Just as the title says. I'm on the road to buying a new car (no pun intended). Now I've done the used car runaround but never a new one. Thus i need all of your expert information. I know a little here and there, well a lot here and none there but I want info on what everyone can give me. Help me out here.
What are you looking for? More information would be a big help. Are you looking for something big and mean, cheap on gas? Personally, there's 3 vehicles I'm really wanting right now, and they all fit different bills. 1. Ford F-250 Super Duty w/ Power Stoke Deisel: big, manly, powerful, EXEPENSIVE truck 2. Dodge Magnum R/T: I love the looks, it has some killer options, the milage isn't bad for V8, plenty of power, roomy, just a bit on the pricy side when you add the V8 3. Scion Xb: These little boogers are a love it or hate it thing. I love 'em. They're soo much roomier than you'd think. They get good mileage, and they're cheap to buy. Plus, it's a Toyota, so you know it'll be dependable. Just a quick couple of personal picks. If I can help, shoot me a PM.
Right now, you might still be able to get a new '06, and a lot of the dealers are really trying to get rid of them. We looked at quite a few, but didn't end up getting one. My wife and I bought an '07 Focus recently, but it was quite easy. My dad worked for Ford for 30 years, so we got quite a discount, plus an extra $2500 cash back in dealer incentives. Altogether, we got a new car for the price of an old one. But, find what you like, and be sure you're going to like it. If you don't, you're stuck with it. Do NOT fall for all the extra suff they'll try to sell you with the car, unless you really think you need it ($100 floormats? No thanks- I'll get 'em for $30 at Wal Mart, and pick up some TFs, too). If you don't like the salesman, just walk away. When I bought my first new car, the first salesman just wasn't listening. I said to him, 'I'm here for this kind of car, I'm buying, and I get this discount, so there's no need to haggle me on price." Instead, the salesman in question kept saying, 'Well, you can lease such and such for a little less than you'd be paying for the other.' At one point, I simply said to him, 'Thank you. I said I was buying, you keep talking leasing, so I'm leaving.' He called me up 3 days later saying, 'Well, you gonna come back so we can put you into that car,' and I had the satisfaction of saying, 'No thanks- I went to Ricart (the larger dealership in town), where they actually listened to what I was saying, and had what I wanted- instead of not having what I wanted and trying to convince me otherwise. Good luck meeting your quota.' Also, check your credit score. If it's not great, you may want to see if your bank or credit union will pre-approve you for a loan, so that you don't end up with an obscene interest rate. That's all I can think of for now- hope it helps. -Tony!
Been there and done that! I went to an Acura dealer in '98 wanting a new Integra GSR. We pull on the lot in my beater work car. I have to hunt down a salesperson, I guess I wasn't driving something nice enough. I told him "I want a new GSR, 4 door, 5 speed, with leather." He starts showing us used cars. I repeat what I just said. He continues to show us used cars. At this point, I look at the man and ask "are you deaf, or just not listening?" He looks at me with a confused look, and asks "what do you mean?" "What part of NEW did you miss?" "Oh, well, you can't afford a new one." WTF! I proceed to ask if he's f'ing psychic and can read my check book through my pocket, I had a little talk with the sales manager, who was very intent to listen to what I had to say. At this point I left, telling them that I'd be doing business with the other Acura dealership in the area. The point I'm making is this, if you find a dealer or a salesperson that you can deal with, keep up with them. I've got one guy that I deal with. I've followed him to 2 dealerships. He takes very good care of us. I've bought my last 2 from him, and Mom bought her last one from him. Build a rapor with someone, and you won't have to worry about it. If the salesperson rubs you the wrong way, don't walk out immediately, ask for the salesmanger or the general manager, they'll want to help you, in most cases, THEN walk out while telling them they're #1!
I’d start off by going to Edmunds.com. You’ll get prices on new and used cars, customer reviews, and a slew of other information. If you’re looking to get a new car you’ll see invoice prices listed on Edmunds, which is huge since that knowledge gives you plenty of bargaining leverage. Additionally, you can mass email dealers in your area and they’ll get back to you with their quotes. If they give you a price you don’t like you can easily tell them “X dealer gave me Y price, if you can beat it I’ll give you my business”. Make them fight for your money and believe me you’ll be surprised at the deals you’ll get. Perfect example… when I was looking to buy my van (’05 Honda Odyssey) I emailed every Honda dealership in my area. Within minutes I was getting emails and calls with prices. I applied the method I described above and wound up paying $500 UNDER invoice for my van. Good luck!
Ok your looking for a new car....what are your needs? Do you have kids? Need to haul lotta stuffs? You need to list out what your looking for before I can give you any recommendations on what to get. Whoever mentioned about walking away from the car sales men is right. I worked in a car dealership for a week...one day on the sales floor and I walked out. They all want you to lie and push.
My best piece of advice. Don't buy a new car, buy one with about 20,000 miles on it. That way it's already broken in, cheaper, still under warranty and doesn't depreciate by thousands of dollars as soon as you drive it off the lot.
My wife likes the hatchback, I really don't. I like sporty cars and trucks. However I have no use for a truck and want good gas milage, especially since I do a lot of city driving and use more gas that way. So I decided on the Dodge Calibur. I took it for a test a few weeks ago and loved it. Already know my options. All I need at automatic Trans, power windows and locks, and cruise control. Everything else can stay at the warehouse to be put on another car. The only thing is that loading the SE model with what I want would actually cost more than upgrading to the SRT. I already checked Edmonds and got the MSRP of the car, my trade in value, and what they would probably sell my car for. Thus I know where I am and what they will probably give me so I can deal. My other ace is that my uncle worked for GM for his entire career and gets option 1, aka Employee discounts. He also had 1000 cash back vouchers. So I can use that as leverage for them to really get my business or go next door to the Pontiac dealer for a Vibe. I also know Dodge is having a 0% for 72 months financing so that should help. What ineed to do is check my credit score. I only had one problem that i am still fighting but otherwise just the usual college stupid kid spending money and paid it off. Also have loans but those are being paid for so it shouldn't matter. And if worse comes to worse, we put the car in my wife's name because I'm sure her Credit score is perfect. As for walking away, I don;t need to with the guy I plan on dealing with. he was the one I took the car for a spin with and he actually listened. He went over pricing, showed me different styles, models, and didn't hasstle me about "getting me in one today". Right off the bat I said "I am not buying today, period." and he respected that and still gave me his full attention.
If you buy a Ford, you can get their X-Plan price pretty easy. Go to blueovalforums.com and register and you can ask people there for a pin # to give to the dealer to get the X-Plan. Now, with the X-Plan, you can't negotiate, it's a set price, but it is below invoice. You should check around and see what people are paying for the particular car you want, and decide if you'd rather try negotiating, or just go with the Plan. For me, getting the Mustang, the Plan was definately the way to go. I don't recommend Ford though. Fix Or Repair Daily is very fitting.
If I were you, I would check a Mazda 3 5 door. Looks alot than the Calibur, and there are plenty of them around, brand new or slighty used models that someone else mentioned is a good idea. I have never heard anything bad about any of the Subaru 5 door models either, even better if you get snowy/icy weather in winter.
The Mazda 3s cost alittle more with less. But it doesn't matter now anyway. You know that kid that burns ants with a magnifying glass? Me and my dream were the ant and my wife was the kid with magnifying glass. Completely different fucking tone than I got 3 days ago. I should take her advice and use the money to get some hot girl to massage my wiener. Swear to god...
