What Is The Best Way To Buy New Car For Best Deal?

[Nate1979]

Since she has no clue, Costco will get her 90% towards the best price. Sure if she was an expert like everyone on this site thinks they are she can get a little bit better but for ease of use something like the Costco program is great.

Costco also runs some deals every once in awhile. Until the end of the year they are running a deal where you get $700 or $300 cash card (depending on your membership level) for purchasing a GM product on top of GM supplier pricing and all rebates.

 

[Eddie]

Get bids on website and take a person-who-knows to the dealer with her. Ed

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Did some research on Edmunds and CR websites, then emailed a bunch of dealers that were in our driving range for prices. The one in the city nearest us was trying to get us to overpay until we copied them on emails from other dealers showing them much lower (and virtually identical) prices from places we could get to in an hour or so. They caved and the upside was that we get free oil/filter changes from them for a good period of time, and they're 15 minutes instead of an hour away.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
My neighbors daughter which lives about 2 hours away wants to buy a new SUV but is clueless to the stealers ways and does not know how to negotiate what is the best way for her to go about this? She asked about going through something like Costco or something along those lines...Any ideas?
She is going with her boyfriend and refuses to go with anyone else i know they are going to be ripped off. They are super nice and have degrees in all sorts of useless things but in the real world they are both handicapped!

Negotiate with a dealer is very complicate, they seem like not able to do it right and could be taken for a ride from experienced seller.

For them Costco is the right direction, just tell them that take the Costco per-negotiated price plus tax and license, nothing else(extended warranty, paint sealant ...)

 

[Malo83]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Here is a run down of what works for me:

1.Determine the vehicle you want.

2.Do your homework. Find out invoice price, holdbacks, rebates,
rebates/money to dealer, etc. Can find everything you need on
Edmunds.

3. E-mail all dealers of your selected brand in at least a 50 mile radius (I usually go 200.) Tell them you want an OTD price including tax at a ____% (fill in your local rate.) Inform them that all communication is via E-mail only and that no phone calls will be accepted. If they call, they are off the list. This will help weed out undesirable dealers. Get an array of bids.

4. At this point, take your best bid and get on the phone with the selected dealer. Depending on the price, negotiate over the phone if necessary. Last car, I think took my ending the phone call 3 times before the price went from something like 23.3K to 19.3K. I usually buy over the phone, generally having a back up source of financing if the make does not have a good factory deal or I pay cash. Set up a time to pick up the car.

5. Report, check the paperwork, sign, and drive off.

.

This how I bought my last 2 cars, strictly E-mails, found the car I wanted on their website and inquired, no phone calls, waited till it was the end of the month and made my final offer for an out the door price, waited and got the approved deal I was looking for, picked up a check from my credit union and went in and picked up my new car, hassle free

 

[jdirtrider]

From what I have seen lately, it is hard to get a GREAT deal. Use what everyone has been recommending. Can be tough though because so many people are willing to pay/finance the price that is being asked.

 

[raytseng]

Another option is to hire a car buying consultant/broker if she really wants things handheld and doesn't want to deal with it at all.

This depends on the price of the car she's looking to buy and how much she is spending. It should be new and around $30k and up to make this option worthwhile.

There are services like this both local and on the internet who will do all the negotiation for you and get you the best deal for a flat rate of $200 to $500 or so (depends on level of service and range of car that you're looking for).

The reason why i say 30k or so, is because under 30k, there isn't as much fat on the table to negotiate for, and you probably won't save enough through the consultant's negotiations to make the consultant fee worth it.


If it's a car "broker" they will even prep all the paperwork and you will pick up the car from them, rather then go to the dealership.

Use yelp and if you decide on this route to check out reviews and find a local service.

In some sense Costco and truecar are already "broker" to some degree with the negotiated prices.


Some of these places will even say, bring in the deal you already have, and give us a chance. If we can get you a better deal, and we'll split the savings 50/50.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Don't fall in love with a vehicle and think your life is over if you can't have it. Search around to find the dealer's cost. The dealer can sell the car at his cost and still make money so don't get lulled into thinking he is losing money. That is not how they keep the lights on and stay in business. Never start negotiations from the MSRP. Don't even let the sales person bring it up. 300$/ $500 is more than adequate profit. If you have a trade-in, don't mention it until you have settled on a price for the new vehicle.. Don't get low balled on the trade- in price. Keep the two negotiations separate. You can find trade-in value before you begin negotiations.Don't give the key to your vehicle to anyone. Have your own financing, but if dealer is offering 0% financing consider it. Financing is where the profits are. The main thing to remember is this is how the individuals you are dealing with make a living. You will never know as much as they know about buying and selling cars, but you don't have to get molested purchasing a new car. If dealer's people start playing games with you, get up and leave.

 

[Falken]

I'm not talking from experience but if I were to buy again it would be another Honda, and I'd see how doing it through Costco works out.

I would feel very safe going that route, Costco stands behind their products and services.

 

[Hybrid]

I used the Costco Auto program, along with KBB.com for pricing, still negotiated more with the fleet manager, and i got the car $700 below invoice price.

 

[BreakerBreaker]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: stchman
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
First thing to come to terms with: People will spend money in ways you think are stupid or foolish. You have no control over it. Case in point, Fram oil filters.


Or using oversized oil filters.
Define "oversize" Toyota has back specified larger filters on they Camry I 4. It that "oversized?


I'm not sure how oversize filters made it into this thread, but they are fine if you can get them to fit your car. They may not even cost more, either.

At a dealer: Never accept the first offer.

 

[aquariuscsm]

What I would honestly tell her. I never sugar coat advice I give to people when they ask for it. I'd tell her that her bf REALLY needs to man up and take care of her,especially if they plan on having a serious future together,or she needs to consider finding a better bf. She's an adult and is too old to have her parents hold her hand. Or better yet,I'd tell her bf myself.

I guess I'm old fashioned but I believe it's a man's job to take care of his girl.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
What I would honestly tell her. I never sugar coat advice I give to people when they ask for it. I'd tell her that her bf REALLY needs to man up and take care of her,especially if they plan on having a serious future together,or she needs to consider finding a better bf. She's an adult and is too old to have her parents hold her hand. Or better yet,I'd tell her bf myself.

I guess I'm old fashioned but I believe it's a man's job to take care of his girl.


+1. It's darn sure not the dad's neighbor's duty. Let them figure it out.

 

[Donald]

I used Truecar.com. After the sale I asked the dealer how they make money since my price was less than invoice. He said the dealership does get a bonus if they meet the quota that Subaru sets, and he gets a little from Chase bank for setting up financing and hopes to make money on a trade.

Best advice is negotiate from the invoice price not the MSRP. Discuss any trade after you have settled upon the actual new car price. Watch the add-ons, like paint sealant, extended warranty, etc.

A good deal today will be a good deal tomorrow. Nothing hinges on "if you buy today".

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
What I would honestly tell her. I never sugar coat advice I give to people when they ask for it. I'd tell her that her bf REALLY needs to man up and take care of her,especially if they plan on having a serious future together,or she needs to consider finding a better bf. She's an adult and is too old to have her parents hold her hand. Or better yet,I'd tell her bf myself.

I guess I'm old fashioned but I believe it's a man's job to take care of his girl.
That's why so many badly maintained "wife driven" minivans get their first oil change at 20K. Daddy doesn't know or doesn't care. Or maybe "Pater" isn't around.

 

[JHZR2]

With web forums, plenty of people announce their deals. She should read up what others are paying.

I've found that the Internet sales folks seem to be better to work with and give the best deals, easiest. If she contacts the internet sales of multiple dealers for a car set up some way, then compare the prices, bid the cheapest two against each other and see who comes out lowest.

 

[philipp10]

I like the way I do it. I research on the net what specific year, model and options I want. Then I look at what I should be paying (out the door price) according to multiple sites. They are usually close in cost. Then I email 3-4 local dealers and tell them what I want and what I am willing to pay. I offer 300-500 what I should be paying. By the time I am at the dealer, the price out the door is already decided. Last time I did this they didn't even try to upsell us any extras.

My main point is, do NOT walk in the dealer until the price is set. That's when they start playing games.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: jdirtrider
From what I have seen lately, it is hard to get a GREAT deal. Use what everyone has been recommending. Can be tough though because so many people are willing to pay/finance the price that is being asked.


You can get a good deal but you have to do your homework, be mentally tough (and sometimes just a good old fashioned butt), refuse to fall in love with a car, and be prepared to walk.

 

[jimbrewer]

I always did pretty well by getting the Costco type price and then offering the local dealer the same price plus half the shipping cost from the Costco supplier (I live in a rural area).

You still have to prep for all the tricks. More and more I don't think it's worth it. Just pay Costco.

PS It seems like its harder to get useful info from the web. Another reason to go to Costco.

 

[shiny]

All good suggestions if she has her heart set on a new vehicle. Costco is good. If she's willing to consider a lightly used vehicle she'll save a lot of money because new cars depreciate the minute you drive them off the lot.

For a "like new" used vehicle, check out Beepi.com. Their standards are very high. I sold a car to Beepi. After seeing the inspection they gave it before they agreed to take it, I'd feel very safe buying a used car from them. It was a much better experience than dealing with a "stealership."