Purchasing a new car for the first time

[flamefan74]

If model year isn't important to you, try finding one of the last model year (2004) when the new model year (2005) comes out. Usually dealers will give you a better deal on these than a brand new model year car.

[ricosuave]

Originally posted by Mango@Sep 19 2004, 12:39 AM
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?

tell 'em to stick their documentation fee, and any other 'office fee' up their asses.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by fotze

SO I am in the negotiating stage, looking to get the Mazda5 a nice family car.

What is this etching fee? SOunds like bull**** to me.

I told the guy that if there is soome hidden fee at the end then we walk.

What is with white cars? They always have those left although no one ever wants that crap. Can I order the car I actually want

Wow a 1.5 year bump. Nicely done.

[Eddie Bronze]

What dealership are you dealing with that's trying pull that etching fee crap on you? Go somewhere else fotze, it's a scam. They never even offered that to me and it's a good thing, I'd have immediately went elsewhere. Sign of a shady dealer if you ask me.

All they'd be doing is etching the VIN number of your car right into the window. I'm guessing here but they're asking you how much for it, $800? Maybe a little less. I honestly don't see the purpose of getting it done to begin with but if you want it, you can buy a do-it-yourself kit at an auto parts store for probably $30.

[Bill Bumface]

When I got my car they told me all about this wonderful thing where my car is tagged in secret places and they give me full replacement if it is stolen blah blah blah. I said I didn't want it and they tried to pull the "Oh, well because you wanted your car ready so fast we already did it, its a really good idea blah blah". I replied "Thats fine, I don't live in compon so I won't need it. If you can take the tags off in 5 minutes, fine, otherwise the car is coming with me and I'm not paying that fee."

They didn't argue it at all and let me go.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fotze

I googled etching fee and it is pretty easy to see its a scam or possible scamola.

I also got them to appraise a car for trade in. For the price they were going to give me I told them it would be more worth it to sit in my backyard as a doghouse and huck rocks at it.

Also watch for the "What do you want your monthly payment to be" scam. Deal only on the sticker price. Try not to mention trade in until you have the sticker price hammered down. Often they will give you an ok looking trade in value but neglect to put the price down on the new car as much as they could of.

[Shazam]

Toyota went the way of Saturn a few years ago in that they do not normally allow negotiation on their prices anymore.

Mazdas are selling like crazy right now in Calgary, and thusly their salespeople are not moving on prices and would rather lose sales than move on their prices.

Brands I would currently avoid: GM, Ford, Chrysler, Kia, Mitsubishi.

Borderline: Hyundai, Nissan.

Better: Honda, Mazda.

Best: Toyota.

[Bobblehead]

Here is an excallent article. Link

It is about a reporter who went "undercover" and spent some time as a salesman at a couple of dealerships, one commission sales and the other a no-hagle type dealership. I found it pretty interesting and a good read.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Toyota went the way of Saturn a few years ago in that they do not normally allow negotiation on their prices anymore.

Did things change at all since this ruling from the Competition Bureau?

Reading it, it means that the dealerships are free to set the prices (I guess Toyota was compelling them to not budge off the Access price). But since Toyotas seem to be in such demand, perhaps the dealerships don't discount much anyways?

[Engine09]

Documentation fee, etching fee? I thought the PDI and undercoating was sickening.

These dealers disgust me.


I'm looking for a BMW 3 series something in the Spirng/Summer. Maybe an '02/'03. Does anyoen have some bits of advice, dealerships to avoid, comments on the cars themselves? I've already gone through the LemonAid books.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Did things change at all since this ruling from the Competition Bureau?

Reading it, it means that the dealerships are free to set the prices (I guess Toyota was compelling them to not budge off the Access price). But since Toyotas seem to be in such demand, perhaps the dealerships don't discount much anyways?

Interesting, but ultimately futile ruling by the CB. Even Saturn dealerships are "free to set their own prices", but you never see them do that. Why would they? Same thing with Toyota. It doesn't benefit any of them if one dealership starts to go crazy and moves on prices.

Oh, and I hate buying cars. I hate dealerships, I hate the salespeople, I hate the prices.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

I hate dealerhsips and all their games. The only way I can carshop it to walk in with a price in mind, ask if they can do it and either walk out with a car or just plain walk out.

It may not be the best price, but its a price I can live with and doesn't take 3 years off my life trying to fight through the slimeballs. Although I did get screwed on Calgary Honda's $400 'etching' fee. I called it a 'profit fee'. I paid it anyway because at that point the $400 was worth less to me than starting again. Still makes me cranky.

[Bobblehead]

I bought a used Tacoma last month. The salesman called me last week to see how I was enjoying it, and just before I hung up, he asked "if I knew anyone else in the market"

Ahhh, of course.

The I had a message in my voice mail. Another car salesman who had sold me my Grand Am almost 6 years ago! Just letting me know about a sale they had going on. Things must be tough there, that is the first I have heard from him. Perhaps a motivated seller, if anyone is looking.

[return to the red]

Just bought a '05 Mazda 6 in September and we love the car. The salesman we actually bought it off used to be my manager at a previous job. The one key component that the fiance and I hammered out before going in was how much we were willing to spend on a payment. The salesman tried to get this number out of us but I didn't release it ntil we signed our deal. We are happy but as my dad said, no matter if you got a smokin good deal somehow you always leave a dealership feelin ripped off

BTW we bought our car at Kramer and when we picked it up one of the other sales guys had people sitting in OUR CAR and it was even in the delivery lain!! I was very displeased with that!!

[Shazam]

Just hope they didn't fart on your seats.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Here is an excallent article. Link

It is about a reporter who went "undercover" and spent some time as a salesman at a couple of dealerships, one commission sales and the other a no-hagle type dealership. I found it pretty interesting and a good read.

That was a good read. I can't believe I made it through the whole thing; I'm a champ!

[LGA]

Get one a year or two old, they're a lot cheaper and usually still in near mint condition. Also, unless the previous driver used it as a highway getaway vehicle mileage will be low, and what not.

The Honda's and Toyota's are all pretty nice, and their plans are also pretty decent.

The one big thing I have to say is...good luck trying to find a 3000GT or 300ZX anywhere in Calgary...bah, greatest frustration in my life right now...

I do like the Toyota's though, since my mom just bought one a few months ago, drives smooth and all. Only problem is it's only been out of the garage like 5 times . Yea, I'm not really sure what's going on there.

If getting a new car isn't that big a deal, get an older one, sometimes you'll find some really nice cars from the 90's with decent mileage and ridicuolously priced. Personally I like the Integra's they're tiny, they don't have massive engines, but they're like highway go-carts...of death, have to make it sound manly, or something.

[Ironhorse]

I've bough Chevs, a Ford and then an other Ford, and the sales process in all of them left me with a slimy feeling and an ache in my posterior.

I'd have to say that my best car sales experience so far has been when I bough my MINI Cooper S. Absolutely no pressure sale, (really, the car is its own salesman) and no hidden rip-off fees. Even when it was time to pick up, and the finance guy asked if I was interested in any protection packages, I politely declined, and the subject was never brought up again. But they aren't excactly budget type cars neither.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I've bough Chevs, a Ford and then an other Ford, and the sales process in all of them left me with a slimy feeling and an ache in my posterior.

I'd have to say that my best car sales experience so far has been when I bough my MINI Cooper S. Absolutely no pressure sale, (really, the car is its own salesman) and no hidden rip-off fees. Even when it was time to pick up, and the finance guy asked if I was interested in any protection packages, I politely declined, and the subject was never brought up again. But they aren't excactly budget type cars neither.

Agreed. When I went to look at these the sales people were slightly less slimy than normal. I was allowed to take the car for a test drive by myself (only place that ever let me do this, and it was suprising considering I drove a beater to get there). After I told them I'd think about it I was only ever called once. Not too bad. Massive quality problems, and interior that wasn't for me, and a very high price made my decision for me though. No bent strut towers thanks

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

now thats funny.