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Comments
Totally agree. The only thing I think is comparable to doc fees is when lawyers charge you to photocopy pages, and of course the list of calls they make that they charge you for. Give me a break! Next thing my accountant will charge a pen and ink fee.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Yeah, but you downstaters tip twice that much to get a seat in a restaurant.
That fact is not lost on the Mater 'D at the Saratoga Racetrack clubhouse where the "city folk" pay $200 to get seated next to the local who paid nothing.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Don't give snake ideas.....
Not this unemployed downstater.
... to be continued (hi mac).
Richard
This is when you find the best OTD price for an accountant.
i'm trying to steer her about 10k downmarket.
Fridays, Saturdays store closing is generally 11:30PM. But we are not a slam store. Pretty mid-to high end.
It is the demographics. Just the fact that we are in the burbs and most of our customers come home from work, and then get dinner and then go shopping.
Many years ago I had a job where part of it was auditing legal bills and challenging the fees. Why pay a senior partner $250/hour to do legal research that a legal clerk could do for a fraction of the price.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
We went back to the dealership and to his desk and started talking price. As I said before the sticker on the car was $16,995, KBB.com had it at $15,985 and the dealerships website had it at $14,995 so I was pretty certain that that $14,995 was close to if not the rock bottom price. After a bit of going back and forth I found that $14,995 was rock bottom (FWIW the original sticker was still in the glove box showing $27,260). Then we went to my trade in and they gave me a real low price, a fraction of what KBB.com had for it. I mentioned the KBB.com price (not trying to get it but to get their offer higher) and the salesman asked if he could get me that would I buy. Now mind you I didn't ask for it he offered to try to get it. I heard the SM yell "If he can get that someplace. else let him". We ended up getting more than I had originally planned. All in all car price less trade in was a couple of hundred more than my target price but doable.
Now at the F&I office. This guy was great, very open very honest and seemed to do his best. All in all he got us the interest rate I was hoping for and the payment came in just over what I wanted. Here comes the baby seal being clubed, he gave me a monthly payment then a monthly payment with a 5 year 60K mile bumper to bumper warranty. The thing was that the payment with the warranty was only $12 more. I should have said yes right there and then but I told him something had to be wrong, there was.
At the end after about 2 hours we were driving home in the car the wife wanted. Shes happy and if shes happy we are all happy.
Now I just can't wait for the first good warm sunny day when we can drop that top and get on LSD (thats Lake Shore Drive for those not lucky enough to live near Chicago).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Congratulations SW! Excellent story and you executed the deal perfectly. What I like was it was all done in a calm businesslike manner (just not sure about the SMs comment about let him go somewhere else though, that sounds more confrontational than necessary).
There is nothing nicer than being in a convertible on a pleasant day. I love that feeling. Only, once last summer the biggest bird in Canada must have flown over while we had the top down. Fortunately, it hit the front windshield, but it covered a lot of it.......if the bird had been flying a foot more to the East - or if I was driving 5 mph faster, it would have been a direct hit! :sick:
By the way, that price you got it for sounds incredible too!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I don't think this is really true. If it was true why wouldn't you also have to charge everyone the same price for the car?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Bad mortgage loans are supposedly what started the downturn in our economy and the resulting chaos that has followed. Anyone who ever bought a house with less than 20% down has always had to buy "mortgage insurance", right? This mortgage insurance is supposed to protect lenders in case the borrower defaults on his mortgage.
I have not heard one peep during this entire bad mortgage fiasco about mortgage insurance. Are these guys not paying up after collecting billions on dollars over the years? It seems that the lenders are all losing their shirts but I thought this was what mortgage insurance was for.
Someone please explain this to me. :confuse:
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Don't let jipster see that....
I don't live in or near Chicago but am familiar with Lake Shore Drive. A nice day with the top down there would be just about perfect!
That said for the most part insurance is an awfully lucrative deal for the guys in the business. They have to screw up pretty badly to not rake in money.
Anyway, saw one today in a great color combo. Dark blue, with "saddle" interior (sort of dark taupe/light brown looking). SUper elegant looking.
Doesn't seem to be real popular though. The guy that had it works for Hyundai (it was a pre-production model), and he said that it was the only V8 left to pick out of the pool, since the other guys didn't care for it (picky people driving company cars!)
If I ws to get one, that would be the color (or burgandy + saddle). Then again, I like the orange leather in Volvo R models, and the reddish one in BMWs too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I am surprised you didn't get a "free" carmax appraisal to use against the SM. Then you would have had a nice retort to the SM.
We bought this place 16 years ago and were on a first time homebuyer's program which involved 5% down. It was a bit over $50 a month on the PMI. You really have to watch out for them, too, because it's not like they tell you when you hit the magic 20% figure. You have to ask them to remove it.
Since we bought the place we passed the 20% mark, refinanced and expanded the house. That last one was like moving without actually changing the address.
I realize we are off-topic - but you are 100% correct. This should be "rule 1" in prudent real estate - to be followed by: buy what you can afford or less, not the max qualified for, and strongly consider 15 year mortgage. Those in the best shape today are those who bought less than the max they could afford, paid at least 20% down, and took single 15 year loans.
One of the many hats I've worn was that of Realtor - and agents are trained to steer people to properties that are at the max that they qualify for, not necessarily afford. That maximizes commissions to everybody. It was a real disservice to buyers and the major reason why I got out of the bus. Maybe when I retire, I'll do it again as a buyer's agent, but listings bring in more easy $ (IMO).
To keep OT, this should also be rule #1 in the auto industry as well.
- Put 15%-25% down.
- Finance 3-5 yrs
- Drive the car for 2-3 years after its paid off, continue to make the car payments to yourself via a savings accounts. Then trade in car and use cash for next car.
So where 20 years ago you could have had a car financed for 2 years with affordable payments, or a mortgage with a 15 year term, these days it's nearly impossible, and unheard of.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I was trading in a 9 year old Hyundai Elantra that had some body damage (got the insurance money which was used for a down payment) and their first offer was only $50 below Carmax.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Buy what you can afford. If that is an econobox or a used car instead of a Escalade with dubs, then so be it. People used to live in houses with 2 bedrooms and a single bath. In the future, they may count themselves lucky to live in such a home. :sick:
Only true for people who are not willing to make sacrifices. These are the things that can be easily eliminated and not missed, so that more essential purchases can be afforded: restaurants, vacations, latest greatest consumer items like big tvs etc., cable tv, some cell phone plans, buying lunch every day, etc. Some of us have always lived like it was the Great Depression - growing and harvesting our own food, etc. and are better mentally equipped to survive these times - yes, with much lower incomes.
Its a matter of what is important to your life. Most people lack self-discipline and nickle & dime their money away without realizing it - all due to bad habits that develop over time. Perhaps growing up poor and appreciating the little, but important things, makes it easier to have high self-discipline. People are largely spoiled and do not value self-control and delayed gratification. It is the single toughest lesson to teach our children - but most essential. I know - my daughter sees her 16 year old friends getting new 3-series, Minis and Mustang GTs & she had to earn all As to be allowed to drive my 7 year old Prizm. Tough lesson - but then again, nobody ever gave me a car.
This is all off-topic and I'm finished. "I will speak no more forever - Chief Joseph".
Richard
Don't let jipster see that....
Well, I'm just glad somebody around here finally bought a car. :P
But, snakie did pretty well using many of my "Jipst Method of Car Buying" techniques. Buttered them up a bit with the time investment strategy (2 hours).
Negotiated to what he thought was the rock bottom price. Didn't get quite so much for his trade in, but who does. He got the sales manager fired up, which is always fun. Made, "She who must be obeyed" happy. I guess it would have been a bit of a gamble to get up and walk over " a couple hundred bucks", but snake has always said time is money... and the price was in his "doable range", so not a problem there. Good deal overall.
Yes it does ride nice and handles well, not like a sports car but does handle more than well enough for most of my driving.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Don't let jipster see that....
Well, I'm just glad somebody around here finally bought a car. :P
But, snakie did pretty well using many of my "Jipst Method of Car Buying" techniques. Buttered them up a bit with the time investment strategy (2 hours).
Negotiated to what he thought was the rock bottom price. Didn't get quite so much for his trade in, but who does. He got the sales manager fired up, which is always fun. Made, "She who must be obeyed" happy. I guess it would have been a bit of a gamble to get up and walk over " a couple hundred bucks", but snake has always said time is money... and the price was in his "doable range", so not a problem there. Good deal overall.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I drove an 08 as a demo for a few weeks and actually enjoyed it. So did my wife. It has 4 useable seats in it too which is a plus.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
That could be what they tell people, but of course WE know that invoice already includes destination. ;b
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The last time I was in Krogers, they added a doc fee to the register bill for just those same items! :P
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Well put. Your post reminds me of advice that I read many years ago on CompuServe, back in the days before the Web, when going online meant subscribing to a proprietary service.
The sysop of the personal finance forum set down rules for buying a car that, if followed, would keep people out of financial trouble. As I recall, they were:
Never buy new.
Pay cash if you can. Otherwise, make a down payment of at least 50%. If you can't swing that, then you shouldn't have the car.
If you're financing the purchase, pay off the note in 24 months or less.
Keep the car for at least 36 months. If you financed it, the 36 month time frame begins after you've made the last payment. Use that time to save what you'll need for your next car.
No matter how well off you are, you should never spend more than $15K on a car. (This was in 1990 dollars; I'm guessing that the equivalent price today would be a bit more than $30K.)
I thought part of being in business was that they had shop supplies to use in the service area. That's all part of the $90 per hour they charge while paying the mechanic $18--oh and that's on the book time, not the actual time it takes the mechanic to do the job which may be half as long. They still get paid double time.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Frankly, all they have to do then is buy the uniforms, shop rags, etc., instead of
leasingI mean renting them. :sick: The cost of uniforms if they don't require their employees to supply their own is all a part of doing business.2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Being regulated doesn't mean they're okay. I just means the dealer lobby got the legislature to pass a bill for them. In many cases the fees are "up to $250" but the dealer explains to the customer that the state requires it to be $250. No.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Maybe. Maybe not.
Either way, if one lives within ones means, it's no big deal. Buy an older used car. Buy a smaller house.
That sort of thing.
What jacks peoples' jaws is when the people who have done so have to pick up the slack for those who didn't.
Just for laughs he should call up Isellhondas and ask what he'll give for a trade. :P
It takes courage to buy a Chrysler these days with all the media hype about bankruptcy.
Still, it's nice to see someone besides me likes the small Chryslers. It was my Cirrus (two generations removed from snake's Sebring) that got me interested in cars again. Previously I had been driving Oldsmobiles and Chevys which weren't bad cars but did not excite me like the Chrysler.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
OTD is what we ALL pay... so who cares if the doc fee is $1000 as long as the OTD price is the lowest.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Shades of Chris Matthews. I'm starting to worry.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Congratulations ‘snake’, enjoy it. That’s one down and two to go. I should be saying one to go and that one will be Richard. :surprise:
I helped Son # 1 do a plumbing repair today and of course we talked about me getting a Genesis. When I got home I decided to clean Mrs. jmonroe’s 06’ Sonata and while I’m cleaning the door jambs with a long soft bristled brush to get the dirt out of the hinge area (I do this once a year in the Spring, it was 73 today in the Burgh) then I just wipe down the jams after every washing thereafter till next Spring.
Well, you know who shows up and says, “you wash the inside of the doors”? I explained to her what I just said and said, “you never saw me do this before”? She said, “no”. Then I said, “I want to make sure it’s clean so I can get top dollar for it if I trade it in”. She says, “your’re really serious about buying that car aren’t you? What’s so special about that car”? I said, “I just think it’s a nice car and would like to buy it if things work out the way I’d like them to”. She says, “so, you’d just like to buy a car even though we don’t really need one, right”? I said, “yeah, something like that”. She says, “ok, I’d like a new house maybe I should start looking, maybe I can find something nice. You know that real estate prices are pretty low right now and something might work out the way I’d like it to”. :surprise:
I’m not about to let her bluff me out of this game now so I said, “that’s a very nice car so make sure you find a nice house with a nice garage, it deserves the best”. All the while I’m thinking, ‘and I thought I was afraid of furniture’?
Yes Richard, I think your chances are a lot better than mine after what I heard today.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl