Any advice on how to make buying a new car not a terrible experience?

[Anonymous]

My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

we went to a dealer (toyota) up in maryland in the boonies. long drive, but the whole thing took 30 mins. they came with a price, which was high and we said for $XX price it's a deal. this was later in the evening. done.

[Anonymous]

Negotiate by email. Have everything set up before you walk in.

[Anonymous]

Look at kbb.com

Thats the kelly blue book site. See what the car is worth. You will save time haggling if you know what to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

Tell me the specifics of the car you want: make, model, color and MSRP and I will most probably be able to tell you what price you should pay for the car.

[Anonymous]

avoid the sleezy back and forth sales thing. they like to do that with some people. let them know you are serious buyers and not into games and the "let me check" blah blah. that's a fake game. it's like real estate.
go in with a number and the demands and give them your best and final. if possible get two dealers. one by phone. that gives you leverage b/c they will try to beat each other to make the sale. works every time.

[Anonymous]

We purchased from a no haggle dealer. The price you saw was the price you paid. We thought the price was awesome and that's why we went there. It was a used car though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Negotiate by email. Have everything set up before you walk in.

Yep. My husband did this for us, so he knew which places had the best price on the cars we were considering, and then we went from there.

What really means is this is a few step process, as you need to get out and test drive cars for an afternoon *without* doing the financial work-up, decide on what car you want, then e-mail a bunch of dealerships with your specs and see who comes up with the best deal, then e-mail that deal to the others to see if they can beat it.

Then, you go to the winning dealership to buy a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Negotiate by email. Have everything set up before you walk in.

THIS!!!! We got the price so low 2 other dealers were shocked and said, "good luck! I'm out!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

Tell me the specifics of the car you want: make, model, color and MSRP and I will most probably be able to tell you what price you should pay for the car.

We want a new 2014 Honda Odyssey EX-L. Would like it Crystal Black Pearl exterior and Gray interior. MSRP for this is $36,455

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

Tell me the specifics of the car you want: make, model, color and MSRP and I will most probably be able to tell you what price you should pay for the car.

We want a new 2014 Honda Odyssey EX-L. Would like it Crystal Black Pearl exterior and Gray interior. MSRP for this is $36,455

You'll pay about $32,000, plus tags and tax. Is that with Nav and DVD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

Tell me the specifics of the car you want: make, model, color and MSRP and I will most probably be able to tell you what price you should pay for the car.

We want a new 2014 Honda Odyssey EX-L. Would like it Crystal Black Pearl exterior and Gray interior. MSRP for this is $36,455

You'll pay about $32,000, plus tags and tax. Is that with Nav and DVD?

No, we don't want the Nav and DVD. Does $32,000 include the tags and tax?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Negotiate by email. Have everything set up before you walk in.

THIS!!!! We got the price so low 2 other dealers were shocked and said, "good luck! I'm out!"

This is what Consumer Reports says to do. Tell the dealers they are bidding against each other. If you don't want to do this, AAA and USAA and maybe some other places offer this service for a fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family has to buy a new car and we know the make and model that we want. We are procrastinating a little because buying a new car is such a pain! Last time, we were at the dealer going back and forth on the price for hours. We didn't get out of the dealership until after midnight. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process a little easier?

Thanks!

Tell me the specifics of the car you want: make, model, color and MSRP and I will most probably be able to tell you what price you should pay for the car.

We want a new 2014 Honda Odyssey EX-L. Would like it Crystal Black Pearl exterior and Gray interior. MSRP for this is $36,455

You should be able to get this car for between 31500 and 31800 plus taxes, tags and dealer processing.

Wait until the end of the month and that is when dealers will be most inclined to negotiate. I agree with those who said that you should finalize the numbers by email. BTW, I don't know whether you are in VA or MD but irrespective you should add $199 for dealer processing and tell any dealer the total price you are willing to pay based on that amount of processing fee.

Not sure if I am making myself clear but VA dealers charge an exorbitant amount for dealer processing. So don't get into negotiating it with them - just give them a total amount that you will pay which would include everything except taxes and tags.

Don't go and negotiate in person - they will wear you down. Just negotiate everything by email - not by phone. If you have any questions just ask.

[Anonymous]

The best advice I was ever given on car buying: Be willing to walk out.

I prefer to test drive a few cars at different dealerships and give myself 2-5 days to go over the numbers and make a decision. This makes sales people a little nuts, but saves me from 90% of the haggling game. I'm to the point and don't get emotionally invested in any one car, color or sales person.