re: I hate the car buying process.

I used Edmond's to price a 2012 Yukon. Just search the vehicle you want, and right there is a price ranging from invoice to MSRP.

Check out Consumer Reports.

They can tell you what you should pay for the vehicle that you want to purchase and the same for the vehicle that you might trade in.

They also advise the exact way to go about the process.

Do not even mention a possible trade in until you have negotiated the price on the new vehicle that you want to buy. After that has been done then you could talk to them about a trade in or what you should get if you sell it yourself.

I ended up going to 5 different dealers because I wasn't very picky. I wanted a midsize sedan. I only had a good experience in one, and that's the one I bought from (Toyota). I did have to walk out once (with financing), but I suppose that's standard. They wanted me to make the deal that night, but I walked out and slept on it. The only regrets I have is not pushing them harder and shot for a slightly higher tier if nothing else for resale value.

Tried and True Method of purchasing a car.....

1) Find the exact car you want, test drive it, feel free to get excited, and go home.
2) Go back at 7:00pm Friday evening (towards the end of the month) and test drive the car again.
3) 7:50pm tell the sales man you are interested in the vehicle and ask him to please start the conversation with his financial person (at least one of the three (salesman, manager,or financials) will have kids).
4) By 8:25 someone will be inspecting your vehicle for trade in purposes
5) 8:45 begin talking trade in value. BE STUBBORN elongate the conversation.
6) 9:15 start talking purchase price
7)As it nears 10pm they'll give you what you want just to get you the f*ck out of their office so they can go home. But no matter what; they will never ask you to leave and come back because they want the deal done for end of month quota.

*raining outside usually helps too because they know you might be the only sale for the day. because no one car shops in the rain....

-Traded a '93 GMC pickup 4x4 with 160K mile in '07 for $3,700 and purchased a 4door Jeep Wrangler with 18K for $20K ---on Christmas Eve....nice

-Traded a '05 Jetta and purchased a used '10 Toyota Camera this year; the rainy night before Easter

This is as good a place as any to put this info I suppose.....

If you happen to go to Riverlands in LaPlace, keep one thing in mind. You will pay for Mastershield Paint Sealant, and VIN window etching if you are not careful.

There is ZERO warning of this on their wondow stickers, and they dont use addendum stickers. You will not even think to try to negotiate out of this because you simply will not know its there. You presumably will reach an agreement on a price, exhale a deep breath, and go sit down to sign your papers.

If you arent diligent about reading the papers youre about to sign, then you wont notice the very first mention of Mastershield and VIN etching. You will find yourself signing to pay them just a tad under $1000 more than you have to.

Supposedly they apply the mastershield to all vehicles on the lot when they arrive at the lot (which I dont believe, but cant prove otherwise), and same with the VIN etching.

So the point is either go there knowing that this $1000 will be included in whatever you pay and negotiate out of it, or have them order you an identical vehicle and be sure they DONT apply it. Its $30 worth of product that they will charge you $695 for. The VIN etching will cost you another $295 (I think).

With all that said, I do believe I got a very fair deal on my vehicle. Im just warning you of charges that you may not realize are there. I will likely shop there sgain for my next vehicle.