Photo by Obi on Unsplash
Here is a list authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me. It was posted on January 14, 2014. Since there is still a need to go to a car dealer, it may be helpful
Top Ten Things Not To Do If You Go Into a Car Dealer
10. If you go into a car dealer, make sure you really want to buy a car. If you don’t, at best, you may walk away from a car that you fell in love with but can’t afford. At worst, you might end up paying for that car for the rest of your life.
9. If you go into a car dealer, do not say anything regarding your like or dislike of a car. If you do, at best, you will tip your hand. At worst, you may end up with the one you dislike since it is priced so well.
8. If you go into a car dealer, do not drink a big gulp before arriving. If you do, at best, you may need to interrupt your negotiations at a bad time. At worst, the sales rep may detect your uneasiness, interpret it as a sign of weakness, and hammer the negotiations until you agree to everything just so you can make a break for the bathroom.
7. If you go into a car dealer, do not wear any clothing with designer labels. If you do, at best, you will impress everyone in the showroom. At worst, you may pay thousands more for a car than the people at JCP.
6. If you go into a car dealer, do not bring the children. If you do, at best, they will get hyped up on the sugary donuts the salespeople will feed them. At worst, the kids will want to sit in your lap just as you try to negotiate a good deal and tell the salesperson that you are just kidding.
5. If you go into a car dealer, do not park your car where it can be seen. If you do, at best, the condition will tip off the salesperson as to your trade-in before the deal. At worst, the salesperson will get a heads-up on how badly you need transportation.
4. If you go into a car dealer, do not accept anything to eat or drink if offered. If you do, at best, you’ll take on extra calories you don’t need. At worst, you may feel you owe the dealership something, and you don’t want to get talked into a thousand-dollar cup of coffee.
3. If you go into a car dealer, do not sign anything before you read it. If you do, at best, you may have some expensive surprises when the car is delivered. At worst, you may have sold your home for a dollar.
2. If you go into a car dealer, do not demand to see the manager if you’re unhappy with the deal the salesperson is offering. If you do, at best, you may be embarrassed to learn that the salesperson is the manager. At worst, the employees will use the videotape of you ranting at the company party as the leading entertainment.
1. If you go into a car dealer, do not even think of special ordering a car. If you do, at best, you may end up paying too much. At worst, you may be riding around in something that lost fifty percent of its value the minute you drove it off the lot, since Habanero Orange is not everyone’s favorite color.
Fiction Favorites 
Still good advice, John. While you’re crossing your legs, the salesman is using the restroom while he is “Checking with his manager.”
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I have always had that suspicion, Dan. 😀
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Wow. So many rules.
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Well…at least 10 😀
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We absolutely agree with you, dear John. It’s the same here in England.
Wishing you an easy week
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, Klausbernd. Wishing the F4oC an even easier week than that. 😄
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Good list John. The first time I bought a car, I walked in and immediately told the salesperson my budget and how much I could pay per month. Haha – talk about showing all your cards!
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If it worked out, then all is good. Thanks, Barbara.
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I wizened up later 😉
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Ha ha ha.
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I really love #1. There are more and more ‘lemons,’ ‘limes,’ and ‘tangerines’ driving around these days, and while I generally like the colors, they do look utterly on on four wheels.
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That should be “utterly odd”
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Funny, I got the gist. My mind transformed utterly into ugly. 😀
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I saw a car this week that was a dull orange, and it was distracting.
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Seems like sound advice to this day.
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I suppose. I like the online buying system myself.
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This sure is logical advice, John. The cost of cars these days needs logical acts.
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I agree, Tim. Thanks. 😊
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Plenty of great advice here, John. Hopefully I won’t need a new car for a few years.
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I hope the same, Esther. 😀
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Our rule always was don’t be afraid to walk away. That worked every time (we had to employ it at least twice)
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Good strategy.
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And for gosh sakes, don’t kick the tires and think that will impress the salesperson.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Lois
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Based upon a recent experience (with this and previous experience buying a car, you already know you will pay for at point of purchase so you already tell them you do not need financing), if you have a limited amount of time and they assure you that they will get you out on time. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM They must make extra commission if they can hold you hostage for at least two hours. I was promised we would be done by 4, which was 90 minutes away. We did not leave until 5–no reason, or apology, just because they could.
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We are into leasing. Less hassle.
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My husband leased a car once and found out what I had suspected, at the end of the lease, you had not trade-in so you had to get the subsequent car from scratch. We were both still working and needed two cars, so it may depend upon what your driving requirement are. I had an uncle who was in insurance and probably was able to write the trade of his new cars off (after reading your comment, I am wondering if the cars were leased since he always had a fairly new car.)
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Yeah. We don’t put anything down, and after three years, we just start over.
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Whatever works best for you.👍🙏⁉️
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😀
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Love the habenaro orange comment – I’ve seen a few cars that color! Also, special ordering a car can take months, by which time the price will have increased since you’re into the next year or you get a year old car!
Great advice all around!
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We lease now. Don’t care about the year since the turnover is three years.
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SMART!
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My dad used to special order his cars to the most stripped down model he could. Lime-green Pinto station wagon anyone?
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Whew. No muss or fuss with that.
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Nope. Manual transmission. There was no way he would drive an automatic. Too much to go wrong.
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Ha ha ha. I wanted a standard transmission on my last car and it cost extra so I said forget it.
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As it turned out, the standard transmission on our Matrix seized while I was driving to work. So much for Dad’s theory . . .
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That is not good. Sounds like the fluid was low or faulty
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What made it even worse was that we had it serviced by the book, never missed one. Boo, hiss.
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Ugh. Sorry.
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Have you ever gone into a car dealership and left sooner than 5 hours? haha, I never have.
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I don’t think I have.
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Shopping for a new car is almost as miserable as going to the DMV, John. Both can eat up a whole lot of time, cost you an arm and a leg, and leave you feeling like you caught the short end of the stick. Well written, my friend.
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Add a third. Getting a root canal.
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Definitely!
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Whaddya mean? I have habanero orange plates . . . .
I noticed a couple of olive green cars lately. Hmm. But pretty soon half the cars in Phoenix will be Waymos which are all white and then nobody will need a car dealership!
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I followed a Waymo the other day. Quite a shock to see one.
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Every time I go out there are two or three traveling right near me! We have tons in Phoenix.
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Goodness.
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Haha, that’s one word for it!
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I agree with all of these. Just don’t go… trust me lol. 😂
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🤣
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Oh goodness! It’s enough to give a person a headache! Good one, John!
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A big headache.
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All good advice but this one : 3. If you go into a car dealer, do not sign anything before you read it. If you do, at best, you may have some expensive surprises when the car is delivered. At worst, you may have sold your home for a dollar.
Is especially important. If you are honest yourself it is easy to believe others are as well, but people will try to take advantage of you. Don’t take anyones word for anything. Don’t be lazy, read it, and make sure you get a copy.
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I’m confused. Number 3 says don’t sign anything before you read it which is your point
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I was just agreeing with point but adding that it is especially important.
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😊
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No kids or Big Gulps ever.
I DID buy a truck off the guy whose wife I would later date after they divorced. So yanno, it really was all in the timing.
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Ha ha ha, Sounds like a great story. 😊
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It was.
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😀
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LOL
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We just bought a new car for my wife on Friday. After she finds what she wants, I step in to handle the negotiations. It’s like playing poker. I’ve learned not to rush the process. It can take several days, but they always call back, especially when they think they’re about to lose the sale to someone else. I’m a fanatic about research, to the point that one could question whether all my extra time is warranted, but I always save a few thousand dollars in the end.
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I think it is always worth it. Thanks, Pete.
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Great advice, John. Purchasing a car is such a painful experience — but you’ve brought laughter into the process. 😄
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I’m glad the laughs came through. Thanks, Gwen.
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Oh, I hope my thirteen-year-old car lasts another thirteen more. 😂👍🏻
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Mine is 14, so I hope so. 😀
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🤞🏻
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😊
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Fortunately, I’ve only been to a car dealer once in my life, when I was 19 and bought my first & only new car, a 1970 Ford Mustang. Since then, it’s been used cars for me … one I paid $50 for and a few I paid $1,000 or more, but I never had to go into a dealership!
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Sounds like a great solution.
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Saves money, too!!!
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There is that.
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Thanks for this fun top 10. I like the warning about your current vehicle “heads-up on how badly you need transportation.” Well done spelling habanero correctly., a lot of people want to add an ñ although it doesn’t have one. : ) (clapping)
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I’ve been paying attention to your posts on spelling. Thanks, Rebecca 😊
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Oh my gosh, really? That’s great to hear.
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Thanks for the Monday smiles (even if it’s Tuesday). As I went through each one, I realized I’d rather set my hair on fire than buy a new car. Completing all the paperwork was sheer torture and paying it off quickly was the only thing that made it semi palatable. Thank heavens for the large water bottle and protein bars I brought at least kept me hydrated with even blood sugar levels.
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The last car I bought was in 2011. The Producer handles all the negotiating, and she does it every three years for her car. I still drive my 2011.
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Read with interest. I like to be prepared. We in India are now making the same mistakes people in the West started making a few decades back. Thank you, John 🙂
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It is always good to copy the mistakes made by the West. Makes one feel more worldly.
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John, this list from 2014 is still applicable today!
and my fav? – maybe this:
“may be embarrassed to learn that the salesperson is the manager”
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So glad you liked it, Yvette. 😊
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🙂
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Great advice, John. 😀
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🎃
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A guy who worked at a new car dealership for over twenty years told me the biggest scam is the trade in. He said you should always sell your car privately. You’ll end up with a lot more money. A LOT more, according to him.
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I have heard that as well. We no longer buy cars. Mine is just fine, and we lease the wifes
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