Things Never to Tell a Car Salesman

Here are some things that you NEVER want to tell a car salesman.

1. "I love, love, love this car" - you'll likely get a response like "That's a really hot car and we had someone in here just the other day and... He just won't take less than..."
2. "I need to get a car by tomorrow" - He'll know you won't be looking too closely at the particulars of the deal and you aren't likely to drive across town to try to get a better price.
   It also means you're more likely to accept whatever he shows you from the dealership's inventory even if it doesn't exactly suit you... i.e. that piece of crap sitting on the back lot for the last year.
3. "I need a monthly payment of..." - Almost any given monthly payment is possible provided the loan is long enough and the downpayment is big enough. To understand how much car you can really afford, you need more than a monthly payment figure. Know what monthly payment you want, for how long and how much you want to pay up front. You also need a fairly good idea of what your trade-in is worth.
4. "My trade-in's outside" - If you hand over your keys to save time, consider the downside... guess what's going to happen if you reach an impasse in the negotiations and decide it's time to leave. You'll have to ask for you car keys back. And, odds are good, they will have been misplaced.
5. "My credit's a little spotty" - Many people underestimate their own credit rating - and they're the people who are big moneymakers for car dealers. Part of the interest you pay is shared with the dealership, so they might be pleased to confirm your belief that you don't qualify for a low interest rate. To make sure you're getting the best financing deal, secure your own financing before you start shopping. Having another loan in place - one you can use if you don't like what the dealership is offering - gives you negotiating power. It also lets you know exactly what you qualify for.

Source: http://money.cnn.com