| The price of cars these days is just out of this | | | | You will be able to get a good deal during the end |
| world. You can figure on spending upwards of | | | | of model year sales. The dealers will make just |
| $30,000 for a family van. No wonder a lot of | | | | about any deal to get an older model off the lot |
| people are opting for used cars. Even with prices | | | | to make room for a new one. Also, go into the |
| creeping up and up there are still ways for you to | | | | dealership at the end of the month. Your |
| save money if you have your heart set on a | | | | salesman will be doing his best to sell a few more |
| new car. | | | | vehicles to up his commission payment. |
| The first advice I'll offer is to do your homework | | | | Get the bottom line price for that new car before |
| before you approach a dealership. There is an | | | | you talk about a trade in. Generally the first thing |
| endless amount of information available on the | | | | a salesman will ask is if you have a trade in. Say |
| internet. Every car manufacturer has a website, | | | | "no". If your salesman knows you have a trade in |
| dealerships have web sites. See what deals they | | | | it will affect the price you pay for your new car, |
| are offering on what models. Check on the | | | | no doubt. If he makes you a ridiculously good deal |
| website for information on retail prices for new | | | | for your trade in you can believe that the price of |
| and used cars of any make and model. You | | | | your new car will reflect this. Make sure you |
| should, before you even pull into the dealership, | | | | know what the value of your trade in is. Again |
| have a ballpark figure of what your new car | | | | you can check Take you car to a variety of |
| should cost, including any special packages you | | | | dealerships and get an idea of this price from |
| may want. | | | | them. |
| A lot of dealers have taken the haggling and | | | | The bottom line is to do your homework. Get a |
| pressure out of new car buying, which many of | | | | price for the new car from several different |
| consumers like. Remember the days when you'd | | | | dealers. There is nothing wrong with each of |
| ask what the price of a car is and the salesman | | | | them vying to give you the best deal. |
| would reply "how much can you afford to pay a | | | | Consider your finance charges. Get a quote on |
| month?". You never knew exactly what you were | | | | the interest rate you're offered from the |
| paying for your new car until you were at the | | | | dealership, then check with your bank or credit |
| desk ready to sign the contract. Today we are | | | | union to see what type of interest rates they |
| educated consumers and those days are gone | | | | offer. |
| forever. | | | | |