Mesopotamia OH? My sis-in-law is buying a car. Needs advice.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 04:55 PM

Hi. I know y'all hate when the wives post in lieu of their husbands, but I have a car question, and I'm gonna use you as Click and Clack right now.

My sis just moved from NYC to Mesopotamia, OH for a job. Totally rural area 1 hr E of Cleveland. So she's going to be a first time car-buyer at age 39, and is the type of person who would end up paying double the sticker price if given a chance.

Anyhoo, my question for you gentle folk is: what haggling advice would you give to someone who is completely out of their realm in the world of salespeople?

P.S. she's looking into a Honda Civic sedan.

singpilot · 07-07-2006, 05:06 PM

Move back to NYC.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

singpilot · 07-07-2006, 05:08 PM

Ask a policeman there who a reputable dealer is. Ask her Pastor, ask her bank. Someone local with no ties to a fraud.

Steve Carlton · 07-07-2006, 05:17 PM

carsdirect.com and Costco have their own referral services. Personally, I'd check with 2 or 3 dealers and ask for the fleet manager. Get quotes from them including an estimate on the interest rate.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 05:37 PM

Move back to NYC.

That'd solve everything!

Christian.

Thanks for any advice guys.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 05:45 PM

Thanks Steve--
Good advice. I'll see if Jeanette will post a shot of her butt or something...

rouxroux · 07-07-2006, 05:59 PM

"Lot of ruins in Mesopotamia"...

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by gassy
Thanks Steve--
Good advice. I'll see if Jeanette will post a shot of her butt or something...

Hell, if she does that, I'll go to the dealer with her!

gassy · 07-07-2006, 06:12 PM

I'd appreciate that--just treat her to a Jaegertuna!

jkarolyi · 07-07-2006, 06:13 PM

I'll second the Costco thing. A cluless (but pretty!) friend of mine bought her car new from them and got a deal that I thought was very fair. They've already done the negotiating for you.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 06:15 PM

My bad--"Tuna Meister"!!!

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

Simple.

Go to Edmonds.com

Print out the page about the car she wants to buy.
Take to dealer and say this is want I want and this is what I will pay. They may even do better on a civic since they sell tons of them. A dealer will not turn down an offer for standard invoice pricing. If the car has been on the lot for a while - she may be able to get it below invoice.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 06:29 PM

Thanks jkarolyi,
Appreciate it!
Christian.
My wife originally posted and now she's been on the phone w/her sis...I gotta go. Thanks for all of the advice.
Christian.

gassy · 07-07-2006, 06:33 PM

Thanks gr8fl4porsche,
Appreciate it!
Christian.

Milu · 07-08-2006, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gassy
Thanks Steve--
Good advice. I'll see if Jeanette will post a shot of her butt or something...

When are you posting the photo of her butt?

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by gr8fl4porsche
Simple.

Go to Edmonds.com

Or kbb.com and capitaloneautofinance.com for financing.

Just bought a new car, the haggle and BS factor goes waaaaay down when you walk in the door with the detailed pricing info, and financing on the car you want. Levels the playing field quite a bit as well. They'll still try to hit you up for the add ons.

fireant911 · 07-08-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gr8fl4porsche
Simple.

Go to Edmonds.com

Print out the page about the car she wants to buy.
Take to dealer and say this is want I want and this is what I will pay. They may even do better on a civic since they sell tons of them. A dealer will not turn down an offer for standard invoice pricing. If the car has been on the lot for a while - she may be able to get it below invoice.

This is excellent advice. I used this approach twice this year (once for me for a new truck purchase and again last month for the purchase of a vehicle for the daughter). The only additional info is that I would also invest in the purchase of ConsumerGuide (available at most bookstores and Walmart) to further develop / refine my price. I would strongly recommend that your dear sister work up a firm out-the-door price price. I used 4% dealer profit, the standard destination fee (which is included in both the Edmund's site and in ConsumerGuide), the appropriate taxes, and title fee. I refused to pay any dealer add-on's such as the bogus documentation fee.

Since your sister already knows what she wants I would visit the dealership and simply hand them my out-the-door offer. Please let them know up front that you have done your homework and that your price is firm and you are not willing to haggle - regardless of how many times the salesperson attempts to run back to see the sales manager. Tell the dealership that they have got 5 minutes to accept your fair offer. Also I would send my offer out to other dealerships via the Internet. When I bough my truck the dealership started their typical nonsense that this price was below what they paid and I said thank you and got into my car and everyone can guess what happened next.

The last purchase I made I used the two independent approaches / methods (Edmond's and ConsumerGuide) and arrived at two prices that differed by a mere $8 - so I believe it was good intelligence that I had gathered. With the 2007 models coming out soon, it is a better time to buy. You could save some additional money possibly by waiting until the end of the month; however, she probably needs transportation now.

Again, I would recommend working up a fair price to both parties (out-the-door price) and standing firm. Let them know you not there to do any 'tire-kicking' but to buy a Civic and your homework has been done. Be prepared to leave if they start wasting your time. The last purchase was made with the introduction of exactly what we wanted (we had already checked their available inventory on line so we knew they had what we wanted) and what our out-the-door was - I did not even introduce myself until the offer was accepted because I was there to buy a car not make any friends.

As sad as it is, females do often get taken advantage of during automobile purchases because of their sex - she could always take a male neighbor for show.

I too drive a Honda Civic. I purchased it new in 1995. I have 137K miles with zero problems. I average better than 40 mpg.

An interesting and true non-value added note: when I purchased my Porsche I hugged the owner when we made our deal - yes, I know it was corny but I had wanted this car for the past 22 years and I was finally going to be an owner.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

It's funny you bring this up Christian, I had a similar situation with my mother. She called me the other day, in tears because the Mini dealership was talking down to her. She is a very strong woman, and very smart but cars arnt her cup of tea. Too bad for the service guy I had allready had a bad day because I called him up. I told him that if need be that I could come down there myself and hold his hand while he tried not to get grease on his sun dress.

Im a nice guy, until you make my mother cry.

BTW My mother called me back after picking up the car and apparently the service host was exceptionally nice and kind to her. She asked what I had told the service rep, "I told him what he needed to know Mother, nothing more".