Bartering at Car Dealerships

[Jets4Life]

We'll I'm finally getting a car tomorrow, after my old vehicle was written off in the August hail storm. I wanted to see if anyone on the forum has experience in bartering for vehicles. I tend to be too nice of a guy, and ask for too little off the sticker price ( e.g. $12,000 on a 12,550 vehicle).

I'm trying to get a good deal, and I am fairly excited. I am looking at something simple like a Civic DX or a Toyota Corolla. If they were to throw in some extras, what can I expect. I was hoping for a warranty, possibly better financing terms, better stereo, etc.

I may just get my buddy who is mechanically inclined to come and help me out, but CP has never failed me before, so any tips about buying a slightly used vehicle would be greatly appreciated!

[Flames in 07]

Bid so low you don't walk away with a deal.

It's the single, only way to truly know how far a dealer will go.

[mariners_fever]

Bartering??? Are you hoping to trade an amount of livestock equivalent to the price of the car?

[Jacks]

Bribe pylon to come with you and negotiate a deal.

[Jets4Life]

Yeah I was thinking of getting a buddy to come with me in exchange for a few brewskys.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

We'll I'm finally getting a car tomorrow

I might be reading too much into this, but definitely don't walk into a dealership expecting/needing to buy a car that day if you want to get the best deal. You should be willing to walk away from anything....because it might take a few tries. And definitely don't act like a giddy school girl excited to buy a car. Not every dealer is as straight up as Pylon....and some of your comments seem like perfect shark fodder.

[Bill Bumface]

The last car I bought I went in acting like I wasn't certain if that was the model for me, and the second they tried to squeeze me, I went to leave, and was fully prepared to do so. It's amazing how different the process goes when you are prepared to go elsewhere, or at least doing a very, very convincing job of making them believe you'll walk.

[sa226]

Yep, best advice is to be ready to walk. I learned that the hard way 2 vehicles ago. My current vehicle (Bought privately) I really wanted but I didn't really need. I waited the guy out for 3 months because I knew he would have a hard time selling it (gas guzzler), and even if someone else bought it, I wasn't going to lose any sleep over it. He priced it in line with what the dealers were asking, I got it for almost 4000 less.

Also have in mind a realistic price that you would be comfortable paying. If you get yourself so wound up in the "bartering" game, you can get a serious case of buyers remorse wondering if you could have got it for less.

[albertGQ]

Bartering =/= bargaining.

[Canada 02]

two great resources

http://www.kbb.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/

[worth]

You don't really say if you are buying new or used, because my advice only counts if you are buying new.

1) Don't buy tomorrow (today) if you don't know what you want. You can go in today and look at a bunch of cars, but don't decide today. Do your research and then pick one. If you go in there with the mind set of buying something, but you're not sure what it is, there is a chance they will convince you to buy something you don't actually want, and you'll regret it later. Drive everything you want. Take notes. Go home, Google each car and make a decision.

2) Once you know what you want, go here and buy a report: http://www.carcostcanada.com/1/en/

The report tells you how much the dealership paid for the car.

Go into the dealer, tell them you know how much wholesale price is on the car and you will add 3-5% on top of wholesale and that is the price you will pay.

I did this with Subaru. I paid wholesale +4% total in May. It's far for everyone. No one gets ripped off.

You could also go to a car forum of the car you are going to buy and ask if anyone has a car cost report that they would be willing to send you. Works just the same.

Good luck.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Sound advice to get the invoice price and start there. Sites like that will also telll you if there are dealer incentives or programs that can help you.

I just bought a car and used carcostcanada and unhaggle, which was also pretty useful and free.

[Inglewood Jack]

I tried the carcostcanada thing and all it did was irritate the salesman and make him less willing to deal. I think your success using this will depend on demand for the car you want. Since I was trying to get something pretty popular, he knew he could just wait a couple hours and sell to someone else at full price, rather than lose commission on me.

I agree with those above who say not having any desperation and willingness to walk are your best bets.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I think your success using this will depend on demand for the car you want.

That's true, carcostcanada is great advice as long as you're not looking for the hottest item that just came out. Him wanting a Civic though, he might actually get a fantastic deal. The 2013 refresh was just rolled out, making the 2012 (which is a bit of a rolling turd compared to older Civics) much more expendable.

[polak]

Yeah the wholesale thing won't work with a new Civic or a Corrola.

The salesman makes a TINY commission off those popular models and usually sells them pretty regularly. Maybe you can get lucky if he's had a few bad shifts but don't be suprised if you don't get much off the sticker for those models.

If you were looking at a slow moving model then you would have a better shot.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Table 5

That's true, carcostcanada is great advice as long as you're not looking for the hottest item that just came out. Him wanting a Civic though, he might actually get a fantastic deal. The 2013 refresh was just rolled out, making the 2012 (which is a bit of a rolling turd compared to older Civics) much more expendable.

Sounds like he's planning on buying a few years old, so I don't think carcostcanada really applies in that situation does it?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Sounds like he's planning on buying a few years old, so I don't think carcostcanada really applies in that situation does it?

I'm not sure....one one hand he mentioned paying 12k (which wont get you a new Civic or Corolla) but then wanted the dealer to throw in a better stereo, which is type of thing you typically negotiate on new cars. Clarification would be good.

Personally, I think if budget is your #1 priority, a new car is never the best option.

[mrgreen]

Just be totally shameless and have fun with it. They expect it...and don't believe a word they say. Even when you think you got a great deal they're laughing at you for being a sucker. I don't believe you ever get a deal that hurts them. Remember not just vehicle price but add-ons etc too. I got heated seats, remote start and other things added as part of a deal. Make sure they tell you about all the extras when it comes to actually signing for it too as there are often lots of hidden costs that can sometimes be negotiated. Don't be afraid to walk away. Don't make the mistake of thinking a salesperson is a nice guy, he's not.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

We'll I'm finally getting a car tomorrow, after my old vehicle was written off in the August hail storm. I wanted to see if anyone on the forum has experience in bartering for vehicles. I tend to be too nice of a guy, and ask for too little off the sticker price ( e.g. $12,000 on a 12,550 vehicle).

I'm trying to get a good deal, and I am fairly excited. I am looking at something simple like a Civic DX or a Toyota Corolla. If they were to throw in some extras, what can I expect. I was hoping for a warranty, possibly better financing terms, better stereo, etc.

I may just get my buddy who is mechanically inclined to come and help me out, but CP has never failed me before, so any tips about buying a slightly used vehicle would be greatly appreciated!

Have you looked at any used cars in your price range just to see what else you can buy with the same money?

Corollas are as reliable as a refrigerator and just as much fun to drive. For whatever your budget is, you could buy something used that is still reliable and efficient (that's probably what you're looking for), but that is also a fata ton more fun to drive.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

We'll I'm finally getting a car tomorrow, after my old vehicle was written off in the August hail storm. I wanted to see if anyone on the forum has experience in bartering for vehicles. I tend to be too nice of a guy, and ask for too little off the sticker price ( e.g. $12,000 on a 12,550 vehicle).

I'm trying to get a good deal, and I am fairly excited. I am looking at something simple like a Civic DX or a Toyota Corolla. If they were to throw in some extras, what can I expect. I was hoping for a warranty, possibly better financing terms, better stereo, etc.

I may just get my buddy who is mechanically inclined to come and help me out, but CP has never failed me before, so any tips about buying a slightly used vehicle would be greatly appreciated!

The combination of the bolded part and the 12k budget led me to believe he was thinking a used version of one of those vehicles...