big SUV, because the size and efficiency of your vehicle affects the world around you. “People really need to get the link between their cars and the environment,” says Sclar.

Sclar says going green is a sound decision for consumers who are buying a new car, and suggests consumers seriously consider hybrid and fuel-efficient cars. It’s not only good for the earth, but it can also pay off at the pump. Both hybrid vehicles and cars with fuel-efficient engines boast solid gas mileage, says Sclar. “You won’t have to fill up as often and you can save time that way,” she says.

For Carter Maness, a New York City publicist, fuel efficiency was an important consideration. “Sitting in a gas guzzler wouldn’t have done my wallet or the city skyline any good,” he says. “I checked out ratings on the EPA’s web site and took them into account.” Though a hybrid didn’t fit Carter’s needs, he purchased a Toyota Corolla, the second most fuel-efficient compact option.

There are long-term costs associated with buying a new car that are not included in finance and purchase expenses. Fuel, maintenance, repairs and insurance all cost money. Your wallet is not the only multi-year victim of your car’s performance. The earth suffers as well. Inefficient vehicles burn gas at high rates and poorly maintained cars grow increasingly corrosive with age. Both Chee and Sclar say consumers can avoid a lot of pain by studying these long-term costs before buying a car.

The Car-Buying Bottom Line

Once all expenses have been accounted for and a vehicle has been picked out, it’s time to head to the lot to buy a car. However, your first contact should never come on the day of sale. Instead, car buyers should test drive their vehicles and then request an in-depth cost worksheet and an invoice with the final “out-the-door” price. Those papers should be compared with market values and examined for integrity. Don’t let a hidden “Dealer Satisfaction Fee” or drive-off deposit slip by undetected.

Carter found that being upfront about his desires made the car-buying process move smoothly. “After I’d done all the work getting offers together and organizing my information, I wasn’t going to let my purchase day feel like pulling teeth,” he says.

To prepare for his appointment, Carter organized all of his relevant files—market value, price quotes, legal information, financing options—and dressed professionally. Once he arrived at the dealership to buy the car, Carter says he took control of the negotiations. “I was straightforward from the start. I told them what I wanted to pay and that I had all my figures. I said ‘I know this offer will give you a fair profit and I’ll be happy with it, too.’” At the end of the car-buying process, a manager tried to drive up the price with questionable fees. Carter was hit with two odd charges: a window etching fee and a buying fee. He swiftly rejected them. “I just said, ‘no.’” Carter then reiterated his offer price and suggested they move to close the deal. Carter’s no-nonsense approach sped up the final negotiation. “I knew my final price,” he says. He got that price.