<prompt> Human: What tips do you have for negotiating for a new car when you intend on paying upfront with a check? Do car dealerships perceive cash customers as better or worse than those who have been approved for financing? Should I try to not let it slip that I have cash on hand, or would the fact that theyd be paid right away be an incentive to give me a better deal? My credit score is 772, if it matters. Im not interested in a loan because I hate debt hanging over me.  <response>: I dont really consider myself good at this, but I have one principle to impart: your negotiating leverage lies in your willingness to walk away. I think this is why so many fees, etc., are tacked on at the end; once you have decided for yourself that you are committed, it is more difficult for you to say No, Im not paying that, take it off the bill or I will walk. Its why they get you to sign something, anything, before the final price is down on a piece of paper for you to read, so that they can add dealer prep, or whatever damn term theyve come up with recently.So be willing to walk away. Insist on seeing ALL paperwork, prices, totals, etc., before signing anything. If they ask you to wait while they get someone else, tell them you are going to wait for a specific number of minutes and then leave, so they dont get you feeling like youve invested too much time to walk away. And DO walk away ifwhen they arent meeting your conditions. You can always walk back, but they never know whether you will. 