Four-Square Basics

Edmunds.com

Four-Square Basics

Discover how a Car Dealer uses the Four-Square Worksheet to work the numbers. Use this info to save money on your next Auto Loan.

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wincie

How do I obtain the wholesale price the car dealer pays the manufacturer?

thorn892

Problem with customers and vehicle trade-in figures is most customers assume their vehicle should bring in full trade value as listed in Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book etc... Most of the time their vehicle is not in excellent shape/ has high miles/not the fully loaded edition/crash damage-repair/bad engine etc... yet they will demand to receive the full blue book amount listed for their type of vehicle - It's not going to happen when using it as a trade in!!!

Want top dollar for your used vehicle - sell it yourself! Use the money received from the sale toward the purchase of the vehicle you want. Can't sell because its your only vehicle? Be advised that your probably will not get the full listed 'value " of the vehicle if used as a trade in. Remember the dealer that takes your trade has to get their money back off the vehcile and they know how much they can get for it. They are not going to take a loss.

Marc_1

I used to sell cars back in the early 80's. We called this technique "The Kansas City Four-Square." What it does is to put the buyer at a distinct disadvantage from the start. They find out the "least" you'll take for your car, the "most" you'll pay for the new vehicle, the "most" you can put as a down payment,and the "maximum" you can afford for monthly payments. From the moment you fill in the blankets, getting any kind of a good deal is a battle--on all four fronts.

Do yourself a favor. Sell your own car. Have the best financing arranged before you go in (this would already include how much you're putting up as a down payment). And research EVERYWHERE as to the very best price that the new vehicle can be purchased for. When you go in, it will be up to the salesperson to meet your expectations.

And one last thing. Make it real. Write a check for a sizeable amount to submit with your offer--and tell them NOT to cash it before any deal is accepted (there are some worthless outfits out there). They will NOT want to give you back your deposit unless it is absolutely impossible to sell you the car at the offered amount. And don't worry about the salesman "going into the manager's office to work the best deal." A lot of time they just go in the back and get a coffee--only to come back out with the "bad news." IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY THE CAR AT THAT PRICE! Then they try to pump you. Don't believe it. Stand firm. If you've done your homework, when you insist that they return your check--you will own the car.

Mr_Shiftright

I don't think anyone uses Four Square anymore. It's pretty "old-school".

kyfdx

I've run into it a couple of times in the last five years.