Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

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  • KingV2k3
    Senior Circuit
    • May 2003
    • 5881

    #1

    Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

    My Mom is interested in either a 2010 Nissan Sentra or 2010 Nissan Altima...

    She has an '02 Sentra that was purchased at a car dealer near her, that was a fair deal and has been great re: service, etc...so that's where the next car is coming from...

    Despite that, she wants me to go with her to help make sure she's getting the best deal possible...

    Problem is, I have no experience whatsoever with this sort of thing and am wondering if anyone here has any advice / tips / information that would be of help with this...

    Thanks!
  • ASB37
    MVP
    • Feb 2003
    • 2624

    #2
    Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

    I recently bought an '09 Altima with the help of my dad. I guess the best advice I could give is to remember that YOU are in control. Set a price that you are willing to pay for a certain car and then shop around for that price. Don't feel like you have to take the deal that they offer you. Shop around a few dealerships and see what will give you the best price. After a month or so of shopping around me and my dad were finally able to find a dealership to match OUR price. It turned out to be 2 or 3 grand less than what some other dealerships were offering.

    Never go into a dealership acting like you have to have the car right away. Don't give them the impression that you are overly impressed with the car or offer, make it seem like you are contemplating a different brand of car/ model.

    For example when we were shopping for the Altima we brought up how we were considering a toyota corrolla or a mazda as well.
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    • KingV2k3
      Senior Circuit
      • May 2003
      • 5881

      #3
      Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

      Originally posted by ASB37
      I recently bought an '09 Altima with the help of my dad. I guess the best advice I could give is to remember that YOU are in control. Set a price that you are willing to pay for a certain car and then shop around for that price. Don't feel like you have to take the deal that they offer you. Shop around a few dealerships and see what will give you the best price. After a month or so of shopping around me and my dad were finally able to find a dealership to match OUR price. It turned out to be 2 or 3 grand less than what some other dealerships were offering.

      Never go into a dealership acting like you have to have the car right away. Don't give them the impression that you are overly impressed with the car or offer, make it seem like you are contemplating a different brand of car/ model.

      For example when we were shopping for the Altima we brought up how we were considering a toyota corrolla or a mazda as well.
      All good points, thank you...

      What I'm speciffically getting at is how do I know what "my price" is?

      Comment

      • deaduck
        MVP
        • Mar 2009
        • 2389

        #4
        Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

        I hate going car shopping.

        I don't hate car salesmen because they're just working in the system but the gameshow/poker face aspect of it wears me out.

        And my buddies always want to take me because as one of them described it, I'm a "human hot potatoe". I'm just cranky and on the verge of snapping and insisting we leave so it puts pressure on the dealer to make the deal before I "go off".

        The weird thing is I never have and probably never would "go off"...I just ain't very good at hiding my misery/boredom.

        Comment

        • Gotmadskillzson
          Live your life
          • Apr 2008
          • 23442

          #5
          Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

          kelly blue book lists what the value of all cars are. www.kbb.com

          Granted all dealers are trying to make a profit, but you should never pay way over what the value of the car is. So if the dealer is asking for more then $2,000 then what the car is worth, walk away.

          Dealers are a dime a dozen and they know it.

          Comment

          • ASB37
            MVP
            • Feb 2003
            • 2624

            #6
            Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

            Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
            kelly blue book lists what the value of all cars are. www.kbb.com

            Granted all dealers are trying to make a profit, but you should never pay way over what the value of the car is. So if the dealer is asking for more then $2,000 then what the car is worth, walk away.

            Dealers are a dime a dozen and they know it.
            Yeah exactly, just use the KBB value of the car in question as an estimate, and then factor in your own personal finances to know what does/doesn't work for you.
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            • Husker_OS
              Champs
              • Jun 2003
              • 21459

              #7
              Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

              Originally posted by KingV2k3
              All good points, thank you...

              What I'm speciffically getting at is how do I know what "my price" is?

              Research prices on the one you want with the options you want. Get an average and use that as a starting point when you're talking finances with the dealer. Also, know what fees are bogus, and what fees aren't. Some things they'll try to charge you for when there's no reason you should be paying it. And keep in mind, some options you're better off adding them on later. GPS, sound system, tinted windows, etc. You'll save money by adding them on after you're purchased the vehicle and you have more options to customize.


              The dealership wants the sale. They make a profit on basically every sale, the customer will determine the size of the profit. You have to know a price you're willing to pay and also what that car with those options goes for in your region. Some regions a car sells better, so the price is less negotiable since the dealer will feel like they're selling the car this month whether you're the one purchasing it or not.


              Also, don't settle for what's on the lot. If the exact one you want isn't on the lot, they can and will get it for you. If they're not the only Nissan dealer in town, tell them the other dealership has the one in the color you want for only a marginal increase in price(say a couple hundred bucks). Then they'll find the one you want and won't charge $1,000 to transport it.
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              • KingV2k3
                Senior Circuit
                • May 2003
                • 5881

                #8
                Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson
                kelly blue book lists what the value of all cars are. www.kbb.com

                Granted all dealers are trying to make a profit, but you should never pay way over what the value of the car is. So if the dealer is asking for more then $2,000 then what the car is worth, walk away.

                Dealers are a dime a dozen and they know it.
                I'm very familiar with the blue book b/c of used car purchases...wasn't sure it would be the best resource for a car on the lot, but I'll def check it out...

                Thanks!

                Comment

                • KingV2k3
                  Senior Circuit
                  • May 2003
                  • 5881

                  #9
                  Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                  Originally posted by Husker_OS
                  Research prices on the one you want with the options you want. Get an average and use that as a starting point when you're talking finances with the dealer. Also, know what fees are bogus, and what fees aren't. Some things they'll try to charge you for when there's no reason you should be paying it. And keep in mind, some options you're better off adding them on later. GPS, sound system, tinted windows, etc. You'll save money by adding them on after you're purchased the vehicle and you have more options to customize.


                  The dealership wants the sale. They make a profit on basically every sale, the customer will determine the size of the profit. You have to know a price you're willing to pay and also what that car with those options goes for in your region. Some regions a car sells better, so the price is less negotiable since the dealer will feel like they're selling the car this month whether you're the one purchasing it or not.


                  Also, don't settle for what's on the lot. If the exact one you want isn't on the lot, they can and will get it for you. If they're not the only Nissan dealer in town, tell them the other dealership has the one in the color you want for only a marginal increase in price(say a couple hundred bucks). Then they'll find the one you want and won't charge $1,000 to transport it.
                  Great advice...

                  Do you have any examples of legit vs. bogus fees?

                  Thanks!

                  Comment

                  • jeremym480
                    Speak it into existence
                    • Oct 2008
                    • 18198

                    #10
                    Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                    One bit of advice I can give is don't ever give them your phone number. If you do it is almost like they're one up on you when it comes to dickering with the price. Because they can always call you back with a lower price later.

                    Just let them know you're serious, state your price, tell them if they can't meet that then you're walking and there's no way that they can contact you once you leave.
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                    • youvalss
                      ******
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 16602

                      #11
                      Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                      Do you guy think that car dealers have feelings like normal people? Do they shed a tear? Do they get hurt?

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                      • PVarck31
                        Moderator
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 16869

                        #12
                        Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                        Also never tell them what you want to pay per month. They will try to get you to do that. They will give you the monthly payment you want but they will jack up the price of the car.

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                        • PVarck31
                          Moderator
                          • Jan 2003
                          • 16869

                          #13
                          Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                          Originally posted by youvalss
                          Do you guy think that car dealers have feelings like normal people? Do they shed a tear? Do they get hurt?

                          I later found out that the guy I bought my Civic from was actually a cyborg.

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                          • youvalss
                            ******
                            • Feb 2007
                            • 16602

                            #14
                            Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                            Originally posted by pjv31_OS
                            I later found out that the guy I bought my Civic from was actually a cyborg.
                            Damn, I knew it!!!!!
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                            • SuperBowlNachos
                              All Star
                              • Jul 2004
                              • 10218

                              #15
                              Re: Dealing With (Car) Dealers?

                              I just got a new truck about a month ago. Maybe it was just this one Nissan place, but the guy came out and greeted us then took us in and we got roped into filling out paper work. If they try to do this, say no and look at cars first. We were there for like 3 hours and looked at 3 cars.

                              I'd say you have to be willing to lie a little to when telling them what other dealers are offering. I made the mistake of not doing it because it just slipped out. The dealer asked how many miles were on this other truck and I told him 49(his had 15), I should have told him 20-25.

                              Another good tactic is find a car you are comfortable with buying and see if they will let you take it off the lot for a nght. We went to one dealer and we found a truck I was very happy with so they let us drive it home to try it out. On the way back the next day, we drove that truck to this other dealer and told him what was up. He dropped the price $500 and put in a spray liner instead of a plastic($500 value). I already liked this truck better, so that just made the deal a little bit better.

                              Truck btw was an 08 Silverado Extended Cab Texas Edition. We paid $1,500 over the KBB, but $3,000 under the KBB Retail price.

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