Decision making

[gale force]

I'm faced with wanting to buy a new car. I've never done this by myself before, always had hubby to confer with and help with the decision. I'm making the rounds of the dealerships that interest me, and collecting the booklets outlining the individual models. Haven't got to the "price point" yet, but realize that that will definitely have bearing on my decision. Would you recommend that I trade my present 6 year old vehicle, or try to sell it privately? If I do that, how do I price it? Take the price offered by the dealer and add to it? How much? Ready to listen to all advice offered!!

[retired2]

Trading it in will save you some tax on the new car plus the hassle of selling the old one.

[Spidubic]

[growler]

well i'd be more tempted to sell it myself !
to get a price,i'd go on auto trader.ca,and put in the year and make of the car you wish to sell,and do a search for a similar vehicle,keep a list of the cars available,with the prices.
then when done go on kijiji and in the auto's section do the same type search and again add to the list.
when done that.(try to get at least 6 or 7 prices)add them all up and divide by the number of similar cars you found and you will have a good average price.
when talking to the dealer ask if his allowance is for the retail price or the wholesale price.(if honest thats the price he'll or her'll use).
if its the wholesale deduct 15% off your price and that's gonna be what he should be offering,or if using the retail ad 10% to your price and you will be in the ball park.
now if he is using the wholesale on your trade you shoul be getting 15-30% off the suggested retail. or if he is using the retail on your trade he'll be using the retail on the one your buying minus 5-15% off suggested retail.
he or she'll cry you a river while explaing how come the price is higher than that (on the one you are buying) but don't let him make you beleive it !
a good example of TOTAL markup is a 2004 chevy suburbanIn 2004) with common options for family's would have a sticker price of $60,000., and an invoice price of $52,000. (the one they showed you as to what he was paying for it) but actually with dealer discounts,volume discounts,transportation rebates, plus,plus,plus, others he would actually still make almost $10,000. if he sold it to you at "invoice price".
so they will make money or not sell it to you !
and what i did after being relatively sure our car was going to sell was go to the mfg.'s web site with the list of dealers in say a 60 km.radius and get all the options you want on a car at the dealer, make up this list and description of the car you want and e-mail it to all these dealers !
put on the heading you wish to buy a car as described, and want a quote on the price of a car meeting the description.
then after that put in that if you are called by a salesperson about this request they will be dropped from the list of dealers that you sent the note to !
then give them a time and date you want to have this price.
and no matter what they say about service or warranty you can buy in timmins if you want and use a local dealer to do your service and warranty work !
if the local dealer say's they won't do it report them to the mfg. and the local dealer will beg you to come back !
this is the way i bought my last pickup, and i saved over $5000. off the price given me by a simcoe dealer, and then the closest dealer to me was in delhi and that's where the best price out of 9 dealers came from !

but then i am a cheap son of a b--- err gun !

[growler]

oh PS if you want someone to help you,i'd be happy to do it,but it would force me to charge you !
probably a med.timmies to go !

[Spidubic]

Really comes down to balancing cost vs work you want to do. If you are willing to give private sale a go and don't mind the time involved then private sale is a good idea. If you just want to trade in and be done then dealer sales is likely best. Growler definitely has the right idea about getting as much info on what your car is worth so if you do go dealer trade in you know what to expect and can have some figures to haggle over.

[gale force]

I did a check on Kijii this morning - or rather tried to. Not much there comparable to my present car. Will try on Auto Trader. thanks for the info!

[kishgo]

We have sold cars both ways. Admittedly, when offered on Kijii, both cars sold within 24 hours. One car was two years old, the other ten. In each case, we made sure to meet in a public place. Cash was required, no other choice, not even a certified cheque. Never any issues either!
Wait, that's three cars sold on Kijiji! Forgot about one.
A young man purchased one car that was about ten years old. His pregnant wife came along as the car was for her. Hubby caved. Dropped the 'absolutely firm" price AND threw in four two year old winter tires. He just wanted to see this young couple get a break.
Don't forget that a dealer not only wants to sell your car (with a profit) but wants to sell your trade in too for profit as well. It's all about $$$$$$.

[growler]

We have sold cars both ways. Admittedly, when offered on Kijii, both cars sold within 24 hours. One car was two years old, the other ten. In each case, we made sure to meet in a public place. Cash was required, no other choice, not even a certified cheque. Never any issues either!
Wait, that's three cars sold on Kijiji! Forgot about one.
A young man purchased one car that was about ten years old. His pregnant wife came along as the car was for her. Hubby caved. Dropped the 'absolutely firm" price AND threw in four two year old winter tires. He just wanted to see this young couple get a break.
Don't forget that a dealer not only wants to sell your car (with a profit) but wants to sell your trade in too for profit as well. It's all about $$$$$$.

i forgot about meeting in a public place, and don't put your ph.# on kijiji or in auto-trader, put in the e-mail they send to give you their # to you,otherwise they can find your address,and pester you or worse.
and always deal in cash !
before becoming disabled, while trucking any new customer always had to pay me COD.upon delivery,and in cash(us cash)and some having had me reccomended to them paid me at the shipping point prior to leaving !

[gale force]

Thank you both for your wonderful tips and guidance. Just trying to get relative info is difficult, so I guess I'm leaning towards a tradein at the dealership. Now....those test drives are next!

[kishgo]

Our friends have a Genisis and love it. Great ride and not a problem so far, but only two years old.

[kishgo]

Hold the presses! Almost forgot the ANOTHER IMPORTANT factor in the decision making. How do you LOOK in the car. Sorry, question mark isn`t working. Take your car out for a test drive and past a store with huge front window. Do you sit too low...too high. Does it make you feel younger driving it. VERY important factors!!!
I equate feeling younger and feeling good or better as one in the same.

[growler]

Our friends have a Genisis and love it. Great ride and not a problem so far, but only two years old.

i have never been able to drive anything but my chair since '06 but i've always been a fan of north-american cars .
that is until about 3 years ago,as i've always been a bit of a car nut(some say i'm just a nut?)so i read all about the new and old cars on-line.
and that genissis has caught my eye as well.
it comes in a coupe (sporty little car !) and as a larger sedan (sort of a luxury cruiser).
it has a good assortment of powertrains available.(in the coupe a std V6 or a big power V6,a std V6 ,or the high powerV6,or the ultimate V8 in the sedam) and a good option package to go with both(heated seats,and self de-frosting mirrors,good sound systems,and gps's to) so if i was shopping i'd take the time to look at them to !
but they say i am a bit nutty !

[Spidubic]

Honda's have never done me wrong. Owned three of them over the last 25 years.

[growler]

Honda's have never done me wrong. Owned three of them over the last 25 years.

yes honda's are good cars, but rather pricey $$$.

[Spidubic]

Honda's have never done me wrong. Owned three of them over the last 25 years.

yes honda's are good cars, but rather pricey $$$.

True but in 2012 Honda redid the Civic and made it cheaper. Biggest mistake ever! Quality suffered and Honda is doing something it has never done before and redoing the Civic 1 year after the last redo.

[Ruby Tuesday]

I will never buy new again. It's a waste of $. We bought new once and the truck lasted 20 years, so that was good. HOWEVER, what I see is that you can pick up a car 1 to 2 years old at the auction with very low KMS for 1/2 the price of new or even 1/3. All 3 of our current automobiles came from the auction.

As for kinds (example - Honda being pricey), I totally disagree. The costs of taking your car in for repairs us pricey, so buy one that is build well and you will save in return.

[kishgo]

I agree RT. We bought a new Chev in 2008. It was okay. But prior to that our cars had been off lease or gently used. Big dollars are saved.

[Spidubic]

It is amazing how much a new car depreciates in the first year or two. Or the first mile or two for that matter.

[kishgo]

As soon as it's in your name and off the lot!

[gale force]

In the past, I've usually kept a car for five years before trading. All of my cars are low mileage, and had regular maintenance. Most were sold before they even got on the lot at the dealer!!! The price offered at tradein time always seem ridiculously low. For example on the last trade in the allowance was just less than $5,000, and that car was priced at $11,000. I don't know if the dealer got that price or not, but that car also was low mileage, maintained, and loaded with every extra that was available. You've given me pause in thinking that going the new car route is what I need. I think I'll check out the used car market locally also. Thanks!

[kishgo]

And sell your car privately GF. Then you will reap the profit and not the dealer!!

[retired2]

If you are thinking used car and your present car is low milage and in excellent condition, why not just keep it.

[dreamin]

Gale Force:
Is the car you are trading spoken for or sold? If not, I would be interested in details. Thank you!

[Spidubic]

I have often thought about getting a new or newer car but I keep wondering if the newer car will actually be better and as reliable as the one I drive now. My car just celebrated its 13th birthday and is paid for. If I went new or newer then I have a monthly payment as well as higher insurance. And a car that may or may not be as reliable. I like the idea of all the little extras you get on cars today but also realize that means more to go wrong.

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