If You Know Their Rules ...
You Can Play Their Games

7.Shopping for Your Vehicle

At this point you should have collected all the relevant facts on the vehicle, the options, and the pricing. Now you're ready to plan and execute your buying strategy.

Plan your visit to the dealership for one of the times listed below at the dealership where you'd prefer to do business. Make sure you allocate enough time to permit the salesperson to take you through the entire presentation process. Have him or her present the car and take you for a demo drive. Remember, time is the only thing car salespeople have, and the more of it you consume, the more anxious they are to make sure that the time spent results in a commission.

The Best Times to 84y a New Car

End of the month
Car dealerships and car manufacturers work on a month-to-month basis. Virtually every car dealership is under end-of-the-month pressure to meet sales forecasts. If you've done your homework and are ready to buy, there's probably no better time than the last day of the month.

End of the year
Dealers are under pressure to move out the current year's inventory at the end of each year. Many manufacturers will offer dealers year-end or clearance incentives to motivate them to offer bigger discounts and move the cars off the lot. While you can make a good deal at this time, it's important to recognize that if you buy a leftover, you should plan to trade for your next new car at the same time of year. Many year-end leftover buyers fail to recognize that 12 months after they've purchased the car, the used-car market regards it as a two-year-old vehicle and the wholesale price will reflect that fact.

If you buy a car at the end of the model year, negotiate a deal that reflects the first year's depreciation. To determine what that depreciation is expected to be, you might want to consult a resource like Automotive Lease Guide Residual Percentage Guide by calling 1-800-418-8450. For a fee, they will be able to tell you the projected depreciation after one year.