Share Your Best Car Buying Hacks with Me, Oh Wise Ones

I'm considering trading in my most favorite possession - my Jeep. And if I do, I need to make the process as painless as possible. 

Thinking of trading my beloved, all-black, perfectly lifted, Jeep Wrangler is nothing short of a knife in my heart. Unfortunately, it's also a knife in my bank account. Every month, when my payment comes out of my account, I can't help but think that there are several other things I could be using that money for. Like paying off my student loans before I'm 97 or going on adventures to places on my Adventure List. Experiences > material things.

When I bought my Jeep two and a half years ago, I thought I would keep it forever. I (sadly) don't get to use my Jeep for much more than a daily driver - it's not like I'm taking the roof and doors off and going to spend all my days at the beach - so really, it's just a very expensive, gas guzzling, gorgeous little monster that makes me look 85% cooler than I actually am.

Anyway. If I am going to be trading my Jeep in for something, I'm going to need the experience to be as quick and painless as possible. So I'm looking for your best car buying hacks. When I bought the Jeep, I was lucky enough to find it at a price that (at the time) was a great deal so my buying experience was pretty easy, though I did call my mom in to come to help me close the deal cause she is a BEAST at negotiating. This time around, I'd like to do it all myself.

I've heard some great advice - like go in with a firm price that you will not budge from (most dealers CAN give you that price, they just would rather not.) and if possible, test drive the car days before you go - like find a friend who the car you want and ask to drive theirs. That way you cut that piece out when you find the car you want at a dealership.

Leave me your advice...I will probably take all of it because car buying is horrible and daunting. Or if anyone wants to convince me to keep my Jeep, I will probably listen to that, too!