Car Buying Tips: Focusing on Trade Difference

As a x car dealer the 4 square is used in pressure dealerships. For the most part, if you live in a big town try not to deal with this method it is adversy at best and usally results in frustration for the savy buyer, on the other hand these kind of dealers don't often see the savy buyer, they let it be known that they are going to move a lot of cars to lets say buyers who are either not in the loop or credit risk where payment becomes the issue not purchase price.
If you have no choice in your town the 4 square is the MO of the area just make it simple. Go on the internet if you have access and print out what you can about the auto you want and the trade value which you always throw in at the end of the negociated price of the car you want not before.
Go again on line or to a bank to get a approx payment for the number of months you want to finance and again with your history check your own rating to see at what rate you qualify for.
Take all this with you to the dealer let them start their four square, then you pull out your own printed 4 square with your numbers on it and tell them take that back to the desk. This way they know you are nobody's fool, most likely if you have your ducks in line they will sell you the car at near your payment and value of trade.
If they don't or think youre a wise guy fine, always pick-up your paper work and head for the door, probally they will chase you down good luck

Sorry just thought i would let you know a important issue in the car business, don't take it personal or make it i can beat you at your own game, usually the customer he has to win gives in a lot sooner and thinks they won the duel really you didn't they make you feel like you were the winner. The person who gets the best deal tallks very little, lets it beknown they are a buyer, and if you have to wait it out fine, the dealership always respects a player who knows the game, and laughs at the know it all he just talk themselves out of money left on the table.

Ever sold cars buddy? Doesn't sound like it.

First of all the dealer banks on most people walking thru the door will sit down and accept the 4 square concept as a accepted practice in the industry. You must understand many people have cars that are 6 7 years old and they don't go to dealers unless they need wheels. Again for every person who is street wise there are a whole slew that are not, that is where the real money is made.
I'm also curious with this, make a sales consultant a friend? In my many years as a salesmen and owner yes the professionals in the business for a long time make good contacts but as sad as it may be many don't last in the business so my advice is, don't get to chummy make a hard deal and show strength the desk loves those types, be buddy buddy and i assure you money is generally left on the table, happens everyday.

Sell your old car yourself and have cash ready to pay for the replacement in full. If you have to finance, make your own arrangements. Make sure you keep all factory to dealer incentives and never pay for stuff that is reimbursed to the dealer by the factory. With cash on hand, you will be in the strongest possible position to deal with these crooks. If too many red flags go up during the negotiation, walk out and take your business elsewhere.

How much cash do take in with you on your deals? 90% of Americans are unable to do that. Sell your car yourself, great idea, if you have 90 days or so to do it. That's the avg time it takes to sell a used car at a dealership. Then, do you really wanna deal w/ weird people test driving your car w/ no intention of buying or dealing w/ broke people w/ funny money?

There is no best way to buy a car...unless it's completely cash with no trade. Financing is a necessary evil. And whatever they show you on the trade, is wrong, unless that's what it's pulling at "the ring" auction. If it's a domestic trade.....you're done. If it's a Chrysler product, forget it. And if they do show you a great number on the trade....where in the world are they getting that money from because that ain't ACV(actual cash value).

R driver good point, and in most states you pay sales tax on the differnce where as if you sell your car you pay on the entire amount which can be sizable. You are right if you own a Chrysler product for example forget it, try to get what you can from the dealer on trade selling those cars can take forever, better to get the bad news and make the best deal then throw in the trade.