My used car buying experience

Actually it's truck buying but who cares. A little history: my only two cars are hand-me-downs; so I am new. I've been looking since Wednesday and have found a few interesting trucks but both are just a little bigger, more expensive and have more miles than I want. But I want something cheap, so beggers can't always be choosers.

So, all I can say from my experience so far are these semi-organized points and rant:

Price first. Don't talk financing or down payments or any of that crap. Get a price. Make sure they know the price and are certain of it. I made the mistake of having a salesmen saying something uncertainly like "$11,500?" and I blurted out in disblief "Ha, more like $9,000". The guy never went down from there. Which leads me to the next point.

If a dealer has cars and prices listed on the internet, write these down with the prices, go to the dealer and tell them you are only interested in those cars. Don't just drive to random dealerships if you can help it, especially the big guys who you know should have internet listed prices. I have seen prices listed for onthing on the internet, totally different listing at the dealership on the window and then was given an even different price from the salesman.

Don't tell them you want to make a sizeable cash payment, they'll think "oh, he's got money" and then say something like "why don't you check out one of these oversized-for-your-need and out of your range V8 monster trucks".

Low ball, low ball, low ball. I can't stress this enough. Haggle with these guys. Know what you are looking for and what a good price range on the size of vehicle should be based on year, milage and appearance/performance before you leave your house. Check under the hood, check the undercarriage and everywhere else looking for something negative to stress because these cars are always going to be overpriced. Used cars sitting on a dealer lot with new cars means they were trade-ins, and they probably got a good deal for it.

Don't rush yourself. Take your time and don't feel like you have to make a deal. In fact, tell the salesman you just came from another lot and saw some good deals or that you plan on shopping for the next 2 days or so. It can't hurt to let them know you can walk and get a better deal elsewhere, especially when you can. These guys will love to pull "figures" showing you how good a deal you are getting based on some projection or prices from other dealers, why not do like wise?


Try not to go alone. These guys love to do their "cacaus meetings". That's where the salesman sits you in the showroom at a table or in his office and then talks to his manager about whatever. If you have the ability, go with someone else to discuss things or have your internet capable phone ready to check prices or prices at other dealerships and such.


Don't go to Pasadena/Spencer Highway looking to buy cash, they really only want you to finance through them for about 20%, and most cars have not been checked out. And when these cars have obvious problems the case is usually that "it's only a small/$30 repair". Right. I am not saying you can't find a deal but I got tired of the haggling. So I went elsewhere.

That's pretty much it for now.