Advice for buying a new car

[loud2004marquis]

My wife and I are going to be buying a new Fusion and so far our expirence at a few different dealerships are that the prices are pretty much set with rebates and programs that we qualify for. To our surprise none of the dealerships seem to want to make any kind of concessions beyond the "set in stone" discounts and we were wondering if anyone else has had this kind of expirence or were you able to haggle the price down. Any advice would be a appreciated. Thanks.

[MOTOWN]

a friend of mines bought a fusion with cash in hand, the deal was similar to what your describing, im in michigan as well ,she bought hers from village ford on michigan ave in dearborn, heck of nice car though
these cars are realy selling well, like the salesman said there practicaly selling them selfs!

[wx4caster]

I am not looking for a new car currently but incentives are at a 5 year low and with the hot selling Fusion, my opinion is dealers are not discounting much to keep profits higher. (Essentially they don't have to). Also inventories aren't high due to several factors incl Japan earthquake, although I am not sure how (if) the Fusion is impacted beyond the paint pigment shortage.

[mrjones]

Really like the Fusions and having been toying with the idea of buying one for a while. The only thing is, my wife wants to get rid of her GT convertible just to get something with more room in it. I don't want to get rid of that car.

I drove a 4 cyl Fusion last summer for a few days. Drove nice and got great gas mileage. Of course, I'd want the 3.5L Sport model!

[Blackened300a]

I walked into the dealer when I wanted a Fusion and told him that I had some cash to put down and I had a budget of how much I wanna pay per month. He worked out the numbers to fit my budget and I drove home with a 2010 Fusion.

I had a sour experience with a dealership when I was buying a Avalanche, I left that dealer and walked into another and just told them flat out that I have this trade in, I have this cash and I want to pay this much a month, If they can't work it out then Im out of here. They were happy to meet my demands.

[Vortex]

Rule #1 about buying a new car: You are the one with the money. They HAVE to sell the car. You didnt say if you were trading so I will assume you are not and that makes this much easier. Assuming the dealerships are not owned by the same people you can play them off on each other. Do your research online (Edmunds). Know what the cost of the car that you are looking at costs the dealer and what rebates are going on. Make sure to check the paper to see what specials they are offering (short sidebar: when I bought my Dodge truck in 05 I firmed up on the price with the salesman, signed some papers and then went to the back to sign those real papers with the office guy. The office guy started explaining my free oil changes. I didnt know what he was talking about but kept my mouth shut. Turns out they had a special in the paper that included 14 free oil/filter changes over the first 7 years/70k miles that they threw in I didnt even know about. Im still getting those free oil changes.) Anyway, after youve done your research go to the best dealership (check to see if they offer loaners for service, if they do, thats a good dealership) and tell them you are buying a car today and if it isnt from them it will be that Chevy dealership across the street. Act like you dont give a damn what kind of car you are buying (pokerface). When they know you are serious offer them dealer cost minus any incentives for the car. The salesman will roll his eyes but he will make a counter offer. Oh yeah, I always tell the salesman I want to deal with one person only and if somebody else comes in (ie sales manager) Im gone. If he cant sell me the car, get me somebody in this little room that can. Figure out the difference between their offer and your first offer and if its close, go up from 1/3 to 1/2 the difference. If he doesnt bite, get up and leave. Sometimes they will actually chase you down in the parking lot when they know you are serious and "going next door to the Chevy dealer" to spend your money. A couple of other things; saying you have cash is no deal for them, they WANT to finance you. Also, anything that business guy tries to sell you is (IMHO) a ripoff, especially extended warranties. If it doesnt break when under a factory warranty its probably not going to break.

[SC Cheesehead]

Rule #1 about buying a new car: You are the one with the money. They HAVE to sell the car. You didnt say if you were trading so I will assume you are not and that makes this much easier. Assuming the dealerships are not owned by the same people you can play them off on each other. Do your research online (Edmunds). Know what the cost of the car that you are looking at costs the dealer and what rebates are going on. Make sure to check the paper to see what specials they are offering (short sidebar: when I bought my Dodge truck in 05 I firmed up on the price with the salesman, signed some papers and then went to the back to sign those real papers with the office guy. The office guy started explaining my free oil changes. I didnt know what he was talking about but kept my mouth shut. Turns out they had a special in the paper that included 14 free oil/filter changes over the first 7 years/70k miles that they threw in I didnt even know about. Im still getting those free oil changes.) Anyway, after youve done your research go to the best dealership (check to see if they offer loaners for service, if they do, thats a good dealership) and tell them you are buying a car today and if it isnt from them it will be that Chevy dealership across the street. Act like you dont give a damn what kind of car you are buying (pokerface). When they know you are serious offer them dealer cost minus any incentives for the car. The salesman will roll his eyes but he will make a counter offer. Oh yeah, I always tell the salesman I want to deal with one person only and if somebody else comes in (ie sales manager) Im gone. If he cant sell me the car, get me somebody in this little room that can. Figure out the difference between their offer and your first offer and if its close, go up from 1/3 to 1/2 the difference. If he doesnt bite, get up and leave. Sometimes they will actually chase you down in the parking lot when they know you are serious and "going next door to the Chevy dealer" to spend your money. A couple of other things; saying you have cash is no deal for them, they WANT to finance you. Also, anything that business guy tries to sell you is (IMHO) a ripoff, especially extended warranties. If it doesnt break when under a factory warranty its probably not going to break.

Yup.

And if you've got a trade-in, try and work the price on the new car first, and then haggle over the trade-in allowance.

[Vortex]

On trade-ins best to assume you are wholesaling the car to avoid the hassle of selling it yourself. Go to CarMax and they will buy your car at wholesale and that way it doesnt complicate your deal on a new car. You will make more money selling on Craigslist sure. Is the difference between wholesale price and what you MAY get selling it yourself SOMEDAY worth the hassle of the assorted tire-kickers, test drivers, bounced checks, not changing the registration (and all the legal stuff that entails) or other baloney? Its a decision each of us has to make.

[Bigdogjim]

Try going to a Dealership and start talking about your deal while you have yet another Dealership on your cell phone:)

Always works when sales people "fight" it our:)

[LeoVampire]

I walked into the dealer when I wanted a Fusion and told him that I had some cash to put down and I had a budget of how much I wanna pay per month. He worked out the numbers to fit my budget and I drove home with a 2010 Fusion.

I had a sour experience with a dealership when I was buying a Avalanche, I left that dealer and walked into another and just told them flat out that I have this trade in, I have this cash and I want to pay this much a month, If they can't work it out then Im out of here. They were happy to meet my demands.

That is the way to do it works most of the time if they want a sale! :bows:

[PonyUP]

Here is the best advice I can give you. Go in their planning on not buying a car. Do all your research, consider cost, holdback money and hint you might consider an extended warranty (that's where they make their money) dealerships are typically hoping to make about 4% above cost on any car and hope to get the warranty.

Now go in with your price set in stone (make sure that its a fair price, it has to be win/win) Never tell them your price until you are about to walk away. Then you can tell them where you need to be. Typically they will come in just above this. In my experience don't negotiate the monthly payment, there are millions of ways to manipulate that to where you actually pay more money), negotiate the price of the car.

Know your credit rating before going in and do your research as far as different instituions offering different interest rates.

Once settled on the price, they will try everything in that little accountants office to try and get you to buy the extended warranty. They will start high and then lower it so you think you are getting a good deal. Some people like the safety of the extended warranty, but for an extra 1500-5000 (and yes the range is that wide as they will take whatever you are willing to pay) the odds of having that costly of a repair over the extra two years is slim.

Don't succumb to the pressure, and always be willing to walk away if it's not the deal you want. They have to sell the car, but you don't have to buy. It also helps if you look at 2011 as the 2012s are rolling out.

[Peter]

Did you attempt to get an x-plan PIN?

If not, get a PIN from Blueovalnews.com

Upon doing so, go to more then 3 dealers and ask for their best price for the Fusion equipped the way you want. Varisty Ford seems to have quite the selection. Than after obtaining a quote, ask for the price with x-plan. They have to show you the dealer invoice. The real one will one will have a row that displays: A-PLAN, D-PLAN AND X-PLAN prices. There are no admin, or BS fees when you use X-plan. After looking it over, look at the d-plan price and the section for holdback(the dealer's incentive to sell the car, there are more but those are not known) Make your offer based on D-plan price + 1/2 the holdback minus all rebates you qualify for. Remember not to pay tax on the rebates/incentives! If the dealer doesn't accept, find another that will. If you need an extended warantee, shop around. You do not have to buy it at your purchasing dealer. The best price I got was from Tipton Ford-Mercury. I had a very good experience with them, and I called more than 50 dealers. Good luck!

This websiteis really useful:

www.dealerconnection.com (http://www.dealerconnection.com)

[jerrym3]

I use the Ford Z plan.

Eliminates all the hassle.

[SpartaPerformance]

I walked into the dealer when I wanted a Fusion and told him that I had some cash to put down and I had a budget of how much I wanna pay per month. He worked out the numbers to fit my budget and I drove home with a 2010 Fusion.

I had a sour experience with a dealership when I was buying a Avalanche, I left that dealer and walked into another and just told them flat out that I have this trade in, I have this cash and I want to pay this much a month, If they can't work it out then Im out of here. They were happy to meet my demands.


You left out the part with here's a lollypop and their is the door at Hyundai! :lol:

[dj_pizm]

Went through this when buying my MM. When u know what u want its a big difference and huge advantage. You are buying a car that u want, and it's not them selling u a car. My salesman lied and said the price could not be lower do to the fact that this Grand Marquis is a fancy and a classic. And that's when I asked to deal with a manager who then informed about the commission they get on vehicles. The price was 21k on the window but I saw it on the Internet for 20k, then minus the 2k commission, and then minus 2k for the salesman lying and to stop me from walking. Oh yeah do all the negotiations as if u don't have any money down until u get the price u want! And then at last minute before u sign say u know I do have a little money to put down just like I did, even after the price went from 21k to 16k with gap insurance and 2 year ext. Warranty included, and full tank of gas. Then I calmly said I have a thousand bucks to put down which only lowered payments $40 a month. So final price was 15k for '03 MM with 33k miles. By the way Pompano Lincoln Mercury is an excellent dealership and send me mail regularly even after 4 years just got an invite for the sales manager retirement.

[GAMike]

Having sold cars for a few years, I always appreciated someone who did not subject me to the tricks they were expecting to deal with from their sales person........ Its better for you if when entering the dealership, you have done research, you know what could possibly happen, but enter with no preconcieved notions about what will.

That said, I hope this helps.

1. Do research.... The info is out there. No longer the rocket science it once was. Working with a person who has researched what they want "qualifies" for the sales person if a deal is a possibility that day, and should speed up the transaction. If it is real, a sales person is more likely to collaborate with you, to get the unit out, than screw you these days.
Like PonyUp says, dealers are making more on the soft dollar sales of financing, warranty's and protection packages, so be careful there...... if you have a good repor with your sales person, they may even warn you about all of this.....

2. Look to travel for a deal...... Dealers may deal more if they are pulling traffic from outside their AOR.

3. Accept the fact that the vehicle you are interested in is a high demand vehicle and as such the only time those are dealt on, is at the end of the month...... So hope for rain at the end of May:lol:, show up an hour before closing, and hope the dealer still has inventory to sell you (Rain takes the edge of the sales process especially if the sales person has been there all rainy day:D). If you are going to get a deal, these are the best possible circumstances to attempt making one.

4. Treat your trade as a seperate transaction. You don't have to volunteer information, but if they ask about one, you should let them know as well as how you would like to structure the transaction.

[fastblackmerc]

Having sold cars for a few years, I always appreciated someone who did not subject me to the tricks they were expecting to deal with from their sales person........ Its better for you if when entering the dealership, you have done research, you know what could possibly happen, but enter with no preconcieved notions about what will.

That said, I hope this helps.

1. Do research.... The info is out there. No longer the rocket science it once was. Working with a person who has researched what they want "qualifies" for the sales person if a deal is a possibility that day, and should speed up the transaction. If it is real, a sales person is more likely to collaborate with you, to get the unit out, than screw you these days.
Like PonyUp says, dealers are making more on the soft dollar sales of financing, warranty's and protection packages, so be careful there...... if you have a good repor with your sales person, they may even warn you about all of this.....

2. Look to travel for a deal...... Dealers may deal more if they are pulling traffic from outside their AOR.

3. Accept the fact that the vehicle you are interested in is a high demand vehicle and as such the only time those are dealt on, is at the end of the month...... So hope for rain at the end of May:lol:, show up an hour before closing, and hope the dealer still has inventory to sell you (Rain takes the edge of the sales process especially if the sales person has been there all rainy day:D). If you are going to get a deal, these are the best possible circumstances to attempt making one.

4. Treat your trade as a seperate transaction. You don't have to volunteer information, but if they ask about one, you should let them know as well as how you would like to structure the transaction.


And the most important thing is to be prepared to walk away if you don't like the deal.

[GAMike]

Very true oh wise one;)



And the most important thing is to be prepared to walk away if you don't like the deal.