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Internet vs. Traditional Car Buying

3113 messages,  Last post on Nov 19, 2012 at 5:43 AM

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Messages Page 311 of 312

#3094 of 3113 Re: Car man: dealer delivery fee by georgiatwo

Jul 11, 2011 (10:05 am)

Replying to: jsylvester (Jun 10, 2011 10:22 am)
Hi, I agree with buying cars 2-3 years old rather than new. But for some reason, alot of the used models are priced higher. I am looking to buy a 3 year or less Honda CRV (very basic model with no extra options/features), The cheapest price I have found locally is $21,700 and that is a new one from dealer. I need 36K miles or less, automatic transmission as it is for my daughter in college. I live in Georgia but am willing to travel up to 400 miles to get the best price. Do you have any suggestion as to the best place to buy from and also what is the dealer cost for a basic 2011 CRV?
I appreciate your help.

#3095 of 3113 Re: Car man: dealer delivery fee [georgiatwo] by fezo

Jul 11, 2011 (11:35 am)

Replying to: georgiatwo (Jul 11, 2011 10:05 am)
You have found the exception to the rule here. CRV's hardly depreciate at all.

#3096 of 3113 Re: Car man: dealer delivery fee [georgiatwo] by mikefm58

Jul 13, 2011 (5:33 am)

Replying to: georgiatwo (Jul 11, 2011 10:05 am)
My experience has been the same as yours with hardly used CRVs. Why buy used when for just a small price more you can get new? I had a '99 CRV bought new for about 17K-18K that I sold 8 years later with about 140K miles for $6K, I couldn't believe how well they held their value.

#3097 of 3113 Used Honda Prices by nvbanker

Jul 18, 2011 (8:38 am)

I am a used car dealer, I buy all my cars at the major auctions. Honda is the gold standard for used cars, and unless you want to buy a VERY used Honda, I recommend you buy new as well. All used cars have increased dramatically in price since Cash for Clunkers, which took a million used cars off the road, decreased the supply, and drove used car prices through the roof. The market has not recovered. Rental companies are now keeping cars for up to 50,000 miles before selling them at the auctions. Used to let them go at 10,000 miles. This further decreases used car inventory, drives prices up. Dealers are keeping most trades and retailing them, where they used to wholesale many more through the auctions. So, in summary, unless you want a huge gas guzzler, or a GM or Chrysler product, expect to pay a king's ransom for a used car. And Honda particularly, is ridiculously high. Buy a new one.

#3098 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [nvbanker] by georgiatwo

Jul 18, 2011 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Jul 18, 2011 8:38 am)
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. I like Hondas but would definitely consider another brand as long as it has a good reputation and safety. I currently own a Toyota Avalon and have been pleased with Toyotas. The reason I zeroed in on the Honda CRV is because of all the great overall reports as far as total cost of ownership, safety and reliability. I did test drive a new 2011 CRV and noticed that it has alot of blind spots....that is a concern for me as my daughter will be driving whatever we purchase. Any suggestions as far as a safe, reliable and economic gently used or new sedan or compact SUV? Thanks

#3099 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [georgiatwo] by im_brentwood

Jul 18, 2011 (10:19 pm)

Replying to: georgiatwo (Jul 18, 2011 6:30 pm)
nvbanker is spot on, used car prices are huge right now.
 
If you want a small SUV I'd also look at a Hyundai Tucson and a Kia Sportage, both are excellent vehicles. Not sure on the Kia thought, but I work at a Hyundai store in Jersey and new Tucson availability is near zero though.
 
You may fare better in GA however...
 
Best thing to do is forget about numbers, and go look at a bunch of cars, find what YOU like and then work on figures..etc.
 
A great deal on a car that doesn't work for ya isn't a great deal at all.

#3100 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [im_brentwood] by fushigi

Jul 19, 2011 (6:16 am)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Jul 18, 2011 10:19 pm)
nvbanker is spot on, used car prices are huge right now.
 
Agree except for nvbanker's jab at Cash for Clunkers. The economy caused new car sales to plummet by around 40%. With fewer new car sales there are fewer cars traded in. So fewer used cars enter the market. From there it's basic supply & demand.
 
Georgiatwo, you can also look at the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Nissan Rogue; maybe even the Juke.
 
The Kia, Hyundai, Juke, and Mitsubishi all get over 30MPG highway with FWD. All except the Juke offer excellent warranties. They are also priced similar to each other with the Tucson & Juke starting higher in the most basic trim. The Mitsu has large outside mirrors which might help with the visibility issue you noted on the CR-V. And suitably equipped they all offer rear view cameras.
 
A great deal on a car that doesn't work for ya isn't a great deal at all.
 
Too true.

#3101 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [im_brentwood] by georgiatwo

Jul 19, 2011 (6:56 am)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Jul 18, 2011 10:19 pm)
Thank you for the great advice. I think it is wise to drive several different types.....I had read so many safety and overall reliability reports that I overlooked the comfort and ease. My daughter will be 19 soon and beginning her 2nd year of college....she thought that she was possibly being overly cautious. But I want her to feel safe and comfortable while driving. I did find this very good article that talks about blind spots, something I was not aware of in newer vechicles: link title
Thanks again for all the input."

#3102 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [fushigi] by im_brentwood

Jul 19, 2011 (8:11 am)

Replying to: fushigi (Jul 19, 2011 6:16 am)
You're right about cash for clunkers. It didn't take many nice cars out of the marketplace, it took a lot of beaters out of the marketplace.
 
There's a few factors at work here...
 
A number of manufacturers have supply issues right now, at Hyundai we are feeling this in a big way. This means a lot of dealers are really trying to push their used car business.
 
In 08 a lot of leasing programs dried up, this means that the supply of nice 3 year old cars coming off lease has dried up.
 
And of course the drop in sales in 08-09 means that there's just not a lot of nice 2-4 year old cars out there, period.
 
Auction volumes are down, from where I sit, by as much as a third from where they were a year or two ago.

#3103 of 3113 Re: Used Honda Prices [georgiatwo] by im_brentwood

Jul 19, 2011 (8:19 am)

Replying to: georgiatwo (Jul 19, 2011 6:56 am)
Exactly!
 
People on here sometimes worry too much about the "deal" and less about what the deal is on. Give ya an example, right now if you want a Hyundai Elantra, you're probably going to pay sticker or darn close to it, at least in my market. We don't discount them and they tend to last a day or two in stock. Yet $1500 off a Corolla usually ends up only being $4-500 less than the Elantra which has a better warranty and better resale!
 
Regardless, you and your daughter need to go drive a bunch of cars and then let us know what cars work for you.

Messages Page 311 of 312

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