Car Dealer Tips?

[emilymad]

We are in the process of trying to buy a new car. We have gone to multiple dealers and have had issues with all of them. Either dealers not getting back to us or being promised a certain car would be on the lot and it wasn’t. Last night one dealer couldn’t match the quote we received on our trade in from another dealer. Instead of saying we can’t match the price but thanks they basically threw our car keys at us and shoved us out the door.

It is now looking like we will have to order the car we want from the factory. We are nervous to go through this process with the bad track record of dealers we have gone through. Does anyone have any tips as to how to get the best deal on a new car? Or a way to find a non sleazy car dealer? Does such thing even exist? Ordering a new car will take 2 months so a lot can go wrong during that time.

 

[teCh0010]

We are in the process of trying to buy a new car. We have gone to multiple dealers and have had issues with all of them. Either dealers not getting back to us or being promised a certain car would be on the lot and it wasn’t. Last night one dealer couldn’t match the quote we received on our trade in from another dealer. Instead of saying we can’t match the price but thanks they basically threw our car keys at us and shoved us out the door.

It is now looking like we will have to order the car we want from the factory. We are nervous to go through this process with the bad track record of dealers we have gone through. Does anyone have any tips as to how to get the best deal on a new car? Or a way to find a non sleazy car dealer? Does such thing even exist? Ordering a new car will take 2 months so a lot can go wrong during that time.

It's much easier to get deals on cars on the lot, and starting around memorial day they will be more willing to deal on a 2013.

For a special order your best bet will be dealing with an auto program or set discount like Ford-X plan. Costo could be an option there as well.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Forget about looking for non-sleazy.
2) They don't exist.
3) They ALL want to sell at the highest price and give the smallest trade.
4) THAT IS BUSINESS.
5) Do not try to outsmart them.
6) They train EVERY day and sell several times a day.
7) you do it once every few years.
8) To combat/mitigate
. . . step 1: how much they will buy your trade for, not "trade value"
. . . step 2: decide upon a new car model AFTER you have a trade-in price
. . . step 3: NEVER, NEVER mention a monthly payment goal
. . . step 4: decide upon final price, minus your trade price
. . . step 4: if financing, do not get talked into extras (insurance, warranty)
. . . step 5: compare finance rate to your bank rate
. . . step 6: if ordering from factory, keep all paperwork
. . . step 7: anything verbal, get into writing and signed by Sales Manager
. . . step 7: ALWAYS be prepared to walk away at the hint of anything shady
9) For BEST deals
. . . go on the last Tuesday night of the month (slowest day of week)
. . . go about 1-hr before closing
. . . talk well past closing (they will stay, not wanting to lose sale that late)
. . . look at Edmunds.com and kbb.com for best price on your car/options

NOTE1: For more advice go to Edmunds.com and look for their articles on
how-to-buy-a-new-car. VERY. VERY informative. You got to know the
tricks, or you will pay hundreds or thousands too much!

NOTE2: Having been in the auto industry for many years, there are horror
stories on how customers have been ripped-off. Being prepared is the best
defense.

 

[CocaColaGuy]

5) Do not try to outsmart them.
6) They train EVERY day and sell several times a day.
7) you do it once every few years.

The entire post is GREAT advice, but this is the best, I think!

A doctor is a professional. A teacher is a professional. A truck driver is a professional. A car dealer...well, he or she is a professional. They are the best at what they do!

 

[jgreco]

I would not even mention the trade-in initially.Negotiate selling price first.

My husband has always called and worked directly with the Internet Sales manager. Agreed on the price and said to have paperwork ready to sign.

Going the last week of the fiscal quarter is best.

Special order will get you no real deals, they want to move what is on the lot.

Look outside of your area, check Ebay and have them ship you the car. We've done this and had no problems.

AMEX, AAA and Costco all have car buying programs.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

I work for a car dealership and I agree that a lot of car dealerships get a bad rap for a reason~ However, I am fortunate to work for a nice dealership, it's family owned and they actually care about their customers and we get a lot of repeat business.

Have you went online to get price quotes? I find that in order for you to get the BEST deal, you have to price shop first.

Not sure if all areas or states offer TrueCar program but I would suggest going on True Car's website and checking to see if any dealers that are local to you participate in that program. That would be the first thing you do. Then if there are some in close proximity, bring in your "pricing certificate". Chances are, you will get the vehicle for an X dollar amount less than invoice, which IMO is a great deal. I wish I had known about that back when I bought my car 11 years ago. (I bought well before I started working in a car dealership).

If there arent any dealers in your area that offer TrueCar's pricing, then just simply ask if they could sell you the vehicle for $500 under invoice- which in dealer terms means "into the holdback".

You mentioned you have a trade- some dealerships may give you more than an other, but make sure you work all the numbers into your BOTTOM LINE PRICE- so 1 dealer might give you less for your trade but a way better discount on the vehicle you're buying, so that might be the better deal when you crunch the numbers. Find out upfront what each dealers fees are too for processing, documentation fees, etc. Each dealership calls them different things.

Also you will want to take into account the rebates and incentives that the brand vehicle you are looking at is offering this month. That is an additional amount back in cash OR a low interest rate for qualified buyers.

Good luck with your vehicle search--- wishing you all the best, and if you have any other questions- let me know!

 

[emilymad]

This is all such great information. Thanks so much! I feel good that we did some things right but I can see I have more work to do.

Several dealers plus someone at Ford searched for the car we want. There isn't one anywhere in the US so we have to order. I got a dealer to come below invoice with a good trade in value. I went to a dealer closer to me and they matched the new car price but basically threw my keys in my face and kicked us out of the dealer when we got to the trade in value. Crazy.

I have things sort of in writing from the dealer but I think I need to reconfirm all prices. Excellent point about asking for the additional fees.

It is getting to the point that we want to order a car but no one wants to sell it to us.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

This is all such great information. Thanks so much! I feel good that we did some things right but I can see I have more work to do.

Several dealers plus someone at Ford searched for the car we want. There isn't one anywhere in the US so we have to order. I got a dealer to come below invoice with a good trade in value. I went to a dealer closer to me and they matched the new car price but basically threw my keys in my face and kicked us out of the dealer when we got to the trade in value. Crazy.

I have things sort of in writing from the dealer but I think I need to reconfirm all prices. Excellent point about asking for the additional fees.

It is getting to the point that we want to order a car but no one wants to sell it to us.

The dealer that came below invoice with a good trade in value, how come you didn't use them to do business with? You stated it's at the point that dealerships don't want to sell you the car....it may seem like that, and even we hear that sometimes when working w/ customers- but if they gave you the price and are waiting on you to make your final decision, it's in your hands. All dealers want to sell you the car, that's their goal at least I would hope so. lol It sounds like the dealer who is giving you below invoice plus a good trade is the 1 to go with- don't wait too long as when you custom order your vehicle it will take a couple months. Our dealership, it's a 6-8 week window.

Also, keep in mind that when you order your vehicle, at the time of delivery, you will get the rebate or incentives for that month. If you purchase in April but the vehicle comes in June, I'm pretty sure (You'll want to verify this with the dealer you're working with) you will get the June rebates.

 

[goofyredraider]

I work for a car dealership and I agree that a lot of car dealerships get a bad rap for a reason~ However, I am fortunate to work for a nice dealership, it's family owned and they actually care about their customers and we get a lot of repeat business.

Have you went online to get price quotes? I find that in order for you to get the BEST deal, you have to price shop first.

Not sure if all areas or states offer TrueCar program but I would suggest going on True Car's website and checking to see if any dealers that are local to you participate in that program. That would be the first thing you do. Then if there are some in close proximity, bring in your "pricing certificate". Chances are, you will get the vehicle for an X dollar amount less than invoice, which IMO is a great deal. I wish I had known about that back when I bought my car 11 years ago. (I bought well before I started working in a car dealership).

If there arent any dealers in your area that offer TrueCar's pricing, then just simply ask if they could sell you the vehicle for $500 under invoice- which in dealer terms means "into the holdback".

You mentioned you have a trade- some dealerships may give you more than an other, but make sure you work all the numbers into your BOTTOM LINE PRICE- so 1 dealer might give you less for your trade but a way better discount on the vehicle you're buying, so that might be the better deal when you crunch the numbers. Find out upfront what each dealers fees are too for processing, documentation fees, etc. Each dealership calls them different things.

Also you will want to take into account the rebates and incentives that the brand vehicle you are looking at is offering this month. That is an additional amount back in cash OR a low interest rate for qualified buyers.

Good luck with your vehicle search--- wishing you all the best, and if you have any other questions- let me know!

Nothing to add...but THANK YOU for posting this. I agree with everything you said. I was highly offended by a few blanket statements made on this thread prior to this (says the lady whose honest, hard-working husband got home at 11:45PM last night because he is dedicated to his customers).

 

[emilymad]

The dealer that came below invoice with a good trade in value, how come you didn't use them to do business with? You stated it's at the point that dealerships don't want to sell you the car....it may seem like that, and even we hear that sometimes when working w/ customers- but if they gave you the price and are waiting on you to make your final decision, it's in your hands. All dealers want to sell you the car, that's their goal at least I would hope so. lol It sounds like the dealer who is giving you below invoice plus a good trade is the 1 to go with- don't wait too long as when you custom order your vehicle it will take a couple months. Our dealership, it's a 6-8 week window.

Also, keep in mind that when you order your vehicle, at the time of delivery, you will get the rebate or incentives for that month. If you purchase in April but the vehicle comes in June, I'm pretty sure (You'll want to verify this with the dealer you're working with) you will get the June rebates.

We are mostly like going to go with the dealer with the best price. Why we haven't already is because it an hour away and they only reason we went there in the first place is because they said they had the car we wanted on the lot. When we got there they didn't have the car. It is a very small dealership so I have no idea how they were confused on their inventory. They maybe had 20 cars total of all models on their lot. The called us when we on our way there to say they didn't have the car. Called back 30 seconds later saying oh wait, we do have the car. When we got there they didn't have the car. It felt like a game to just get us there. We are concerned that if they can't even keep straight what cars they have on the lot are they going to order the car correctly? I am getting some more information from them as to how the ordering process works.

In terms of incentives we get either the current incentives or the incentives when the car comes in, whichever is in our favor.

 

[Kellydelly]

I just bought a car last week. I found the best way to get a good deal is to buy a car; a week later the salespeople I talked to previously are all calling me with better deals . I could shoot them or cry .

In my case I had three different offers for trade-in value on my 2011 Caravan. First Honda dealer offered me $1000. Dodge dealer offered me $2,000. 2nd Honda dealer offered me $2300 . This was after she had already given me her bottom line sale price on a Pilot and I then mentioned my hopeful trade. According to Edmunds my trade should have been worth at least $2000 so I was not going to take only $1000 for it (we would have sold it privately if it came down to it).

Good luck, I hope that you get a good deal and the car you really want!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

CAR BUYING TIPS AND PROBLEM AVOIDANCE:

Car Dealer Traps: Car and Driver Magazine Tips
Car Dealer Tactics: BankRate.Com Hints
Car Dealer Tricks: Car Dealer Tricks
Car Dealer Tricks: Car Buying How-To

 

[amomma23]

DH and I bought a new car online 2 weeks ago. We followed some tips on Edmonds and it worked beautifully. I don't think either of us would buy in person again. Local dealers just didn't have what we were looking for, so we branched out. I found what I wanted in Cleveland, negotiated a price, and applied for financing online. We drove out the next weekend to test drive, signed the paperwork and drove it home an hour later.

 

[britfish]

does anyone have experience with the AAA pricing option? I think AAA and certain dealers work together to give you a no haggle price?

 

[emilymad]

We asked our dealer to confirm our agreed upon prices and said we wanted to order. It has been 24 hours and we haven't heard anything.

 

[swilshire]

I respond to bad service by shopping elsewhere. Unless you are in an area with few dealers and you never travel to other places, you don't have to put up with shoddy treatment. I've left dealers because they wouldn't offer to help a female alone, or the salesman walked right past me to shake hands with my husband, or the dealer wouldn't just quote me a price for the vehicle I wanted.

I've also received good service from other salesmen, and those are the ones I buy from. I bought our van when I was out of state on business from the dealership that offered me a very good price via email which my local guy couldn't match.

Of course they are in business to make a profit. All businesses are. But there are good dealerships and good salesmen. We have a local family owned dealership that has been treating customers with respect for 60 years. I don't drive their brand, but I've purchased multiple used cars from them through the years. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

Sheila

 

[britfish]

We are going to be getting a new car in the summer and wondered if we should do some minor repairs before we trade our current one in. For example it has a ding in the windshield and the heat shield above the exhaust system is missing. Is it worth it to put the money in now for a higher trade value?

 

[scrapquitler]

We are going to be getting a new car in the summer and wondered if we should do some minor repairs before we trade our current one in. For example it has a ding in the windshield and the heat shield above the exhaust system is missing. Is it worth it to put the money in now for a higher trade value?

When we have done trade ins with the dealer, they didn't do any kind of inspection on the vehicle to check for minor issues, they just went by the book value. So I wouldn't bother.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We are going to be getting a new car in the summer and wondered if we should do some minor repairs before we trade our current one in. For example it has a ding in the windshield and the heat shield above the exhaust system is missing. Is it worth it to put the money in now for a higher trade value?

1) Your insurance probably covers winshield 100% - a must do.
2) Don't worry about the other.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's much easier to get deals on cars on the lot, and starting around memorial day they will be more willing to deal on a 2013.

For a special order your best bet will be dealing with an auto program or set discount like Ford-X plan. Costo could be an option there as well.

Not necessarily so. We've had dealers give us better deals on ordered cars than they would on one they had on the lot. They feel like they need to make more on a car that they've had to keep for a while than on one that will only be in their possession 1 day.

The advantage of in stock cars is if there is a rebate or other special deals.