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Smart Shopper Buying Tips - How Do I Get the Best Deal?
5169 messages, Last post on Oct 29, 2009 at 11:33 AM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
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Like planetdon, I'm also looking for a Matrix in Canada. Right now, the level of incentives for Corolla/Matrix here is laughable: 5.9% financing. Does anyone know whether Toyota (or most automakers) will raise their incentive levels for the holiday season? Interesting side note: I was watching product showcase (glorified infomercial) on SPEED channel and they referred to the Matrix as the Corolla Matrix. I've read that insurance companies have been using that name but this is the first time I've seen it used in Toyota's marketing efforts.
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Here it is, the definitive list of what you should do. ordinarily you would have had to hang out on the edmunds smart shopper board for 2.3 years to get the level of knowledge I am about to impart to you in one post. The following strategies will guarantee the lowest price and the best possible experience. 1. Do not research the vehicle at all, it's best to unfetter your powers of intuition by keeping the clutter of "facts" and "figures" to a minimum. When you’re asked by the salesman how you arrived at your figures, just say “I cannot reveal my sources, nor will I upon pain of death”. 2. Understand that the car salesman is there to rip you off, take you for a ride, lead you down the primrose path, and then drop you like a bad habbit. Little known fact, Most car salesman are directly descended from south sea island cannibals. If you see shrunken heads dangling from the rear view mirrors of the service loaners, RUN! How do you best combat these godless fiends? Regardless of what ever spell they try to cast when they open their mouth, shout repeatedly "I'm only paying 4K under invoice!!!" 3. Pack a lunch, and while negotiating repeatedly offer bites to the salesman, while making wet smacking noises with your lips. 4. Remember, the Car Salesman will lie to you worse than Ann Coulter on peppermint schnapps, so the only way to combat this is to lie about everything. If your name is Rob, tell them it's Steve. If you want a sports car, tell them you want an SUV, and if you're married, single. You get the idea. If you're a payment buyer, tell them you'll be paying in cash. 5. Don't bathe for a week prior to shopping. 6. To ensure best service, Walk into the middle of showroom floor, spread your arms wide to the heavens, and bellow at the top of your lungs: "WHO WANTS TO SELL A CAR TODAY?!?!?" This will result in all salesmen who want to sell a car today to converge on you like hobos on a meat sandwich. Of course, you may see older members of the dealership heading in the opposite direction. This merely means that they probably want to sell a car tomorrow, not today. 7. Start giggling like a giddy school girl every time the salesman says the words "Trade Allowance", "Parsippany" or "the". 8. Present your offer in the form of a quadratic equation. 9 One of the standard tactics of the car dealer is to make you sit and stew while they “present” your offer to the sales manager. Don’t let this throw you. To counteract this insidious approach, bring some novelty glasses with pictures of naked people on the lenses. When the salesman gets up to take your offer, whip them out and announce “Take your time, I’ll just be using my X-Ray vision goggles while your gone.” Put them on and begin leering at other patrons and dealer employees, while whistling appreciatively. 10: Ignore the previous 9 tips. hang out and listen to the good people here, read the voluminous guides on this site, and then go and make the best deal you can. Well, there you have it, your 10 steps to success. Knock yourself out |
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I preferred the previous #10 more.  Duncan |
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Some dealer web sites list documentation/processing fees in the $500-$600 range on top of price and delivery fees. Are these legit or just add'l profit? What fees should I expect to pay in addition to the price I negotiate for the car? I appreciate the help. Thanks.
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Replying to: tknight (Mar 19, 2005 6:40 am) This is your problem. You should INCLUDE these fees in whatever price you negotiate. Or more precisely, ignore the fees and deal in an Out-the-Door price. Let the dealership handle itemizing all the charges. Jason
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Replying to: steine13 (Nov 01, 2003 8:10 am) Right........ Actually wrong. Real men KNOW HOW to drive a manual transmission but we don't burn up clutches drivving a 33 mile stop n go route evey day!
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Replying to: cadillacmike (Mar 21, 2005 9:38 am) Real men (or women) have better things to do than commute 33 miles in traffic every day. |
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Let's stick to conversation that relates to the discussion title, please.
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Mar 21, 2005 12:52 pm) We have a Vibe in the family. These aren't speedy by any stretch. Ours is an automatic. While it shifts smoothly, you aren't going to win any stoplight wars with them. On the other hand, the Vibe/Matrix does return 35 MPG on the highway and is capable of hauling lawn equipment, mulch and all the "half-stockings" Grandma can put into it. |
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Mar 21, 2005 12:52 pm) We have a Vibe in the family. These aren't speedy by any stretch. Ours is an automatic. While it shifts smoothly, you aren't going to win any stoplight wars with them. On the other hand, the Vibe/Matrix does return 35 MPG on the highway and is capable of hauling lawn equipment, mulch and all the "half-stockings" Grandma can put into it. Plus, there's about $1,500 from GM to use as incentive money on it. Aside from exterior differences, the drivetrain and interiors are identical to the MAtrix.
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