Car buying

[LoverBoyJ]

When making a deal for the price of a brand new car, who should give out the numbers first? Dealer or you?

This will be my first time buying a new car by myself, well I might ask my bro-in-law to back me up just in case. My first car was also brand new but it was my friend who helped out the deal, that was 10 years ago.

 

[TuxDave]

This is only specific to car buying, but I believe the rule is that you should make the first offer.

 

[StageLeft]

It doesn't matter who starts; it matters what you end on.

 

[Cristatus]

i would normally say the dealer, to see where he stands.

if you say the numbers first, you might go over. but then again, he might charge you double anyways

 

[LoverBoyJ]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
It doesn't matter who starts; it matters what you end on.

true ....
Ive been reading quite a lot on getting the best price for a car and surprisingly, there is quite a big markup even for an MSRP price.
The only problem for me is holding my ground on the price that I would like to pay, and of course not getting embarassed if the dealer will laugh out loud with the price that i will offer.

 

[Yossarian]

tell the sales guy all you care about is the monthly payment. you'll make a friend.

 

[StageLeft]

The absolute most important things are a) knowing what the car is truly worth to the market and b) telling yourself - and meaning it - that you will walk away if you don't get the money. If the dealer knows he just has to wait you out and you'll keep raising what you will pay, he'll do exactly that.

 

[jimikim]

Go to carsdirect.com, get a price, and print it out and say beat it. I've noticed carsdirect.com has the lowest price range (I think they have dealers bidding on it).

 

[mrchan]

email dealers back and forth asking them to beat each other. you will get a much better deal online/over the phone with a pricematch than you will by walking into the dealership.