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View Full Version : How do I negotiate with American car companies?


TheBlackPope
2008-12-27, 01:47
So, we all know how much trouble the American car industry is in. I have never bought/rent a car before so I would like some help. I have a theory that they just want to get as many cars off their hands as possible.

Basically I would like a step by step run down on how to negotiate with these people.

Just to show what I am dealing with:

I saw a used Chrysler 300 for 16g. I asked him about it online and he said he would hook me up for 14,5. 3 weeks later, the price on the website was 14!

So I want to get a new 2009 Chrysler 300 or something like a dodge magnum.

Ideas I have:
Tell him that I am going to need X addition after buying the car, so I will need a Y price reduction..
That is pretty much it..

Thanks.

DavidThePyro
2008-12-27, 01:58
Step 1: They name a price.

Step 2: You counter offer.

Step 3: See Step 1.

intravenous
2008-12-27, 03:05
Don't get a 300 series Chrysler man, they're a horrible car. They look nice but yeah, they're fucking shitboxes dude.

citizenuzi
2008-12-27, 04:20
^They're not THAT bad, you got any specific reasons??

thunderstruck
2008-12-27, 05:36
^They're not THAT bad, you got any specific reasons??

Interior is made of recycled ethiopians, brakes are crap, suspension is made of shitsoft marshmallows, they're ugly, the 400000hp 3732L v8 can still only pull it to OK times etc

whocares123
2008-12-27, 05:41
I made a similar thread like this in SG the other day. My idea was that because they are so desperate to sell anything (the dealerships), we should be able to go in there, make demands, and expect to have them met. My goal is to get a new 2008 model they still got sitting on the lot that they need to get rid of for like $5,000. Haha.

But maybe a little more realistically, go in there and find a car that is priced at $14,000 like your beloved 300, tell the salesman "I want to buy that car but look, I am not willing to spend more than $9,000 (or whatever) total on it, tax and fees included. So unless you can do that for me, I can tell you right now you are not getting a sale." They say no, go to another dealership.

THE BALL IS IN OUR COURT MOTHERFUCKERSSSSS

truckfixr
2008-12-27, 06:39
I made a similar thread like this in SG the other day. My idea was that because they are so desperate to sell anything (the dealerships), we should be able to go in there, make demands, and expect to have them met. My goal is to get a new 2008 model they still got sitting on the lot that they need to get rid of for like $5,000. Haha.

But maybe a little more realistically, go in there and find a car that is priced at $14,000 like your beloved 300, tell the salesman "I want to buy that car but look, I am not willing to spend more than $9,000 (or whatever) total on it, tax and fees included. So unless you can do that for me, I can tell you right now you are not getting a sale." They say no, go to another dealership.

THE BALL IS IN OUR COURT MOTHERFUCKERSSSSS

It doesn't work quite that way. New car/truck dealerships normally don't own the vehicles on their lot (other than used vehicles). The vehicles belong to the manufacturer and are on consignment to the dealer.

It's highly unlikely that a dealership will sell a vehicle below cost unless it has been sitting on the lot for a really long time and the next year's models are already filling the lot.

Nereth
2008-12-27, 10:25
Though they do get various bonuses from the dealer for actually selling the car, which can make selling it for less than what they buy it for, somehow profitable.

TheBlackPope
2008-12-27, 14:54
I guess a new 2009 300 is 24g. Should I ask it for 18? Haha.

frinkmakesyouthink
2008-12-27, 15:19
I love the economic downturn, I can basically haggle with anyone. The other day I blagged a tenner off of some tools from Machine Mart.

Same with property, I have recently inherited £lots and have made a few silly offers on flats with quite a bit of interest.

Sponsored Link
2008-12-27, 18:43
^They're not THAT bad, you got any specific reasons??

Even with the V8 it never really feels fast. Ever been on a cruise ship? They can startle you with acceleration when at full throttle from time to time, but you're not sitting on the main deck shitting your pants because the lateral Gs are pulling the skin from your face. Same goes for the Charger/300/Fagnum. Too heavy and numb to really be exciting.

ComradeAsh
2008-12-28, 02:35
I love the economic downturn, I can basically haggle with anyone. The other day I blagged a tenner off of some tools from Machine Mart.

Same with property, I have recently inherited £lots and have made a few silly offers on flats with quite a bit of interest.

Don't squander it now, or you'll have to kill again!

whocares123
2008-12-29, 01:50
It's highly unlikely that a dealership will sell a vehicle below cost unless it has been sitting on the lot for a really long time and the next year's models are already filling the lot.

Well, I wasn't being entirely serious, but isn't that what is going on right now? And I mean, the salesmen are desperate for a commission, so I'd think they would be more flexible. As much as they can.

truckfixr
2008-12-29, 05:51
Of course the dealers are pretty desperate to make sales . And if you can find a vehicle which has been difficult for them to sell, they will cut you a pretty good deal. They're not going to take too big a hit on it though. The'll just wait for someone else to come along whose willing to pay the price.

You can get a good deal if you shop around. You just need to have realistic expectations.

knows2nose
2009-01-02, 07:11
One thing you guys missed....the end of the year. The dealership was looking to not have to pay taxes come...uh...yesterday. January first. Now its a new game.

As per the original question-

If you go in looking, take the total before dealer prep, take about 3k or 15 percent off. Under previous normal circumstance they will deal down 10 percent, so if you start at 15 and remind them that if they sell from they're own lot, they will still get the manufacture kickback that isnt on your contract, and isnt part of your advertised rebate, then they should know your serious. If you can come up with dealer price in writing, and shop around over the phone before you go and have solid numbers and contacts in hand they will deal. Dont get emotionally attached, be able to walk away, or they have you. If you say things like "I have to have this car" they know they gotcha. Dont go in and let them say, what are you willing to spend, or what can you afford. If they know your monthly monies, they will run the bill out ten years if they can. You need to know final cost. Get bank approval if you can before you go to the dealer. They hate that.

Negotiate- Dealer prep, undercoating, paint protection, striping, and extended warrantty, unless its a jaguar, or something with lucas wiring. And if its december........they dont want to pay taxes on it come january one. You can get steep discounts for new 2008 models when 2009 are sitting in the lot. Now.....is everyone ready to spend money they dont have? good luck

whocares123
2009-01-03, 16:30
^ Explain how they don't have to pay taxes if the sale was made prior to January 1st? :confused:

Rocko
2009-01-03, 17:38
American dealerships don't negotiate any more. They stick one price on the car, and that's what you pay, same as going to any store. They apparently decided that most people view car shopping as an errand so they wanted to make it as fast and easy as possible. Plus, the dealerships are so fuckin upside-down they don't want to let go of any money beyond what the company is telling them to.

DavidThePyro
2009-01-04, 08:30
American dealerships don't negotiate any more. They stick one price on the car, and that's what you pay, same as going to any store. They apparently decided that most people view car shopping as an errand so they wanted to make it as fast and easy as possible. Plus, the dealerships are so fuckin upside-down they don't want to let go of any money beyond what the company is telling them to.

This is not true, at least not completely. Negotiating is the name of the game at almost every used car lot, and most of the new dealerships will still come down a bit. The only major exception I can think of is Carmax, they don't negotiate and they rip you the fuck off if you buy anything there.

yoda_me07
2009-01-04, 13:34
is it the chrysler 300c?

i love that car.
never driven one though.

a used 05-07 model is around $AU 35 000- 40 000 here.

are they really that bad?

i was thinking of picking one up used in 10 years time

ComradeAsh
2009-01-04, 13:52
i was thinking of picking one up used in 10 years time

What, from the scrap heap?

Sponsored Link
2009-01-04, 18:12
is it the chrysler 300c?

i love that car.
never driven one though.

a used 05-07 model is around $AU 35 000- 40 000 here.

are they really that bad?

i was thinking of picking one up used in 10 years time

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/979332787.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/955500430.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/ctd/955233304.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/947812694.html

40k AUS? They're shitt enough for 15k US.

Rocko
2009-01-04, 20:06
This is not true, at least not completely. Negotiating is the name of the game at almost every used car lot, and most of the new dealerships will still come down a bit. The only major exception I can think of is Carmax, they don't negotiate and they rip you the fuck off if you buy anything there.

The used guys will still negotiate, but American new car dealerships are all about ease of doing business. The vast majority of people just want to get in and out with the least amount of fuss.

knows2nose
2009-01-05, 02:56
^ Explain how they don't have to pay taxes if the sale was made prior to January 1st? :confused:

Here in the states, the dealership has to pay property taxes on all cars they physically have on the lot. So if you buy it before jan 1, then you pay the taxes and not them.