Maggyie Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Okay, people who know what they are doing. I am buying a used vehicle, my first car, yes I know how lame am I to be 23 and never have owned a car. But I like to walk places. Anyway, I know what I would like to get, a 2005 Hyundai Accent. And I knew enough to get pre-approved by my credit union so I wouldn't get snowed by dealership financing... so now I guess I go shop? And tell them "I'm paying cash"? Edited January 13, 2009 by Maggie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 [quote name='Maggie' post='1749754' date='Jan 12 2009, 05:08 PM']Okay, people who know what they are doing. I am buying a used vehicle, my first car, yes I know how lame am I to be 23 and never have owned a car. But I like to walk places. Anyway, I know what I would like to get, a 2005 Hyundai Accent. And I knew enough to get pre-approved by my credit union so I wouldn't get snowed by dealership financing... so now I guess I go shop? And tell them "I'm paying cash"?[/quote] Yes, tell them that you're paying in cash, or let them know you have your own financing. If you're buying off a "corner lot" get it checked out by a reputable mechanic--this should only cost between $50-100. Even from a dealership, it will probably be an "As-is" sale. Talk and try to get a 90-day return clause in the sales contract, or if from a dealership, at least a repair clause. GET ANY CHANGES OF THE SALES CONTRACT IN WRITING! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Don't tell them you are paying in cash until you have the final total. They can make a bit with financing sometimes, and may figure that in. Call the insurance company that you are going to use, and ask what cars are most expensive to insure. It can make a big difference. I remember one year, I think it was a Honda, had their hatchback window designed such that it hit first if you back into a pole. That made them much more expensive to insure. They will also know which ones get stolen the most often. Next, find a mechanic who is willing to look at the car before you buy it. This can cost up to $100, but worth every penny. I once got a car that needed $1500 worth of brake work. He can tell you if it's been in a wreck, and if the heads have been opened. If you can afford to buy a certified used car, that's the way to go. Finally, I hate to say this, but take a guy with you. I know as much about cars as most guys, but when they see a woman come in alone, they automatically start trying to figure out how to get a few extra dollars out of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesus_lol Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 good advice here. what i would recommend is find a car similar to that one on a different lot. same year, size, brand or even model. a lot of cars these days are identical to other ones. anyways get your amount of cash. less than the listed prices but not by much, and see which one will go down that far. if they don't deal with you, THEN LEAVE. its your biggest weapon in these kinds of deals. they either reconsider your offer and you get the car cheap, or they dont and you leave without overpaying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Therese Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 [size=6][b]1. Don't believe anything the dealer/salesman tells you 2. When you're in the salesman's office you're on video and they're listening to your conversation-so watch what you say. They use this technique to change their sales pitch according to what you say. When they leave you alone in the room be especially careful. 3- Be prepared to spend all day there-they want to keep you all day so you can't go to another dealership 4- Everything you see and hear, from the photos on the salesman's desk turned towards you,etc is contrived to affect you re sales[/b][/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thanks all for the advice so far. One other thing, through my work we have an arrangement with a couple services called CarPerks and Vehicle Advantage, where supposedly you tell them what kind of car you want and they find it for you in your area at the best price and knock off an extra $$ amount, basically you get to buy at the "fleet," buy-in-bulk price. I work for a Fortune 100 company and they would not offer these services as a company-wide benefit if it was a scam but still I wonder if I should use them. Supposedly that means I wouldn't have to negotiate... the concierge company would do it for me. Is that a good idea? I guess that kind of service is pretty rare so maybe people don't have much experience with them. I've been googling all day to no avail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 The first salesman who approaches you, seize him, bite off his ear and spit it at the next closest salesman. In this way, you will earn their respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 My kids only buy Hondas and they get them here: [url="http://www.autotrader.com/"]http://www.autotrader.com/[/url] This place gives you a chance to compare car prices in your area so you have some clue to what is out there. We usually do a 200 mile search because there can be a big range of prices between urban and rural areas. Always get a carfax report to make sure its not a totally rebuilt vehicle, in a honda thats an automatic no. If you buy out-of-state make sure you know all the regs from the particular state your car will be purchased in. For that call AAA. Check online to see if the particular car you want have a particular history attached - for example you have to replace the timing belt in a honda by apx 100,000 miles cause if it breaks your engine is done. You expect a used car to have about 15,000 miles a year on it. And not to be sexist, but I would take a guy with me, so they don't try the typical runaround. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 [quote name='Maggie' post='1749828' date='Jan 12 2009, 07:01 PM']Thanks all for the advice so far. One other thing, through my work we have an arrangement with a couple services called CarPerks and Vehicle Advantage, where supposedly you tell them what kind of car you want and they find it for you in your area at the best price and knock off an extra $$ amount, basically you get to buy at the "fleet," buy-in-bulk price. I work for a Fortune 100 company and they would not offer these services as a company-wide benefit if it was a scam but still I wonder if I should use them. Supposedly that means I wouldn't have to negotiate... the concierge company would do it for me. Is that a good idea? I guess that kind of service is pretty rare so maybe people don't have much experience with them. I've been googling all day to no avail.[/quote] You probably won't get an '05 through them. Or a Honda. Those things usually get you either leased cars or rentals that have outlived their newness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle_eye222001 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Maggie' post='1749828' date='Jan 12 2009, 09:01 PM']Thanks all for the advice so far. One other thing, through my work we have an arrangement with a couple services called CarPerks and Vehicle Advantage, where supposedly you tell them what kind of car you want and they find it for you in your area at the best price and knock off an extra $$ amount, basically you get to buy at the "fleet," buy-in-bulk price. I work for a Fortune 100 company and they would not offer these services as a company-wide benefit if it was a scam but still I wonder if I should use them. Supposedly that means I wouldn't have to negotiate... the concierge company would do it for me. Is that a good idea? I guess that kind of service is pretty rare so maybe people don't have much experience with them. I've been googling all day to no avail.[/quote] Sounds sketchy. I probably would not trust it. I have yet to buy a car, however I have watched my parents buy cars and they have taught me some things to keep in mind when looking and buying cars. 1. One of the first questions sales people will ask is [b]what color?[/b] Salespeople try to find a way to get you a car they want to sell to you and not really a car you want. 2. Avoid giving salespeople any information at all. Think of the Miranda Rights saying...[b]anything you say can and will be used against you in this car lot.[/b] When my parents were looking for a new family vehicle, they avoided telling the salespeople how many children they had because if the salespeople knew that my family had a lot of children, then they knew that my parents were forced to buy a suburban and would therefore not want to negotiate down. Salespeople will ask for your social security number. My parents dealt with this by withholding it until the car dealership could prove that they really needed it. So far they have not had to give it out. We know someone who did give a car dealership her SSN and they looked up how much her husband made and then told them that they could afford this type of car. In essence, this couple lost all bargaining power because they gave out the SSN. 3. My Dad said a way you can tell a car has been in an accident is by looking at the spaces between the door frame and the car. 99.9% of the time, the spaces should be even if the car has never been in an accident. If a car has been in an accident, it is very difficult to get the spaces perfect again. Same goes for the trunk and hood. Getting the car checked is still a very good idea, but this is something also to keep in mind when looking. 4. Bring someone with you. This was already mentioned but this is a way to protect yourself from being really targeted. 5. My parents have always slept at least a night on large purchases. They have never gone to a dealership and bought a car outright. They always have gone home and slept on it and then gone back if they still feel good about it. 6. Don't say how you plan to pay for it. Again withhold all possible information and keep the salesperson guessing. The more in the dark they are, they higher power you hold in bargaining. Be careful. Edited January 13, 2009 by eagle_eye222001 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MithLuin Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Huh. I just call up people in the classifieds, then take my dad with me when I show up at the sketchy agreed upon meeting place. So far, it's worked out fine, and that way, I'm talking to the guy who drove the car, not a dealer. This is a good way to get older cars with higher mileage; the dealers will just overcharge you for them, whereas in a private deal, it's more reasonable. I have owned 4 cars, and never paid more than $4000 for one (2 were under $2000). I have always paid in cash (literally - handed over a large wad of cash). I bought the first one at auction; the other 3 were from the classifieds. It is worth checking Craig's List to see what is available in your area, but just be forewarned, there ARE scams on there. Edited January 13, 2009 by MithLuin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 My one piece of advice. Take a male relative that is familiar with cars. I know this sounds sexist but seriously I've seen how salespeople act toward women buying cars or expensive items. They will try to smell of elderberries you dry. I have had salesmen treat me like I was some type of idiot when buying electronics. lol They had no idea that I had been working for an electronics company for a few years and was certified in 70 different areas of electronis. My dad did my shopping for me when I got my truck. I told him what I would like. He had several dealerships bidding against one another and by the time he got finished with them we paid way under the ticket price for a brand new truck, this was back in 2001. lol He also managed to have them switch the rims for some that were better for no extra charge, double scotch guard the interior, and fix a few scratches in the paint. So bring a guy, it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisvilleFan Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Here's my advice: Bypass the new car dealers alltogether. Find a trustworthy used car dealer out in the country somewhere. Buy a car that an old lady used to drive to and from church and the grocery store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
add Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 ask for the vin # and then go online to carfacts.com to get to history of the vehicle. its cheap and will give you a good history of a used car (don't trust used car salesmen, ever) this way you will know if the salesperson is being straight with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Check under the carpet in the trunk and back seat. If it's been in a flood, you'll see some rust. Learned that one the hard way too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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