Car Buying for this Dummy

[kybearfuzz]

I was getting an oil change the other morning when the grease jockey beneath the car noted that I have a small transmission leak, he thought, though it could be just water splashed up on it. Well, being the worrier I tend to be, it seems like now would be a good time to turn in old faithful for something new. I've pondered this for a long while. My car is a 1997 Honda Civic and it's had a good run, turning over 150,000 miles just this past weekend. However, I despise the haggling of buying a new car.

I need any advice you wish to give a guy in my situation. I am looking at either another Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla, though a friend just showed me a Scion Xa, which looked kinda cool. I'm all about reliability and gas mileage. Any opinions? Do any of you own one and can share experiences? Any advice on handling salesmen and haggling?

HELP HELP HELP!

Comments

[cutepacub.livejournal.com]

Well, I was a sales manager of a dealership for a couple years :)

I'd stick with the Honda. I love the way the new Civic looks.

[grande.livejournal.com]

the hybrid civics are nice and get great mileage. one of the better looking hybrids imo

[xkot.livejournal.com]

A benefit of the Scion is they're sold no-haggle style like Saturn. Of course when you buy from a no-haggle dealer you usually pay a bit more than if you went to a regular dealer and fought your way to a lower price... but if you really hate negotiations that much it can be worthwhile.

[cub-steiger.livejournal.com]

I can't really speak to which vehicle to go with (though if it's looks, I'd personally hand it to the Scion.) As for minimizing the haggling, do your research before stepping into the showroom to make a purchase. In my experience, a fistful of printouts (quotes, specs, etc.) tells the salesperson you've done your homework and won't take any b.s. from 'em.

Along those same lines, the Motley Fool folks have a novel approach to the whole car-buying experience. My favorite part is the faxing-for-quotes (http://www.fool.com/car/car12.htm) bit, though the whole series (http://www.fool.com/car/car.htm) is a good read. Obviously this was written a few years ago...who uses faxes these days? ;-)

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

http://www.edmunds.com/new/index.html

This site can be your best friend. you can find out sticker price, the dealer's invoice price, and the True Market Value (TMV) of a particular car in your area with the options you want. I actually helped my Dad buy a Honda Element yesterday, and it was kind of painful. We were there almost 5 hours and that was after having gotten an internet price quote. Anytime there is a trade-in it makes it tougher, because even if they offer a good price on the new car, they will try to shortchange you on the trade. Better if you can sell the old one yourself, but it's always been a huge pain in the ass for me.

In the end we traded in my Dad's 2001 CRV with 205K, and the final price he financed, even with less for the trade than we wanted and with some stupid add-ons they wouldn't remove, was LESS than the True Market Value according to Edmunds. I turn into an insane man when dealing for cars...I don't take any shit and bring my Excel spreadsheet with numbers and anything else from Edmunds I need. I just decide I'm going to be a hard-ass and it's actually kind of fun, AND pays off. (I don't mean being rude of course, just very direct and make it clear you can just leave and go somewhere else).

Also, all of my Honda dealings have been at Gwinnett Place Honda here in Atlanta. I go there because they are a really big dealership and are most likely to have a car I want in stock, which always helps your position. If they have it on the lot, they WANT to get rid of it.

Good luck. The new Civics are cool. I had threee Civics, but I moved to an Accord and now I can't go back. I've gotten used to the roominess and the Civic seems small. The interior, especially the dash and readouts are pretty funky on the new Civics, but you've probably seen them by now. Let us know what happens.

I think this is the longers comment I've ever made.

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

longest comment :-)

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

You obviously have a lot of experience in this area! I did go test drive a 2007 Corolla yesterday and loved it. I plan on trying a new Civic today. I checked Consumer Reports and both are rated well, dimensions and horsepower are nearly identical.

I'll be walking in with the necessary information. I feel inspired after reading your last post! Thanks :)

Cars

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

There's a book but I don't remember the title. (I'll keep looking.)

1. do you homework
2. Try for the youngest saleman on the lot.
3. Take a friend when you negotiate. Their job is to keep track of what has been offered or withdrawn during the negotiation.
4. Don't let emotions rule. They will press you to buy now while you're emotionally down from negotiating.
5. Don't appear eager even if you are walking because your car is dead.
6. Ask about the prep charges and the sales tax so you know the exact bottom line.
7. If you are going to pay cash, Don't tell them that up front. That goes for non-dealer financing. They don't need to know that your bank gave you an OK. They will be factoring in some of the interest profit.
8. Don't play their games. Throw them off balance.
9. Compare online and off line prices with the same dealer. Sometimes one will give you a better deal.
10. Be prepared to walk away if the negotiations aren't going as you like.

I'll withhold my opinions of the kind of car you should have.

[chrisglass.livejournal.com]

I'm awful at haggling, but I love cars. If I was going for dependable and good with gas, I'd consider:

(all your choices, plus a few others to consider)

- Honda Civic (though I don't fit in them, are solid, as you well know) I sort've prefer the hatchback from 2 years ago to the new crop. But I like hatchbacks, what can I say.

- The Toyota Yaris has the fresh sheetmetal the roomier Corolla will get soon. I like both and as with Honda - these things will go and go and go.

- Volkswagen Rabbit - Because they haven't destroyed these entry level VWs with garish design choices. I love how VWs feel. They make driving pleasurable. I wish their new diesels were available (est 2008). My friends have a diesel jetta wagon and swear by it.

You might also consider:

Nissan Versa
Mazda 3

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

A Civic is high on my list. I saw the Yaris yesterday. It's a very neat car and slightly less expensive than the Corolla, so it could be a contender, but doesn't have much horsepower under the hood (not that the Civic and Corolla are powerhouses).

Thanks for the information :)

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Another car to consider, thought it might be on the small side is the new Honda Fit, slips in below the Civic and is only a hatchback.

The nice thing is that a hatchback is versitile (sp?) in that the back seats don't just flip down, but up and flush with the floor and with the front passenger seat fully reclined, the entire floor is flat and you can, supposidly put in an 8Ft ladder in it and still close the hatch, much like the PT Cruiser. :-)

I've owned 2 Hondas in the past and they have never let me down so stick with 'em if you can. I'm not a fan of either of the new Accords nor Civics and wished both still came in either a hatchback or wagon body.

[cincycub.livejournal.com]

I would buy an H2. I mean, you really want people to judge you by your car, right?

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... I think I'll let the Republicans and soccer moms have those...

I'm not much for vehicles that get near single-digit gas mileage.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

OK, apologies for a long winded comment but you touched on a topic (cars) that is near and dear to me...

First, the Civic and the Corolla are both excellent cars as are just about anything in the Honda and Toyota lines. They make solid vehicles that, as you've experienced, give you tons of miles with few repairs. The Fit and the Yaris are the new kids on the block and are worth a look BUT I always recommend that people stay away from new cars for the first year, regardless of manufacturer. The Toyota Prius hybrid is a technological marvel and seems to be popular and reliable. However the reviews suggest that it's not the best highway car. I'd also wonder if all that technology will come back to haunt you as the miles accumulate. You may also want to look at the Mazda and Nissan cars as they're similarly reliable and cheap to own.

As to the Scion Xa and some of the trendier iron out there, I'd suggest you buy with your brain, not fall into the 'oh, that's hot looking' trap. Saturn does offer haggle-free deals but I don't think their cars are as bullet-proof as the Honda/Toyota cars.

I'm bad at haggling as well, hate it. In purchasing my current car, I used a local auto broker that had been recommended to me. For a fairly small fee, they got a better price than I could with better loan terms and they found a way to get the exact equipment I wanted rather than compromising. I was totally pleased and would strongly recommend you look into the same thing.

Bottom line though is do your homework on what the car of your dreams costs the dealer. Drive everything you think will be acceptable to be sure that you fit comfortably. And have fun, this is a good thing!

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

I would add to that that the Fit has been sold around the world for many years as the Jazz, this is just the first year it has been available in the US, so I wouldn't have the first-year doubts (which I share). I think it's a cool car, but I hear they are hard to come by, so there may not be much haggling. (also, there may be a newer version of it fairly soon)

[fjdbear.livejournal.com]

Watch the prep fee which is usually a couple hundred bucks. Tell them you dont want to pay it, it's not necessary. Or offer them 50 bucks or you walk. Whenever you get up during the final deal and threaten to walk they lower the price. We did when we bought the new car (Camry XLE). Make sure you get a good trade in for the used one. Sometimes they will promise you one trade in price, then turn around and say it's now less for whatever reason.

The best thing is to go back a few times and gather info. They will call you usually and offer a better deal. Make sure when they offer to let you take the car home for the weekend or day you do it. We did twice. I like the Civic more than the Corolla and I bet it has a better resale value. I could be wrong. I dont think I could drive something called "Fit".

[jbear70.livejournal.com]

I wish I could give you some advice but my only experience with car buying is going to the local Saturn dealer and accepting the no-haggle sales deal. If I were to choose between the Civic or the Corolla, I would pick the Civic. I guess I'm not a bit fan of Toyotas and I've never known a bad Honda.

[tampascoob.livejournal.com]

I had a Toyota Carolloa and LOVED IT!!! Had that puppy push 175k, before I got bored...Never really had anything but basic wear and tear...That was an awesome car....On haggling...When your speaking of what you want to pay, I tried this and it worked...Let them know, that sounds good, but you have another appointment with (just make up a name and another dealership)...Simply state he said he can get me in the car at my price...TRUST ME...They dont want you walking out that door....I tried it, and called him later in the day, and told him a bogus offer I got from someone else, who I didnt even see...(sometimes its ok to lie)..Well he met the offer, and I said..."WRAP IT UP"..."GOOD LUCK"

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I admit I test drove a Corolla yesterday and loved it. It'll definitely be between a Corolla and Civic at this point. And thanks :)

[lougarou.livejournal.com]

I bought an 06 Civic last year. If you were happy with the first one, check out the new ones. Completely redone, inside and out. They have increased the horsepower as well, and improved the sound system. 40 mpg highway non-hybird. gimme a ring if you have any questions about it. cheers

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I may be calling you about the Civic, like what dealer did you use and how they were during the old haggling process. :)

[nonljeric.livejournal.com]

I just bought a used Blazer Wednesday, I really had no trouble. But be prepared to stand your ground. If you don't like what they are offering just tell them you are not interested. Get a young salesman, the old guys play too many games. Or get a woman, she will work with you better. I wish my dad were still around, he was great at negotiating. Good luck!!!