Art of Gears
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Car Buying : get a good deal and infuriate your salesperson.

By Andrew Hulse

WIESBADEN, HESSEN - DECEMBER 22: Toyota cars are offered for sale at a car dealership on December 22, 2008 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Today Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second largest car manufacturer announed a 91 percent lowered net income forecast. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)
WIESBADEN, HESSEN - DECEMBER 22: Toyota cars are offered for sale at a car dealership on December 22, 2008 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Today Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second largest car manufacturer announed a 91 percent lowered net income forecast. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images) /
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This post is not news, not really commentary either.  But if you want to know how to get a deal on a new car and simultaneously infuriate your salesperson, this is the defacto guide.

I want to start this off with a note that this method only works on NEW cars, this method only works if every option is the same on the cars.  Everyone seems to have their own car buying strategy, and none are the be all-end all answer, this might work for you.

I spent the first years of my adult working life doing different jobs in dealerships.  Eventually, I ended up in the sales department of the local Mercedes and BMW dealer.  I came across this method there and once again when I worked for a local Chevy dealer.

Once again, this only works with new cars that are exactly the same.  Not used because no two will be the same.  New only, do you think I have mentioned this enough yet?

I have been stringing you along, what is this super secret method of car buying?

Well, it’s easy.  Once you pick a car and get your first offer, have the salesperson write out the VIN, MSRP, sales price and sign the sheet of paper.  Next, go down to the street to the next closest

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dealer for whichever car you want.  Sit down and tell them, Joe Schmo Honda is selling me this car for X.  They will beat that price every time.

Now, take Joe Schmo Honda’s price sheet down to the next dealer.  They will beat the last dealers’ price quote.  And the next one will also beat the last one’s price quote.  Do you see where I’m going here?

Make as many go-rounds of the dealers as you can, let the next beat the last’s price a couple times and you have assured a good deal in your car buying adventures.

This is also the best way to make sure a salesperson probably won’t ever call you again.

This was the most frustrating thing I had ever encountered as a salesperson.  I gutted my gross profit in order to get a unit out the door.  But, at the end of the day, I sold a car.  This particular individual made the rounds to 4 dealers at least 3 times to drive the price down more.  I eventually sat him down and told him he either is buying the car or to not come back and expect me to beat the last price.

Next: Mercedes AMG GT 4 Door Coupe: maybe I'll have to see it in person

Just don’t quote me in this “guide” it mostly works but your mileage may vary, some dealers may refuse to deal this way.

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