NBR: Anyone buy a car w/out the "help" of a man?

warriormomerin · April 2011

Is it true that car sales people try to screw women over when it comes to buying a car? How hard is it to talk them down on the price? I'll be paying cash so I won't need to finance anything. Will that help me get a better price?

My other cars were purchased with the help of my parents or H, so I'm a total newb at this. Any other advice?

JLPT830 · April 2011

With both our vehicles, DH researched and price shopped online....I think with edmunds.com. He even ended up haggling price online. Then we printed out the price we liked, took it to the dealer who gave us said price, and bought our car. It worked out pretty well, imo. Good luck!

ETA: DH did a lot of research on each model we were interested in. So when we did talk with a dealer, as soon as they heard how educated DH was on the product, they backed off a little. Toyota sales men are by far the worst that we have ever dealt with....very pushy.

buckeyethor · April 2011

My dad was there when I bought my car so I am no help... but I assume you are going to be able to get a much better deal with being able to pay cash.

JLPT830 · April 2011

I'm sorry....re-reading my response using DH as an example doesn't seem very helpful. I was implying that the more you can educate yourself before you talk to a salesman, the less they can try to walk all over you. If you go in there knowing what you are talking about I think you stand a better chance of not getting pushed around. Stick out tongue

warriormomerin · April 2011

JLPT830:
I'm sorry....re-reading my response using DH as an example doesn't seem very helpful. I was implying that the more you can educate yourself before you talk to a salesman, the less they can try to walk all over you. If you go in there knowing what you are talking about I think you stand a better chance of not getting pushed around.

I knew what you meant. Smile Thanks for the advice!

shellbug79 · April 2011

I bought my car without the help of my husband. I knew exactly what I wanted so it wasn't hard to find the right vehicle. My mom and sister went with me tolook so that they could watch Isabelle but when the salesman came over I told him that I was the one looking and that I was the one buying, any conversation about the particular vehicle was to be directed at me and no one else. I found it very easy to tell them what I wanted to pay monthly and for them to get there with their pricing. I was pretty firm. I did think that I was going to have to go with "my" balls to the wall but really I didn't, I found that the salespeople just really wanted to make a sale and would do anything they could to help me get the car that I wanted.

I do have to say that I have been to several car dealerships where I gladly walked away b/c I thought their salespeople were awful, creepy and not trustworthy. I ended up buying my car from Kings Kia (I have a Kia Sorento) and I have to say everyone there were great and still continue to be.

Michelle

tiffyr0se · April 2011

I bought 2 cars on my own, 1 new 1 used. If buying used, check out cars.com. We have found really good deals on there, especially if you're willing to drive to a nearby city. Either way, do your research, know the blue book value, know the value of your trade in, and don't be afraid to walk away from a car if they won't negotiate. Once they realize that you're willing to walk out, they will negotiate more. Also, try to negotiate the price of the car you are buying separately from the trade in. This is hard to do since the first thing they want to know is if you're trading in, but you need to know what you're actually paying for the new car first. Good luck. I don't think used cars are as bad because the blue book price is obvious, but I hate buying new cars.

gimbal · April 2011

Some organizations will negotiate a price for you. I know USAA and some credit unions will do this even if you're not going to get a loan. Also, apparently some dealerships have an online salesperson who you can email, and they'll give you the dealership's best possible price. A friend of ours bought a minivan from Performance Honda this way.

We also had a horrible experience with a Toyota salesperson. I don't know if it was a coincidence or if that's the way they roll. I know it didn't help that I knew exactly what model, color, options, etc. I wanted and didn't want to budge on anything.

allobosc · April 2011

I sold cars in the past and bought cars by myself.

Trade-ins is where they try to get you, so if you want a certain $ amount stick to that and like the pp said, negotiate that separately and prior to even discussing what you want for a new car b/c they'll try to hide the numbers for your trade in into the new car price (if they are being sneaky).

The people that mostly got "taken" were the ones that were flipped on their old cars (owed more than was worth) and were only concerned about their monthly payment, not the overall price of the car. People who "talked" too much too and gave me clues on how I could get to them were easy targets. Ugh, I hated selling cars. I made good money but my conscious got the best of me after awhile.

I've paid cash for a car too and that means you've got to try to get them to their bottom line, but they are probably going to still want to be right around invoice price. They'll probably try to show you models that they are wanting to push off the lot for a little bit extra. I always play hardball and make them need my sale, not the other way around where I need them.

Oh, and of course research as much as you can about the car beforehand.

Moesten · April 2011

I'm the car buyer in our family and I bought 3 cars as a single woman. Car salespeople hate me. The best advice I have is to be highly educated about what you are buying - what it's worth, what are the blue book values on it, why you don't want the other ones they'll try to sell you. And most importantly - have a dollar amount you absolutely will not go over and be willing to walk away. There are other cars out there. It's amazing how quickly prices start to drop when you get up to leave the building.

hav2run · April 2011

allobosc:
I sold cars in the past and bought cars by myself.
Trade-ins is where they try to get you, so if you want a certain $ amount stick to that and like the pp said, negotiate that separately and prior to even discussing what you want for a new car b/c they'll try to hide the numbers for your trade in into the new car price (if they are being sneaky).
The people that mostly got "taken" were the ones that were flipped on their old cars (owed more than was worth) and were only concerned about their monthly payment, not the overall price of the car. People who "talked" too much too and gave me clues on how I could get to them were easy targets. Ugh, I hated selling cars. I made good money but my conscious got the best of me after awhile.
I've paid cash for a car too and that means you've got to try to get them to their bottom line, but they are probably going to still want to be right around invoice price. They'll probably try to show you models that they are wanting to push off the lot for a little bit extra. I always play hardball and make them need my sale, not the other way around where I need them.
Oh, and of course research as much as you can about the car beforehand.

All of this. I bought the car DS now drives on my own. I saw it on the dealer's website (it was a newer model used car), went in, drove it, and knew what KBB value was before I went in. I knew what I was willing to pay. Oh yes...did they ever try to screw me over. The "price" of the car went up by $3K just because I test drove it. I told them about their web pricing. They said I was mistaken. I walked out and got in my car 3 times. I got sick of the "let me go ask my manager BS". Finally, I told the guy to go get his manager, and I will lay it out there for him face to face. I think I scared them. He finally came in with the manager (actually, the owner of the dealership), and I told him what I was willing to pay, and that I was not coming up any further. After a bunch of whining, I got my deal, on my terms.

Then you get to haggle financing. Know the rates, and do not let them BS you into thinking you have to pay a higher rate. They can recoup whatever they lost in the deal if they can rate jack you. They will give you 10 reasons why you are a credit risk (no matter what your situation is), just stick to your guns, and walk out on them. They will see it your way. If you are trading in or paying cash, do NOT tell them until you have a firm deal on price. They will lose either the value of your trade, or the kickback they get from financing (and rate jacking), so they won't give you the same deal if they know about a trade or cash.

Good luck! You can do this! What are you thinking about getting?

Jessica&Brett · April 2011

I did all of my haggling via email - so much easier! Our Subaru was significantly below invoice so that made it easier though. Good luck! What are you thinking of?

Meg41208 · April 2011

Jessica&Brett:
I did all of my haggling via email - so much easier! Our Subaru was significantly below invoice so that made it easier though. Good luck! What are you thinking of?

My Subaru was hands down the easiest car ever to buy. Total opposite experience from when we bought DH's Mazda.

tpo1118 · April 2011

Do your research on what is a fair price. Don't settle for their first offer and make sure to stick to your guns. Leave if you have to, you can find another car. There is always another car. You'll be fine! I would also ask around for reco's on sales people.

sprads · April 2011

Nope, I would always take my dad when I was single.

I think it depends on the salesperson / manager. In my experience, if it was an older man, yes he tried to screw me over but the younger guys more my age did not.

I can direct you to a couple of trustworthy sales guys. Did you have a particular car in mind? If you want, I can give you names/numbers and you can call and talk to the guys first if you want.

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