Some tips for buying a new car without getting carried away by the excitement. It is great fun going to a showroom and getting into the drivers seat of some of those shiny new models. The trouble is that it is normally the salesman who is in the drivers seat when it comes to negotiating a deal. It pays to be prepared.

You probably did some research, in magazines or online, before going out to look at the real thing. You will have made a realistic assessment of what sort of car you really need and what you can afford. You head out boldly with your goal in mind. But then you see the gleaming paintwork and smell the leather and …!

That’s where they’ve got you. The dealer is your friend and he doesn’t want you to have to settle for second best. He can see you glancing towards what you really want. It’s his job to convince you that with the special deal he’s going to cut you, you can afford it. As long as you buy today, that is.

If he can’t bump you up a model, he can certainly get some options and accessories onto the contract. Add in all the extra services to make car ownership trouble free and you’d be mad not to buy. When you see how little you’ll be paying on the amazing finance deal he offers, you’ll almost feel as though you stole the car.

You drive away feeling great, and don’t even realise that you have been led down a well worn path. The dealer has a step by step plan, and each step is another opportunity to boost his profit on the deal.

The dealer has a playbook of pressure tactics and psychological tricks that are designed to get you to buy now and at the maximum profit for him. They range from subtle, to not so subtle, to downright dirty. And he’s an expert in deploying them.

The best tip for buying your new car is, don’t, until you are properly prepared. It’s too big a purchase to make a mistake on. Know what you want and your monthly budget and stick to it.

It is worth working on your mindset before you go to the dealer. Always be aware that the money and the buying decision are yours. The salesman will try to convince you that you only have one chance to get this deal. It’s not true. There is always another one.

If you feel under pressure, tell the dealer that you are going to buy, but not necessarily now and from him. Take back control and then ask for a better deal. There may be unadvertised offers. I got a salesman to check on this and saved $700!

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If you are thinking about buying a new vehicle here are 5 of the most compelling reasons to buy a used car rather than a new car.

1. Used Cars Cost Less

Since the point of a car is to get your from here to there, there is no reason to pay more for something that fundamentally will do the same thing. If you are on a budget look at what you need not what you want and you will realize that a new car is a mostly a status symbol.

2. Used Cars Hold Their Value Better

A car, used or new, will depreciate the older it is and the more it is used. However the minute you drive a new car of the lot it loses a significant portion of its value. This means if you go to sell your new car you will have already lost thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you buy used, when you go to sell your car you will be able to get most of what you paid for it back.

3. Used Cars Are Greener

It takes a lot of resources and energy to produce a new vehicle. Buying used does not cause any additional harm to the environment. Remember that next time someone smugly tells you they are looking at the new Prius.

4. Lower Insurance Premiums for Used Car Owners

Since used cars are generally far less expensive than new cars their monthly insurance premiums are far less as well. Saving on insurance costs each month can really add up. Over the course of the year if you saved $50 dollars a month on insurance you would save $600 dollars.

5. Availability Of OEM Parts

After about 5 years most of the contracts car-makers have with part manufacturers what prevent them from selling the same parts they make for the car companies without the company label at deep discounts. That means that if you have a used car older than 5 years chances are if you need to replace a part it will be available form an OEM manufacturer for significant less than if you got it from a dealer.

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Just why was the horse trader always regarded with deep suspicion in the past. There was a good reason.

Well, this is the guy who would buy a lame horse and know how to fix it …. temporarily. Then, he would sell it as a sound animal and take the money and disappear. The horse, poor thing, would soon become lame again and the buyer would be stuck with an unusable animal.

The generic inheritor of the horse trader reputation is, of course, the Car Dealer.

Car Dealers know how to trick you in so many ways that it will make your head swim and your eyes water. You may even, if you are so inclined, swear a lot at them. But, that will probably be much, much too late. You will already have purchased the car for way too much money.

Now, not every dealer is this slippery and willing to do anything (almost) for a buck. But, those kind are out there in great numbers. How can you protect yourself from these wily, unscrupulous, into-your-wallet Car Dealers?

How to protect yourself? It is easy. Know the Tricks Yourself.

So, what are these underhanded, unknown tricks? Well, there are some 14 of them which might be said to be majors. They are listed here in plain words to help you with your automobile purchasing efforts.

1. Why “hiding your trade” until negotiating your new car is flat-out wrong – How the dealer can still pump the profits right back into your deal (and with a vengeance). He will be glad to get back at you, secretly.

2. How can you get the best financing rate that you qualify for? Dealerships usually up your true financing rate by 2-3 points. Find out how to get them working for you not against you.

3. The easiest way to get the most for your trade from a dealership – This alone can save $2000 or more when you’re dealing with a trade-in.

4. How the “no hassle pricing” system works, and how it sets you up to pay even more money – The price of the new car is only a tiny piece of the puzzle. See the other angles the dealer works in to re-coup the lost profits . . . and then some.

5. Save up to 56% on your new car accessories – This simple idea can add up to fast savings, while still getting manufacturer-quality accessories.

6. The truth about leases – See exactly how leases are calculated, and how their fancy terminology allows for even more profits to be packed in right under your nose.

7. If you like those pre-paid service coupons. You will think again after reading this . . . What is actually going on with pre-paid maintenance plans.

8. The persuasion tactics they use to push you onto colors, features, and sometimes even a whole different car that you normally wouldn’t want. Learn how to spot and overcome their sneaky tactics to push you to things you aren’t interested in.

9. How dealers stack the numbers to hide the true deal, leaving you comparing apples to oranges as you comparison shop. Discover how to see which dealer is really making you the best offer.

10. The absolute best day of the month to buy a car – When you know this you can save you thousands… even putting you well below the invoice.

11. How the “end of model year sale” is burying you in your new purchase – buyer beware!

12. “Tires For Life,” dealer-only “Lifetime Warranties,” and other common ploys. What’s really in it for them? Find out here.

13. What a “documentation fee” (doc fee)is actually? And, what YOU can do about it. Don’t take a dealer at his word – check this out, first.

14. What is meant when they say they’ll “pay off your trade” . . . Watch out for this sneaky tactic. It can create a cycle of becoming “upside down” in your car purchases for years to come.

You can be in Control of your Car Purchase. When you know what the dealer is about to do, you can anticipate it. Make your counter move or maybe just say NO.

For example, ” knowing how to get the best deal on accessories can save you a bundle ( #5 above). Plus all the 13 others

Technorati Tags: 14 car buying tips, auto buying, automobile buying, Automotive, Buy Car, buy new car, car buying advice, car buying negotiating tips, car buying secrets, car buying tips, Car Shopping