[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

What are doc fees for? I'm paying cash so do I pay those?

Yes. The dealer will tell you it is for processing paperwork. Cash or finance, both generate paperwork. In reality, it was the genius idea of a car dealer many decades ago. Some states are now as high as $1500 for doc fees. For the most part, it is dealer profit, but dealers are in the situation where they can't waive it, or they would open themselves up to a class action law suit from everyone in history who has ever paid it. You can get around it if you are a good negotiator, but the dealer will show it as a reduction in price, and it will still be on the P&S.

[yellowsnow]

Checked out the Mitsubishi, and Golf. SO can't get in either one without cracking his head. He is 6'5". Back to the drawing board.

[BBMW]

If I lived in LV and was looking for a car, I might extend my search to Metro LA. It's a much bigger market, and it's not so hot (the heat being rough on cars.) Yes, there would be a PITA factor in physically checking cars out, but you can do most of the up front work on the web, and increase in selection might be worth it.

[von949]

Originally Posted by SoCalCpl2

I have bought 3 cars from Carmax and all have been within the price line for that vehicle... And the no hassle sale was a dream compared to the gestapo tactics of other dealers.... I would reccomned them to anyone..... I was able to get extended warranties on all of them and with no hassle or huge amount of money.....

As for the retail sale and trade-in there is always going to be a big difference... Also remember NADA and KBB do not always count the release series or special series for the vehilces.. So that makes the price out of wack there as well..

Besides NADA and KBB are just "suggestive" pricing..Not set in stone.. And it also depends on where you live as to what price they will give you...

After owning more than 35 vehicles throughout the years and most of them bought at dealerships I will avoid conventional delars like they were the plague... I hate their Tactics and the way they do business....

My current car is from CarMax. It was slightly overpriced compared to exact models found on Craigslist and other dealerships. The advantage of buying my car from CarMax was that my car came with...

-brand new tires
-brand new brake pads
-brand new battery
-brand new belts
-brand new windshield wipers
-brand new floor mats
-original factory warranty plus CarMax extended warranty
-30 day return policy
-clean Carfax track record

Some of this stuff is cheap(wipers) other items can get very expensive(tires). It is at least a two year piece of mind that this normal wear and tear/maintenance stuff will last for a while. There is no way you could get a guarantee like this off of Craigslist and even most other used dealerships anywhere else. I found my car much cheaper on Craigslist from private sellers compared to CarMax along. And I also could have easily negotiated a cheaper "AS IS" price from a dealership in town.

But why deal with someone else's signature car smell, balding tires, questionable brakes, unknown maintenance service record...etc. I take it as you can pay slightly more up front or pay over time later.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by von949

My current car is from CarMax. It was slightly overpriced compared to exact models found on Craigslist and other dealerships. The advantage of buying my car from CarMax was that my car came with...

-brand new tires
-brand new brake pads
-brand new battery
-brand new belts
-brand new windshield wipers
-brand new floor mats
-original factory warranty plus CarMax extended warranty
-30 day return policy
-clean Carfax track record

Some of this stuff is cheap(wipers) other items can get very expensive(tires). It is at least a two year piece of mind that this normal wear and tear/maintenance stuff will last for a while. There is no way you could get a guarantee like this off of Craigslist and even most other used dealerships anywhere else. I found my car much cheaper on Craigslist from private sellers compared to CarMax along. And I also could have easily negotiated a cheaper "AS IS" price from a dealership in town.

But why deal with someone else's signature car smell, balding tires, questionable brakes, unknown maintenance service record...etc. I take it as you can pay slightly more up front or pay over time later.

You are right and I hadn't thought of that. Do all their cars have all the same new stuff yours did? Seems like that would pretty much guarantee 2 years of worry free driving. Some of those belts(especially the timing belt) can be very expensive to replace.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

You are right and I hadn't thought of that. Do all their cars have all the same new stuff yours did? Seems like that would pretty much guarantee 2 years of worry free driving. Some of those belts(especially the timing belt) can be very expensive to replace.

They MIGHT replace those things on a particular vehicle but their cars do NOT come with all of that as standard.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

They MIGHT replace those things on a particular vehicle but their cars do NOT come with all of that as standard.

That's too bad! Would be worth paying extra for that!

[jet757f]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I did search and didn't find anything recent. My beetles are dead/dying and it's gotten to the point where it is just costing too much to keep them going. I need to buy a new used vehicle. Probably a small SUV or a crossover. The most I can spend is about 15K cash.

Where can I shop that's honest and I won't be taken advantage of? I hate buying cars... They see me coming!

I am hoping for something reliable that will last for a while without a lot of work. I'm OK with the regular maintenance stuff.

Ideas?

I bought my last car at Enterprise Car Sales. They have them all over including Las Vegas. They have a no haggle policy which I don't like but I found the price to be within the Blue Book estimate.
The cars seem well maintained and fairly low mileage.
Here is an example of a SUV. It is in Reno but no transfer fee.
If you want something else call them and they may be able to get it for you.
Used NISSAN Versa 2012 NISSAN Versa Reno, NV - Enterprise Used Cars

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by jet757f

I bought my last car at Enterprise Car Sales. They have them all over including Las Vegas. They have a no haggle policy which I don't like but I found the price to be within the Blue Book estimate.
The cars seem well maintained and fairly low mileage.
Here is an example of a SUV. It is in Reno but no transfer fee.
If you want something else call them and they may be able to get it for you.
Used NISSAN Versa 2012 NISSAN Versa Reno, NV - Enterprise Used Cars

Looks nice and only 33K miles. Most of what I've seen is much higher mileage. And I need to buy something that's going to last a while. I had looked at Enterprise before but I didn't see that one.

[jet757f]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Looks nice and only 33K miles. Most of what I've seen is much higher mileage. And I need to buy something that's going to last a while. I had looked at Enterprise before but I didn't see that one.

It is easier to look online first. If something you like is already sold they may be able to get you another one.