I have only purchase 2 new cars in my life. A ML320 on 10/2000 and a SLK just now.

In both cases I got below invoice. And I know I could do a little better by at least a few hundred dollars each time by how things were going.

Remember back in 2000 the economy was still going strong.

I bought both in the bay area, california

These are my new car purchase experience/suggestions.

1. Frist you need to know that you could get it at invoice or a little below.

2. You could get inovice price from the kelly blue book site.

3. Besure of the car you want with the options you want before talking about prices with the sales man.

4. When you talk to the sales man about prices you have to be definate. For example, I will buy this car at this price today. I will write you a check for the amount or I will buy this car at this amount and I already have financing arranged. Again cash, cash, cash is king. When you talk to the salesman about price all other issues must already have been resolved.

5. DO NOT deal with one dealer at once. You could do it over the phone. Tell them if you agree on a price you could give him a credit card over the phone and he could charge a $1000 deposit. There is no reason for them not to do that.

6. You could play the dealers against one another. But I would not do this until I get a sence of what all the dealer that you are willing to do deal with is willing to do. You could say dealer x is willing to sell me car y at this price with these options. You may not have to give them the name. My suggestion is not to lie. I got below invoice without having to lie in both cases. Keep in mine even if they sell you the car at invoice they will still make 3% holdback.

7. Some times even at the same dealer a different salesman could make a difference.

8. Keep in mind that a lot have to do with timming. There are some timming you could control like buying at the end of the year. Buying at the end of the month when it has been raining. Buying at the middle of the week. But a lot of timming issue you have not control over and you may no be aware off, the sales person is going on vacation the next day and he want the sales, or there are some internal sales quanity number that the dealer is pushing. And remember to get a great deal you may have to break off the negoation and come back on it later.

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Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987