Step 1. Think of buying a car-this includes researching on the current value of the car/s you are looking at and their corresponding residual value. The latter is a crucial information in deciding whether to lease or finance. Analyze the subtle and the differentiating merits between one model and the next. Aesthetic considerations such as color and accessories to be included are deliberated at this stage.
Step 2. Test drive cars that made it to your short-list-all research, and analysis cease at this point. The important thing to iron out at this stage is to decide when to go for test-drives. It will not hurt to wait for imminent holiday sales or for the end of the month. The former is for obvious reasons the latter is because dealership scramble to meet sales quota per month and is therefore desperate to make a sale.
Step 3. Neglect to research on which dealership to buy from- Go to any dealership with the assumption that they will kiss your feet and treat you like kings in order to make a sale.
Step 4. Wander innocently over to Toyota Huntington Station, NY-this is regardless of the fact that you are not interested in purchasing or leasing a Toyota. This dealership in particular is the catalyst of the series of unfortunate events that will haunt you after making a deal at this place.
Step 5. Prepare to be sales pitched for all the cars except for the one that you are interested in-You are interested in the 2009 Camry? Why don't you look at our second-hand 2005 Camry owned by an affable grand pa? Sure you want a V6? But why do you when V4 is practically the same except the engine is subtly inferior? If you want to lease, do not be surprised if they talk to you about financing. If you are convinced about leasing, you will be told of their great financing deals and rates. At this point, you try to remain firm and display restraint. Because this is the easy part.
Step 6. Settle on the price of the car and not on the monthly installment price-prepare to be dazzled with attractive numbers that suggests affordability and be snapped at when you ask for the interest rate and the base price from which these attractive figures come from. Following their arithmetic, there is no fundamental difference between paying $500/mo for 60 months and paying $450/mo for 72 months. At this point, you will realize that they do not and will not kiss your feet regardless of what day of the month it is and that they do not hesitate to use intimidation and condescension in order to close a deal. And also, regardless of what they say (500 * 60) < (450 * 72).
Step 7. Delude yourself into thinking that such is the case everywhere else-sit there and tolerate these indignities and focus on the end result: a car of your own.
Step 8. Pay $1,000 down payment to reserve the car-leave the dealership assuming that you will drive your own car the very next day.
Step 9. Prepare to have an argument with the dealer on what exactly was agreed upon-You'll pick up the car today?!? I didn't tell you you can pick up your car today.
Step 10. Five days, four seizures, three heated arguments, and two years shaved off from your life later-Congratulations! You are now $1,000 poorer and have no car to speak of.
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If you wish to become $1,000 poorer and have something to show for it, make sure that you skip step 3. To say the least, it is a good idea to research on the car dealerships you have in your area. Otherwise you will miss out on valuable background info such as this. Doing your homework on the car and snagging a good deal for it is not a guarantee that you will drive home the car. Toyota Huntington Station, NY made sure that we realize as much.
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