New Car! Woo-Hoo!

[indolikaa]

[run pleasant-rant.exe]

We recently celebrated the one-month anniversary of our new 2004 Dodge Neon SXT. After about 1,500 miles, I have nothing but nice things to say about this car; it might be the first one in a LONG time to stay in the family once it reaches 36,000 miles. And it has a trunk, too!


I don't about the rest of you, but buying cars has never bothered me. I hear horror stories from grown men who have to take massive doses of testaterone just to walk into a dealership.

I have three simple rules:
* I pay the sticker price; 'dickering' is grossly insulting to me.
* I trade-in 10 days before the existing car's payment is due.
* I will walk on the dealer if they exceed my payment request by even a penny.

Never had a problem in all my years buying cars. And, I rarely spend more than 1 hour at a dealership from start to finish. I find this to be the most pleasant thing of all.

[end rant]

EDIT: Changed 'haggling' to 'dickering' to clarify my thoughts.

[pacmania_2001]

Haggling over the price is one of my favourite things when buying a car.

[indolikaa]

Let me clarify.

I don't have a problem with someone who is just out to find the best deal they can find. And I don't have a problem with people who enjoy the art of the deal.

The ones that irritate me the most are the people who think they have a God-given right to pay less than other people would because of who they are. We have a lot of people with that kind of superiority complex problem out here. They think that (for example) because they're descendants of the original settlers of this area, they deserve everything for free. Or because they're one of the County Commissioners, they should pay less than the rancher next door.

While I was there taking care of the paperwork, there were two other customers that came in. One was a family that wanted a minivan. They negotiated a price that was within their budget. No problem there.

The second guy? Well, he wanted to buy a truck but he made it very clear he wouldn't pay what everybody else pays. They gave him a written quote. The ******* interrupted my discussion with the salesperson and said, "Are you kidding about this price? Do you know who I am?"

The salesman looked at me, and I looked at the guy, and I said, "You look like somebody that can't afford to but that truck. I thought the rich and powerful didn't mind paying top dollar for quality product, but if you're that concerned about the price, perhaps you should consider a compact car instead."

I sometimes wonder why people don't like me.

[Cobra]

I said, "You look like somebody that can't afford to but that truck. I thought the rich and powerful didn't mind paying top dollar for quality product, but if you're that concerned about the price, perhaps you should consider a compact car instead."

I imagine that he turned into something that looks a fair bit like your avatar!

Cobra

[flaninacupboard]

or maybe streched to a smaller truck with smoked windows, he's trailing indo waiting to nail a cap in his ass. or something.

[pacmania_2001]

Good call. Guy sounds like a deadset wanker.

I would have told him that if anything he should pay more so that the car dealer can be compensated by the loss of business when people stop buying the cars because they don't want to drive the same type of car as a wanker.

[flaninacupboard]

tangent question - is wanker a common word in oz now, or have you just been influenced by the brit members of the board?

[lordsmurf]

I researched what the car actually cost the dealer. I then quoted my salesman the price of the car HE paid, and then I gave offered to pay him back that price (of course), plus a handsome profit, of which I then quoted him what his cut would be. All of this info is online.

You should have seen the blood run from his face.

They tried to sneak in $75 at the end, and I was starting to walk before they ran back and removed it. He looked me in the eyes as said "you mean a measley $75 will make you walk after we spend an hour or so doing all this?" ... and I replied "it may be measley, but it's mine, and to answer you're question: yes".

I got my car, at my price, and they got their money back plus a decent profit. I see nothing wrong with this. People do it all the time. Sticker price is ridiculous most times. They chose to set the system up this way, not us.

Buying cars is easy.

[indolikaa]

I said, "You look like somebody that can't afford to but that truck. I thought the rich and powerful didn't mind paying top dollar for quality product, but if you're that concerned about the price, perhaps you should consider a compact car instead."

I imagine that he turned into something that looks a fair bit like your avatar!

Cobra

Actually, he was speechless. :P

[pacmania_2001]

tangent question - is wanker a common word in oz now, or have you just been influenced by the brit members of the board?

I thought the word wanker was of Australian origin.

It's very common over here, I use it alot as well as the term "arse clown".

[thayne]

* I will walk on the dealer if they exceed my payment request by even a penny.

That shouldn't even be in your mind. total price + intrest / term = payment

My point is, if you tell them you want to pay no more than $350 per month, they will make damn sure you pay at least $350 per month.

You have to do the math while your there. I always tell them, "I'm not interested in what the payment will be, I want the price and intrest rate" Actually it's even better to go in with financing already in place via your bank or what ever.

I bought a new car 9 months ago and had no problems with the sales people once I laid the ground work. There were no numbers games with me.

With virtually no negotiation I got my car for $2000 under sticker, 3.6% 60 month financing and high kelly blue book for my trade in. Most of the negotiation was on my trade in price.

[stiltman]

My last 2 cars

I walk in, and ask for them to take 3K off the sticker price. If they say OK then I deal with them on the terms of the loan. If they give me smack, I leave. I have a 780 out off 800 for my credit rating, so I know I will get good finaincing. I never trade in my cars, I always sell them myself.

[thayne]

Selling your old car is generally a good idea. Trade in price is where most people get rapped. I always trade mine in because of the convienience, but you have to be ready to fight for a fair price.

From my experience the defacto offer they make you is between $500 and $1500 no matter what your car is worth. You have to know the bluebook value BEFORE you go in.

In my case I had a 1995 Toyota Tecoma 4X4 valued at $3600. They offered me $1500. I told them I wouldn't take less than $5000. They came back with $2000. I told them I know blue book is $4000 and my truck was in great shape and would easily resale for at least $5000. I'll take $4500. They came back with $3000. I said $4000 or I walk. They said $3600 is the absolute best they can do. So I say okay, I'll take $3600, but you have to give me wheel locks and a tow hitch. Done deal

[indolikaa]

* I will walk on the dealer if they exceed my payment request by even a penny.

That shouldn't even be in your mind. total price + intrest / term = payment

I disagree. You are looking for the best deal you can find. I could frankly care less, what matters to me is the ACH payment that comes out of my checking account each month.

My point is, if you tell them you want to pay no more than $350 per month, they will make damn sure you pay at least $350 per month.

THAT is absolutely not true!

I didn't add the Corvette story in my original post because I didn't see it's relevance, but it's relevant now, so I'll add it.

WAY back in 1993, my wife and I were condom close to closing a loan on a Corvette. I told the salesperson, in no uncertain terms, that I would not pay more than $599.00 per month for this car, and if he couldn't make that happen, I would understand.

Having said this, his first offer was $604.40. Did I not just say I would not pay more than $599.00 per month for this vechicle? What part of "I will not pay more than" did you not understand?

We walked. They tried like hell to get us to come back, but they lost their chance.

I've purchased 17 cars in my life. And I've walked out of at least 30 dealerships because of this blatant ignorance on the salesperson's part. When I set a price, I expect it to be honored. Either tell me you can do it, or grow some ******* balls and tell me you can't do it.

You have to do the math while your there. I always tell them, "I'm not interested in what the payment will be, I want the price and intrest rate" Actually it's even better to go in with financing already in place via your bank or what ever.

I do all of my math at home, before I even call the dealer. I know what I'm going to pay long before the finance manager does.

I bought a new car 9 months ago and had no problems with the sales people once I laid the ground work. There were no numbers games with me.

Same thing here. It's all about laying the groundwork.

With virtually no negotiation I got my car for $2000 under sticker, 3.6% 60 month financing and high kelly blue book for my trade in. Most of the negotiation was on my trade in price.

By setting a maximum monthly payment, I had already done what you did. Just in a different way.

The monthly payment I demanded required that the dealer hit a specific term and interest rate, trade-in value, and downpayment.

My payment is $349.00 for 72 months on a $23,602.00 total purchase, after downpayment. My downpayment was $346.77. That translates into an interest rate of about 3.55%.

I feel like I did pretty good.

[thayne]

That makes sense if you already calculate the figures before hand. I think most people don't think about it and when the salesman says "So what kind of payment can you afford" They just pick a number off the top of their heads, which can be really bad if you choose to high of a number!

[shoozleboy]

just traded in the Tahoe last month for a used Astro van (newer and a third of the milage of the Tahoe).... Worked out a deal for the trade in (they offered $6000, I said blue book was $8500 - we settled at $7800)

Anyway - they dicked around with the monthly payment thing and I just stared at them like they were crazy. They were telling me they couldn't get me in for less than $340 a month and I started walking (I didn't tell them yet that I had already secured financing through my credit union - I wanted to see what they could do)

Well, they worked out a deal with me for $2000 down and it would be $275 a month.....

Went to sign on the dotted line a couple of days later - told the guy that I didn't bring my checkbook and that oh, by the way - I have financing arranged already - no money down (NONE! Not even the tax and tags) and drove out with a $260/month payment and a smiling wife.... guess we're spending some extra money at the beach this July!!!!

[pacmania_2001]

I don't buy or sell cars to the dealer. In my experience I can get a much better deal by going private.

Case #1: Selling my Holden Rodeo, dealers only offered $5000 because it is a niche car. Red Book valued it between $5100-$7400. By doing some good advertising (cost $80) I managed to have two buyers bidding for it and sold it for $7800 and although it was in good condition it wasn't the best Rodeo out there.

Case #2: Buying my Honda Civic. Looked in the local paper what was for sale and found one that looked good. Rang up the bloke and asked for the VIN numbers so I could look them up in IdentiCar. Turned out that it was a 94 model instead of what it was advertised as, a 92 model. Went for an inspection and this car was immaculate, owned by an old couple and the old guy had every service on the car done and the records for it.

Managed to negotiate the price down to $7800 (was $8500) and bought it that morning spending a total of 4 hours looking for a new car. Found the same model and condition car advertised at the local dealer the next week for $11000.

[enstg8er]

site to figure new car price in usa
http://www.edmunds.com/

[indolikaa]

Looks like we have some happy car buyers, eh?


I bought the car for my wife. Between living on this forum, spending ridiculous amounts of money on computers, DVDs and model trains, and my occasional wine cooler/vodka binges, I figured she needed to be reminded which hobby was the most important in my life.

Pretty mushy, huh.

[Solarjetman]

I had a pretty good experience.

I am pretty proud of a trick I pulled was during the negotiations. After about 15 minutes of back and forth quotes, he finally gave a price I was happy with and $500 less than I would have paid. Before I accepted, I looked at the floor for about 10 seconds or so, then calmly said "Excuse me, I want to look at the car again alone". I walked out and circled it a few times knowing full well I was buying it. Then acted like I was about to leave without buying the car (I of course saw them watching me through the window). I turned around and went back in and got another $150 off the price!

Done deal!

However, I have a horror story at another dealer I did not buy from. They wanted to know how much income I made to test drive a car!!! The blasted thing was only $10k asking price! Its not like I was testing a Ferrari!! I left there very fast.

[thayne]

Smooth! I'll remember that for next time!

[tekkieman]

Worst raping I ever got in a car deal was a 6yr old Jeep with 109K miles on it. After the purchase. sunk $3,000 into the cooling system and the thing still overheated. Couldn't get rid of that thing fast enough.

Anyway, back to the sale....The salesman was a junior salesman, so every detail had to be approved by a senior salesman. By the time it was done, I had put $3,000 down, had payments of $237.00 a month, and was paying a little over 19% interest.

Who would screw over a person that bad? Well, the senior salesman was my cousin, the junior salesman.....my brother!

Lesson learned. Every car deal since then has been exactly like I wanted it. Matter of fact, my Mustang convertible - had leather, I did not want leather, instant discount. Had priced it on the net, and convinced the salesman that since it asked specifically for a zip code, that local taxes were figured into the price. They weren't, but that was their mistake. They tried to tell me the monthly payment was on a 12,000/yr lease. Nope - showed them the printout from the website - 15,000 a year. Drove of the lot that day with a sticker on the window of $27,995. My final price - $22,495!

[Sifaga]

Good thread,

Im doing the car buying thing soon.

[indolikaa]

Good thread,

Im doing the car buying thing soon.

You're at the right place for advice, that's for sure.

[Guest]

[run pleasant-rant.exe]

We recently celebrated the one-month anniversary of our new 2004 Dodge Neon SXT. After about 1,500 miles, I have nothing but nice things to say about this car; it might be the first one in a LONG time to stay in the family once it reaches 36,000 miles. And it has a trunk, too!


I don't about the rest of you, but buying cars has never bothered me. I hear horror stories from grown men who have to take massive doses of testaterone just to walk into a dealership.

I have three simple rules:
* I pay the sticker price; 'dickering' is grossly insulting to me.
* I trade-in 10 days before the existing car's payment is due.
* I will walk on the dealer if they exceed my payment request by even a penny.
Never had a problem in all my years buying cars. And, I rarely spend more than 1 hour at a dealership from start to finish. I find this to be the most pleasant thing of all.

[end rant]

EDIT: Changed 'haggling' to 'dickering' to clarify my thoughts.

If you do #1,then #3 should never be a problem. Unless it is with an extreeemly popular car that they can get more than sticker for.

[jakol]

i have a nice tip when buying a new car ( here in us only)

use costco auto program (costco.com/services) no huggling, i save tons of money using there services....you pay for the car invoice price a lot less from the sticker price. some dealer will charge a little bit over the invoice price but still a lot of savings there...and before going to the dealer get a pre approval loan for ur car maybe from ur bank or credit union.