Car Shopping

[mudnuri]

Believe me, we wouldn't put our house in jeapordy for a vehicle.

We own three others and have 18 years of equity in the house, so it's not a problem.

I didnt mean that you would.......just making a comment

Brandy

 

[Christine]

Car shopping....HELP ME!!!! I posted last week on this very topic. This week I have all these salesmen 'checking in' with me to see 'where we are at'. I am sorry to offend any in the business, but they are not honest people!!!! If they don't get a great deal from the sale of the new car, they will get you in the trade-in. If not the trade-in, then they will get you on the financing. They are unscrupulous. Our plan is to go in and say we are paying cash (bank loan) and no trade-in (will sell ourselves). This way, we are negotiating car price only, and that is headache enough. We've got our Kelly Blue book figures and Edmonds.com printout ready, now the only fight we have as we go back for round two is with the car cost. I think it is downright appalling that they make up the cost on the 'great deal' they give you through shady financing and low trade-in values!!!

Just to let you know--you can get a lower price than Edmunds gives you. Edmunds is a "fair" price. I realized this when the Toyota dealership "jumped" at the chance to sell me the car at Edmunds price. In my area of the country, I found that I got the best deal doing the internet pricing through the dealers. They beat Edmunds. I had three Toyota dealers competing in price for the same car (on-line). I went with the cheapest of course.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have been new car shopping as well. The dealership that we used for 20 years is where we started. Our old salesman had retired, and to be honest, we didn't trust ANY of the ones we talked to this time! I went to the internet and did my homework by looking up the invoice price etc, on the car I wanted to order. I was a bit frustrated, because the company web site did not have pricing for the 2006 models, and that is what I wanted to order. I took my invoice with all my chosen options to a dealer in the area who advertises "one price shopping". That means, they give you the best deal they can, and there is no haggling over price. We were amazed at how helpful they were! The salesman told us it would be best for us to get our own financing, and he told us what financing would be from them. Then he figured out that my husbands place of employment qualified us for a fleet price, so we will be paying about $100 over invoice! Did we take that deal? YOU BET! I'm getting a 2006 Ford Freestyle Limited with the extra safety package, power moonroof and auxiliary climate control. What's great is that I am getting it about $2500 less than I was expecting to pay!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I read a great book one time titled How Not to Get Taken Every Time. This book was absolutely fabulous! I actually enjoy new car shopping. I think of it all as just a big game. You can't play if you don't know the rules and unfortunately, you have to research these rules yourself.

The first thing I do when I am approached by a salesperson is say "are you going to be able to sell me a car without having to ask permission from your manager. Because if you can't make the deal yourself then send me to the person who can b/c you are just wasting my time". This always puts them on the defensive and I have to admit, it is kind of fun. Yes, I get a sick and twisted kick out of playing around with car dealers.

 

[golfgal]

Only problem with doing this is your risking your house for a truck payment....if something dire happens financially you wont lose your truck, you'll lose your house

Brandy

Actually, if you are going to finance and you have the equity, this is a great way to buy a car. The interest on the payments is tax deductible. If you are in jeopardy of losing your house you shouldn't be buying a new car anyway.


One thing that struck me is that you were talking payments with the salesperson. NEVER, EVER talk monthly payments for a car. That is a certain way to get HOSED on the price. Figure out how much you will pay for the car and stick to that amount. Don't ever say, I can afford $XXX/month. Also, when you finance something, you are always going to pay more then the car is worth. That is interest. That is just the way it works.

 

[Saphire]

Just to let you know--you can get a lower price than Edmunds gives you.

Thanks for that info!

The first thing I do when I am approached by a salesperson is say "are you going to be able to sell me a car without having to ask permission from your manager. Because if you can't make the deal yourself then send me to the person who can b/c you are just wasting my time".

Too funny!

One thing that struck me is that you were talking payments with the salesperson. NEVER, EVER talk monthly payments for a car. That is a certain way to get HOSED on the price. Figure out how much you will pay for the car and stick to that amount. .

Right. Everything I have read says this, because when you start talking monthly payment, that is one more deceitful way for them to squeeze more money out of you.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Don't even think about leaving the house and going car shopping without spending some time at the following web site...

www.carbuyingtips.com

Well worth your time and $$$.

 

[kelleigh1]

One thing that struck me is that you were talking payments with the salesperson. NEVER, EVER talk monthly payments for a car. That is a certain way to get HOSED on the price. Figure out how much you will pay for the car and stick to that amount. Don't ever say, I can afford $XXX/month. Also, when you finance something, you are always going to pay more then the car is worth. That is interest. That is just the way it works.

I understand what interest is. I worked in the financial industry for years. But there is no reason for anyone to suddenly be paying a 50% mark-up on the price of the car...regardless of how high the interest rate is.

 

[wdw4us2]

The most important thing we have learned from car shopping is: never shop thinking you have to make a purchase!

You are in a much better position if you have the option of walking out. I think most salespeople work under the notion that they have a captive buyer. So, if someone tries to pressure you with the, "This deal is only good today" line, leave.

With all the information available on the internet regarding new vehicle purchases, there is no reason your buying experience can't be a pleasant one.

 

[kelleigh1]

The "take it or leave it" line was definitely the big turnoff and the deciding factor on why we walked away.

I think what surprises me the most is that they actually have two prices on each vehicle. There's the stick price and then there's the price with trade. So if you're trading in a car, the starting price is higher. I'm trying to figure out how that can even be legal. The salesman actually showed us the two stickers. One is the big sticker in the window with the breakdown of all the equipment, etc. and the MSRP. And then in the darkened back window, there was another much smaller sticker which actually said it was the price with trade...and it was $4,000 higher.

 

[Marseeya]

Have any of you considered buying a used car through Enterprise car rental sales? I was talking to someone who was very happy with a car he bought through them. We were looking into it ourselves.