Should You Buy a Car at a Car Show?
Not all car shows offer you the opportunity to buy a car on the spot, but in fact, every company has sales staff posted here and there who are ready to make you an offer you supposedly cannot refuse.
However appealing it may seem, buying a car that way isn’t necessarily a good idea.
For one thing, the discounts they offer you are not really "corporate": most car shows are organized by dealer associations. Your corporate discount therefore comes in many cases from a dealership.
For another, the offer they make you is not really all that good, because you have been caught unprepared.
The best way to shop for a car, in reality, is to take your time and do your homework, comparing prices between dealerships, and perhaps even getting two dealers selling the same brand to compete with one another.
What about accessories?
There are also automobile accessories and other related services. Again, a word to the wise: the salespeople who crowd around a car show want to sell you their goods, and will often offer you a "show discount."
There may be something to it, in the sense that there are definitely a few honest merchants who will give you a good price on a miniature car, but stay away from anything involving a "subscription" or some such arrangement.
A publication that sells you a subscription will always charge you the same price, whether you come across it at some event or other, or if you call them directly.
Another thing to watch out for is a "draw" that offers laps in a Ferrari or a paintball session. As a rule, everyone is a "winner," and you will no doubt have to pay an extra to enjoy your "prize."