Purchasing a new car for the first time

[Mango]

First, I am a female and the stereotype does apply to me. I know very little about cars, but have been researching the ones that are in my price range.

I've gone to a few lots and noticed that Non-American car dealerships (for example, Mazda and Honda), will not budge on the price for a car. Is there a specific reason for this? Or, perhaps, is this just happening in my situation?

In addition, is there a particular way to deal with sales people? I don't want to seem like a push over, but the sales associates are treating me that way.

In the past, which dealerships in Calgary did you have a good experience with? (especially in regards to Mazda and Honda)

Thanks in advance!

[calf]

All car prices are negotiable, so demand to negotiate or they don't get a sale. If you don't want to be a pushover, don't be a pushover. The sales people will try to manipulate you however they can, and they're pretty good at it. Go in with the mindset that you're the one in control, that you're giving them YOUR business....and never be afraid to walk away from a deal at anytime....that's probably the best way to deal with the salespeople, from my experience.

Also, do as much research as you can about the car - see what other dealerships are offering you, and let others know if they're doing anything better. And, if you show up to look at the car more than once, they'll probably recognize you, and it'll look like you really are serious and want to make a deal with them.

For in a house of 4 people, we have 2 Hondas and 1 Mazda (all new...but none are my car). My parents had good luck at Crowfoot Honda and my brother had good luck at North Hill Mazda (but they'll bug you like heck if you give them your number to see if you're still interested in the car).

Good luck!

[JiriHrdina]

I recently purchased a new Saturn and had a great experience. I know NOTHING about cars at all and feel very intimidated by the whole process. However the guy I dealt with seemed very sincere. Young guy, but he knew his stuff. Very low pressure. If you want, PM me and I'll give you his contact information (assuming you are in Calgary).

[Daradon]

Hey Mango,

I used to be a car salesperson so maybe I can give you some inside information.

As Calf says, all car prices are negotiable. A good rule of thumb for the low end vehicles is try to get at least 10% of the sticker price off. 15% is usually a good target to aim for. You are right about the imports, there is usually a little less profit built into them so sometimes they won't budge as much, but always ALWAYS try to get 10% off. Higher priced cars you can negotiate even more off of, and if you have the luxury of buying the car outright without going through the bank or their financing, you can save even more.

To really put a little pressure on the sales person, there are better times and days to buy cars. When you find a car and are pretty sure that you know the person you want to deal with, try to come in 30 mins before closing to close the deal. If you can get them closing up the shop around you, chances are they will be eager to go home and will sell for less. The same goes for quotas. Salespeople have targets and sometimes even quotas. As the end of the month gets closer, salespeople are harder pressed to roll the last few cars out. You'll have more bargaining power at the end of the week and the end of the month. (Sometimes the months go by on the 15ths though, so sometimes it's hard to know exactly when this is)

But with all these things, the most important thing is to treat the dealer with respect. Don't not show up for a scheduled meeting cause 90% of the dealers don't get paid being there, so that's money they lose not selling to other people and time the lose in general. Also dealers hate it when you go back and forth between dealers of the same type of car trying to get an extra 100 off here, 50 off there. Just ask for the price you want for near the beginning. If they won't give it to you, try someone else. But a happy dealer will give you a better deal. If you aren't wasting their time and they can make another sale, they are more willing to give up more.

Of course, this all goes if they are treating with you with respect. If not, don't waste your time with them. You'll have the car for a long time and I guarantee you will see the person again. You want to have at least a okay relationship with them. If you do, it will make any warantee work, tune ups, problems etc you may have or need a lot easier and smoother and cheaper.

Above all, don't buy the undercoating or fabric care! The undercoating is a joke and the fabric care you can do for yourself at like 20% of the price. Get an extended warantee if you feel you should, but most imports have long ones anyway.

Happy driving! PM me if you want to ask anything.

[BlackArcher101]

Any particular reason you are going for a brand new car?
I recommend going for something that's 2 years old or so with about 30,000 km on it. Odds are it's depreciated quite a bit and you still have lot's of life left out of it.

[ricosuave]

perhaps this link will be helpful

http://67.19.207.84/~redflagd/forum/showth...highlight=jetta

and do your homework!!!

rico

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Couple quick tips.

1) don't give him your price first. Ask him what his best price can be and go from there. That way you are going down from him, instead of up from you.

2) Don't be afraid to walk away. If you start heading for that door it's likely he'll find a little more room to budge.

3) Don't know if this is the best way for you to do it, but a couple years ago things worked out so that my parents were buying 2 new cars. They knew exactly the cars they were looking for and basically walked into every dealership in Calgary and said "We want these two cars and are going to every dealership in Calgary, you have one shot to give us your best price". Some guys didn't take them seriously, and they lost the sale of 2 pretty pricey cars. The guy that did take them seriously, got one hell of an easy sale, and my folks got a really good dea. You maybe don't have enough leverage in your situation to pull something like this, but make sure they are taking you seriously and you should get a good dea.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

The whole sale process is con game and is all about maintaining control. If you can control the sales process you will get a good deal. If the dealership controls the sale process they are going to have their way with you.

My suggestion for guaranteeing control? Do your homework before going to a dealership. Know what car you want, what accessories you want and price that car out at cost. Call some insurance companies and ask them what they feel that new car is worth replacement cost. Go to YOUR bank and pre-arrange financing. Walk in armed with a cheque and find the car you like. Wave the cheque inder their noses and they'll come around quickly, especially when you say that you're willing to go down the street or are considering a competitors product as well. If you don't have a cheque, tell the salesman and sales manager upfront that your bank has agreed to finance so much and that is all they will do. You are there to get the VIN of the car you want and you can close the deal with the bank as soon as that information is given.

Ignore what the salesman has to say, he has no say in what the car is sold for. The guy in the tower (the sales manager usually) is the decision maker. The salesman's job is to land you on the car, build an emotional attachment to the car, and soften you up so you buy that car TODAY. The sales manager is the only one who can finalize the deal so try and deal only with him. Impress upon him that this is a cash deal and he'll give you what you want.

Don't use the dealership financing. You will get a better deal through your bank for the most part. Dealerships throw lots of numbers at you to try and make you believe that you are getting zero point something financing, but the APR is normally the same as you get from your bank (if you are good standing with your institution).

Good luck, and remember, assume control from the minute you walk in the door. Tell them what YOU want and what YOU are prepared to play. Don't play the back and forth negotiation game and BE prpared to walk away at any time. The dealer WILL call you back and try to sell you that car for your price.

[Bill Bumface]

Make your deal, and then last minute ask if there are any upfront fees (tire tax, a/c tax, delivery charges) and then ask for those off. If they say no, shake there hand and say thanks for their help and see what happens.

[Mango]

Thanks so much everyone - much appreciated! B)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally posted by Mango@Sep 17 2004, 04:00 AM
First, I am a female and the stereotype does apply to me. I know very little about cars, but have been researching the ones that are in my price range.

That's the stereotype, but the truth of the matter is that most males know jack about cars when it comes down to actually buying one.

[Mango]

Originally posted by FlamesAddiction+Sep 18 2004, 12:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (FlamesAddiction @ Sep 18 2004, 12:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Mango@Sep 17 2004, 04:00 AM
First, I am a female and the stereotype does apply to me. I know very little about cars, but have been researching the ones that are in my price range.

That's the stereotype, but the truth of the matter is that most males know jack about cars when it comes down to actually buying one. [/b][/quote]
hehe

Well, those who posted above me seem to know a lot

Regardless, maybe I shouldn't have singled my gender out :P

[peter12]

Hey Mango, KIA KIA KIA.
Big sale, big warranty, cheap and some of the best quality on the market.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally posted by peter12@Sep 17 2004, 09:14 PM
Big sale, big warranty, cheap and some of the best quality on the market.

[sesame street song here]
One of these things is not like the other...
[/sesame street song here]

It's known that you can't have all 4 of those. You can only pick 3 at best. At least one of those isn't true.

[peter12]

Originally posted by BlackArcher101+Sep 17 2004, 07:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BlackArcher101 @ Sep 17 2004, 07:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-peter12@Sep 17 2004, 09:14 PM
Big sale, big warranty, cheap and some of the best quality on the market.

[sesame street song here]
One of these things is not like the other...
[/sesame street song here]

It's known that you can't have all 4 of those. You can only pick 3 at best. At least one of those isn't true. [/b][/quote]
Not true man. KIA is solid on all fronts. I am leaning towards a new cheap car, a KIA is perfect.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally posted by peter12+Sep 18 2004, 03:32 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (peter12 @ Sep 18 2004, 03:32 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

[sesame street song here]
One of these things is not like the other...
[/sesame street song here]

It's known that you can't have all 4 of those. You can only pick 3 at best. At least one of those isn't true.

Not true man. KIA is solid on all fronts. I am leaning towards a new cheap car, a KIA is perfect. [/b][/quote]
How sure are you about the quality part? I used to work at a dealership and everyone told me to stay away from those things.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally posted by Crazy Flamer+Sep 18 2004, 04:13 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Crazy Flamer @ Sep 18 2004, 04:13 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Not true man. KIA is solid on all fronts. I am leaning towards a new cheap car, a KIA is perfect.

How sure are you about the quality part? I used to work at a dealership and everyone told me to stay away from those things. [/b][/quote]
Kias have actually turned into very quality automobiles from everything I have read. But when they first came out they were pieces to say the least.

[peter12]

The late 90s Sportages were better suited to being lawn ornaments than cars. Now I believe KIA is on a par with the other Asian car companies and considered far superior to the North American models.

[Mango]

Today was an interesting experience. I took much of the advice here - thank you again.

I was a little shocked to find a 195.00 documentation fee though...

In addition, I do understand that dealerships are working on their own, but can't they trade inventory etc with another dealership to make a sale?

[Daradon]

Mango, they CAN trade inventory to make a sale, but they often prefer to get rid of their own stock. I traded many vehicles when I sold, picking them up from as far away as Edmonton, but this is not something the manager always approves of. If you can convince the dealer that the color of your car is very important, you might also be able to convince them, well, you'll take the other color, but they have to wave the doc fee. See what I mean? Everyone wins.

When you ask for a price, ask for an 'all in' price. One that includes all taxes and fees. Tire tax, excise tax, AC tax, signing fee etc. So you won't be surprised. Then negotiate THAT price.