Tips for buying a new car!

[Gcver2ver3]

Originally Posted by SouthStndJunkie

That is my favorite tactic when buying a car.

I tell them no trade in....hammer out the best deal I can get....then at the last second tell them I have decided to trade in my old car.....and then hammer out a deal for that. I treat them as two separate transactions.

If not, they will either give you less on your trade in and make it seem like you are getting a great deal on the car you are buying.....or they don't come down as much on the car you are buying and they make you think you are getting great trade in value.

The last time I did that, the salesman was livid, but it worked, as I controlled the leverage at that point. Give me what I want on the trade in, or I walk....the car I am buying has already been negotiated.

I am always willing to walk out of a deal and wait for the call back phone call, where they talked with the 'finance manager', and all of a sudden can meet your price or they want you to come back in and talk some more.

Never go in with the mind set that you need to buy a car or have your heart set on one, those guys can smell that out like a wolf smells an injured elk.

Then once you get to that point, try for a little bit more.

...sounds like you know the drill too!...

[Mr. Elway]

My advice is: Don't walk into the dealership until you have a price offer from them on paper.

Here is how I buy a brand new car. This method works really well so long as you a.) can overcome falling in love with the car and b.) don't mind being perceived as a bit of a dick by the dealer. This process is actually very stress free and enjoyable.

1. Research the car thoroughly. Pick a reasonable combination of options, usually they are packaged together. Figure out specifics like color. Find out the invoice price on cars.com. You should shoot for around invoice, sometimes you can get lower but not always.
2. Arrange your own financing through someplace like Capital One Auto so you have funds.
3. Wait until the last few days of the month. The sales folks are pressed to meet their monthly goals.
4. Engage at least 6 dealerships who carry the make you want. You may have to buy from a nearby town. Tell them the exact make, model, color and options. Tell them you are a cash buyer with no trade in. Ask for their best offer, in writing, including all dealership and handling fees. Tell them you are a serious buyer with cash ready, and that you will be buying a car if the price is right.
5. Be friendly but extremely firm in your negotiations. Half of them will refuse to negotiate over email/phone. Cross those off your list. Of the dealerships who make an offer, take the best one and send it back to all the other dealerships who made an offer. Don't let them know which dealership it is from. Ask them to beat it, and tell them you are going to go with the best offer. Get it in writing over email.
6. Inform the winning dealer, and confirm the offer over the phone. Make an appointment. Take your offer in with you. Refuse any additional dealer charges or extras. Negotiate a trade-in at this point separately.
7. Give the dealership a chance to beat the rate on your financing.
8. Buy your car.
9. NOW you are allowed to fall in love with it

I don't know about the govt rebate programs but I would definitely look into those. Remember to negotiate that stuff, and any trade-in, separately, and AFTER you have agreed on a price.

I have bought new but right now I prefer certified used. The process is similar except you target specific cars in dealer inventories and set a target price. That is fun because you have to haggle the price down and you really don't know what they paid for it.

[Dukes]

Originally Posted by Popps

It's a pretty sweet little ride. Small, though. Not as fast as a WRX or something, but looks much nicer, imo.

Just bought my wife a V50. (Wagon version of the V40) She loves it. I've driven a Volvo S60 for a few years now. I love it, but I still see myself picking up another Infiniti, at some point. (37, probably.)

I don't care what anyone says, no one does luxury cars better than the Japanese. I'm not saying you can't spend more, but dollar for dollar, Infiniti is very tough to beat.

Sorry, Germans.

My brother recently had a M45 Sport. Gotta say I was impressed with it power and luxury. But he traded it in for a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, now that SUV is simply amazing.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Dukes

My brother recently had a M45 Sport. Gotta say I was impressed with it power and luxury. But he traded it in for a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, now that SUV is simply amazing.

Always thought that would be a fun car to drive. (Cayenne)

The early model M45's used to ship with 340 horsepower V8's. Not sure what they have now, but everyone I know who's driven one says they're fantastic.

[Meck77]

Or do what this lady did. Buy one and don't sell it. She's over 100 years old and drives an 80 year old car! Even changes her own oil.

Bump!

http://autos.aol.com/article/102-yea...usauto00000020

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Meck77

Or do what this lady did. Buy one and don't sell it. She's over 100 years old and drives an 80 year old car! Even changes her own oil.

Bump!

http://autos.aol.com/article/102-yea...usauto00000020

as big as that car is you could probably stand up underneath it to do so..

[Bronco Yoda]

Why would anyone buy a new car? There are so many good deals on clean low mileage two year old cars. Why pay for all that initial depreciation, taxes, registration etc?

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Bronco Yoda

Why would anyone buy a new car? There are so many good deals on clean low mileage two year old cars. Why pay for all that initial depreciation, taxes, registration etc?

Because they can afford it and do not want someone's else's hand me downs or problems.

Some of us are trying to keep the economy going.