1) Test Driving New Cars
You have considered the features you want and you've gone to car comparison sites like and Autotrader to research car prices, value and reliability. Now, it's time for the most important part of your decision-making process...the test drive.
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2) Visiting the Dealer
Your research is done, you've checked your credit report, secured your financing and are ready to buy a car. So, what do you need to take with you to the dealer to make sure your purchase goes as smoothly as possible? Don't leave home without any of these.
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3) Parlez Vous Dealerese?
There is a specific car buying language peculiar to the car business. You need a working knowledge of this jargon. If you can communicate with the dealers in their own language, they will understand that you know how to negotiate a car deal - even if you don't.
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4) Dealer Tricks
Let's face it, the car salesman's job is to sell you a new or used car - he isn't your friend, but he's sure going to try to make you think he is in order to put you at ease. How you can tell when a car salesman is lying? When his lips are moving!
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5) Using Auto Brokers
What is an auto broker and should I use one when buying cars? What are the benefits of using an auto broker instead of purchasing from the dealer? How do you choose a reputable auto broker? Get the answers to these questions here...
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6) Car Buying in 7 Easy Steps
Buying a car can be a complex process. These easy-to-understand steps provide you with car buying advice and help you make the best decisions on your purchase. When you break car buying down into 7 simple steps, it's easier than you may think.
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7) How Dealers Make $$
The dealer buys the car from the factory for a certain amount of money, then attempts to sell it for the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. The dealer's profit margin is 6% to 8%. Your mission is to obliterate that profit margin.
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8) New Car Dealer Invoice
If you're buying a new car, one of the things that you'll want to view is the dealer invoice, the price the dealer pays for the car and one of the most closely guarded pieces of paper in the auto industry. How? Gather round, while we show you where to find it.
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9) Buying a New Car Online
Yes, yes and yes: You should buy a new car online! You'll save time, money and quite possibly your sanity by buying a new car online. Common sense dictates that you should never do battle with the car dealer before doing your homework.
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10) Dealer Holdback
So you've heard about this elusive term "holdback" from your friends who know all about buying cars. You want to have access to the same information they do to get an edge on purchasing your next car. Will dealer holdback help you or hold you back?
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11) Dealer Floorplans
Someone is financing those dealer floor plans with the multi-million dollar price tags. And guess what? It's YOU! Valued in dollars and days; for example, the 60-day floor plan can mean extra savings to you when the dollar to days ratio swing in your favor.
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12) New Car Factory Incentives
If you could knock $5,000 off new car pricing, would you consider purchasing the new car with the incentive over a similar car? We've got the scoop on where to find hot-off-the press deals and that information is yours for the taking.
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13) Incentives and Rebates
With so many incentives, rebates and strange fruit baskets offered today, buying a car can often be a confusing endeavor. In order to help sort this melee, we break down the difference between factory incentives and manufacturer's rebates.
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14) APR vs Cash Rebate
Too much of a good thing? Dealers and manufacturers offer an ever-changing, perplexing array of incentives on new cars, but are these offers meant to confuse and conquer? Which ones are worthwhile and which ones are hype?
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15) Online Information
You need to ferret out a multitude of information before buying that new car to get a real deal. You could run all over town or walk your way through the Yellow Pages, but wouldn't you rather find the answers 24/7, from the comfort of your couch?
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16) Timing Your Purchase
Thinking about buying a new car? Wondering when the best time to buy is? The key to your car-buying success (and getting the best deal) lies in your capable hands. It's all in the timing. 'Tis the season, but what season is car-buying season?
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17) $100 Over Invoice
What would you say if we told you that you can offer a car dealer $100 over dealer invoice for a new car and drive away with the car that same day? Would you invest a few hours and a few dollars to save thousands of dollars on a new car purchase?
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18) Negotiating Payments
Even if negotiating with car dealers is unappealing, buying a new car without understanding timing can mean a costly mistake. Knowing when to negotiate payments is critical. Gather your ammo and drop your bombshell for maximum savings.
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19) Buying a Demo
Is a demo a new or used car? Legally classified a new car, it is essentially a used car that has more than likely been driven quite hard by the drivers. Test driven by many potential customers, this "testing" can save you money if...
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20) Buy a Car From Home
If you're in the market to buy a new car, you can search for it from the comfort of your couch. Once you've found or "built" the perfect new car, wheel and deal using the telephone and fax machine before inking the deal.
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21) What to Say and How
Even if you're not a master negotiator - even if you have the social skills of a Peruvian hermit - the good news is that you can learn a few basic tips for negotiating that can save you a lot of money when buying a new car.
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22) ADM Stickers
What if you could tack on any amount of money you want to a good or service that you offered for sale and actually get by with it? That's exactly what ADM is - a license to steal, but only if you voluntarily buy into it.
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23) New Car vs Used Car
Vehicles can lose up to forty percent of their value within the first few years of ownership due to depreciation and an astounding 25% the minute you drive away from the showroom. When does a used car make more sense than a new car?
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24) How to Negotiate with Car Dealers
Car dealers assume that car buyers don't have the first clue about how to negotiate a car deal. We are here to prove them wrong and to help put you on an equal footing when it comes to negotiating with car dealers.
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25) Hybrids: Here Today
Hybrids are one of the oldest automobile technologies around. See where they came from and where they're going.
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26) Hybrids: Which to buy?
Check out the latest in new hybrid technology and who's making them.
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27) Hybrids: Why Buy?
See why hybrids will be around for a long time and why buying one will save you time, money and help the planet in the long run.
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