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Car buying can be easy if you know what you want. It was easier when I was young because my brother-in-law sold me his car and my Mom paid half. This certainly didn't prepare me for my first car dealership purchase. A bonus: my father used to be a car salesman. So geared with the knowledge of how dealers work, I did my homework, and set out.

By homework, I mean I checked out the car I wanted. How much it went for, and what year model I could afford and checked my trade in. I also went to the bank to see how much they thought I could afford. So with check in hand, I hit dealership #1.

Car Dealership #1: I knew what car I wanted (Toyota Corolla) and what I wanted to spend so I told the salesman . . . he laughed! I left.

Car Dealership #2: Girding my loins with my no-nonsense aunt in tow, we struck out for another dealership. Her advise to me was to go to a non Toyota dealership. If they had the car I wanted, they would want to move it quickly. Pretty good advice.

We drove through a few and asked specifically for what I wanted. Some had the make but not the right year I wanted. We kept going. The next stop had the make and model and year I wanted so we parked and went in. Unfortunately, he wanted to sell me a manual shift and I wanted an automatic. I listened to his presentation for a while and tried to reiterate that I wanted an automatic. My aunt who was listening with a small scowl, got up and stated it was time to go. We left.

Car Dealership #3: We went to a VW dealership and asked our usual questions, do you have the make and model and year I want. Yes was the reply so we went in. They had the make and model! They had the year! It was an automatic! Plus, plus, plus! But what about the price. Mmmm, a little more than I wanted, but I had a trade in. This is where having an ex car salesman as a father came in handy. I called him and gave him the specs and the price. He told me the blue book value of the car. I pitched it to the salesman. He made another offer, lower, closer to what I could afford. I called Daddy again and gave him the figures. He wanted the trade in value upped to fit my price. I relayed the info to the salesman, who politely sought his manager. The manager came in and pitched a nice offer, still a little too high. Then my father called the dealership and another manager came around to hand me the phone . . . "Yes, daddy . . . yes, daddy, OK, daddy" click. I asked a few more questions about warranty and condition. They upped the price of my trade in and I came away with the car I aways wanted! It was perfect!

Of course, not everyone has an ex car salesman in the family, but for women, a nice deep baritone voice on the end of a phone line goes a long way. Also, we weren't the sort of women to be pushed or pressured into something we didn't want. Learn to say no, and walk away, or take a friend to say no for you. Get what you want, but also be realistic.

Check your figures and facts first. Come well armed to do battle. Call the shots. Don't be afraid to have a male family member or friend in the wings to give a quick ring to. It's your car, your money, your decision. Make it count!

Learn more about this author, Malissa Thomas.
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