What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of exotic cars? Is it a popular sports car like a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? Or maybe you prefer some of the latest power and luxury cars, like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, or Ashton Martin V12 Vantage S.

Whatever rare car you’re dreaming of, know from the outset that it takes more than a briefcase stuffed with cash (or a check with dozens of zeros on it) to land the exotic car of your choice. Remember the first time you bought a car. Landing your dream car requires more than just walking into that dealership: you have to negotiate your loan rate (if any), discuss terms, request an upgrade or tweak a few things here and there, and so on. Let’s break down the exotic car buying process.

An opportunity of your life

There are plenty of exotic cars to choose from, especially if money isn’t an issue, but it’s certainly going to be easier said than done to decide on ‘the one’. One of the first things you need to do is set your budget: say, like $200,000. Setting a ceiling automatically reduces the stress of choosing from possibly dozens of options into a more manageable list.

Next, since you are looking for an exotic car, you need to define for yourself the “exotic” of a car. Do your research online, make a list of your preferences, and learn the nomenclature associated with luxury cars or sports cars, including the type of engine they have, etc. That way, you can be upfront with the dealer salesperson about the details of the car you want. Remember to also tell him what your preferred price range is, and don’t be afraid to round it up to have a wider range of models at the top of the heap.

Keep in mind that dealerships rarely allow prospective car buyers to test drive a car from scratch. To help you decide which exotic cars to consider, search online and read unbiased reviews or test drive videos of their shortlisted cars.

Keep in mind that the rare cars reviewed online may not be available in your market, so be sure to list several options and rank them based on your personal criteria.

Rules

Show proof regarding your financial capabilities. Ask the sales staff to tell you about the different maintenance plans, gear options, makes and models that are currently or soon to be available. The more you can interact with sellers, the more likely you are to get a decent plan at the lowest price.

If you want a car that will cross state lines, don’t be afraid to take a cross-country trip to get it.

When allowed, take the lucky cars for a short spin to get a good feel for the vehicle, from the purr of the engine to how fast it can actually go.

For online tools that can help you locate any exotic car you think is fancy enough to be a part of your car collection or garage, check out websites like Cars.com, eBayMotors.com, and AutoTrader.com.

Finally, be sure to check an exotic car’s mileage, condition, options, transmission, and other parts you think are important before making a final decision.