Small tip.

Don't get the manager involved in the negotiations if you can. The salesman is 100% commission, whereas the manager will be salary and therefore less motivated to make the sale. If you can stick with your sales guy, try to have him act as a middle man fighting with his manager to take the deal. A manager is more likely to get flustered and give you the flat out "no" then the sales rep is.

Used Car Tip

This shouldn't have to be listed as a tip on here, it should be common knowledge. When you are buying a used vehicle from a dealership, make sure you confirm a few things before you throw down the cash:

• 100% ALWAYS EVERYTIME view the CarProof/CarFax report. Many times I've had a car sold and not even known it had a hit until the customer wanted a CarProof. Dealers are required (in Ontario) to disclose damage over $3000.00. 
• Was it a daily rental? Lease return? Trade in?
• How long has it been on the lot?(You can use this to your advantage if it's been there forever)
• Has the safety been done? If yes, what did it need?
• Check the price vs others on Autotrader.com/.ca
• Clarify before you buy what will be replaced.
• Check the tires and the windshield, lots of times mechanics will miss small cracks in the windshield which you can use to get a brand new one at no extra cost.
• Ask if you can take it for a few hours, or overnight.   

After you are cool with all of these and determine the price you want, right before signing, ask for a full tank of gas. Most dealers will only give you 1/4 or 1/2 tank with used cars. There is 100% no way they will deny you this request and you just saved yourself potentially another $30-$50!

Cheers.

Leasing

Thinking about something fairly expensive? Like to upgrade all the time? Stop wasting fucking money and lease! This depends on a few things and is not applicable to all vehicles. For example, at Ford, our std leasing rate is 11.00%; so if it doesn't have leasing incentives just forget it.

Let's go over my leasing checklist shall we?!

1. Figure out the price (same as financing) before getting into payments.
2. Double check the fee's after you find your lease number.
3. If you currently lease, check if there is a loyalty offer.
4. Make sure you verify:
1. How many KM's/Miles per year? (I often put people into 20k/year leases because it lowers the payment)
2. What are the overage fee's (EG, $0.12/KM)?
3. What is my residual rate (Determines what the vehicle is worth at the end of the lease)?
4. What is my buyout (The price you'd pay at the end of your lease to own the vehicle**Is ALWAYS + Taxes)?
5. What is my leasing rate?
6. What is the term?
5. Make sure you check what your options are for early opt out. In almost all leasing cases you are required to pay the balance of the payments in order to be released from the lease.
6. Is it an in-house lease or through the manufacturer?
7. Can you add extra KM's after you take delivery?

Remember, leasing isn't right for everyone but it is great for some people!

Figuring out your financing.

So, you have the best price imaginable from utilizing my other tips. Now, you need to finance.

1. Figure out how much your MAXIMUM payment can be monthly ahead of time (Eg. I can handle $500.00/Month) -> If you are comfortable at say $350 over 72 months, but can handle $420 over 60 months; do the 60 months (You will pay MUCH less interest).
2. Go through the options with your sales rep. Some vehicles offer 0% financing up to 72 months. Even if you planned on a 5 year contract, if you can get 0% for 6 years, why the fuck not take it right?
3. If you are buying during cash incentives (see: no 0% financing), make sure you verify with your salesmen a few things
1. What is the rate? (Sometimes 60 months will be 6.99% whereas 72 months is 7.99%)
2. Who are you financing through? (I find it's easier to get approved through the manufacturer)
3. How much interest am I paying overall in interest? (The longer you finance, the more you pay in interest.)
4. Is there a balloon payment? (Adding a bulk payment to the end of your finance to greatly reduce the payment. Many shady salesmen will do this without telling you. Eg. You pay $240 / Month for 60 months with a final payment of $18,000.00 + Tax)
5. Make sure to clarify the rate AND the term. I put people into 72 month or even 84 month terms if they don't specify because it brings the payment way down. You dont want a long term like this. (see: more interest)
6. Clarify if there is a down payment involved.
7. DOUBLE CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY ADMIN FEES. Another thing that even I do all the time is figure out a price with the customer, then throw back in the admin fee ($299.00) when they want a payment. Often, you won't even be able to tell it's there unless you brought a scientific calculator and your 15 yr nephew.

That's all I got for today. I'll hit on the common issues/shady shit of leasing probably tomorrow.

Cheers.

Something Different.

I'm seeing a lot of blogs these days on TF2, Halo, HoN, WOW and even LoL. However, all of these games, in my opinion, pale in comparison to the glory that was pre 1.6 Counterstrike. In lieu of a normal blog post today, I preset you instead with the greatest CS compilation video of all time.

I know, I know. This isn't what my blog is about, but I'm sure a lot of you played CS and will enjoy the break from my poor writing.




And just for ref, I've seen Ksharp play in person and that part of the video gives me the chills at how good he is/was.

Ups and Downs.

Just for reference, for anyone thinking about selling cars, here is an example of what can happen to your income at any time (my night tonight):

2007 Ford F-150 - Didn't get approved, co-signed failed. ($1,200.00)

2011 Lincoln MKX - Customers Backed out.                   ($500.00)

2010 Ford F-150 (Mentioned in earlier post) Cancelled    ($400.00)

                                                                                                                   

= $2,100.00 lost in one evening.

Feels bad man.

DO NOT Buy a Car Based on a Payment

I see this EVERYDAY and try to use it to my advantage whenever I possibly can.

• You are excited, with a budget (eg. $350/month). 
• You are more concerned about the payment than the actual price

This is a very very bad way to go about buying a vehicle. I always try and sell cars based on the payment rather than the price. Why? Because if you want $350/month, I can probably hit it without lowering the price, but extending the term of your finance. Also, you can guarantee that there will be admin fee's (atleast one) built into the payment.

ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS figure out the price of the vehicle THEN get into some sort of payments.

Stay tuned for tips on making sure you don't get ass fucked with your financing, tomorrow!