How to have fun while buying a car

I bought a new car a couple of weeks ago and I realized something on the way home: It was fun.

How did I make it less stressful? A combination of things everybody should do, and things I recommend if you can make them work.

First, know your segment, and consider staying brand loyal. I was looking for a subcompact, and historically, I’ve been really happy with Hyundai. I like hatchbacks, my kid drives it, too, and we both prefer a manual transmission. I already owned an Elantra GT hatch, and was looking for something with a little more sport.

One drive in the Elantra GT N-Line and I knew I had found a car that could keep me loyal to my brand.

Just a reminder: there is no perfect brand, and every manufacturer has some bugs in some models.

Know your trade-in’s value, or sell your old car privately. If you are determined to get the highest buck you can, sell it privately. If you are trading it in, understand the dealer must have a profit margin.

I am too lazy to sell my own car, and I’m not comfortable being unable to make a new deal before I complete the old one.

The trade-in value also reduces my sales tax on the new car, as the value of the trade is factored in before the bottom line.

Any advertised vehicle in Ontario or Alberta must have all-in pricing. Governed by OMVIC and AMVIC, respectively, a price advertised by a dealer online, on a poster, on a windshield sticker or anywhere else must include everything except tax and licensing.

That licensing fee is just the plates, not some made-up $500 administration fee. If a dealer tells you the advertised price doesn’t include something other than tax and licence, call them on it and/or report them.

I’ve dealt with the same place for years. They know I’m not buying rustproofing or etching or nitrogen in the tires. I already know the Hyundai warranty, and my visit to the business office doesn’t feel like the horrible interrogation place of my early buying years. Information is welcome; pressure is not.

Negotiate in extras. I’d just bought new winter tires for my current car, and knew they’d fit on the new ride. In the past, I’ve included my existing winters on a trade-in, but this time I held them back. I negotiated to have them do the tire swaps for me to save me time and hassle.

Don’t be afraid to be flexible. The morning after I had signed the documents, my sales rep called and asked if I would consider a colour change. A new black N-Line had come in that morning, and accepting that would mean a faster delivery. He tossed in chip guard and tint to nudge me along. It worked.

The part of the transaction that made me smile the most? While we were at the dealership doing the paperwork, a couple came in looking for a used car, preferably a manual, within their budget.

Two sales reps and my son and I ended up outside with them as they checked out my original GT. My son was apologizing for having all his junk in it, but nobody minded. I told them they were getting a set of WeatherTech mats thrown in; my sales rep told them they were getting a perfectly maintained car. They bought it.

I hope they love their “new” Elantra as much as I love mine.

If you are determined to get the highest buck you can, sell it privately. If you are trading it in, understand the dealer must have a profit margin.