If you’ve ever gone car shopping with your “better half,” you know it rarely goes smoothly. Your wife has very firm ideas about what she wants, and no matter how much “education” you try to give her before heading out to the dealership in search of the perfect deal, she stubbornly sticks to her own ideas. Meanwhile, the salesman is practically salivating with glee. When it comes to added “features,” it seems car salesmen are all equipped with one standard option—the ability to spot a sucker from miles away. There’s no doubt he had your number the moment he saw your wife ogling the shiny, brand new 2019 Ford Explorer taking pride of place on the lot.
Your wife has that look of love in her eyes as she gazes adoringly at the gazillion-dollar SUV, and when you glance at the salesman, you notice a completely different gleam in his eyes—the sparkle of dollar signs. He’s a wolf, ready to pounce. The thrill of the hunt is over; you and your wife have become easy pickings. It quickly hits you that all your negotiating power just went out the window. Is there a way to get your wife what she wants without being taken to the cleaners by car dealerships? Is it even possible to buy a new car without risking divorce?
The 8 Best Tips to Find You the Best Deal and Keep You Happily Married
Buying a new car is a stressful process. No doubt, you and your wife have very different ideas about what you need, and of course, many arguments will break out about how much you are willing to pay for the next five to seven years. Today’s car market allows people to own almost any vehicle they choose, thanks to flexible, long-term payment plans and low interest rates. Even luxury cars, once reserved only for the wealthy, are now within reach for the average car buyer.
Unfortunately, to make these payments affordable, it often means spreading the cost over seven or eight years, which results in exorbitant interest payments and high monthly fees. Not eager to be car-rich and cash-poor for the next 7-8 years, chances are you and your wife are not seeing eye to eye on the matter. The truth is, you can own anything you want, but the caveat is… you must be willing to pay for it, and often that price is simply too high. But try convincing your wife of this while the slick salesman at the dealership convinces her that, yes, she not only CAN afford a 2019 Lexus, but she also DESERVES it.
There’s no doubt that to survive the minefield of buying a new car, you and your wife need a solid game plan—and to stick to it.
Here are eight leading tips to guide you and your wife through the car buying process without landing in divorce court:
- Decide ahead of time what you can afford and what you need.
An honest assessment of your family’s needs, set against a realistic monthly budget, is the starting point to buying a car without ending your marriage. Start by understanding how you use your vehicle and what you need from it. While your wife might long for the newest Mini Cooper S Coupe convertible, it may not only be out of your price range, but also ill-suited to your family’s lifestyle. After all, if you have a family of five and can only fit two people in the new sports car, it’s not going to be practical.
Let’s face it: most of us aren’t buying extra cars just to have fun. We need our vehicles to transport the kids to school, take the dogs and cats to the vet, and to get to work and the grocery store.
Another important consideration is future wear and tear. Are you willing to put in the time to keep a white vehicle clean? Sure, it looks fantastic on the lot, all polished and pristine. But will you feel embarrassed when the same salt-stained, mud-covered white vehicle is sitting in your driveway, desperately in need of a car wash? Got a white dog? Maybe black carpeting and cloth seats aren’t the best idea after all.
Also, consider fuel economy. If you do a lot of driving, you won’t want to be saddled with high gas bills that make you seriously rethink your social life because it’s too expensive to drive anywhere!
All these factors deserve serious consideration when choosing the vehicle best suited to your family’s needs. An open discussion of the features that matter most to each of you and the vehicles most likely to meet those needs will dramatically narrow down the options.
Once you’ve created a wish list of vehicles that are best suited to your lifestyle, you’ll need to determine how much you can afford to spend. Don’t fall in love with any one model just yet. Open-mindedness is key to getting a good deal and avoiding heated arguments at the dealership. Have several vehicles in mind and ensure they all fit within your financial means. You can have anything you want—if you’re willing to pay for it. However, wise car-buying couples understand it’s not wise to purchase a vehicle that will drastically lower their standard of living due to crippling monthly car payments. It’s a good idea to check with a lending institution ahead of time to see if you qualify for a loan, and if so, how much credit they’re willing to extend to you.
- Calculate the overall cost.
Always keep in mind that the sticker price isn’t the final amount you’ll actually pay. Be cautious of vehicles listed with only their bi-weekly payment cost; this often suggests that if you saw the actual price of the vehicle, you’d walk away. These payment figures are an illusion designed to make you feel like the car is affordable when, in reality, it’s not. You aren’t paying the $26,900 prominently posted on the window of your dream vehicle—that’s just the starting point.
The final cost will include additional fees like taxes, freight, options, and interest, which can add up to thousands more. You need to know exactly how much you’ll be paying once all is said and done.
Always consider the resale value of the vehicle. After several years, your lifestyle may change, and you may want to upgrade—or downgrade. You’ll want to choose a car that holds its value well and provides a good return on your initial investment.
Also, don’t forget to factor in the insurance costs for your new vehicle. You may be able to afford the monthly payments and maintenance costs, but will the insurance premium push you into a higher bracket, leaving you financially stretched?
- Determine ahead of time what your ideal price point is.
In many cases, husbands are happy to let their wives select the new car since they’ll likely be the ones driving it most. However, agreeing on price is often harder. Decide ahead of time what you’re willing to pay. Dealers will treat your budget as a starting point and will attempt to negotiate upwards. To counteract this, you might want to start by quoting a lower price than what you’re actually prepared to pay. This tactic can help you land where you want to be.
Prime your wife for what will happen at the dealership by familiarizing her with common sales strategies. Do your research to find out the actual worth of the vehicles you’re considering, as opposed to the inflated manufacturer’s suggested retail prices. Compare these prices against the vehicle’s invoice price. Somewhere between the MSRP and invoice price lies your best negotiating power.
Keep in mind, if you’ve selected an extremely popular vehicle, your bargaining power will be lower than if you choose a model that’s abundant on the lot.
- Consider a trade-in.
If you have a viable trade-in, it can help offset the cost of your new vehicle. By checking the Kelley Blue Book guides, you can determine what a dealer might offer for your trade. Be honest about the condition of your car—mileage, accident history, and general wear all affect its trade-in value.
To maximize the value of your trade-in, you might find it’s better to sell your car privately and apply the funds to your new purchase. Typically, you’ll receive more from a private sale than from a dealership trade-in.
- Study current interest rates and offers from all dealerships.
Shop around! Don’t settle for the first dealership and car that catches your eye. Visit multiple lots to compare offers, incentives, and interest rates. This research will give you leverage in negotiations, showing the salesmen that you’ve done your homework.
Be willing to travel to nearby cities or even states. Sometimes, a little extra effort can lead to a better offer. A local dealership may even offer you a better deal to keep your business.
- Drive many different models.
One of the biggest mistakes couples make when shopping for a new car is falling in love with a single model. Your wife may already know exactly what she wants, and like most people, she may not want to consider anything else. But it’s important that the salesman doesn’t know this, and it’s crucial that your wife understands this is a “poker game”—showing her cards means losing.
By test-driving a variety of models, you may find a vehicle you hadn’t considered but truly love. Stick to what fits your family’s needs and budget, but be open to testing other options. In the end, you might still choose the vehicle your wife had her heart set on, but by being open-minded, the dealer will be more inclined to negotiate with you on price.
- Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.
Never accept the first price you’re given. Know the facts, be willing to negotiate, and most importantly, be willing to walk away if the deal isn’t right.
It’s usually best if only one person does the negotiating. If negotiating isn’t your strong suit, it’s probably better to let your partner handle the negotiations while you step back and relax.
- Present a united front.
Don’t allow the dealer to pit you against each other. Present a united front. If you contradict each other, you’ll lose your negotiating advantage and raise the potential for conflict.
Decide ahead of time on your goals—what you want, what you’re willing to pay, and who will handle the negotiations. If you’re the quiet partner in this equation, STAY SILENT. One wrong word could cost you thousands in savings.
But most importantly, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t commit. You don’t have to buy a car that day. If there’s any doubt, go home, talk it through, and sleep on it. A car is a long-term financial commitment, and you’ll want to be sure about your decision.
Yes, it’s possible to buy a new car without getting divorced! Follow our tips to get your wife the car she wants at a price you can live with, and you’ll both be happy indeed. Happy car shopping!
