Negotiating the best price

After finding the perfect car, its time to get the perfect price. It is exciting to find that perfect car, but keep in mind that it is not yours just yet. Before calling it your own, you need to negotiate the car's price with the seller. Negotiation varies when you are buying from a private seller or a dealer. In order to get the best price you need to be prepared and well informed.

When dealing with a private seller there is more room for negotiation. Like I mentioned in a previous post, you should be aware of any repairs the car needs. Do some research to find out about how much you will have to spend on repairs. It is also helpful to know the car's average value in the Kelly Blue Book. The blue book price is an estimated price that is made up of the car's original price subtracted by the car's depreciation. Use the cost of repairs with the blue book value to negotiate with the seller and get the best price.

When dealing with a car dealer there is little room for negotiation, but it does exist. Dealers sell cars to maintain and profit in their business, so they are not looking to lower their prices. Being a dealer, they also have the benefit of not having to sell the car eminently as they have many costumers. Despite the limited negotiation room you can still adjust the price by knowing the repairs the car needs and the Blue Book value. Dealers post the car up at their ideal price, but they also leave room for negotiation, if done right.

So, don't be afraid to counter the seller's asking price, chances are they over priced the car to allow some profit even if they lower the price after negotiating. Use the following links to help you see the value of the car to give you the edge in negotiation.

• Kelly Blue Book
• Edmunds
• Internet Auto Guide
  

The Test Drive

A key point in buying a car is the test drive. After listening to the motor run, look for any leaks, and smell for any abnormal fumes; you should take the car out for a test drive. It is important to let the car warm up a little to see if it has heating problems. Try turning on the car while you are inspecting the car to warm it up for the test drive.

There are many things that you should pay attention to while on a test drive. Just like when you examine the motor while it was parked, you should use your different senses. Listen for any abnormal sounds, like any squeaks, grinds, or loud motor sounds. While driving, turn on the AC and feel how well it cools, but also smell to see if any bad fumes come through the vents; these smells can mean expensive repairs. After checking the AC, turn it off and roll down the windows. Try and smell is the motor is creating fumes; cars should not produce an strong odors while driving. Finally, try and pay attention to how much the car bounces while driving; if the car bounces too much the suspension might be going bad. Also make sure to notice how much the car vibrates. There should not be very much vibrations while driving, at a stop or while braking.

Most importantly make sure you feel comfortable in the car. Whether you are on a long drive or stuck in traffic, you are going to want to be comfortable in the car. So make sure you pay attention to these details and ask the seller any questions you may have. If you feel that you cannot notice these details, don't be afraid to ask a friend to join you.

Here are some resources that can help you understand what you feel, smell, or hear as you take your test drive.

• Brake problems
• Transmission problems
• Engine problems

Don't judge a car by it's pictures!

Whether you look up a car through printed classifieds or through an online listing, you must always remember that the pictures are advertisements. This means that the seller is showing you the best qualities of the cars to lure you in. Often times the seller will show pictures of a washed engine to show a clean engine. Sellers often avoid showing any scratches or damages in car post by only photographing certain angels of the car. Other times the seller does not provide pictures of the interior, which can be a sign of hidden damages.

In order to confirm a car is good you need to see the car for yourself. Besides looking at the exterior of the car for any damages or scratches, consider what is under the hood. When you look under the hood, look for any visible oil leaks. Even in a clean engine you can spot an oil leak by looking around the engine head. Besides keeping an eye out for oil leaks you should try and smell for any burning of oil or gasoline. You can only smell these when you let the car warm up.

Repairs can become costly, so catching them before buying the car can prevent expensive repairs. Noticing the flaws avoided by the seller can also help through the negotiation process by presenting the different repairs you will need to put into the car. Keep these tips in mind to help you choose a car that is both visually and mechanically good.

Here are some resources to help you understand how much repairs can cost:

• Brakes
• Engine cooling
  
• Transmission
  
• Tires
  

Using the internet to look for your next car

There are many different internet sources that can help you search for used cars. Internet car searches make it easy to get a car's price, VIN number, and seller's contact information. You can use your car wish list to filling the different fields internet searches offer. Here are some easy to use and reliable internet resources:

• Auto Trader
• Cars.com
• Carmax
• Yahoo Auto

Websites like these are specifically for cars, which makes it easier to find what you need. The cars are posted by both private sellers and car dealers. The difference between the two is the room for negotiation and the ability to finance. Private sellers are more willing than dealers to negotiate the car's price with you. Often times private sellers are in a rush to sell, which can help with negotiation. The problem with private sellers is the reliability of their word. They are not held to the regulations that dealers are, so they don't have to release information about accidents of pending repairs.

Dealers are businesses that rely on car sales, so negotiating with dealers can be difficult. Dealers do offer finance though, which can help you if you want to finance your next car. Like I mentioned before, dealers are required to disclose any important information about their cars, including any accidents or pending repairs. Some dealers are also able to offer limited warranties, which are defiantly not available with private sellers.

Keep in mind that before making up your mind you have to see the car in person. You can not completely rely on the pictures the seller provides, they may omit some important flaws. Internet car post change every few days, so keeping looking back to see if any new cars appear on your search.

Narrow Your Search

When looking for a used car, you should narrow your search to save time. Think of key features you want in the car to create a wish list. Use this wish list when you are using an online car search to filter out cars that have no appeal to you. Your wish list should include both your basic needs and the luxuries you want.

The basics that you should include in your wish list are structural things that you cannot change yourself, or would cost you too much to change yourself. An examples of these basics would be the type of car (SUV, sedan, coupe, or truck), make (GM, Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc.), engine size (4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder, 10 cylinder, or 12 cylinder), and transmission (5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, automatic, or semi-automatic), AC/heater, and tires. These are all very important for you as a driver to consider in order to have a comfortable and safe driving experience.

The luxuries that you can put after choosing your basics would include anything that you do not need to properly use the car. An example of these are exterior paint, interior color, interior material (cloth, leather, or perforated leather), media (radio, TV, DVD player, navigation, and headsets), window tint, rims, and any aftermarket parts. These are luxury choices that do not affect the mechanics of your car. These are luxuries that will defiantly increase the cost of a car, so don't add what you cannot afford.

For example, I created the following wish list to look for my car. My list is very specific, but your list can be a little more general.

• Honda Prelude 97-01
• Automatic
• White or silver paint
• black cloth interior
  
• Stock rims or better
  
• Stock radio or better
• under 120,000 miles

Remember that your wish list should be realistic with your budget. Here are some links to help you with setting up your wish list.

• Media
• Aftermarket parts
• Paint cost