Buying a car now

[Anonymous]

Crazy dealer markups! What is the best way to approach? If we head out of the DC area will it be better? We saw a markup of $7.5K yesterday. Give up on a highbred? Spend 4K to fox the 14 year old car? Used does not seem to off much of a discount. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Some dealerships are doing markups, like you said. Others are still selling for MSRP, but for popular models (like hybrids, as you said) that can mean a months-long waiting list.

We're on a waiting list to pay exactly MSRP for a RAV4 Hybrid. We don't need it for a couple more months, so we'll see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some dealerships are doing markups, like you said. Others are still selling for MSRP, but for popular models (like hybrids, as you said) that can mean a months-long waiting list.

We're on a waiting list to pay exactly MSRP for a RAV4 Hybrid. We don't need it for a couple more months, so we'll see what happens.

How did you find MSRP? Keep looking at different dealers? Negotiate it off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some dealerships are doing markups, like you said. Others are still selling for MSRP, but for popular models (like hybrids, as you said) that can mean a months-long waiting list.

We're on a waiting list to pay exactly MSRP for a RAV4 Hybrid. We don't need it for a couple more months, so we'll see what happens.

How did you find MSRP? Keep looking at different dealers? Negotiate it off?

We're in the exurbs, but our local Toyota dealership said "We're just selling for MSRP. We're not doing 'market adjustments'." So we said "sounds good."

What kind of cars are you looking at, just curious?

[Anonymous]

Looking pretty broadly right now. Likely an SUV

[Anonymous]

Avoid Ourisman's close-in dealerships, including the one in Rockville, if you're looking for a VW or Volvo. Their markups are insane. Go to the one in Laurel. You can still do the routine service appointments at the Ourisman in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

We went down to Culpeper to pay MSRP for a hybrid recently. Look at dealerships at least an hour out of DC and you should be able to find something reasonable.

[Anonymous]

We bought a used car (2021, less than 15k miles) near Baltimore and felt the price was a good discount off new and were happy with the experience. We didn't even attempt to buy a hybrid though. Those are in high demand and there are still supply chain issues so if that's what you want, you either need to wait or be willing to pay premium. I think 7.5k over MSRP is still steep but it's possible that with hybrids that's just market price right now.

So I guess the issue is, how married are you to a new hybrid SUV? That's the hardest car to buy right now because everyone wants one.

[Anonymous]

We searched within a 250 miles radius and found ones 2-3 states away that were a couple thousand less out the door than we could find here.

We also were looking for 2022 model year unsold new inventory--the 2022s were at or below MSRP. 2023s all MSRP or above.

[Anonymous]

What car are you looking for?

[Anonymous]

I was recently shopping for an accord or camry and no dealer was charging above MSRP. They were however charging at MSRP at least initially.

[Anonymous]

Markups are thing of the past. If you pay
Marks up you are not to smart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Markups are thing of the past. If you pay
Marks up you are not to smart

Have you been to a dealer recently? The lots are empty. You are ordering in advance and paying what they want to charge.