Buying a car is a really unpleasant, multi-hour experience, but it's funny how often people go back to the same dealer.

I never bought a car. How do you make it take multiple hours and really unpleasant?

I image, if I was to buy a car, I would look up interesting models on the internet (including price information), perhaps ask my friends for advice. When I am ready knowing what car I want, I'd go to the dealership, see if their price is right, and buy it (or leave it).

I might phone around before hand, to find out their prices and compare with other dealerships.

How does it work in reality? How do you make it last long?

Here's a brilliant article from several years ago that crops up on HN from time to time -- an undercover report on car dealerships. It's long, but it's recommended reading if you are planning to buy a car, or if you have any interest in sales psychology:

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article....

According to this article, there are two kinds of dealerships -- high-pressure and low-pressure -- and the reporter spends some time working at each. The high-pressure Japanese dealership had an elaborate buying process with many additional costs, delays, and psychological tricks to greatly inflate the final price. "Let me talk with my manager" is used as a weapon.

But online research is a good idea. Some lines from the article:

"Three hundred below invoice," he smugly answered.

I asked how he did it. He said he checked prices on the Internet. He then called the fleet manager and made the deal over the phone.

I had a schizophrenic reaction to this. Part of me admired the fact that he had outfoxed the dealer. But the car salesman side of me was angry that I never "got a shot at him." It seemed like just a matter of time before people who, in the past, walked onto our car lot, would be on the Internet making deals.

Thanks. Yes, now I remember having read that article some time ago. My idea of phoning around and doing online research probably even came from there.

most car dealers force you to haggle. they won't let you know that you are being forced to haggle until seconds before it's time to sign the contract. then, suddenly, there are all these options that you absolutely must have, new financing terms, etc etc etc.

if you do the right thing, e.g., get up and walk out, they will let you do it. then when you get to the parking lot, they'll run you down and try to convince you to start the process again.

it's really, really nuts.

Even if you show up with a bag full of cash, point right at the car you want, and agree to the sticker price, there is a shocking amount of paper work that needs to be completed. The guy on the lot, the guy sitting at the desk to watch you fill in the paper work, and the guy who knows how to make copies of the paper work are all different. At every step you will be asked a question you had no idea would need deciding.

As soon as financing or insurance come into the game, it gets really ridiculous.

Does anyone actually go to dealerships anymore to 'look' for cars? With websites like Autotrader, you basically have all of your choices listed for you. The last car I bought, I found online, went to the dealership, and it wasn't that bad of a situation. Just like any other major purchase you should do your homework before confronting anyone in sales.

Generally harsh criticism from people with some power over me. No matter how boring the subject matter, this makes me more likely to work at it & to seek their approval.