Who here has negotiated a better price for a new car than the sticker price?

[SeattleGirl]

How did you do it?

I'm looking at buying a car, and I've never negotiated the price, because I just don't know how.

Anyone have any tips, hints, or know the secret handshake?

This inquiring mind would love to know.

[Robeson]

1. Tell them what you are willing to pay....

...of course within some reason. If they say no, tell them you appreciate their time, but you'll go look elsewhere, and leave to go elsewhere.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Thanks, Robeson

I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to negotiating things, so any and all suggestions are welcome.

[LostInAnomie]

2. The way I did it...

... was by telling them there is a specific model of car at another dealership that I am looking at. Be specific about the other car and dealership, or they will think you are full of shit. Then, tell them that it is basically going to come down to price. Give them a baseline price that you are looking to pay and see how close they are willing to get to that. They will probably come back with a figure close to your price, but just a little over. Once they do that, be assertive and tell the dealer to go see if they can knock it down X amount of dollars.

I got them to come down $3K on my Mazda 3 doing exactly that.

[SeattleGirl]

4. Sweet!

Thanks much!

[jclincali]

5. Are you a member of AAA or Costco?

They will "negotiate" for you. Usually 250 or 500 over factory invoice (2-5K under sticker)

[SeattleGirl]

6. I am a Costco member.

I forgot they do that.

Is that with any car?

[jclincali]

7. They use participating dealers, but you can get any kind of car.

[SeattleGirl]

10. I will check on that that.

Thanks again!

[DarkTirade]

8. One of the oldest tricks in the books is to say, "I'm gonna go home and think about it and come back

tomorrow."

Granted, only time I've used that one was with used, not new. But the principle is still sound. :) After that, they knocked the price down to the value of the trade-in for our old car, so all we had to pay was the state license plate switching fee and whatnot.

[SeattleGirl]

12. My trade in vehicle would be nowhere near the price of a used car,

let alone a new one, but my trade in does qualify for Cash for Clunkers, so that will definitely help.

The "I'll come back tomorrow" thing sounds good though.

[lutefisk]

9. Read up on how to get price quotes from dealers' internet sales departments

Email all the dealers' internet sales departments in the area you are willing to travel to buy a car. Request a quote for the specific model you want, including all fees. Keep everything simple and you will find a good deal on your terms. Negotiate from your turf (your computer using email) and on your own time.

If you are paying cash or financing from your credit union or bank, tell them that, too. Financing at a dealership can confuse things very quickly. The less time spent face to face with sales people (especially the "finance manager"), the better.

[SeattleGirl]

13. Another good idea!

I really hate doing the face to face thing over financing. In fact, I usually turn into a weak-kneed puddle of chickenshit about that time, so the less I have to deal with them, the better.

[EFerrari]

11. You want to borrow my mom?

She can make them pay you to take it. lol

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

14. Hells, yeah!

Send her on over. I have a very nice guest room!

[EFerrari]

17. Don't go alone. Go with someone who won't step on your lines.

Having a pal can make you feel more confident. They have a whole sales department, you need your own posse.

Figure out how much you want to pay and stick to it. Make them come to your price -- they need the sale, you don't.

You can get them to reduce the price if you're patient. Outlast them, lol. If they know you are a real buyer, they will come down eventually because they don't want a real buyer to walk off the lot.

Don't go on a weekend when there's a bunch of people walking around. Chose a day when there are few lookers and fewer buyers.

Be prepared to leave if they don't move in your direction. There are a lot of new cars out there and they're all waiting for you.

Haggling can be fun. It's a game, not an indiscretion. Try to have fun. :)

[SeattleGirl]

19. I think I'll bring either my brother-in-law or sister-in-law with me.

They are both very good at negotiating prices on all kinds of things.

And I know that haggling is a time-honored tradition; guess it's time I got with the program, huh? :-)

[EFerrari]

21. I didn't until in my forties -- maybe because either Mom or my husband

or someone was always good at it and I didn't need to be. But, it can be a lot of fun to see if you can get what you want at the price you want. :)

[SeattleGirl]

22. I will show my BIL or SIL what I want, and talk to them about what I

want to pay for it, so they are on board with me.

[JonLP24]

15. Maybe you know this but find a good company to finance and/or insure your car

I was novice and ended up with a car with Heritage Insurance $600+ and Wachovia who was financing at/around 16%.

It wasn't until I called USAA that I got my insurance knocked down to under $200 and financing down to about 8%.

[SeattleGirl]

16. Thanks.

I will check with my credit union first, and see what they say.

[JonLP24]

18. I see you live in Seattle, well at least according to your username

I bought my car on South Tacoma Way in Tacoma. I no longer have my car anymore after falling into debt but I'd never buy a used car from South Tacoma Way ever again.

[SeattleGirl]

20. Don't get down that way often, but I do know the area you are speaking

of.

It's close to both McChord AFB and Ft. Lewis Army base. I think the dealers around there prey on those folks.

[JonLP24]

23. Exactly, you're right

I was stationed at Ft Lewis and there was a place that even I knew to say away from when buy a car(I looked for a Brand name such as a South Tacoma Honda) that was South Tacoma Autos. That place had a $0 money down for Military folks and I saw a lot of people fall into that trap especially when I first got there. Though with the $0 down they hit them with astronomical interest rates.

When I was there after the deployment our unit got a influx of new soldiers so I tried to tell a number of them to stay away from South Tacoma Autos and recommended buying a car in Olympia or Oregon(no sales tax) but even then I saw a number of them with new cars with South Tacoma Autos license plates.

[SeattleGirl]

24. That shit pisses me off.

Businesses taking advantage of people like that, AND people who won't listen to advice from those who know.