Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Yes, he was.
I don't think paperwork will be a problem at all in the US. We even have an account with a Florida bank which is really a Canadian Bank but Americans don't know that. The TD Bank is really the Toronto Dominion Bank but they never call it that. We have a VISA and debit card with them. Insurance just gets added to home insurance policy.
We won't buy until much later. Have to go in and make sure we don't want to upgrade. I think the rental car is about $3000 more and it is the next model up. That's a big jump, but you get vinyl and leather seats (which we don't care about) touch screen radio controls, power seats and windows. Not sure if the base S model has that.
We want to know what we will buy, but not do it until October or November. Maybe we could check availability of a 2012 then. I really think they have manuals just to make the under $20k price point...but they don't really want to sell them...not much profit.
This dealer claims they don't order manuals. I will check availability on Edmunds to see if there are any around to look at.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Yes, but he was serious about his accent might change.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I hope this isn't some Minnesota Norwegian. I'd hate to think about lutefisk.
Ahh the spawn of Satan himself.
Maybe 5 years ago or so, someone sideswiped my Prelude. Needed a new front bumper, front left 1/4 panel, damage to the driver's door, & Left rear 1/4 panel. I took it to get fixed at a body shop that handles all the lot cars from a large luxury car dealer group in Northern, NJ. Other than my Prelude, every other car in his body shop still had a window sticker on it. Brand new Mercedes & Lexus. The work he did on my Prelude was nothing short of pure art.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Maybe you will get to really love grits!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Mar 19, 2012 (1:33 pm)
Just wanted to add my well wishes. Best of luck
there's a name from the past!
How is the Subie running....I think it was a Suburu.
If it was we've sold a lot of them here this year....it is the #1 selling car for us.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
OMG! Your image of me is worse than I thought. I may do dumb things with technology, but I'm not totally gone yet.
Richard
You still haven't bought that Florida car? I thought for sure you would have purchased some tricked out Caddy from a Ybor City drug dealer by now. I guess I'll have to get back to looking up hoopties on the Tampa Bay Craigslist for you.
You mentioned your Visa card with TD bank. Have you considered joining a US Credit Union. I don't know if you qualify but the cheap rates they offer on car loans could be worth it.
I was at my credit union today getting another master card in protest of my regular bank jacking my interest rate up to 20%. The credit union card was only 7%. I won't cancel the old card because I've had it for decades and you take a hit on your credit score if you cancel a long standing card.
I must be getting a good reputation by hanging around with you rich guys because when they did a credit check on me my Equifax score was 842 out of a possible 850. The guy almost fell off his chair when he saw that the grungy bum sitting across from him had a credit rating better than Donald Trump.
If push comes to shove I could always co-sign for your car loan. :P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Isellhondas is Norwegian. Perhaps he can give you some diet tips.
Makola: The above is meant to be funny.
Richard
If you should be so lucky as to get Irish marrow your opinion of yourself should improve dramatically for the better. You will also get to claim decendancy from Irish royalty.
Good luck buddy.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Makola: The above statement is a joke.
Richard
Amazing what just paying your bills will do for your credit. It shocks me that younger people today don't think it's important. I am from a generation where you take responsibility for your debts. I think people like me are a dying breed and what comes next frightens me.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Hey, who knows what happens when you change DNA?
Some of the characteristics sounded a bit off base, but who knows.
I just hope he has the same witty remarks to your posts. Zinger!
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
If we buy a car here, and that is the plan, we will use our line of credit to borrow the money. It will be at 1% guaranteed with our house.
We did get as new TD Bank Visa card and the limit is for $23000, just enough to buy a Passat.
We'd like to see a manual transmission model...even better test one. None of the dealers around here, and I have checked 5, have one with a manual transmission.
One with a stick has a MSRP of $19995, dealers have models that start at about $23000.......I think they don't really make a basic model.
My wife loves driving the passat even though it is an automatic. She's the one with the 335, so that is a pretty good endorsement.
We called the dealer that we went to in February. Our salesman resigned. The manager was supposed to call back and let us know if he could find a manual. So far, haven't heard from him.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have a 2011 Volvo C30 now, which I love.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
You honestly might be better off with an AT anyway if it is serving as a temp car for Florida, if your wife doesn't mind driving it. Will be way easier to sell a few years down the line.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Quite a putt putt mobile without the turbo though!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
So do I.
Richard
Ah, now I remember. Glad you like the Volvo.
Are you still at University....lawyer course i believe?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's why I am leaning toward getting a 2013. Can order in Sept or Oct for November delivery. We can have the paperwork ready to go, mail our copy of the invoice down signed. They seem to be able to discount the car about 4% so we will take that off the price of the 2013...that's how I did the 535.
It seems the starting price is $19995 but there isn't one that exists at that price. They add automatic and trim packages, and the price can easily get to $25-$26k or more.
might be better off with an AT anyway if it is serving as a temp car for Florida,
Absolutly and I agree. But, she will get her way...if there is any way to get a manual she is going to pull it off.
I miss the manual in the 535, but you get to an age when you can get a sore arm or leg and shifting just isn't a necessity any more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Like I’ve said before the things that go on with the guys on this site is contagious. Just last week we decided to stop using our US Airways Master Card because all we seem to do is pay the yearly fee but never use our frequent flyer miles because they or some other airline have a good price at the time we plan to go anywhere (which isn’t all that many times) and we don’t want to use the miles when the flights are almost give-aways. To be honest with you I don’t know what the interest rate is on that card because we’ve never had a balance on it. I use it as a convenience card not a credit card and believe me, I do (did) use the hell out of it. I’ve got to find out how we call sell back the miles because I doubt we will ever use all of them. Well over 300K miles. We are now using a Visa rewards card (that we have had as a backup for years) with no fee and I don’t know what that rate on that card is either. Supposedly we’ll accumulate more rewards on groceries and gas than other purchases.
I won't cancel the old card because I've had it for decades and you take a hit on your credit score if you cancel a long standing card.
I never understood that because with less cards you have less opportunity to run up debt. Talk about an industry that tries to hold you hostage, they wrote the book on that one.
I must be getting a good reputation by hanging around with you rich guys because when they did a credit check on me my Equifax score was 842 out of a possible 850.
Ours is well into the 8’s too. If 850 is the top they must have change it because when we bought the Genny in March of ’09 (yeah, it was 3 years old last week end) I distinctly remember our score was 861. Like I said back then, I didn’t think they split hairs like that but that is what the F&I guy told us. I was a little insulted when we got the Legacy and the salesman told me it was less than 861 but I can’t remember exactly what it was. When I asked why he said, “they change these things all the time. Don’t worry you have an excellent rating”.
The only reason we have a good rating is because Mrs. j handles the check book. If it was left to me to pay the bills I’d be waiting for my parole hearing. As I said before, a few times, “way back, about 6 months after we were married, I had that book so screwed up she took control of that thing and I haven’t done a thing with checks since then”. I like to think of it as ‘delegating authority’.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Had a terrible night's sleep then they gave me some adavan and things improved. Could still use a couple of hours but will do what they tell me.
Maybe I can sneak a nap in.....
Looking out my window there is, 8 floors below, a hot dog vendor. It's driving me crazy.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
You're having this problem because you have a luxury view room. When I was in for 5 days, I had a view across a top of a roof toward a large metal air duct. Beyond was a taller addition to the hospital's campus (a teaching hospital). And for sound entertainment I got to listen to the helicopter land on the wing of the building 90 degrees from my spur out of the 5 spurs.
Of course usually when one is in the hospital, they try to make you miserable enough that you don't care what you see or hear!
Sleep for an hour, awake for 2 hours, sleep for 2 hours, awake for 1 hour--day and night get mixed up easily... but Fezo has all kinds of goodies to use when he's awake. I had a TV with 6 channels on the hospital cable.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
They certainly enjoy waking ma at all hours.
There hasn’t been a “necessity” for shifting for eons. The car my father had when I learned to drive was a ’58 Plymouth Sport Suburban station wagon with an automatic. It had the infamous push button typewriter gizmo.
I think I told this tale before:
My father was a firm believer that you should know how to drive a stick. So, he arranged for service when I got my permit and he specifically requested a stick as his loaner. It was a ’53 Plymouth with Hy-Drive (I’m pretty sure that is what they called it). The way it worked was, once you shifted though the 3 gears you didn’t have to shift it anymore after that, as long as you didn’t shut the car off. If you did, you went through the sequence all over again. However, dear old Dad said, “just consider it as a standard stick shift and keep shifting”. :surprise: That wouldn’t have been so bad but the first time we went out driving he had me drive to a hill in the back of the development we lived in where they were expanding it and he had me stop the car on the hill; a pretty good one at that. I can’t tell you how many times I stalled that car trying to get it up that hill. Finally he relented and let me use the emergency brake to help me get it going. What a great guy. :sick:
While going to night school I had the pleasure of driving for UPS for a couple years. That also did not endear me to standard transmissions. While I know how, I don’t want to do it, ever again.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
@Drive - Yes, I finish with my JD in about 3 months, then sitting for the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in July. Will not be practicing directly after the bar, but rather working as a consultant instead - bridges my tech background with my legal background.
Also getting married in October, just in case things weren't crazy enough!
The doctors will tell that those fat sticks aren’t good for you but they do seem to satisfy what we crave. :sick:
‘verdugo’ FWIW, I was in Oakland two weeks ago visiting at a hospital so I went to The ‘O’ for a late Friday night snack, then on Sunday I went to Pamela’s for breakfast. Eat your heart out.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
FWIW, I avoid The O after dark, if possible. Nothing good happens there late at night. That said, after an evening out, sometimes you just want O fries...
I've test driven about 6 or 7 cars thus far. Always find a pretty good reason not to buy. Engine too loud under hard acceration (Mitsu Lancer), dirty/worn out interior (Corolla), oil gasket seals seeping (Sonota), chipped paint and bad vibes (Focus), plain jane interior (Elantra), too small and tin cannish (something I can't remember).
Suppose to look at a couple Nissan Altima's this afternoon. This salesmen seemed pretty nice when I looked at a car previously on his lot, but he is a non-talker. I'm like, "well... say something. You are trying to sell cars here aren't you?"
Observations: Most dealeships still have high mark up on the cars priced on their lot. But in looking at their internet sites, all cars are marked down significantly. I guess they feel they can represent a good deal to a schnozberry walking in off the street with no internet research.
Craigslist has a ton of wholesaler listings. Talked to a couple guys who had listings. They seem to get their cars from auctions and dealerships the same as the big time dealerships do, so going the way of a wholesaler may be a good way to go. But, run that Carfax!
Man, there are a ton of Ford Focus's on the road and on dealer lots. No way I pay 11k-12k for a 4 years old car when I can buy a brand new one for $15,000.
I never understood that because with less cards you have less opportunity to run up debt. Talk about an industry that tries to hold you hostage, they wrote the book on that one.
What banks like to see is low credit utilization. If you owe $100 on your one card with a $1000 limit, you are at 10%. You owe $100 over 5 cards with a total limit of $5000, you are at 5%. The banks like to see that you don't overextend yourself even though it's there.
Ours is well into the 8’s too. If 850 is the top they must have change it because when we bought the Genny in March of ’09 (yeah, it was 3 years old last week end) I distinctly remember our score was 861. Like I said back then, I didn’t think they split hairs like that but that is what the F&I guy told us. I was a little insulted when we got the Legacy and the salesman told me it was less than 861 but I can’t remember exactly what it was. When I asked why he said, “they change these things all the time. Don’t worry you have an excellent rating”.
Many car dealers use a different scoring method other than standard FICO. There is something called FICO Auto Industry Option that looks more at your past history with auto financing.
Was discussing options with my wife the other day (my son was home and getting filled in), and we were talking about the Mazdas we saw (CX-5 and CX-7. I mentioned that the 5 is available with a stick if soe desierd, and got a flat-out No. She can drive one if needed, but seems to have no desire to get one as her DD.
not really a problem, since the option is practically non-existant in the models we are considering.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Not most my penny pinching friend, all.
About a month ago, my best friend traded in his excellent condition (9/10 exterior 10/10 interior), black on black 2009 LTZ (Fully loaded) 4WD Chevrolet Tahoe with over 63,000 miles. Dealer said $29,000 was "all the money."
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. He sees a 2009 Black/Black LTZ Tahoe that he just knows is "his.". He knew because of the tinted windows, weather tech mud flaps, & removed "flexfuel" badge. Runs outside his store & strikes up a conversation with the woman now driving his old truck. She confirms the mileage & selling dealership. After a few minutes he says to her: "This may seem like an odd question, but I just have to know what you paid for it.". He then proceeds to tell her that they gave him $29K on the trade in. She tells him: "They were asking $38,700 & said it was a Certified GM used Tahoe, so the price was firm.". That's what they paid.
On Thursday I'm trading in my 2010 Acura TSX w/ Technology Pkg (49K miles). The dealer is giving me $18,500 for it. I had to fight for the last $500. I originally wanted $19K, but they gave me the old "we'll split the difference.". I didn't feel like "walking out" and am happy for what they'll be giving me for it. I'll betcha they're going to ask $23,995 & sell it for $22K, maybe $22,5K?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I've heard that 15% off dealership asking price is generally accepted. So, I'm guessing your dealership will probably list it for $26k or $27k... and take $22k. Let us now.
They say 15k miles a year is average, but I see an aweful lot of 20k mile a year cars. Lots of cars off lease or rentals. Would be interested to see data on listed internet cars that have been leased or rented. Seems to be about 30%.
I tried like heck to tell in the pictures for sure but I think they replaced the tires. So they had a little over 22K in it. If they spent more than a car wash on it, they wasted their time. So, 7K profit in the deal for them.
I was happy as they negtioated the buyout down and I walked away with $1500 and the process took a little more than an hour of my time.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Now that's a funny word. Thanks, jip.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
You guys are making me feel less and less bad about some of my trades.
I figured I was a horse trader, just using the wrong end of the horse.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Paid sticker (just about 16K even) and traded it for either 14K or 14.5K. So no more than 2K less than I paid, and barely less than what a new on cost. Plus the tax credit of of almost $900. No way I was getting 15K private sale out of that most likely.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
yum yum. I know both places well. If you had squeezed a visit to Primanti's, it would've been the perfect day. Although, I seem to recall you don't like them.
Credit impact is visible, if the change in credit capacity is visible, so if one cancels $1000 store card, but they have $30000 credit limit in five other cards, there is no impact whotsoever, or if any, it lasts for about 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you cancel $10K limit card and all you have left is two more with total 5 grand limit, the hit on the score is huge. So it is all in context.
There are more credit scores than in the past. Some run to 850 (I think it was original FICO), some go to 900 or 950 now. Today, regardless if they approve you or not, it seems some banks will disclose the score to you. I recently refinanced by car loan for a better rate and bank posted the score notice on line with the rest of the offer and paperwork.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
It was a win-win for me. I wanted out and I was going to have to drop a grand on tires before it was turned in. There aren't many people who can say they got out of a lease a year early and cashed out.
Sure, the dealer made money. Did I leave some money on table? Maybe, maybe not. Personally, I think the person that paid 29K for a two year old 36K car got the shaft...... (even though it was in seriously nice shape if I say so myself!)
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Still so far so good. 8 days to transplant and all is well.
Just pay your bills on time, every time...
The score will take care of itself...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
You are too funny....even at this most serious time. Maybe I have some information that will put you at ease.
As you will recall, the base price for a Passat is $19995. Today I found out why I can't find any that are that price. That is a model that you can only buy in the Northern states because it doesn't come with an air conditioner. In fact, it is illegal to sell a new car in Florida without an air conditioner.
I didn't want to go back to the dealer that is closest because although they are just 20 minutes away, our salesman resigned, and the manager didn't call us back to let us know if he found a standard model we could try. They also got 6 poor reviews on Edmunds dealer reviews.
So we drove for 40 minutes and went to a dealer who sells VW and BMWs.
The salesman was excellent. He found a car that was standard, and after their discount would be $20700. Not bad considering the $19995 price didn't have a/c.
Remember, on Edmunds invoicing they calculated the price I should pay for the base model at $19995 would be about $1000 less.
He wrote out the price of a basic S model with a/c and with all fees, tax, state things, license fees, and dealer prep (which was $489, the lowest in the state where they are usually $600 to $700) all in for $23000 and that included a $1200 discount.
I like the SE model more...power drivers seat, touch screen radio, controls on the steering wheel, leather and vinyl interior, nice color choices for the interior, lumbar support, and that would be $26000 all in and includes a $1100 discount.
I told him I checked out Edmunds so I know what the car should sell for. I think that discouraged any game playing or trying to get full MSRP. He wrote the numbers out on a sheet of paper. He said we could do the deal on the internet in August or September on a 2013 or 2012. He said he would watch to see if any manuals came in that they wanted to sell off to make quota. He said the best time to buy a car was at the end of the month...you get a better deal if the dealer needs to make quota. He said Passats are selling fast, so there isn't heavy discounting or incentives, in fact they raised the price once this year because they felt they were selling them for too little.
All in all, a pleasant experience, not stressful, at all. We learned and accomplished a lot.
Fezo, those hot dogs remind me of my one and only colonoscopy so far. You can't eat the day before, so I was imagining all the foods I would eat when it was going to be over...hot dogs, steak, gyros, hamburgers, spagetti and meatballs, ribs....then when it was over I felt so bloated I couldn't eat a thing :sick:
Hang in there buddy....I am getting closer to an answer so you will be able to sleep at night.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250