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Your Life: Your Spend: Buy a Car
Sex(ism) doesn’t sell cars
Old stereotypes die hard. Although it’s the 21st century, women are still getting a raw deal when it comes to buying cars – and it’s not just women who think so.
While more than 80 per cent of women surveyed think they get a worse deal, 70 per cent of men surveyed agree with them.
Women car shoppers complain that car salespeople are arrogant, patronising or, worse still, ignore them in favour of their male companions, according to a national survey by independent car buying company privatefleet.com.au.
One woman surveyed says: “The car dealer refused to provide costs, instead asking me to focus on the red colour and how it would suit me!”, another says she was verbally abused after refusing to deal with a salesman who called her Love and asked where her Hubby was.
The survey also revealed how painful people view the negotiation process, with over 30 per cent of respondents stating they'd rather visit a dentist than a car dealership!
When asked to list five professions in order of trustworthiness politicians came in rock bottom, followed by car dealers and real estate agents, with journalists and lawyers considered the most trustworthy.
 10 car buying tips
1. Do as much research as possible before going out shopping. Read reviews from independent sources (don't just read the manufacturer's reviews - they always make the cars sound the best buy), use the Internet and call the NRMA technical Advice line (free to members).
2. Set yourself a budget before you go. Write down this budget on a piece of paper and stick to it.
3. Always take a friend or partner if possible. A friend cannot only reduce the chance of 'buying on emotion'; having an ally can build support when it comes to negotiating.
4. Be careful of the 'sacrificial lamb' - this is the car advertised at a massively discounted price but when you turn up it has sold or the dealer tries to talk you into something else.
5. Enjoy a thorough test-drive of the vehicle.
6. If you are trading in, concentrate on the changeover price as that is what an upgrade will ultimately cost you (be aware that the wholesale value of your car will always be way less than you think!)
7. Get a confirmed delivery date in writing.
8. If you know what car you want, and you want to save time and money, consider approaching an independent car broker who can negotiate the purchase on your behalf.
9. Negotiate the vehicle price with all the options and on road costs included (dealer delivery, stamp duty, registration and compulsory insurance charges).
10. Be wary of dealers who say one or any of the following:
- the car is the only one in the country
- the price only applies for today (the bonus expires at 5pm!)
- they'll have to speak to their manager
- they or a member of their family drives the same car and loves it!
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Avoid dodgy tax schemes
