New Car Advice

[S-Des]

This is obviously not a writer's thread, but maybe a way for us to compile suggestions and experiences to help out when anyone tries to buy something (especially new). I had a really bad experience today with a dealer trying to rip me off and was wondering if there were good ideas to get around the bullshit. I know what car I want (Kelly Blue Book is a great way to find reviews of all the cars), but need to find out what is a fair price and what expenses are legitimate (they tried to tell me that there were $1500 in extra charges, not including taxes, after we agreed on a price).

I've had friends tell me that you can get a car out the door for what the sticker says, if you're firm enough. Others have had different experiences. I was also wondering if anyone had experience with on-line loans. Someone suggested I go to my bank for a loan, because the rate the car dealer tried to slip by me (fat chance) was ridiculous.

Funny stories about car purchases are welcome as well....Must keep things entertaining.

 

[starrkers]

Don't really know about the US, but I'm assuming car dealers are the same the world over - sharp suits, big smiles, no morals.
Definitely have your money arranged in advance. That way you can stand firm on the price. You can say, "I have $X to spend and that is my absolute limit" with authority and enjoy watching them hurt themselves having to actually meet it.

I once managed to get them to give me a trade in price on my old car that was way over the odds, by saying I could not afford to go higher. The changeover had to be $x. They tried to get me up $1500. They failed. I won. And saw my old car on their lot for less than they gave me for it

 

[impressive]

I always feel soiled after talking to a car salesman. I shower just as soon as I get home.

Good luck, Des!

 

[cloudy]

best car buying story I've ever heard:

My dad had found a car he wanted to buy - a used one. Now, my father stood 6' 5" and probably weighed a good 280 lbs at the time. Big guy. Also extremely educated and cultured (masters from MIT). He'd had polio when he was 12, and always walked with a limp. There were good days and bad days for that, and sometimes it really bothered him to walk (but the salesman didn't know that).

He pulled up, the salesman walked to the window, and my father said, "I'd like to purchase that vehicle, and this is what I will pay you for it," and handed the guy a check, already made out and signed.

The guy is caught between having (basically) cash in hand, although I'm sure less than he would have liked, and turning down a sure commission.

My dad got the car.

 

[jomar]

I have to go to work, but I'll come back later and put my two cents in if someone else hasn't beat me to it. The guy tried to rip you off. There should be no "extra" fees these days.

 

[Carnevil9]

In my experience, you have to talk "out the door" price only, after all add-ons. Make it clear that you are visiting several dealers and shopping around, and need to compare apples to apples before you decide from whom to buy. They won't WANT to give you an "out the door" price (it's a pain in the ass for them to calculate, and it robs them of their advantage), but they will if you insist (if they won't, then walk away). And get it in writing. Good luck!......Carney

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If you can get pre-approved at your bank or credit union, credit union is best, then due your purchasing via the web. You should be able to get a good deal and there is no sales-scum trying to pressure you into a set of fees and such. The guy doing the internet selling is just there to answer ?'s and accept/reject offers.

And make sure you get the bottom line price, although you should get a detailed sales receipt from him before you even go pickup the car.

ETA: Your bank and/or credit union should also be able to help with the fair market price for the car you want.

 

[scheherazade_79]

Car-Buying Tips

1. Show disinterest. Even if you've already fallen head over heels in love with the car, act like you're still not sure.
2. Never ever offer them the asking price. If you do agree to pay the asking price, make sure you get other things thrown in - like a year's road tax.
3. Salespeople are very good at resisting 1. and 2. It's a game of brinkmanship. Be prepared to say "No thank you" and walk out. You'll be surprised at how many salespeople meet you at the gate of the premises to say that they've changed their mind and will sell on your terms. If they don't, there's nothing to stop you coming back later.
4. Insist on a test drive - not with the salesperson behind the wheel, but with you driving. I tried out a beautiful-looking metallic blue Hyundai Coupe with leather seats, only to find that the brake didn't kick in until my foot was half way down the pedal. I wouldn't have found that out with someone else driving.
5. Ask if there's a discount for cash.
6. If you're buying from a private seller, be super-careful.
7. If you have doubts over the place / person you're buying it from, have the RAC or AA come out and check the car over. It should only cost you around £20.
8. Go with your heart - even if it involves paying a bit more than you'd planned on, it's definitely worth it in the end.
9. I don't know what the Boy-Racer cars are in the States, but over here there are certain models, such as MG ZRs and Imprezzas that have usually had hell driven out of them.
10. Check the tyres. If they're on the verge of going, insist that the garage put a new set on for you.

At the end of the day, if you don't ask you won't get. The worst they can say to you is "no" and you haven't lost anything.

Good luck! I want pictures of the Des-Mobile

 

[scheherazade_79]

Another tip - don't take out one of those pay-monthly deals if you can help it. The interest rates are horrific. If you need to take out a loan, take it out from either the bank, or do some research for the lowest-rate loan on the internet.

You can also look into getting a credit card that offers you 0% interest on all credit transfers for a year.

Entering into an agreement with the place you're buying from is the worst thing you could do.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Another tip - don't take out one of those pay-monthly deals if you can help it. The interest rates are horrific. If you need to take out a loan, take it out from either the bank, or do some research for the lowest-rate loan on the internet.

You can also look into getting a credit card that offers you 0% interest on all credit transfers for a year.

Entering into an agreement with the place you're buying from is the worst thing you could do.

Been there! Done that

One of the reasons that I have so much money now is that I bought a new car, and have finished paying it off. My last car was running me $300 to $500 a month in repairs (really, seriously, no shit, it was draining me). So I bought a new car, and started saving immediately even though I was paying $400+ a month on payments, and another $300 a month in insurance.

But I knew exactly which car I wanted from what company, so it wasn't matter of shopping around, it was a matter of the dealership getting one in stock to my specifications (whcih took about a month).

 

[Emperor_Nero]

This is obviously not a writer's thread, but maybe a way for us to compile suggestions and experiences to help out when anyone tries to buy something (especially new). I had a really bad experience today with a dealer trying to rip me off and was wondering if there were good ideas to get around the bullshit. I know what car I want (Kelly Blue Book is a great way to find reviews of all the cars), but need to find out what is a fair price and what expenses are legitimate (they tried to tell me that there were $1500 in extra charges, not including taxes, after we agreed on a price).

I've had friends tell me that you can get a car out the door for what the sticker says, if you're firm enough. Others have had different experiences. I was also wondering if anyone had experience with on-line loans. Someone suggested I go to my bank for a loan, because the rate the car dealer tried to slip by me (fat chance) was ridiculous.

Funny stories about car purchases are welcome as well....Must keep things entertaining.

Had a friend who just bought a new car who got a great deal (less than sticker) by following the plan on The Motley Fool website. Basically, it boils down to figuring out exactly what car you want, including all the options and packages. Then, hit the internet to find out what the dealer cost (what they actually paid for the car). Expect to pay no more than 5 percent more than that price and get your financing set up beforehand. Then pick a number of dealers who sell that car and fax them a letter saying you want to buy this car with these options and you are prepared to make a cash deal on a certain day (usually the end of the week you fax the letter). Inform them the letter is going to many dealers and the lowest out the door price received by a certain time on the day before you will buy the car is where you will go. Add that there will be no second chances to change a bid.

Definitely check out the website though, because I'm sure I forgot some of the details.

Whatever you choose to do though, minimize the dealers options to add things on by getting their absolute best price to start with. Then ask them to evaluate your trade and subtract it from that price. And never finance with the dealer, as they get a kickback from the loan companies based on your interest rate and term. They combine the three to stick it to you somewhere, so if you get a good price, they try to get it back in trade value or in the financing.

Good luck and I hope you get the car you want.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Car dealers are easy to deal with if you understand their operation.

1. You are met on the lot by a "Greeter." He can't sell you shit. If you find something you like, he will turn you over to -

2. A Sales Reprentitive. This guy will feed you all the bullshit - even make up the paperwork. But in reality, he can't sell you a car either. He will forward everything to -

3. A Sales Manager. This is the only guy who can actually sell you a car, because he's the only guy on the lot with a license.

My advice -

A. Forget the greeter and the sales rep. They are a waste of time.

B. Shop late. There is a sales "pump up" meeting early in the day, by 9 PM the reality of living on beans has sunk in.

C. Don't do their financing. Get your own so you can walk in with the cash. The price will drop substantially. Here, some credit unions will do the negotiating for you and get you the lowest price.

D. If you have more than one dealer in the area, work them against each other. "Dealer X will sell this to me for $XXXX. Why can't you beat it?"

Good Luck - and stock up on antiseptic soap to use after dealing with those cockroaches.

 

[R. Richard]

This is obviously not a writer's thread, but maybe a way for us to compile suggestions and experiences to help out when anyone tries to buy something (especially new). I had a really bad experience today with a dealer trying to rip me off and was wondering if there were good ideas to get around the bullshit. I know what car I want (Kelly Blue Book is a great way to find reviews of all the cars), but need to find out what is a fair price and what expenses are legitimate (they tried to tell me that there were $1500 in extra charges, not including taxes, after we agreed on a price).

I've had friends tell me that you can get a car out the door for what the sticker says, if you're firm enough. Others have had different experiences. I was also wondering if anyone had experience with on-line loans. Someone suggested I go to my bank for a loan, because the rate the car dealer tried to slip by me (fat chance) was ridiculous.

Funny stories about car purchases are welcome as well....Must keep things entertaining.

If you are buying a new car, there is really only one way to do it. You get your financing lined up from bank or credit union. You go to a car LEASING place. The leasing place will quote you a price plus their fee. If you take the deal, the leasing place will go to the same dealer who screwed you over and get the car for their price, less the bullshit. If the dealer doesn't want to deal, the leasing guys just go to another dealer. The competition is such that some dealer will deal from the list price with no bullshit.

 

[S-Des]

If you need to take out a loan, take it out from either the bank, or do some research for the lowest-rate loan on the internet.

This is one of the things I was hoping to hear about. Are the internet loans worth trying? Doing application after application can be detrimental to your credit rating. I'm also leery of throwing out my Social Security number on the net to a company I don't know. But if it's safe, I'm sure it's a great way to get a loan. Problem is, I don't know anyone who's done it, so I just don't know.

BTW, my credit rating is average (in the 600's), so I don't get great offers. I'm looking for rates that aren't going to break my back, but getting one of these 0%-6% rates is a pipe-dream in my case.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Oh, I just remembered. I bought my car in 2000, before I even had the internet. Heehee...

 

[jomar]

This is obviously not a writer's thread, but maybe a way for us to compile suggestions and experiences to help out when anyone tries to buy something (especially new). I had a really bad experience today with a dealer trying to rip me off and was wondering if there were good ideas to get around the bullshit. I know what car I want (Kelly Blue Book is a great way to find reviews of all the cars), but need to find out what is a fair price and what expenses are legitimate (they tried to tell me that there were $1500 in extra charges, not including taxes, after we agreed on a price).

I've had friends tell me that you can get a car out the door for what the sticker says, if you're firm enough. Others have had different experiences. I was also wondering if anyone had experience with on-line loans. Someone suggested I go to my bank for a loan, because the rate the car dealer tried to slip by me (fat chance) was ridiculous.

Funny stories about car purchases are welcome as well....Must keep things entertaining.

Sorry to have responded so hastily. After I logged off I thought of the variables, such as price, "shipping fee" (can be about $400 on new car), new or used, etc. But $1500 is crap. I bet they wanted to charge you for the extra rubberizing of the wheel wells they really didn't do (and you don't need), pinstriping, washing and prepping - all BS. There should be no surprises.

In these days of internet shopping you can shop by phone and get the car you want. That's what I did.

Consumer Reports has good info, edmunds.com can give you price quotes like the Blue Book. You probably also know you're better off financially buying a used car - 3 years old is a good trade off. And you never want to pay sticker price, that's retail and there's lots of wiggle room. Start bargaining from their wholesale price.

Okay, funny car buying story. I was buying a new car (yeah, I know what I said, but...) and got a green salesman. I chose a car and we got down to to it. He pulled out an option price book and I started listing options I wanted. The book had their wholesale and retail - their price and what they wanted to gouge me. I could see his book and as we went down the list I kept saying, "I'm not paying that, I'm paying what you paid." This went on and finally a "seasoned" salesman in a slick suit took over. We chatted and I changed to 4 cyl from a 6 cyl and we chatted and he let me have the options at wholesale. We added up the price and I said, ''Oh yeah, looks like you forgot to deduct for the engine difference." He just smiled (busted) and shrugged and redid the calcs.

I was complaining to someone about the tactics and they had a good take: Better to deal with someone you know is trying to screw you , than with someone you don't know is trying to screw you. This was before internet shopping so it's better now - usually.

 

[S-Des]

In these days of internet shopping you can shop by phone and get the car you want. That's what I did.

Consumer Reports has good info, edmunds.com can give you price quotes like the Blue Book. You probably also know you're better off financially buying a used car - 3 years old is a good trade off. And you never want to pay sticker price, that's retail and there's lots of wiggle room. Start bargaining from their wholesale price.

I went with Edmunds. They had links for on-line pricing from dealers. A guy contacted me with a price that was amazing ($1000 under the sale price somewhere else). It's a total price before tax (and tax is 1% cheaper in his county), so like you said...no surprises. I also used their on-line loan application and got a much better rate than I would have gotten from the dealer. All in all, the car's total price (including interest) will be about $20,000 instead of $23,000-$27,000.

Thanks guys.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I went with Edmunds. They had links for on-line pricing from dealers. A guy contacted me with a price that was amazing ($1000 under the sale price somewhere else). It's a total price before tax (and tax is 1% cheaper in his county), so like you said...no surprises. I also used their on-line loan application and got a much better rate than I would have gotten from the dealer. All in all, the car's total price (including interest) will be about $20,000 instead of $23,000-$27,000.

Thanks guys.

Good luck with the new car...sounds like a great deal.