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Forget add ons, discounts, rebates, etc. The way to buy a car is ........

I get this much car for this bottom line price, with or without trade in. Then once you decide on one or two models, canvas each dealer for that vehicle.

If you have a trade in, all you care about is the “DIFFERENCE” price. My car and how much cash? Don't get hung up on how much you are getting for your trade in. If they are charging you $4,000 for door edge guards, your trade in can be worth $4,000 more than at a dealer who isn't. FUZZY math. Forget payments and interest rates for now! Work that out later, maintaining the same “cash difference” price. Do not get switched to “payments”. REFUSE to get switched to payments until you know the bottom line “difference” price.

Never buy the heath and accident or life insurance on dealer provided financing. Never buy add on warranties, fabric or finish treatments.

Getting the best deal on a new car is a lot of WORK! You have to spend the time to compare makes, models, dealers, interest rates, terms, warranties, trade in value, delivery date, and more.

You have to determine your priorities. Is “COLOR” really that important? Status? Willing to wait for an ordered car so you can have it just the way you want it? (not so important these days as many cars come only with a few different packages of options).

Buy now, buy today, will usually get you the best, bottom line price, BUT you must have already done all of your research and preparations to be able to recognize and take advantage of it.

REMEMBER, the warranty is with the MANUFACTURER not the dealer. It doesn't matter (after adjustment period) that you bought it one place and take it somewhere else for warranty service.

You will have a better selection and lower prices in larger city suburbs. Spend the time to travel to nearby (100 miles, 2 hours or more) areas.

The personality of your salesman is not important, good or bad! You will likely never see them again.

I have purchased many new cars and have sold them for a living.

I have purchased many new cars and have sold them for a living.

I'm in banking. I've worked in dealer financing and am more than a little familiar with new vs. used car pricing.

It's a common myth that you are always better off buying a good low mileage used car rather than buying a new car off the lot.

I've always maintained you get what you pay for in terms of how many miles are on the clock

And I'm very aware the new car dealers make more money selling USED cars at marked up prices than they make selling new cars.

Naturally caveat emptor in buying new or used, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

Excellent info for anyone not familiar with buying a vehicle to consider.

A few years ago, I was interested in the new camaro...wanted the the V8. Found a dealer with one and out of the box he wanted 10K over sticker, not negotiable. I said are you aware GM is in bankruptcy? He said he would have no problem selling the car at that price at which point we parted ways. Went to Hyundai, bought the just released Genesis 3.8 coupe at 1K under sticker, paid a 650 prep fee (hard to get that out) and got my car for under 30K verses the approximate 42K the jerk wanted. 10K over sticker for a mass produced car, unbelievable.