General Discussion

Cary

(11,746 posts)

9. Figure out what you want first.

Fri Feb 15, 2013, 01:39 PM

Feb 2013

Then get all of the information you can on the internet. It's there. There are a number of sites that give the information.

Then visit 3 or 4 dealers. These days they don't mess with you too much. I ask for the best price. They are entitled to make some money on the car. I let them know I'm not going haggle with them and if they're reasonably close to the best price I'll take it.

That's just my style. I'm not interested in getting $30 or $40 less. I'm just interested in keeping them honest.

You can also watch the deals. You usually get some manufacturer's incentives closer to the end of the model year or on last year's cars.

I love my Chevy Cruze Eco. I get up to 50 mpg if I drive carefully. It's not a hybrid so I'm not going to have to deal with batteries. It's just tweaked for extra better miles per gallon and by the time I was done with everything it only cost me $18,000, fully loaded (for a Cruze Eco that is). Got to go with a manual transmission though. For me that's a plus but I know most people don't think so.

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I have a question about buying a vehicle... [View all] Ilsa Feb 2013 OP

Buy a used car with less than 10K miles.. snooper2 Feb 2013 #1

We sort of did that. nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #2

That's true, but I think hubby Ilsa Feb 2013 #19

Hmmm. Wonder why someone would get rid of a car with so few miles? nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #37

I have a Ford Fusion 2011 , fully loaded goclark Feb 2013 #47

So you'll be selling the Fusion? nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #59

Think so goclark Feb 2013 #61

Disagree high density Feb 2013 #40

Comparing used vs. new for your circumstances, sometimes new is cheaper in the long run. Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #60

Thanks for your post goclark Feb 2013 #62

It's the middle of the month. LeftyMom Feb 2013 #3

Thanks, that's a great idea! nt Ilsa Feb 2013 #20

I had NO luck with the internet. It's a come-on. They do it to get your name & email. Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #38

by researching plcdude Feb 2013 #4

^This Blecht Feb 2013 #6

I agree high density Feb 2013 #42

Go to an area with alot of competing dealerships and use different offers and comparisons to get JaneyVee Feb 2013 #5

Why not do the on line search. newfie11 Feb 2013 #7

Those are significant numbers. Ilsa Feb 2013 #22

I am sorry to hear that newfie11 Feb 2013 #30

I am a semi-expert, having recently purchased SheilaT Feb 2013 #8

We bought the jeep nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #11

Oh, yes, I forgot to say that. SheilaT Feb 2013 #13

Since the Jeep was used, it came as is nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #14

Perfect! SheilaT Feb 2013 #15

I keep paying full in cash as an option, too. Ilsa Feb 2013 #26

What do you say when they ask if you'll be financing? They always do. nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #39

I plan on going 3-4 times before shaking hands on Ilsa Feb 2013 #24

Hubs and I buy ONLY low-mileage cars, 3-4 years old, in the luxury or semi-luxury range. We've Nay Feb 2013 #33

Figure out what you want first. Cary Feb 2013 #9

I'm not going to Ilsa Feb 2013 #25

Offer them the "INVOICE PRICE" CountAllVotes Feb 2013 #10

Carmax for used vehicles is pretty good, if you have one near you. Lars39 Feb 2013 #12

The problem with Carmax and their no negotiation policy, SheilaT Feb 2013 #16

Hmm. We just bought two cars from Carmax. Didn't notice that problem. madinmaryland Feb 2013 #48

What I found, back when I was buying cars, that I'd go to the Carmax site SheilaT Feb 2013 #52

Go through Costco or AAA. Initech Feb 2013 #17

Wow! What make/models do they Ilsa Feb 2013 #18

The way it works is they have a list of participating dealers. Initech Feb 2013 #21

No need to negotiate anymore. NightOwwl Feb 2013 #23

I'm using Edmunds to value my trade-in... Ilsa Feb 2013 #27

And two more: A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #29

THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!! THESE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN Ilsa Feb 2013 #28

Lots of good advice on this thread sdfernando Feb 2013 #31

You'd only buy the car that day if it was zero dollars. SheilaT Feb 2013 #53

It's probably mostly a matter of timing customerserviceguy Feb 2013 #32

Wow! I'm glad I clicked on this thread... llmart Feb 2013 #34

110,000 is not a lot of miles these days indie9197 Feb 2013 #43

$1,000 on a car sounds like serious work. Once in that range, future repair bills typically bluestate10 Feb 2013 #45

I paid cash for it when it was new in 2002. llmart Feb 2013 #56

If your repair involves something with the engine or drive-train, you may want to consider bluestate10 Feb 2013 #44

No. The engine is OK. llmart Feb 2013 #57

It really depends a lot on the expected life of your car. LeftyMom Feb 2013 #46

I ask myself the same thing kudzu22 Feb 2013 #50

Go used for sure. Glassunion Feb 2013 #35

P.S. bring a friend, preferably one who knows about cars. Glassunion Feb 2013 #36

I recommend Consumerreports.org for lots of car & car buying info. Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #41

All good points kudzu22 Feb 2013 #49

We played two dealers off each other. politicat Feb 2013 #51

Kelly Blue Book reviews on kbb.com upi402 Feb 2013 #54

Here's another way to think about the actual cost SheilaT Feb 2013 #55

My days of buying new cars is long gone - 3 year old cars are the best deal out there 1-Old-Man Feb 2013 #58