Been "car shopping" lately?

[kenmac]

My last new vehicle purchase was in 1995.. What use to make me laugh was, when the vehicle salesman would say. What payment can you afford or need ? I guess people buy new vehicles and don't care what the total cost is as long as they can afford the payment. I would always tell the salesman I only wanted 1 payment. Now days, I usually buy from an individual or, CarMax. No hassle

 

[Depmandog]

I ran across a book titled "How to Buy a New Car" written by a former used car salesman. Very interesting read, and used all of the books knowledge to buy a new truck about 25 years ago, just after we were married.

Much of what was written has been covered thus far in the thread. However one enjoyable tidbit - when the number trading starts and your salesman heads off to the sales manager, you get up, and walk to the farthest corner of the lot and pretend to be interested in whatever vehicle is there! About the second time of tracking you down, that salesman is pleading with the sales manager to close the deal!

I have evolved since those early days. I can tell within just a few minutes if I can deal with salesman. And if I don't think I can - I just head to the next stop. The last new vehicle was a F150 I bought for my son last year. We took advantage of Ford Truck Month (February I believe). Ford manufacturer rebates were fantastic, found a dealer where every vehicle was $50 over invoice. Plus they had a list of extras they offered in conjunction with Ford truck month. It was a fantastic experience.

It was so positive, I even sold my sons old truck direct to the salesman, as he wanted a fixer upper for a hunting truck.

Another way to get a great deal (can't be picky about what you are buying) is to look for 1 to 2 year old new vehicles still on the lot. The dealers are so far upside down in these cars - they will make crazy deals. My last one of these...2005 Silverado 1500 straight cab, with a diesel. The engine was gutless, so I put in a Banks powerpak and chip...turned it into a screamer. I bought that one for almost 13k off sticker.

 

[Depmandog]

Rwork, I am thinking about going into auto sales. As I have experience in working with the public (business owners and IT departments) and trying to determine their needs as it related to phone systems and data networks, and recommending the proper systems and features for their business. Do you think I could make it as a car salesman? And if you work at it, can you make a living at it?

James, I think you would be a great car salesman. I think I would too...but and this is a big but, it would have to be for the right dealer. If the dealer is preaching sleazy sales tactics - no not for me.

 

[Gator6x4]

The last new car I purchased was in February 2013. The salesman scared me. I like others have posted had done the Sunday lot checks and the internet build your own and check inventory. But I digress somewhat. The wife and I were in a city about sixty miles from where we live on a Saturday afternoon and passed a car dealership of the make and model we were looking at.

Thinking the place was closed we pulled in and checked the lot for vehicles. We found a row of the vehicles we were interested in and got out and was looking at the vehicles. I heard a noise behind me and turned around and a gentleman had rode up in a electric golf cart. He introduced himself and asked if I would like to look inside one or more of the vehicles. I told him yes and he wrote down the stock numbers and advised he would be right back.

He opened the vehicle and we drove it around the parking lot. Now the part where he scared me, he advised he could put a dealers license on the vehicle and I could drive it home and bring it back on Monday and we would discuss dealing on the vehicle or another vehicle on the lot. I thought you sure are a trusting soul, letting me drive a vehicle that costs in excess of $50,000 over the remainder of the weekend and bring it back on Monday.

We instead went into the dealership, he located the sales manager who looked at my vehicle and offered me x dollars on a trade with a completed sales price that I found acceptable. They called in a new car prep guy who prepped the vehicle while we enjoyed dinner on them. We drove the vehicle home that night.

Since purchasing the vehicle I had a problem with one of the speaker in the drivers seat. I called the service department and was advised to bring the vehicle in on a Tuesday at 7:00am. When I arrived they took my keys and gave me the keys to a like vehicle and advised drive the vehicle until we call and advise yours is ready.

One day later they called. When I picked the vehicle up, they had washed it and filled the gas tank. Talk about service.

 

[tractchores]

I just bought a new car a couple of months ago. I HATE dealing with the typical sales folks who treat you like an idiot, play games and know less about the vehicle than you. This time around I decided not to. What I did was checked out some cars to decide the model and option package I wanted. Then I went home and came up with a list of 12 dealers within about a 2 hour drive who had the model I wanted in stock. I then called every single one and asked for the internet manager or sales manager and invited them to participate in a reverse auction to sell me a new car. I gave detailed instructions on how to participate (an email with the bid describing the car, mileage, features and any fees) was required. Once I got the first bid round done (all 12 participated) I went back starting with the highest and made them match or beat the lowest price to continue to participate. It took about 4 rounds and in those 4 I ended up speaking directly with the GM / principal at the dealer and 2 fought it out pretty good. To minimize games I told them I would come in and I wanted the car ready for inspection, if acceptable I would sign a P&S, which they were to email me a copy of before I came in. I showed up, walked around the car, signed the paperwork and then gave the finance department a chance to beat the loan I already had lined up (they did). The entire process took probably 2 days and I was in the dealer about an hour total and never had a single negotiation with a sales person. The best part was knowing I got the best possible price!

 

[kenmac]

Now the part where he scared me, he advised he could put a dealers license on the vehicle and I could drive it home and bring it back on Monday and we would discuss dealing on the vehicle or another vehicle on the lot. I thought you sure are a trusting soul, letting me drive a vehicle that costs in excess of $50,000 over the remainder of the weekend and bring it back on Monday.

I don't know about other parts of the country but, They use to do this back in the 60's and 70's in my neck of the woods. Haven't heard of them doing this now days. Back when I use to buy new. I was never able to buy from any dealer in my area. They always though their stuff was worth more than dealers in other areas. I passed up a new left over 06 Dodge maga cab back in 07, because the dealer would come down another $500.00. He said the bed liner was worth that. I told him to take the bed liner out I didn't want it. He said he couldn't do it. After I left the lot, the salesman called me several times. I told him it was over. Stop calling. I bought a used 07

 

[dmccarty]

Whew!!:melodramatic: I thought you were going to say "economist."

Steve

Naw, economists are not as bad as lawyers...

Economists are like weather guy/gal on TV, always getting the forecast wrong.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[jinman]

Naw, economists are not as bad as lawyers...

Economists are like weather guy/gal on TV, always getting the forecast wrong.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

But Dan, unlike the weather girl, you have to pay lawyers and economists a lot more money for their opinions. . . good or bad.

I don't blame car sales people who really try to do a good job for "bristling" a bit at comments and crude jokes. They don't deserve to be painted with such a broad brush, but we all know people who deserve every joke and more.

I visited one of the biggest dealerships around and was ushered into a sales manager's office. While being there for 10 minutes, I looked down at his desk to see Xerox copies of several people's driver's licenses laying in clear view on his desk. They demanded your DL to copy before they would give you a test drive, but felt no responsibility to protect your info.

If you pay attention to TV ads these days, you'll think that everyone only leases cars. All they ever talk about is the very cheapest lease payment in their ads. Additionally, if you were ever around the used car business, you know that the prices of used cars are far different from new cars. I say that you should pick apart every little detail on any used car you see and low-ball to the max. Used car sales is a VERY lucrative business.

 

[k0ua]

He opened the vehicle and we drove it around the parking lot. Now the part where he scared me, he advised he could put a dealers license on the vehicle and I could drive it home and bring it back on Monday and we would discuss dealing on the vehicle or another vehicle on the lot. I thought you sure are a trusting soul, letting me drive a vehicle that costs in excess of $50,000 over the remainder of the weekend and bring it back on Monday.

This is a very common practice here. They will take a copy of your Drivers License. But most dealerships around here will let you take a care home for over night or over a weekend.

 

[batwing]

When I retired I helped a friend sell pellet stoves for a while, he sold only quality stoves and great service. He put his price down to compete with the box stores and every one thought he was great, he depended on pellets to pay the light bill and rent. well the price of pellets went up and he was 5 to 10 dollars higher than the box stores. what happened was pellet sales dropped and Tom went out of business. I am guilty of going for the best deal like every one else but it comes at a price.
Ron