Anyone use USAA's car buying service????

[FADEC]

Wife is getting her work car taken from her (cost cutting) and we are in the market for a new car. Since we are members of USAA and also have about $3800 in GM card points, we deceided to get a new Cruze. The USAA's site, you punch in make, model trim level options, etc and it gives you a price that local dealers will sell you the car for. Two dealerships were at $17.4k and the other 18.6. The 17.4k price is fine and we deceided, to got with them. First dealership didn't have the car we wanted but will sell us a lesser equiped model for more money. They can get one from another dealer, but there is a $1000 surcharge to get the vehicle so it will be in the low 20k range. The other dealer after the initial email stopped responding. NOT real happy with this experience. I guess dealers must not be too desperate these days. I realize they probably not making a whole lot of money on this but come on..Someone with a high credit rating and cash to buy a car on the spot, and I get ignored..no wonder the economy is in the shape it is in (rant). Tom

 

[JHZR2]

Cruse is a popular car, highly rated... And you're not a warm body.

Go in with cash plus gm card rebates and they'll jump.

 

[Billy_D]

I have used their car buying service in the past. USAA usually can get you a fair price, but a dealership may not honor it because of $3800 in GM card points.

 

[addyguy]

Yeah, money talks and walks. Go to dealerships in person, find what you want, and haggle them to where you want.

 

[FADEC]

I was under the impression that you made your best deal on the car then the GM points/money was deducted from the price. Then GM card pays the dealership the money that was deducted.

 

[Billy_D]

That's the way it should work. It still doesn't explain why the dealerships won't work something out with you.

 

[BobsArmory]

yeah, work out your best deal THEN tell them you have a GM card. BTW the 1,000 surcharge for getting the car from a different dealership is a rip off. Pure profit, they trade cars all the time.

 

[Hallmark]

OP, I'm sure that you are aware that a cash transaction is a detriment to buying a car, not an incentive for the dealer to offer the best price.

I have purchased many, many new cars in my lifetime...always dealt with the dealership's 'fleet manager' or equivalent at 'invoice' prices or less. So-called 'invoice' pricing is the max any buyer should pay. Even the Costco auto buying program revolves around such pricing.

 

[WANG]

I haven't used the USAA service to buy a GM car because I qualify for employee pricing. I found some dealers a bit reluctant to honor the employee pricing on the last new GM that I bought (Pontiac G8 GT in '08) and some were insisting that they could get above MSRP. I eventually bought one for the price I wanted to pay, just had to drive a bit. I guess some sales managers just don't like pre-negotiated prices.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark
OP, I'm sure that you are aware that a cash transaction is a detriment to buying a car, not an incentive for the dealer to offer the best price.


As someone who has purchased every new car since the mid-1970's for cash, I can safely say that, at least in this area, you're wrong. If my memory serves me correctly that's 11 new cars in the past 35+ years (plus a few used ones).

Each cash (check) purchase has gotten a significantly reduced price.

I can't speak for your area or local dealerships though.

 

[JoeWGauss]

I have USAA insurance and also use their banking services as well. I have always had excellent service from them !
I have not had a chance to use the buying service though.

That being said contrary to what the corporate media is telling the public new car sales in general excluding luxury and very expensive vehicles are not selling in huge numbers , things are still very tentative and likely will be so for a few more years or until we have a REAL economic recovery that affects main street not just wall street.

My Dad recently experienced this weird reluctance to deal as well with cash in hand to buy a new car. He was looking at a mid line Fusion and the local dealer (had bought his 2005 Ford 500 from them) would not budge and go 400 bucks lower to get the deal (was invoice + hold back) so my Dad walked right out the door and went elsewhere. Ended up getting a Scooby Outback for quite a bit under invoice.

 

[Stewart Fan]

In the last 3 months,I've purchased two new cars using USAA's car buying service. Both transactions went very smoothly and neither dealer batted an eye at the USAA pricing.

Easily the two best car buying experiences I've ever had. I'm sure I could have spent hours haggling and gotten a slightly lower price,but I left the dealership happy both times.

 

[CBR.worm]

I have used USAA's car buying service a few times, two times with Toyota, both with good results. One time with Nissan - the local Nissan dealer did not want to honor the price, said the car ('95 Maxima) was unavailable with the quoted config, next dealer down the road was able to get the car and honor the price.

If nothing else it gives you a good goal pricewise.

 

[daves87rs]

Their buying service is pretty useless, like AAA's. They are (the dealers, that is) are not going to cut you a real good deal. That you have to do yourself.

That said, I've seen Cruzes in my area go above MSRP due to how popular they are right now. Many dealerships won't even honor the GM employee price (might give you a few hundred maybe) here in the heart of GM country. That tells you a lot.


I have plans for a new possible Cruze myself, but with everything going on, I'm in no hurry....

 

[tom slick]

I looked at USAA's buying service after reading this thread. The nearest participating dealer is 155 miles away and the price listed is the same as the local dealers' list. In my case USAA has nothing to offer.

 

[FADEC]

Well yesterday was a productive day. The local dealership (the one I had dismissed because they were $1600 more that the other dealerships) called Friday night. Said they would not be undersold, to bring proof of the other dealerships price and they would match it. Not only that but they would order me a new 2012 cruze with my options for the same price. Got the car for $17,600. Have to wait for 8 weeks though as they build it. Not a big deal for me. I'm not in a hurry.