You have been thinking of taking your car on a  vacation  this summer.  But your car is 12 years old and you are concerned that it won't hold up on a long drive.  So, you have made the major decision to buy a new car.   You're all excited.  Before you go to the dealer, I recommend  you arm yourself  with insider tips on buying a new car. After all, the last time you bought a new car you paid a lot more than your neighbor who bought the same car model from the same dealer.

 Your neighbor knew those insider tips on buying a new car.  

5 Insider Tips On Buying a New Car:

1. Be Prepared.  Know the make and model you want.  In fact, you should have 2 or 3 choices (from different manufacturers) in mind.  Check out those automobile websites to find out what extras are available.  Know list prices. Check frequency  of repair ratings by the impartial consumer magazines. The consumer magazines also publish dealer costs, in separate publications.  Buy them for the cars you are considering.
2. Know your credit rating.  The dealer will tell you that your credit is not good or worse than it actually is.   Check the rate that your bank will give you.  Go to the dealer with that in writing .  The last person you will deal with at the dealer is the finance manager, who will quote you a finance rate that is probably 2 to 3 percentage points higher than that which you can get from your bank..  This will give you room to bargain.
3. Know the trade in value of the car you are going to trade in.  There are publications that are published several times per year with that information.
4. When Is The Best Time To Go To The Dealer? Go the last day of the month, when the salesperson has to fill a quota.  In addition the manufacturer is looking at the dealer sales,as the dealer also has quotas.  Also, do not go to the dealer on the weekends, when they are busiest.
5. Beware of monthly payment quotes from the sales manager. The Sales Manager will try to get you to agree to a monthly payment, rather than a total car price.  The dealer will be taking your money on a monthly payment deal. You want to base the deal on the total cost of the car, mot the monthly payment. 
6. Beware of extended warranties,  as they are very expensive and full of conditions.

Remember, that everyone working at the dealer is there to take your money.