Trying to buy a car in CLT??? Who knew? (Charlotte: sales, credit)

[baybook]

Who knew it would be so difficult to buy a car now. All I keep hearing about is how car makers are in trouble.

Trying to buy an American car. A mini suv type. Sticker is around 37-38. Dealer has 5k off + a few other discounts for about 6k off. Get to a price of around 31-32k. I'm putting 5k down.I actually thought I would get a lower price, but of well. I'm ready to buy a car. I don't need to.. I want to.

Here is the deal. Multiple dealers are trying to sell me a 2008. I know this is the same car, b/c they all mention the same color. TO get the 31k, they want me to finance with them at 8%!!! Or I can finance with them for 0% with no dealer incentives.

WHAT? This is a 2008. An American car dealer, and I'm ready to buy now with 20% down. Am I mistaken or are dealerships not really trying to sell cars. I'm ready to walk back over to Honda or Toyota and look at the hybrids.

Thoughts? Am I too demanding?

[getatag]

Originally Posted by baybook

Who knew it would be so difficult to buy a car now. All I keep hearing about is how car makers are in trouble.

Trying to buy an American car. A mini suv type. Sticker is around 37-38. Dealer has 5k off + a few other discounts for about 6k off. Get to a price of around 31-32k. I'm putting 5k down.I actually thought I would get a lower price, but of well. I'm ready to buy a car. I don't need to.. I want to.

Here is the deal. Multiple dealers are trying to sell me a 2008. I know this is the same car, b/c they all mention the same color. TO get the 31k, they want me to finance with them at 8%!!! Or I can finance with them for 0% with no dealer incentives.

WHAT? This is a 2008. An American car dealer, and I'm ready to buy now with 20% down. Am I mistaken or are dealerships not really trying to sell cars. I'm ready to walk back over to Honda or Toyota and look at the hybrids.

Thoughts? Am I too demanding?

Given the state of the American car industry, they should be bending over backwards to kiss your "trunk lid" in this economy. You are in the driver's seat, (pun intended) make them come to your offer or be willing to walk away and make them sweat.

[Zatol]

We've tried 3 times over the last year to buy a car and walked away each time. This was at the Honda dealership in Monroe and Scott Clarks Toyota. I don't get it either. We were not unreasonable at all either.

[Markh]

Go in there with your own financing and I'll bet they'll try to match the rate, if they don't then use your own bank.

If you go for thier deal, they'll try and get the most interest out of you they can.

[marvinnative]

My son and his new bride both just bought Hondas at Metro Honda and found them very easy to work with. He found he got his best deal working through the internet sales manager.

New and Used Honda Dealership in the Greater Charlotte Area | Metro Honda in India Trail

[baybook]

Yeah, I'm surprised. My husband really wants to buy American. I may check with the credit union for their rates, or just call it a day.

[ChiToNC]

We just bought a new car (acura) and were also surprised at the lack of discounts. "What a great time to buy," we thought. Wrong. Same stuff as a few years ago, nothing special off the sticker. Plus, if you are interested in the pre-owned, so is everyone else, so call first before driving out to see something from cars.com as we found many were sold w/in a few days prior.

3% financing with zero down was nice though - getting a car on credit, now that's very american

[Hoagie58]

We had a fair experience with Huntersville Ford. When they realized we'd walk if we didnt get what we wanted, we actually got better. I can give you the name of our guy, if you'd like.

[flexysteve]

We went to Lake Norman Honda about a year and a half ago (didn't trade in a car so we didn't run into any problems.)

I emailed all of the local Honda places about what we wanted and how much we wanted to pay. They came back with a good deal. The other dealers came back with "we'll match them" kind of BS but didn't offer hard and fast numbers. So we went into LKN Honda with the numbers and email and bought it. The other dealers kept emailing asking if I was still interested and all the great deals they had. I emailed back "I wanted real numbers which I plainly stated in the email I sent. LKN Honda did that and I chose them because of that"

Also know that they make as much or more on financing then they do on the sale. Go in there saying you're thinking of financing with them but want to see how the numbers work out and talk price, not monthly payments. Lure them along thinking they'll get that extra 8% or whatever and then when it comes to sign tell them you have your own financing in place or are just going to pay cash.

Don't be afraid to go through the process and walk out. They'll call back. They need you more than you need them.

[ZnGuy]

If I was buying an American made car (GM, Chrysler) I would wait for the fire sale. With the soon to be GM bankrupcy and thousands of dealers closing loaded with millions of extra cars, what else could they do with the excess cars but drop prices?