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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
If you really have to have the newest, hottest car and you have to have it now, be prepared to pay for the privilege.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price (the sticker price) is, well, a suggestion. Usually, that means dealers will lower the price if you negotiate -- but it also means that they can charge more for cars that are in short supply.
That happens most often with recently redesigned or all-new models that haven't had time to fill pent-up demand from buyers who've seen pictures or read reviews of the cars. It can also happen when companies simply don't produce or import many of the cars in question.
See below for a list of 6 cars that currently are hard to get.
When dealing with such precious vehicles, the standard car-buying strategies still apply, but there also are some other points to keep in mind.
Here's how to proceed.
1. Consider getting over it
Start by asking yourself this question: Do I really need this car right now?
If the answer is no, you're better off cooling your jets. Being first on the block with the hot model could cost you thousands.
Wait until you start seeing the cars on the street every now and then and track prices on auto Web sites.
In some cases, such as with speciality vehicles that are made in small numbers, waiting may gain you little. But with cars that are being produced in large numbers, the manufacturer may respond to high demand by increasing production.
2. Cast a wide net
If your local dealer tells you nobody has one in stock, don't take his word for it. It's not that he's being dishonest -- he may not know.
Sometimes a hard-to-find car will turn up at a nearby dealer.
The more dealers you call, the better your chances will be, so keep visiting dealers, calling, and checking on-line lists of inventories.
Websites like ebayMotors can help, but be clear about what you are bidding on. Often dealers or others will sell a place on a waiting list, not an actual car. The money you pay for the waiting list spot usually doesn't go toward the cost of the car.
3. Go where the buyers aren't
For car dealers in big cities, buyers are plenty. But sales may go a little more slowly in small towns, so you might have a better chance of finding what you're looking for. A willingness to travel could be the thing that gets you the car.
Also, certain types of cars are more popular in some areas than others. For example, if you're shopping for a convertible and you live in Florida, try looking farther north where cloth tops are a harder sell.
4. Negotiate hard on whatever you can
Remember, you're not likely to get a break on the sticker price, so you have to fight for every break you can get. And while the car may be in tight supply, car financing isn't.
You don't have to take the financing offered by the dealer. Even if the dealer's offering turns out to be best, having pre-arranged financing gives you a strong negotiating voice at least in arranging financing.
Also, you'll want to maximize the money you can get on your trade-in. Consider selling it yourself to get every dollar you can.
"Maximize everything else you've got going for you," advises Jack Nerad, editorial director of Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.
5. Don't skip the test drive
Don't be so blinded by love of a car that you lose your common sense. The first thing you want to find is a dealer that has some version of the car you want, including with the engine and transmission you want.
And though you may think you want a car so bad that you're willing to buy it sight unseen, never forgo a thorough test drive.
Reviews in magazines and Web sites like this one are a valuable source of information. Journalists are given the opportunity to test cars more thoroughly than most people can. But that journalist isn't you and he almost certainly isn't the same size and weight as you. His preferences in a car aren't the same as yours, either.
Reviews can steer you toward good cars and away from really bad ones, but you still have to be the final word. Otherwise, you could be in for an unpleasant, and expensive, surprise.
6 that are hard to get
Based on actual transaction prices that are near full sticker and short "days to turn" on dealer lots, Edmunds.com says these models are hard to find. Click on car names for more detailed information.
- Chrysler 300: The Hemi-powered 300C is particularly hard to find, but other versions are easier to get.
- Ford Escape Hybrid: A tight supply of the big batteries hybrid vehicles require is limiting production of this SUV.
- Toyota Prius: Waiting lists for the Prius have become legendary as desperate buyers pay full sticker for used ones.
- Honda Ridgeline: Production is just starting up for Honda's groundbreaking new pick-up.
- Mercedes-Benz AMG versions: These high-powered cars are produced in small numbers by Mercedes' in-house speed shop.
- Chevrolet 1500 SS: This is a high-performance truck produced in small numbers.
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