I'm a car salesmen, Go ahead and ask me anything

[TimSJ]

In the vein of the threads from last summer.

Need any help/advice in buying selling a car. Let me know i would be happy to help.

I have been in car sales for the last 7 years and was a service manager at a dealership for 3 years before that.

[Cowperson]

I have some tires that are failing at 30,000 km when they're allegedly good for 100,000 km.

This is on a Chrysler 300C. The dealer indicated verbally to my wife this is a common problem with this model given the weight of the V-8 Hemi (yahoo!!!). Nevertheless, the dealer believes Goodyear is responsible via its warrantly.

Should it be the dealer responsibility or the tire manufacturer?

Cowperson

[MJK]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

In the vein of the threads from last summer.

Need any help/advice in buying selling a car. Let me know i would be happy to help.

I have been in car sales for the last 7 years and was a service manager at a dealership for 3 years before that.

What is my 1997 Civic DX with remote start worth if I were to sell it...a few dings.

[TimSJ]

When you buy a new car there is no warranty on the tires except for defects. Manufacturers are not including Road Hazard or anything anymore. I would say that this is something that you shoudl take up with a goodyear rep.

If these are the OEM tires you are doing well to get 30k out of them . I am of the opinion that the original tires do not wear as well as replacement tires. With the V8 and a heavy car 30k imho is about right for a set of tires.

I have clients with cars that have to change rear tires at each oilchange and all 4 every second oil change.

[TimSJ]

your civic as a trade would be worth between $2,000 and $3,000. If you were to sell it yourself you might get $5k out of it.

[automaton 3]

Do the sales managers really call all the shots when making a deal, or do the salepeople sometimes have more authority than they let on?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Has it been since last summer? Wow.

[TimSJ]

Generally yes the sales managers do call the shots and make the final decisions. A good car salesperson though will know what a SM will and will not accept. We only want you to talk to the SM as a last resort. Once they put a deal on the table that is generally it and the last shot. If you don't accept it they will walk you most of the time. The sales manager loses all creditbility if he gives you a final number and then changes.

[Bobblehead]

Has the internet changed how people buy cars?

Do more people come in with quotes from places like Consumer Reports or CarCostCanada.com and what is usually accepted over that invoice price?


When people come in wanting to take advantage of "secret warranties" (like are mentioned in the Lemon Aid books) what is the best way to go about this?

[habernac]

I have an 06 Nissan X Trail. It's been a great vehicle overall, but the brakes are squeaking once in awhile and it only has 30,000km on it. Is this something my warranty would cover or am I SOL as they're brakes?

[brownie]

Well you said to ask you anything,so here goes....Whats the mark up on a new vehicle??Sometimes I dont even think the salesmen know.Also My 2001 Jeep TJ Sport (4.0 liter)99,000 km's. What would i get for it at a dealer???Thanks Brownie

[TimSJ]

The internet has had a huge impact on how people buy cars. The biggest thing is that people are way more educated than they ever have been.

It is hard to say what is the right number over invoice to pay.. I would say it depends on time of the month, how long dealer has had the car, etc.

<rant on>It has always been a pet peeve of mine. Everybody wants to buy a car for nothing. How do people expect car dealers to stay in business to service them if we can't make a profit. <rant off>

Don't really know much about any secret warranties.

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by habernac

I have an 06 Nissan X Trail. It's been a great vehicle overall, but the brakes are squeaking once in awhile and it only has 30,000km on it. Is this something my warranty would cover or am I SOL as they're brakes?

Brakes squeal when it is cold. not really too much you can do about it i don't think.. I have an 03 MB SUV and the brakes squeal like crazy this time of year.

Try the dealer though.. they may have a paste that can help.

[North East Goon]

When you take the first offer to the sales manager, you are really just talking about the weather or the Flames or what you are going to do this weekend. You are not actually talking about the transaction are you? What would you list a 1999 VW Golf GL with 84,000 original KM's auto, no ac for a private sale at? Some rust however.

[toonmaster]

if i were to walk onto a used car lot and say "i'm looking to buy this car, paying cash for it today, how low can you go" what kind of deal would i be looking at for say a 2005 grand am gt, 60k kms

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by brownie

Well you said to ask you anything,so here goes....Whats the mark up on a new vehicle??Sometimes I dont even think the salesmen know.Also My 2001 Jeep TJ Sport (4.0 liter)99,000 km's. What would i get for it at a dealer???Thanks Brownie

Generally the dealers margin is about 8%.. Not as much as most people think.

as for your jeep i just took an 01 on trade from a guy last week. we gave him $7500

[metallicat]

For the sake of the example, let's say one buys a car for around 24,000...what does the salesman make off of the sale? What percentage of that?

[MJK]

If you wanted too, could you sell a car at whatever your cost was? New and old?

For example my buddy is a sales manager at Hyundai...if he really wanted to could he gear me up with a car at cost?

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

<rant on>It has always been a pet peeve of mine. Everybody wants to buy a car for nothing. How do people expect car dealers to stay in business to service them if we can't make a profit. <rant off>

I agree. I always hate the games that the "Big 3" play when it comes to buying a car. However, I don't have a problem with paying a fair price, because the salesman has to eat and pay a mortgage also.

But I don't think anyone enjoys being violated...

[brownie]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

Generally the dealers margin is about 8%.. Not as much as most people think.

as for your jeep i just took an 01 on trade from a guy last week. we gave him $7500

Was his jeep a 4 or 6 cyl???Big difference in price??