reddit buying used car from dealer

0) Before you begin your inspection of the car, throw a piece of newspaper under the engine bay and in the area between the passenger seat and driver seat. If you feel like the salesman is pushy or is talking down to you, just walk away. Yes independent dealers buy from auctions, yes independents buy from brand dealers at auctions, but brand dealers also buy from auctions. Worked at a dealer that did not negotiate because we were high volume/low profit. How much you should offer? Wow, as a car salesman, I almost always roll my eyes as these are typically terrible inaccurate guides. How to Negotiate for a Used Car. Be ready and willing to drive away if they don't meet your price or approach a reasonable ground. Turn the radio on, turn the volume up to about 80%. If you found the lowest priced car – others will find it too, and dealers don’t need to discount it any lower. If more people out there knew what you just wrote out, we would be looked at a lot better (as 90% of us are honest, hard working people) and not assumed we are crooks (90% of us are not). In the meantime – there could be a serious buyer with cash in hand on the lot. I always say an informed customer is much easier to sell a vehicle to than an uninformed customer. You should be able to shave in your reflection on the paint. There should not be any requirements for rebates to qualify for, the Internet price should not be “after X amount down”, or any other conditions to get the advertised price. I honestly don't know how any of this works. Here's how to buy a used car that won't let you down. Underneath the hood, on the fenders, there should be a sticker with the VIN number. I might go through the motions of working out the paperwork to ship you the car out of state, but if a local customer shows up ready to take delivery – you best believe I will rather sell the car to him. No matter what they say, those VIN stickers are on every single body part from the factory. Find the Best Price on Your Next Car Use the U.S. News Best Price Program to … Learn about budgeting, saving, getting out of debt, credit, investing, and retirement planning. Knocking on the piece will tell you which they are. I got a great deal!. The paint should also be consistent all the way through, as in even though there are break lines for things like the doors, the fenders, the trunk, etc. So if a model is unreliable – it will have a worse reputation, which will lower the going rate. 6e) Check out any other functions of the car that are major to you. When you buy a used car, you’ll have to visit the DMV to pay tag, title, and registration fees, but you won’t deal with any of the nonsense that dealers add. 3) Check the straightness of the body panels by looking down them sideways. It is no different than any other profession really. After you drove it – it is decision time. Any tips are appreciated! Also I had a wheel come off a few months ago, luckily I had learned enough about car repair at that point I was able to fix it w/out towing it. I'd need to get those fixed - we should take $100 off the price.". Most independent used car dealers don’t have service departments to fix your car after you buy it. The general idea behind automobile new car price quote sites is for you to submit a request for a quote, pick the lowest one, and go to the referred dealer and buy your new car. So I logically say we cannot do that, we don't have that kind of margin. Some used car sellers, such as Carvana, are simplifying the car-buying experience by eliminating last-minute fees and pivoting to a no-haggle sales process. Sep 18, 2020 #83 I enjoy the dealership experience in the US. It may also help you narrow down your choices, so you can pick a car that will give you the performance and reliability you want. Can it be cancelled? Just warn any passengers before a brake check! Clanking, squealing, and rattling are bad. I'm on mobile and missed that. Hope this helps. FRP is lighter weight and will feel hollow when you knock, poly should give a much more solid feel, and also be a bit more flexible. If they accepted, or make a counter offer that is agreeable to you – you are done. And even if you are buying from a “one price” dealership, feel free to ask the salesperson to throw in a deal sweetener like extended warranty coverage. The only thing I don't agree with is buying less reliable vehicles with lower prices/value. You could use a guide like Kelley Blue Book to gage whether the price was good or not, but in the end – you had to make a decision to buy there or to move to the next dealer, and if other dealers would not work out – by the time you got back the car could be sold. Do your research, be well informed, never put your guard down even after agreeing on price. If they kept service records, then they likely took better care of it. A slow drip every few seconds may indicate a failing gasket. Same something in the lines of: “I am ready to buy this car now, but the price is too high. Edit: And by dealer, I did not mean that you or your dealership are intentionally dishonest (since I have no idea where it is). There are only two valid reasons to why you are offering less: You either have research to show why the car should be sold for less (market rate, cheaper similar car being sold nearby, lower book value), or this is simply what you can afford. What aren't you telling us? Online used car buying sites are a great place to gather used car pricing information. Have someone rev the engine while listening. When you buy a used car from a dealer, he is selling it at a profit. It's not much, but it gives you peace of mind it's not going to fall apart as you drive away. If it is a CPO – make sure you have proof the car is certified. In some states, no sales tax is assessed on private vehicle sales, and that means buying from a private seller can save you thousands of dollars. Add upgrades and accessories at will instead of worrying about them afterward. I have a friend who used to work for one of the largest and most prestigious car dealers in Texas. hide. If they offer you a service contract – extended warranty – read through it. Sep 18, 2020 #82 Yeah. I'm aware that new cars depreciate in value instantly and you can get a certified used for much cheaper. They will have a checklist of service items they have inspected on the car, usually detailing the quality of the brakes, tire wear, leak tests, and so forth. By Erum Ansari Published Nov 15, 2019. If you buy a used car from a dealership, even if it isn’t exactly what you want to begin with, they can make it all that you are looking for. A couple hundred? If you notice a panel is mustier, muddied, etc, that's an aftermarket paint job. I remember buying a car took me hours. By asking used car dealers these questions, you can avoid a lemon. Guess what, eveyone wanted to negotiate and would be pissed off when we didn't! I’m new to cars and I’m interested in this used 2002 Celica but not sure if it’s a good buy or not. It could be a nice car that the owner is trying to maximize the value by selling it themselves instead of trading it at the dealer. Dealerships get kickbacks for throwing loan business to banks. Thanks! 2) Know the specs of the car you want to buy, in addition to the upper and lower end models. Advertiser Disclosure Dealers that use these tricks will not learn unless enough people will stop giving them their money. He might hope for you to still buy it and to bring it to him for more work. The mechanic doing the inspection might have an agenda that is different from yours – he might want to justify his pay by pointing out too many problems. The part which i don't understand from the dealer's perspective (I work for an OEM) is why you still can't negotiate on that price. Unfortunately soon after, while attempting to get a repair done in order to have it inspected so I could register and get a title change, someone broke into it and destroyed the ignition, it’s been sitting ever since. Getting a new car can come with a hefty price tag, so buying a used vehicle is a smart idea. The test drive will give you a chance to see how the car handles and also, so test out everything from the brakes to the radio. This means that this will be a grind, and the dealer is stuck in the eighties. With a few exceptions – it really doesn’t matter what car you buy. Tires ain't cheap. I wonder what percentage of people who read lists like these actually do these when game day comes. You might have incorrectly formatted line breaks. Today I sat down with him and talked about buying a new car and walked away looking at the experience in a whole new light. The trusted dealers on carwow will ensure that all their stock – new and used cars – will undergo a thorough cleaning process before they’re delivered. A car might through a warning light just as you leaving the dealership, and you are at the mercy of the good will of the dealer. Higher end dealership. I will for sure give it a read. I've bought a fair number of used cars, so here's my personal advice. Used car lots buy out these cars, patch them up, and sell them for as much as they can. We are also fans of r/whatcarshouldIbuy. Also, check oil levels when you first start and when you finish. They use it when they take cars in trade or buy them at auctions, when they price cars, when they adjust prices to move aged inventory. You should read the "Autos" section of the wiki in the sidebar: https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/vehicles. They'll tell you for, for example, 2013 Fiat 500's have transmission issues.There are also a lot of sites that list used cars. Some used car superstores, such as CarMax, have streamlined processes that make selling your car easy and quick. This is why dealers charge more, and now we will talk about buying a car from a dealer. It is better to inspect the car carefully before signing a contract instead of trying to cancel a contract after it is signed. For used cars, there are basically three kinds of sellers: Private seller. There are 3 answers to this question: you are ready to own it now for the asking price (it doesn’t mean you are going to pay it), you are ready to own it for some price, or you are not ready no matter what – either there is something wrong with the car, or you feel that you have to see and try something else before making a buying decision. 10 Things You Need To Know When Buying A Used Car From A Dealer. The car business has definitely changed with the Internet, especially the used car market. They have the resource and staff to do this properly. The engine has a badge on it that will say the engine code of the car you're looking at. In that case, the inspection was certainly worth every penny, even though I didn’t end up buying the car. If you turn on the AC and the sputtering never goes away, you are looking at potential engine issues, like weak compression, etc. Use your check to buy the car you want or use it to refinance your current loan. 5) During a test drive, don't be adverse to revving the engine high, testing the brakes with sudden stops, and verifying the steering is smooth across it's entire range. A private seller is a gamble. Since we can't agree I'll just keep dealing with this pos caravan. A pre-inspection is not a guarantee. 7) If you find anything imperfect, even if you like the car and are OK with it, use it for bargaining. Again, the dealer will be unlikely to go through the problem with a bad car that can come back to haunt them with issues. That doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile if the price is low and will last you for another 4 years. Member. There’s more than one way to buy a used car.For most car shoppers, the choice boils down to dealer vs. private seller. Edit: not looking for "new cars are a waste of money" type things. Meaning if you look at the car head on with your face split on the door and the fender, you should see your face perfectly, with a line going down the middle. 6) Check for leaks underneath. I also research using carcomplaints.com. And don't forget you'll be paying sales tax in most states (5.5% in Milwaukee county), as well as needing to register the car, obtain license plates, and get insurance. The used car dealer sold the Tesla as a certified pre-owned car. Look where the bumpers meet the front / rear fenders. The data is out there, all the software does is put it together. As a used car dealer owner I'm sorry, this is bullshit. Used-car retailers like CarMax maintain a huge inventory of used cars that they usually buy at auction. However a 300c demands a high price in that situation because it's luxury, but it's also a shit car. The Scam: The dealer advertises a car with a great price, but when you show up at the dealership, they say it's already been sold. Overall it is a good idea, with a few exceptions and footnotes: If the car is still in warranty or is certified – inspection is an overkill, and the only thing you can get out of it is find out whether the car has been in an accident. Getting a car is a big decision, especially if you consider the financial costs associated with it. 2) Listen for irregular noises with the hood open. Play dumb to the dealership though because the banks probably have some stipulation that they can claw back their kickback if a loan pays off immediately. 1b) Go to the driver side door jam, and you should see a full sized vin sticker there (it's like 2" wide and 4-5" long). 8) Don't be afraid to walk away from a "too good" deal. They will guarantee nothing about the car, but have a fairly decent price. If it's lower (as in you run your finger from the body of the car to the sticker and your finger drops) or perfectly smooth, it's aftermarket. We use cookies on our websites for a number of purposes, including analytics and performance, functionality and advertising. Depending on where you live, taxes can be a benefit for either private sellers or dealers. Past accidents can lead to unseen damage, but will usually be apparent upon this sort of close inspection, even if the body has been otherwise repaired. Your offer should be reasonable, but with some margin built in to give up. If the previous owners kept the car clean, and little things like knobs, buttons, and other moving parts are in good shape, it is more likely that the needs of engine were also looked after. You have to hold your ground on your price because they will take every dollar they can. Some dealers will make you think you’re getting a good deal on your trade-in value while ripping you off on the car you’re buying. Will provide leverage for negotiations if they think you may walk again showing up the second time. Fees: there should be no fees added to a price of a used car. There are a LOT of cars out there, and taking a little more time with your search can save you a lot of headaches later. The trusted dealers on carwow will ensure that all their stock – new and used cars – will undergo a thorough cleaning process before they’re delivered. Instead of caving to dealer fees and buying new, you take on a more powerful role when you’re in the market to buy a used car. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. How does that story end? I am a bot. Question 1: Is a used car from a private seller really cheaper than from a dealer? Is there a return/restocking fee? Things salespeople don’t care for: cheaper cars sold 500 miles away, cheaper cars sold privately, supposed bad condition of the car you want to buy. Don’t put much faith in promises made remotely, and don’t bother making offers. I've bought a lot of cars. It has a GT-S badge on the back of it, but when I checked the car, a number of things were off. It has made things much easier for the customer, which typically makes things so much easier for us, the salespeople. Many make more money off financing the car than selling it. Thanks OP. What does this means to you as a shopper: Profit margins are lower, and there is much less room for negotiation. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the personalfinance community. Be on the lookout for issues that have been temporarily patched, like duct tape on engine components. I wish I had the mechanical know-how to be able to evaluate a car (or any machine) on this level. It is normal for the sales person to “third party” use a real or imaginary decision maker like a manager. They have expert and normal person reviews for cars of all years and models. If your lights dim when you turn on the radio, chances are the installers of the aftermarket system tied into the wrong wiring. A dealer provides you a better assurance that you are not buying a problematic car. The next quote will be at least 20% cheaper. I'm a consumer, not a salesman. This is over-spray, and another indicator of aftermarket paint jobs. I'm sorry, it's just the nature of commission based sales... it will always be this way. Make sure you tell them your budget if you decide to post there. Yes, waiting to buy your favorite used car using this strategy isn't fool-proof. Learn about budgeting, saving, getting out of debt, credit, investing, and retirement planning. Same with the trunk, doors, etc. You could ask them about the price – what is the lowest price they will see it for, or whether they will negotiate, but be ready for vague, non-committal answers or for simple refusal to discuss it. You should know the advertised price of the car the day you shop for it, get it off the dealer’s website, print it out. A number of years ago, a friend of mine wanted to buy a 2002 Celica GT-S. We found one that was in good condition. Starting issues can indicate either battery being too weak ($50-100 fix) or the ignition system ($500). Make sure the specs of the car match what it is you're buying. It might be harder than it sounds, you might have to have to talk to a manager, but you just have to stay calm, don’t get baited by promises of some incredible deal, and repeat that you are not ready to own this car at any price. Also dealerships pay taxes every month they have a car on the lot. This is … If you're not leaking oil, and the oil level is lower, that means you're burning oil. share. If they tell you otherwise, they're lying to you and that should be a warning flag. The gap between every body panel should be pretty consistent across the entire car (about 1/8" at most). It had cloth seats instead of leather seats. While most people go for the same brands and models that have good reputation – it might make sense to go for the cars that are not recommend by any guides, because you might get much more value for your money. Customers should absolutely have their shields up and be on red alert when around a salesman. Does it have to be smogged? The car should bounce and rebound 2-4 times pretty quickly. Price-gouging, title-washing, hidden … What you should do is negotiate the worst loan possible (so they get the best kickback) and then pay it off in full immediately. Best they could do is pay half on a used one from a junkyard. If it doesn't, or it's very slow on the rebound, the shocks will likely need to be replaced soon. If you first choose the dealer and, even worse, the car, then you're screwed, because they determine the price. If more people out there knew what you just wrote out, we would be looked at a lot better (as 90% of us are honest, hard working people) and not assumed we are crooks (90% of us are not). “A lot of times people come in to buy a car, and they are focused on the trade-in value of their current car,” says Simon. If you’re nervous about buying a secondhand car, a dealer or trader is an easier place to start as buying privately often requires more car knowledge. Worst case scenario, the flywheel may need to be replaced or resurfaced, but this is very unlikely. Check out what the same year/make/model is selling for at other dealers in the area. You should not have to negotiate just to get the Internet price. The car's advertised price is not negotiable, and no dealer or documentation fees are added to the purchase price. Let’s say the dealer has to take a car in trade. You want to make sure that you are meeting with a specific sales person, and not just a generic appointment set by a call center agent, that you know who you are meeting, exact time, and that the car will be actually there. If they let you leave and didn’t contact you – you know your offer was too low. Between private-party and dealership sales, nearly 40 million used vehicles change hands each year. If you are not ready own it – state so, thank the sales person for their time and leave. The most asked question on the internet about cars is “What to do after buying a used car from a dealer?” Here is a checklist on how to save money and enjoy more benefits by owning a used car. When before they could hope to get people in and lower the price – now no one even comes in, because trying to negotiate thousands off a price against a professional salesman is just as fun as having your teeth pulled. 6d) Speed back up and try firm braking. If you are buying the car from a dealer, they can usually install temporary tags for you to use until you register the car at home. It is possible that the car ws previously in an accident and the owner tried to cover it up. They have expert and normal person reviews for cars of all years and models. My last two vehicles have come small independent used car lots, I didn't do a lot of negotiating, but I did walk in with cash in a rainy weekday afternoon in early January. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. For a used car, there are also car yards, auctions or private vendors. Still, we understand the reason why you might want a car’s service records, and we think most dealers will feel the same way, if you ask nicely and explain that you’re buying a used car. No one walks out of a dealership thinking to themselves.. If you are buying out of state – you will have to check both states to make sure you are in compliance. The allure of being "done" in a couple of minutes will be a big bargaining chip. Best time to buy a new or used car – Best time of the day, week, month, and/or year to buy a vehicle from a car dealership. Share on whatsapp. So back in august I bought a cheap car from a fellow off Craigslist, signed a bill of sale, received a title, the whole shebang. I've used cars.com. What’s questions should I ask when buying a used car from a private dealer? Share on email. Is that different for different states? Doesn't happen often. contrary to popular belief, you'll get a worse price paying in cash. Remember, pull the dip stick out, wipe it down, then stick it back in, and pull it out again. 4) Go around the car to each corner and give a nice, firm push down on each corner. Note, this is incredibly rare, and isn't on my normal list of things to check, but if enough things are starting to not add up, this is another test I will do. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Price depends on where the seal is broken. You really hit the nail on the head with the negotiating and how we price vehicles. Do's and Don'ts When Buying a Car From a Dealer. During a test drive, don't be adverse to revving the engine high, testing the brakes with sudden stops, and verifying the steering is smooth across it's entire range. Here are our tips on what to expect. Here is how it used to be before the Internet: while there were classified listings in newspapers, most people shopped by visiting dealers, because there were no tools that would let you cross-shop and compare live inventory between different dealers. You had to come down another $700 to meet the buyer, so say you meet in the middle and come down $500 total. I'd never heard of this before, but would definitely be interested in learning more about it because it doesn't seem fair to dealerships at all. Listen for irregular noises with the hood open. So now we are asking $18k for this POS car and I get a customer who wants a thousand off. Here are some money-saving tips for getting the best deal and avoiding unnecessary extras. When I worked at Mercedes we didn't want a 8 year old Toyota Tacoma on the lot because it doesn't fit our demographic, our salesman could give a shit less about it, but the local Toyota store would scoop it up in a heartbeat. The more I learn about modern car buying, the more I'm learning that, as you say, car sales have become much less shifty thanks to the interwebs. Like new car dealers, they maintain a showroom and have professional sales staff. If you are ready to own it – say so, and be ready to sit down to talk numbers. Did you get $18k for the car? If you find a dealer with several viable options, give them a call and let them know you'd like to visit and see those particular cars. They will cost a little more, but will have more assurance. The dealer has supposedly performed a full inspection of the car. It's a used Chrysler, so the market on them is soft at best, and you had a willing buyer in hand. It costs different amounts to insure different cars, so it can pay to talk to an insurance agent before any final decision is made. There are also a lot of sites that list used cars. 2) Budget dealership. Oil is never consumed in the normal function of the car. They might through numbers at you – don’t put much faith in them, they have no obligation in honoring them. I'd need to get those fixed - we should take $100 off the price.". Now, what can an inspection tell you, and how you should take it?

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