What are some of the 'used car salesman' techniques I should look out for when I buy my first car this weekend

Question

We are moving to the country and no longer can take subway, taxi, buses. We have to buy two used cars for us...

I don't want to get "taken", please help...

Answer 1

keep in mind that car lots have more inventory now than ever before in your lifetime. they are desparate to sell anything at any price.

a dishonest salesman will pretend to go into a room for his boss to approve a special price. there is no boss in there.

don't answer with a dollar amount when he asks what you want to spend. just say you know what you can afford what does it cost? then offer a lower price.

don't be afraid to walk out. don't show that you really need one right now. they will always come after you with a lower price.

you might want to buy from the newspaper instead. times are hard and folks need money. sometimes there is a divorce and the wife sells for cheap.

decide what model you want. determine the blue book value. then make an offer.  Insist on taking it to a place like AAA before you finalize. AAA will do a checkout of all possible problems for under $50 even for non-members.

Answer 2

heres my technique. In my technique u wont get tricked but the salesmen will get triked. If u like a car, make bad statements about the car, like the seats are torn and we have to repair it, or the air in the tire is less. It wont do good, and say u like it. The salemen will give u a less price by 600 dollars or more depending on the conditions. Also before u buy it ask the salesmen to test drive it so it is comfortable for u . Hope this helped.

Answer 3

first dont listen to them and check the car.....knowing what type of car your looking for before going to buy knowing what they are selling for at other places.... one you know the cars type.... you should do a walk around looking at tires and down the slide of car for dent or dis color.... you check the tail pipe for oil or black ... tires for uneven wear... then you open the hood and check the fluids and give the mtor a look over for any sign of leaks or look for dust ... then you crank it and listen to how it starts  and for any funny sounds....then you check every button and switch it has everything..... then you drive it 30 minutes tersting brakes and take off speed.. does it pull or steer funny .....then when you get back you recheck everything again....... and then decide.... dont listen to the dealer...... its what you think......there is no speical deals there is no cars driving by little old ladies to church on sundays.... hes there to sell you a car and can say pretty much what he wants so best listen to your head and eyes....

Answer 4

Do a lot of research BEFORE you go to a dealer. Know what car makes/models you are interested in, know what options you want, know prices (www.kbb.com), know reliability reports (Consumer Reports magazine and web site), and know the dealer (check with Better Business Bureau). Here's an article with more information:

http://www.used-car-advisor.com/buy-used...

Good luck.

Answer 5

For many of them, their number 1 priority is to get you to sign the deal before walking off of the lot.  They will use many tricks or pressure techniques to do just that.  Be firm, but still polite of course, if you just want to look around.  If you are interested in a particular car, do not appear too interested or eager in that car.  If you do, a sales person will usually pick up on this and if they know they have you sold on a car, you probably won't get as good of a deal as may be possible.

About the best advice I can give is to take your time and shop around ( don't jump at the first car you like ).  If there is a car you really like and you want to buy, make it a condition of sale that the car can be inspected by a garage of your choosing.  This way, if there is something seriously wrong with the car, you are not stuck with a lemon.  Even if there is nothing major wrong with the car but some small items of concern pop up like low brakes, rusted muffler, etc., you can use that to your advantage as a negotiation tool to knock down the selling price.

Good Luck

Answer 6

they always clean the engines realy good,,so it looks like theres no oil leaks,,check. for oil leaks,,,also they use coloured polish,..say if its a red car they use red polish,,,,and after u bye it and it rains a couple of times you see all the sratches,,,so check for scratches,,,or chips  in the paint,,

Answer 7

Don't be rushed into anything.  They will act like the price they are quoting is a good one.  It probably won't be.

Answer 8

"Invoice price? what do you mean? I dont know what that means"

"My sales manager and I confered and have a nice figure for you"...If your bad at haggling and have no other technique just remember this one..Say"hmm well if thats the best you guys can do for me I'll have to think about it" get up and walk away. Thats an instant...few hundred or few thousand off the previous price...just look out because they may try to pin additional services on you to make up for the price. E.g. undercoat NW weather package (they wax your car coat the undercariage with some tar like cr@p and charge you $1,500 for it.  If you dont like any figures they put on the contract dont sign it.

REMEMBER dont feel bad about wasting their time, they went out of the way and wasted your time as well.

Answer 9

That's going to be hard. It's best that you have a mechanic with you to check the condition of the car and know about the common problems. If you can't, test drive any vehicle you consider, make sure you don't hear major engine noises, check the simple things like coolant, oil, transmission color, and also how oily the engine is.

And before you finalize what you want- have the salesman start the car while you watch the exhaust, and have him rev the engine a bit.

If you see blue smoke- the engine is burning oil.

If you see white smoke- the engine is burning coolant.

If you see black smoke- the engine is running rich (normal when its pedal-to-metal)

Here are some engine's I know that are trustworthy (in Chrysler)

Jeep- 4.0L inline 6

Dodge/Jeep- 318 or 360 cubic inch V8

Dodge Hemi 5.7L V8

Dodge/Chrysler 2.4L inline 4

Dodge/Chrysler 3.3/3.8L V6

And here are some known horrible engines:

Chrysler 2.7L (problems sludging)

ANY Chevorlet engine w/ vortec injection (horrible fuel delivery design)

Ford 5.4L 3V V8(constantly breaks sparkplugs during tune-up)

Chrysler/Dodge 1.8/2.0 World Engine inline 4(engine not made by chrysler, but horrible design and nasty valve-ticking)

Dodge 3.9L V6(durable, but really weak)

Ford Explorer 4.0L V6 (burns oil due to piston rings sticking to piston)

Answer 10

1 - Don't let them know the most you are willing to pay for the car...because then they won't sell it to you for any less.

2 - Don't act like you NEED the car or that you absolutely love it and must have it (even if you do), instead...act like you don't really care, you can take it or leave it.  This gives you more negotiating power.

3 - Since you are buying two cars at once, I have never been in this situation, but I think it would be best to separately negotiate the price of the two cars without telling him that you are taking both.  Just act like you want to get the price of both and then decide what one you will take.  Once you have negotiated prices on both, say "what else can you knock of the price if I take both of these cars".  A salesman isn't going to want to lose the sale of 2 cars, so he will work with you!

Good luck and enjoy the country!

Answer 11

NEVER buy the first day you see a car you like.  Take someone you trust, who has knowledge of cars, with you so you can ask them questions and get their input.  Look it over, drive it, park it and go home for the night.  Think about it and if it's what you want, go back the next day and drive it again.  Make YOUR offer 15% below the asking price and hang tough.  Chances are you will get a reduced price when you start negotiating.

Be sure and ask where the car came from and for the phone number of the previous owner.  Call that person and ask why he/she traded the car, has it ever been wrecked, odometer reading, etc. BEFORE you sign the purchase contract.

Be careful of buying cars that came from auction because they could have been bought from an area that was flooded and you can have electrical problems with it later.

You can also get the history of the car by copying the VIN number off the car and going to www.CarFax.com, enter the VIN and it will give you the car's history.  It could be the best $29.95 you ever spent.