How to get the best price on a new car?

[AustinInDallas]

A friend made an offer on my TDI that I could refuse, so I'm looking at new cars. I've looked at cars a few years old, but the price is so close that I don't think is worth it.

I have tried emailing all the local dealerships, but it is actually pretty hard to get an out the door price over email. Some of them are actually rude ("I'm not going to help you buy a car somewhere else").

So any advice on how to get a good price would be greatly appreciated.

Also I'm looking at compact SUV and so far the CRV seems to be the front runner(even though I promised myself I would never drive a honda or Toyota, I guess I'm getting old). So any advice on that category would be help as well.

Drove the Mazda cx5, and I'm a huge Mazda fan, but was not impressed at all.

 

[yottabit]

Not sure about the bargaining but I would suggest checking out the Ford Escape

What didn't you like about the CX5? That might help people narrow down suggestions. If you test drove the 2.0L version and found it short on power I'd suggest test driving the 2.5L.

Was the CX5 too small? The thing to remember is it's basically built on the Mazda3 platform, so it's more for people that say like something like the Mazda3 but what more cargo space than real "SUV"

The Escape with the 2L Ecoboost is supposed to be great (never driven one) but I have driven and do really like the CRV though. You'd probably have to spend a little more on the Escape to get the real advantages of it though, but that's where I would look for something sportier and a little nicer.

Honda's have particularly crazy resale value. But bear in mind that even if you get a pre-owned for a few thousand dollars less, that few thousand dollars is really the depreciation hit you would be taking when buying a new car. It's a bit of a logic trap. It's easy to say "Wow a new one is only $3-4k more, I should just get that instead" but then if you found yourself selling that new car in short time you'd be selling it for $3-4k less. The great thing about pre-owned vehicles is letting someone else take that depreciation hit for you.

 

[Greenman]

Truecar seems to come up with reasonable prices, can't hurt to look.
Don't do business with any dealer that won't give you an OTD price through email. Spec the car out and make them bid on it.

 

[Ferzerp]

Do your research, know what you want to pay, *make sure it is reasonable though*, and be willing to walk away.

The most important part if the first one. You need the information to know what is fair.

 

[zoiks]

Truecar worked for me. I shopped throughout California for my G37 and Oakland Infiniti gave me the best deal. They told me that they'd beat anyone else and to come to them last.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Do your research, know what you want to pay, *make sure it is reasonable though*, and be willing to walk away.

The most important part if the first one. You need the information to know what is fair.

Ya I'm aware dealerships are business and they need and derserve to make a profit, I just want to make sure it's fair for me too

 

[Kaido]

TrueCar & CarWoo:

http://www.truecar.com/

http://carwoo.com/

Although I'd setup a dummy Gmail address & use a Google Voice number to sign up, because dealerships kept following up forever. Some of them didn't have good cross-department communication, so even after we got a car and told them we were all set, they still contacted me.

 

[Kaido]

A friend made an offer on my TDI that I could refuse, so I'm looking at new cars. I've looked at cars a few years old, but the price is so close that I don't think is worth it.

One car I'd look at is a used VW CC - ones that are a few years old are like half-priced. My buddy's been in the market and has been finding $30k CC's from 2010 for like $16 - $18k in amazing condition with 25k to 50k miles. Might be a fun upgrade from a TDI!

 

[Kaido]

The Escape with the 2L Ecoboost is supposed to be great (never driven one) but I have driven and do really like the CRV though. You'd probably have to spend a little more on the Escape to get the real advantages of it though, but that's where I would look for something sportier and a little nicer.

Honda's have particularly crazy resale value. But bear in mind that even if you get a pre-owned for a few thousand dollars less, that few thousand dollars is really the depreciation hit you would be taking when buying a new car. It's a bit of a logic trap. It's easy to say "Wow a new one is only $3-4k more, I should just get that instead" but then if you found yourself selling that new car in short time you'd be selling it for $3-4k less. The great thing about pre-owned vehicles is letting someone else take that depreciation hit for you.

I'm not a big fan of the CRV because I think it's overpriced and you can get more car elsewhere, but I am a huge fan of Honda. Every Honda I've had has been amazingly reliable, and I know a ton of people who have CRV's and totally love them. Although, if you're going to look at the CRV, also check out the upcoming 2014 Kia Soul - it's smaller (13 cubic feet smaller), but starts at around $15k vs. $23k for the CRV. Even fully-loaded, the Soul tops out at $26k vs. $31k for the CRV, so there are some pretty significant savings depending on the route you go.

If saving money up-front & keeping the car for a long time are your main concerns, it's hard to argue against buying a newer-model used car - someone else takes that depreciation hit, and you get the benefits of something that is still extremely new (and probably has a warranty available!). One of my buddies just bought a Tahoe that was a year old for like $10k+ off that is absolutely mint. If you're not in any rush, you can find a good deal if you wait long enough. I needed an interim car when I went over-mileage on my last lease and looked for awhile and ended up finding a totally cherry older Volvo for a few grand. So if you're in the used market and aren't in any rush, I bet you could find something awesome pretty easily!

 

[AustinInDallas]

Not sure about the bargaining but I would suggest checking out the Ford Escape

What didn't you like about the CX5? That might help people narrow down suggestions. If you test drove the 2.0L version and found it short on power I'd suggest test driving the 2.5L.

Was the CX5 too small? The thing to remember is it's basically built on the Mazda3 platform, so it's more for people that say like something like the Mazda3 but what more cargo space than real "SUV"

The Escape with the 2L Ecoboost is supposed to be great (never driven one) but I have driven and do really like the CRV though. You'd probably have to spend a little more on the Escape to get the real advantages of it though, but that's where I would look for something sportier and a little nicer.

Honda's have particularly crazy resale value. But bear in mind that even if you get a pre-owned for a few thousand dollars less, that few thousand dollars is really the depreciation hit you would be taking when buying a new car. It's a bit of a logic trap. It's easy to say "Wow a new one is only $3-4k more, I should just get that instead" but then if you found yourself selling that new car in short time you'd be selling it for $3-4k less. The great thing about pre-owned vehicles is letting someone else take that depreciation hit for you.

just drove the escape, pretty amazing for the base S model.

I just didnt feel anything for the mazda, base model seats were very uncomfortable. It seems very small, and I currently drive a jetta, so thats saying something. Engine and tranny didnt really seem to have much response.(i know the whole engine is designed for fuel economy, but it was just lacking)

As far as resale, used prices (dealerships and autotrader, havent looked private) for honda arnt anywhere near 3-4k cheaper. I would consider one if I found one 4k cheaper. I realize that is the book price, and they go down from there, but for me its much easier to negotiate a one car instead of 20 different configurations.

Truecar seems to come up with reasonable prices, can't hurt to look.
Don't do business with any dealer that won't give you an OTD price through email. Spec the car out and make them bid on it.

Well I have only gotten one real price so far, so that is not working out too well

 

[Kaido]

just drove the escape, pretty amazing for the base S model.

I've been impressed with Ford lately. The Edge is on our "next car" list.

 

[AustinInDallas]

I'm not a big fan of the CRV because I think it's overpriced and you can get more car elsewhere

also check out the upcoming 2014 Kia Soul

If you're not in any rush, you can find a good deal if you wait long enough.

in my search, a new crv stacks up pretty nicely stacks up pretty nicely to others in its class.

sorry, soul is not an option. person reasons

I should be an "in the mean time" miata

I've been impressed with Ford lately. The Edge is on our "next car" list.

Edge would be my choice, but its above my price range

 

[AustinInDallas]

example of how crazy the used market is for hondas

In autotrader. within 500 miles (that includes a lot of very busy markets DFW, austin, houston, san antonio) the CHEAPEST 2012-2014 CRV is 19,605, before TTL and other bullshit fees. 2012 crv(not the color i want) with 26k miles.

I was quote 22k for the exact same thing new including taxes and fees

 

[Kaido]

in my search, a new crv stacks up pretty nicely stacks up pretty nicely to others in its class.

Yeah, the CRV is a nice car. My wife really likes it. It was very smooth on the test drive I took it on, and the extra room over the Soul was nice. It's so popular that there's a huge wait at our local dealership, they can't get them in fast enough. We ended up going with the 2013 Civic, partially because it was 40 MPG (vs. 31 MPG in the CRV).

Totally understand on the personal reasons for the Soul, it's definitely not for everybody :biggrin:

 

[bigi]

Looks like you drove CX-5 with 2.0L engine which is very weak. AT is pretty much dangerous do drive. That's why they did introduce 2.5L just after 1 year.

If you dive 2014 CX-5 in Touring or Grand Touring you will see the difference even though the tranny still shfts too early to get the MPG.

I had 2013 CX-5 MT and had traded it for 2014 Touring 2.5

It is a great car, but apparently it did not fit your style. CX-5s steal a lot of sales from CR-V.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Looks like you drove CX-5 with 2.0L engine which is very weak. AT is pretty much dangerous do drive. That's why they did introduce 2.5L just after 1 year.

If you dive 2014 CX-5 in Touring or Grand Touring you will see the difference even though the tranny still shfts too early to get the MPG.

I had 2013 CX-5 MT and had traded it for 2014 Touring 2.5

It is a great car, but apparently it did not fit your style. CX-5s steal a lot of sales from CR-V.

maybe its just the trim level that i selected, but the larger engines and trim levels are outside of my budget