Remember, the purpose of this trip is for vehicle evaluation. There's no substitute for going to dealerships for a hands-on evaluation of the cars on your list. If you bypass this important step, you'll be making your decision without vital information about each vehicle's comfort, handling, and safety. Usually we are unprepared and fearful of paying too much or being coerced into buying something we don't want. To counter this common apprehension, automakers are trying harder to make car-buying a pleasant experience.
Manufacturers now issue consumer relations guidelines that dealers are supposed to follow.
Even so, you will be treated differently at every place you visit. The selling style and buying experience at different dealerships depends on the personality of the owner. Owners interested in quick profits are most likely to employ a high-pressure sales staff. Laid-back sales staff indicate an owner interested in good customer relations, and the profitable referrals good relations bring. Talking with your salesperson, you'll get a feeling for the dealership's personality and will quickly find out if you need to go elsewhere.