[911porsche]

What is it that they don't tell you (yet they should) when you go to purchase a brand new (or even used) car? If anyone here has some insider information, please share it with us, so that we may recognize their tricks and avoid them.

[Dodge Doll]

O boy....now that's a realllllyyyyy loaded question, my friend.

What, specifically, are you trying to avoid? because sales is about getting the money, and fudging details is one thing, but I've never worked with a rep that outright lied.

Documentation fees are never spoken to as part of the deal, and can be a few hundred bucks.

[911porsche]

I'd probably guess that a lot of them might fudge details or, as you said, not tell you about hidden costs and fees. Or, have you ever heard of a rep try to sell a car that had been recalled, superseded or outdated, yet advertised as the newest and latest?

[Fanbelt]

It reminds me of the movie old Mathilde (or Mathilda). Her father who is a salesman of used cars has a habit of changing the mileage of the used cars he sells.

[MyMotor]

Yes, that's exactly the movie I was thinking of when I read this thread. The stuff he does seems so implausible though, I don't think that we have to worry about that kind of thing too much.

[Fanbelt]

You are right MM. I don't think used car sales people in the real life would go too far to the point. I hope the movie doesn't inspire them though.

[CherryRed]

I remember when I purchased my car the payments they suggested was about $450 and I kept telling them $350. We went back and forth for about 4 hours til they finally stopped at $352. They try to up the price so they can get a bigger commission on the sale. Don't let them push you around. Go in with a number and stick to it. Chances are they will come down.

[911porsche]

Nice going, CherryRed. It's good that you stuck to your original price. That is quite a fair drop from their initial price, too. It pays to be persistent with some of these sales people.

Fanbelt and MyMotor: I have not seen that movie. It sounds interesting, though. I shall look for it at the video library the next time I am there.

[Kohn]

Mathilda ... was the sales guy with a daughter who was a genius, and with whom he cannot relate at all? If so, indeed I saw that he was tampering with the odometer.

For brand new cars, what the salesmen wouldn't tell you is how low you can get in the car financing aspect. The other thing they wouldn't tell you would be the bad reviews the car is getting. The only thing to go around this is to do your own research.

For used cars, the list would be almost endless The only way to go around any of this would be to do one's own research and to bring a mechanic that you trust to check the car.