Honestly, we all, regardless of skin color, have difficulties in life we need to overcome, but when blacks like you pull this shit you do yourself and the rest of your race no favors whatsoever. Slavery’s been outlawed for almost 150 years and the Civil Rights movement righted years of wrongs over 40 years ago. You live in THE most free and least oppressive country this world has EVER known. As a result you have every opportunity to do the most with your God-given talents and go as far in life as your ambition will take you. But, instead, you chose to maintain a defeatist, “someone owes me because I’m black” attitude. As a result, sir, you will never go far.

Oh, wait… Obama’s gonna be president in a couple weeks. All your ills will be corrected. The hungry will be fed. The paralyzed will walk. The world will love us (even France!). And you, as a black male, will no longer have to suffer through the daily struggles that must be *so* difficult. But until then, lose the defeastist/entitlment mindset. Peace out, yo.

I realize it’s difficult for a person of any other race to even begin to understand the struggles of a black person, let alone a black man. People should really learn to educate themselves more on the current state of Americans as a whole. I truly feel this piece would have been more effective as a whole if the author had put a little more thought into writing it….I did not make it past the black male sentence, so I have no idea what the rest said. Good luck to you in the future and I truly hope you take something from this comment.

The NADA (National Auto Dealers Association) Used Car Value Guide that dealers use, has only two pricing scales – retail and trade-in – for any vehicle. The difference between the two suggests the profit margin that a dealership, or independent dealer lot, can hope to make on the vehicle.

Additionally, there is a national value guide for used cars, and for those dealers who want it, regional issues. While I am not an auto dealer, I know this since I am on the advisory board of the NADA Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide; and my payment for that task is a comp subscription to NADA value guides, the same ones dealerships obtain.

You can buy the NADA Used Car Value Guide through NADA’s publishing arm, or at some auto parts stores, but it will show high, low and average values. If a person could get a copy of the guide that dealerships use, you’d have a better idea, going in, as to how much you might – emphasis on “might” – be able to negotiate the price down.

The main thing is respecting the salesperson for what he or she is in the business of doing; and of course, that works both ways. For example, if you ran into someone who actually looked like the salesman character illustrating this piece, you might wonder how professional he is, and reconsider. But then again, there is that old saying that “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Ultimately, in the first few minutes of interchange, if you don’t feel comfortable with how you’re being treated, thank the person and walk away. That’s the power the consumer has always had, but few use.

And as holding back information from salespeople, I’d advise against it. This is not akin to dealing with an attorney in a court of law. If you have a trade-in, be honest about its condition; use value guides to get a realistic idea of what you might get. You’ll have to use the “average” value in the books you can get, to figure where to go up or down.

If you have bad credit, the salesperson needs to know that. It helps them know if they’re going to have to find financing for you. But of course, if they offer you financing through one of their lenders, expect to pay a higher rate, than you would through your own bank. Of course, these days, that may vary, depending on who you’re banking with. It might even be possible that the dealership can do better by you.

As for CARFAX, it is sometimes “garbage in, garbage out.” I have seen instances where someone I knew selling a car had a potential buyer tell him something about the car, learned through CARFAX, that just wasn’t true. That service is not always the best way to judge a vehicle. If you like something, don’t be afraid to drive it – again, respecting the fact that it is not yours (yet) – and make your evaluation, that way.

And if you feel compelled to buy a used car off of eBay Motors, don’t buy long distance without having someone you know, or can pay, look at and drive the car you’re interested in. If the seller refuses you that, don’t buy. Again, it’s the power of walking away. Sometimes, the most empowering thing you can say is “no.”

Get real kid! I’m not racist, and a cop or a black guy will laugh at that. Maybe not out loud, but they will.

Suzanne– that’s one of life’s simple pleasures — having that salesman call you back on Monday morning to “see what we can do,” yes you are right. You know you’re back in the driver’s seat then.