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Uggh, car shopping sucks
As a fiscally conservative gal with low tolerance for BS, the game-playing of auto dealers drives me to my wit's end.
Anyone purchase a new car around here recently and have an idea of what a reasonable mark-down from MSRP is?
One Toyota dealer came to the "bottom line" offer of $1,600 off a $26,000 car last night, after an hour of back-and-forth-behind-the-closed-door-with-the-manager consults. And I'm not sure that's good enough for me.
Add to that the fact that some big-balls manager snuck out while the little lady (me) was in the bathroom to make the hard-sell to my hubby. Weaselsh!t never even introduced himself to me when I came out (hi, I'M the one buying this car, here; see the new car is for ME) , and he was so arrogant and belittling that we walked out much less likely to buy a car there than when we walked in.
We're checking out two other Toyota dealers as well as taking a look at Ford model and Saturn model, so hopefully we'll have a better picture of what's competitive later this week.
But if anyone has any tips or insight in the meantime, I'd appreciate it!
Re: Uggh, car shopping sucks
I spoke with a Ford sales person yesterday and they were taking around $1600-$1800 off MSRP and also had a $2500 rebate added.
I can't say I know what a good rebate is right now (though honestly that doesn't sound like one) but I feel your pain. I had a horrible experience at Harrisburg Hyundai. I will never ever go there again.
I know you aren't thinking about hyundai but I ended up going to Lancaster Hyundai and had an absolutely wonderful experience with Jeff Christman, the sales manager. They treated me more like family than anything else.
I hope you're able to find someone that treats you the way you deserve to be treated and gets you a good deal!
Totally sympathize...I had one of those types at Hanover Honda when shopping for my car.
Mine is a 2006, so I don't know what good rebates/money off MSRP are right now. Sorry!
ETA: Also, toyota is known for not really knocking money off their MSRP....even in this economy/market. that may be a factor for you as well.
Are you looking for a brand new car? If you're OK with a newer used car (2008-2006 model year), have you checked out Blue Knob Auto? They don't haggle at all - the price listed is what you pay, but they're extremely good deals, from what I understand.
Here is the listing of their current Toyotas in stock:
http://www.blueknobauto.com/results.php3?browse=1&type=TOYOTA
For what it's worth, Toyotas (and Hondas too) are known to hold their value extremely well and tend to be the more "popular" makes out there today. People want these cars/SUV's because they know they're great vehicles that need little matainence and are still worth something down the road when they go to trade them in. For those reasons the dealerships aren't really open to negotiating much. You would think though that in this current economy they'd be more willing to wheel and deal, but sadly that's not the case w/ these foreign car dealers. You'd more than likely have better success at the Ford dealer or the Saturn dealer.
Before we bought our ("newer" used) Subaru Tribeca last June we looked into buying a new Honda CR-V and they would not budge AT ALL on the price, the salesman was not even open to discussing it and the manager was no help either. They knew they'd be able to sell the vehicle to the next person so they pretty much just didn't want to deal with us.
I hope you're able to find what you want regardless. I HATE car shopping with a passion though, usually leave the negotiating to DH, lol. I just test drive it and give my opinion, that's it!
Ugh, that is a pain. I can't stand furniture and mattress shopping for the same reason, I don't like to be sold something and then have to wheel and deal.
I have a Toyota and am very happy with it. I actually like the service dept at Bobby Rahal Toyota on the Carlisle Pike that I bring my car back to them to be serviced. It helps that they are cheaper than what I would pay in MD, but more importantly it's the way we are treated and the care that they take.
Good luck with your search!
Do you (or a family member) have a Costco membership? If so, they have connections with the dealers in the area to get you the Costco discount price - there's a phone number you call and give them what you're looking at, etc., and they'll give you the "Costco price" on the car. DH used this price to play the dealership we wanted to use (30 mins away) against one of their competing dealerships (45 mins away), and managed to walk out quite a bit under invoice on a brand new Civic back in the summer of 2007, when they were selling like hotcakes and you rarely caught a break on them. He'll readily tell anyone that's what really boosted his negotiating game, although he's pretty ruthless in that respect and can negotiate like nobody's business and is more than willing to walk out if he's not getting what he wants, which is also very important as I'm sure you know!
GL! It's not fun, but just think of how nice it'll be to pull off their lot in your brand new car!
... every single day of forever.