So we started car shopping today. We have narrowed it down to two kinds, the Ford Escape and the Toyota Rav4. I liked both when we test drove them and the prices and warranties are practically identical so that is not an issue. In order to help me sort through it all I have made a list and so far it seems like the Rav4 is the winner. I was wondering if you have any recommendations? Also any advise on how to haggle for a car? Right now Nathan and I are thinking of walking in with a check for the amount we think is fair and saying take it or leave it. Neither one of us think we can out-haggle a professional sales person.
Escape
Better financing
Like the look
Roomier
Quieter engine
Rav4
Consumer Report rating much higher
Smoother ride
Floor storage compartment
Back seats fold down easier
Higher NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings
4 comments:
If you have narrowed it down to the Escape and the Rav 4, I would go with the Rav 4. I have a friend who has an Escape and I have driven it before. I am not a huge fan of it. I think the Rav 4 is both safer and will last longer.
In terms of bringing in a check and saying take it or leave it, well people love to have the cash NOW so that is a good idea. however that would probably work easier with a Ford dealer since the company is not doing so hot. Toyota knows that they can sell anything they want to on their terms so it might be more difficult. If you haggle, I would also ask for things like 6 free oil changes, extended warranty, free gap insurance, etc. etc. Since you aren't dealing with a trade in, you have a better chance of not getting screwed. Whatever car you do want to put an offer on, I would look it up on Kelly Blue Book and see what they say it is worth when deciding to put an offer down. I would also look on Edmunds.com and check out what they say. I would offer somewhere around what those sites suggest. Let us know how it works!
check out this link from slickdeals. http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=31151&t=566262&highlight=invoice
Its a long discussion about different ways of bargaining. There's two arguments I've heard so far that seem like they might actually work.
First, go to carsdirect.com and figure out what the car should actually cost you. Use this as your target number. This is usually on the low end of what you should be able to haggle a dealership into giving you.
Then, contact all of the toyota or ford dealships in the area (a radius of 100-200 miles, seriously). Obviously decide on a model first after test driving each. Contact the dealerships furthest away from you first(by email or fax - do not verbally talk to anyone) and get pricing. The ones furthest from the city are likely to actually have cheaper pricing. Be sure to have the dealerships fight with each other over pricing by letting them know that XYZ dealership will give you the exact same car. Eventually bargain this out so a nearby dealship gives you the price you want so you don't have to drive as far. Keep in mind, if you could save thousands of dollars on a vehicle, its worth driving or even FLYING to get a vehicle and drive it back. You aren't going to likely need to fly anywhere for a new vehicle though.
2nd option, which i've read may work but to me seems borderline unethical to me. Basically, people in car sales don't make a ton per vehicle they sell. Offer the person you are talking with $100 or $200 if you they can get you the price you are looking for. Generally, it'll give them a better commission and incentive to fight for you instead of the dealship when getting pricing.
No matter what, be willing to walk away and tell them you aren't interested if they are not willing to get down to a reasonable level. :)
Like Mrs. Smith said though, Toyota is always in such demand that it is much harder to negotiate with them.
I do want to qualify saying that this is just what i've researched because i've been looking into buying a truck myself, although the ideas seems to work for people.
I don't claim to be an expert, but we just bought a new Toyota last year, and this is what we did:
Tip one - Buy the car on a rainy day. Seriously - wait for a miserable rainy day during the week. Last year this totally worked for me and Rich. They aren't selling anything, so they are bound to let you get a car for more of a bargain.
Tip two - Know EXACTLY what model you want and with what features. Example - we knew we wanted a Camry LE with only one extra option - nothing else. We called 4 dealers in a 10 mile radius. Only one dealer had the one we wanted.
Tip three - Know what a fair price is. It's not fair to try to rip the guys off, but by using Edmunds,.com you can find out not only what the dealer paid for the car but also what other people have been paying in your area. We basically took the MSRP and subtracted about 1100 dollars, because that seemed to be about right for our area.
Tip four - Agree on a price over the phone - get the name of the sales guy. Tell them you will come in and buy it today for that price once it is agreed. This is very effective.
Tip five - Know exactly what you want for your trade-in, if you have one, and of course make it fair. We went for slightly over Kelly's Blue Book, but still within reason. When they tried to stiff us, we got up from the table as if we were leaving - that did the trick.
Tip six - don't be in a rush. Make sure you aren't in a position where you HAVE to buy right away because that puts them in control.
Good advice Mrs. R. - I totaly agree with the rainy day thing. I remember when I first went shopping for my Scion it was a rainy day. The Scion wasn't out yet so I test drove a Matrix and the dealer practically tried to force me to buy it and handed out all kinds of bargains on it. I said no because I didn't want it, but they even mentioned that they were dealing with me because it was a rainy day.
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