Talking the price down

What are some good tips on talking a price down?

On a new car, get several quotes from several dealers. Also look up the invoice price, check for incentives, holdback, etc...

On a used car, look up blue book value, search the local listings on similiar equipped models for an average price...

Do some serious research and number crunching before you go anywhere.

Figure out:
1. Invoice price for new car / blue book fair value for used car
2. Any manufacturer rebates/incentives on new cars
3. If you have a trade-in: payoff amount and blue book fair value

Use a payment calculator to work payments before going in and figure out what is realistic, then plan to work the dealer around payment and low-ball your offer by about $100 per month and let them slowly "work" you up to make a deal. Keep in mind where you should be realistically and a deal within $10 per month of that is a good deal. Play hard to get and expect the salesperson to go see the manager at least 4-5 times (could be 10 times or more if you really wanna play hardball).

Don't accept any deal with you making any down payment unless you are $5000 or more upside down in a trade.

Go in at the end of the month (this does work whether they will admit it or not), and be ready to walk out without buying. Plan on at spending some time at the dealer.

And DON'T let them try to flip you into a lease.

when u go to a dealer, u can bargin to some extent.
- average mileage for a car is about 15,000 a year. if mileage on the car exceeds this then you can get a small chunk off the price.
- don't trade in unless you have no other choice. selling it to a private party will give u better odds of getting the full value out of the vehicle.
- make sure all major recalls are taken care of.
- any brand new car also looses 3 grand in value as soon as you drive it off the lot or take delivery.

If a car has been on a lot for a long time, and it's still there, but you're interested in it, go check it out. If a month or so has been by, chances are, when they say they can't go lower, they have already sent an ad for the following week out for less than what you are paying if you don't bargain them down much. They know that, you know that. I bought a car like that, 2 years ago, and noticed that it was in the paper the next week for $450 less than what I paid, this was a used car, and I complained and they sent me $450. But I could have probably gotten an extra $500 off that amount. I have always threatened to leave, but never have until recently, and gave them my phone number. They didn't call back, but I think other companies might, we'll see next time I get a car.

And don't go making deals on the internet. Do it in person unless it's on eBay or something. When they always ask what price range, say one grand less than what you planned to spend for that car. For example, if the car is priced at $12000, you plan on getting it down to $10500 which is $1000 over trade-in, you say, you're looking to get this type of car for around $9500. Don't let them know how much you have, or they'll squeeze every penny out of you. Also, some dealers pay more for used cars than others, way more on some vehicles, you'll notice that if you shop for a long time. The same dealership always have cheap, I don't know, let's say grand ams, while the other always has them priced higher, probably because he paid more for them. And use carfax to your advantage. If you want a car for cheaper and find one, chances are it could be in a wreck and the airbags deployed. Look for scratches and whatever else to knock it down.

There's a bunch more, but I am rambling.

lol, good comments.