Today will be my first time walking into a used car dealership. Any advice?

Question

Anything I should know? Any questions I should ask? Any tactics to get a good deal? What should I look for when I open the hood? Any particular car make I should look into?

I live alone in the city and don't know anyone with car buying experience so all useful information is appreciated. Thank you.

ps: I'm looking to buy a mid size vehicle (SUV, truck) as I will need to carry equipment for work (photography ie: backgrounds, lighting, light stands...) and that also won't eat up my wallet in gas. Thanks again.

Answer 1

First off, ask for the free carfax report....if the dealer is hesitant to give it, it probably means there's something majorly wrong with the car. Also, ask if you can take the car to a mechanic of YOUR choosing to have it inspected. (especially if you don't know what to look for). Look for signs of a repaint (i.e. engine compartment or door jambs are a different color, overspray). Don't believe the "little old lady story" (this car was owned by a little old lady and she only drove it to church and the doctors) cuz its a load of bs. Also, when they've give you what you think is their best possible offer, tell them that you want to think about it, and get up to leave.......then watch the price drop some more. Don't go until towards the end of the month when everyone there is scrambling to make their quotas...thats when the best deals are had. As far as choice of car, depending on your budget, i would look at a Honda Pilot or CRV or a Toyota Highlander, both are economical suvs with ample storage and seating. Good luck in your search.

Answer 2

I am a used car dealer. After reading some of these answers, one thing is apparent, nobody out there has a clue. But everyone thinks they are an expert. Here are a few myth-busters about dealers and salespeople, and a few truths. I've worked at a large dealership, but I prefer to work at a smaller, more personal dealership.

Here are a few guidelines to make things easier:
1. Know what you want
2. Know your budget
3. If you need financing, try to have that set up before you buy a car.
4. Do the research on the vehicle you want to buy
5. When you find the car you want, ask for the CARFAX.
6. Know the difference between a good carfax and a bad carfax
a. a carfax is considered clean, if the title is clean, i.e. not branded. A branded title can be a reconstruct, a flood or salvage. If a carfax has one of those on it, run, do not walk, away from the car. A carfax might show an 'accident indicator'. Do not panic. For example: Say you got rear ended and the damage to your car was minimal but an insurance claim was filed, that 'accident' will show up on carfax. But the car is completely sound.

5. Customers sometimes ask me if they can take the car to a mechanic. I do discourage this practice only for this reason. You are paying a mechanic to find fault with the vehicle. No used car is 'perfect'. Any mechanic is going to find fault with something, but all he is doing is covering his own ***, because if something does go wrong, he does not want you to blame him.

6. Expect to pay asking price or close to it for more coveted vehicles. Simple rule of supply and demand.

7. All used cars are unique. The V.I.N 's prove that point. And they are all driven differently. Keep that in mind when you find a car you want and walk away. If its a good car, chances are it might not be there when you decide you want to buy it. So the lesson here is, if you find a car you want, in the price range you're in, my advice to you is 'Jump on it'. If you don't, somebody else will and guess who really loses out......You.

8. Negotiating: Never negotiate "monthly payments". Always negotiate price. We dealers know most Americans do not like to negotiate. I personally try to keep it short. Know what the car is worth and negotiate accordingly. Personally, if I think your number is way too low, I will ask how you got to that number, if we are on the right car, or if I'm feeling sassy, "Did you bang your head on something?"
So to sum up negotiating, decide beforehand what you can pay, make the offer below that number and negotiate towards your number. Do not make negotiating personal. And if you really do not want to negotiate, just shut up and pay the asking price.

9. As for the type of vehicle, I had an '03 Honda Pilot, alot of those have just come off lease. Never had 1 problem in 4 years. And they get over 20 mpg on the highway.

10. When checking the engine bay, pull the oil dipstick, and smell the oil, if it smells burnt, chances are the previous owner did not take very good care of it. Also check for leaks and check fluid levels.

Answer 3

buy from a certified dealer, they have the cars inspected and passed state laws before thay can sell it so you ar assured that the units are roadworthy.

do not buy from the classified ads. not that they are bad, its just some sell their cars cheap "as is" and you will end up paying more for repairs. also the car might break down on you once you own it already. it may perform well when you test drive it but somewhere along the line after a few months things will start to fall off.

look at www.cars.com or www.carmax.com they can help you out.

also think of what you can afford first if you have a limited budget. a 4 cylinder 1800cc car would be good, or a good 3 litre 6 cylinder car. try to avoid the big V8s no matter how cheap they are. V8s take like 17mpg while the V6s or I4s go from 21 - 32 mpg.

if money is no object then get what is practical for your use, a minivan would be more useful than an SUV or truck. The SUV may look big on the outside but there is limited space on the inside. While a truck needs to have a covered bed to protect your equipment. The van is spacious and you can arrange the seats or remove them to fit you gear.

ask for the car history to know about recalls for the brand and make of the car you are buying, as well as repair history.


happy hunting!!!

cheers

Answer 4

I have a family member who is a general manager of a dealership. You need to go online and research what you want to buy and then walk into the dealership and look them straight in the eye and tell them want you want and how it compares to anything they have with any cash back or dealer special sales offers. If you have a preapproved loan they will bend over backwards for you so they know you aren't wasting their time. Do not ever buy the same day you go in! After the test drives and the millions of questions you will ask, even of you already know the answer, tell them you need to think it over and you will be in touch. Then wait a couple of days and go back. Volkswagon makes an SUV that is a little pricy but it is well worth it. It has the best gas mileage for an suv that you can actualy use as an suv. Dodge Durango is also good. No matter what, whoever you get your loan thru get the optional gap insurance. If there is a balance left on the loan and you wreck the car your insurance company will pay value of the vehicle towards your loan leaving you to pay the rest. Gap insurance pays what the insurance company will not.

Answer 5

If you could afford it and you don't have a mechanic to bring along, try to get a certified used vehicle, at least you know it has been inspected pretty well, also get a car-fax report on the vehicles that you are interested in, spending a few dollars now could save you hundreds, even thousands later on.. If you are looking into getting an SUV to transport your equipment but you don't want a hulking big one, look into the car-based SUV's, they are better on gas than a truck based one and unless you are really not going off road you don't really need the utility of a truck based model.

Answer 6

Sounds like you have done the first step and figured out what you need in a vehicle. If you know a mechanic and not one they advise take it to them and let them check it out. The first to go is the battery and maybe the brakes. Make sure it has not been in a flood. Get serial number and run a check to see if it has been in a wreck. Go to a reputable dealer. Get some feed back on the dealer you are going to do business with. There are some good used cars out there you need to know what to look for. If you can talk to previous owner do that and try to get the true history of the vehicle you are going to buy.

Answer 7

dont do it. Buy from a private seller. Youll get a better deal. Car salesmen are people professionally trained to rape you of your money. thats how they make their living.

go look on cars.com or Autotrader.com for various light trucks and SUVs in your area. I suggest something like an old tundra or tacoma. theyre very very reliable, and will get exactly what you need done for not a lot of money.

when buying a vehicle though, bring it to a mechanic you trust and have them check it out for any problems or potential problems it will have. Opening the hood and staring blankly then kicking a tire doesnt tell you anything about the car. let a trained professional look at it.

Answer 8

Set a price range in your head and stick to it. If you're only willing to spend twenty thousand dollars, don't even look at something that's got a tag that says twenty-five thousand, unless you are an expert haggler.

Don't let the dealer tell you they'll warranty the car for five years unless it's in writing! They'll promise you anything, but GET IT IN THE WRITTEN CONTRACT!!!!

Don't shop by color; think make and model and options. However, if the Ford F150 is blue, with automatic and no A/C and you really, really want a green Ford F150 with a stick and A/C, shop around; there's plenty of others ones out there.

Answer 9

My best advice... Dont go in until you know what you want

Or else they will sell you something at a "good cost" but forget to mention that it guzzles gas faster then you can fill it.... or it has horrible reliability..

Use fueleconomy.gov to check out fuel economy, compare your choices with your current cars and see if your getting better/worse. Dont be scared to leave the dealership to do research before coming back

Ask to see the accident history.. try to stay away from anything with more then 2-3 grand worth of accidents... (it can mean future/current problems)

They will always counter your offer with a new one and make it seem like "this is the best we can do.. we cant negotiate any more" - Dont believe them.. this is just a ploy to make you feel bad and say "OK" - Always push for the price you want

Get everything in writing - if they say they will fix something, make sure it says it on the contract before you sign

You can also check out consumerguide.com for some good reviews, troublespots, reliablity, and costs for used cars...

Answer 10

It's scary buying a used car but you can get good deals if you know what your lookin for heres a few guidlines to go by-

dont tell them how you plan on paying until your already ready to buy, this means no monthly payments no downpayments and whatever else the SALES person tells you - dont pay the lot price negotiate, check the vehicles history report.and know the value of the car prior to going. test drive,- be prepared to walk away and come back... Dont rush.. remember a car sales man is a SALES man ..hes willing to tell you anything to buy a car.. this one guy would talk about his kids cuz the potential buyers had kids.. BUT he didnt have any himself. they'll do anyhting to make a sale. so be careful- and GOOD LUCK!