Not much worse than vehicle shopping. Nothing local but black, white, and grey. We don't want any of those colors. If local has a color combo we want it's a good $5,000 more than other places a little drive away.
I'll ask for under carriage photos and the carfax find one that I want and then when I send an offer it's already sold. So far the two I have sent offers on they had for a couple months and then all the sudden they sold.

I love & hate the search & the game.

I'd been casually looking for an efficient, cheap, manual transmission car for a while. Lucked into the FiST right when the Mini started running really poorly.

Luckily it was at a large sized, small town dealer. No pressure, no upsells or frivolous add-ons, reasonable in negotiation & got the deal done in about an hour.

Easy as shit for me. But I only buy new. Ain’t wasting time on used shit that I don’t know how it was maintained, especially if it’s forced induction. Vehicles, I plan on 12, 24 even 36 months before buying. Allows time to really save $ for 25, 40, or 50% down payment. Necessary for me now, because of these crazy ass MSRP’s and not being able to get invoice pricing like I did from 1991 until Covid. During that time, eval via forums, what people are getting it for. Hunt like a big cat in Africa, who wants that caribou meat. Say no an awful lot. Ignore phone calls and texts (I hate using SMS for business use of any kind). Drag it out until that stealer sales manager, well until I have broken his ass. Be prepared for a rando call with “today only, we’ll meet your price.” Then the finance douche will try to sneak in their snake oil stealer packages. I love buying out of town for this reason. They know I don’t live there so they don’t even bother with the finance douche stealer snake oil packages of wheel and tire, tru coat, pin stripes, tint, lo jack (have never paid for the shit even if they installed it), maintenance package, etc. All that is bullshit. Out of town buying is so choice, I highly recommend it. Last vehicle purchase I had to sign my name on a single page sales sheet and that was it. I was following the salesman shortly after to go fill it up with 93 octane. Got home, 2 signatures at my CU. Couldn’t be any easier.

I enjoy the entire process because they need to make a sale. I don’t “need” to buy. I don’t budge a millimeter on my price either. The only thing I haven’t been able to game yet, is getting out of these port installed bullshit things. But that’s because the Manu’s sales region port, install the shit, and it’s on the Monroney label, before it even gets to the stealer. I hate that. But time is your best tool in vehicle buying. If you are in need it now situation, you’ve already fucked up, and you haven’t planned accordingly. I’ll rent a vehicle for a month or longer before I’ll knee jerk a vehicle sale. They can go horribly wrong and sideways.

Shop rural in your state, or go out of town to smaller towns and your life will be a lot easier. If you are trying to buy a vehicle where millions of fuckers live, it can be hell on Earth.

Unfortunately I don’t have money to buy new and our needs I am stuck with a fatally flawed design in the Suburban and Yukon XLs. So I buy a warranty and roll the dice. Though the diesel would be nice but they are like hens teeth.
Last two vehicles were before COVID and it was pretty easy. They both did end up coming from tiny farm towns. Prices were good as was selection.
Now we are post COVID and prices are stupid.
I am scouring Autotrader, Edmunds, and CarGurus within a 500 mile radius as that gives me a good spread and overlap.
Last month or so has been nothing but looking on line and sending emails requesting Carfax (yes I know it is not the end all but it’s a good start) and under carriage photos.
I never give out my cellphone give my junk number but don’t answer it unless they have sent me the Carfax and undercarriage photos.
I’ve called or emailed offers on 2 and they “sold the hour before.”
I’ll find a configuration we like and it will lack one feature we want.

Some folks prices are just stupid high.

Waiting on some under carriage photos at the moment on one that is priced fine, Carfax looks good, so hopefully we’ll get good pictures today.
We can agree on a price and I’ll drive up Sunday grab it Monday (hoping they are open) and drive home.
It’s 7 hours away so that sucks but for the perfect color combination and feature set for our 2nd largest costing thing we own. I’ll make the drive.

Financing, I’ll take their financing for a better smoother deal, then come right home and refinance with our credit union.

My suspicion is that a lot of late model low-mileage used vehicles were traded in because they had problems that weren’t being solved under warranty. We’ve had several of them ourselves. If you buy one of these you might start out behind the eight ball.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

My suspicion is that a lot of late model low-mileage used vehicles were traded in because they had problems that weren’t being solved under warranty.

Another possibility is return after lease. Somebody is going to get a good deal when I return my leased LYRIQ.

It would help if you provide some more details on the models, price range and general geographic location or if you’re willing to drive/ fly to get it…

In the last 5 years I’ve bought two cars out of state, one in TX and one in FL and I live in N.C.
It’s really not that hard especially with a very common vehicle like I think you’re looking for.

BTW, one was blue and the other green…

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Easy as shit for me. But I only buy new. Ain’t wasting time on used shit that I don’t know how it was maintained, especially if it’s forced induction....

I used to buy used vehicles but anymore, unless I know the PO or it's a low mileage creampuff, I pony up and buy new because proper maintenance is everything. It seems especially over the last 20 years manufacturers have, understandably so, been obsessed chasing the almighty MPG numbers and there's no trick they won't try. Tricks like using the lightest duty transmission and rear ends that'll hold up through warranty, low tension piston rings, smaller engine bearings, etc. These tricks work but the vehicles just don't tolerate abuse or poor maintenance like the generally overbuilt ones of the past.

I don't want someone's 2nd hand or leased vehicle that they only changed oil every 10K, or was launched off in a hurry every morning right after being started, even after sitting out all night in winter. The cost to replace a short block or 8-speed transmission now is eye watering!

The other issue I've had when looking for used ones is so many of them are high mileage. Looking for a 3-4 yer old car with under 25,000 miles? Forget it, most will have 3x that mileage and still be expensive. Lower mileage ones that appear to be pretty good are out there but they are the exception and go for so much you may as well look at a new one.

The more you know what you want, the bigger the pain in the ass it is.

Unicorn hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:
The more you know what you want, the bigger the pain in the ass it is.

Unicorn hunting.

100%

Looking for 2021-2023 Suburban and Yukon XLs. No black, white, grey.
4wd, under 70K miles, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled seats, rear entertainment, around 50K.

Black, white, or Grey I'd have one a long time ago.
Yeah, we are picky but it's our 2nd largest purchase behind our house and plan to have it 5+ years as long as it will go. So I don't mind waiting for the right one. Don't mind traveling.

Just a pain.
I use Cargurus, Autotrader, Edmunds mostly.
Any other suggestions??

I have bought several cars through either Enterprise or Hertz car sales and never had an issue.
Of course most of the colors you don’t want are the ones they have.

I found a newer version with lower miles in a nice Volcanic Red but it’s over your budget…

https://www.hertzcarsales.com/...de4a195355f24eca.htm

These vehicles are maintained very well and come with the remainder of the factory warranty..

A few more miles but under your budget…
https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-s...2&state=NC&zip=28370


Not white but a light cream color…
https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-s...tYear=2022&zip=28370

^^^^^^^^^^^
So the 3rd one would be good if it had rear seat entertainment.
Wife is good with that color it’s what we have now.
The iridescent pearl is good to go. Just straight white is a no.

I may give them a buzz and slap a couple screens in the back on my own.

ETA: Actually I had already seen that one and knocked it off the list. I have looked at so many they are running together.

This one was rear ended and then not too long later had to have the rear pinion seal replaced.
Indicating to me it took a pretty decent rear end hit.
Or it could be just a coincidence but not one I am willing take a chance on.

Taken the rear entertainment out of the mix and will just add them myself.
Opens up quite a few more options. Have sent a few offers today and now I am busy chopping off all these stupid fees, "pulse protection", and whatever crap they are trying to tack on.

Coming up on 5:00 so I am guessing some are going to go Radio Silent.
I have made it clear I am ready to jump in the car first thing Monday morning and be there when doors open if we can strike a deal today.

If that end of the month deal thing is actually a thing.

Try Carvana?

Yes.
All Black, white, and silver with the exception of one Red that is the base model and does not have the options we want.

Checked my local go to dealers. Only a couple older [15-19] LTs. All in the colors you don't want.

I have a deal set on a 2021 Yukon XL Denali in Charlotte.
Have a tentative deal set on a 2021 Yukon XL Denali in Detroit. We were emailing after hours and they have to wait till Monday to solidify.
Both the same price. The one in Detroit is 2 hours closer and exactly what we have been looking for color combo and option wise. So really hope we can get that deal done.
The one in Charlotte is a color that is not high on the list but meets all our other wants and we’re just tired of fooling with it so will deal with the color.

Put offers in on 10 today I do believe. Some of these dealers are flat crazy with their fees and protections!

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
[

Looking for 2021-2023 Suburban and Yukon XLs. No black, white, grey.
4wd, under 70K miles, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled seats, rear entertainment, around 50K.

Any other suggestions??

Yeah, quit looking at used behomeths. You can get a brand new Toyota Sienna Limited for $50k. Brand spanking new. Or go with a lower trim and get the options you want. I just spec’d a limited and damn thing comes with all sorts of shit. Touch less sliding doors. Heated Leather seats. JBL sound system.

I think the Odyssey is similar priced. Both are amazing vehicles.

I was pleasantly surprised when I bought my FiST a couple weeks ago. No BS add ons, no frivolous fees. Just an easy & quick deal.
Large Ford dealer, but had the feel of a old small town get up. I worked across the road from them in college at the equivalent Chevrolet dealer. Good to still have some of the good ones around.

Hope you can get the deal that suits you.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
[

Looking for 2021-2023 Suburban and Yukon XLs. No black, white, grey.
4wd, under 70K miles, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled seats, rear entertainment, around 50K.

Any other suggestions??

Yeah, quit looking at used behomeths. You can get a brand new Toyota Sienna Limited for $50k. Brand spanking new. Or go with a lower trim and get the options you want. I just spec’d a limited and damn thing comes with all sorts of shit. Touch less sliding doors. Heated Leather seats. JBL sound system.

I think the Odyssey is similar priced. Both are amazing vehicles.

We had a Sienna before this Suburban. It was miserable. Won't be doing that again.