I hate vehicle shopping!

[Oaktree]

The only thing that I won't buy is a Dakota... I had two and the guys at the local garage promised to shoot me if I bought another.

Curiously, what kind of problems did you have with the Dakotas? I've had 2 (an '88 and currently an '02) and I thought they were great trucks. IMHO none of the other small/midsize trucks even came close. Didn't much care for the styling on the 3rd generation ones though ('04 on)...just looked wimpy. Don't know what I'm gonna do when it comes time to replace it (hopefully not for a long time).

 

[RalphVa]

I walk into a truck place and tell them I want a stick shift diesel, as my wife cannot drive an auto. There they are licking their lips and saying, "Yeah, we have stick shift diesels." Then I tell them I want it to return 40 mpg. They walk away.

Still waiting. Could have it with a VW TDI engine in a Tacoma 1995-1999 body (only 3,000 # extracab). No body has it yet because the government hasn't tightened the fuel mileage screws enough for trucks.

Ralph

 

[IXLR8]

The last several Toyoda dealers, and one Honda dealer, I went to look at new vehicles. I told them the vehicle I wanted, the options I wanted and asked them the bottom line out the door price. All the salesperson wanted to talk about was monthly payments. I finally said enough and headed out, they stopped me and got their managers... same deal, all the manager would talk about was monthly payments, I never could get a bottom line number. Out the door I went leaving several confused folks staring at me. One of the dealerships called me a few days later asking what they could do to make the sale. Just give me the bottom line number for the vehicle, they just went right back to talking monthly payments, I just hung up on them. A friend had the same experience at a Ford dealer. What is wrong with these people??? I have cash in hand ready to buy a vehicle and they can't give me a sales price!! I have to agree.... I hate vehicle shopping!!!!

 

[IXLR8]

I walk into a truck place and tell them I want a stick shift diesel, as my wife cannot drive an auto. There they are licking their lips and saying, "Yeah, we have stick shift diesels." Then I tell them I want it to return 40 mpg. They walk away.

Still waiting. Could have it with a VW TDI engine in a Tacoma 1995-1999 body (only 3,000 # extracab). No body has it yet because the government hasn't tightened the fuel mileage screws enough for trucks.

Ralph

It will mean a bit of work... but how about this option.

smythcars

 

[oosik]

I hate shopping for vehicles. I have a pickup & a Jeep - both are ten years old. If they should die before I do - then I'll be shopping for a new pair of Redwings.

 

[EarPlug]

I guess I got of easy Saturday. We were in need of a work van (used). Decided to check a couple of dealers in the area to see what they had in stock. First Dealer had a couple of hundred new pickups but no vans. Second place had a few scattered around so just went inside to speak with a salesman. Pulled up their listings and found a great deal on a 2014 with 18k miles. It was priced at $2-3k under book value. Within 15 minutes of arriving we were on a test drive. Came back and filled out the credit app. Finance Dept was a little backed up so we went to lunch. Decided to check with the bank for a loan. The pulled up all our info on the computer, had us sign on document and told us we would have an answer within an hour. Went to lunch. Back to the bank, picked up a check, and back to the Dealer.

Started the whole process about 10am. Left the Dealer at 3pm with a great price and a great loan from the bank.

 

[SPIKER]

I have been looking for some time using a few services free ones, such as TRUECAR which gives you a certificate for a price and local dealers around you.

Seems best way and I can use my discounts from military Alstate (and other) companies too.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I used to hate dealers that wanted to talk monthly payments instead of price but I have a trick I play on them. I let them fill out all the paperwork but take my sweet time reading every word and every number while they sit there and sweat. They have to disclose the price and any/all fees and tax and payment info on this paper but you have to look it over very carefully. Take out your phone and calculate the numbers yourself and see if they come out where you want it to be. Remember, you ain't signed a thing so until you do, you aren't bound to the contract. You can walk out even then. You'd be surprised how many "errors" you catch going over their figures. It's time consuming but you won't get ripped off in the end.

 

[tractchores]

True car is decent, but in the last 2 cars I got earlier this year I just used it as a starting point and got probably 10% + lower than that.

A good deal on a car has a lot to do with timing. If you want the absolute best deal you want to do it right at the end of the month (ideally the last day). Most dealers have a monthly quota from the manufacturer, the reps are on a monthly commission. Dealers can get great volume incentives meaning they'll go ridiculously low (even lose money) on a car if its the one that gets them to the right count for the incentive. If you choose a slow month (Nov - Jan are slowest) it can be even better. For me the half day or so spent on the phones and email is well worth it - I just don't have the time or patience to spend a day at the dealer.

 

[Jstpssng]

The last several Toyoda dealers, and one Honda dealer, I went to look at new vehicles. I told them the vehicle I wanted, the options I wanted and asked them the bottom line out the door price. All the salesperson wanted to talk about was monthly payments. I finally said enough and headed out, they stopped me and got their managers... same deal, all the manager would talk about was monthly payments, I never could get a bottom line number. Out the door I went leaving several confused folks staring at me. One of the dealerships called me a few days later asking what they could do to make the sale. Just give me the bottom line number for the vehicle, they just went right back to talking monthly payments, I just hung up on them. A friend had the same experience at a Ford dealer. What is wrong with these people??? I have cash in hand ready to buy a vehicle and they can't give me a sales price!! I have to agree.... I hate vehicle shopping!!!!

When my brother got out of college and was looking for a vehicle, our father went to the dealership and tried to get the price for a new Renault Alliance. Cash, out the door. They went round and round, until the salesman finally went and got the sales manager... then they tag teamed him until he left in disgust... without the price. That was 30+ years ago, and it's even worse now. They must make a lot of money from financing, especially with the "credit challenged" financing; they don't seem interested in cash sales.

The last time i priced new trucks back when I was self employed, I walked into the local GM dealer and asked them for the best no-trade price on a new S-10. (Or whatever they were called then.) He walked over to the truck, looked at the sticker and read it to me.
Heck, I could have done that. I went down to the Ford dealer, who had no Ranger's on the lot; instead I ended up buying a nearly new full sized truck because they were interested in selling a truck.