How to purchase a car in 20 min

As I have mentioned before, the good days of driving a BMW has to rest a little. I am moving on to a Japanese. After some severe headaches and number crunching, I have decided I should stop looking at options and started on making decisions.

So, I have determined to get a Nissan Altima 2.5s

First thing to do is to find out where the bargaining can start. To do that, I have to find out how much they are and work backwards.

carcostcananda.com is a great place to start, it will cost about $40, and it will give you 5 car costs (as compare to a car's MSRP). Armed with that information, I went into Richmond Nissan, sales were very busy, and I suppose they were too busy for a 20 something guy. After 15 min of waiting, I decided to leave and headed to Southside Nissan.

I walked in and told the first sales that I am not interested in test driving a car, and I am not interested in knowing the technicals of the car, I just want to buy one today!

With that we started with numbers. I told him the spec I want and the colour I want. I started with $2000 off the listed price, the sales rep looked shocked and said it was never been done before, so I gave him $20 and told him to cut $1980. He tried to suggest that $20 doesn't make much difference. I told him that I am making him a great deal, he only had to get me this deal and he could make the sales, no test drive, no follow up calls.

So, he went to his manager with that number, 15 min later, came out and said, "it is your lucky day". I got a deal!

According to carcostcanada, I believe I have asked $350 above the manufacturer's cost, which in any standard of a brand new 2007 model, is a very good deal.

Here is a few tips for those of you who are thinking about getting a new car.

1. Get the manufacturer's cost, so you know where to start with the numbers game.
2. Tell the Sales rep you are "buying" not "shopping" for a car. They are more willing to give you a reasonable price if you show an intent to purchase, not just to look around.
3. Go in on the last few days of the month. 2 reasons, 1st, sales are more interested in finishing the month with good numbers. 2nd, if you are picking up the car in the following month, the chance is that there might be a deal in the next month that wasn't offer on the month you made the deal. If the deal is better, you can always request that month's deal before picking up the car.

Remember even if you put down a deposit and signed on the sheet with the deal you have agreed with the sales, it doesn't mean you are stuck with the deal. You are stuck with the deal when you pick up the car and sign on the finance/lease agreement. I actually managed to shave another $125 two days after I made the deal, because he quoted me the wrong colour (different colour costs different), and another $900 when the May deal come out to be a better deal (lowered lease rate plus the first month payment free).