Buying a new car is a big financial decision. It’s also an emotional one.
"People spend a lot of time in their cars," Diaz said. "It becomes emotional because it becomes part of our identity." This works against you in the car dealership, and salespeople know it.
"You forget that you can get up and walk away at any moment," he said.
Less scrupulous car salespeople will "lose" the keys to your trade-in. They'll claim they have to get the car you want from an offsite lot. Or they might be detailing the car they want to show you (Diaz said this could be dealer code for fixing a dent or ding).
The longer you stay at the dealership, the more likely you are to get tired and hungry. You just want to go home.
"If they wear you down enough, you'll say yes to everything," Diaz said. That's when you are susceptible to an upsell you might regret later.
"If you want to make a good financial decision, leave your emotions out of it," Diaz said. "Don’t be afraid to walk away and come back later, no matter how much you like the car."