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."

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

BlogThe Future of Car Shows
It will not be news for anyone that we live in a world of change. The world has in fact been changing since the dawn of time, but over the last few decades, change has been driven by technology; technology changes very quickly, bringing major changes in our lives as …
BlogThe Journalist’s Day at the Car Show
Journalists have all the luck. Whereas members of the public have to line up to buy tickets to go in, then wait again to get close to a particular car, with little hope of even getting to sit in it, auto journalists are invited to attend the day before the …
BlogWhy So Many Car Shows?
Some people are still wondering why there are so many car shows around the world; wouldn’t it be sufficient to hold three or four events to show people what is available? There are a number of reasons, but these are the three main ones: 1. Each market is different Have …