General Discussion

politicat

(9,810 posts)

51. We played two dealers off each other.

Sat Feb 16, 2013, 12:43 AM

Feb 2013

We were looking at either a Kia Soul or a Nissan Cube. We wanted small, efficient, with cargo space and not a Subaru. I went in with a lot of specific requirements (color, fits Giganto-partner, aux jack or iPod jack, etc.) and then spent two days fielding phone calls from the two dealers, telling each one that we'd gotten a slightly better offer from the other. When I got to sticker for the base model (we were shopping for a couple steps above base) I took the offer for the Kia. (Which I love, by the way, and have been very happy with. Would have liked a made in US, but at the time we were buying, there was nothing available in our price range with a good enough reliability rating that was actually made in the US -- badged GM, but actually made in Brazil is not good enough.)

It helped that we had "cash" financing, as in a check from our Credit Union, already arranged.

End of month is best, but be aware that some dealers have their EOM in the middle of the month.

Get a google voice number to use as your contact number with the dealers, that way they won't be bugging you for the next quarter century.

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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