In another thread I've explained problems I've been having with my 93 Ford Ranger. I bought it new and that's the last vehicle I've bought for myself. Back then I bought new because the stripped down base model I bought was cheaper than the used with all the bells and whistles. I have been trolling the Trucar and CarGuru sites and I can't believe the prices their too. When did this shit get to be the price of a mortgage payment? So, are the prices on these sites "the prices?" I've been looking at the Toyota Tacoma but truck prices are just plain outrageous no matter what make you want. My wife says, "You have to pay the penis tax to drive one of those." So I've been looking at the RAVA 4 and the Subaru Crosstrek. Both go for around 25k new, but damn if you can find anything for less than 18k that's decent.

So, do you go new or used?
Techniques for negotiating price?
Any other helpful information?

The new Rangers are out and look pretty bad ass. There are various avenues of getting an X plan. That wipes out most of the extra fees and gives you a break on the price without dickering. If you have family at Ford you may be able to get a family plan which is even better
If you join Mustang Club of America or you are a member of DAV, your eligable for X Plan. I'm a Ford guy, that's all I know.

I am sure my strategy isn't the best but this is what I do. Back in the day I scanned the actual dealer prices and added some amount above that as my price. It didn't account for all the discounts and kickbacks but I have a life and making car buying a career wasn't in my best interests. Now I go to my car buying service (USAA) and find out what they can get me my car for and go down from there. Mind you I have never actually bought through them but I use them as my "research".

You know the other stuff. Don't be afraid to walk away, sell your car vice trade it in, call around even to the states nearby, etc.

As I have gotten older I put in less effort than before but I still stick to one non negotiable thing. My wife picks out what she wants and then I take her home. She doesn't have the stomach nor the stamina to negotiate. She literally has negotiated against me in the car dealership before. lol. That was when I came up with my rule.

Good luck. I have a CrossTrek and love mine. RAV4 gets great reviews.

I shop nationally, then try to use the best price I can find to get a local dealer to match. Often I find one that will match, sometimes not. I have purchased out of state to save several thousand dollars on more than one occasion.


I am actually buying a used vehicle right now. I searched the country via the internet and the best price I can find happens to be in Dallas, about 3 hours away. I had a local relative that I trust inspect and drive it last week, he is way more picky than me and has owned dozens of high end cars. I called the dealer Friday and struck a deal, called my credit union immediately after and did the loan over the phone. Connected the banker and car dealer to work out the exchange of funds on their own. The dealer is delivering the car to my door this week.

We have not bought a car on time payments for at least 3o years, so I cannot address dealing with mortgages.

Our strategy has been fairly simple. If the salesperson is male, my wife deals with him. If female I deal with her. We have done our research prior to going to the dealer and know what they are worth and what we are willing to pay.

We tell them upfront, "we want your best offer, no running back and forth to the sales manager, etc etc.

If we like your price we will probably buy the car. If the salescritter comes back with some counter offer, we get up and leave.

Saves a lot of time, frustration and dealing people who have trouble understanding the English language.

Don't know if it qualifies as a strategy, but the last three new vehicles I've bought were one model year old. Between rebates and the dealers wanting to move them, I think I did well.

I use autotrader.com to find vehicles I'm interested in and get a feel for what prices are. I'm not afraid to travel to get a deal. I flew to Tennessee to buy my truck and drove to Tampa buy my car.

Just a few random thoughts. First, I cannot think of a worse financial decision than financing a new vehicle purchase.

payments, interest, depreciation, etc. etc. etc.
Just bad business and is why by in large you see the prices you see. Virtually everyone does it.

Having said that. If I was going to buy new I would determine the brand and model or models I would only buy. Figure out what the going purchase price for them is. You are going to pay that price with in a couple grand or less. The example of that is the crosstrek or Rav4. You know what they cost pretty much.

I would only buy a Toyota, Honda, Subaru or Nissan at this point. A Jeep or Ford possibly. doubt it.

These days a Tocoma would absolutely be out.

The process can be simple or over complicated. Your choice on which.

i don't shop for exotic cars so this works for me-

first step is education - who has what - the various incentives, pricing plans etc -- model trim levels etc...

then you search for dealers who have the vehicle you want - that theoretically I would go buy that car TODAY - if we could do a deal

then I will email those - ideally - 4 or 5 dealerships discussing the pricing and my offer ... a couple likely won't 'negotiate' via email - but if you hook up with the right rep - usually the 'internet' or 'fleet' salesperson - they are more than happy to talk price. make sure you are talking about the 'all in' price -- EVERYTHING - vehicle + tax / tag / license, etc...

-- also - line up your financing ahead of time if not paying cash -- they may be able to beat it but you don't want that to de-rail the deal... I am a sucker for 0 - .9% financing...

if i get a couple going back and forth in the right price range i will then go in and look at the car and if everything is fine - look at closing the deal

I want a good deal - but I am not worried about spending 5 hours back and forth to save $100 on a $25k + purchase -- at that point i'ts just lets get it done and me on the road. this has worked pretty well in the past.

(this gets more complicated if you are trying to do a trade in - that's obviously a separate negotiation...)

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Last time I bought the saying was if you buy new its worth half just by driving it off the lot. With used prices that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. A friend who is a car guy recommends Toyota, Subaru, or Honda.

I have used the Costco auto program for the last two vehicles I purchased. In fact, I bought a new car for my wife yesterday. It cuts out the haggling and it beat the KBB low fair market value price.
In spite of knowing exactly the model we wanted, paying cash and the "no haggling", I still spent close to five hours at the dealership waiting, filling out paperwork, and more waiting before I could drive off with the car. I swear, when it comes to waiting, auto dealerships are worse than hospitals.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:

I would only buy a Toyota, Honda, Subaru or Nissan at this point. A Jeep or Ford possibly. doubt it.

These days a Tocoma would absolutely be out.

Why not a Tacoma?

My strategy is fairly simple. First I target cars that are a couple of years old and in the 30,000 mile range. That way somebody else has already taken the heaviest depreciation hit, and I have some warranty under me if it's a lemon. Then I do a lot of research using the Edmunds TMV, KBB, and others. Assuming I'm buying from a dealer, I pick a price around the TMV price that I'm willing to pay.

After deciding my price, I give that price to the dealer and say basically, that's my offer take it or leave it. No negotiations, no back and forth. If they try to bring me up on price, I give them my phone number and leave. Most of the time they call before I make it home.

I'm not interested in haggling or negotiating. I figure, I have the money, I have the power. The key is understanding the market for the vehicle you're buying. With high demand brands like Honda and Toyota, the dealer doesn't have as much incentive to meet your price because somebody else will come along in a day or two and pay a couple thousand more.

quote:

What is your strategy for buying a car?

Do my research first. Stick to my gun at the dealer. They need my business. I can always go elsewhere.

My price is always pre-negotiated before I set foot on the Dealer premises and is always contingent on a satisfactory test drive of the actual vehicle I am purchasing.

I purchase used/CPO whenever possible if the price makes sense - and I never finance/pay interest on anything that depreciates. (plenty of 0% and .9% deals out there)

Good Luck

quote:

Why not a Tacoma?

Way over priced for starters. The current version is not near as good or as good a value and the last couple versions.

Those buying and financing them today are way over paying for what they are getting imho.

Because it is the vehicle that the millineals flock to is a good enough reason to steer clear of in my book.

Now if you can buy a four door V6 one for $27.5k otd sure. But $38k-$45k is laughable.

Sorry about your Ranger. Yeah, Colorado for trucks and Subarus is not the best deal. perhaps a stopgap until you find that perfect one. Look on Craigslist? Or a Gen 3 4Runner. It might be a good time to look at used Crosstreks at Heuberger. best of luck on your search.

I always go new and get exactly the options I want and drive it for a long time. My last vehicle I kept 11 years and put 103k miles on it. Given your history I'd recommend you do the same.

I go looking at vehicles and test drive them with zero intentions of buying that day. I'm honest with the salesman, take their card, and call them when I'm interested. Once I've narrowed down make/model/options. I go online, see who has what within an hour of me, and email the dealers that have the vehicle I'm looking for. I'm honest about terms (how I'm paying etc.) and then see what they come out with.

New cars are expensive compared to 10/20 years ago, but that's just the way it is. If you like you're ranger, I'd strongly consider looking at the new one.

^^^^^. Ditto Jimmy123x approach. By using email, you control your response, have time to compare offers and overall control the situation versus being in the dealerships. By all means test drive what you're interested in, then leave.
Then if you say yes, they can prepare everything, again while you don't have to be there.

Your wife is right. Trucks carry a penis tax. I sold my truck. If I need one I can rent a u-haul for 50 bucks. I got a Corolla for under 20k. Mileage is double and insurance is halved.

I recently bought a new truck (F150). I knew what options/packages/trim level I wanted and found a couple of trucks locally. I went with the lowest quote through email and had an OTD price before I ever talked to the salesman. I arranged everything beforehand and all I had to do was sign a few papers and hand them a check. The whole process was easy with no headache.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Just a few random thoughts. First, I cannot think of a worse financial decision than financing a new vehicle purchase.

In principle I agree with you, but the used car market isn't what it used to be. In my area at least, a higher price on new models has driven up most used cars with low miles to almost the price of new. Going used may save you a couple of thousand dollars and you deal with less/no warranty coverage, not knowing the history of the vehicle, etc. A friend of mine is currently shopping for a Tundra. He found a used truck with 30k-ish miles the other day for $34k compared to $37k for a new one. Georgia now uses a TAVT tax as well so everyone pays taxes based on the vehicle whether it's new or used. In the past that $3k initial difference would have ended up being closer to $5k after taxes were paid on the new purchase. That's not the case anymore.