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Article Comments - 10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car

42 messages,  Last post on Sep 08, 2009 at 10:40 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying

10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car - Here are 10 time-tested new-car buying tips culled from Inside Line's collective experience, which includes buying hundreds of new cars both professionally and as individuals — not to mention some experience working inside dealerships.(more)

Messages Page 3 of 5

#13 of 42 Beware of F&I guy! by andycarguy

Sep 03, 2009 (8:24 pm)

Obviously, he is there to generate profit. I don't expect him to be there to loose money. Saying not to choose any of his products (i.e. warranty) because of it is plain foolish. You can research cost/shop around/negotiate/ask actual cost (not quoted in payments) for their products as well.

#14 of 42 Re: Article Comments - 10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car [fezo] by oldfarmer50

Sep 04, 2009 (3:53 am)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 03, 2009 5:23 pm)
"...nice picture..."
 
Man, that dude is scary!

#15 of 42 Re: Article Comments - 10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car [KarenS] by micosilver

Sep 04, 2009 (10:30 am)

Replying to: Karen@Edmunds (Sep 03, 2009 8:30 am)
Tip #1: Always Be Ready To Walk Away
 Don't let them take your driver license before a test-drive.
 
You will not test-drive a car in our dealership if you cannot provide a valid driver license. We will make a copy for our records, and it will be returned to you before you drive.
 
Tip #6: Make Your Test-Drive Count
Finally, it's best (though not always possible) to schedule two test-drives. Take one daytime drive, and then another at night. You know, to see if the headlights work.
 
This is just rediculous - why not 4 test-drives? One in the rain, one in the snow, one in rush-hour traffic, one when you are buzzed...? You know, just in case.
 
Tip #7: Negotiate Price: Not Payments and Not Your Trade-In
 
Overall - good advice, except for leasing: when you are negotiating a lease it is very easy to get lost in the money factor, residual, tax, fees, etc. Three things are important - terms of the lease (length and mileage), total drive-off and total monthly payment. The rest is not your problem.
 
Tip #9: Be Ready To Deal With the F&I Guy
Skip them all. There's virtually nothing the F&I Guy is selling that can't be bought cheaper elsewhere
 
Is that a scientific fact? How can you ever make a claim like that? What if the warranty that is offered by the dealer has better coverage, and is guaranteed by the dealer?

#16 of 42 Re: Article Comments - 10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car [micosilver] by fezo

Sep 04, 2009 (11:44 am)

Replying to: micosilver (Sep 04, 2009 10:30 am)
This is just rediculous - why not 4 test-drives? One in the rain, one in the snow, one in rush-hour traffic, one when you are buzzed...? You know, just in case.
 
Thanks for the idea! Have to give that one a try...
 
I did have pause with that license bit. I figure that's legit. I remember dealing with the credit card thing years back. They tried to lose it like keys.

#17 of 42 Re: All I Can Say is... by dagonkp

Sep 04, 2009 (1:49 pm)

Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Sep 03, 2009 12:45 pm)
I have a couple of questions about this article
 
First
Shopping for a price is fine. Does good customer service or a slimy dealership matter at all? Most places that offer the best service are going to be a bit more expensive.
 
Second
Asking for a fair deal is a great thing. Using the TMV on Edmunds is a great tool. I am not sure why you would ask for a better deal than that. Did I miss something about a dealership making some profit.
 
Third
How can you say that there is nothing that the F&I has to offer that is worth any value?

#18 of 42 Re: All I Can Say is... [dagonkp] by jipster

Sep 04, 2009 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: dagonkp (Sep 04, 2009 1:49 pm)
I am not sure why you would ask for a better deal than that.
 
Well, a lot of times TMV isn't current/accurate, and TMV is the average price a consumer pays for a particular car... most people do a lot better.
 
A good consumer shouldn't/needn't concern themselves with the dealer making a profit. They should concern themselves with getting the car they want at the lowest price the dealership will accept... which will usually be a profit for them.

#19 of 42 Re: Article Comments - 10 Tips: How To Buy a New Car [tidester] by joel0622

Sep 04, 2009 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: tidester (Sep 03, 2009 9:34 am)
But what did you think of the tips?
 
I think #10 should be plastered all over Edmunds with one little tweak.
 
Once you've bought your new car, enjoy it. Don't cruise Craigslist looking for a dealership that's beating your deal. Don't believe your "friends" the posters at edmunds who tell you that their deal was tons better. Just consider it a done deal and get on with living your life. Second-guesses are sure to make you miserable.
 
Besides that it is the same article every hack writes. Its all good information but they all feel the need to talk down to the industry. But thats OK they are involved in 10 or so transactions a year I am involed in about 2000, so I just take it at face value and move on.

#20 of 42 Re: All I Can Say is... [jipster] by dagonkp

Sep 04, 2009 (4:15 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Sep 04, 2009 2:13 pm)
the dealership will always make a profit on almost every deal they do. What about the sales person doing all the work. The cheaper the car gets the less they make. Almost all sales people are paid on strictly commision and the TMV allows them some.

#21 of 42 Re: All I Can Say is... [dagonkp] by jipster

Sep 04, 2009 (5:18 pm)

Replying to: dagonkp (Sep 04, 2009 4:15 pm)
The cheaper the car gets the less they make
 
Only to a certain point. All salesmen get paid a certain percentage of the profit, then if under a certain amount they get paid a "mini"... usually $75-$100. They are also paid bonus money for selling over a certain number of cars a month... as well as other incentives for selling.
 
Since the vast majority of the profit from selling a car goes to the dealership, I let them worry about how their salesmen are paid.

#22 of 42 Re: All I Can Say is... [jipster] by tidester

Sep 04, 2009 (9:22 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Sep 04, 2009 2:13 pm)
most people do a lot better
 
If it's normally distributed (likely) then it would be an even split between "better" and "worse."
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

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