Car Buying for the Single Woman 201

Having been a woman in the car business was tough sometimes but it allowed me to learn some of the tricks of this game from the inside. Now I can share some of what I have learned with my "sisters" to help them avoid the tripwires some sales agents use.

Okay, you've done some homework. You know what your credit is like, you've researched your needs vs. your wants, you know how much you can afford and you're ready to buy your car, right? Not just yet. You are now ready to get into some real homework. Let's go for a test drive...actually, lots of test drives!

The Test Drive is one of the most important steps in the car buying process. It allows you to test your ideas about what you need vs. what you want from a car in a relatively safe way. It will allow you to get a feel for the dealership and the sales agent. It will also give you a real idea of what is being charged for a car vs. what the websites say it should cost. And it is just plain fun! When you are ready to head for the dealership...

Be prepared to drive a lot.

Drive everything on your list and then drive a few that aren't. Every car is different and driving one or two that aren't on the top of your list may bring something to your attention that you weren't aware of. For example, many women are drawn to bigger vehicles because of the idea that bigger means safer but how safe is the thing if you can't park it or maneuver down your narrow street comfortably?

Leave your money at home!

There is something about the scent and feel of a new car that can make all your careful plans fly right out the window. Leaving any method of payment at home will ensure that your buying plan will stay safe.

Your sales agent should go out in the car with you

He or she needs to demonstrate how all the buttons and gadgets work. Then, if the dealership policy allows it, you should go out in the car alone so you can get comfortable with the vehicle and really see if it "fits" you without the distraction of a sales agent trying to get you to buy today. A note of caution here...

The dealership will need to see your driver's license for this. That little card contains just about all the information they need to run your credit. Make it very clear that you are not giving them permission to do this. Too many inquiries will damage your credit and since you are not planning on buying now, they have no need to know that info about you. If it turns out that they did look at your credit you can sue them so a reputable dealer will not risk doing this for the sake of one sale.

Do not get into a discussion about price or payments now.

A good sales agent will try to get you headed in that direction but stay firm. Let them know that you are not ready to "talk money" now because you have some more homework to do. Let them know that if you like what you see you will give your business to them. Make a note of the MSRP and the equipment package on the back of the sales agent's card for future reference but that's all.

Pull into the service lane

Talk to the service rep. Take a look around. Is the place clean and well maintained? Is the rep willing to take a few minutes to speak with you? Are they professional in their communication with the other techs in the shop?

Go into the service lounge.

Is it well maintained? Talk to one of the customers. Have they been waiting long and how do they like the service? Do they have their car serviced here because the service is good or because the warranty requires it? What car are they driving and if they had the chance to "do it all over again", would they buy the same car and from this dealer?

Once you are back in the showroom you should keep your ears open.

Do the other patrons seem to be pleased to be there? Are the negotiations going smoothly or do they seem to be getting the "hard sell"? Is your agent as attentive now that he/she knows you are not planning to buy today or do they seem to be anxious to get on to someone else?

Once back in your car, take a minute to rate your experience.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the best, how well did the car meet your list of needs? How did it match up to your wants? What did you think about the service area and the tech? Did your agent treat you in a professional and respectful manner?

Note: I did not ask if you liked your agent. "Liking" your agent is nice but you want someone who will hear your concerns and take them seriously; not someone who will make you laugh while they empty your pockets!

Finally, what do you think about the dealership overall?

Make note of any "extras" that are important to you

For example, one of my local area dealerships offers a "Ladies Day" in their service lounge. One day per week there is a manicurist available so you can get your nails done while you wait. I'd rather have the "tires for life" deal from the dealership down the street because I can always get my nails done with the money I save in replacing tires but to each her own!

I know that this seems like a lot to think about but it will get easier after each test drive and doing these things will give you the best chance to get the best deal on your new car as possible. The next article will be on what to do "Now That You Have Found The One"! Until then, have fun and drive lots of someone else's cars!