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On to Volkswagen. The rental provided by the insurance company was a VW Passat. Like it alot. Most importantly, the wife loves it. The car is enormous. Has a massive backseat. Drives German. has a ton of gadgets on the mid level model. Seemed like we were keying on the Passat from the beginning but, I wanted to explore all options. Unfortunately time is of the essence. (also was not interested in the Accord as we have had 3 of them already and the Camry is a no go for me). Checked out a couple Passat SEs on the lot, got a decent lease offer that was around my ballpark, and told them I would be in touch very soon. Pretty sure the deal was settled.
Went to pick up my total loss check from Geico headquarters here on Long Island and got an email from another VW dealer pretty close to Geico. Figured what the heck. I would shop the first offer. Was met by an older gentleman who asked me what I was looking for. Told him a Passat SE and I would like to take advantage of the "Sign Then Drive" promotion. The promo is for a Passat S @ $249 a month. He asked me if I wanted a sunroof. When I hesitated, he said he would give me numbers on with and without sunroof and we could go from there. Came back to the desk, and shoots me 2 quotes. Both were exactly where I wanted to be payment wise and minimal out of pocket. Sunroof quote was $255. Without sunroof was $245. For an SE! Said he was pricing at invoice and something about holdback. I was floored. We picked the colors (Dark blue with beige interior) did the paperwork, and was out the door in 20 minutes. Amazing experience. Quick, to the point, no games.
I know you should not do a lease on payment. You need to find the Residual and MF and all that good stuff. I could not even tell you what the price of the car even is. Just seemed right. More than a fair deal. Ended up getting the car I wanted WITH sunroof for what I was looking to pay. And, more than $20 less a month than the first VW dealer I visited and $300 less Out of Pocket.
We pick the car up on Saturday.
Sounds like you did the right thing. When I buy a car, if I can answer these questions with a "yes", I know I did the right thing:
*will I be happy 3 months from now
*did I get a great deal
*is the car equipped the way I want it equipped
*will I be satisfied with the servicing of the car at that dealership
So, if you answered yes to all those questions, you did the right thing, in my opinion.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
What dealer on Long Island? A few months ago I helped a friend lease a Tiguan from Platimun VW. Nobody would touch the deal I got from them.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD, 2025 Integra
Was Platinum for me too. Dealt with Doc.
Class act.
Knew before I was given the numbers I would be buying the car from him.
Nicely done bossman. I think you will really like the Passat. I don't know how long you have been here but we got our Florida Passat in November. I think it is a lot of car for the money...definitely has a European feel to it. Backseat is huge. Very comfortable and lots of features for the price.
Your whole process of buying was right on. You knew what you wanted to pay, you had an idea of what you would want, you found a car that suits you and you negotiated a good deal.
Also, leasing sounds very sensible in your situation. I always say there is a time and a place when leasing makes sense, and this is definitely such a time. You need good transportation and you don't want high payments or a large downpayment.
The blue looks great and it goes nicely with the beige interior...congratulations on a smart purchase.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I know that I didn't go by the book in terms of negotiating the lease but, I was happy.
I'm kinda embarrassed that I don't even know the price he charged me for the car. Don't know residual or really any of the details. Wish I could share.
I just hope you don't have to deal with the Delivery Ditz. There is a woman there who goes over the car, pairs your phone... She's very nice, but I wanted to shoot myself if I had to spend another second with her.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD, 2025 Integra
Got the first quote from the place in West Islip.
Glad I went out of the way to Platinum.
It would be nice to know, but, more importantly...you got a car you really like for the price you want to pay. I think the fact it is substantially less than the first dealer offered it will be a good deal.
From what I have seen on the Passat Leasing forum on Edmunds you did very well. You can still ask there is a guy there who will review lease prices, but personally...I wouldn't want to know...I would just walk away and be very satisfied.
I suppose you may have saved another $5 or $10 a month if you drove all over the state...but it sounds like you did really well and time and just getting it done is worth a lot.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Fortunately, this all happened long before I knew these folks. I guess we're all part of the "reformation" crowd.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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The other thing that we need to remember was that I ende up $1800 ahead on the car that was totalled.
In essence, I'm giving the dealer that $1800 that was "found $".
Makes me feel even better about the deal.
One other question. Was I wrong to think that giving the Mazda dealer a $500 deposit to pick up a car that I could test drive was nuts?
What's everyone's feeling on that?
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I think $500 deposit for a test drive is "unorthodox" to say it mildly. If it was for transfer, factory order, or anything binding, it would be a legit thing to request. I've done that on special order of my car - and it was $3000. But, to give a a context, it was a manual transmission wagon for over $45K MSRP, so I would want one, if I were a dealer, too. They'd get stuck with it for long time if I walked. For run-the-mills family car, it seems they wanted to create a leverage for negotiations. You say you don't like it, now they force you to detail all the reasons why, waste bunch of time before you get the money back, so perhaps you cave in. However, if you put it on a credit card, it may be easier to get the money back than giving a check. I wouldn't miss $500 in my daily budget for couple of weeks, so I might say what the heck, but it seems you did the right thing, as nobody serious should ask for money just to let you inside a car.
BTW - you definitely need to switch gears on you shopping from just payment to all inclusive (i.e. cap cost redux, mileage allowance, etc.). Only after clear definition of your "initial conditions" you can shop for payment. Make sure you are comfortable with the miles allowed, if you think you need more, recalculate the lease now. Better to adjust your thinking by 20 or 40 bucks per month today than pay 5 grand at the return.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Just as a background, I did not go in on payment alone. I did all the research on edmunds and had a general idea of what the Passat should run me.
My point was that I did not go by the book and get the sales price, residual value, and MF. I already knew from here that anywhere more than 260 a month would require me to ask those questions. Point is that the salesman was directly in the ballpark of what the monthly payment should be. Once he gave me the number that I had already deemed fair in my mind, I didn't bother with all the little details.
Essentially, if he would have hit me with a $300 a month payment on a car that I know should be around $250-275, I would have balked and asked to see the calculations. I knew from the leasing forums on here just about what "going rate" for each of the cars I looked at should be.
For example, when the Ford salesman shot me a price of $350 a month for pretty much a base Fusion (on x plan btw) I knew he was trying to get over on me and made him give me all the details. He gave me the residual and MF. I never confirmed them because I didn't really want the car.
That's how this all went down
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
driver- Maybe the reason the deaths due to drunk driving go down when the alcohol limit is lowered, is because once an attorney gets involved (which more would) the drunk driving charge ends up being some charge other than drunk driving.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The $500 is asked for to show at least a small commitment from the customer. It's sometimes difficult for dealers to acquire certain vehicles and they need that added commitment to try and get a vehicle. The other situation is being "stuck" with a vehicle that may or may not sell well. And its a gamble for the dealer to go after a car that you may ultimately NOT take home. The other portion of this equation as far as getting that commitment - Some dealers are really no holds barred...They won't give up a vehicle to another dealer without taking everything (including the kitchen sink) from the dealer that needs it.
For example - a dealer can ask for a better car back and receive the holdback on BOTH cars - resulting in sometimes a nasty loss that a lot of dealers would not be willing to take.
That being said - giving that $500 and having them acquire the vehicle does put you in a favorable position. That dealer will definitely want to make sure you take that car home - putting you in the position of power and demanding more. Additional discount, extra accessories, free service appts, whatever.
Keep in mind the saying "buyers are liars" ... although not fair in some circumstances - it is a majority of the time true! That $500 deposit sometimes does mean a lot ... for both you and the dealer!
Just my 2 1/2 cents
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Just a couple things to consider in this case.
I was quoted the night before on the Sport model that was in stock. When I got there, the only Mazda6 on the entire property was a Grand Touring in the back corner of the showroom. The salesman that gave me the news that the quoted car was sold, proceeded to tell me that they can't keep them. Selling like crazy.
At no time did the salesman offer to pull the Grand Touring off the showroom floor for me to test drive. Instead, he tried to sell me a Mazda3. I headed over to a CX 5 that was on the floor and that I genuinely liked. He then told me maybe that would work for me.
Again, still no offer to test drive the Grand Touring. Maybe I'm wrong but I think the power trains are the same across the trims. Not 100% sure but still would have been a nice gesture. Or even try to sell me the Grand Touring. At that point I was open to anything.
He then hit me with the $500 deposit scenario. He also said he found a sport and that the dealer with the car "owed" them a vehicle.
So, if the dealer owed them a car and they were selling like hot cakes, why the need for my $500?
It was only when he got the "manager" involved to "say hello" did test driving the Grand Touring become an option. The manager said he would pull the car off the showroom right now to let me test drive. He also gave me a price around $319 a month for the Grand Touring which was not happening.
I did not want to make a big production in getting the car off the floor, into the rain for something I knew I wasn't going to buy. By that time I felt like maybe this wasn't meant to be and I should just move on.
In fairness, the manager was a really nice, straight forward guy. Would have done business with him but, the salesman and the whole way this went down soured me.
So - in my opinion and based on my experiences... there's a little too much slime going on here...
"Selling very fast" usually means 2 things ... 1) Never had it to begin with and 2) its such a hot product don't you dare try to negotiate
Showing every other possible model of car ... I'd ask myself and maybe them...WHY? Yes, dealers want to sell what they have in stock - BUT, a sale is still a sale - i'd wonder why he was pushing you away from the car you were interested in.
Now showing the grand touring on the floor was completely stupid. You could have potentially really liked it - and thus, considered buying that one! Rookie mistake, or the guy really didnt give a damn.
"Owes us a car" ... While there's a chance this is true - I doubt it. Another rookie sales mistake - making it sound like its easy to get the car - and then you're right - why ask for the $500! Can't do both - its one or the other.
I still stand by my reasons i gave for asking for $500...its a legitimate request... HOWEVER - you are completely right in saying why ask you for it - if its so easy to acquire this car.
My suggestion is definitely look elsewhere - and primarily for a sales person that actually LISTENS and genuinely WANTS TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS.
Good luck
... oh and that'll be a $500 deposit just in case i need to add any further "cents" to the conversation!
First you said " I was open for anything"
Then..."" I knew I wasn't going to buy" (Grand Touring)
It kinda sounds to me like that "manager" was really a seasoned "closer" and that salesperson was a newbee "liner".
As far as a 500.00 deposit just to do a dealer trade, I have no idea why they would do that unless they wanted to make sure you were at least pretty serious about doing the deal.
Our store wouldn't do a dealer trade unless we had a done deal and at that point, we would take a deposit. Usually 500.00.
If it was an oddball car such as a 5 speed with NAVI we would make VERY sure
we had a deal! Nobody wants to get stuck with a dog!
So you also keep them in line like you do with us here, huh?
Manager seemed like a good guy. When he offered to move 4 cars out the way to pull out the Grand Touring, I asked for a ballpark number on the car. For reference, the original quote on the Sport was $245 a month. He gave me a number of $319 a month. At that point, I knew that I was not going to buy it. Not looking to waste his time, I passed.
Hope this clears it up
It's a dumb move to tell a customer that a particular car is a "hot seller in low supply" early in the game. That's like saying..." You should consider yourself lucky to even be able to buy one and you aren't going to get an exceptional deal"
It the car is truly a "hot" car the shopper is already aware of that.
Off hand I can't think of ANY Mazda since the early Miatas that have been in especially high demand but I could be wrong I suppose.
A salesperson should be upbeat and positive.
Reality will come later.
In some markets ther is so much competition and downright hatred between stores that trades simply aren't done.
I know our store did a lot of trades but over the years we learned that certain stores weren't worth trading with. They would turn us down time and time again when we would ask for cars. Some stores would load thier cars down with 1000.00 or more of accessories that most customers didn't want.
Since we were (still are) the highest volume Honda Dealer in nine states, most of the smaller stores tried hard not to tick us off and get blacklisted.
People gave the car high marks on Edmunds 41/2 stars out of 5.
I find our Passat is a much nicer car to drive.
Mazda 5 pros: Very solid, 3rd row seating so holds 6, pretty complete, roomy.
Cons: Absolutely no fun element-seems like a basic human transporter to get from A to B
Steering has very moderate feel of the road
Seat positions not perfect.
Feels like you are driving a mini-bus.......no hood
Car lungs forward if accelerating.
Wierd gear shifting, really clicks in or sometimes I have to press accelerator to feel I am going forward.
People who buy the Mazda 5 like it, but it's just me, but, there are cars I like much more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My wife got a Ford C-Max as a rental. She usually doesn't like cars like this one or the Mazda 5. She was very impressed with it. It probably helped that it had all of 6 miles on it. She said it was so quiet that she tried to start it a couple of times (hybrid) because she didn't realize that it was on.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I have a previous generation Mazda 6 wagon which is just a ball. 6 Cyl and a stick. Great combo. I'm almost sure the engine is a Ford but who cares? Great car and picked it up used for $6500. Can't beat that. One of my great accidental deals.
The new 6 is very nice but I don't think it's a big seller. While Mazda is finally turning a profit again Mazda USA is not.
That's exactly what it feels like.....a real mini-minivan.
Some people like their cars to be purely practical. Maximum use of space, and made to be as inexpensive as possible...I am talking about a monochrome black interior with a plasticy molded instrument panel.
Give me something a little impractical....it'll be a lot more fun!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I know with both my BMW and the former GF's Audi, the dealerships were really willing to get whatever was desired. Matter of fact, when I was looking for my 335i coupe, the dealer actually snagged it from a dealership on the east coast who had it ready to ship from the port of entry dock. They actually did the swap virtually...sending the east coast dealer a 7 series they had sitting on the dock for the 3 series I wanted. It was just a matter of paperwork...no extra shipping involved.
For the S4, there aren't a whole lot of colors available, and it really only comes in two flavors (Premium Plus and Prestige). However, there also aren't a whole lot of them out there that are available, either.
As far as paying for a test drive......I personally wouldn't. I'm in the show room. I'm a potential customer. What more does a dealership want? Aren't they there to sell a car to the person sitting in their showroom?
Asking me for a deposit to test drive their car is a sure fire way to get me to leave....and they'd have no shot at my business.....AT ALL!
Dealer trading is the lifeblood of the car business - few dealers have the resources to possess an inventory of all colors in all models. One of the only ways dealers cooperate is in dealer trading. When I was in the business, I worked for a huge dealership with over 1700 new cars in inventory at all times. We still needed to dealer trade because we still couldn't stock everything.
Port trades are the easiest and least expensive since we did not have to pay double transportation.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Some local stores get along with each other and some don't.
We once had a customer spend two days looking at and test driving Odysseys. We had the car they wanted in stock.
Someone suggested to them that they try a tiny, rural Honda dealer to get a better price and they did!
The SM on duty didn't know we had a customer ready to buy that particular Odyssey so when that small store called asking for it, he gave it up!
When the salesperson called the customer the next day to find out when he was coming in to pick up his Odyssey he was bluntly informed that he bought it from that other store! No, he didn't save any money.
Now, this small store depended on us and we were always happy to help them out. They KNEW we had a deal working and they still shafted us!
Wanna guess how many cars we gave them after that?
Wanna guess which store got the pleasure of doing all of the nit picking warranty work on that Odyssey?
We would always write DO NOT D/T in the stock book next to a car's stock number but somehow, we missed that one.
So, why do salespeople become untrusting and cynical?
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Later all!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Sounds familiar. When I was ready to refinance my mortgage I contacted Wells Fargo, the holder of my note. They offered me a "ridiculously" high refi rate plus exorbitant closing costs. So, I simply called a mortgage broker who offered a loan with zero closing costs and one percentage point below Wells Fargo's. The difference in price (savings) was equivalent to $565 a month.
And here is the twist. The loan was sold back to Wells Fargo. Now, that's what I call [non-permissible content removed] backwards banking.
What's up with that?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
What's up with that?
My original post was over 2 months ago, but sandman decided to attack me anyway, and politically. Thanks sandman. I appreciate your attack, which was personal - but my post was not personal.
Hope you enjoyed your personal attack on me - sort of like a shot to my head. Thanks!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger