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19K views 15 replies 2 participants last post by  Aleks 
#1 ·
A place for tips and tricks

10 tips for buying a new car. Thanks to Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com and others for providing these helpful hints.

1. Be prepared: Before you go to the dealer, read up on the car you are interested in and any competitors. Web sites like Edmunds.com and Consumerreports.org offer a bevy of information and reviews, as well as tips on pricing. Consumer Reports also recommends that you don’t wait until you are planning to buy to test drive the vehicles. The more you know about the vehicles you’re interested in, the less sway your dealer will have.

2. Take it one step at a time: There are lots of elements that go into buying a vehicle: Choosing the car, deciding on extras, working out the financing, selling your old vehicle. As Consumer Reports notes, many dealers will try to mix all these things together in the negotiation process. Their advice is to get the best price first, then work on other aspects of your purchase.

3. Arrange financing separately: You may be able to get a better deal on financing through your bank, credit union or other service. Make sure you at least explore those options before working with your dealer on financing.

4. It may not be worth it to trade in your old vehicle: Our dealer offered us a laughably low price for our old vehicle. When my husband said that he expected about double that, the dealer replied, “But that’s the retail price!” Well, yes. Use websites like Kelley Blue Book to figure out what your car is really worth, and then find a buyer who will pay you that.

5. Don’t be rushed: never, ever, ever buy a car right after the first test drive. You may want that car more than anything in the world, but make yourself walk away and think it over. Take a few days or even weeks. Chances are, you’ll end up with a lower price.

6. Get the best price:Insurance companies, consumer groups and auto clubs all offer services that help you negotiate the best price. Edmunds.com has a feature that tells you not only what the difference is between the invoice price and retail price, but also what the fair market value is in your area. Use all these tools and then talk to a number of dealers before you settle on price.

7. Pit car dealers against each other: Gruhl recommends calling a number of car dealers and asking each one to get you the best price. Tell them that whoever gives you the best deal will get your money that day.

8. Get your deal in writing: If you’re negotiating by phone or e-mail, ask the dealer to e-mail you all the vehicle details, including VIN, specifications and – most important – price. That will help you compare prices accurately and make sure that, when you show up at the dealership, you actually have a car to buy.

9. Beware of sneak attack fees: Dealers may throw in all sorts of last-minute fees. Make sure that your dealer includes the “walk off the lot” price in the bid, with all fees, taxes and licensing included.

10. Be skeptical: Remember, this isn’t a popularity contest, it’s a competition for the best price. As I told one dealer, “I don’t have to like you to buy a car from you.” Make sure you double-check everything they say, ask any hard questions that come to mind and be prepared to walk away, or hang up, if you aren’t getting what you think is a fair deal.
 
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#2 ·
"You need to sell that car a lot more than I need to buy it".

buying used, January is the best time, it's after x-mas, people are broke and no one is buying a car
 
#5 ·
Loaded ex-rental Chrysler

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_19329520

Preston bought the van in May 2010 for what he figured was a bargain -- $14,000 in cash from Thrifty Car Sales in Santa Clara. About 15 months later, in August, the brakes started making funny noises, so he brought the van to DHT Collision & Service Center in downtown San Jose to have it checked.

When he went to pick it up, one of the managers said he noticed the window problem and offered to check it out.

"This insulation isn't supposed to be here," the manager said, digging behind the panel. But it soon became clear that the tablet-sized objects wrapped in purple and clear cellophane weren't installed by the manufacturer.

Police quickly arrived and found 14 packages of cocaine hidden in the doors. After impounding the van for closer examination, they found five more above the back wheels, Preston said.

"They told me, 'You're so lucky, you'd be in jail for the rest of your life if you got searched in a traffic stop and they found this.' "

But they also told him something chilling: Take the van back in to the repair shop to check for tracking devices because somebody is probably looking for it. Then get rid of it.

When Preston tried to return the coke-mobile to Thrifty Car Sales this summer for one without drugs, he said a manager was anything but solicitous. She told him he could trade in the van, but only for the current Blue Book value -- about $4,000 less by his estimation than he originally paid. He had put about 6,000 miles on the van.

If there's one silver lining, Preston said "I'll finally have something interesting to talk about."
 
#7 ·
BUYING a resold car you need information, information, information

What is the vehicle, what is the value, what is the condition.

WHAT - you do the deal, hand over the money, drive away, then the owner shows up
Finance company, title holder, insurance, police etc

First find out who you are dealing with, ID family residence. Complete paperwork - an owner should have a purchase receipt. Actual VIN plate and paperwork - does all look consistent with no evidence of tampering. Additional stickers engine bay & door jambs.
Having estabished you are looking at the correct legal vehicle then check for completeness. Look for welding & painting repairs, panel alignment, in engine bay, trunk, inside doors, under carpet & mats.

VALUE before looking at the ads you will have researched the value on Kellys Blue Book and such. On inspection confirm mileage consistent with service history and wear on vehicle. After confirming age and wear examine appearance condition for the expected valuation category.

CONDITION what you cannot see. History report and mechanical inspection. CARFAX and AAA Vehicle Buyer Report.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Old cars don't die, they just get resold. If you're buying a used car, whether from a dealer or someone who put an ad in the paper, you'll want to know as much about it as you can. Even without anyone trying to deceive you, the vehicle may have problems you can't see from the simple visual inspection or even a short test drive.

A vehicle history report prepared by a third party is one way to know what you're getting. Combining information from the state DMV's and RMV's as well as police reports and other sources, a vehicle history report can give you a comprehensive overview of where a car's been.

Here are some things to look for – or look out for – when you get a report on the vehicle. None of these things is necessarily a reason not to buy a car, but you shouldn't make a decision without asking about anything you see on a vehicle's history:

- Many owners. The more garages a car's been in, the less likely it's been lovingly cared for all its life. Not everyone is as diligent about car care as you are. Rental cars and former taxis, for example, will often have undergone a lot of abuse, although they tend to be quite inexpensive.

- Location, location, location. Some parts of the country are more car-friendly than others. Winter storms (with their accompanying salty roads) can be rough on cars, as obviously can floods, excessive heat or even sea air. Cars that have been where these are common may have hidden damage.

- Name and description. Be sure the car in the report is the same as the car you're looking at. Carefully reviewing the vehicle description is one way to avoid various types of vehicle fraud, like VIN cloning. A cloned vehicle involves using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a legally owned, non-stolen vehicle to mask the identity of a similar make/model stolen vehicle. Carfax reports include detailed descriptions of the vehicle, so you can make sure the car you're reading about is the same as the one you're looking at.

- Suspicious markings. Keep an eye out for records of body work that might indicate a prior unreported incident.

Vehicle history reports from Carfax are the most comprehensive available. The company's database contains more than 8 billion records from thousands of public and private sources, including all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in the United States and Canada and thousands of vehicle inspection stations, auto auctions, fleet management and rental agencies, automobile manufacturers, and fire and police departments.


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Stop Car Trouble Before it Starts

Bring your vehicle to a participating AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility (identified with the special VIP icon) to help make sure that the things you don't know about aren't about to cause a problem.
For a moderate fee, a certified technician will:

Perform an extensive 86-point inspection of your vehicle using standardized inspection forms and procedures developed by the Auto Club
Inspect everything from the engine, transmission, suspension, drive axles and electronic system to belts, hoses and tires

As a AAA Premier member, you can receive:

A $45 rebate off the current price of your next 86-point vehicle inspection. To receive your $45 rebate, submit a rebate form, a copy of the Inspection Report and a copy of the paid invoice provided by the AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility to the Auto Club. You can print out the online form , stop by your local Auto Club office or call us and we'll mail the rebate form to you. The VIP rebate must be postmarked and received within 60 days of the date of service. One Vehicle Inspection Program rebate per AAA Premier cardholder, per membership year.

Important VIP Details:

The inspection takes approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours to complete
If you're buying or selling a used vehicle, the VIP inspection can provide you with the information you need to negotiate the best deal
The inspection can also be used prior to the expiration of a service warranty
Available exclusively as an Auto Club member benefit
All AAR facilities are carefully monitored to ensure adherence to the strict requirements of the Auto Club's AAR program

For more information or to schedule your appointment today, just call a participating AAR facility by using our AAR Online Search

http://www.caliberforumz.com/showthread.php?t=36328&page=3
 
#9 ·
REMINDER if you are in the market that this is the best week of the year to get the most for your deal.

Week between Christmas and New Year is tipped as the time to get the lowest price.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Final MY12 Calibers MSRP $19,515

Price 16th March now $16,995 SXT Silver

Price April 4th $15,995 SXTs
 
#15 ·
CarWoo! contacts your local dealers and gets them to compete for your business. Compare all your offers in one place.

Stress Free Negotiation

Avoid up-sells and high pressure sales tactics when you complete your deal anonymously through our site.

Drive off in your new car knowing you got the best deal without the stress. We're making car buying fun again.

http://carwoo.com/car-buying-online
 
#16 ·
http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2014/01/feds-crack-down-on-fraudulent-dealer-advertising/

“Operation Steer Clear” targets deceptive ads that could cost car buyers “billions.”
Jan.09, 2014

Federal Trade Commission authorities announced the results of a nationwide crackdown dubbed Operation Steer Clear.

Auto dealers engage in a variety of deceptive practices that could, in some instances, inflate the price of a vehicle by as much as a third more than advertised.

A senior Trade Commission official warned such fraud is far more widespread and “could very well” cost American car buyers “billions” in higher vehicle prices and illegal fees.

“We’ve alleged these dealers used a variety of misleading ads…to get people into their showrooms,” explained Jessica Rich, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, during a news conference in Los Angeles.

The problem of deceptive automotive advertising is “all over the country.” The FTC received about 75,000 complaints regarding car dealers during the most recent year it tracked, making that the “eighth-largest category” for the agency.

Operation Steer Clear identified a variety of different fraudulent practices:

Fake sweepstakes meant to draw buyers into the showroom to see if they won a big discount on a new car. But in one case the FTC targeted, Rich said, “not a single consumer, not one, won any of the listed prizes”;
Hidden financing and other charges that could inflate the price of a car advertised at $15,000 by as much as another $5,000;
Advertised teaser prices that didn’t make clear payments would balloon substantially after a few months.

Such practices are “a bad way to do business and (are) against the law,” stressed Rich.
 
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