USAA for buying new car?

[Disneylover03]

Well, we thought we were done with car payments and bought a used car.
We have now been informed that it needs a new transmission costing $3,400 and it already has 153,000 miles on it.
Our dilemma is should be pay for the trans or just buy a new car and not have to worry about repair fees, we've gone back and forth on this for sometime.

We've had a CRV in past and have decided to get another one, now comes the hard part; getting a good deal.
Has anyone used USAA for negotiating a deal for a new car, if so, how was your experience?
I appreciate any help or suggestions.
TIA!

 

[pryncess527]

Yes! Twice. Both times I found the process wonderful. There was no negotiating, I went into the dealership with a piece of paper stating my price from USAA and told them that is what I was going to pay. They said okay

The first time, they did try to counter the low price by getting me to finance through them, but they could not come close to beating the USAA financing we already had. It did make for a longer than desired afternoon though because they do not take no for an answer.

The second time, I selected a dealership that let me do the entire transaction online and they delivered the car to my home at no cost. That was much better! No haggling, no upselling, so negotiation. I told them my price, sent them my loan/insurance information, and had a very easy experience.

I have faith based on my research that the USAA price was a fair price that was probably better than I ever would have done on my own, and I certainly found the hassle-free nature of the process to be delightful. I think the only way it would be a "bad" idea is if the USAA price isn't a good one, and I've yet to have them steer me wrong.

 

[gemologygal]

My husband used USAA for both the car buying service and financing a few years ago. He loved it! After he put together the car he wanted, a Hyundai Sonata, on their site, it gave him the USAA price, and then the service put local dealerships (who could fulfill that request) in touch with him. When he found the car he wanted at the dealership, all he had to do at the time of meeting with the finance person was present the USAA finance paperwork, which I think was a check too--I don't remember exactly-- and that was it. No messy price haggling because the price was already predetermined by USAA and the dealership who worked with USAA had to honor that. Overall, he saved money on the price of the car.

 

[Disneylover03]

Thanks for the info!
We love having USAA for insurance and figured they would be pretty good on a car deal.
I really like their financing % and would be great to have that already in place when we go to close the deal.
Not looking forward to a new car payment but feel better getting the best deal we can.
Thanks again.

 

[BStew]

Has anyone used USAA for negotiating a deal for a new car, if so, how was your experience?
I appreciate any help or suggestions.
TIA!

We have used USAA to purchase two vehicles and both times were blown away with the exceptional customer service. They handled everything for us and made it so easy!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I haven't used them yet for a car negotiation, but am thinking about it. I have had several car loans through USAA; the application process couldn't be easier.

 

[bdcp]

We just bought my 2014 Toyota Highlander using USAA. We actually got a lower interest rate through the dealership than we did with USAA. We have outstanding credit so it's easy to find lower rates. This is the third or fourth car we've bought using USAA (buying service or the pricing the dealership offers USAA). We've been using USAA for all our insurance since 1981 and both our sons have insurance and banking through them. Back when you had to be military and an officer in order to get it. They've really broadened access to it now.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We just bought my 2014 Toyota Highlander using USAA. We actually got a lower interest rate through the dealership than we did with USAA. We have outstanding credit so it's easy to find lower rates. This is the third or fourth car we've bought using USAA (buying service or the pricing the dealership offers USAA). We've been using USAA for all our insurance since 1981 and both our sons have insurance and banking through them. Back when you had to be military and an officer in order to get it. They've really broadened access to it now.

That's true but without military affiliation you don't have access to all products/services.

 

[msmama]

I used it about 8 years ago with my car and it was amazing (be warned that some dealers will put you on the back burner since they're not making any extra on you so they will make you wait while they try to haggle with other people). I'd say, still be prepared to walk out.

My ex did it a couple of years ago and it has changed since I used it.

Now, I think they just do the research for you and tell you where you will get the lowest price. It's up to you to haggle, if you can (ex couldn't get them to go any lower). When I did it, they couldn't beat the USAA financing, but ex, I believe, they did beat it.

Some dealers have special sales people that only work with USAA folks, too.

Still I wouldn't buy a car without USAA, lol. (I've heard Costco is pretty good too, but that was from my mother who is not the most financially responsible person).

 

[LoverDisney]

I purchased my 2014 CRV using the car buying program. My Honda Odyssey required another transmission for the second time with 175,000 miles so it was time to get another car. USAA's car buying program was a great experience. The only downside is that you will get phone calls and emails from other dealers once you begin the car buying program process. They stopped approximately after one month.

 

[Disneylover03]

So far in my area I've only gotten 2 dealerships to contact me and it seems they don't want to negotiate any further than what we were quoted.
So, if they aren't willing to come down any further we will be sticking to what we have.
I want to make sure I'm getting THE best deal I can....be it a new car or a trip to Disney.
Thanks to everyone's input, I really appreciate it!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We bought our daughter's car using their car buying service and financing. I emailed back and forth to with the dealership to secure an "out the door" price. I had a pre-approved offer waiting in my account - click on "my offers" when you login - printed the check and off we went. The car was ready and waiting. Easiest car buying I ever did. We'll certainly do it that way again next time as well.

 

[Maddies Mama]

I've bought 2 cars through the car buying service and both times could not have been easier. I just printed the piece of paper with the price and take it to the dealerships USAA is partnered with and see who wants to make a sale. Some of them don't want to honor that price and so we just walk out and drive to another one that will. Both times, we've brought our own financing and had excellent customer service at the dealerships. Easiest car buys we've ever done and it's the only way to go from here on out.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

USAA never offered us rates as good as what the dealership could. So I'd still shop around rates if you have decent credit.

 

[bdcp]

So far in my area I've only gotten 2 dealerships to contact me and it seems they don't want to negotiate any further than what we were quoted.
So, if they aren't willing to come down any further we will be sticking to what we have.
I want to make sure I'm getting THE best deal I can....be it a new car or a trip to Disney.
Thanks to everyone's input, I really appreciate it!

That is the point of the buying service. You go in knowing what the price is. They will not negotiate at all because the price is already a negotiated discount.

 

[pryncess527]

So far in my area I've only gotten 2 dealerships to contact me and it seems they don't want to negotiate any further than what we were quoted. So, if they aren't willing to come down any further we will be sticking to what we have. I want to make sure I'm getting THE best deal I can....be it a new car or a trip to Disney. Thanks to everyone's input, I really appreciate it!

In our case, the USAA price we were quoted was THE best deal possible.
But no, they weren't going to negotiate further. That's the point, USAA already negotiated the best price so you don't have to. But if you've found a better deal outside the program, good for you!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

We bought our Toyota Sienna through USAA a couple of years ago. At that time, there wasn't a dealership in our town that would work with USAA and we had to travel an hour and a half away. The process was pretty easy, and the dealership beat USAA's percentage rating for financing, so we used them.

 

[anna08]

DH used it without problems here, and there were dealers who advertised on their website they were affiliated with USAA. I got much better financing through the dealer than through USAA but they do make it so easy if you do it with them. You just print the check at home on your own printer. I think I got a better offer from dealer on financing because I had that check in my hand when we sat down to pay.

 

[Longsx3]

Tips for using USAA car buying.
First you don't have to contact the dealers using the email feature and it doesn't have to be a USAA dealership to honor the pricing.
Here is how we have used USAA pricing: deterime the price using USAA online and compare to Edmunds to confirm we are getting a deal.
I do not contact the dealer online. Next we head to our local non USAA dealership, we go in find what we want and drive it. During the test drive we convey our biggest concern is to get the best deal possible on our trade in, we don't discuss USAA nor vehicle price.
When we return after the test drive we have them evaluate our trade in.
They return with a more than fair trade in and full sticker price on the new vehicle. I then ask if they will match USAA pricing and they do. Now I have the price I want to pay for the vehicle and a reasonable trade in. If you go in with them knowing you have predetermined USAA pricing they will low ball your trade in value! We have saved thousands with this method.

Finally the interest rate at the dealer is considerably better than USAA. We currently have less than 1% with 2 vehicles with Toyota.

Well, we thought we were done with car payments and bought a used car.
We have now been informed that it needs a new transmission costing $3,400 and it already has 153,000 miles on it.
Our dilemma is should be pay for the trans or just buy a new car and not have to worry about repair fees, we've gone back and forth on this for sometime.

We've had a CRV in past and have decided to get another one, now comes the hard part; getting a good deal.
Has anyone used USAA for negotiating a deal for a new car, if so, how was your experience?
I appreciate any help or suggestions.
TIA!

 

[Disneylover03]

Thanks Longsx3!
That's actually a great idea and the closer we get to the end of the month, those two combined should get me the BEST deal I can get!
I appreciate all the help from everyone.
The Dis has some of the best folks around.

Tips for using USAA car buying.
First you don't have to contact the dealers using the email feature and it doesn't have to be a USAA dealership to honor the pricing.
Here is how we have used USAA pricing: deterime the price using USAA online and compare to Edmunds to confirm we are getting a deal.
I do not contact the dealer online. Next we head to our local non USAA dealership, we go in find what we want and drive it. During the test drive we convey our biggest concern is to get the best deal possible on our trade in, we don't discuss USAA nor vehicle price.
When we return after the test drive we have them evaluate our trade in.
They return with a more than fair trade in and full sticker price on the new vehicle. I then ask if they will match USAA pricing and they do. Now I have the price I want to pay for the vehicle and a reasonable trade in. If you go in with them knowing you have predetermined USAA pricing they will low ball your trade in value! We have saved thousands with this method.

Finally the interest rate at the dealer is considerably better than USAA. We currently have less than 1% with 2 vehicles with Toyota.