Getting ready to buy my first car... what advice do you have

[Anonymous]

I have found Fitzgerald's prices to be very fair, and they gave us a very good trade-in price. We did the whole emailing lots of dealerships thing, but none of them came close to Fitzgerald.
Next time I buy a car I will just go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not tell them how much you want to spend " per month". The dealer can make anything work, and I guarantee it will not be in your favor. Look at edmunds or kbb and see what people in your area are paying. I never feel like I got a good deal unless I pay dealer's invoice or less. My cousin bought a Nissan a few months ago, and she paid a few thousand under invoice.
Do not buy anything from the finance people. It's all just profit for them. I do think that gap insurance can be a good idea though, of you are getting a brand new car.
Don't forget to look on the dealer websites for the car you want. They often have an online price that is thousands less than MSRP. Most people don't bother to check.

I'm the one who told the dealer what I'd be willing to pay per month. It got me $2000 under invoice on a brand new model. They increased the trade-in value to get there.Which I knew they could do. I knew the Kelley BB value for my car going in. If you do your homework, it can work.

No no no no. If you start off by talking monthly payments, you're going to get hosed.

Negotiate the price of the car, not the payment. Jeez.