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Buying Tips - How Do I Get the Best Deal?

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Comments

  • achenatorachenator Member Posts: 128
    The wife is thrilled and that is the main thing. We could have gotten any of the above but I really didn't want to get anything nearing the end of it's model run. I hate to buy a car and the next year he body style changes.
  • 98camryv698camryv6 Member Posts: 37
    I posted before and I got burned but I thought I'd share my experience and my strategy.

    2-3 weeks before buying, I called about 5-7 dealership talking directly with the fleet manager or the internet sales manager. I would suggest never dealing with the salesmen standing outside. I got quotes from 1000-1200 below manuf. invoice (does not include 1500 manuf. incentive). Called them up again about 1-2 days before i was going to buy, and Dealership A offered 1400 below. But I had already made an appt with Dealership B for 1200 below. I arrived at DB asking them if they could match the 1400 from DA. They couldn't, so I drove to DB. Only spent about 15 mins at DA. Got to DB and told them I wanted the car at 1400 below. They then said they had excess of 4runners with moonroof. They asked if I would consider a moonroof and I said yes but at what price. They offerred the moon roof at 200 below inv and ended up getting the 4runner at 1600 below invoice (1500 incentive not included in negotiated sales price).

    Things that worked: Do your research online to know what a good deal is. Sometimes online quotes are good. Most of the time its not good enough. I would suggest finding the biggest dealership around (volume dealership) and getting a quote from them. And start calling back and forth asking them to match and beat it. Always, have the price emailed to you. That way you have a record and most times they enter the price into their comp. system as well. Don't deal with the salesmen standing outside. Do your negotiating via the phone or email. My very first quote was 1k below (which happens to be the place I bought the car at). I then called 5-6 others afterwards asking for quotes. I asked them for a quote w/out telling them I already had a 1k below invoice quote. Most of them gave me quotes of around 100 below to 100 above invoice. Once I told them of the 1k below quote, they matched instantly or called me back 10 mins later saying they could match. One could only go 750 below, and another was giving me word play.

    Things I would have done differently: Calling them for quotes 2-3 weeks before your purchase seems like light years away for them. Start calling one week before and then set up appointment(s) 24-48 hours before.

    Hope this helps. Any questions/comments or need help, email me at ipurchasecars@gmail.com
  • blackmbablackmba Member Posts: 4
    Well, my genius sister let a dealer swindle her in taking a car home to "See if she liked it" after signing some paperwork. She didn't like it and tried to bring it back to the dealer, but they basically said she's stuck with it b/c she signed for it. Now they refuse to take the vehicle back.

    Does she have any recourse, or a leg to stand on in NOT keeping the vehicle?
  • 98camryv698camryv6 Member Posts: 37
    Things I learned: All your quotes need to be verified by email. In one case, a fleet manager gave me a quote for 1400 below but could not email me because he didn't want it to circulate. Whether thats true or not, I don't know. So I went to the dealership I ended up buying at because they emailed me a quote of 1400 instead of just saying it over the phone. Also, TEST DRIVE ON WEEK DAYS not on wknds. You won't get good customer service and you should really let the salesmen make their money with serious buyers which usually happen on wknds. Finally, if you would like to decrease the amount of time spent at the dealership when you buy (I was there 2.5 hours), make an appt and tell them you want the car in front ready for the final test drive and that you want all the dealership options (the alarm) taken out before you arrive. Also, tell them to fill up the gas and wash the car before you arrive. If I had done that, I probably would have been there only 1 hr.
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    Man, that stinks.
    Legally, by the written contract, the dealers have probably protected themselves so she has no leg to stand on in court, unless she has witnesses to testify on her behalf.
    But maybe one of those Channel 5 On Your Side TV news investigative reporters would be interested in setting up a sting operation on that dealer. I'd love to see them on TV getting caught doing dirty. Then I bet she'd have a good case against the dealership.
    I hope she secretly and immediately calls all the TV staions in town to see if one will do it.
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    Great advice!
    Thanks.
  • blackmbablackmba Member Posts: 4
    Thanks joe131!
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    "make an appt and tell them you want the car in front ready for the final test drive and that you want all the dealership options (the alarm) taken out before you arrive. Also, tell them to fill up the gas and wash the car before you arrive."

    With all those flaky buyers out there, aren't you asking for a huge leap of faith on the dealership's part to have all that done because you made an appointment?
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Well, my genius sister let a dealer swindle her in taking a car home to "See if she liked it" after signing some paperwork. She didn't like it and tried to bring it back to the dealer, but they basically said she's stuck with it b/c she signed for it. Now they refuse to take the vehicle back.

    Does she have any recourse, or a leg to stand on in NOT keeping the vehicle?


    We do this but we have the customer sign a subject to form. It basically has allot of legal mumbo jumbo about if you take the care and damage it then it is your car, the car is under your insurance, blah, blah, blah. We also put a line in that says it is subject a 24 hour ride and drive by the customer. If we do not here from the customer within 24 hours then then it is a done deal and we will process the paper work. If the car does not suit your needs then you can return it within the 24 hour period.

    Did she sign anything like that?

    We do it for a few reasons, so you can see if you really like the car, lets you take mental ownership, and if you have a trade it takes you out of the market because we have your trade in and before you can trade else where you have to bring our car back.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    I guess the questions is, what was it your sister signed? Did she read it before signing?

    I'm with joel on this...the only time I've seen a dealer allow for a "24-hour test drive" is after they have you sign a term sheet that essentially says, you've got insurance and that you'll be responsible for any damage or excess mileage on the car. Those term sheets also stipulate the amount of time you can keep the car.

    In order for her to have actually purchased the vehicle, I would imagine she also signed some sort of finance contract and some amount of money changed hands, in addition to signing a purchase agreement.

    It should be fairly clear what she signed. Just read the terms of the agreement.

    If it's a test drive agreement, and she complied with the terms, there should be no question that she can return the vehicle.

    If it's a purchase agreement and finance contract she signed, the dealership is right. She has no recourse. The car is hers.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ouch, part of me is laughing but the other part feels bad for sis. It sounds like she signed all the legal paperwork for the vehicle and got a bit hoodwinked by the dealership. Kinda funny if you're not involved. She really doesn't have any recourse unless she got something in writing. If she signed everything and took delivery, that car is now hers. You may need to tell her to start enjoying her new vehicle.

    :surprise:

    -Moo
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    ...got a bit hoodwinked by the dealership. Kinda funny if you're not involved.

    Normally I can see the funny side of things, but I'm having trouble finding the humour in that.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    It's my sick sense of humor. It's been well documented here. The OP talks about his "genius" sister and I'm assuming things like this have happened before. Makes me laugh. I'm okay laughing with myself. ;)

    -Moo
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    It sounds like it's time for a quick visit to a good, nasty attorney for a look at the paperwork and the circumstances. It may cost a few hundred but it would be interesting for him to call, write, visit the dealership on her behalf.

    It amazes me how dealerships complain about their general reputation and then things like this happen.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • thenebeanthenebean Member Posts: 1,124
    maybe before she hires a nasty attorney just to find out she didn't need one, the OP can let us know what the paperwork says. then we can help them figure out the best course of action.

    -thene :)
  • 98camryv698camryv6 Member Posts: 37
    i would suggest asking for all of that and if they fulfill half of those, then i'd call it a success. I spend most of the time waiting for the guy to get the car out of the parking garage for the test drive. I had to return two days later and get the service dpt to remove the alarm because the service dpt closed and i bought my car on a Thursday night.
  • blackmbablackmba Member Posts: 4
    Something similar to that. I think there was a contract cancellation option that she signed, but she signed the part of the paperwork to decline that option (lack of reading). So basically, I think she's stuck with it.

    Hopefully she can work out some type of exchange for a less expensive vehicle. The dealership has a decent reputation, so they may work with her to save face.

    **And thank you all for the responses. It was much appreciated!
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    I would think in a situation like this price would not have been discussed. So "genius sister" is stuck paying MSRP on this car? OUCH! :sick:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • usedcarsonlyusedcarsonly Member Posts: 3
    ">link titleI had a similar situation with my mother in law. Find out who the loan company is. Then, call the dealerhship and tell them that you are contacting the loan company about the contract to tell them exactly what happened and that they are about to have a "1st payment default" because of it. Tell them that they can process and fund the dealership if they want, but they will be sending the used vehicle with a month's worth or miles to the auction to lose thousands.

    Ask to speak to the loan officer involved with the transaction if possible.

    Keep in mind, normally the dealership will then take back the car. Either way, don't let this happen.

    Car Buying Tips
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    blackmba,

    You don't really give a whole lot of details here, yet everyone is running with this like it's the worst thing the dealer could have done.

    For all we know, this is a 5,000 used car, she signed the purchase and loan agreements, put 1000 down and bought plates/registration, and has had it for a week and put 750 miles on it.

    Without really knowing any of the details, I think it's hard for any to really give an opinion about what is really fair. We don't know any specifics about the car, the value of the car, the price she paid, what paperwork she did sign and commit to, how long she had it, etc.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Tell them that they can process and fund the dealership if they want, but they will be sending the used vehicle with a month's worth or miles to the auction to lose thousands.


    They will probably tell you to make sure it is first payment default because the dealer will be on the hook for the whole thing, you will then have a repo in your bureau and get to pay 22% interest on your next car if you can get it financed.

    Not real stellar advice IMO
  • geffengeffen Member Posts: 278
    I would have to agree, I haven't yet seen the details of what make and model and year the car was that she signed for? I definately read all paper work before signing anything, some people can easily get caught up in the excitement of a new car they sign anything.
  • blackmbablackmba Member Posts: 4
    Sorry for the lack of detail

    It was a 2001 Volvo C70 with 40k miles on it. She called me when she was at the dealership and said that they offered her the vehicle w/ $2000 down payment and payments for $315/month. I asked her what the full asking price was for the vehicle, and she didn't even know. She had to go back and ask them so that she could tell me ($18k). I immediately told her to just walk away...and her response was "OK." Didn't want her making a purchase based off emotion rather than rationalization.

    Now, did she walk away like her brother told her? Of course not! And now she's stuck with that payment and a car that she didn't necessarily want for the next 4 years. The dealership is possibly willing to exchange it for another, less expensive vehicle through THEIR dealership only (which is understandable). I'm sure some of the value will be knocked off, but hopefully she can work something out. I really wish that I could catch a flight out to L.A. to help her out (as I currently live in GA).

    @kiawah - She only kept the vehicle overnight, and tried to return it the following day like the salesman told her.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    She needs an attorney to immediately write a letter to the dealer.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    She needs an attorney to immediately write a letter to the dealer.

    Ya it will go something like this

    Lawyer: You said she could bring it back

    Dealer: Where does it say that. All we have is a contract she signed.

    Lawyer: My client was given a verbal promise

    Dealer: Where does it say that? All we have is the contract she signed.

    Lawyer: Your Sales Person told her that she could bring it back if she does not like it>

    Dealer: Where does it say that? All we have is the contract she signed.

    I don't condone there action. If that is the whole story and what really happened then I feel bad for her. But she bought a car. If she does not know enough to get things in writing in any contract then she has just learned.

    Car Dearlers, Plumbers, Accountants, Lawyers, Police Officer, Most real good, a few crooked as hell.
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    yep, gotta try the sting thing
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Wait, $18K with $2K down for 4 years and a payment of $315 a month? Something isn't right are you sure its not 5 years?

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    Or it could go something like this since the buyer brought in a lawyer.

    Lawyer: You said she could bring it back

    Dealer: Talk to our lawyer

    Lawyer: My client was given a verbal promise

    Dealer: Talk to our lawyer.

    Lawyer: Your Sales Person told her that she could bring it back if she does not like it>

    Dealer: Talk to our lawyer.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    So we have a 2001 Volvo 70 series - admittedly a very nice car.

    The payments come out to $15,120 plus $2,000 down. That's actually not so bad considering interest is included in that. Probably something like a 12-13K selling price plus a bit higher interest thatn she'd probably like. So they charge her a lot more in interest - so pay it off quicker and avoid it.

    Run the numbers - if it's actually 4 years, then she's not doing so bad, really. And, it really is a decent enough car.

    Live and learn. It's not a total disaster by the looks of it.(14-16K is the typical dealer asking price at cars.com for a similar vehicle) Now, if it's five years or has some balloon payment or whatnot hidden... Then it's a whole other matter.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >2001 Volvo 70 series - admittedly a very nice car.

    Perceptions of cars and how they linger once made intrigues me. I recall the Oldsmobile on top of the superstrong Volvo advertisements; turns out they reinforced the roofs. Several coworkers in that era had bought Volve for just that reason. That was before they became Ford-owned.

    Just left friends' home near Nashville on Monday. Their neighbor left his car running in driveway to talk to the wife about their gazebo they just finished when he saw her out in it that afternoon. The Volvo wagon started smoking from the instrument panel while they were talking. Burned to the ground. Those nice cars can have defects like all. BTW, he's an attorney. Whom does he sue?

    ::::::::::::

    I think the attorney talk in the ladies case on the forum here could go like this:

    My client was given an oral agreement that she could return the car.

    Talk to our lawyer.

    She will be defaulting on the first payment because your dealership didn't follow through in good faith. We realize she may have signed away the return privileges by mistake.

    Talk to our lawyer.

    It will cost you in the financing with first payment default. Is there some compromise with a different car suitable at a fair cost that she will want to keep unlike the one promised here. The publicity would not be complimentary to your business

    Let me see what we have available.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    It will cost you in the financing with first payment default. Is there some compromise with a different car suitable at a fair cost that she will want to keep unlike the one promised here. The publicity would not be complimentary to your business.
    Let me see what we have available


    But the customer still ends up with a Repo in there bureau, and in the long run who really got hurt. Not the dealer, they can afford to write a check to pay off the loan and resell the car. The customer is now in a credit nightmare that will effect her for seven years. Try to get another car, a cell phone, a CC, hell you can't even get water turned on at your house with out a huge deposit.



    In todays world you can't buckle every time some one threatens you with a lawyer. If you did you would live in the court room.

    Besides chances are the customer signed an Arbitration Agreement and an arbitrator would here it first.

    If she really, really thinks that she got the shaft then I would reccomend the BBB, especially if the dealer is a member.
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    Try to get another car, a cell phone, a CC, hell you can't even get water turned on at your house with out a huge deposit

    And let's not forget about car insurance going up based on someones credit history.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    mba....sounds like she didn't read the contract. That's too bad. Unfortunately, whatever was said in the showroom, is only known by two parties....the dealer, and your sister.

    Outside of that, the only thing anyone can go by is what the signed contract says. From what you've told us, that means the car is hers. Money changed hands and a finance contract is in place.

    I'll assume she's nervous about the financial terms? Running the numbers you posted, it's not a bad deal. I'm not very familiar with Volvos, but they seem to be nice cars.

    I've got a couple of questions....

    -Does your sister just not like the car as much as she originally thought?
    -Is she worried about the payments?

    Reason for asking, she's going to have to step down quite a bit, both pricewise and "car-wise" to make a significant difference in the payments. As a rough guesstimate, every $1,000 that's financed translates into $25/month in payments, depending on the term length and interest rate. In short, to lower payments $100/month, she's going to have to get something that's $4,000-$5,000 less than what the Volvo costs.

    Plus, I doubt seriously whether the dealership isn't going to penalize your sister to just take the car back. There's going to be some money that she's going to loose in the process....it could be a lot of money. Add that amount to whatever it is the dealership finds that's cheaper, and it may not translate into something that she can live with.

    If there's something minor she doesn't like about the car, I'd tell her to live with it for a few years...and then trade for something else...when she's got some equity in the car.

    If it's too big of a financial stretch for her, then I think she should be prepared to step down dramatically in the type and condition of the car she can live with.

    Car buying isn't like buying a dress. You change your mind about the dress, you just take it back for a refund. A car? You don't like your purchase, it's either a big fight, or a financial setback to get out of it.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    Whom does he sue?

    That's really quite obvious. Sue the cigarette manufacturer. It has deep pockets and lots of people think it should be punished.
    Never mind that the Volvo should have known that smoking would be hazardous to its health.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    He doesn't smoke. The car just caught on fire idling...

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • joe131joe131 Member Posts: 998
    "Volvo wagon started smoking..."

    That car should never have taken up cigarettes at all. But even so, sue the manufacturer. Juries are often sympathetic to ones harmed by cigs.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    Heh.

    But seriously, it's actually a really nice car - and while Ford did own Volvo at the time, it was still 100% made by Volvo at the time - the last couple of years before Ford's beancounters started the cancer growing. Oh - and it has one of the best sound systems ever made for a car. Truly incredible. If it's a convertible, then she did very well.

    She bought it - it's not a bad car or a bad price by the looks of it. Sort of like "oh no! I bought a 3 series" :confuse: Live with it and have fun.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    You make it sound like Volvos are Fords now. That is just not the case as in reality many Fords are Volvos, or Mazdas, now instead of Fords.

    It is not like what GM did to SAAB.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    She didn't buy it. She was duped! Was told to demo it over night and bring it back if she didn't like it.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    Well, in a way she was duped, but she DID sign the paperwork, and if you don't actually read what you sign...

    Thankfully it's not a bad car at a bad price. Though, the dealer SHOULD of course offer to swap it - but the thing is, it's a nice car and they'll ream her on the swap - probably their entire tactic.

    I can imagine her asking the dealer after the ink's dry and they jumping on it in hopes for a swap. That they didn't offer to do one is odd.

    But it is a nice car and she's an adult, afterall. Be careful what you sign.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    But seriously, it's actually a really nice car - and while Ford did own Volvo at the time, it was still 100% made by Volvo at the time -

    In this day in time I would want a Ford made car if quality is what I was looking for. :D

    link title
  • bobstbobst Member Posts: 1,776
    "In this day in time I would want a Ford made car if quality is what I was looking for"

    It may be true that Fords are the highest quality cars being made at this time, but it doesn't matter to many of us.

    Some of us were disgusted with the poor quality of Ford products 20 years ago and that sticks in our mind, so we will never buy a Ford product again. Ford lost an entire generation of car buyers.

    Maybe if Ford starts advertising on the Saturday morning cartoon shows they car build a good image with the next generation.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I saw that even Land Rover improved 33 points from last year but still not enough to get them off the bottom... :(

    Interesting that the industry average dropped a point. It is all really sill though when you think the differance between a first place finish and a last place finish is less the one problem per vehicle.

    When you think about it that way there are really no BAD cars out there.
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    Some of us were disgusted with the poor quality of Ford products 20 years ago and that sticks in our mind, so we will never buy a Ford product again.

    It is not like all the problems were twenty years ago -

    Taurus and Windstar headgaskets
    Taurus transmissions
    Explorer tires
    Crown Vic Police Interceptor gas tanks

    The ISSUE with Ford has been an inability to resolve big problems quickly which allows the problems to fester publicly.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    The ISSUE with Ford has been an inability to resolve big problems quickly which allows the problems to fester publicly.

    Very true, but once you get XXX number of thousands of these units on the road you just can't ask for a do over. hence the bad rap on your product. Fortunately for the imports the media is a kinder to them then they are the domestics, because there quality is really no better/worse then any body else now days. Engine sludge with one of the big dogs and the other has recalled more cars then they have sold this year My guess is because they put allot more advertising dollars into the market then the Domestics do.

    I didn't post that link to start a brand war. I just spend allot time here taking some good hearted ribbing about the the product I sell and wanted to throw a little back. :D
  • kiawahkiawah Member Posts: 3,666
    When I read that earlier statement .....inability to resolve big problems quickly....

    I thought that's not just a Ford problem, every manufacturer has that problem. I agree with you
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    Very true, but once you get XXX number of thousands of these units on the road you just can't ask for a do over.

    To a certain agree, I would agree with you. However, the time between when the problem is identified (generally by the press) and when Ford admits it has a problem, is FAR too long.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    She didn't buy it. She was duped! Was told to demo it over night and bring it back if she didn't like it.

    As I mentioned before, the only people who know what was said, were the dealership, and mba's sister.

    Bottom line, she paid them $2,000, signed a fianancing contract, and declined the "return" waiver.

    From all outward appearances, it appears as if she knew she was "buying" the car. Reading between the lines, the dealership may very well have told her she had a 24 hour period where she could return the car. They even gave her a contract that she had to sign denying her the return option. But, she signed the waiver that would have allowed her to do so.

    For all intents and purposes, she was indeed told she could return the car in 24 hours, She declined by signing the waiver. Paid them the money and signed a purchase contract.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,200
    A couple of weeks ago a friend went to a local car dealer to purchase a car. He found one he liked but they didn't have anything equipped the way he wanted. He told the salesman that he wanted to order the car optioned out the way he wanted and they negotiated a price.

    He wanted to run the purchase by his wife and told the salesman that he would decide and be back the next day to sign the papers.

    The salesman suddenly went very cold and told him that the price they had agreed on was good for that day only. This seemed odd to my friend since he was ordering the car and was told it would take over a month to arrive.

    Why would this be the case? Is there really some pressing need to complete a deal on an ordered car or was the salesman just trying to pressure my friend? Remember, this was at the beginning of the month, so there would not be any great pressure to reach a quota, especially on a unit that would not arrive until next month.

    Oh, I forgot to mention, this was for an 2008 model so there was no end of production for the year problem.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Sounds like the the salesman wanted a comitment. It sounds like your friend didn't want to put a deposit down. That is the only thing I can think of.

    It is only a deal when the the dealer has the Certificate of Origan signed and the paper work is done. He could of wrote up a P&S took a deposit and wrote on the P&S subject to wifes approval and still had the car ordered. Maybe the salesperson was having a bad day.
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