3 Mistakes New Car Buyers Make

During nearly 10 years of dealership sales experience, I've seen new car buyers make a lot of mistakes. While I could write for days about all the mistakes I've seen them make, here are three common ones that many people (even the smartest car buyers) make.

Mistake #1 - Failing to test drive a car you intend to buy before beginning negotiations.

In my opinion, there's simply no excuse for buying a car without a test drive (special orders excepted). First, you could waste a lot of time if you negotiate a deal on a car you don't like. Second, a good, thorough test drive and walk around can tell you:

• If the car is comfortable, not only in terms of seating position but also in terms of using the controls.
• If the car's handling and performance meet your expectations. Even if you own an older version of the same model, you may find that a new version drives or handles differently than expected.
• If the specific car you intend to buy has a unique problem or idiosyncrasy. While most of the new cars on a dealer's lot are essentially identical, there's always a chance that the car you're going to buy needs an adjustment of some kind, just doesn't feel right, etc.
• If the specific car you want to buy has been damaged. In many states, dealers are not required to disclose damage on a brand new car until it exceeds thousands of dollars. Therefore, be sure to look at a new car just as closely as you'd look at a used car – check for hail damage, interior wear and tear, dents, dings, etc.
• If there are any features or options on the car that you aren't familiar with and/or don't like. Until you drive the car and walk around it, you might not realize that you really don't like the running boards (for example). This information can help you select another car on the lot, or it can be used as a negotiating ploy: If you tell the salesperson that you don't like the running boards, you might be able to get the dealership to take them off the car and reduce the price accordingly.

Finally, if for no other reason, a test drive and thorough walk-around are important steps in the negotiation. Many dealership salespeople and managers have been trained to believe that a test drive is an essential step in the buying process, so essential that they won't seriously negotiate with you until you drive the car.

Mistake #2 - Getting so set on a specific feature or preference that you miss a good opportunity.

Many new car buyers use online tools to "spec out" the exact car they want, and then they use the Internet to hunt down that specific vehicle. If/when that specific vehicle is not available – or when the deal on that particular vehicle doesn't come together – these buyers are inclined to either a) search online for another car with the correct options or b) start all over again and spec out a different vehicle.

While I absolutely encourage all new car buyers to get the car they want and not to settle, I also encourage anyone buying a car to be a little flexible on things like color and options.

Many dealers have new cars that are "old", meaning that these new cars have been sitting on the lot for months. These "old stockers" (that's what people in the car business call them) are considered distressed merchandise, and sales managers will work harder to sell an old stocker than something fresh.

In terms of process, my suggestion is to tell the new car manager about the features and specs you want as well as the rough price range you want to be in. Then, mention that you would consider an "old stocker" with some differences if the price is right. A good sales manager will give you options, telling you about a couple of vehicles that will meet your requirements and/or give you a very good deal.

Mistake #3 - Negotiating for a specific set of figures rather than focusing on the big picture

The fact that vehicle pricing information is readily available online has fundamentally changed the car business – consumers are no longer in the dark about the true cost of a new car or the value of their trade-in.

However, this new level of transparency has led to tunnel vision for many new car buyers: Rather than focusing on the overall deal, many consumers are inclined to focus on achieving a specific set of numbers. For example:

A new car buyer (let's call her "Sue") has used the Internet to figure out what her trade-in is worth as well as the best price for a specific new car. After setting a target price for the new car and a goal for trade-in value, Sue starts visiting dealerships.

• Dealer #1 offers Sue the price she's looking for on the new car, but doesn't offer the right price for her trade.
• Dealer #2 offers Sue the right price for her trade, but won't come down on the new car.
• Dealer #3 doesn't have the exact new car that Sue is looking for, but they offer her a good price on a similar new car AND they offer her more than she wanted for her trade.

If Sue is focused on the big picture, i.e. the total cost of her purchase, it's likely that Sue will buy from dealer #3, as they've offered her a good overall deal.

On the other hand, if Sue is focused on getting a specific discount on the new car or a specific value for the trade, she might miss the fact that dealer #3 is giving her a very good value and end up "passing a deal looking for one," something we used to say all too often in the car business.

Incidentally, this also applies when dealers can offer you different incentives like special financing or free maintenance. If the Toyota dealer has given you a better trade value while the Honda dealer has a better interest rate, bust out your calculator and figure out which one has the lowest overall cost. A new car deal has a lot of moving parts – don't focus so much on the specifics that you lose track of the big picture.

Author Jason Lancaster has nearly 10 years of dealership sales experience as a salesperson, finance manager, and sales manager. Jason has retired from the car business and now serves as the editor of AccurateAutoAdvice.com among other things.