Toyota Truck with Lemon Stickers & Giant Sign

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I wonder how close they would be if they tried to ballpark it. I doubt they'd come within a couple thousand.

funny you should mention that. Had a client adding a2014 Ford F150 and asked him that question. Again, "ummmm, not sure". Okay well for guaranteed replacement cost we are required to provide an answer. Could you guess and then let me know when you p/u the truck? He ballparked it at $30k. Told him that sounded pretty low and please call back to confirm.

Called me back later to correct to $55k.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

If you think that's bad, the number of people whom by older homes (25+ yrs) that actually get an inspection done? Maybe half?

I'm guessing less? Depends if you count the people who begrudgingly spend the money on a home inspection when it's recommended by someone (ie: Realtor or mortgage broker). It's a drop in the bucket vs the several hundred thousand dollars you are about to spend.

I'm always surprised the amount of individuals who never consider doing regular maintenance on a car and assumes a vehicle magically never breaks down. These individuals generally forget/are completely unaware a family member or SO has been getting the oil changes and whatever else needs to be done. I knew of individuals who never filled up their car in their life and had been driving for years. They just "swap" vehicles with either a family member or SO and take it out again when the fuel light isn't on. Sadly, this isn't limited to girls. I've heard of a few guys who do this as well.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

He ballparked it at $30k. Told him that sounded pretty low and please call back to confirm.

Called me back later to correct to $55k.

That is absolutely unreal. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to tell you within a few hundred what I paid for my truck (and it's not a recent purchase). I can't imagine being off by $25k

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I'm always surprised the amount of individuals who never consider doing regular maintenance on a car and assumes a vehicle magically never breaks down. .... Sadly, this isn't limited to girls. I've heard of a few guys who do this as well.

I've always thought a basic vehicle maintenence (along with basic personal finance) should be mandatory in high school. I recall having to take a grade 10 (or 9 maybe?) home ec as well as an industrial arts course. The IA class would have been much better served teaching basic vehicle maintenance than using a wood lathe, IMO.

[Igster]

My wife and I have purchased a few new vehicles in the last little while and it's always about the monthly payment where the sales people are concerned. They don't even mention the price of the vehicle at all. You need to nail them on it and go through that process first, but most sales people will talk about monthly or bi-weekly payments only.

It's really a disturbing trend from when I used to buy vehicles back in my 20's.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

funny you should mention that. Had a client adding a2014 Ford F150 and asked him that question. Again, "ummmm, not sure". Okay well for guaranteed replacement cost we are required to provide an answer. Could you guess and then let me know when you p/u the truck? He ballparked it at $30k. Told him that sounded pretty low and please call back to confirm.

Called me back later to correct to $55k.

I wonder, did he just multiply his monthly payment by 60 or 72 (or however many months his term is) and give you that as the price? Sounds like something a client like this might do.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

That is absolutely unreal. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to tell you within a few hundred what I paid for my truck (and it's not a recent purchase). I can't imagine being off by $25k


I've always thought a basic vehicle maintenence (along with basic personal finance) should be mandatory in high school. I recall having to take a grade 10 (or 9 maybe?) home ec as well as an industrial arts course. The IA class would have been much better served teaching basic vehicle maintenance than using a wood lathe, IMO.

We had these when I was in high school (class of 96). CALM 20 which I believe is still around, and Car Care 10 which was "for the girls". I think that was only a pilot project that didn't last though.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I've always thought a basic vehicle maintenence (along with basic personal finance) should be mandatory in high school. I recall having to take a grade 10 (or 9 maybe?) home ec as well as an industrial arts course. The IA class would have been much better served teaching basic vehicle maintenance than using a wood lathe, IMO.

I think automotive maintenance was under an industrial arts. About 10 years ago, it was still going strong. I agree it should be considered as being a highly recommended course.

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

We had these when I was in high school (class of 96). CALM 20 which I believe is still around, and Car Care 10 which was "for the girls". I think that was only a pilot project that didn't last though.

Are you sure it was CALM? I thought CALM was "Career and Life Management". I recall the automotive classes were something like 1/3 girls and 2/3 guys. I don't recall the name of the class, we always just called it automotive. But I think it was indeed called an industrial arts class or something along those lines.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I think automotive maintenance was under an industrial arts.

We had it, but it wasn't until Grade 12 that you got into it. My point being IMO it should be the first thing you take in IA, and it shouldn't be an elective.

Mind you another 10-20 years and it's going to be virtually impossible to even change oil on a vehicle without taking it to the dealership so the point might be moot.

[Hack&Lube]

I fondly remember one of the first mechanics classes in high school. I didn't know what a clutch was so I almost drove a car through the wall. It would make sense for public schools to teach driving along with basic mechanics courses so it all makes sense to the student who has never driven before or has never popped a hood before.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

We had it, but it wasn't until Grade 12 that you got into it. My point being IMO it should be the first thing you take in IA, and it shouldn't be an elective.

I think it was available as early as grade 10 or 11 for me. I wasn't able to get in though because it was full. I ended up in home ec because it was full until the next year. Fair enough, I don't disagree with you there.

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I remember during one of the first mechanics classes in high school. I didn't know what a clutch was so I almost drove a car through the wall. It would make sense for public schools to teach driving along with basic mechanics courses so it all makes sense to the student who has never driven before or has never popped a hood before.

That's an absolutely great idea too. I think I recall hearing about an event like that happening at my school too.

[Bill Bumface]

I love the classic car sales approach:

"How much is it?"

"Well, what do you want your monthly payment to be?"

"Zero"

"…"

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I love the classic car sales approach:

"How much is it?"

"Well, what do you want your monthly payment to be?"

"Zero"

"…"

Earlier this year bought a car with cash and our conversations went something like this:

"What kind of payments are you looking at?"

"We're not financing, we're paying cash, we want an all-in price of $[X]"

"Cash? Really?"

"Yes, cash. Now what can you show us for around $[X]"

"Well I can you show you a few things, but let me ask you something. Do you know how much the interest would be on a $20,000 loan if you took the full 5 years to pay it off?"

*sigh* "No, but I bet you do..."

[mrkajz44]

I always thought telling them you wanted to pay cash up front hurt your bargaining power. You roll with all the talk of monthly payments, but be sure you know the total price, and then right at the end say you want to pay cash. That way you might get some extra "throw-ins" becuase the salesman thinks this is some 72 month financing plan or something.

Am I crazy on this?

[burn_this_city]

No, the smart approach is to finance and then pay it down entirely after a couple months. That way you get the most negotiating power on the purchase price because the dealer makes money from the bank loan.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

No, the smart approach is to finance and then pay it down entirely after a couple months. That way you get the most negotiating power on the purchase price because the dealer makes money from the bank loan.

Interesting, I've paid cash for a car but hadn't heard that advice. Are auto loans usually fully prepayable with no penalty?

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Interesting, I've paid cash for a car but hadn't heard that advice. Are auto loans usually fully prepayable with no penalty?

I was under the impression that car loans in Alberta were always payable without any penalties. I am not sure though.

[DownhillGoat]

Might depend on the agreement you sign, but any I've had could always be paid in full at any time, no penalty.

[GP_Matt]

I paid mine off after a the first payment came out. They really don't like to talk about purchase price at all though.

Even when negotiating I have had a sales guy offer to cut the payment by $50 a month through the magic of extending the term of the loan.