Does paying cash at a dealership really get you a better price ?

[Zorba]

Prices are usually way lower. A $10,000 car at a dealership is closer to $7,000 through private party. On top of that, dealerships frequently screw you over by lying about the problems a car will have. The guys who work there are trained/professional liars. People who sell the car themselves suck at lying in comparison to people who do it all day/everyday and need to do it to provide themselves a living. :/

I don't even consider dealerships unless I'm thinking of buying new. I would never buy used through a dealership.

Oh, and cash isn't better. Some dealerships make extra $$$ through loans.

Not to mention the car's real problems probably aren't shared with the sells guy, so it is very easy for them to lie about issue when they are ignorant of them. A private seller will actually know the issues.

 

[exar333]

Not to mention the car's real problems probably aren't shared with the sells guy, so it is very easy for them to lie about issue when they are ignorant of them. A private seller will actually know the issues.

Very true.

It is rather funny that the dealership asks for full service history documentation at trade-in and then essentially tosses that out before it is sold. I actually have left my name and # in the service manual for the next guy to contact me for a service history. I have it all saved and am more than happy to share it.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Very true.

It is rather funny that the dealership asks for full service history documentation at trade-in and then essentially tosses that out before it is sold. I actually have left my name and # in the service manual for the next guy to contact me for a service history. I have it all saved and am more than happy to share it.

Thank you for that. I find it more sad than funny that dealerships do that. They toss the service history on purpose just so they can get folks into their service bays.

 

[Phanuel]

Not to mention the car's real problems probably aren't shared with the sells guy, so it is very easy for them to lie about issue when they are ignorant of them. A private seller will actually know the issues.

There's no law that requires them to tell the truth regardless.

And many private sellers are actually dealers doing questionable sales tactics known as curbstoning.

 

[Annisman*]

Real good tips guys, I'm gonna buy private party now, these dealers sound like giant dicks.

 

[Muadib]

Real good tips guys, I'm gonna buy private party now, these dealers sound like giant dicks.

Private parties can be big dicks too!!! I'm sorry, but you are setting yourself up to be screwed. Do you even know what model you are looking for?

 

[Annisman*]

Private parties can be big dicks too!!! I'm sorry, but you are setting yourself up to be screwed. Do you even know what model you are looking for?

How am I setting myself up to be screwed ? All I said is I am looking for a used vehicle and will pay in cash.

 

[Kaido]

I am looking for a used vehicle and will pay in cash.

You could always go to a bulk dealer:

http://www.carmax.com/enus/car-search/used-cars.html

http://www.hertzcarsales.com/

 

[uclaLabrat]

I've never seen a car max price that wasn't horrendously over inflated....and lulz at their no haggle BS

 

[NutBucket]

Seriously. Way overpriced but I guess you get a warranty at least.

 

[sgrinavi]

I've never seen a car max price that wasn't horrendously over inflated....and lulz at their no haggle BS

Seriously. Way overpriced but I guess you get a warranty at least.

It's an easy buying experience and they give you top dollar for your trade-in. None of the cars I looked at there were way out of line in pricing, my S5 was a good deal less expensive than the dealers used units.

 

[evident]

You could always go to a bulk dealer:

http://www.carmax.com/enus/car-search/used-cars.html

http://www.hertzcarsales.com/

You will almost never get a deal at carmax. Especially on common cars.

It's an easy buying experience and they give you top dollar for your trade-in. None of the cars I looked at there were way out of line in pricing, my S5 was a good deal less expensive than the dealers used units.

Top dollar compared to what?

they wanted to give me $4000 on my good condition 2007 accord that i sold privately for $7500. that $4K was right in line with what webuyanycars.com was going to give me for it and in the beyond poor trade condition range for KBB (kbb range is 5400-6800).

I think where Carmax excels is with lower volume higher end vehicles since they offer a warranty to go with it, like your S5.

 

[Art&Science]

I am looking at buying a car in the 8-12 thousand dollar range, used of course.

I keep hearing that you can get a better deal if you pay cash, is this true ?

For example, if there is a car there for 12 grand and I come in with cash (a check) should I be able to talk them down to 10 grand? How much could I talk them down ? Or is the cash thing not true ?

Thanks

Not anymore, it used to. They money is in finance.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Paying cash will help you get out of the hidden dealer fees, because if the dealer doesn't mention them before you show up and then you show up with a check for the exact agreed upon price, they will never let you walk over the $200 "processing fee."

I agree with this. But you also have more leverage. When you have the physical dollars, you have more leverage. Car dealerships know that if you're on the lot, you're more likely to buy with them. As soon as you leave, you may not come back. The number one problem customers will go through the process of picking out the car they want and then fail to secure financing for some reason. Every sales person has dealt with this and they expect it. If you have cash, they know you are:
1. a serious buyer
2. a real customer/sale that they could lose

Your best bet is to be well informed of what similar used cars in the market go for. Dealer prices are inflated and doc fees, etc all get tacked on the end. They even try to sell insurance and extra theft prevention crap, which is somewhat of a scam.

Your best bet is to research what you want, Set a maximum price, then go in and negotiate what you're willing to pay based on similar vehicles in the market (private party included). Just remember to estimate taxes and dealer fees and include them in your price.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

There's no law that requires them to tell the truth regardless.

And many private sellers are actually dealers doing questionable sales tactics known as curbstoning.

Yep, it's a shark tank out there. Caveat emptor. One way to spot the curbstoners is the ads themselves. If it looks like a dealership ad it probably is one. Ads claiming the car "Has ALL the goodies!" and "creampuff" are obvious dealers. Normal people don't talk like that. If you do get suckered and actually go look at the car it becomes even more obvious. Just ask for the service history. You will get some BS story about selling the car for a family member. Yeah right.

 

[Phanuel]

If the title isn't in the seller's name, huge red flag.

 

[NutBucket]

It's an easy buying experience and they give you top dollar for your trade-in. None of the cars I looked at there were way out of line in pricing, my S5 was a good deal less expensive than the dealers used units.

Dealership gave me $2k more for my last trade. And no, they didn't make it up on the price of the car I bought

 

[Muadib]

How am I setting myself up to be screwed ? All I said is I am looking for a used vehicle and will pay in cash.

You are setting yourself up to be screwed, because you have no idea on what model you are looking to buy. Paying in cash tells a dealer that he can't count on the profit he would get from a finance deal.