Best way to buy a new Chevy truck

[flyenby]

Hi, I have a friend who is going to buy a new Chevy Truck in the So Calif area....any suggestions. He is a veteran.... Thank you

[Scott Douglas]

Truecar.com
Make sure he has his money lined up prior and wait till the end of the month.
Be ready to walk if HIS price isn't met for the truck HE wants, not the one the salesman wants to sell him.

[E38Driver]

I did mine on the internet. Looked for a very specific type and options. Found it and negotiated on the net for the price and brought a check for the amount.

In and out of the dealer in under 1 hour. It is the best way to go by far.

Dave

[id10t]

If he just wants a decent price w/o the haggling AAA has contractual pricing with at least on dealer in every state. And most dealers will match it...

[Scott R]

Guy at work just bought a truck through Costco, said it was painless. ymmv.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by E38Driver

I did mine on the internet. Looked for a very specific type and options. Found it and negotiated on the net for the price and brought a check for the amount.

In and out of the dealer in under 1 hour. It is the best way to go by far.

Dave

Just did the same thing with a Mazda5. Knew I wanted a silver Grand Touring, so I called all of the dealerships in the region that had them and explained what I wanted, and that I would give my business to the one that offered the best price. I ended up in Lee's Summit, MO at a great Mazda dealership. All paperwork was completed, we handed over a check and signed a few papers, done. 30 minutes and we were headed home.

[Nathans_Dad]

Internet. Email the internet managers for all the dealers in your area. Tell them precise model and options and tell them best price wins. Then play them off each other until you get the lowest deal possible.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Internet. Email the internet managers for all the dealers in your area. Tell them precise model and options and tell them best price wins. Then play them off each other until you get the lowest deal possible.

I tried that approach with my F150 and didn't get a very high percentage of replies. With the Mazda I called each and asked for the Internet sales manager, I found that approach more effective.

[rfuerst911sc]

Off a Ford dealers lot ?

[mreid]

Tell him to join USAA and use their auto circle. He will receive an additional amount off the top of the price he negotiates.

[David]

I bought my last two Chevy trucks when I didn't need to buy one so I wasn't worried about walking out of the dealer without it. I looked up the invoice price of the truck with the options I wanted and tried to get as close to that as possible. My 2001 was $400 over invoice and the 2008 was about $1000 over. I've heard of others getting below invoice but I couldn't get them that low. I just go in with the story of, "I'm about to buy new tires for the old truck and thought I'd see if you want to make a deal I can't pass up before I do."

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I tried that approach with my F150 and didn't get a very high percentage of replies. With the Mazda I called each and asked for the Internet sales manager, I found that approach more effective.

Good idea, I did notice when I bought my Mazda that several dealers told me via e-mail "We don't do business that way." Might get farther over the phone.

[Nathans_Dad]

Of course the thing you still have to sit through (and decline) is all the extra crap the "finance manager" tries to sell you.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by David

My 2001 was $400 over invoice and the 2008 was about $1000 over.

In 2001 they had excess inventory. Not arguing, but man, they were giving them away. My $26k list 2000 Sierra was $20.9k (including rebates - also at end of season - April, 2001) Dealer would not budge on price - that's what was advertised. They needed to move iron. I loved that truck.

That said, I bought my truck in Houston and I have "heard" that trucks are dumped in the Houston / Dallas area due to the demographics. Probably an old wives tale.

In short, is it a buyers or sellers market?

Even if a seller's market, Scott Douglas makes sense in Post #2.

[gecc]

+2 on USAA

[enzo1]

What Is Dealer Holdback? on Edmunds.com

[onewhippedpuppy]

Of course the thing you still have to sit through (and decline) is all the extra crap the "finance manager" tries to sell you.

That was the great thing about my Mazda dealer. They had the paperwork DONE. No discussion about extended BS, they sold me my car and I was on my way. Several of the guys at the dealership said that's how they do business. If so, that's how they all should be.

[gduke2010]

Has anyone mentioned Kellogg, Idaho? It would be a good idea to check out the Chev. dealership in Kellogg. A lot of people from where I live order the truck they want and fly up there and drive them home. Best deals.