When is the best time to buy a NEW car?

[RgrPark]

Should I buy now or wait until around Labor day for the model year end incentives?

I am thinking of getting the Spectra5...currently they offer $1000 cash back but I am hoping it would get better...
any ideas?

 

[jagec]

The best time to buy a new car is approximately five years after it is built.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: jagec
The best time to buy a new car is approximately five years after it is built.

This is basically my philosophy.

 

[DAGTA]

December 31st at 4:45pm is a good time at many dealerships. Even for dealerships that don't have their financial year end at December 31st, it's still a good time because dealers are extremely slow during the Christmas season (everyone is spending money elsewhere).

 

[HN]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1591099&enterthread=y

 

[Kelemvor]

Best time is around February when they are trying to get rid of all the old model cars to get in more new ones.. But since ou missed that time already.. Wait until the very endof the months because delaerships get bonuses based on ho wmuch they sell every month so if they happen to be really close to the next checkpoint you can sometimes get a really good deal because they make more from the extra bonus than they lose by giving you such a good deal...

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Best time is around February when they are trying to get rid of all the old model cars to get in more new ones.. But since ou missed that time already.. Wait until the very endof the months because delaerships get bonuses based on ho wmuch they sell every month so if they happen to be really close to the next checkpoint you can sometimes get a really good deal because they make more from the extra bonus than they lose by giving you such a good deal...

<== Seeing more 2004's on lots than 2005's. Also, more 2006's than 2005's.

 

[AU Tiger]

Towards the end of the month preferrably on a rainy day.

 

[Drakkon]

I saw some amazing deals this weekend, memorial day, tons of 2005's prived about 5-7K (and some like minivans even MORE) UNDER invoice along with promotion packages. Dealer guy said they were trying to move out as much as possible for 2006's.

 

[Taggart]

Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Taggart
Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

Same can be said for people that buy cars at Carmax

 

[Taggart]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Taggart
Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

Same can be said for people that buy cars at Carmax

proof?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: jagec
The best time to buy a new car is approximately five years after it is built.

I usually go for 3-4. But that's cause I still want something that's in nice shape. I've seen even 5 year old cars sell for WAY over what they're worth.... KBB even says so...

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Taggart
Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

Same can be said for people that buy cars at Carmax

Nah, Carmax is straight.

 

[SnipeMasterJ13]

Around 2:30 PM I would guess.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Taggart
Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

Same can be said for people that buy cars at Carmax

Nah, Carmax is straight.

OH REALLY?

1997 Nissan Sentra GXE 4D Sedan
Stock Number: 2814954
Exterior Color: Burgundy
Interior Color: Gray Cloth
Mileage: 53K
Current Store: Birmingham



No Haggle Price: $8,998

I saw this very car walking around their lot. Some of their prices are ok, some are just absolutely atrocious, and this is one of them. kbb has this thing worth under $7k from a dealer. You could private party into it for about $5k I would guess. I've found other dealers locally selling 01/02 sentras with less miles for $9k.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Taggart
Just go to Carmax. Buying a car brand new is like getting ass-raped financially.

Same can be said for people that buy cars at Carmax

Nah, Carmax is straight.

OH REALLY?

1997 Nissan Sentra GXE 4D Sedan
Stock Number: 2814954
Exterior Color: Burgundy
Interior Color: Gray Cloth
Mileage: 53K
Current Store: Birmingham



No Haggle Price: $8,998

I saw this very car walking around their lot. Some of their prices are ok, some are just absolutely atrocious, and this is one of them. kbb has this thing worth under $7k from a dealer. You could private party into it for about $5k I would guess. I've found other dealers locally selling 01/02 sentras with less miles for $9k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...ced=&isp=y&start_year=1997&cardist=553

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: supafly
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...ced=&isp=y&start_year=1997&cardist=553

LOL, all that shows is that the dealer you found has an even sh*tier deal. Since you just ran autotrader, you know full well that $9k will buy a 01/02 sentra with less miles than the one I mentioned above.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: supafly
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...ced=&isp=y&start_year=1997&cardist=553

LOL, all that shows is that the dealer you found has an even sh*tier deal. Since you just ran autotrader, you know full well that $9k will buy a 01/02 sentra with less miles than the one I mentioned above.

What it shows is that you still have to be a smart buyer no matter where you shop. Just because a dealer sells one car over its book value doesn't mean every car you buy there is going to be over priced.

Take, for example, my car. A 1999 Mercedes ML430. Some private parties and some dealers still try to sell them for +$30k, but you can find them for $10k. You just gotta shop around. Sometimes carmax is a good option for a certain car, sometimes not. In the case of the Sentra, I'd say no, it's not a good option.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: supafly
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...ced=&isp=y&start_year=1997&cardist=553

LOL, all that shows is that the dealer you found has an even sh*tier deal. Since you just ran autotrader, you know full well that $9k will buy a 01/02 sentra with less miles than the one I mentioned above.

What it shows is that you still have to be a smart buyer no matter where you shop. Just because a dealer sells one car over its book value doesn't mean every car you buy there is going to be over priced.

Take, for example, my car. A 1999 Mercedes ML430. Some private parties and some dealers still try to sell them for +$30k, but you can find them for $10k. You just gotta shop around. Sometimes carmax is a good option for a certain car, sometimes not. In the case of the Sentra, I'd say no, it's not a good option.

True, sometimes they are good and sometimes not, but I have to take issue with your referring to them as straight. I'm not talking just in regards to the cars they sell, but also the offers they make on cars they're willing to buy. The "trade in" appraisals are wildly inconsistent and unpredictable. I would imagine more than one person has gone to carmax and nowhere else and been taken for literally thousands of dollars, simply because they trusted that they'd have a good offer made on their trade in vehicle.

 

[Taggart]

I agree with supafly. You can get good deals on used cars at places like Carmax IF you use your brain and do your homework. The dealer will always rape you when selling you a new car, you have no idea what their cost was from the manufacturer. There is a built in premium for new cars that disappears when you drive it off the lot.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Taggart
I agree with supafly. You can get good deals on used cars at places like Carmax IF you use your brain and do your homework. The dealer will always rape you when selling you a new car, you have no idea what their cost was from the manufacturer. There is a built in premium for new cars that disappears when you drive it off the lot.

Um, actually, there are plenty of sources for determining the dealer's cost on a vehicle. If you don't know how much the dealer paid for a new car when you go to negotiate, you're really starting off badly.

And I'm not talking about invoice, since we all know that even at invoice a dealer is making money.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: supafly
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...ced=&isp=y&start_year=1997&cardist=553

LOL, all that shows is that the dealer you found has an even sh*tier deal. Since you just ran autotrader, you know full well that $9k will buy a 01/02 sentra with less miles than the one I mentioned above.

What it shows is that you still have to be a smart buyer no matter where you shop. Just because a dealer sells one car over its book value doesn't mean every car you buy there is going to be over priced.

Take, for example, my car. A 1999 Mercedes ML430. Some private parties and some dealers still try to sell them for +$30k, but you can find them for $10k. You just gotta shop around. Sometimes carmax is a good option for a certain car, sometimes not. In the case of the Sentra, I'd say no, it's not a good option.

True, sometimes they are good and sometimes not, but I have to take issue with your referring to them as straight. I'm not talking just in regards to the cars they sell, but also the offers they make on cars they're willing to buy. The "trade in" appraisals are wildly inconsistent and unpredictable. I would imagine more than one person has gone to carmax and nowhere else and been taken for literally thousands of dollars, simply because they trusted that they'd have a good offer made on their trade in vehicle.

Yup, I posted a thread about this a while back. Took my fiancee's 98 Eclipse in for an appraisal, they offered her $2200. Edmunds and KBB appraised the car at $6000-$7000. Even worse is, I looked on their website and found a 98 Eclipse, same color, same trimline, same options, and MORE mileage for $10,995. WTF!?!?! :|

Carmax can take a long walk off a short pier. If you want to buy private, my advice is to use carfax on VINs, do your research, and buy privately.

 

[Taggart]

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: Taggart
I agree with supafly. You can get good deals on used cars at places like Carmax IF you use your brain and do your homework. The dealer will always rape you when selling you a new car, you have no idea what their cost was from the manufacturer. There is a built in premium for new cars that disappears when you drive it off the lot.

Um, actually, there are plenty of sources for determining the dealer's cost on a vehicle. If you don't know how much the dealer paid for a new car when you go to negotiate, you're really starting off badly.

And I'm not talking about invoice, since we all know that even at invoice a dealer is making money.

But alas there are 'marketing' dollars and other kickbacks that the dealers get for selling you that car you will never know about. A dealer will always secure a nice profit from you, no matter what Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book say.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Taggart

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: Taggart
I agree with supafly. You can get good deals on used cars at places like Carmax IF you use your brain and do your homework. The dealer will always rape you when selling you a new car, you have no idea what their cost was from the manufacturer. There is a built in premium for new cars that disappears when you drive it off the lot.

Um, actually, there are plenty of sources for determining the dealer's cost on a vehicle. If you don't know how much the dealer paid for a new car when you go to negotiate, you're really starting off badly.

And I'm not talking about invoice, since we all know that even at invoice a dealer is making money.

But alas there are 'marketing' dollars and other kickbacks that the dealers get for selling you that car you will never know about. A dealer will always secure a nice profit from you, no matter what Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book say.

And you don't think that Carmax makes a VERY healthy profit on every car they sell?