Why is it such a hassle to buy a new car?

Question

We've been wanting to buy a new car for the past 6 months. We have a Honda CRV with just 30K miles on it and we can get really good money for it vs. the 6-months left on its 5-year loan. But we've been avoiding going to the car dealers because we know it's such a hassle.

We're smart buyers, we know all their tricks, and we even play good cop / bad cop as part of the negotiations (so they aren't the only ones playing games with their "let me check with my manager" and "we don't do this for everyone, but...." nonsense a la Mr. Lundegaard in Fargo).

But it's SUCH A HASSLE.

Why can't you just go to a dealer, all the people are paid F/T salaries, they show you the product, and either it sells itself or it doesn't. If it doesn't sell, the company knows they need to make a better product. That's it.

Ugh!

We're probably going to buy through CarMax just for this reason, but STILL we need to somehow test drive the ones we're thinking of getting. What a nighmare!

Answer 1

I know what you mean, I hate the typical car buying process as well. But the reason salespeople engage in all the back-and-forth sales shenanigans is because, more often than not, it works.

Have you ever watched the tv show "King of Cars" on A&E? The owner on that show is always saying that if a customer visits the dealership and leaves without buying anything, chances are they will not come back. Hence, when a potential buyer comes on the lot, they treat it as if it's their only chance to ever sell them anything and pull out all the stops. Just sitting back and letting the car sell itself doesn't cut it.

I'm sure every dealer would love to have better product, but the fact is every car manufacturer is constantly trying to make a better product (while balancing price), and it's very difficult to stand out. Even if you do have a hot product, it will inevitably cool down. The re-designed '05 Ford Mustang was a huge hit for Ford that year, but two years later the hype has died down and you can once again get a Mustang for under invoice. What is Ford to do? Doing another re-design would be very costly, and even if they did there's no guarantee it would sell any better.

If you want a no-hassle/no-haggle experience, there are usually a few dealers around who do this to attract customers such as yourself, though maybe not the brands you're looking for. Cehck out Saturn -- their entire marketing strategy is designed around having a no-haggle, low pressure, customer friendly buying experience (of course, they're a classic example of a brand that needs better product! Although the new Aura and Outlook are pretty nice).

You can also use car buying services like Costco and carsdirect.com to buy these days, they can even arrange test drives for you.

Answer 2

In a perfect world it would be just like buying a washing machine, unfortunately everyone wants to negotiate and get a "deal". Oldmobile went to bottom line pricing before they folded and it didn't work out, reason being if it is priced bottom line, your trade in is now worth bottom line. It is a business and they can't afford to sell it at wholesale levels and put retail money into a trade that someone is more than likely buried in. It is sad that this and housing are like the only 2 businesses in the US that operate like this. Car people would get much more respect if other business operated this way. We should be able to go to the grocery store, have a $200 bill and tell the sales clerk "I'll give you $100 for those groceries., You can't do that? Ok, I'll be back!" It's $1.00 to go on the turnpike?? I'll give you 60cents. I'll give you $2,000 for that $3000 engagement ring. Than we could all waste our time everyday! Fact is, high % of people trade in far too often, don't put any $$$ down and than when they are buried $10,000 ( which is not the dealers fault) they don't want to pay the piper.

Answer 3

Different dealers approach sales differently. If you believe you would like a new car at MSRP, tell the dealer that. If he does the old 'let me talk to my manager', tell him you want to talk to a different salesman.
I have never purchased a new car for more than $500 UNDER msrp, usually it's $1000 under.
Of course, don't bother trying to buy a model at it's introduction for at least 2 years. For example, now is the perfect time to buy a new Mustang. The new Camaro due in late 2008 will be impossible to buy close to MSRP until around 2010.

Don't hesitate to purchase a vehicle from an out of state dealer (with a good name) and have it delivered to your local dealer. (extra $800)

Answer 4

If you are going to buy a Honda, go on www.kbb.com and look at invoice price. You should be able to go to any Honda dealership and purchase for this price plus the little options they have on it. Sometimes you can even get them to throw them in. www.edmunds.com will also have invoice pricing along with any manufacturer incentives.

Most of the time if you request a quote on the internet, you will get bottom dollar price. Most people know what they want and shop for price over the net. It is less hassle. you go in and drive the car you want and already have the price. you can be in an out in an hour.

Answer 5

ive never had that kind of problem...

i know they want to sell that car, i know i can afford $_____... i will start the negotiation lower than the invoice, sometimes its worth it to get it off the lot, if they wont go low enough easily, walk out. maybe come back maybe not, but if you arent getting what you want the way you want it, leave, there are 10000 other salesmen out there who arent douche bags.

Answer 6

wow.........sounds like you are the one making it difficult.....maybe you should buy from me ........i agree the car should sell itself.....