Here is how I do it:
1-Read up on the model or models you are interested in. Reviews and forums are good sources of information.
2- Know your budget, what payment you can afford and what you think your trade in vehicle is worth. Then stick like glue to these figures at the dealership. If they wont work with your figures, walk!
3- Test drive the vehicle. Make sure it is comfortable and actually meets your expectations.
4- When passed off to the Finance Manager, ignore anything he offers to add on to the deal. If you want an extended (factory only) warranty, shop on line for it. For my last extended warranty the dealership wanted $2400. I bought the same factory extended coverage on line from another dealer for $750.
5- Before accepting the vehicle, have a dealer employee go over and set up all the various electronic systems, Nav systems and vehicle settings with you. Big time saver! A 21 year old kid did this when I bought my Challenger. It was his only job at the dealership!
6- Once its in the driveway, sit in it and RTFM.
Happy motoring!

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Dealers hate it when you leave while in the middle of the process . We do it every time . We tell them my wife is a Diabetic and we need to go get lunch . Actually that's true . One guy wanted me to take the vehicle to go eat . I don't think so , Tim .

My suggestion was to get them to the bottom line, with your credit pulled rate established, trade allowance done and price cut as far as the manager will go.

They they will say, if I can get your payment down to X then will you take the deal, I have to know now before I beg my manager for this. Say yes, then when he comes back to tell you its done, tell him you need to think about it before signing and leave.

I have done this for the last 4 cars I have bought and it works every time. They call me the next day or I call them around 3pm and say I got another 750 for my car and and eigth better in rate, if you match it ill come over and sign.

I haven't done this with a car, but it worked for a motorcycle. I had my eye on a BMW R100RS. The dealer was dicking around, so I wrote a check for what I was willing to pay, total out the door, but I did not sign the check.

I told the dealer, as I was leaving the store, "There's a check on your desk, along with my phone number. Give me a call if you decide that you want to sell it to me; I'll come back and sign the check, if I haven't bought one from another dealer."

I got all the way out the door, to the street where I had parked my old motorcycle, and was just putting my helmet on when the dealer came out and told me that he would accept my offer.