I'd rather buy myself a pre-planned funeral than a car

[darkstar]

At least you only need buy one funeral.

Jeebus, what a wear out. Nearly 3 hours at one place yesterday, an hour plus sitting down at the desk with guy. "Let me check with my boss. I hope he doesn't get mad at me...." And we finally just said see ya later.

Talk about time you never get back. We have to get a car, so back at it. I'm stressing out just thinking about it.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Go in with a check made out for the amount you want to spend.

Tell them that you are willing to spend that amount and no more. If they can't come to an agreement, walk out and go somewhere else.

It's never failed for me and I'm a female. I know women get a bad rap for getting screwed over at car dealers, but that hasn't been my experience at all.

Also, it would be in your best interest to have financing lined up if you are going to finance the car; don't go through the dealer.

[darkstar]

2. So frustrating....

After we are talking price sales guy tells us "Anything ending with an 88 the boss can't move." WTF? How am i supposed to know that. Why didn't you tell us? Why did you ask us what were willing to pay on a car marked XX,288 then and then walk it over to him, and only tell us he couldn't budge on round two?

Seriously. Is this 88 thing some kind of known code or something?

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Never heard of that.

What kind of car are you buying? Is is new model? You will probably have much better luck if you are willing to go with last year's model, ie 2007 because they really, really want to move those.

I bought a Chrysler Town and Country in 2007, about a month before the 2008s came out. I got a terrific deal because they wanted them off the lot.

And, truth be told, I wasn't fond enough of the new ones to wait for them to hit the lots.

[darkstar]

4. A used 07 Toyota Matrix

I was bitching about it this morning on the phone and my friend said he thought the 88 thing signaled the reduced/non-negotiable in the St. Louis metro area.

Plus there are 09s here, believe it or not.

:hi:

[Capn Sunshine]

6. try a couple of online bid sites

I don't know enough about St Louis but they have them here and OR and WA and NEV and ID .

Or do Ebay motors, limited to within 25 miles of your Zip.

That guy you were talking to is completely old school.

[darkstar]

11. oops..see post #9

:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Oh, I believe it. It seems they release the new year's models

earlier and earlier each year.

Have you checked CarMax? I've known people who have done pretty well there, some others, not so much.

Good luck with this. I know it can be a frustrating process.

[Orsino]

5. These are all ploys.

Based in truth, perhaps, but it's rarely the case that "the boss can't move." The unseen boss is the bad cop to the salesperson's good cop, the one who's on your side, and only wants to get you into that car.

When they leave the room, it's an intimidation tactic. It's to let you know that the negotiations are drawing to a close, and you'd better not put up much more of a struggle.

[Elidor]

8. Perhaps a donorcycle could accomplish both goals

:hide:

[darkstar]

9. Oh I know it's his job and his approach

and that some folks even like this sort of thing, so not a put down of sales folks.

Just not for me.

:hi:

[Road Scholar]

10. Turn the tables.. Let them know that you are shopping. Ask for their best

price and tell them you will give them every consideration. It's a freaking game, so play it to your advantage.

[skygazer]

12. I'm so glad I have a friend who is a car salesman

I've known him for over 20 years and I buy all my cars from him. He's never cheated me, works hard to finance me even during tough times and I trust him.

I live in California and he lives in Vermont and I bought my last car from him and drove it home. It was worth it.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

13. If you were in Oklahoma, I'd refer you to someplace...

The place I bought my car is amazing.
Duckie

[crimsonblue]

14. u should try Carmax

I went with my sister when she bought a car there, and it was no hassle, in and out kind of thing. I would definately recommend it. They don't haggle and the price on the car is already lower than most places. If you get an older lady rep, she will probably smell like cinnamon cookies.