If you've ever shopped for a new car, you likely have felt a mix of emotions that only come when you are buying a car. When buy something else, like a stereo or a box of doughnuts, all you really have is a positive sense of expectation. You can't wait to eat the doughnuts, or you can't wait to get home and listen to your new stereo. However, buying a car is something different. While you still have the feeling of positive expectation, you also have another feeling.

Fear.

Nobody likes shopping for a new car because there is always that feeling you are going to pay too much, or somehow get taken advantage of. No offense to car salesman (I used to be one), but they don't have the greatest reputation around. That's why when you go shopping for your next car, you've got to ask the right questions, so the salesperson won't try anything tricky.

First of all, the more you know about the car in question, they less power the car salesperson will feel they have over you. If you walk into a dealership, and don't know anything about a particular car, then the salesperson will think you are easy mark. However, if you start asking serious technical questions, the salesperson will be caught off guard. In fact, with just a little bit of research before you go shopping, you'll easily know more than the salesperson.

One question to ask is how the trade in value of the car is over time. How much will it be worth in three, four and five years? This is a valid question, because many people will buy a new car every three or four years. By knowing how well the car's value holds up over time, you'll know how much you can expect to get when you upgrade in a few years.

One thing to ask a salesperson, that will really throw them off guard, is to explain the biggest drawbacks to owning this particular car. What are some complaints that people have had? Of course, no car, or any other product is perfect, so there have to some things wrong with it. Just by asking this question, they will be significantly less likely to manipulate you, as they will not see you as a very powerful customer.

When you ask these questions, you are must less likely to be taken advantage of when buying a car. And that means you'll get a really good deal. And that will be the last time you ever fear buying a car. Happy shopping.