You can be the judge of the value of these tips. I just bought a 2007 Honda CR-V EXL for $25,042. 11 by following these steps: RESEARCHI knew what people were paying for this very same care before I set foot in a dealership. You can get this information in three places: www.edmunds.com www.kbb. com www.consumerreports.comMy tip for using consumer reports is to just sign up monthly (but don’t let them automatically renew). For $5 you can get a months worth of solid, trustworthy, unbiased information. I usually wait until I have to research a few things, and then splurge. It’s the best deal out there. Of course, you can always go to the library and use their copies for free, but, I think, the online search function will save you time (and as the saying goes “time is money”). SHOP AROUNDThis is a no-brainer, but it goes beyond that. You need to ACTIVELY shop around. You need to get at least two dealers bidding against each other, whether they know it or not. Use each dealer’s quote to get the next dealer to lower there’s. When you can’t go any lower, get creative. If you are trading in a vehicle, try to get a dealer to go up on the trade in value. Or, get the dealer to throw in extras. If they don’t bite, how about throwing in extra’s at cost? It doesn’t take anything out of their pocket, but saves you 30-50%. Don’t ask for crap you wouldn’t ordinarily buy, but things that will help protect your investment. For example, I negotiated OEM parts like cargo trays and all-weather floor mats at cost. In fact, I just installed them and they look great!DON’T LET THEM PULL YOUR CREDITEach time a potential creditor makes an inquiry into your credit history, your credit score drops a couple points. Unless you plan on paying in cash, don’t let the dealer pull your credit until you’ve decided to buy from them. Instead, go online to: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pub s/credit/freereports.htmThis is a government website which has a link to trusted credit report websites. It’s safe. You should walk into the dealer knowing your credit score. Tell them to your score and to base their financing package on that number.Each dealer works with different banks, but the dealer will have rate books, formulas, and computer programs that will tell you whether you can get financing for your vehicle. Don’t let them con you into pulling your credit. They want you to commit to them and this is one of the strategies to get you to do so. BE WILLING TO WALK AWAYThe dealers want you to invest time with them, under the theory that the more time you waste, the less time you’ll have to visit their competition. Ironically, this means they’ll rush you at first, trying to get you to point of time and commitment where you feel you might as well stick it out with them. In order to get the best deal, you must be willing to walk away, and they must understand that. IT TAKES TIMEWhile you might be able to pull off a good deal in a day, don’t expect it. I dealt with four dealers directly and sent emails to several others before I was able to whittle the field down to two. It took a couple weeks of half-hearted effort and two days of all-out effort to get to the finish line and my new car in the garage. CREDIT UNIONThis last tip is so much about cars, but is helpful in snagging good financing. Credit unions typically have better loan rates for new cars. If you can get a membership in one through your employer or your alma mater, it’s worth investigating. Then, find the car dealers the credit union deals with, but don’t tell the dealer until your ready to buy (otherwise, they’ll realize that you already have an incentive to deal with them and be tougher to negotiate with). You can find a list of credit unions at: www.creditunionsonline.comH appy hunting! Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil