I'd also recommended looking on a used-car site like Autotrader.com even if you are planning to physically go places to look. The dealers know price is what's going to attract people there, so you'll get a better idea of what the real prices are and what you can get for the amount you want to spend. If you see a great price there, print off the ad and bring it with you.
Hands! Hands in new places!
Willow ,'Storyteller'
Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Gudanov - Jan 28, 2011 10:07:50 am PST #19755 of 30001
Coding and Sleeping
Kate P. - Jan 28, 2011 10:08:28 am PST #19756 of 30001
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
Also make sure you only talk about the out-the-door price (with taxes and fees), which is what you will actually be paying for the car and will be hundreds more than the asking price.
Oh, good call. And good advice, everyone! I'm taking notes.
Liese S. - Jan 28, 2011 10:09:44 am PST #19757 of 30001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
The other piece of the puzzle is financing. How are you going to pay for it, and do you have that set up before you go? You should; their financing is unlikely to be favorable to you.
tommyrot - Jan 28, 2011 10:09:58 am PST #19758 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Happy Friday! Here's a funny cat video:
Kitten Doesn't Understand "Transparent"
Caro the kitten is trying to liberate Miho from an invisible force field. Meanwhile, mama is glad to have a minute of peace and quiet inside the box!
Daisy Jane - Jan 28, 2011 10:13:47 am PST #19759 of 30001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
That was frickkin adorable!
Kate P. - Jan 28, 2011 10:14:52 am PST #19760 of 30001
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
Liese, we're lucky enough to be able to pay for the car outright, so fortunately we don't have to worry about financing. But thanks for thinking of it!
Kathy A - Jan 28, 2011 10:18:38 am PST #19761 of 30001
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Kate, don't mention the fact you'll be paying cash until the last possible minute. When my now-ex-SIL and my brother went shopping for their minivan after their first kid was born, she took charge of the haggling (she's good at that). She got them down to below what the car cost them, because they figured they'd make it back on the financing. Only then did she pull out their checkbook and tell them they'd be paying cash. They ended up losing money on the sale!
Ginger - Jan 28, 2011 10:20:23 am PST #19762 of 30001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Here are Clark Howard's car-buying tips: [link] He also says to get the Carfax report [link] on used cars and to have your own mechanic check out the car.
eta: What Kathy said.
msbelle - Jan 28, 2011 10:22:25 am PST #19763 of 30001
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
wrt to the person holding a check, I would not write a check until a contract was drawn up.
Kate P. - Jan 28, 2011 10:25:08 am PST #19764 of 30001
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
Man, once again, the hivemind has proven itself an excellent resource. Thank you all for the tips and the links and everything! This is fantastic.