tips for shopping for a new car, handling salesmen etc ?

Question

My daughter and I are shopping for a new car for her, something smaller sized and priced,,, this is really the first time i have done this,, since being divorced,,,,,,i dont know if its because we are female, or just salesmen's tactics, our one venture out was irritating,,,,, trying to get exact info, pricing etc,,,,there was more of an attitude, "let us run your credit, and see what you can afford, then we will put you in a car",,,, finding the exact amount of discounts and rebates was also hard,,,,, and the 2007 car we were shown had a scratched left window and the dealers sticker on the back was also scratched and almost rubbed off??? and the car smoked when he backed it out of the space in the lot,,, i found all that very odd ,,,, what i did was just be firm, in wanting the exact price they would sell (or initial price they offered to sell ) the car/cars for,,,,also at the end, the manager of the lot came out, and asked me what price i wanted to pay,,,, is this all normal tactics?

Answer 1

ok first off...the smoking car...stay away from it. Now here is what you do.

Figure out what car you want. Know the accessories it has...premium wheels and such...the stereo...all of the extras the car may have.

Then go to kelleybluebook.com

Type in the information and then put in an arbitrary # in the mileage such as 3000 miles. This will give you the value you would get if the vehicle had them miles on it.

Then when you go in..use this value and tell them you won't give a penney more. Car salesmen are hungry...they will bite on it. Stand firm and even make a ruckess if you have to...but be prepared to sign the papers when it happens..don't make a false offer.

Also don't buy in to the extended warranties or any other add ons to the price...buy it the way it is.

Now if for say for instance...they offer free oil changes and free tires for the life of the car...say for another $1000...then do it..that is if she plans on keeping the car for several years. If she isn't planning on keeping it for several years..and is not driving alot then don't.

Don't settle for anything less than you want...trust me...you will get a good deal. If you have a male friend..or perhaps your father or an uncle or cousin..take them with you...the salesman will be less apt to screw you. Also don't take the first deal that you are offered. One good tactic to use is to say..."well she can maybe go without a car for a bit longer...I don't like this deal". Talk to her first so she knows what you are doing so she goes along with it...if they are afraid of not making the sell then you have the upper hand.

I don't know what your credit is like..but if you do have good credit don't take the first offer on credit they offer either...tell them.."i have great credit and that interest rate is too hi"

Go for something less than 5% ...they have it...you just have to make them look for it and offer it.

Hope this helps and good luck

Answer 2

Go to edmonds.com.

Research the vehicle you want. Run the TMV on it with the options that you are wanting on it. The price result they give is usually very accurate.

If financing, get pre-approved by your bank for an amount you are willing to spend + a little leeway in case you find you are willing to go up just a small amount (no more than a few hundred dollars) to get the car.

After test driving the car and knowing that you like it, do not let them record any information about you (i.e. phone number, SS#, address, etc.) until you have reached a deal. Go into the salespersons cubicle and plainly tell them - "I will pay X amount of money + tax title and license. I am not interested in haggling over price. Go see if your sales manager wants to make a sell today or not."

As long as you have accurately done your research. Many places will be glad to do the deal so they can move inventory. If they try to say the deal will not work, be fully prepared to immediately leave the lot. Then, if you feel like it, you can leave a contact number in case they change their mind. Again, if you were accurate in research, they will call within a few days and be ready for the deal you proposed.

If you have a brand and model narrowed down, a good way to know exactly what will be available is to go to the brand website (i.e. dodge.com). You can search the dealership inventory from there. This will enable you to accurately fill in the options when running the edmonds.com TMV pricing.

Good Luck and be prepared to leave.

Answer 3

Several things. First report the altered window stickers to your state motor vehicle commission. It is against' Federal law for them to alter them in that way. Second tell them you are financing, even if you are paying cash as the dealer and salesman get kickbacks on the financing and will figure that into their "bottom line" figure. Third, if possible go to one of the dealers that have "flat pricing" such as all the Saturn Dealers, and here where I am several of the other dealers are putting what they claim is their "best deal" on the windows up front. They often call this "no hassle" pricing. This might not always be the very cheapest that somebody could get the a similar vehicle, but you won't get really screwed if you take them up on that. Don't allow ANY addons like paint sealant, etc. as those are not needed on modern cars and are a huge ripoff anyway. The "single price" system is becoming more and more popular as Saturn has had a great success with it. Takes the hassle out of buying a car and makes it more like buying a fridge at Sears. Everybody pays the same no matter what. Also do your research on the internet as to what the cars should sell for that you are interested in. Credit checks and such are "not" required for pricing a car and dealing. They are only gimmicks to get you inside and signing papers. Don't fall for that at all. I sold "used" cars for some years and the tricks employed would fill a book. Had to find a more honest way to make a buck! :-)

Answer 4

The best thing to do is figure out for yourself what kind of payment you can afford, including what insurance will cost. Then figure out what kind of car you want. Look for something you like. I like buying a used car from a new car dealer. If you do your homework you can get a 2 year old car for 1/2 the price of new. if it's a new car you are looking for, the same tactics apply. New car dealers normally have the best quality, but they will overcharge you if they can. When you find the car you like, go and check what the blue book value on that car at www.kbb.com. Make sure you know the mileage of the car and it's options when you check. The used car business is kinda slow these days, so you can normally beat the price when buying. Do not impulse buy or buy without checking kelley blue book price. after you have agrreed on a price with the dealer, he will tell you what the payments will be. If the payment is too much for you to afford, this is the time to re-adjust what your needs are. Don't be afraid to lowball the salesman either. He's going to ask a high price anyways, do the same to him by asking for a lower price than what the car is worth. I have walked away with some good deals with this method. Knowing what the car is worth is your biggest defence, and it will give you confidence in buying. Also, never be afraid of walking away from a deal if you don't like it. The credit check should never be the first place to start. Make the sales person earn his commission.

Answer 5

Ya that's pretty usual sales tactics. mention the problems you noticed the scratched winshield the smoke or whatever, say you want a discount cause it's gonna be such and such to get this fixed and so much for a new muffler or whatever. plus the pain of getting it done. Call auto repair places and ask how much it is. so you will know then go back. Say We're gonna think about it. If your gettin snaked then walk away.

The salesman is just trying to get full price on the car. they where just checking your credit to know if they could sell you the car. Most cars smoke a little when you first start them up. Did it continue to smoke. Don't listen to the radio while on your test drive. listen for nocks rattles and pings well that's more of a used car buying tip. Anyway good luck.

Answer 6

Do as much research as you can before you walk onto the dealer lot and just use some common sense and you will be fine. Research finance options. Check for online rates, contact your local bank and if you belong to a credit union check their rates. You can find a car payment calculator with any search engine. Calculate how much you can afford monthly and that will help you determine your overall budget. Keep in mind to add taxes and estimate about $200 for DMV fees. Research your vehicle of interest online, then see if you can find two or three vehicles that fit your budget. It's important to find at least two cars online that you would seriously consider buying. This gives you the option to walk away from any of the chosen vehicles if your not comfortable with the terms. You are now ready to contact some dealers. Contact the dealers and set up appointments to test drive the cars. Take a test drive and look over the car for cleanliness, rust or any other noticeable defects. Find out if there is any of the factory warranty left and what warranties and policies the dealer has for used vehicles. Ask them if they have any problem with you taking the car to a local mechanic. Have the dealers run carfaxes to make sure the cars have clean titles. You are not ready to make a purchase yet so let them know that you have other vehicles to consider and that you will be in touch to schedule a return visit. Now that you have spent some time in different dealerships and have met a couple of different salesman. You can now make an educated decision to see whom you really want to deal with and who has the best product to offer. Contact the dealer of choice to see if the car is still available and to schedule your next visit. This is where all your research comes in. If you have already qualified for financing see if the dealer can do better. As for the price of the car let them know you are ready to buy and see what they will let the car go for. If it doesn't meet what you expected then you have other options and can walk away to the next dealer. I believe people seem to want to come in and handle this all in one trip but as you can see buying a used car can be a complicated transaction that warrants time and effort. With all of the information that is available to you online it shouldn’t be to tough to find what you want at the price you can afford.

Answer 7

Number One Thing! DON'T BUY A NEW CAR!!!!!

You can't buy a new car anyway. As soon as you buy it, you now own a USED car. Literally the second it changes ownership it drops 10-20% in value. New cars are only for suckers who don't know any better.

If you want something late model, get a car that is about 1 year old with 30k or less mileage. MANY people trade in cars every year. Some are "Program" cars from corporate fleets that have had clockwork maintainence.

Do your homework. Check the NADA (www.nada.com) and Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) on the car and know what you should pay.

But most importantly. DON'T BUY INTO THE NEW CAR SCAM!!!!!

Answer 8

If your credit is bad then the best bet is to get the kid a el'cheapo used rust beater and have the kid get a job and you both can save up 10K or so and get one them new hybrids. The dealer tactics you talked about are way to stereotypical for a professional dealer. you must have been deep in the woods or deep in the ghetto.

Answer 9

I hate to say it woman to woman bring a man along with you. They always think they can pull the wool over a womans eyes. I know when I purchased my new car they tried to think of everything possible to raise the price. I finally told them to sell me the car at the agreed upon price or I was going to their closest competitor. I wish my husband was with me but due to his health I couldn't put him in that amount of stress.

Answer 10

tell the salesman if he rips you off you'll kill his mother. when he looks like he's about to say something like he'll call the police break out laughing and yell "gotcha!!"... then offer him about 85% of the sticker price for the vehicle you want. he'll see you're a reasonable person and offer you a fair price and value for your trade-in