- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
My biggest suggestion is to not tip your hand – even if you fall in loooooooooooooooove with a specific car, don’t let the salespeople know it. Act uninterested, and they will be more likely to suddenly come up with deals/offers to make you interested. Also, be firm about what you want. If you’ve narrowed it down to a few specific models you are interested in – look at Edmunds.com and figure out good prices for your area for the specific model. If you have at vehicle to trade – research the value of that as well so you know going in what you should be paying.
When I went to buy my car, I told them flat out that I wasn’t going to pay more than X for the car I testdrove. They came back with an offer 5k off from (higher than) that, which they said was a “deal”. I said, “no thanks” and went to leave, they went to speak to “the manager” – 10 minutes later they came back with an offer now only 2k off. I said “Now you’re only 2k away from a sale” – low and behold, 10 minutes later, after speaking to “the manager” again, they somehow managed to meet my offer LOL!! I didn’t argue either, and wasn’t pushy – just was firm and consistent.
Good luck and have fun! Don’t feel pressured to buy anything until you are really ready! :)
p.s. I have a Toyota 4Runner and love her!!! Toyota is having some sort of big sale, I believe, right now too.
I second what gabrielleelise1981 said and would add to keep negotiations on the car price and not the payments. There are a lot of tricks to keep the payments lower while keeping the sale price high.
And I have a Sonata that I love to bits.
I've been looking for a new car for a year and a half (wedding took over and now a house) but I have been told you can get a better deal by dealing with an interent salesmen because they are paid a salary whereas the car people you deal with in person are commission based.
Also if you are stuck between some cars, rent them each for a few days.
i just got a honda civic that i love. my mom took care of the negotiations because she's a boss like that. lol. but she got me a great deal, about 5k off the dealer price even with the add ons. she figures she's the one buying the car and doesn't let the salespeople drive the negoitations. they need to make the sale more than you need to buy the car so the ball really is in your court. just be firm with your offer on how much you'd like to spend and go from there. also research, research, research how much the car is going for!
I have a Honda Fit and I love it. It's very roomy for a smaller car, but it still has four doors, comfortable and roomy backseat and a hatchback. I get great gas mileage (avg about 37 mpg, I drive mostly highways).
My family drives almost all Hondas. Our Honda Civic lasted for 15+ years and drove really nicely even in its twilight years.
Thanks for all the advice. I'm really one of those people who get suckered into things because they are shiny! I def need to do more research and I'll have to bring my dad so I don't end up getting screwed! Feel free to keep the comments coming!
I bought a toyota Rav4 today and I LOVE love love it!!! Good luck with your purchase!
Not sure of your budget but the Audi Q7 or Q5 are both amazing.
We just got a Nissan Rogue and we love it. Lots of space, but not big. It handles like a car.
I have a Honda CR-V with 120K miles (got new) and LOVE it! My sister just got a Honda Fit and it's a great car too. Definitely recommend both.
Haggle based on the overall price (including interest, taxes and fees), not on monthly payments. Salesmen have the tendency to focus on monthly payments because it is easier for buyers to hear $199 versus $11,450.
Bring your own calculator and be ready to calculate numbers with them. Doing a lot of research on the car helps too. If you are buying brand new, ConsumerReports.com can help you find what the dealer paid for your car and you can negotiate from there.
Lastly, if your dealership has an Internet Sales department, use them instead of the regular salesmen. Those departments get paid on volume sold as opposed to the regular salesmen who get a percentage of what you paid.
GOOD LUCK!!!
I would definitely recommend a Ford. I don't know what exactly you are looking for...car, suv? But they will have what you need. I'm purchasing a brand new Ford Fiesta (40mpg) myself. I'd much prefer to support an american company.
I bought a honda accord coupe about a year ago and I love it. It reliable and super safe, it also gets good gas mileage
It depends what you are looking for. And where you live/ what weather you have, do you want a lot of space, do you need 4 wheel drive, do you have a dog or are you putting kids in it? Do you want this to be a car to last? What's the budget? Do you want a sports car? How important is gas mileage?
I LOVE cars, love love love them. I guess it just depends on all of these questions. I love Ford and Dodge. I am all for domestic, but if the sky is the limit go for German. Good luck! Have fun!
You ask for recommendations, but would you mind mentioning some specifics about what you want?
I have an 05 Hyundai Sonata and am in love with it. The newer Sonata's look even better. I would honestly recommend any Hyundai as they make a great car at a reasonable (i.e. lower than Toyota/Honda) price.
I want a basic car, nothing fancy, just good safe, reliable, preferably 4 door but not necessary, don't care about much else. I am the only one who would really ever drive it. My FH has a bigger SUV that we usually take. I have a blazer now and its just too big, plus its about 15 years old and very much on its last leg. I don't want to spend more the 25K and obviously I'd love to come in well under that. I've been looking at the mazda 3 and hyundai sonata, but really I'm open to anything.
Just wanted to pop back and say that my Honda Fit was the sport model and it came in under $20K, and really seems to fit what you're looking for. Take it for a test drive. It's shiny and comes in nice colors. :D
GAP INSURANCE! GAP INSURANCE! GAP INSURANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT leave that dealership without getting a GOOD, SOLID warranty and GAP Insurance!
When I went to buy my first car (a 2004 Ford Focus), that was the ONLY advice my mom gave me (outside of making sure I didn't get what I couldn't afford)! God forbid, if something happens and your not-paid-off car gets totaled, then what are you going to do?
Also, don't forget about the warranty! After I bought the Focus, I immediately started having problems with the brakes squeelling and the gas tank (when I would fill it up, it would automatically stopped like it was full but it wasn't). Turns out, the dealership bought the Focus from an auction that had gotten it from a repossesion (the dealership failed to notice that the brakes had been messed with and that sugar had been put into the gas tank). The dealership eventually took back the Focus and replaced it with a brand new, never been driven 2008 Hyundai Sonata.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Nothing would of happened if I didn't have the warranty because then the dealership would of not been held liable anymore.
I hope that doesn't happen to you, but sense you said that you are kinda a suckered into things...I just wanted to let you know my story with my first car in hopes that you could learn from it! :)
GOOD LUCK! Oh, P.S. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Hyundai Sonata! Best car I've driven since turning 16!
German cars (and mini coopers, as my friend is finding out) cost an absolute fortune to maintain. I'm trying to remember the last time I took my VW to the shop and spent less than $1,000. Never again!
Scion! XD or XB (depending on your preference). Graet safety ratings. They have their pricing set (meaning you don't have to deal with the haggling on the price, unless its used). I love it! Great MPG, great price, roomy & made by Toyota.
If your dealership offers it, I STRONGLY recommend getting the lifetime oil changes when you get your car. Its built into the loan & if you keep your car over 3 years, it pays for itself.
Do you have good credit? Know that each time you go into a new auto store, they'll pull your credit & each time that happens, it dings your credit. Don't do the credit thing unless you're very interested in the car.
Careful about the payments/month. THey'll say "oh you can pay $200 a month", but they don't tell you that the payments are extended our 76 or 82 months & you end up not getting the car cheaper, but just smaller payments so it sounds cheaper a month.
Only speak with 1 salesperson at each dealership (unless you don't like him/her). Get the salesperson's card & ask for them by name if you call in or go back later. They'll appreicate it & won't have to split commission & are usually most helpful if you always just ask for them.
Always test drive the car. Always get a CARFAX & don't sign anything unless you get that.
Definately bring your dad!
I've been VERY happy with my Toyota Matrix (and toyota over all, but their 2010s are having issue)
For my next car, I'm leaning HEAVILY towards a 2010 Cadillac SRX but they ain't cheap! So pretty though =]
I just bought a Hyundai Tucson 3 weeks ago and so far I love it. It is really safe, has good features, and a great warranty, not to mention very affordable.
Other than that, car buying is straight up awful. This car better last til I'm 80. ;)
Just letting you know a ton of car companies are offering 0% financing this month. I got a new VW with that incentive - 0% for 72 months. Pretty unbeatable.
Once you know what car you want, look up the invoice price for it and all of the options. Memorize it, don't even bother to look at sticker prices and then start negotiating below invoice.
Also don't mention what car payment you want. Calculate that yourself and walk in knowing how much you want to spend, including tax, titles, and fees.
I'm going to second the Honda Fit recommendation. I love my car. It's small but safe and way roomier than you would think. I drive mainly in the city, and the parking is so much easier with this car.
oh p.s. I got a VW golf 2 door with a few options :) So far I really really love it.
Most car dealers are offering incentives now because it's model year clearance (but really, when isn't there a sale?). After reading what you are looking for I could honestly recommend a Fusion to you. Great gas mileage, extremely reliable vehicle. A Ford Focus is a little smaller but equally a great car. You can get them for under $25k and a good financing deal too.
We are a toyota family. I sold my first celica when it was 13 years old. Mine newer celica now is 13.5 years old & we have a fairly new tacoma. Love them.
If you're looking for a basic, reliable car, I'd go with a Corolla. You can find an 08 or 09 used one still in fabulous shape and save a few grand.
You should be able to pay off the loan in 3-5 years. You should be more in the three year range and never longer than 5 years. The car will depreciate faster than you can pay off the loan and you will end up in trouble. If you are younger, go more for the three years because lifestyles/situations can change a lot in that time. If you can't afford to pay it off in 3-4 years then you can't afford the car. The payments will be higher but paying more interest over longer periods of time can cost more and like I said, you may be in trouble at the end of the loan if your car isn't worth much any more.
I would recommend buying something used if you can. You would be surprised at what you can find thats only a year or two old and still seems practically brand new. Remember it will still be new to you so it will be fun!
I had a Mitsubishi Outlander that I loved. I had a base model and then added the one or two features that I wanted. Apparently sales people earn most of their money on selling the "packages" onto the vehicles. Don't fall for that.
I would also advise against the lifetime oil changes and/or tires. More and more dealerships are going out of business and you don't want to be paying for something you can't use.
I'm really liking the Mazda 3's anyone have any BAD experience with those?
My brother has a mazda (I think a 6?) and he loves it. He is passing it on to my sister.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Brielle | 27 |
 vorpalette |
27 |
| caseyleigh10 | 24 |
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| les105 | 23 |
| lionskitty | 22 |
| fishbone | 22 |
| SouthernGirl | 21 |
| mypinkshoes | 21 |
| kat2014 | 19 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ShellVee | 8 |
| MsPanda | 7 |
| Mrs.Estep | 5 |
| ellisrobertson | 5 |
| UpstateCait | 3 |
| allyfally | 3 |
| Potatoes | 2 |
| SouthernGirl | 2 |
| Jenlon | 2 |
| HeyKaraoke | 2 |
I'm getting ready to buy my first new car ever! Very nervous but excited. Any suggestions/tips/hints??? Also anyone have a specific car they can recommend that they love?