posted 05-10-2005 18:41            

As a matter of fact, have him go to the library and read a free copy of Consumer Reports. They have an auto buying support service which provides dealer invoice prices. I did this 20 years ago when I bought my first new vehicle, which I still have. It was so accurate that the dealer wanted to see the printout for themselves. Obviously, the playing field has changed over the years and this information is much more readily available, but the principle is still sound.

My point is young people need to learn to do things for themselves. If your son has the money to afford a car and its costs of ownership, he can afford the time to educate himself about vehicles and the buying process. I was doing this before I had a drivers license.

I know the instinct is to help our kids with everything and keep them from making mistakes, but we just gotta resist

If you can't, just Google "new car dealer invoice prices". Happy reading!

Pat

posted 05-10-2005 19:06               

quote:

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Originally posted by camachinist:
This may sound harsh, but, unless he's comatose or fighting in Iraq, he's got access to the internet (and probably has that in Iraq). I can walk to our local library and access the internet for free or very inexpensively, if I chose.

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posted 05-10-2005 19:24               

Dom't take Calmachinist?, Pat's? comment as a criticism, your son with his computer science degree should be able to use his break time at work to access the internet for a few moments a day. While I fired someone for doing so 4 yrs ago I've now relaxed my policy and realise it is expected in a work environment.

Can you give me help with my daughter?

posted 05-10-2005 22:07            

quote:

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I appreciate any help from anyone who can direct me to sites where I can do some searching.

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I did, quite succinctly, at the end of my post.

BTW, I'm just a lowly blue collar worker who runs a business. When I want something, I find the time.

That's my departed daddy talking

Good luck!

posted 05-10-2005 22:59               

Once I had all the information in hand, this is what my wife and I did.

1) Stay home. We called several dealers and asked for the INTERNET MANAGER. We did NOT ask for the sale department. Once you get the salesperson involved, you instantly raised the price of the car because they have to get paid a commisions. NEVER give your name to a sales person. If you must leave your home to go to the dealer then use the sales person if you want a test drive, or need to ask questions about the car. But NEVER give your real name or driver's license to them. Once you do that, the dealer will have to pay them a commission on your business; and you know that doesn't mean the dealer will make less.. it means you will pay more. When you are done with the sales person, say "thank you", and go home. When at home start your calls to the INTERNET MANAGERs

2) Stay home. Tell the Internet Manager you are ready to buy a car this week and you are getting quotes from INTERNET MANAGERS FROM DEALERS OVER THE PHONE. You want a quote on Car X with options X. Tell them you do not want to waste their time YOU ALREADY KNOW THE INVOICE PRICE. Ask for a fax or email of their quote with their name (some will do this, some won't). MAKE SURE TO ALSO ASK ABOUT CARS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE LATER!! The internet manager knows what cars are coming in and will sell them to you before they arrive! THEY LOVE SELLING CARS before they arrive because those cars spend no time sitting on their lots. We got ours this way! We waited 10 days. This is probably why he dropped the "advertising fee" of $300 (see below) because he knew he wouldn't have to pay for any advertising to sell this car.

3) Stay home. Call a couple dealers that are located in a socio-economical area which is opposite to the car you want to purchase. EX. We called a dealer about 50 miles away for a top-of-the-line Sienna XLE (moonroof, all-row air bags, rear disk brakes, etc.) located in a poorer socio-economic area. They ended up being the very best price by far, with free delivery!! ($450 over invoice!). Or buying the lowest model in a rich part of town might yield similar results.

4) Stay home. After you have received all of your quotes, call all the INTERNET MANAGERS AGAIN and tell them you will buy the car from them if they beat price X which you have from dealer X.
Give them price X, minus a few hundred dollars so that their counter is a significant decrease. THIS STEP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN FINDING THE LOWEST PRICE AMONG THE DEALERS YOU HAVE CALLED. IF YOU DO NOT CALL THEM AGAIN, THEN YOU ARE NOT GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO BEAT YOU BEST QUOTE.

5) Stay home. If you realize you are getting the best deal, then go over the invoice price with that dealer to see how close it is to the one you have. If you find some additional markup (which we did such as "advertising fee") then tell them to remove it. If they won't (which ours initially would not), then tell them you are ready to make a down payment with a credit card over the phone. (Our dealer removed the $300 item and we paid $3000 in credit card as a down payment; we wanted to pay more since we had rebate credit cards, but they wouldn't take more... we paid the balance upon delivery).

6) Stay home. Ask about free delivery versus more dollars off if you come to the dealer to pick it up. (Our dealer would not take anymore off the deal even if we went to pick it up because free delivery was part of their service.)

7) Go out to celebrate. You just bought a car at a price that did not have to pay for a floor sales person's role and you did not have to waste time going from dealer to dealer!!

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posted 05-11-2005 03:50            

Personally to research cars besides Edmunds and Kelly's we love Auto Trader. We have bought our last four cars that way. Also lets you see prices within a particular mile radius and give s a good idea of pricing and what is underpriced. You may also opt to search for new cars. This site has saved us lots of time as we also work very long hours. We have dealt with internet managers as well and just bought our son a car that was 2000.00 less than others in a comparable 50 mile radius.
www.autotrader.com

We also use Edmunds to research problems with a particular car or recalls on a model. Very helpful indeed.

Good luck Mom! I have sons who work the same hours as yours.

posted 05-11-2005 07:00               

You have to shop to see what car you are willing to go for then go to different dealers to compair. There is allways one dealer out there that has to make his quota. The dealer I delt with gave me a bottom line no haggle price right from the start. If you go to multiple dealers you will know when the price is right.

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posted 05-11-2005 08:11               

1. First I go to the Web site Cars Direct.

http://www.carsdirect.com/home

2. Select your make/model etc. and input your Zip Code They will give you the MSRP, Invoice Price, and their guaranteed low price. Their guaranteed low price is usually below invoice depending on the vehicle.

3. You have the option of taking this price or requesting quotes from local dealers in their network. I always request the quotes from the dealer.

4. The dealers will respond within a few hours. Some will e-mail you the quotes and others will e-mail telling you to phone them and ask for the person that sent you the e-mail. You will always be dealing with either the Internet sales manager or some other manager.

5. You will not be dealing with salespeople so there won't be the usual haggling. Just ask each one to give you their best shot and then play them against each other. It may sound complicated but it really is not. A couple phone calls and a few hours later, you will have your best price.

The Invoice price doesn't mean much anymore as the dealer's cost is well below that because of hold backs, dealer incentives, etc.

I was able to get her 2005 Honda Accord EX for $900 below the Invoice price and Hondas are a hot item.

I also bought my 2003 Honda Accord EX-L new the same way with similar savings.

They both ended up coming from the same dealer who was considerably below the others. Not only were they cheaper but the whole experience was very good and their customer service is excellent.

posted 05-12-2005 02:02               

quote:

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Originally posted by Lin:
Wow, some great suggestions here. Thanks! I will certainly get started on some of the ideas posted here. Unfortunately my son does not have access to the internet at work. It's a definite no-no and he's even the boss! No sense taking chances with a good job. I'm thrilled he asked for help. He's always been so independent and never asked mom and dad for anything (except money for college He's 25 and has a mind of his own but he's still my son and hey, if he wants mom and dad's assistance we're more than happy to give it! Now, I'm off to put all your good ideas to work.....

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Lin,

There is nothing wrong with helping your kids. You are lucky that they ask for your help. I help my son and daughter all the time and they are 34 and 39.

posted 05-19-2005 07:01               

Was just curious about it.

Good Luck.. A freind told me once " Imagine who got better deal? You who buy a car once in five years or the dealer who sales cars everyday. Who will be better at it?" After that I never say I got a great deal for my new car.

Phil

posted 05-19-2005 07:18               

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"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away."

posted 05-19-2005 07:39            

quote:

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Originally posted by gidat1:
Now I can't understand how could a dealer stay in a business with all fancy locations, buildings, ads, and all other outrageous overhead. There has to be some extra money in somewhere that we donot know about.

Was just curious about it.

Good Luck.. A freind told me once " Imagine who got better deal? You who buy a car once in five years or the dealer who sales cars everyday. Who will be better at it?" After that I never say I got a great deal for my new car.

Phil

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I bought my last new vehicle for "below invoice" and the dealer still made money, from the holdbacks and seasonal sales incentives offered by the mfg. Another trick is to factory order, which saves flooring costs, or do a dealer swap. I could go on

You're right; it's hard to compete with someone who does it every day. The best way is to just be prepared to walk away from the deal and leave as little money on the table as possible.

Pat