I am looking to buy a new car, but I am completely new at this. Can you give me some advice as to what the best option is. Is paying a fixed amount every month a good plan? What are some drawbacks to that plan? Is there a better option than that? Please help.

Thanks in advance!!!

Sorry, can't help much on payment type of purchases.

On new car purchases I always walked in with exactly the amount I wanted to pay in cash, and laid it on the table. I told them how much was there and found a polite way to say "You can take it or I will go and find someone who will". I also clearly, and politely, explained that I didn't want any games or hassles or I would pick up the cash and walk out without further discussion. I want to pay exactly this amount out the door. The amount that I had was always perfectly appropriate because I had done my research beforehand and made sure that there was a reasonable profit for the dealership. At the first sign of BS I quietly picked up the cash, thanked them for their time and walked out without saying another word or replying in any way to their rebuttals. I just walked out like I said I would. I have always been polite and respectful to everyone and that is of utmost importance.

My experiences have been about half and half on how the dealership will respond, but this tells me what I need to know. Those who want to play games will not just play games on the sale.

At one dealership a salesman actually followed me out the door after I picked up the money and was yelling at me that nobody would ever take that for that "much of a truck" as I drove off. Less than 2 hours later I drove my new, better equipped than the one that I was looking at initially, F150 back and showed him the paperwork to prove that I got this nicer truck for what I offered. I didn't rub it in other than just telling him that his yelling at me on my way out was inappropriate and that what he said was incorrect. And, I again thanked him for his time and said that I was sorry that we couldn't have done business before turning around and walking out again. This time he was the quiet one.

As I did here, I share both good and bad experiences with those who ask me about buying a car. I run in a pretty large circle locally in the automotive field and talk to a lot of people that might be interested in a new Ford truck. So, it's probably a safe bet that the salesman who lost the above sale probably lost a few more along with it.

What doing things this way has done for me is gotten me exceptional customer service from the establishments that worked with me. I end up buying from places that respect their customers and I have never had any of the bad experiences that I hear others talk about after the sale. I always refer anyone local who asks about buying a car to those dealerships.

It shouldn't ever be uncomfortable for the buyer. The dealer isn't doing you any favor. They are the ones that need you more than you need them. Their survival as a business depends on their customers and if they are not doing what they should to satisfy the customer, particularly to the point where it makes you feel uncomfortable, then jsut up and leave.

When you go in you should be prepared, polite and respectful. I repeat, you should always be polite and respectful. Treat them the way that you want to be treated and expect no less in return. Explain what you want and need and set YOUR limits in a fair and reasonable way up front. Just make sure that waht you are asking is within reason. And again, do it in a polite and respectful way. If you feel pressured or feel like any games are being played, just walk out. Pick up and go. It is just that easy. They don't have a monopoly where they can do whatever they please and you are not a hostage who has to bow to their demands. There are other dealerships around and you might even end up getting a better deal on a better vehicle at one of them. Find the dealer that really wants to take care of you instead of the one who is more worried about how much they can profit from you.

Buying the vehicle you want should start out with you feeling good about it all around. If you ever don't feel right about it walk away and either come back later or go somewhere else.

Darrin