Comments on: Time To Buy A Car? Follow These Ten Steps To Maximize Your Deal http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: mathieum http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-856764 mathieum Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:33:30 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-856764 The only time you should avoid negotiation is if you have a friend-of-the-manufacturer discount through the company you work for. Generally, the prices for those are excellent, and the dealer can not add any additional hidden fees to the purchase – the price that the invoice says is the price that you pay.

]]> By: Matt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-176323 Matt Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:06:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-176323 And here’s another excellent article that should help in getting the best price … and without having to go to the Dealer.

http://www.auto-broker-magic.com/newcarpurchase.html

]]> By: kendrick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3676 kendrick Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:18:54 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3676 MidnightUT: edmunds.com is a great site for researching both the invoice price (what a dealer pays for a car) and a true market value (what others pay to buy the car).

Also, there’s a great car-buying thread on Ask Metafilter that offers tons of advice on researching and negotiating a good price on a car. It’s at http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/37017

]]> By: Yan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3666 Yan Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:44:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3666 It is funny, everyone (including me) write about buying cars this week. :-)
Re: negotiating the price, here is an interesting trick I learned just recently (applies to new cars).
1) Request the quote from several places
2) Do it over email (if possible)
3) Reply every dealer something like this:
“Sorry, while I really want to buy this car, I’m afraid your bid takes you out of the running. If you want to make another offer today, I’ll look at it.”
Then wait for the second round of offers to start coming in.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3658 Trent Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:57:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3658 Midnight: it depends on the competition in the area, really. If there’s only one Toyota dealer in a fifty mile radius (quite possible where I live), then the markup is going to be higher.

The best way to do research on what sticker prices are is to visit a few lots and look for specific models. You can also see how heavy-handed the salesmen are and whether you’re comfortable there.

]]> By: MidnightUT http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3657 MidnightUT Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:44:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3657 On Step #8 it says to know the dealer’s price of the car before you start negotiating. Are there good websites to track this information down or where can it be found? Also what is a reasonable markup to let the dealer get away with above this price? Should we feel okay about paying 1-2% above dealer cost, more, less?

I’ve never had the “joy” of buying a new car, so all this advice is really helpful to me. I’m hoping my current vehicle still has 3-4 years left in it, but I’m starting to do some research anyway.

]]> By: Dave http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3631 Dave Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:00:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3631 I would choose only between cars with a lower depreciation. People buy cars that are advertised as “thousands less than a comparable Honda Accord” (for instance) when their trade-in will be poor when they come to buy their next car. If you treat a car purchase like you’re actually renting it (in that it costs you purchase price – minus what you get as a trade in) you’ll get an accurate idea of what you’re getting yourself into, per year.

I’d also go with a baf full of books, magazines, food, and drink to keep you going through the day. And if you feel any kind of pressure at all, get up and leave. The last time I did this the whole attitude changed. I know of one guy who normally leaves three times during the process.

]]> By: CreditShack http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3618 CreditShack Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:29:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/21/time-to-buy-a-car-follow-these-ten-steps-to-maximize-your-deal/#comment-3618 #2 (knowing the value of your trade-in) is especially important. I wanted to buy a used 1997 Jaguar XJR a few years ago. The dealership wanted $15,000 for the car (a bit high). They wouldn’t come down on the price. Worse, they offered me only $3,000 trade-in for my car. I laughed at them, stood up, and left. I sold my car a month later for $11,000.

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