NBR: Buying a car

WatchPot

We have no idea what we are doing in terms of buying a car:  I've bought 1 in my life before and I knew exactly what I wanted and what I wanted to pay for it but needed financing.  I feel like I got a pretty good deal but have no idea if I didn't. 

If you pay cash for a car, how much less than sticker would you offer?  We will probably have check in hand and have a pretty good idea what the car is worth from KBB and from what private buyers are selling for. 

Any tips for me to not get trampled on by the sales guys?

MissLauraQ

I worked at a car dealership for 3 years (not as a  creepy sales guy)

So what I'm hearing is:  You are buying a used car?  You have cash - so you don't need financing?

If the car they are selling is a trade in and they re-certified it - go to KBB and spec out the car as WHOLESALE, then add $500.  That's the LOWEST they will go on price.  (this is my simplified explanation)

If you need financing - that's a whole different thing

MissLauraQ

And IF YOU CAN...try and be flirty - and schmoozy right back at them...plus DO NOT work with the sales guy.  Try as hard as you can to work for someone "At the Desk" - they are actually the ones who have the last say and do the sign off.  It's the place the sales guy always runs back and forth to.

At the very least - work with the sales guy's manager - usually called the ASM.

The big wig at the dealership is the GSM, and they can play "the desk" for you.

I always call beforehand - see if I can talk to or at least get the name of "the guy at the desk" for that day.

MissLauraQ

if it is a used car - ask for the "Stock Card" it will have the run down of where they buoght it - how much they got it for, what they had to fix on it, and how much they are in it for (then add the $500 on top of that)

That stock card willmake negotiations easy peasy

Zista

MissLauraQ:

if it is a used car - ask for the "Stock Card" it will have the run down of where they buoght it - how much they got it for, what they had to fix on it, and how much they are in it for (then add the $500 on top of that)

That stock card willmake negotiations easy peasy

Will they really share that?

 

Zista

MissLauraQ:

if it is a used car - ask for the "Stock Card" it will have the run down of where they buoght it - how much they got it for, what they had to fix on it, and how much they are in it for (then add the $500 on top of that)

That stock card willmake negotiations easy peasy

Will they really share that?

 

Zista

MissLauraQ:

if it is a used car - ask for the "Stock Card" it will have the run down of where they buoght it - how much they got it for, what they had to fix on it, and how much they are in it for (then add the $500 on top of that)

That stock card willmake negotiations easy peasy

Zista

MissLauraQ:

if it is a used car - ask for the "Stock Card" it will have the run down of where they buoght it - how much they got it for, what they had to fix on it, and how much they are in it for (then add the $500 on top of that)

That stock card willmake negotiations easy peasy

Will they really share that?

 

MissLauraQ

HA!

Yes - they MIGHT share that.  It depends on how much you can schmooze them back, and how much you can get closer to working with the Desk Manager as opposed to just a sales guy.

I've never bought a car without asking for it.

IkesHawaiian06

I've only bought one car in my life and when I "test drove" the vehicle, my mom and I drove it to our mechanic's house (she did stuff out of her home) and she looked at it and said "yes" or "no" - she also told me that you NEVER tell them how much you are willing to pay. They'll be likely to negotiate less if you say something like, "I'm hoping not to spend more than $8,000."

Good luck!