Take it for what its worth but this is how my father has done it the last two times:
- Find the car you want first (He uses the Detroit Auto Show so he can sit in them without getting pestered by salesmen).
- Then research the car and list all the packages you want.
- Make your custom car online and it will tell you if there is a local one available with the same stuff
- Call them up and ask about a similar but not the same car.
- When there ask about the car you really want
- Test drive it, do whatever
- Low ball the offer HARD and be ready to walk away.
- They'll come up with something different and you rebuttal
- Once you find a good enough price, usually $3000-4000 lower than the sticker say you have a trade in and BAM another 2000 comes off it.
Worked for him every time... and always be ready to walk away. He did and they called him the next day! And it is better to do it in the winter and at the end of the month.